2025 Defense R&D Summit | Potomac Officers Club
RegisterWHAT
In a world defined by rapid change, innovation, technology and capability are the cornerstones of global power. Join the Potomac Officers Club as we convene the nation's leading defense researchers, experts and decision-makers to explore the cutting-edge technologies shaping the future of the U.S. military at the 2025 Defense R&D Summit. Engage in thought-provoking discussions, gain firsthand insights from key players and forge valuable connections at this day-long summit. Join us at this pivotal event to navigate the evolving defense landscape and chart the course for future dominance.
Speakers
Maj Gen Dennis Bythewood
Special Assistant to the Chief of Space Operations
U.S. Space Force
Dr. Joshua Conway
Lead Scientist
Booz Allen
CW5 Jeramy Cosner
Chief Technology Officer, Network Cross-Functional Team
Army Futures Command
Michael Dean
SatCom Chief
U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)
William Dunlap
Acting Deputy Chief Information Officer for Information Enterprise for the Department of Defense
Office of the Chief Information Officer (DOD CIO)
Randy Fields
VP CTO
Ultra Intelligence & Communications
Ronzelle Green
Director of Research
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)
Gil Herrera
Director of Research
National Security Agency (NSA)
Dr. Alex Jaimes
Chief AI Officer
Dataminr
Jay Meil
VP Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics (and Chief Data Scientist)
SAIC
Steven Morani
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment, OSD
U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)
Bradford Powell
President, C2I&E
Ultra Intelligence & Communications
Lisa Sanders
Director, Science and Technology, SOF AT&L, USSOCOM
U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)
Maj Gen David Sanford
J3 Director, Logistics Operations/Commander, Joint Regional Combat Support
Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)
Justin Shirk
Managing Director, Federal Cloud & Secure Mission Lead
Accenture Federal Services
Benjamin Tran
Chief
Capabilities Development Office (CDO)
Joseph Welch
Deputy to the Commanding General (Tier 3 SES)
Army Futures Command
Johnson Wu
Cyber Portfolio
Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)
Agenda
| 7:00am | 8:00am | Networking Reception |
| 8:00am | 8:05am | Welcome & Opening Remarks |
| 8:05am | 8:45am | Opening Keynote: Gil Herrera |
| 8:45am | 9:20am | Morning Keynote: Dr. Ronzelle Green |
| 9:20am | 9:50am | Networking Break |
| 9:50am | 10:50am | Panel A: R&D Priorities to Deliver Trusted AI-enabled Systems for Combatant Command Missions: Alex Jaimes and Jay Meil (Moderator) |
| 9:50am | 10:50am | Panel B: Building the Future of Defense: Leveraging 5G and Multi-Layered Connectivity for Operational Superiority: Michael Dean |
| 9:50am | 10:50am | Panel C: The Need for Continual Reinvention to Remain Relevant at the Tactical Edge (in Contested Environments): William Dunlap, Steven Morani, Maj Gen David Sanford and Justin Shirk (Moderator) |
| 9:50am | 11:00am | Break |
| 11:00am | 12:00pm | Panel A: Critical Technologies Shaping the Battlefield: The Future of Autonomous Systems in Defense: Randy Fields (Moderator) |
| 11:00am | 12:00pm | Panel B: Enhancing battlefield connectivity: the role of 5G in modern warfare: Jeramy Cosner and Johnson Wu |
| 11:00am | 12:00pm | Panel C: Fast Forward: Operationalizing Autonomy for Real-Time Readiness: Dr. Joshua Conway (Moderator) and Benjamin Tran |
| 12:00pm | 1:00pm | Networking Lunch |
| 1:00pm | 2:00pm | Panel: Allies and Adversaries: Navigating Global Dynamics in Defense R&D: Lisa Sanders |
| 2:00pm | 2:30pm | Networking Break |
| 2:30pm | 3:05pm | Afternoon Keynote: Joseph Welch |
| 3:05pm | 3:40pm | Closing Keynote: Maj Gen Dennis Bythewood |
| 3:40pm | 3:50pm | Closing Comments |
