Session Summaries
March 18, 2026
Drone Dominance Sustainment: Building North Carolina’s Industrial Base for Next-Generation Unmanned Systems. Coming soon.
March 19, 2026
Sustaining Ground Vehicles & Armament Systems: Business Opportunities & Procurement Dialogue. The sustainability of U.S. military ground vehicle programs relies on several key factors including funding, technological advancements, and strategic planning. This breakout session explores business opportunities and procurement challenges in sustaining military ground vehicles and armament systems. Representatives from key defense agencies and industry partners will discuss current and future sustainment needs, highlighting areas for innovation, parts obsolescence solutions, and lifecycle support strategies. Attendees will gain insights into how small and large businesses can align with Department of Defense priorities, navigate procurement pathways, and respond to evolving requirements. The session will also address common contracting obstacles, data rights, and technical documentation hurdles that impact readiness. This is a valuable forum for suppliers, OEMs, and logistics providers seeking to support ground combat capabilities.
Innovations to Boost and Strengthen the Defense Industrial Base. This session will explore DARPA’s latest initiatives and breakthrough technologies designed to strengthen and expand the U.S. Defense Industrial Base. Attendees will gain insights into how DARPA is accelerating innovation to address critical national security challenges—ranging from advanced manufacturing and supply chain resilience to emerging capabilities in artificial intelligence, autonomy, microelectronics, and energetics. The discussion will highlight DARPA’s role in bridging cutting-edge research with real-world defense applications, fostering public-private collaboration, and enabling small and non-traditional businesses to contribute to critical defense needs. Learn how these innovations are reshaping the future of defense readiness and industrial capacity.
Sustaining Maritime Systems: Business Opportunities & Procurement Dialogue. As global maritime dynamics shift, the U.S. Department of Defense faces increasing pressure to modernize its naval capabilities in the face of rising strategic competition – particularly China, whose maritime defense expansion is outpacing the U.S. both in scale and speed. This panel will explore how the U.S. can maintain maritime superiority through robust sustainment strategies, agile procurement, and innovative industry partnership.
Join government, industry, and the acquisition community as they discuss the critical role of sustainment in ensuring fleet readiness, extending platform lifecycles, and supporting operational agility. This session will also highlight business opportunities across the sustainment enterprise and provide guidance on navigating DoD procurement pathways.
Attendees will gain actionable insights into how their organizations can contribute to strengthening U.S. maritime dominance through lifecycle support, digital transformation, and resilient supply chain
Empowering the Future: Enhancing the DoD Industrial Workforce. As global supply chains become more complex and contested, the Department of Defense must strengthen its logistics and supply chain workforce. This panel brings together leaders from government, industry, and academia to share innovative workforce development strategies. Panelists will address challenges in talent acquisition and retention, the effects of onshoring, and the value of cross-sector collaboration. Attendees will learn about impactful training programs, credentialing efforts, and tools shaping the future supply chain workforce.
Whether you’re an educator, logistics expert, or industry partner, this session offers practical ideas and collaboration opportunities to help maintain the DoD’s workforce as a strategic edge.
Sustaining Aerospace Systems: Business Opportunities & Procurement Dialogue. Leaders from DLA Aviation, AFSC, NAVAIR, AMCOM, and the U.S. Coast Guard will share sustainment priorities and evolving acquisition strategies in military aviation. Panelists will discuss aerospace system needs, supply chain challenges, and how industry can support readiness through MRO and parts procurement.
Attendees will gain insight into procurement processes, sourcing priorities, and initiatives addressing obsolescence, digital transformation, and supply chain resilience. This session offers a valuable chance for businesses to connect with decision-makers and learn how to compete as agile, trusted partners in aerospace sustainment.
Technology and Innovation Showcase. Four select businesses will present their cutting-edge technologies to participating government representatives. Select businesses will have 10 minutes for presentation, followed by 5 minutes for feedback and Q&A from the government panel. The briefs aim to bridge the gap between innovative solutions and federal technology needs. This session is a crucial opportunity for innovators to connect with federal technology needs and gain visibility among prime manufacturers and stakeholders in the defense sector. Click here for more information.
Sustaining Department of Defense Organic Industrial Base: Business Opportunities & Procurement Dialogue. This breakout session will explore business opportunities and procurement challenges related to supporting and sustaining the Department of Defense’s Organic Industrial Base (OIB). As the backbone of military readiness, the OIB comprises critical maintenance depots, arsenals, and shipyards that ensure equipment availability and modernization. Representatives from government and industry will discuss current sustainment needs, recapitalization efforts, and how private sector partnerships can help strengthen infrastructure, workforce capacity, and supply chain resilience. Attendees will gain insights into navigating acquisition processes, leveraging contracting vehicles, and meeting evolving performance and cybersecurity standards. The session will also address challenges such as funding constraints, aging facilities, and long lead times for critical/sourcing obsolete parts.
Building Your Business: Selling to the National Guard & Reserve — Domestic and Global Opportunities with the U.S. Department of Commerce. The National Guard and Reserve play a dual domestic and federal mission, supporting combat readiness while delivering crucial local services—such as disaster relief, mobile medical units, recruiting programs, training, and built environments—distinct from standard DLA-supported initiatives. This creates unique, accessible procurement channels for small businesses across sectors like mobile services, equipment manufacturing, civil infrastructure, and even promotional items. Guard units contract food services, construction, training support, administrative support, and more through IDIQ agreements or small-business RFQs, while the National Guard Office of Small Business Programs (NGB OSBP) actively seeks diverse, innovative partners. In FY ’25 alone, nearly $333 million in small-business contracts were awarded, with opportunities for set aside such as women-, veteran-, HUBZone-, and disadvantaged-owned businesses.
The U.S. Department of Commerce adds a crucial opportunity for ambitious firms, helping businesses scale globally. Commerce will provide guidance on export support and ITAR best practices, ensuring that parts, systems, or services can be delivered safely to allied partners. Businesses will gain strategic insight and governance frameworks that mitigate risk across international contracts, customs, and compliance, allowing businesses to export goods and services with confidence. By leveraging Commerce resources and programs, companies can build long-term, resilient partnerships that can strengthen their brand in defense and commercial markets.ute to the readiness and resilience of America’s most adaptable forces.