CDAO Defense & Security 2025 schedule

• Defining the Marine Corps’ vision for integrating information, cyber, space, and C2 to achieve operational dominance
• Institutionalizing data as a strategic asset to drive agility, speed, and precision in warfighting decisions
• Leveraging AI/ML and automation to accelerate sense-making and enhance human-machine teaming across domains
• Aligning modernization priorities with joint force initiatives to ensure seamless information integration and resilience in contested environments
• Building the warfighter's trust in data and digital tools through secure architectures, training, and cultural transformation

• How are defense industry leaders aligning with DoD priorities to accelerate innovation and technology transition into the hands of warfighters?
• What are the biggest challenges in collaborating with government stakeholders on digital modernization and AI adoption?
• How can industry help address ethical, security, and policy considerations tied to emerging technologies like LLMs and autonomy?
• What lessons can be learned from successful public-private partnerships driving mission impact?
• What recommendations do industry leaders have for future acquisition models, data-sharing frameworks, and faster pathways to experimentation and implementation?

Moderator: Lieutenant General (Ret’d) Michael Groen, Former Director of JAIC, US DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

• How are Chinese and Russian advancements in AI and autonomous systems reshaping the strategic environment, and what implications do they hold for U.S. battlefield decision-making?
• What are the biggest barriers to integrating modular, open systems architecture in combat systems—and how can they be overcome?
• How can AI and cyber resilience be embedded at the tactical edge to counter adversarial disruptions in contested environments?
• What are the most effective strategies to close the gap between R&D and fielded AI capabilities, especially in the context of emerging geopolitical threats?

Panelists:

Rachael Martin, Maven Office Director, NATIONAL GEOSPATIAL-INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

Samuel Bendett, Advisor, CENTER FOR NAVAL ANALYSES 

• Leveraging data as a strategic asset to support federal and state mission agility
• Building AI/ML capabilities tailored to the unique structure and dual responsibility of the National Guard
• Integrating digital solutions to enhance readiness, situational awareness, and emergency response coordination
• Strengthening partnerships across federal, state, and private sectors to ensure secure, scalable, and mission-aligned technology adoption

• Designing the future force: outlining emerging requirements and building capability through to 2050
• Aligning Air Force Futures requirements with acquisition strategies to optimize capability transformation
• Integrating digital engineering, open architectures, and data-centric strategies to enable multi-domain decision superiority
• Operationalizing CJADC2 through synchronized investments in sensors, networks, and AI-enabled platforms
• Leveraging collaborative combat aircraft and autonomous systems to enhance data-sharing, battlespace awareness, and distributed C2

• Retaining the adaptive edge by integrating emerging technologies across domains–embracing new information-centric solutions
• Enabling faster and more effective decision-making by incorporating automation and AI into the digital backbone
• Equipping the force with digitally enabled skills; investing in IT infrastructure to enable effective operation
• Transforming capabilities through advanced business tools, automation, and a digitally-savvy workforce

• How can DoD acquisition pathways be modernized to meet the urgency of evolving cyber threats?
• What are the best models for public-private collaboration to deliver secure cyber capabilities at speed?
• How do organizations ensure AI, zero trust, and cybersecurity measures are integrated from the outset?
• What governance and risk management structures are essential to balance innovation and control?

Panelists:

Khoi Nguyen, SES, Director of Cyber Acquisition & Technology (J9) & Command Acquisition Executive (J9), US CYBER COMMAND 

Charles Forte, Chief Information Officer, UK MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

Dr. Robert Moser, SES, Director, Information Technology Laboratory, US ARMY ENGINEER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER 

Thomas J. Lawhead, Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategy, Integration and Requirements, US AIR FORCE

• Piloting digital test and evaluation projects to clear capabilities without the need for live trials
• Applying and using data science and AI: building capability in fast-maturing technologies
• Improving the DevSecOps pipeline to more rapidly push updates and increase throughput from a wider variety of developers
• Scaling tactical edge integration services and leading digital transformation across the MoD by developing key data & analytics products and creating a reliable, platform-agnostic analytics ecosystem

• Examining the convergence of autonomy and integrated data systems to enhance operational tempo and decision advantage in contested environments
• Leveraging AI and ML for adaptive, mission-driven autonomous systems at the tactical edge
• Understanding the critical role of trusted data pipelines and interoperability in enabling autonomous mission execution
• Aligning emerging autonomy initiatives with CJADC2 and broader digital modernization efforts across the DoD

• Addressing the innovation adoption problem: incentivizing behavioral change and increasing the agility of acquisition models
• Embedding Responsible AI principles into enterprise architecture and operational workflows
• Lessons from the Defense Innovation Board: bridging the gap between commercial best practices and defense requirements
• Creating the infrastructure for trust: data governance, transparency, and validation for AI systems in high-stakes environments  

• Accelerating Data and AI: how can innovation units better support Commands in managing data, integrating AI solutions, and streamlining workflows?
• How can we push updates and scale tactical edge data integration services more rapidly?
• What efforts are needed to accelerate the acquisition and implementation of technology

Panelists:

Graham Plaster, Director, NAUTILUS (Confirmed)

William McHenry, Senior Advisor to the Director, DEFENSE INNOVATION UNIT (Confirmed)

Matthew Willis, PhD, Director, Army Innovations, US ARMY (Confirmed)

Bonnie Evangelista, Outgoing Deputy Chief Digital and AI Officer for Acquisitions US DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Subject to Final Confirmation

• Leveraging commercial technology to accelerate military capabilities: strategies for engaging startups, tech firms, and non-traditional defense partners
• Assessing strategies for engaging startups, venture-backed firms, and tech disruptors in defense.
• Overcoming barriers to commercial technology adoption within the DoD acquisition process

• Scaling dual-use AI, quantum, and autonomous technologies

• Leveraging emerging technologies and data analytics to drive talent identification, development, and operational readiness across the Army
• Cultivating a culture of innovation by empowering leaders to experiment, iterate, and adopt new tools at speed
• Integrating digital talent management platforms to enhance decision-making, workforce agility, and retention
• Harnessing data as a strategic asset to align human capital with mission outcomes and enable more adaptive force planning

• Lessons learned: challenges to augment intelligence using machines
• Overcoming implementation barriers to field AI solutions at speed and at scale across the intelligence community
• Overview of initiatives transforming the IC’s analytics and knowledge management tradecraft while leveraging AI to derive insight from IC information holdings fusion
• Strengthening zero-trust architectures to protect mission-critical data
• Mapping out the future of cross-service and allied data-sharing frameworks for global security

• Software-enabled systems, sensors, and tools to strengthen counterintelligence capability
• Delivering warfighting effects at pace and scale required for current and future cyberspace operations
• Strengthening cyber resilience and developing more agile, scalable, and interoperable solutions
• Enhancing cyber offensive operations: imposing risks and consequences on cyber actors seeking to interfere with democratic principles

• Cybersecurity risk management: proactive cyber defense strategies
• Mitigating cyber vulnerabilities and incorporating cyber resilience by design
• Enhancing mission assurance through real-time cyber threat intelligence and automated defenses
• Strengthening network resilience against cyberattacks, electronic warfare, and AI-enabled threats
• Leveraging Zero-Trust Architecture to ensure secure and continuous access to mission-critical systems

• Harnessing dual-use academic research to solve high-priority Air Force and DoD challenges
• Operationalizing AI at scale through agile experimentation and cross-sector collaboration
• Ensuring alignment between technical development and real-world mission needs
• Driving responsible, human-centered AI development through the DAF/MIT AI Accelerator
• Scaling research breakthroughs into deployable capabilities to support multi-domain decision-making

• Leveraging AI and machine learning to enhance real-time decision-making
• Overcoming data silos to enable real-time intelligence sharing and operational agility
• Lessons from recent AI deployment initiatives and their impact on Air Force modernization