Program
AUVSI Defense focuses on amplifying trusted U.S. technology and manufacturing capacity to scale military capabilities and strengthen the U.S. global competitive advantage in uncrewed/unmanned systems, robotics, AI, and autonomy. The core programming emphasizes multi-domain rapid technology evolution and integration; the optimization of manufacturing and supply chain capacity; acquisition reform, procurement, and funding; and workforce development.
There will be three unique multi-day events in 2024:
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February 21-22: Two-day event at the MITRE Corporation in McLean, Virginia
- April 22-25: Three days of expanded programming at XPONENTIAL in San Diego
- Service Members in uniform will receive a complimentary XPO Hall Pass
- Fall Date to be Announced: Two-day event in the greater DC area
Each event will provide unique perspectives focusing on the ever-increasing role that uncrewed systems and autonomy play in U.S. Defense landscape.
Installment #1: February 21-22, 2024
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Day one: Manufacturing Capacity
- Topics will include Replicator, international considerations, US industrial strategy, congressional funding needs
- Day two: Autonomy integration within the Armed Services
- Topics will focus on the cross-domain integration of autonomous systems throughout the DoD to enhance mission readiness
*Schedule content is subject to change.
Wednesday February 21: The demand signal for cultivating the US Defense Industrial Base
0900 - Welcome and Opening Remarks
Michael Robbins, Chief Advocacy Officer and Co-CEO, AUVSI
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0915 – MITRE Opening Remarks: MITRE's Public Sector support of the defense industry
Beth Meinert, Senior Vice President and General Manager of MITRE Public Sector, MITRE Corporation
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0945 - Congressional priorities to support US Defense industrial base growth
Moderator: Moderator: Michael Robbins, Chief Advocacy Officer and Co-CEO, AUVSI
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Colonel (Ret.) Nathan Diller, former professional staff member, US House of Representatives Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Defense
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Stephanie Buesser, Military Legislative Assistant for Representative Elise Stefanik, US House of Representatives
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Caitlin Lee, Ph.D., Director, Acquisition and Technology Policy, The RAND Corporation
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1030 - Networking Break
1100 - Office of Small Business Program's role in supporting defense agencies and major commands
Yudi Carmona, Associate Director for Industry Engagement, Office of Small Business Programs, Department of Defense
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1130 - Air Force Research Laboratory Autonomy Research Update
Steven Rogers, Ph. D., Senior Scientist, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)
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1200 - Lunch (Box Lunch to be Provided)
1300 – International Implications impacting the US Industrial Base: How the use of uncrewed systems in the Ukrainian conflict has altered military strategy and increased the demand signal for manufacturing capacity with US and allied countries
Moderator: Margarita Konaev, Ph.D. Deputy Director of Analysis and Research Fellow, Georgetown's Center for Security and Emerging Technology
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Brian Ireland, Intermediate Robotics and Autonomous Systems Engineer, MITRE Corporation
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Mark Valentine, President and GM of Global Government, Skydio
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Scott Newbern, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, AeroVironment
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John Mark Wilson, Director of Strategy and Communications, Applied Intuition
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Francois Xavier Charbonnel, Regional Manager Americas, Parrot
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1415 – Break/Networking
1445 - Industry's growth posture to meet the demand signal for increasing manufacturing capacity
Christine Michienzi, Ph.D. Founder MMR Defense Solutions
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Jaret Riddick, Ph.D.. Senior Fellow, CSET at Georgetown University
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1515 - Closing Keynote
Amy Sunshine Smith-Carroll, Ph. D., Director Surface Warfare, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment Department of Defense
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1545 – AUVSI Closing Remarks
Michael Robbins, Chief Advocacy Officer and Co-CEO, AUVSI
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Thursday February 22: Autonomy Integration for the warfighter
0900 – AUVSI Opening Remarks
Mike Smitsky, Vice President Government Affairs, AUVSI
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0910 – MITRE Opening Remarks on MITRE research and support of efforts to use autonomy systems in National Security and Defense
Ryan Fitzgerald, Chief Engineer Naval Expeditionary Department, N234, The MITRE Corporation
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0920 – Opening Keynote - Integrating responsible autonomous systems into the Department of Defense
Matthew Kuan Johnson, Ph.D., Acting Chief of Responsible AI, Department of Defense
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0950 - U.S. Army Human Machine Integration
Moderator: John Burke, Specialist Executive, Deloitte Risk and Advisory, Deloitte
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Stu Hatfield, Deputy Division Chief, Human-Machine Integration Division, Army G-8
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Rob Monto, Technical Director, Army Rapid Technology Capabilities Office (RCCTO), U.S. Army
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Matthew Flint, Ph. D., Autonomy, Processing & Exploitation (APEX) Strategy Director, BAE Systems Fast Labs
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1030 – Networking Break
1100 - AFWERX airspace efforts to scale autonomy
Darshan "Dash" Divakaran, Head of Airspace Innovation & Partnerships, AFWERX
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1130 - Joint Multi-Domain Ideation Workshop XPONENTIAL Demonstrations Debrief
Mike Smitsky, Vice President Government Affairs, AUVSI
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Reid McAllister, Defense Strategist, AUVSI
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1200 - Lunch (Box Lunch to be Provided)
1300 - DIU's role in supporting the integration of cutting-edge sUAS technology to warfighters
David Michelson, Director, Autonomy Portfolio, Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)
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1330 - Integration of Autonomy into the existing Fleet- benefits and challenges- 'Priming' for Autonomous Success
Jonny Gilchrist, Business Development Lead – Electric Products and Small UAS, FalconWorks® BAE Systems
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George Edwards, Head of Innovation, BAE Systems Group
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1400 – Networking Break
1430 - The Coast Guard’s Role in Autonomy
Lieutenant Steve Conde, Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance - Domestic Vessels Division (CG-CVC-1), U.S. Coast Guard
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Lieutenant Matthew Zanella, Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance - Port State Control Division, U.S. Coast Guard
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1500 - China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities
Ron O'Rourke, Specialist in Naval Affairs, Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress
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1530 - Closing Remarks - Pathway for the Integration of Autonomy into the existing Fleet
David Adams, Director - Warfighting Effectiveness, Assessments, and Readiness (CPF N9WAR), U.S. Navy
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1600 - AUVSI Closing Remarks
Mike Smitsky, Vice President Government Affairs, AUVSI
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