Austin, Texas (March 11) – For three days, more than 3,500 representatives from companies, government, academia and capital came together as part of joint programming powered by DIU, AFWERX, NavalX and other DOD organizations at the Capital Factory House in Austin. Designed for collaboration, the series of talks and demos brought together thought leaders, disruptors, and partners driving change at the intersection of national security and commercial technology. Here’s a recap of top moments from the weekend:
To kick off programming, Congressman Jake Ellzey, tech founder, Dino Mavrookas, and DIU’s Deputy Director of Commercial Operations, Liz McNally, sat down to discuss how policy, industry, and national security converge to accelerate impact, and what a playbook for broader innovation in the future looks like.
Ellzey, who is the vice chair on the House Appropriations Committee, Defense (HAC-D), underlined the need to rethink the Departments acquisitions process by allowing tech companies to work on solving broad problem statements rather than being bogged down with specific requirements.
“Go make it happen. That's where the risk is, and that's where we'll find things that are absolutely better than ever,” said Ellzey.
AI & Autonomy
Exploring this rapidly evolving landscape, leaders, researchers and operators leaned in on ways to navigate the opportunities and challenges in a world where machines think and act faster and smarter than ever before.
Gen. Tim Haugh, Commander, U.S. Cyber Command and Director, National Security Agency/Chief, Central Security Service Agency sat down with CSET’s Emmy Probasco to explore AI's dual role in intelligence and cybersecurity, and the burgeoning public-private partnerships essential for advancing the nation's defense, and how the intel community is evaluating strategies to maintain a competitive edge against global threats like China.
“If the United States leads the world in this technology, we have to lead the world in its implementation and acceptance in national security to really see the benefits,” said Haugh . “How we accelerate is also a critical component.”
Recognizing a range of operational domains where AI-decision making is reshaping thinking – from the tactical edge, to supply chains, logistics, and robotic warfare – talks looked at how the DOD can effectively integrate and employ autonomous systems at speed and scale along with supply chain tools that are providing predictive insights in both commercial and defense programs for maintaining technological and economic advantage.
Manufacturing & Supply Chains
Leaders from DIU, AFRL and AFWERX unveiled new initiatives aimed at scaling advanced manufacturing with a focus on real-world opportunities and the path ahead for leveraging emerging technologies. Launching this month, DIU’s Blue Manufacturing initiative is mapping production needs and capabilities to provide a marketplace of vetted advanced manufacturing.
"We're going to screen, evaluate and identify the best of the best in that advanced manufacturing industrial base," said DIU's Manufacturing Lead, Travis DeMeester. “Across the value chain, you can expect initially five categories…you’ll see different types of manufacturing technologies, you’ll see different product verticals. These will all be rolling out very quickly in succession.”
DeMeester also stressed the need and opportunity for the DOD to present a path to scale to commercial industry - not just provide RFIs or RFPs for problem statements.
"When DIU speaks to those who are innovating in the manufacturing industrial base, they hear the DOD sharing our problems - and what we need, and what we're looking for," said DeMeester. "What they're asking for in return is a demand signal that they can build a business case against."
Digital Tools & Innovation Ecosystems
Participants got an early look at a new digital tool that is helping companies of all sizes and members of academia better match their warfighter products to DOD funding opportunities using the latest AI/LLM tools with a new prototype tool, Digital OnRamp. Driving the effort is DIU’s Deputy Director, Digital Platforms & Developer Ecosystem, Cheryl Ingstad, who briefed the platform's functionality as it moves toward a minimal viable product selection and invites test users to sign up https://www.diu.mil/digitalonramp
For the first time, companies of all sizes and academic institutions will be able to match their technologies and products to real Department of Defense opportunities utilizing the latest Generative AI tools in a secure platform.
Human Performance Summit
With a renewed emphasis on readiness, key stakeholders from the DOD, NASA, and the commercial sector convened to explore collaborative opportunities between government and industry focused on leveraging technological advancements to enhance human performance. Panelists engaged in in-depth discussions on topics, including performance-enhancing technologies and strategies to optimize cognitive function in high-stress environments, aiming to drive innovations that accelerate readiness.
U.S. pecial Operations Command, Technology Liason, Lt Col. Devin Beckwith, stressed the importance of collaboration between professionals like warfighters and athletes, whose occupational success depends on pushing their body and mind to its fullest potential.
“This year’s Human Performance Summit was expertly curated and thought provoking," said Beckwith. "It wasn’t just another conference—it was a dynamic gathering of top minds pushing the boundaries of human capability. Bringing together warfighters, astronauts, and elite sports professionals is exactly how we keep expanding our understanding of human performance as we work to enhance military readiness - I left feeling inspired and can’t wait to see how we raise the bar even higher next year.”
Catch up with the conversations that you missed here.