Abstract digital image

Breaking Barriers in Defense Acquisition

May 7-8, 2025
MITRE McLean

In-Person Registration (Days 1 & 2)

Virtual Registration (Day 1)    

A summit for forward-thinking acquisition experts and leaders in defense and technology.

Convened by and for Acquisition Leaders

Join senior defense and acquisition officials, industry experts, private capital funders, tech innovators, agile defense suppliers, congressional thought leaders, policymakers, think tanks, and media representatives.

Together, we will craft a roadmap for a transformative acquisition ecosystem—built for speed, innovation, and warfighter effectiveness.

About the Summit

The event offers the opportunity for government and industry stakeholders to spearhead recommendations for capability-driven acquisition pathways, software-intensive systems for increased lethality, acceleration of autonomous solutions, scaling commercial innovation, and fostering a thriving Allied industrial base. Objectives include:

  • Invest in capabilities for priority threat scenarios to improve mission performance
  • Leverage Mission Engineering to increase mission success
  • Lower barriers to entry for industry—and engage continuously to evolve solutions
  • Expedite transitioning proposed solutions to working prototypes
  • Leverage experimentation results to drive rapid deployment to operational environments
  • Empower an integrated government-industry team to align development efforts
  • Accelerate fielding of commercial solutions
  • Address U.S. supply-chain and manufacturing challenges to ensure efficient production
  • Enable rapid integration of legacy and new systems
  • Improve workforce skills for rapid acquisition

Location

MITRE
7596 Colshire Drive
McLean, VA 22102
McLean Campus Map (PDF)

Agenda

Participants will be immersed in a full day of keynotes, panels, and debate. Expect a call to action from industry and government voices tackling acquisition’s toughest challenges. Results will be released from the inaugural survey on the state of defense acquisition, and in-person attendees can tour MITRE’s cutting-edge research and technology labs.

8:00 - 8:45amRegistration and Breakfast 
8:45 - 9:00am       

Welcome Remarks

9:00 - 9:15am       

Keynote Remarks – DoD Leadership

  • Admiral Samuel Paparo, USN, Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command  
9:15 - 9:35 am

Keynote Remarks – DoD Leadership

  • Joseph Welch, Deputy to the Commanding General, U.S. Army Futures Command
9:35 - 9:55 am

Keynote Remarks – DoD Leadership

9:55 - 10:10 amKeynote Remarks – A View from the Hill 
10:10 - 10:30am   Networking Break  
10:30 - 11:00am    

Fireside Chat 

  • Eric Fanning, President and CEO, Aerospace Industries Association
  • Dr. Keoki Jackson, Senior Vice President, General Manager, MITRE National Security 
11:00am - 12:00pm

Panel – Innovation & Disruption for Capability Driven Acquisition

12:00 - 1:00pm  Lunch
1:00 - 1:15pm  

State of Defense Acquisition Survey Results 

1:15 - 1:25pm  

Keynote Remarks - Industry Perspective

  • Frank St. John, Chief Operating Officer, Lockheed Martin Corporation
1:25 - 2:15pm   

Panel – Buying Better to Accelerate DoD Capability

  • Moderator: Dr. Arun Seraphin, Executive Director, NDIA Emerging Technologies Institute
  • Matthew MacGregor, Senior Director, Anduril Industries
  • Matt Cronin, Senior National Security Policy and Regulator Advisor, Andreesen Horowitz
  • Mark Stewart, Director, National Security U.S. Government Affairs, Microsoft 
2:15 - 2:40pm  Networking Break 
2:40 - 3:25pm

Panel – Scaling & Revitalizing the Manufacturing Base & Supply Chain

  • Moderator: Sarah Stewart, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, Silverado Policy Accelerato
  • Chris Toffales, President and Managing Director, CTC Aero 
3:25 - 4:10 pm   

Panel – Extending Capabilities through Allies & Partners

4:10 - 4:30pm   

Keynote Remarks – DoD Leadership

  • Lt. Gen. Dale White, USAF, Military Deputy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics
4:30 - 6:00pmNetworking Reception & Lab Tours
In-Person Registration (Days 1 & 2) Virtual Registration (Day 1 only)

Participants will engage in focused, concurrent workshops to deliver recommendations for acquisition reform.

7:30 - 8:00amRegistration and Breakfast 
8:00 - 8:05amWelcome and Intro
8:05 - 8:30amKeynote  – Allies & Partnerships
8:30 - 8:45amDay 1 – Re-cap and instructions for the workshops
8:45am - 12:00pm

Working Group Sessions

  • Workshop #1 – Extending Software Intensive Acquisition Pathways
  • Workshop #2 – Rapid Acquisition for DoD Priority Capabilities
  • Workshop #3 – Supply Chain and Revitalizing the Manufacturing Base
  • Workshop #4 – Strengthening Capabilities with Allies and Partners
12:00 - 12:45pmNetworking Lunch
12:45 - 2:00pmWorking Groups finalize recommendations 
2:00 - 2:20 pm

Working Groups Readouts 

  • Workshop #1 – 2:00-2:05
  • Workshop #2 – 2:05-2:10
  • Workshop #3 – 2:10-2:15
  • Workshop #4 – 2:15-2:20
2:20 - 2:30pmNext Steps, Action Items, and Thank You
In-Person Registration (Days 1 & 2)

Speakers

MITRE Team

Photo of Dan Ward

Dan Ward

Defense Acquisition Innovator

Photo of Allison Reardon

Allison Reardon

Industry Engagement

MITRE Thought Leadership

Navy Lt. works in the command center aboard the USS John P. Murtha

National Security Engineering Center

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