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.
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Continental Breakfast
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Keynote: UAV Threat Briefing
Keynote
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Thomas Powers
UAV Threat Analyst
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Keynote: Missile Defense Agency
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Networking Coffee Break
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Technical Sessions
Description
Access Technical Sessions -
Lunch Available
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Technical Sessions
Description
Access Technical Sessions -
Networking Coffee Break
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Keynote Panel: Long-Range Kill Webs
Panelists
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Maj. Gen. Luke Cropsey
Program Executive Officer for Command, Control, Communications and Battle Management (DAF PEO C3BM) -
Keith Kosan
Director of Advanced Technology Test -
Meggan Schoenberg
Principal Director for Integrated Network System of Systems (INSS), Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Critical Technologies -
Lt. Col. Michael “Woody” Woodhouse
Deputy Cell Director for Warfighter Integration
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Networking Reception
Description
Relax and enjoy conversation, drinks, and food with attendees and speakers. It’s a great way to miss the DC traffic!
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Continental Breakfast
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Keynotes: The Transformative Role of Unmanned Systems
Description
Director, AFCENT Battle Lab, Chief Technology and Data Officer, Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central)Panelists
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Lt. Col. Charles LeDeatte, USAF
Director, AFCENT Battle Lab, Chief Technology and Data Officer, Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central)
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Networking Coffee Break
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Keynote: AI Impacts on Defense R&D Practice and CIO Responsibilities
Keynote
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Alexis Bonnell
Digital Capabilities Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory
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Technical Sessions
Description
Access Technical Sessions -
Lunch Available
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Technical Sessions
Description
Access Technical Sessions -
Networking Coffee Break
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Keynote
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Keynote Panel: Industrial Base and Capacity
Moderator
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Christine Michienzi
Senior Associate (Non-resident), Defense-Industrial Initiatives Group
Panelists
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Alison Perez (Ali)
Senior Investment Manager -
Michael Rambo
Technology Strategy Senior Manager -
Tom Sarama
Chief Engineer, Raytheon Missiles Systems -
Eric Wollerman
President -
Lt. Gen. L. Neil Thurgood, USA (Ret.)
Senior Vice President
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Continental Breakfast
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Keynote: Hypersonic Threat Briefing
Speakers
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Brett Boylston
Foreign Technology Group Manager
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Keynote: Hypersonics
Speakers
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James W. Weber
Principal Director for Hypersonics
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Networking Coffee Break
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Technical Sessions
Description
Access Technical Sessions -
Lunch Available
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Technical Sessions
Description
Access Technical Sessions -
Networking Coffee Break
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Keynote Panel: Operators
Moderator
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David Denhard
Chief Scientist and Technical Advisor
Panelists
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Martin Lindsey
Science and Technology Division Chief (J85) -
Sally Pfenning
Director of Requirements and Resource Integration (J8)
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Continental Breakfast
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Keynote Panel: Lessons Learned from Recent Conflicts
Moderator
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Bryan Clark
Senior Fellow and Director, Center for Defense Concepts and Technology
Panelists
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CAPT Quinton Packard, USN
Military Fellow, Defense and Security Department, CSIS -
Maj. Gen. James Smith
Vice Director for Joint Force Development, The Joint Staff
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Networking Coffee Break
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Technical Sessions
Description
Access Technical Sessions
Founding and Executive Sponsor
Sponsors
