Program

The Forum will open with welcome remarks and a strategic overview of the defense policy landscape shaping the future of uncrewed, autonomous, and robotic systems.

Speakers

Michael Robbins President & CEO AUVSI

Michael Robbins

President & CEO

AUVSI

Michael Robbins is President & Chief Executive Officer at the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), the world’s largest trade association for uncrewed systems, robotics, and autonomous technologies, representing companies in both the commercial and defense sectors. He joined AUVSI in 2020 and previously served as Chief Advocacy Officer. Michael is also presently serving as an Officer in the United States Navy Reserve. Before joining AUVSI, Michael co-founded a business consulting firm, Intrepid, and served as its Chief Operating Officer. AUVSI was an Intrepid client. Prior to starting Intrepid, Michael was Managing Director of Government and Public Affairs at the Air Line Pilot Association, International (ALPA) where he oversaw the aviation safety and security, government affairs, and communications departments. Before ALPA, Michael spent a decade working for the late U.S. Congressman John D. Dingell (Michigan), where he served as the Chief of Staff. Michael serves on the MITRE Corporation’s Aviation Advisory Committee and the National Advanced Mobility Consortium’s (NAMC) Advisory Committee. He recently served as co-chair of the Federal Aviation Administration’s UAS Detection and Mitigation Aviation Rulemaking Committee. He previously served on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Aviation Supply Chain Risk Task Force, the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency’s Critical Infrastructure Partnership Advisory Council sUAS Security Working Group, and on the boards of NAMC and the Greater Washington Aviation Open. Michael holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree from Georgetown University.

Deputy Assistant Secretary Alex Krutz (Commerce/ITA) joins Michael Robbins (AUVSI) for a focused discussion on the levers that matter now—industrial capacity, AI/autonomy assurance evidence, and trade pathways—to strengthen U.S. competitiveness and operational readiness across air, ground, and maritime.

Speakers

Alex Krutz Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) of Manufacturing for the Office of Manufacturing Industries at the International Trade Administration (ITA) U.S. Department of Commerce

Alex Krutz

Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) of Manufacturing for the Office of Manufacturing Industries at the International Trade Administration (ITA)

U.S. Department of Commerce

Alex Krutz is the Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) of Manufacturing for the Office of Manufacturing Industries at the International Trade Administration (ITA) within the U.S. Department of Commerce. The Office of Manufacturing Industries is the U.S. Government’s leading advocate for advancing the competitive position of U.S. manufacturing industries in the global marketplace. In his role as DAS, Alex leads four offices comprised of the Office of Energy and Environmental Industries (OEEI), the Office of Information and Communication Technologies (OICT), the Office of Health Industries (OHI) and the Office of Transportation and Machinery (OTM). Key priorities include advancing the Administration’s trade priorities under the America First Trade Policies and Executive Orders. Prior to joining ITA, Alex was the founder and Managing Director of Patriot Industrial Partners, an Aerospace and Defense advisory firm that specializes in Value Creation, Performance Improvement and Supply Chain Optimization. In this business, Alex transformed operational, quality and financial performance in under-performing companies. Alex has over 22 years of Aerospace and Defense experience in the areas of general management, operations, supply chain and program management. His career includes being a Veteran of the U.S. Army who started his career serving overseas as a Commissioned Officer and front-line leader. He has held leadership positions at U.S. and multinational companies as well as consulted for airframe Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), the supply chain and private equity groups. He has worked on hundreds of projects throughout North America, Europe, South Africa and Southeast Asia spanning engines, structures and large complex assemblies. Alex holds a Masters in Business Administration from San Diego State, a Masters in Management from Webster University and a Bachelors Degree in Political Science from the University of Kansas.

Michael Robbins President & CEO AUVSI

Michael Robbins

President & CEO

AUVSI

Michael Robbins is President & Chief Executive Officer at the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), the world’s largest trade association for uncrewed systems, robotics, and autonomous technologies, representing companies in both the commercial and defense sectors. He joined AUVSI in 2020 and previously served as Chief Advocacy Officer. Michael is also presently serving as an Officer in the United States Navy Reserve. Before joining AUVSI, Michael co-founded a business consulting firm, Intrepid, and served as its Chief Operating Officer. AUVSI was an Intrepid client. Prior to starting Intrepid, Michael was Managing Director of Government and Public Affairs at the Air Line Pilot Association, International (ALPA) where he oversaw the aviation safety and security, government affairs, and communications departments. Before ALPA, Michael spent a decade working for the late U.S. Congressman John D. Dingell (Michigan), where he served as the Chief of Staff. Michael serves on the MITRE Corporation’s Aviation Advisory Committee and the National Advanced Mobility Consortium’s (NAMC) Advisory Committee. He recently served as co-chair of the Federal Aviation Administration’s UAS Detection and Mitigation Aviation Rulemaking Committee. He previously served on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Aviation Supply Chain Risk Task Force, the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency’s Critical Infrastructure Partnership Advisory Council sUAS Security Working Group, and on the boards of NAMC and the Greater Washington Aviation Open. Michael holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree from Georgetown University.

A discussion on state of the UxS industrial base, what DOW is doing now to address the challenges, and what we need from industry.

Speakers

HON Michael Cadenazzi Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy, Office of the Secretary of Defense U.S. Department of Defense

HON Michael Cadenazzi

Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy, Office of the Secretary of Defense

U.S. Department of Defense

The Honorable Michael Cadenazzi was sworn in as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy (ASD(IBP)) on September 23, 2025. In this role, he is the principal advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment on industrial base policies and leads the Department of Defense's efforts to develop and maintain the U.S. defense industrial base to ensure a secure supply of materials critical to national security. Over the past two decades, Mr. Cadenazzi has served as a serial entrepreneur and consultant with experience in managing and addressing challenging issues across the aerospace & defense sector. He has launched multiple defense industry services and technology start-ups across the signals intelligence, program analysis, data analytics, and market assessment and strategy sectors, and executed two successful transfers of business ownership. His extensive sector experience includes work from the space to undersea domains and from aircraft and munitions to armor, weapons, ships, and services. His clients have included domestic and international firms from large prime contractors to all levels in the supply chain. His direct experience spans strategy, mergers & acquisitions, operations, supply chain and organizational transformation. Prior to his civilian career, Mr. Cadenazzi served for ten years as an active-duty U.S. Navy cryptologic warfare officer. He completed the Cryptologic Division Office Course at Corry Station in Pensacola Florida before his first tour at Naval Communications & Telecommunications Area Master Station (NCTAMS) WESTPAC in Agana, Guam. Following graduate education, he was assigned to the staff of Commander, U.S. Navy SIXTH Fleet in Gaeta Italy. He completed his military service on the staff of U.S. Naval Forces Europe in London, the United Kingdom. Mr. Cadenazzi holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Tulane University and a master’s degree in electrical engineering with an emphasis on RF communications and signals intelligence from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. He was commissioned an ensign in 1995 through the Tulane Naval Reserve Officer Corps (NROTC) program.

DOD acquisition and contracting leaders provide guidance on how autonomy programs move from prototype to Program of Record. The panel will highlight rapid acquisition models (OTAs, RDER, Middle Tier pathways) and practical capture strategies that allow industry to compete, win, and deliver autonomy programs at speed.

Speakers

Randall Culpepper President Parley Tent, LLC

Randall Culpepper

President

Parley Tent, LLC

42 years in USAF acquisition and defense aerospace programs. Former Program Executive Officer managing $26B annual Air Force combat support portfolio. Directed support services worldwide for Air Force Operations and supporting multiple fixed and rotary wing platforms. Industry roles at Raytheon and Leidos focused on ISR mission platforms, aerospace supply chain reliability, and defense manufacturing strategy.

Mike Flanigan CEO Seasats

Mike Flanigan

CEO

Seasats

Mike Flanigan is the co-founder and CEO at Seasats, a San Diego–based leader in long-range unmanned surface vehicles (USVs). He has worked with the Marine Corps, Navy Special Warfare, and commercial entities around the world to help them leverage USVs. Mike holds degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Notre Dame and Computer Science from the University of Colorado Boulder.

Eric Krogh Vice President, Maritime Systems Division Leidos

Eric Krogh

Vice President, Maritime Systems Division

Leidos

Eric O. Krogh is the manager of Leidos’ Maritime Systems Division. He leads an organization of over 600 employees and is responsible for over $260 million in annual revenues. The division has capabilities in unmanned, autonomous surface and underwater solutions for intelligence and defense; platform and sensor design and integration; advanced communication technologies; high-fidelity modeling and simulation; and manufacturing and production capabilities. Prior to his current role, Mr. Krogh held a variety of leadership roles within Leidos since 2002 including being a program manager and later leading a portfolio of programs supporting the Navy’s Submarine, Surface, and Undersea Surveillance communities. Mr. Krogh then served at Corporate as the Vice President of Program Audits, for which he led audits of the most complex programs throughout Leidos and reported the results to the Chief Financial Officer, General Counsel, and other Executives. His next position was as Vice President of Business Integrations which included leading the business integrations of three acquisitions (Dynetics, Gibbs & Cox, and Spire & Davis). Mr. Krogh then returned to line management and served as the Deputy Operations Manager for the C4ISR Operation which had over 3,000 employees and $1 billion in annual revenues. Mr. Krogh served proudly as a Submarine Officer in the US Navy for six years prior to joining Leidos. He held several leadership positions on the USS ALBANY (SSN 753) and made two overseas deployments during his tour. Immediately following sea duty, Mr. Krogh worked on the Chief of Naval Operations staff for two years. Mr. Krogh has a Bachelor’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering and a Master’s Degree in Systems Engineering, both from the University of Virginia. He has been a certified Project Management Professional since 2009.

Maj Gen (Ret.) Cameron Holt President, Strategic Markets Exiger

Maj Gen (Ret.) Cameron Holt

President, Strategic Markets

Exiger

Cameron Holt is the President of Strategic Markets at Exiger. The focus of his work is to bring together the best of America—industrialists, technologists and capital investors with innovative problem solvers in Government to tilt the scales in favor of America and her allies against the adversaries of freedom. In his role at Exiger, he is focused on bringing Exiger’s game-changing supply chain intelligence and orchestration technologies and expertise together with the most critical government and commercial partner missions to create a safe and transparent place for the world to succeed. Cameron recently completed 32 years of military service including his last four years as the Deputy Assistant Secretary (Contracting) for the Air Force and Space Force. In that capacity, he oversaw a global contracting portfolio valued in excess of $825 Billion and 8,000+ Contracting “Ninjas”, executing the full range of operational, enterprise sourcing, and major weapons systems contracting worldwide. He serves on the Board of Directors of the National Contract Management Association and the Procurement Roundtable. He is also a frequent speaker on the topics of national and economic security as well as acquisition and budget reform. As a patriot, a husband and a father of four great kids, he remains committed to leverage his extensive leadership, contracting, acquisition, requirements, and national security experience to “hack” our unnecessarily complex and antiquated Cold War-era national security resourcing and acquisition system, accelerate/optimize US combat capabilities, and raise awareness surrounding the new economic and supply chain domains of 21st Century warfare.

Experts discuss how urgency around autonomy translates into actionable capture and funding opportunities. This robust fireside conversation bridges policy intent with field-level execution, providing both DoD and industry perspectives on scaling autonomy at speed.

Speakers

Ryan Fitzgerald Moderator Ryan Fitzgerald | Defense Strategy, Policy & Technology

Ryan Fitzgerald

Moderator

Ryan Fitzgerald | Defense Strategy, Policy & Technology

Ryan Fitzgerald has over two decades of experience in national security and defense and is a recognized expert in robotics and autonomous systems (RAS) technology development, strategy, and policy. She has held various positions in the Department of Navy, playing key roles in development and assessment of RAS, such as the MQ-25, small unmanned surface vessels, and other emergent capabilities for the DON. She’s led and participated in the development of strategies and roadmaps for RAS in the DON. She was most recently a lead program analyst in the Department of Navy Office of Strategic Assessment and was awarded the Civilian Meritorious Service Award for her work. Ryan also worked at MITRE, an FFRDC, as the naval autonomy outcome lead and chief engineer for its Expeditionary Department (2019–2024). Ryan holds a BS and MS in Aerospace Engineering and an Executive Certificate in Leadership and Management from MIT. Guiding conversations that shape the future of defense strategy, policy, and technology. Ryan Fitzgerald | Defense Strategy, Policy & Technology is a professional speaking and conference moderation company founded in 2025. Ryan has moderated conferences ranging from small domestic forums to large international events, such as the NATO International Concept Development and Exploration Conference (2022–2024). She has been an invited guest for on the Onward podcast, delivered a TedxDAU talk, and spoken at Under Armour on women in STEM. Ryan’s views are her personal views and not necessarily those of the Department of Navy or its components.

Mark Montgomery Senior Director Foundation for Defense of Democracies

Mark Montgomery

Senior Director

Foundation for Defense of Democracies

Mark is the Senior Director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation and a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. He serves as the Executive Director of Cybersolarium.org, a non-profit organization which works to implement the recommendations of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, where he was Executive Director from 2019 to 2021. As a Senior Fellow he leads FDD efforts to support beleaguered democracies such as Taiwan, Ukraine, South Korea and Israel. Previously, Mark was Policy Director of the Senate Armed Services Committee for Senator John S. McCain. Mark completed 32 years as a nuclear-trained surface warfare officer in the U.S. Navy, retiring as a Rear Admiral. His flag officer assignments included Director of Operations at U.S. Pacific Command; Commander of Carrier Strike Group 5; and Deputy Director, Plans, Policy and Strategy at U.S. European Command. Mark holds graduate degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Oxford and completed the U.S. Navy’s nuclear power training program.

This America First Supply Chain panel focuses on printed circuit boards, batteries, rare earth magnets, motors, semiconductors, sensors, and other critical components essential to autonomy fielding. Leaders will share their knowledge, including on capture strategies for Tier 2/3 suppliers and the importance of prioritizing trusted sourcing.

Speakers

Terri Zimmerman CEO Packet Digital

Terri Zimmerman

CEO

Packet Digital

With more than 20 years of experience developing, incubating and commercializing new technologies, Terri has raised more than $500 million in capital to launch new products and services within global markets. Her experience as a C-level executive includes Great Plains Software, Wamnet and Dakota Technologies. Terri has led the Packet Digital team since 2013 and the Botlink team since 2015. She was appointed to a state economic development board by the Governor of North Dakota, and is serving as chair of The Research Institute for Autonomous Systems at the University of North Dakota.

David Schild Executive Director PCBAA

David Schild

Executive Director

PCBAA

David Schild is Executive Director of the Printed Circuit Board Association of America (PCBAA). PCBAA was founded in 2021 as a coalition of American companies and individuals supporting domestic production of printed circuit boards, integrated circuit (IC) substrates and the materials they are made of. PCBAA members deliver critical technologies from across 34 states to every sector of the economy including critical infrastructure systems including for aerospace and national defense. A graduate of George Washington University, David has over 25 years of experience inside the aerospace and defense industry, managing political engagement, employee communications, advocacy campaigns, executive coaching and external affairs for TRW, United Technologies and most recently Raytheon.

Andrew Keene Vice President, Federal Altana

Andrew Keene

Vice President, Federal

Altana

Andrew leads the growth and delivery of Altana's federal business. Prior to joining Altana, he spent 5 years at Anduril Industries where he held several leadership roles focused on strategy, growth, and operations during the company's hyper growth period. He is a former US Navy Officer with experience in special warfare, joint logistics, and legislative affairs.

Christine Michienzi Founder & CEO MMR Defense Solutions, LLC

Christine Michienzi

Founder & CEO

MMR Defense Solutions, LLC

Christine Michienzi is a former senior government executive with extensive national and international leadership experience. Today, Dr. Michienzi owns MMR Defense Solutions, LLC, a consulting firm that leverages her deep expertise and brings innovative solutions to help companies successfully address supply chain and technical issues using strategy, policy, and investment approaches. Dr. Michienzi is serving as a Special Advisor in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), where she was asked to return to government service to provide expert guidance to the Joint Production Acceleration Cell (JPAC). She is leading various efforts for the Deputy Secretary’s Munitions Acceleration Council, which seeks to rapidly increase industrial base capacity to accelerate production of DoD weapons systems. Dr. Michienzi previously served in the OSD, where she was the Senior Technology Advisor for the Undersecretary of Defense (USD) for Acquisition and Sustainment. She has extensive technical, strategy, and policy expertise in missiles and munitions, including hypersonics, nuclear, and space systems; microelectronics; and critical chemicals and mineral, and the supply chains that manufacture them. Dr. Michienzi provided technical expertise and strategic and policy guidance on the industrial base and supply chains to the USD and the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy (IBP), where she served as the Chief Technology Officer and Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense. Dr. Michienzi began her DoD career with the Navy, where she received both the Naval Sea Systems Command Scientist of the Year Award and the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition Scientist of the Year Award for her research achievements. Most recently, Dr. Michienzi received the Secretary of Defense’s Medal for Civilian Career Service, and she previously received the Secretary of Defense’s Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service. Dr. Michienzi received her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP), and her Doctorate in Analytical Chemistry, also from UMCP.

Soren Monroe-Anderson Co-Founder & CEO Neros

Soren Monroe-Anderson

Co-Founder & CEO

Neros

Soren is the co-founder and CEO of Neros, a company building asymmetric defense systems at industrial scale. Neros’ flagship is Archer, a Blue UAS-certified FPV drone produced at the highest rate of any UAV in America. Soren is a former professional drone racer and 2020 MultiGP world champion.

Allan Evans CEO Unusual Machines

Allan Evans

CEO

Unusual Machines

Allan Evans is the CEO and a director of Unusual Machines since November 2023. Previously, he served as COO of Red Cat and CEO of Fat Shark. A serial entrepreneur, Evans co-founded Avegant in 2012, where he led the development of the Glyph headset and holds 47 patents across various technologies. He also served on the board of Ballast Technologies, specializing in location-based entertainment. With a strong background in emerging tech, engineering, and corporate strategy, his academic work has been cited over 1,000 times, reflecting his impact in the field.

This panel explores how the AUVSI Green UAS program—alongside DoD Blue UAS initiatives—open pathways for autonomy vendors to earn recognition as trusted system suppliers. Panelists will share insights on how to align capture strategies, compliance programs, and certification requirements to access opportunities within the trusted defense-ecosystem for both green and blue UAS platforms.

Speakers

Casie Ocaña Vice President, Public Affairs AUVSI

Casie Ocaña

Vice President, Public Affairs

AUVSI

Casie is currently serving as the Vice President of Public Affairs for AUVSI; leading programs that strengthen trust in the future of autonomy and uncrewed systems. With years of experience in disciplines across marketing, strategic communications and program management, Casie brings expertise from an assortment of leading mobility, technology, and healthcare companies. Casie previously served as the Vice President of Marketing & Communications for Airspace Link, growing the brand into a trusted and award-winning name in the UAS industry during her 2.5 year tenure. Casie also spent 5 years at Ford Motor Company leading progressive and global initiatives for their marketing and communications team. Prior to joining Ford in Dearborn, MI, Casie spent 5 years in San Francisco working at leading agency, AdTech and consumer brands spearheading sales and marketing efforts.

Brian McCord Founder Legion X

Brian McCord

Founder

Legion X

Brian is the Founder and President of Legion X, a cyber vulnerability research and cyber security services company headquartered in Reston, VA. He has pursued "red" cyber throughout his career, including supporting military cyber operations while in the US Army, developing cyber warfighting capabilities at large defense contractors, and conducting deep cyber assessments of weapon systems, aviation systems, transportation systems, and other "non-traditional" cyber platforms like UAS while working at venture capital funded commercial companies. He and his team have experience assessing drones ranging from small, cheap, commercial platforms built in a garage to large military systems like the MQ-9. Legion X was recently announced as one of the certified Third Party Assessors for the Blue UAS program, along with AUVSI, and Brian plans to use that opportunity to deepen his and Legion X's drone expertise. Most importantly, he has a beautiful wife, a lovely daughter, and two newborn twin boys who need to learn to sleep through the night!

Elijah Pichler Lead Engineer TrustThink

Elijah Pichler

Lead Engineer

TrustThink

Elijah Pichler is a Lead Engineer at TrustThink, specializing in cybersecurity and software assurance for connected and autonomous systems. He develops and applies threat models that account for adversarial tactics targeting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of embedded and autonomous platforms. Elijah performs penetration testing and software assurance evaluations for Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS), Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) equipment, and medical devices, identifying vulnerabilities across firmware, communication links, and control software. He also leads the development of security profiles for Intelligent Transportation System devices such as Roadside Units (RSUs), Dynamic Message Signs (DMS), and Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) systems, aligning them with national frameworks and standards. Elijah holds a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD).

Following Tuesday’s sessions, join AUVSI’s Mid-Atlantic Chapter for a no-host networking event at The Spotted Zebra inside the Washington Marriott at Metro Center.

Connect with fellow attendees, speakers, and members for informal discussions and continued collaboration after day one of AUVSI Defense.

Investors discuss how capital flows can align with autonomy programs. The panel will highlight capture and growth opportunities for dual-use startups and and medium size growth companies focusing on how funding intersects with DoD demand.

Speakers

Guy Filippelli Managing Partner Squadra Ventures

Guy Filippelli

Managing Partner

Squadra Ventures

Guy Filippelli is the Managing Partner of Squadra Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm that makes concentrated, lead investments into early stage companies in the National Security and Cybersecurity markets. He was previously founder and CEO of RedOwl Analytics and Berico Technologies. He began his career as a US Army intelligence officer, serving in Korea, Italy, Germany, and Afghanistan, and at NSA where he served as a Special Assistant to the Director, and led a highly successful project in Baghdad. In 2007, Guy received the National Intelligence Medallion, the nation’s highest award for civilian personnel, for his efforts to bring real-time targeting capabilities to our tactical forces. He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, and received his B.A. and M.A. in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from Oxford University, where he studied as a Marshall Scholar. He is Chairman of the Commit Foundation, a non-profit focused on veteran transition, and also serves on the boards of the National Cryptologic Foundation and the University of Maryland’s BioPark. He is a proud husband and father, and enjoys making time for cooking, Italian genealogy, and golf.

Doug Horn Managing Director Clairvest

Doug Horn

Managing Director

Clairvest

Doug Horn is a Managing Director at Clairvest Group, where he is responsible for the sourcing, execution, and management of investments in the aerospace and defense sector. Doug has been supporting entrepreneurs in the unmanned, C5ISR and resilient communications domain with non-control equity investments for over a decade. Prior to Clairvest, Doug worked at TD Bank in their investment banking division focused on mergers and acquisitions, asset sales as well as equity and debt financings. Previously he was a Commodities Analyst for CPM Group in New York where he advised corporates, investors and intergovernmental organizations. Doug holds an M.B.A from the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, an M.Sc. in Global Affairs from New York University and a B.A. from McGill University.

Orin Hoffman Managing Director VXI Capital

Orin Hoffman

Managing Director

VXI Capital

Orin currently serves as Managing Director of VXI Capital, a barbell investing series A-D fund focused on backing capital intensive, hard tech companies that are addressing some of the world’s biggest problems. Orin has been an SGE with the National Security Commission on AI as well as an active collaborator on projects with SCSP, FAS, DayOneProject, Schmidt Futures, CoC and numerous government agencies, Congress and the White House. Orin has authored multiple papers on topics including public private partnerships, national industrial base security, and the Tough Tech ecosystem. Prior to his investment roles, Orin was most recently a senior government civilian at Defense Innovation Unit Experimental where he served in both investment and CTO roles. During that time, Orin led several innovative public private partnership programs, including the creation of the Blue UAS program. Orin also serves on the board of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International.

Erin McPike Head of Americas Tech Practice FTI Consulting Strategic Communications

Erin McPike

Head of Americas Tech Practice

FTI Consulting Strategic Communications

Erin McPike is a communications strategist with deep expertise in public affairs, coalition building, media engagement, and crisis management. She leads the tech sector for FTI’s Strategic Communications segment in the Americas. Ms. McPike supports clients facing communications challenges across stakeholder and business issues as new technology transforms the sector and enables the digitization of all other industries. Prior to joining FTI Consulting, Ms. McPike served in a public policy and communications role at Meta, directing global media strategies, including guiding the business through high-stakes crises, managing executive media engagement and handling external communications. Earlier in her career, she advised business and political leaders, including former presidential candidates Howard Schultz and Michael Bloomberg, and U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper, across media engagements and political campaigns. Previously, she was a national correspondent for CNN and a reporter with National Journal and Real Clear Politics, among others. Ms. McPike holds a Master of Business Administration from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She also holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in both Political Science and Journalism from American University.

Gray Chynoweth Founder The Next Offset

Gray Chynoweth

Founder

The Next Offset

Graham “Gray” Chynoweth is a venture investor who has dedicated significant time to advancing dual-use and defense innovation. As an officer in the U.S. Navy Reserves, Gray has served in strategic roles with the Office of Strategic Capital and NavalX, helping align private capital with critical mission needs. A former NASDAQ-listed CEO and experienced growth-stage operator, Gray has scaled technology companies globally and is an active angel investor and advisor to defense-focused startups and investment funds. He also serves as an advisor to the Council on Global Competition & Innovation (CGCI) and the Resilience Conference, bringing together operators, investors, and policymakers to accelerate the commercialization of emerging technologies essential to allied security.

Dr. Alison Perez Senior Investment Manager Lockheed Martin Ventures

Dr. Alison Perez

Senior Investment Manager

Lockheed Martin Ventures

Dr. Ali Perez joined Lockheed Martin Ventures in 2021. Ali is responsible for investments in space, AI, human potential, biotechnology, man-unmanned teaming, digital transformation, and advanced manufacturing and materials. Her role also supports post-deal integration and transition of technology from the Ventures portfolio into Lockheed pursuits and programs. She runs the Ventures Internal Research and Development program that provides LM engineers with opportunities to collaborate with start-up companies that Lockheed Martin Ventures has invested in.

This fireside highlights how growth capital and strategic partnerships are fueling autonomy scale-up. Experts will address capture strategies for companies seeking to expand production capacity and align with DoD industrial base priorities.

Speakers

Eric Brock Chairman & CEO Ondas Holdings Inc.

Eric Brock

Chairman & CEO

Ondas Holdings Inc.

Eric Brock is the Founder, Chairman and CEO of Ondas Holdings (Nasdaq: ONDS), a leading provider of autonomous drone and robotics technology and private wireless connectivity platforms and services for critical defense, security and industrial markets. He is an entrepreneur with over 30 years' experience spanning global banking and investing and his leadership role with Ondas. At Ondas, Eric directs the growth plans for its two principal business units: Ondas Autonomous Systems (OAS), a leading provider of commercial drone solutions through wholly owned subsidiaries American Robotics, Inc., Airobotics LTD, and Apeiro Motion LTD and Ondas Networks Inc, a leading provider of software-based, private wireless data networks which enable mission critical, wide-area field operations for critical infrastructure markets. Prior to founding Ondas, Eric served as a Partner and Portfolio Manager with Clough Capital Partners, a Boston-based investment firm he co-founded in 2000. He has also held investment banking and accounting roles at Bear, Stearns & Co. and Ernst & Young, LLP. Eric is a graduate of Boston College (Accounting) and the University of Chicago (MBA, Finance & Economics). He is also the Co-Chair of the Commercial Drone Alliance Board of Directors.

Jonathan Siegmann Research Managing Director Stifel Financial Corporation

Jonathan Siegmann

Research Managing Director

Stifel Financial Corporation

Jonathan Siegmann, CFA joined Stifel in 2025. Based out of the Boston office, Mr. Siegmann is a Managing Director, Senior Analyst, and Head of the Aerospace & Defense Research Team. Mr. Siegmann was previously engaged in the new space industry and served as Senior Vice President of Corporate Development at Terran Orbital Corporation, which was sold to Lockheed Martin in 2024. Before that, Mr. Siegmann spent nearly 15 years at Fidelity Investments as Portfolio Manager and Equity Research Analyst, covering public and private North American aerospace, defense, and new space companies. At Fidelity, Mr. Siegmann managed the Select Defense & Aerospace Portfolio fund (FSDAX) from 2015 to 2021. The Select Defense & Aerospace Portfolio fund was recognized as a Lipper Award winner among Industrial Funds by Refinitiv (2017, 2018, and 2019). Mr. Siegmann attended Rensselaer in New York, where he studied Chemical Engineering and graduated cum laude. He also graduated with an MBA from the New York University Stern School of Business. Mr. Siegmann is a CFA® Charterholder, CFA Institute.

Global markets for uncrewed and autonomous systems are growing rapidly, but U.S. firms face complex regulatory terrain in ITAR and EAR. This session unpacks the compliance pathways and strategic considerations that allow companies to scale globally while reinforcing America’s defense-industrial base.

Speakers

Jana del-Cerro Partner DLA Piper LLP

Jana del-Cerro

Partner

DLA Piper LLP

Maria Alejandra (Jana) del-Cerro advises clients on US regulation of outbound trade, including US export controls. Jana works with clients across a broad range of industries, from traditional aerospace and defense manufacturers and multi-national software companies to start-ups in the technology sector. She regularly represents them before the Department of State, Commerce, and Treasury in response to government inquiries, internal reviews, and compliance investigations and voluntary disclosures. Jana previously served as a senior regulatory analyst in the Regulatory and Multilateral Affairs Division of the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls' (DDTC) policy office. She works with US and non-US clients on all aspects of export compliance counseling, developing compliance programs, completing commodity jurisdiction and classification analysis, conducting export trainings, and performing merger and acquisition due diligence and coordinating related regulatory submissions.

Rocky Checca Senior Director Washington Operations AV

Rocky Checca

Senior Director Washington Operations

AV

Rocky Checca is currently the Senior Director Washington Operations at AV. In this role he works with the Legislative and Executive Branches, Foreign Embassies, Industry Associations, Business Councils, and Think Tanks in support of AV’s integrated and innovative defense technology solutions that create strategic advantage across every domain of modern warfare ensuring mission success. Rocky retired from the Marine Corps as a Lieutenant Colonel and flew the CH-46E, VH-3D, and VH-60N. He accumulated 3300+ mishap free flight hours and deployed three times in direct support of combat operations in Iraq. He is also a graduate of the Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course. Rocky was selected to be a Presidential helicopter pilot at Marine Helicopter Squadron One and flew in direct support of the President, Vice-President, and foreign Heads-of-State for four years. Rocky then served as a Congressional Defense Fellow assigned to the office of Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42) and did a follow-on tour assigned as the Deputy Director of the Marine Liaison Office to the U.S. House of Representatives. Rocky co-authored a two-time L.A. Times bestseller book that was placed on the Chief of Naval Operations 2013 reading list. Rocky grew up in Ohio and graduated from the United States Naval Academy where he received a Bachelor of Science in Political Science.

GoAERO is a global competition offering more than $2.5 million in prizes to teams developing revolutionary Emergency Response Flyers—autonomous aircraft that will transform how first responders save lives during disasters, medical emergencies, and humanitarian crises. This three-year competition challenges innovators to create flyers that can navigate wildfires, floods, and remote emergencies where traditional vehicles can’t reach, potentially saving countless lives when every second counts. Teams from more than 85 countries are already competing, but the $1 million grand prize is still up for grabs—and you don’t need to have participated in earlier stages to win.

Speakers

Gwen Lighter CEO GoAERO

Gwen Lighter

CEO

GoAERO

Gwen Lighter is the CEO and founder of GoAERO. Supported by NASA, RTX, Honeywell, and a variety of aerospace and public safety partners, GoAERO is catalyzing the creation of Emergency Response Flyers—safe, autonomy-enabled aircraft that rescue people and perform critical response missions in the face of natural disasters, medical emergencies, climate change, and humanitarian crises. Since 2017, Gwen has also served as CEO of GoFly, where she has led a network of over 3,600 innovators from 103 countries, creating many personal flying devices, including jet packs, flying motorcycles, and human-carrying drones.

How do defense organizations move from pilot projects to mission-ready autonomy? In this fireside conversation, Cara LaPointe, Ph.D. and Craig Sawyer, D.Eng. discuss the path to seamless RAS integration—from assured autonomy and data architecture to the human factors and acquisition strategies that make trusted deployment possible.

Speakers

Cara LaPointe Director of Analysis Center for Security and Emerging Technology

Cara LaPointe

Director of Analysis

Center for Security and Emerging Technology

Dr. Cara LaPointe works at the intersection of technology, policy, ethics, and leadership to tackle some of our nation’s most pressing challenges. She currently serves as the Director of Analysis at the Center for Security and Emerging Technology at Georgetown University where she also teaches in the Science, Technology, and International Affairs program. Cara has extensive experience working in national security, including over two decades as a naval officer and, most recently, as the Director of Strategic Assessment of the United States Department of the Navy. Formerly, she was a founding Co-Director of the Johns Hopkins Institute for Assured Autonomy, working to ensure that emerging technologies throughout society are safe, secure, ethical and trustworthy. Cara is a frequent advisor and speaker on autonomy, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and other frontier technology initiatives including globally at the United Nations, the World Bank, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, and the United States’ National Academy of Medicine. She served within the White House under three administrations, most recently as a Senior Advisor, and is a former member of both the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships and the Department of the Navy’s Science and Technology Board. Cara is a patented engineer, a White House Fellow, and a French American Foundation Young Leader. She holds degrees from the United States Naval Academy, the University of Oxford, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Craig Sawyer Former Chairman NATO JCGMUS and Former Deputy Director of the Office of Strategic Assessment Independent Consultant - Si2i LLC

Craig Sawyer

Former Chairman NATO JCGMUS and Former Deputy Director of the Office of Strategic Assessment

Independent Consultant - Si2i LLC

Dr. Sawyer is an internationally recognized expert in autonomy, systems engineering, military system development, fleet architecture, capability design, and leading innovation within DoD and NATO. During a 25-year Department of Defense career, he spent time in uniform with the US Army 10th Special Forces Group, senior management at naval shipyards on both coasts, executive development in capability development, and ended his career providing the Secretary of the Navy Independent Assessments as the Deputy Director of the Office of Strategic Assessment. Some of his notable contributions include authoring the DoN Unmanned Campaign Framework, co-development of the ONR Intelligent Autonomous Systems Strategy, design, creation, and execution of the DoN Unmanned Task Force and Disruptive Capabilities Office. He holds a Doctorate of Engineering from George Washington University, a Master's of Engineering from Penn State, and a BS degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Southern Maine. He is a veteran of US Army Special Forces, serves as the chairman for NATO Maritime Unmanned Systems, holds several publications on force design and strategy, and received multiple awards of the Navy’s Superior Civilian Service Award.

As autonomy advances, the future lies in coordinating operations across domains rather than single platforms. This panel will explore how air, ground, and maritime autonomy can be integrated through next-generation command and control concepts such as CJADC2 and ABMS. Panelists will highlight real-world integration challenges, lessons from early deployments, and the operational clarity industry needs from government to shape capture strategies. The discussion will also consider how multi-agent teaming and advanced C2 architectures can enable joint forces to coordinate missions at scale and deliver capabilities to the warfighter faster.

Speakers

Pat Acox VP of Defense Growth Forterra

Pat Acox

VP of Defense Growth

Forterra

Pat Acox is Vice President of Defense Growth and leads Forterra’s Defense-related engagements, both domestically and internationally. Pat joined Forterra in July 2022 and has worked with teams across the company to deliver meaningful autonomy products to Defense partners. He is responsible for customer growth, key Government partnerships, shaping product strategy, and executing novel business approaches and learning campaigns to drive best outcomes for partners. Prior to Forterra, Pat was a Business Development Lead at Vannevar Labs where he 10x’d growth based on identifying critical technology gaps for forward deployed elements. He was previously a capital markets advisor and trader at Chatham Financial where he structured and executed approximately $15B in interest rate and foreign currency derivatives and options. As a Marine, Pat served as both officer and enlisted, supporting conventional and special operations missions. He continues to serve as a Marine Corps Reservist, has worked on the Joint Staff as a strategic planner, in the intelligence community, and is currently leading a team with the Marine Innovation Unit. Pat earned his Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the United States Naval Academy and his Master of Science in Astronautical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School and is a distinguished graduate of several military schools.

Jeff Anderson Head of Autonomy, Global Defense AWS

Jeff Anderson

Head of Autonomy, Global Defense

AWS

Jeff Anderson is the Head of Autonomy for Global Defense at AWS. He is the AWS leader responsible for the technical and business strategy for autonomous systems in support of the U.S. Department of War and Global Defense customers. Prior to joining AWS, Jeff served with distinction for over 26 years in the U.S. Navy. He served as the commanding officer of a fast attack submarine and deployed multiple times conducting missions vital to national security. He later served as the AI Lead for the Undersea Enterprise and led AI/data initiatives for the U.S. and AUKUS Pillar II efforts. Jeff is excited about helping industry partners and defense customers scale autonomous systems to deliver maximum mission impact.

Nimrod Blinder VP of Elsight Business Development Elsight

Nimrod Blinder

VP of Elsight Business Development

Elsight

Nimrod Blinder is an experienced leader in the drone and defense technology space, with a strong track record of driving business growth and strategic innovation. He has held senior roles spanning sales, business development, and go‑to‑market leadership, helping companies scale globally. At Elsight, Nimrod plays a key role in bringing Halo technology to the unmanned systems market, helping UAVs and other unmanned systems achieve BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) communications with high reliability in contested and difficult environments. Nimrod holds a degree in Economics from Ben Gurion University.

Matthew Dooley Defense Strategic Initiatives Lead Forterra

Matthew Dooley

Defense Strategic Initiatives Lead

Forterra

Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Matt Dooley is the Defense Strategy Initiatives Lead for Forterra, an advanced robotics autonomy industry serving both defense and commercial customers. Matt attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science, and received his commission as a Second Lieutenant of Armor in May 1994. Matt served in numerous armor and cavalry assignments over the course of his 21 and half years of service, which provides a unique operational perspective on combined arms, technology integrated maneuver warfare. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and holds a Masters Degree in Military Art and Science. Matt served in several forward deployed assignments over the course of his career and is a veteran of six operational and combat tours. Matt’s last active duty position in the Army was as the Chief of Lethality and Robotics Branch for the U.S. Army Capabilities Integration Center (now the Army Future Concepts Center). In this position, he acted as the primary level-three integrator in support of the U.S. Army’s pursuit of robotics programs. Matt served as the Principal Coordinating Author for the U.S. Army’s Robotics and Autonomous Systems Strategy, published in 2017. Matt is an experienced Mission and Systems Engineer. He is the current Chairman for AUVSi’s Defense Advisory Committee and Chairman of NDIA’s Robotics Division.

Austin Gray Co-Founder & CSO Blue Water Autonomy

Austin Gray

Co-Founder & CSO

Blue Water Autonomy

Austin Gray is the co-founder and chief strategy officer of Blue Water Autonomy, a defense-first technology company building autonomous ships. He is obsessed with accelerating naval technology delivery and listening to warfighter feedback. Previously, Gray embedded with the Kyiv Engineering Corps, where he helped accelerate product feedback cycles from the Ukrainian Armed Forces and supported development of electronic warfare, de-mining, and unmanned aerial system products. While in graduate school, he helped grow the MIT and Harvard defense tech ecosystems, and continues to build the broader Boston community of national-security-focused technologists. Gray served in the US Navy as an Intelligence Officer, where he completed combat deployments to multiple theaters on the aircraft carriers USS Theodore Roosevelt and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. Gray also served at Office of Naval Intelligence, where he led a team of sailors, civilians, and contractors modernizing and securing the Navy’s top secret information technology. Gray writes frequently about the intersection of geopolitics and emerging technology, and has been published in local, national, and global publications. He is a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations and holds degrees from Davidson, MIT, and Harvard.

Church Hutton Chief Growth Officer AV

Church Hutton

Chief Growth Officer

AV

Mr. Hutton serves as Chief Growth Officer of AV (formerly AeroVironment), a role he assumed in May 2025 to lead the company’s strategic expansion and long-term growth initiatives. Prior to this, he served as Senior Vice President of AV’s Washington Office, leading corporate Government Relation and Marketing & Communications beginning in 2024, where he played a key role in shaping AV’s public profile and strengthening relationships with government stakeholders. Previously, Mr. Hutton led all aspects of Mercury Systems’ government relations program. Before that, he ran legislative affairs for Sierra Nevada Corporation and was head of Washington operations for a venture-backed defense technology company. A retired Army officer and combat veteran, Mr. Hutton spent a decade in senior staff positions on Capitol Hill including on the professional staff of the Senate Appropriations and Senate Armed Services Committees and in the offices of Senators John McCain and Joe Manchin. He holds degrees from Johns Hopkins University and George Mason University.

Industry innovators and defense experts explore how certifiable AI and assured navigation are driving trusted autonomy and enabling integration across mission-critical operations. From AI certification to GPS-denied navigation, this session examines the enabling technologies and standards that ensure autonomy is reliable, resilient, and ready for defense integration.

Speakers

Dr. Murat Efe Professor, Electrical and Electronics Engineering TUALCOM USA

Dr. Murat Efe

Professor, Electrical and Electronics Engineering

TUALCOM USA

Dr. Murat Efe is a full Professor in Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Ankara University, Ankara, Türkiye. Dr. Efe is an expert on GNSS denied navigation and he has worked with numerous defense companies. He has been serving as a Senior Technical Consultant at TUALCOM HQ since 2022 and at TUALCOM USA since its establishment where he is mainly responsible overseeing CRPA based AntiJamming and GNSS independent Terrestrial Radio Navigation Systems’ technology. Dr. Efe is a co-chair of Working Group WG-133 entitled GNSS Multi Elements Antenna established by EURACAE to develop, requirements, procedures and standards for CRPA technology that will enable required levels on integrity and applicable levels of continuity and accuracy to be achieved at the output of a GNSS of commercial aircrafts.

Michelle Duquette CEO 3 MAD Air

Michelle Duquette

CEO

3 MAD Air

Michelle Duquette stands as an executive-level strategist and pioneer within unmanned and advanced aviation, widely recognized for translating technical complexity into industry-defining results. As Founder and CEO of 3 MAD Air, she commands a unique space at the intersection of engineering expertise, operational leadership, and policy acumen enabling swift, secure integration of UAS and Advanced Air Mobility into the nation’s airspace. Guided by more than two decades of high-impact advisory roles to federal agencies, including FAA, DOD, and homeland security leaders, Michelle is known for her ability to mobilize diverse teams and bridge civil-military integration, regulatory frameworks, and public-private alliances. Her signature achievements include stewarding research informing FAA approval processes, leading multimillion-dollar portfolios on drone and AAM risk, and conducting technical efficiencies and security analyses that drive mission assurance and regulatory evolution. Michelle’s executive leadership is both visionary and pragmatic: she excels at operationalizing regulatory strategy, facilitating risk-based decision-making, and fostering innovation to solve the aviation sector’s most demanding challenges. Renowned for her ability to align stakeholders even in the most difficult settings, she is sought after for guiding cross-sector integration and harmonizing complex technical and policy environments. Previously, as a Senior Principal at The MITRE Corporation, she guided research and strategic direction across emerging aviation technologies, consistently delivering actionable counsel to government and industry executives. Her early grounding as an aircraft dispatcher and aviation systems innovator provided operational credibility and the systems-thinking foundation for her career-long success. Active in industry leadership, Michelle currently serves on advisory boards supporting public safety drone uses for DRONERESPONDERS, and on the XPONENTIAL Executive Steering Committee for AUVSI, where she continues to influence the future of uncrewed systems at the highest level. Renowned for persistence, strategic creativity, and principled leadership, Michelle remains a catalyst for transformative progress and trusted advisor to the next generation of aviation leaders.

Jeremiah Neubert Professor University of North Dakota

Jeremiah Neubert

Professor

University of North Dakota

Jeremiah J. Neubert, Ph.D., is the Mark and Claudia Thompson National Security Endowed Professor at the University of North Dakota, where he leads the Robotics and Intelligent Systems Lab and serves as Associate Director of the AI Research Initiative. His research focuses on robotics, artificial intelligence, and autonomous systems, with applications in defense, aerospace, and national security. Over his career, Dr. Neubert has secured significant research funding from the Department of Defense, NASA, and the National Science Foundation, and authored numerous peer-reviewed publications. A dedicated educator and mentor, he has developed several courses in robotics, machine vision, and autonomy and has been recognized with multiple awards for teaching excellence and interdisciplinary research.

AUVSI’s budget expert provides a forward-looking view of DoD funding priorities for autonomy. This session highlights capture strategies for aligning with budget signals and anticipating where acquisition resources will flow.

Speakers

David Klein Director of Research, Analytics & Applied AI AUVSI

David Klein

Director of Research, Analytics & Applied AI

AUVSI

David serves as the Associate Director of Research at AUVSI, the world’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the uncrewed systems and robotics community. With a foundation in mechanical engineering, his journey in this field began with the design and development of autonomous underwater vehicles as a student. This experience launched a 15-year career as a research analyst, during which he gathered, analyzed, and reported on technical and market data to support the growth of the uncrewed systems industry. In his current role, he leads a team of analysts and associates in building a comprehensive data ecosystem at AUVSI. Some focus areas for future developments involve the integration of emerging technologies such as AI, machine learning, large language models, and advanced data visualization to deliver deeper insights and drive innovation across the sector.