2026 AFCEA and INSA Intelligence & National Security Summit

On August 26 and 27, the intelligence, defense, and national security community gathered in Bethesda, MD, for the AFCEA/INSA Intelligence & National Security Summit. Two days were dedicated to tackling shared challenges, exchanging best practices, and learning about the innovations transforming the mission. The program featured six breakout sessions, five plenaries, an exclusive career fair, standing-room-only lightning rounds, and a bustling exhibit floor showcasing the latest technological services and innovations.

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Plenary 1

Speakers:

• Greg Ryckman, Special Advisor to the Director, DIA
• Lewis Shepherd, CTO, Broadcom, Federal (moderator)

In his fireside chat, Greg Ryckman emphasized the need to translate intelligence into actionable decisions as conflicts become faster, more complex, and increasingly global. He highlighted the importance of leveraging AI, automation, and other emerging technologies to help analysts identify information and anomalies more quickly while preserving human judgment, accuracy, and accountability.

Ryckman discussed how adversaries are increasingly operating across multiple domains, moving at greater speed, and exploiting decision-making asymmetries. He stressed the need for stronger government-industry collaboration, interoperable solutions, and a workforce prepared to integrate new technologies while maintaining foundational intelligence tradecraft.

Breakout Sessions

Building Operational Readiness and Resilience in the Arctic

Speakers:

• VADM Peter Gautier, USCG (Ret.), President, Gautier Consulting, LLC
• Shannon Jenkins, Senior Arctic Policy Advisor, Polar Coordination Office, U.S. Coast Guard
• Maj Gen Connie Jenkins, USAF (Ret.), Former Director of Logistics and Engineering, NORAD and USNORTHCOM
• Sue Kalweit, Owner, Vector Insights Consulting, LLC (moderator)

Panelists discussed the Arctic’s growing strategic importance as changing ice conditions drive increased military and commercial activity and expand opportunities for U.S. operations, search and rescue, and international cooperation. They highlighted the challenges of operating in a region with limited infrastructure, harsh conditions, and gaps in sensing and communications, emphasizing the need for stronger intelligence and logistics fusion, Arctic-ready personnel, and interoperability with allies and partners. The panel also discussed the expansion of the U.S. icebreaker fleet and the importance of viewing these vessels as national assets that can advance U.S. priorities and strengthen partnerships.

Quantum-Ready: Navigating the 2027 Mandate for National Security

Speakers:

• Will Loucks, Senior Director for Intelligence, ONCD
• Patrick Manley, Lead for Quantum Security, CISA
• Dr. Constanza Vidal Bustamante, Fellow, Technology and National Security Program, CNAS
• Kathryn Wang, Principal, Public Sector, SandboxAQ
• Dr. John Beieler, Executive Director, ARLIS UMD (moderator)

Panelists discussed the importance of preparing now for the future quantum threat, emphasizing the need to identify and prioritize critical systems, data, and authentication infrastructure for migration to post-quantum cryptography. They highlighted the importance of cryptographic agility, automation, clear ownership, budgeting, and international interoperability, while encouraging government and industry to develop realistic migration roadmaps and build flexibility into systems to adapt to evolving quantum and AI-enabled threats.

Plenary 2: Fireside Chat

Speakers:

• LTG Brian Gibson, USA, Vice Director, Golden Dome for America
• Suzanne Wilson Heckneberg, President, INSA (moderator)

LTG Gibson discussed Golden Dome as a conventional approach to strengthening homeland defense and providing the United States with options beyond nuclear escalation, emphasizing the need for capabilities that are lethal, effective, affordable, and operationally sustainable. He highlighted the importance of realistic live-fire testing, innovation, and collaboration with industry partners of all sizes, with speed, capability, and affordability identified as key priorities. Gibson noted that larger and more complex tests are expected over the next 12 months as Golden Dome continues to evolve.

Plenary 3: Service Intelligence Priorities

Speakers:

• LTG Michelle Schmidt, USA, Deputy Chief of Staff, G2, U.S. Army
• Lt Gen Max Pearson, USAF, Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, U.S. Air Force
• RADM Mike Brookes, USN, Commander, ONI
• Steve Griffin, Assistant Commandant for Intelligence, CG-2, U.S. Coast Guard
  
• LTG Scott Berrier, USA (Ret.), VP, Intelligence and National Security, Booz Allen (moderator)

The panel brought together senior intelligence leaders from across the military services to discuss how their missions have evolved since 9/11 into a far more complex, multi domain threat environment. While each service highlighted its own priorities, common themes emerged around turning growing volumes of data into usable intelligence and getting the right information to the right people faster, with AI increasingly seen as key to managing that burden. That optimism came with caution, as panelists stressed the need for strong governance and a real understanding of how these systems work, alongside continued reliance on industry and allied partnerships to close capability gaps.

Plenary 4: Strategic Priorities Panel

Speakers:

• LtGen James Adams, USMC, Director, DIA
• Walter Trynock, Director, Strategic Initiatives, NGA
• William Adkins, Principal Deputy Director, NRO
• Tim Kosiba, Deputy Director, NSA
  
• Letitia A. Long, Chairwoman, INSA (moderator)

Panelists discussed how a rapidly evolving threat environment is driving the Intelligence Community to operate with greater speed, agility, and integration across agencies. They highlighted the growing role of commercial capabilities, open-source information, and AI in helping analysts process increasing volumes of data, while emphasizing that human judgment remains critical for mission decisions, compliance, and validating machine-generated outputs. The panel also stressed the need to modernize acquisition, scale proven commercial solutions, improve interoperability, and break down data and organizational stovepipes so intelligence can be shared and acted on more quickly across the community.

Breakout Sessions

From Counterterror to Tech-Driven Decision Advantage: The Evolution & Future of USG Information Sharing

Speakers:

• Ted Gistaro, Former Executive, ODNI
• Rebecca Hersman, Senior Research Scholar, GovAI
• Cynthia Kaiser, Senior VP, Ransomware Research Center, Halcyon
• Amy McAuliffe, Former Senior Executive CIA, and Distinguished Visiting Professor, University of Notre Dame (moderator)

The panel shared how 9/11 reshaped information sharing across the U.S. government. That shift moved the government toward greater collaboration and accountability, and it later extended well beyond counterterrorism into other national security areas. Panelists argued that AI now presents a similar but even more complex challenge, with government and industry often working in isolation from one another. They discussed the barriers to closer public private collaboration and the gap in how each side thinks about risk and security. Rather than pointing to a single fix, panelists called for better communication, stronger partnerships, and a workforce equipped to think critically about AI.

Mass, Autonomy, and the Ukraine Model

Speakers:

• Scott Menoher, Director of Intelligence, JIATF-401
• Dr. Ravi Ravichandran, VP and CTO, Intelligence & Security, BAE Systems
• Adam Scheer, Director, Special Activities, Saraonic Technologies
• Jorge Rivero, Russian/Unmanned Systems Analyst, IDA
• Dr. Eric Paterson, Executive Director, VT National Security Institute (moderator)

The panel discussed how autonomous systems are changing the way the U.S. must think about scale, cost, and speed in modern warfare. Lessons from Ukraine and Iran highlighted the need for faster development and acquisition cycles, adaptable technologies, and a broader manufacturing workforce capable of producing systems at scale. Panelists called for stronger government-industry partnerships, resilient supply chains, and a more flexible defense industrial base that can continuously adapt as adversaries evolve.

Acquisition at Mission Speed

Speakers:

• Efstathis Fragogiannis, Chief Procurement Officer, CIA
• Tammy Griffith, Deputy Director of Business Management & Acquisition and Senior Acquisition Executive, NSA
• Col Timothy Trimailo, USAF,Director, COMSO, SSC
• Tara Murphy Dougherty, CEO, Air
• MG Charlie Cleveland, USA (Ret.), Senior Counselor, Palantir Technologies
  
• Ron Carback, VP, Client Executive, CACI (moderator)

Panelists discussed efforts to accelerate the acquisition process and deliver capabilities at mission speed, highlighting the CIA’s work to reduce acquisition timelines to approximately six months and the need for cultural and process changes across government. They emphasized streamlining decision-making, expanding collaboration with commercial and nontraditional industry partners, and leveraging “as-a-service” models while maintaining flexibility and rapid technology refresh. The panel also highlighted the importance of accepting risk, experimenting, and fostering a workforce comfortable with operating in an increasingly fast-paced acquisition environment.

Economic Intelligence in an Era of Strategic Competition

Speakers:

• Cheri Benedict, Senior Cyber Supply Chain Advisor, Office of the Federal CIO, EOP
• Kevin Burke, Chief Security Officer, EY-Americas
• Will Kirkman, Director of Decision Advantage, Two Six Technologies
• Scott Stalker, CEO, S2-Stalker Solutions LLC (moderator)

Panelists discussed the growing role of economic intelligence in national security, emphasizing the need to move beyond collecting data and focus on turning commercial, financial, and supply chain information into actionable decisions. They highlighted vulnerabilities tied to critical supply chains, foreign investment, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and critical minerals, as well as the importance of identifying risks earlier in the acquisition process. The panel also emphasized stronger government-industry information sharing, greater visibility into supply chains, and leveraging commercial expertise and AI-enabled tools to improve resilience and strengthen U.S. strategic advantage.

Plenary 5: From Frontier to Field: Scaling Mission AI Through Alliance and Culture

Speakers:

• Cameron Stanley, CDAO, DoW
• Maj Gen Robert Kinney, USAF, Military Mobilization Assistant to the Director, DIA
• Shaun Modi, CEO, Capital AI
  
• LTG Bob Ashley, USA (Ret.), CEO Touchstone Futures, LLC (moderator)

The panel focused on balancing the rapid adoption of AI across the IC with mission assurance, security, and trust, emphasizing automated ATO processes, explainability, source verification, human judgment, and workforce training. Speakers emphasized the need to modernize government-industry partnerships and reduce cultural, bureaucratic, contracting, and security barriers so the IC can rapidly field and continuously improve AI capabilities while protecting sensitive technologies and data.