Program

Below is the high-level program for the 2025 AIAA DEFENSE Forum. The program will be updated as new speakers are confirmed in the coming months.

• Tuesday, 15 April

  0730 – 0800
  Continental Breakfast
• Tuesday, 15 April

  0800 – 0845
  Keynote: UAV Threat Briefing

  Keynote

  • Thomas Powers
    UAV Threat Analyst, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
• Tuesday, 15 April

  0845 – 0930
  Keynote

  Keynote Speaker

  • Sarah Beaudin
    Chief Engineer and Engineering Director, E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Block II Program, Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems
• Tuesday, 15 April

  0930 – 1000
  Networking Coffee Break
• Tuesday, 15 April

  1000 – 1200
  Technical Sessions

  Description

  Access Technical Sessions
• Tuesday, 15 April

  1200 – 1300
  Lunch Available
• Tuesday, 15 April

  1300 – 1530
  Technical Sessions

  Description

  Access Technical Sessions
• Tuesday, 15 April

  1530 – 1600
  Networking Coffee Break
• Tuesday, 15 April

  1600 – 1730
  Keynote Panel: Long-Range Kill Webs

  Moderator

  • Meggan Schoenberg
    Principal Director for Integrated Network System of Systems (INSS), Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Critical Technologies, OUSD R&E

  Panelists

  • Maj. Gen. Luke Cropsey, USAF
    Program Executive Officer for Command, Control, Communications and Battle Management (DAF PEO C3BM), Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition
  • Elmer L. Roman
    Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Mission Integration, Office of the Secretary of Defense
  • Lt. Col. Michael “Woody” Woodhouse, USA
    Deputy Cell Director for Warfighter Integration, Space Development Agency
• Tuesday, 15 April

  1730 – 1900
  Networking Reception

  Description

  Relax and enjoy conversation, drinks, and food with attendees and speakers. It’s a great way to miss the DC traffic!

• Wednesday, 16 April

  0730 – 0800
  Continental Breakfast
• Wednesday, 16 April

  0800 – 0930
  Keynote: The Transformative Role of Unmanned Systems

  Speakers

  • David DeVon
    Portfolio Manager/Lead for Unmanned and Air Systems, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Prototyping and Experimentation
  • Lt. Col. Charles LeDeatte, USAF
    Director, AFCENT Battle Lab, Chief Technology and Data Officer, Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central)
  • Maj Phillip Smith, USMC
    Program Manager, Tactical Technology Office, DARPA ,
• Wednesday, 16 April

  0930 – 1000
  Networking Coffee Break
• Wednesday, 16 April

  1000 – 1200
  Technical Sessions

  Description

  Access Technical Sessions
• Wednesday, 16 April

  1200 – 1300
  Lunch Available
• Wednesday, 16 April

  1300 – 1530
  Technical Sessions

  Description

  Access Technical Sessions
• Wednesday, 16 April

  1530 – 1600
  Networking Coffee Break
• Wednesday, 16 April

  1600 – 1730
  Keynote Panel: Industrial Base and Capacity

  Moderator

  • Christine Michienzi
    Senior Associate (Non-resident), Defense-Industrial Initiatives Group, CSIS

  Panelists

  • Alison Perez
    Senior Investment Manager, Lockheed Martin Ventures
  • Michael Rambo
    Technology Strategy Senior Manager, Spirit AeroSystems
  • Tom Sarama
    Chief Engineer, Raytheon
  • Neil Thurgood
    Senior Vice President, Anduril Industries
  • Eric Wollerman
    President, Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies (FM&T), LLC

• Thursday, 17 April

  0730 – 0800
  Continental Breakfast
• Thursday, 17 April

  0800 – 0845
  Keynote: Hypersonic Threat Briefing

  Speakers

  • Brett Boylston
    Foreign Technology Group Manager, Beyond New Horizons, LLC/Arnold Engineering Development Complex
• Thursday, 17 April

  0845 – 0930
  Keynote: Hypersonics Update

  Speakers

  • James W. Weber
    Principal Director for Hypersonics, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering
• Thursday, 17 April

  0930 – 1000
  Networking Coffee Break
• Thursday, 17 April

  1000 – 1200
  Technical Sessions

  Description

  Access Technical Sessions
• Thursday, 17 April

  1200 – 1300
  Lunch Available
• Thursday, 17 April

  1300 – 1530
  Technical Sessions

  Description

  Access Technical Sessions
• Thursday, 17 April

  1530 – 1600
  Networking Coffee Break
• Thursday, 17 April

  1600 – 1730
  Keynote Panel: Combatant Commands

  Moderator

  • Jordan Feidler
    General Manager, Pentagon and Multi-Domain Division, The Aerospace Corporation

  Panelists

  • Dave Denhard
    Chief Scientist and Technical Advisor , U.S. Space Command
  • Martin Lindsey
    Science and Technology Division Chief (J85), U.S. Indo-Pacific Command
• Thursday, 17 April

  1730 – 1815
  Keynote: U.S. Navy Air Warfare

  Keynote Speaker

  • Rear Adm. Michael “Buzz” Donnelly, USN
    Director, Air Warfare Division, N98, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations

• Friday, 18 April

  0730 – 0800
  Continental Breakfast
• Friday, 18 April

  0800 – 0930
  Keynote Panel: Lessons Learned from Recent Conflicts

  Moderator

  • Bryan Clark
    Senior Fellow and Director, Center for Defense Concepts and Technology, Hudson Institute

  Panelists

  • Gillian Bussey
    Deputy Chief Science Officer, US Space Force
  • CAPT Quinton Packard, USN
    Military Fellow, Defense and Security Department, CSIS
  • Maj. Gen. James Smith
    Vice Director for Joint Force Development, Joint Staff
• Friday, 18 April

  0930 – 1000
  Networking Coffee Break
• Friday, 18 April

  1000 – 1300
  Technical Sessions

  Description

  Access Technical Sessions