2026 AI for Defense Summit
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About this event
2026 AI for Defense Summit
Event Overview
The 5th Annual AI for Defense Summit, hosted by DSI Group, will convene senior leaders and innovators from the Department of War, Intelligence Community, federal government, industry, and academia. This summit will explore how AI is transitioning from experimentation to operational deployment, enhancing decision-making, accelerating intelligence analysis, and enabling resilient warfighting capabilities across multi-domain operations.
Key themes include institutionalizing AI across defense enterprises, integrating cutting-edge technologies for warfighting advantages, and operationalizing AI for Command and Control (C2). The event will address critical challenges such as data management, workforce development, human-machine teaming, model validation, cybersecurity, and resilient architectures for contested environments.
Key Topics Covered
- Institutionalizing AI Across the Army Enterprise
- Harnessing Innovation: Integrating AI for Warfighting Advantage
- From Experimentation to Execution: Operationalizing AI for CJADC2
- Data Management Foundations for AI
- Delivering AI Capabilities at Speed
- Championing Innovation: Shaping American AI Leadership
- Generative and Agentic AI, Autonomous Systems, and AI-Enabled C2
- Joint and Coalition Interoperability
- Cybersecurity and Resilient Architectures
Confirmed Speakers
- Lt Gen (Ret) David Harris, USAF – Former Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff, Air Force Futures, HQAF
- Cameron Stanley – Chief Data and AI Officer, OUSW R&E
- Maj Gen Robert Kinney, USAF – Chief AI Officer, U.S. Cyber Command
- David Markowitz, PhD, SES – Chief Data and Analytics Officer, HQDA
- Brig Gen Reid Novotny, USAF – Chief AI Officer, U.S. Cyber Command
- Israel Soong – Deputy Director, Office of Artificial Intelligence, CIA
- Katie Noyes – Chief AI Officer, Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Chris Kraft – Chief Information Officer, US Secret Service
- Matthew Willis, PhD – Director, Army FUZE, ASA(ALT)
- Radha Plumb, PhD – Vice President AI-First Transformation, IBM
- Ylli Bajraktari – President and CEO, Special Competitive Studies Project
- Patrick Lincoln, PhD – Director, Information Innovation Office, DARPA
Why Attend?
Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing defense operations, offering transformative capabilities for deterrence, combat, and global security. As adversaries advance their AI systems, the U.S. is accelerating efforts to maintain leadership in AI and develop an AI-enabled Joint Force. This summit provides unparalleled insights into:
- The Department of War’s AI Acceleration Strategy
- Commercial innovation integration and acquisition reform
- Deployment of AI tools empowering warfighters and decision-makers
- Emerging technologies like generative AI, autonomous systems, and data infrastructure
- Strategies for workforce development, interoperability, and cybersecurity
Attendees will engage with policymakers, military leaders, and industry pioneers to shape the future of AI in defense through keynotes, panel discussions, and networking opportunities.
Data sheet
2026 AI for Defense Summit – Event Attendee & Buyer Profile Analysis
Event date: September 2–3, 2026
Location: AIA Global Campus for Architecture & Design, Washington, D.C., United States
Event status: Upcoming
Research date: June 29, 2026
Event Overview
| Event Name | 2026 AI for Defense Summit |
| Event Date | September 2–3, 2026 |
| Event Status | Upcoming |
| Venue | AIA Global Campus for Architecture & Design |
| City | Washington |
| State / Region | District of Columbia (D.C.) |
| Country | United States |
| Organizer | DSI Group |
| Official Event Website | ai.dsigroup.org |
| Event Type | B2G/B2B defense technology summit and conference |
| Primary Category | Security & Defense |
| Secondary Applicable Categories | IT & Technology |
| Audience Reach | National, with concentrated Washington-area federal participation and selective allied/coalition relevance |
| Estimated Attendance / Expected Footfall | Attendance figure not publicly confirmed by the organizer. |
| Attendance Data Reliability | Confirmed event identity, dates, venue, and speaker organizations from the official event website; attendance volume unavailable |
| Main Purpose of Event | To connect defense, intelligence, federal, industry, and academic leaders around operational AI adoption for national security, including command and control, data infrastructure, autonomous systems, cyber resilience, workforce enablement, and acquisition acceleration. |
About the Event
The 2026 AI for Defense Summit is the 5th annual edition of DSI Group’s defense-focused AI conference in Washington, D.C. According to the official event website, the summit brings together senior leaders and innovators from the Department of War, Intelligence Community, federal government, industry, and academia to discuss how artificial intelligence is moving from experimentation into operational deployment for national security missions.
This event matters because it sits at the intersection of defense modernization, government acquisition, mission software, cyber resilience, and operational decision support. For suppliers, it is especially relevant for identifying defense AI stakeholders, mission owners, program influencers, data and analytics leaders, and federal technology decision-makers involved in C2, CJADC2, intelligence workflows, autonomous systems, and secure AI implementation. It is suitable for high-value B2G lead generation and strategic account mapping, but not for mass attendee-list assumptions because total attendance is not publicly confirmed.
1. Who Attends: Buyers / Attendees
| Buyer / Attendee Segment | Typical Organizations | Buying Role or Influence | Relevance to Exhibitors / Suppliers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal AI, data, and digital transformation leaders | Defense, intelligence, homeland security, federal R&D offices | Set AI priorities, standards, operating models, and deployment pathways | High-value targets for AI software, model operations, data platforms, secure infrastructure, and implementation services |
| Program executive and mission capability leaders | Military services, joint command structures, modernization offices | Define mission use cases, capability gaps, timelines, and operational requirements | Important for use-case-led sales and mission alignment |
| Acquisition, contracting, and procurement stakeholders | Federal acquisition offices, service procurement teams, R&E and innovation offices | Influence procurement pathways, contract vehicles, pilot-to-production transitions | Critical for converting technical interest into funded programs |
| Intelligence and analytics leadership | Intelligence Community agencies, defense intelligence units | Drive AI use in intelligence analysis, data exploitation, and decision support | Strong fit for AI analytics, data fusion, knowledge management, and secure compute offerings |
| Cybersecurity and resilient architecture leaders | Cyber Command, secure infrastructure teams, defense CIO organizations | Assess trust, security, deployment hardening, and contested-environment readiness | High relevance for zero-trust, model security, secure cloud, and mission assurance vendors |
| Prime contractors and federal systems integrators | Defense primes, integrators, mission technology firms | Partner, subcontract, package, or resell AI capabilities into government programs | Good channel for partnership-led market entry and subcontracting |
| Industry innovation and product leaders | Commercial AI companies, defense tech startups, enterprise software firms | Shape solution strategy, integration models, and partnership exploration | Useful for ecosystem mapping, teaming, and co-sell opportunities |
| Academic and research leaders | Applied research institutes, universities, federally aligned think tanks | Contribute R&D insight, validation approaches, and emerging technical direction | Relevant for partnerships, pilots, validation, and talent pipeline access |
2. Event Location and Attendee Geographic Origin
| Geographic Area | Likely Attendee Origin | Buyer Concentration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, D.C. | Host-city attendees from federal headquarters, defense offices, agencies, and policy organizations | Very High | Primary concentration of federal AI, acquisition, intelligence, and policy stakeholders |
| Northern Virginia | Defense contractors, integrators, cloud providers, cyber firms, and federal service partners | Very High | Key feeder market for cleared technology suppliers and prime/subcontracting teams |
| Maryland | Intelligence, cyber, research, and systems engineering organizations | High | Strong relevance for IC-aligned and R&D-heavy participants |
| National U.S. reach | Military services, command organizations, federal AI offices, and defense tech firms from across the United States | High | Official positioning and speaker roster indicate nationwide federal-defense relevance |
| International / coalition interest | Likely limited allied and coalition observers or partners | Medium | Coalition interoperability is a topic, but international attendance is not publicly confirmed |
3. Audience Reach
| Reach Level | Assessment | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| National | Primary classification | The summit is centered on U.S. defense, intelligence, and federal AI modernization, with official positioning around Department of War and federal government participation. |
| Regional | Secondary concentration | Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia, and Maryland form the highest-density buyer corridor for this event. |
4. Sample Buyer Companies and Websites
| Buyer Company / Organization | Buyer Type | Why It Is Relevant | Website | Best Job Titles to Target | Evidence Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research & Engineering (OUSW R&E) | Federal defense innovation / R&D leadership | Key AI strategy, experimentation, and modernization stakeholder; official keynote organization | defense.gov | Chief Data and AI Officer, Director AI, Program Executive, Acquisition Director | Confirmed Speaker Organization |
| Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) | Defense intelligence buyer | Mission-critical user of AI for intelligence analysis, data exploitation, and operational support | dia.mil | Chief AI Officer, Director Data Analytics, Mission Systems Director, Program Manager | Confirmed Speaker Organization |
| Headquarters Department of the Army (HQDA) | Military service headquarters buyer | Official topic coverage includes institutionalizing AI across the Army enterprise and data management foundations | army.mil | Chief Data Officer, Deputy CIO, AI Program Director, Enterprise Architecture Leader | Confirmed Speaker Organization |
| U.S. Cyber Command | Cyber operations buyer | Strong fit for resilient AI architectures, operational security, cyber defense, and decision support | cybercom.mil | Chief AI Officer, Cyber Operations Director, Security Architect, Program Manager | Confirmed Speaker Organization |
| Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) | Intelligence Community buyer | Relevant for secure AI, analysis acceleration, autonomous workflows, and data-centric mission support | cia.gov | Deputy Director AI, Data Strategy Lead, Innovation Director, Mission Technology Lead | Confirmed Speaker Organization |
| Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) | Federal security and public safety buyer | Relevant for AI-enabled investigations, data analysis, secure systems, and mission governance | fbi.gov | Chief AI Officer, IT Director, Data Governance Director, Security Program Manager | Confirmed Speaker Organization |
| U.S. Secret Service | Federal security operations buyer | Relevant for secure infrastructure, protective intelligence, analytics, and information systems modernization | secretservice.gov | Chief Information Officer, IT Director, Data Director, Innovation Program Lead | Confirmed Speaker Organization |
| Army FUZE, ASA(ALT) | Acquisition and modernization buyer | Relevant for transition of AI capabilities into acquisition and fielded outcomes | army.mil | Director, Program Manager, Acquisition Lead, Product Manager | Confirmed Speaker Organization |
| DARPA | Federal research and advanced capability buyer | Highly relevant for next-generation AI, experimentation, trusted models, autonomy, and transition pathways | darpa.mil | Office Director, Program Manager, Research Director, AI Portfolio Lead | Confirmed Speaker Organization |
| Special Competitive Studies Project | Policy and strategic influence organization | Relevant for AI strategy, competitiveness, and national security policy networks | scsp.ai | President, Strategy Director, Partnerships Director, Research Lead | Confirmed Speaker Organization |
5. Job Profiles, Industries and Event Type
| Priority | Job Title / Function | Department | Seniority Level | Why This Role Matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chief AI Officer | AI / Innovation / Mission Technology | CXO / Executive | Direct owner of AI adoption priorities, governance, and deployment pathways |
| 2 | Chief Data Officer / Chief Data and Analytics Officer | Data / Analytics | Executive / VP | Own data foundations, governance, interoperability, and AI readiness |
| 3 | Chief Information Officer | Information Technology | Executive | Controls enterprise platforms, secure architectures, and deployment environments |
| 4 | Director of AI / Director of Data Strategy | AI / Data Strategy | Director | Translate strategy into implementation programs and technical requirements |
| 5 | Program Manager | Programs / Delivery | Manager / Director | Drives procurements, pilots, schedules, milestones, and mission outcomes |
| 6 | Contracting Officer / Acquisition Director | Procurement / Acquisition | Director / Manager | Important for funding routes, vehicles, and procurement execution |
| 7 | Cybersecurity Director / Security Architect | Security / Infrastructure | Director / Senior Manager | Ensures trusted, resilient AI deployment in contested environments |
| 8 | Operations Director / Mission Systems Director | Operations / Mission Systems | Director | Owns practical use cases and operational performance requirements |
| 9 | Business Development Director / Capture Manager | Business Development | Director / Manager | Key role for prime contractor and partner-side opportunity development |
| Priority | Apollo Industry | Why It Fits the Event | Best Buyer Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Defense & Space | Core defense mission ecosystem | AI, autonomy, ISR, C2, modernization |
| 2 | Government Administration | Federal agencies and mission offices | Agency AI adoption, data governance, secure workflows |
| 3 | Information Technology & Services | Federal IT services and systems support providers | Implementation, integration, managed delivery |
| 4 | Computer Software | Mission software and AI platform vendors | LLM, analytics, decision support, workflow automation |
| 5 | Computer & Network Security | Cybersecurity is a stated summit theme | Secure AI deployment, model protection, zero trust |
| 6 | Aviation & Aerospace | Relevant to military air, ISR, and autonomy programs | Sensor fusion, battlefield AI, edge processing |
| 7 | Military | Direct military organizations and affiliated entities | Operational AI, force modernization, mission systems |
| 8 | Research | Strong role for advanced R&D and validation | Partnerships, pilots, trusted AI methods |
| 9 | Management Consulting | Common channel into strategy and transformation programs | Advisory, PMO, AI transformation, acquisition support |
| 10 | Telecommunications | Relevant for resilient networks, edge connectivity, and C2 enablement | Secure communications and networked AI |
| 11 | Industrial Automation | Aligned with autonomy and machine-assisted operations | Autonomous systems, robotics, edge decisioning |
| 12 | Public Safety | Relevant due to FBI and Secret Service speaker organizations | Investigations, threat detection, operational security |
6. Estimated Attendance
| Metric | Figure | Status | Source / Basis | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated total footfall | Attendance figure not publicly confirmed by the organizer. | Not Publicly Confirmed | Official event page reviewed | No attendee number disclosed in provided official source text |
| Exhibitor count | Not publicly confirmed | Not Publicly Confirmed | Official event page includes “Sponsor or Exhibit” call-to-action only | No exhibitor directory available in provided source text |
| Buyer count | Not publicly confirmed | Not Publicly Confirmed | Official event page | Audience groups are described, but count is not disclosed |
| Speaker count | 12 listed speakers / moderators | Confirmed | Official “2026 Confirmed Speakers Include” section | Based on names visible in the provided official text excerpt |
| Sponsor count | Not publicly confirmed | Not Publicly Confirmed | Official event page | No sponsor roster visible in provided source text |
| Historical attendance | No verified prior-year figure identified in the provided source set | Historical / prior-year evidence unavailable | Official source text reviewed | No historical audience figure should be assumed |
7. Key Focus Areas and Buyer Engagement
| Focus Area | Typical Buyer Need | Buyer Engagement Opportunity | Relevant Supplier Offering |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operational AI deployment | Move from pilot activity to fielded mission outcomes | Discuss deployment roadmaps, production readiness, and authority-to-operate barriers | AI platforms, MLOps, secure deployment frameworks, integration support |
| Command and Control / CJADC2 | Accelerate decision advantage across domains | Position solutions around sensor fusion, edge inference, and decision-support workflows | Mission software, data fusion, visualization, edge AI |
| Data management for AI | Build trusted, interoperable data foundations | Lead with governance, metadata, quality, security, and pipeline readiness | Data platforms, governance tools, integration, secure storage |
| Generative and agentic AI | Apply next-generation AI while controlling risk and trust | Frame around secure mission copilots, knowledge search, and human oversight | LLM solutions, retrieval systems, secure agents, governance frameworks |
| Autonomous systems | Increase operational speed and resilient autonomy | Engage around edge resilience, mission autonomy, and human-machine teaming | Autonomy software, controls, edge compute, testing and validation |
| Cybersecurity and resilient architectures | Protect AI systems in contested and sensitive environments | Differentiate on assurance, zero trust, secure enclaves, and model hardening | Cybersecurity, secure cloud, identity, data protection, AI security tooling |
| Workforce development and adoption | Upskill teams and institutionalize AI capabilities | Offer training, change management, and operating model support | Training, advisory services, enablement programs, governance playbooks |
| Model validation and trust | Ensure AI outputs are reliable, governed, and mission-safe | Address testing, explainability, auditability, and lifecycle control | Testing frameworks, governance software, assurance services, model risk tools |
Lead Quality Assessment
| Factor | Assessment | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Buyer relevance | Very High | The event directly targets defense, intelligence, and federal AI stakeholders with strategic and operational influence. |
| Decision-maker availability | High | Confirmed speaker lineup includes chief AI, CIO, data, and R&D leadership roles. |
| Data collection potential | Medium | Excellent for account mapping and targeted outreach, but not enough public evidence for full attendee-volume assumptions. |
| Apollo targeting potential | High | Strong fit for defense contractors, AI software vendors, cyber providers, federal integrators, and policy-linked organizations. |
| Geographic targeting potential | Very High | Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia, and Maryland allow tight account-based targeting. |
| Best outreach approach | High | Use mission-led messaging tied to AI operationalization, secure deployment, interoperability, and acquisition transition. |
| Overall lead quality | High | Best suited for high-value B2G/B2B account targeting rather than broad-volume list selling. |
| Best use case | Very High | ABM campaigns, speaker-org targeting, prime-contractor partnerships, and federal AI opportunity development. |
| Limitations / risks | Medium | Public attendance figures, exhibitor counts, and full attendee directories are not confirmed in the reviewed official source. |
Apollo.io Targeting Recommendation
| Filter Type | Recommended Filters | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Apollo industries | Defense & Space; Government Administration; Information Technology & Services; Computer Software; Computer & Network Security; Aviation & Aerospace; Military; Research; Management Consulting; Telecommunications; Industrial Automation; Public Safety | Capture buyer and partner ecosystems aligned to defense AI programs |
| Departments | Information Technology; Engineering; Operations; Program Management; Business Development; Procurement; Product; Strategy; Security; Data / Analytics | Focus on technical, operational, and acquisition stakeholders |
| Seniority | CXO; VP; Director; Head; Manager | Prioritize authority, budget influence, and program ownership |
| Job titles | Chief AI Officer; Chief Data Officer; Chief Data and Analytics Officer; Chief Information Officer; Director of AI; Director of Data Strategy; Program Manager; Product Manager; Acquisition Director; Contracting Officer; Cybersecurity Director; Security Architect; Mission Systems Director; Capture Manager; Business Development Director | Reach the roles most aligned to operational AI buying or influence |
| Geography | United States; Washington, D.C.; Virginia; Maryland; additional U.S. federal/defense hubs where relevant | Concentrate on the DMV corridor first, then expand nationally |
| Employee size | 51–200; 201–500; 501–1,000; 1,001–5,000; 5,001+ | Covers niche defense tech firms through major primes and federal service companies |
| Keywords | artificial intelligence; generative AI; agentic AI; CJADC2; command and control; mission AI; data analytics; edge AI; autonomous systems; cybersecurity; zero trust; intelligence analysis; defense modernization; warfighter; secure cloud | Improves relevance to the summit’s stated themes |
| Technologies, if relevant | Cloud, cybersecurity stack, analytics platforms, AI/ML infrastructure, data integration, edge compute | Useful for segmenting implementation-ready accounts |
| Revenue range, if relevant | Mid-market to enterprise; prioritize firms with established federal program delivery capacity | Supports higher-probability federal and defense deal cycles |
| Company type | Government agencies; prime contractors; federal systems integrators; mission software vendors; cyber providers; research organizations | Matches both direct buyers and strategic channel partners |
Suggested Apollo Search Logic: ("Chief AI Officer" OR "Chief Data Officer" OR "Chief Information Officer" OR "Director of AI" OR "Program Manager" OR "Acquisition Director" OR "Security Architect" OR "Capture Manager") AND ("artificial intelligence" OR "mission AI" OR "CJADC2" OR "command and control" OR "autonomous systems" OR "data analytics" OR "cybersecurity" OR "defense modernization") AND (Washington OR "District of Columbia" OR Virginia OR Maryland OR United States).
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Sources & Verification Notes
| Source | Type | What It Verified | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI for Defense Summit | DSI Group | Official event website | Verified event name, dates, venue, city, summit positioning, topic themes, and current-year confirmed speaker organizations | High |
| DSI Group | Official organizer website | Verified organizer identity | High |
| Official event content provided in user brief | Primary-source text extract | Confirmed that no attendance figure, exhibitor count, buyer count, or sponsor count was publicly disclosed in the provided official source text | High |
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Tell us your work email and our AI instantly builds a buyer list matched to 2026 AI for Defense Summit — the best‑fit companies to target, the exact decision‑maker job titles, and the industry filters that fit what you sell.
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