The Army Communities Town Hall is an opportunity for community leaders to engage with senior leaders responsible for Army Installation Management.

Speakers:

• Jim Iacocca, Executive Director, Knox Regional Development Alliance
• Tim O’Ferrall, Executive Director, Fort Meade Alliance
• Gen. Kevin Vereen, Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, G-9 (Installations)
• Rachel Jacobson, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy, and Environment

The Navy & Marine Corps Communities Town Hall is an opportunity for community leaders to engage with senior leaders responsible for Navy & Marine Corps Installation Management.

Speakers:

• Bob Ross, Executive Director, Connecticut Office of Military Affairs
• Rick Dwyer, Executive Director, Hampton Roads Military and Federal Facilities Alliance
• Vice Adm. Scott Gray, Commander, Navy Installations Command
• James Balocki, Executive Director, Marine Corps Installations Command
• Rear Adm. Dean VanderLey, Commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command
• Katie McCalment, Director, Navy Ambassadors Program

The Air Force Communities Town Hall is an opportunity for community leaders to engage with senior leaders responsible for Air Force Installation Management.

Speakers:

• Katie Lopez, Vice President, Member Engagement, Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce
• Janie Nall, Chair, Beale Military Liaison Council
• Ravi Chaudhary, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations, and Environment
• Robert Moriarty, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Installations)

Has the Federal Reserve successfully engineered a soft landing? Or, is the confluence of geopolitical conflict, a presidential election, rising consumer debt levels, and still high interest rates conspiring to produce economic downturn in 2024? It is difficult to know whether 2024 will be a good year – but one thing is clear – it will be a very interesting one. This presentation will supply in-depth analysis of major factors shaping economic outcomes, including interest rates, global conflict, wage dynamics, business confidence, and demographics. It will then turn toward a forecast for the coming year, highlighting the major risks that economic stakeholders will likely encounter

Speaker:

• Anirban Basu, Chairman & CEO, Sage Policy Group

Given the Department of Defense’s (DOD) global footprint, installation climate and resilience issues cannot be addressed solely by the U.S. Working with key allies, the U.S. is coordinating efforts to ensure that the OCONUS defense infrastructure our military relies upon is ready to support critical missions and installations.

Speakers:

• Brendan Owens, Assistant Secretary for Energy, Installations & Environment
• Robert Chambers, Assistant Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Environment, Canada Department of National Defence
• Stephen Frano, Director, Climate Change & Environment, Tetra Tech

Hear from the key service leaders responsible for policies related to installation management, environment sustainment and energy. Dive into their top priorities and challenges and learn how communities and industry partners can play a role in supporting their mission.

Speakers:

• Rachel Jacobson, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy, and Environment
• Ravi Chaudhary, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations, and Environment
• Broderick Johnson, Executive Vice President of Public Policy and Digital Equity, Comcast NBCUniversal

Speakers:

• George Hinckley, CEO, Smart Community STEM Camp, Inc.
• Dan Rhoades, Chief Operating Officer, 21st Century Regional Partnership
• Jim Hopper, Homeland Security Signature Program Coordinator, Meade High School

Access to affordable childcare directly affects mission readiness, morale, quality of life, and retention of defense personnel worldwide. Childcare promotes job performance, decreases absenteeism, and enhances families’ financial and mental well-being. While DOD is working hard to provide quality and affordable childcare through a variety of programs, serious challenges remain that need to be addressed. This panel will discuss these challenges and offer policy and program recommendations to help close the gap in access to quality, affordable childcare for military families.

Speakers:

• Kayla Corbitt, Founder of Operation Childcare
• Maria Quinn, Active Duty Spouse and Founder of Design Your Family Life
• Olivia Burley, Military State Liaison with the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs
• Sally Velez, Booz Allen DEPLOY Family Retention Fellow

Discussion on policy related to healthcare opportunities and challenges in defense communities. The panel will discuss healthcare access on an installation and in the community, impact to basing challenges, medical readiness opportunities/mission zero act, reimbursement challenges, large scale conflict National Disaster Medical System planning.

Speakers:

• Ron Fitch, President of UCHealth and Military Affairs, UCHealth Southern Colorado
• Greg Raymond, President, Southern Colorado Care System, Children’s Hospital of Colorado
• Maj. Gen. Jeannine Ryder, Commander, Air Force Medical Agency and Chief, Air Force Nurse Corps

The U.S. transmission grid we rely on to deliver electricity around the country to power both our installations and communities is increasingly vulnerable to threats and needs massive expansion to meet future resilient power needs. This interactive conversation will focus on the next steps for aligning transmission grid investment to support the needs of DOD, installations and their surrounding communities.

Speakers:

• Daniel Glasson, Deputy Director for Community Investment, DOD OLDCC
• Will Rogers, Senior Climate Advisor to the Secretary of the Army & Counselor to the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Installations, Energy, and Environment)
• Christina Hayes, Executive Director, Americans for a Clean Energy Grid
• Jonathon Monken, Principal, Converge Strategies

Digital ethnography reveals the truth about quality of life challenges in a way which surveys never have. Join us for a special, data driven discussion of key quality of life issues featuring the debut of a new indicative dataset. This session will feature a fireside chat between Mrs. Sharene Brown, spouse of the 21st Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Dean Browell, Chief Behavioral Officer of CareStarter and Feedback. Insights from digital ethnography will highlight the pillars of Five and Thrive and serve as the basis for the discussion: childcare, education, healthcare, housing, and spouse employment. An executive summary of the study will be given to all attendees.

Speakers:

• Sharene Brown, Spouse of the 21st Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
• Dean Browell, Chief Behavioral Officer, CareStarter Technologies, Inc and Feedback, LLC
• Lamarque Polvado, Chief Executive Officer, CareStarter Technologies, Inc and Feedback, LLC

Utility Privatization has brought many improvements and benefits to the military as previously deteriorating utility infrastructures have been given new life under the program. For over two decades, the UP program has seen refinements and advancements. Reflecting on past improvements and lessons learned, this session focuses on potential UP program advancements of the future. Using a fireside chat approach, Mr. Patrick Giardina will present penetrating questions to System Owners, Paul Matthews of Dominion Energy and Chris Connor of ASUS, to stir the mind and spur impactful conversation to consider how UP stakeholders can further refine and advance the UP program.

Speakers:

• Patrick Giardina, Senior Vice President, Salas O’Brien
• Paul Matthews, Director – Federal Energy Solutions, Dominion Energy
• Chris Connor, Senior Vice President, American States Utility Services, ASUS

A general session on “Critical Infrastructure and Defense Critical Infrastructure” that will provide both a general overview as well as some suggestions for how to align efforts to prioritize them. Specific content to be delivered will be about the DOD Mission Assurance process (e.g., roles and responsibilities), CISA and FEMA “lifelines,” and the effect of a local installation’s homeland defense mission (operation plan) on identifying and protecting critical infrastructure.

Speakers:

• Daniel Glasson, Deputy Director for Community Investment, DOD OLDCC
• Mary Brazier, Director for Mission Assurance, Defense Continuity & Mission Assurance, Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy
• Col. Mark Lavin, Chief Strategy Officer, U.S. Army North
• Jeremy Greenberg, Director, Response Operations Division, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
• Andrew Seiffert, Senior Counselor for Infrastructure Security, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)

The benefits of military service can be obvious to those living in defense communities, but for those without a connection to the military much of what is heard or seen in the news is not positive and is dissuading many from considering the military as a career path. With recruitment challenges at a critical level, it is vital for our military, our defense communities and our nation, that we find new ways of ensuring that the military is a employer of choice.

Speakers:

• Agnes Gereben Schaefer, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower & Reserve Affairs
• Franklin Parker, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower & Reserve Affairs
• Alex Wagner, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower & Reserve Affairs
• Rebecca Gray, Senior Vice President, Military Affairs, Boingo Wireless

Speakers:

• Graham Gilmer, Senior Vice President, DOD Artificial Intelligence Team, Booz Allen Hamilton
• Margaret Palmieri, Deputy Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer, Office of the Secretary of Defense

What does it mean to be a Defense Community Champion? Join ADC, Navy Federal Credit Union, and our 2023 – 2024 Defense Community Champions to hear inspiring stories of impact and dedication to community. This luncheon session and award ceremony will honor ADC’s three Defense Community Champions National Honorees. Lunch provided.

Speakers:

• Matt Borron, Executive Director, Association of Defense Communities
• Conner O’Brien, Senior Defense Correspondent, POLITICO
• Matt Herrmann, Senior Policy Advisor, The Roosevelt Group
• Jeanine Womble, Professional Staff, House Armed Services Committee
• Brad Patout, Professional Staff, Senate Armed Services Committee

The objective of this session is to help communities unpack the different layers of “critical infrastructure” (e.g., for civil society, based on CISA-FEMA lifelines, based on homeland defense, and based on military installation / mission needs).   The goals include understanding the differences, identifying overlaps, hearing strategies for prioritization (i.e., a ‘One Community priority list’), and trying to identify opportunities for infrastructure (construction) funding. This session will also aim to identify datasets/resources that communities should consider as they assess and prioritize critical infrastructure.

Speakers:

• Daniel Glasson, Deputy Director for Community Investment, DOD OLDCC
• Steve Bieber, Water Resources Program Director, Department of Environmental Programs, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
• Kevin R. Klein, Director, Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
• Col. Thomas Banker, Director of Operations, Military Support and Plans (J3/5), Colorado National Guard
• Sandy Person, U.S. Air Force Civic Leader and Travis Golden Bear
• Kara Larsen, Infrastructure Security Division Collaboration Cell, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)

The formula for military spouse success will be the topic of a dynamic panel to educate communities and industry partners on the state of unemployment and to join the 4+1 Commitment. Reducing military spouse employment is a national security issue that impacts the military services retention of highly trained and dedicated service members. During this session, panelists will share their collective experiences and data as well as calls to action to significantly reduce military spouse unemployment.

Speakers:

• Mike Immler, Vice President, Military Affairs, First Command Financial Services, Inc.
• Kathy Roth-Douquet, CEO, Blue Star Families
• Elizabeth O’Brien, Executive Director, Hiring Our Heroes
• Patty Barron, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Community & Family Policy

Come learn the latest best practices for supporting military installations and creating economic development opportunities.  Hear from the idea generators, the research team, and key stakeholders that contributed to the newly released ‘Economic Development Guide for Military Communities’ report prepared by the University of Southern Mississippi.

Speakers:

• PJ Waldrop, Executive Director, Mississippi Governor’s Office of Military Affairs
• Chad Miller, Professor of Economic Development, Master of Science of Economic Development Program, University of Southern Mississippi
• Dan Rhoades, Chief Operations Officer, 21st Century Partnership
• Debi Graham, Executive Director, NW Florida Defense Coalition
• Charlie Perham, Director, Government Consulting Services, Matrix Design Group, Inc.

Military family quality of life has become a critical challenge for DOD, the services and the communities they call home. This past summer the House Armed Services Committee established a special panel tasked with identifying the key challenges facing military families and for providing Congress with policy recommendations to address them. As the panel prepares their recommendations, Summit attendees will hear directly from the co-chairs for this effort, as they lay out their vision for a bi-partisan response to this pressing national security challenge.

Speakers:

• Don Bacon (NE-02), Chair, House Armed Services Committee Quality of Life Panel
• Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Ranking Member, House Armed Services Committee Quality of Life Panel
• Mona Dexter, Vice President, Military & Veteran Affairs Comcast NBCUniversal

Join us for an insightful panel discussion where experts will explore the vital role community workforce development efforts play in supporting and promoting installations, missions and defense communities nationwide. This panel aims to shed light on the strategic partnership between workforce development boards, military support organizations and defense communities—showcasing how these collaborations enhance economic resilience, workforce readiness, and community development.

Speakers:

• Lisanne McNew; Chair, National Association of Workforce Boards; CEO, SAFE Engineering
• Adrian Horn, Director of Trade, Maine International Trade Center
• Andrew Sandoe, CEO, Hire Heroes USA
• Traci Marques, Executive Director, Pikes Peak Workforce Center, El Paso County, CO

Global events are driving a renewed focus on the importance of our nation’s domestic defense industry and the industrial base. This wide-ranging discussion will explore the change to DOD’s industrial base policy and the new opportunities the recently passed Critical Defense Industry CHIPS & Science Act presents for defense communities.

Speakers:

• Laura D. Taylor-Kale, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy

Speakers:

• • Nicoletta Giordani, Acting Principal Director of Global Investment and Economic Security, U.S. Department of Defense
  • Roland de Marcellus, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Finance and Development, U.S. Department of State
  • Andrew Fair, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Investment Security, U.S. Department of the Treasury
  • Karim Farishta, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, U.S. Department of Defense

Speakers:

• James C. Slife, Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force
• Sal Nodjomian, CEO, Matrix Design Group; ADC Board of Directors

Army installations have invested in understanding and applying years of research to inform potential modernization efforts. From artificial intelligence and machine learning to virtual reality and 3D printed parts, the Army installation community is leaning into technology, not just for their own communities, but their surrounding community partners and other services. Join this panel from the secretariat office and installation leadership to hear about the problem scope and solutions sets.

Speakers:

• Tamara Sutherland, Director of Strategic Integration, ASA IE&E
• Brandon Cockrell, Deputy to the Garrison Commander, Fort Moore
• Allison Long, Army Installation Modernization Pilot Program Manager, USACE-ERDC

Integrating AI goes beyond the creation of a complex model. Join us for an interactive exploration into the AI Blueprint: the path to integrate AI. Discover the diverse components of AI, then engage in a hands-on workshop where you’ll experiment with the key data, model, and integration considerations for implementing AI solutions to address real-world challenges to infrastructure, cybersecurity, and community integration.

Speakers:

• Nicole Lach, Digital Transformation, Booz Allen
• Bruce West, Digital Transformation, Booz Allen
• Marcos Hodgehenry, Digital Transformation, Booz Allen

This session will present findings from a recent OLDCC Installation Resilience Study and an overview of El Paso community efforts since BRAC 2005 to bolster Fort Bliss. Investment from OLDCC, the Army, and the State of Texas has been and continues to be leveraged by the City of El Paso, El Paso Water, and other utilities to ensure the reliability of the regional water supply, utility service to mission-critical facilities like the McGregor Range, and emergency preparedness to support mission assurance at Fort Bliss. The session will conclude with details on coordinating an OLDCC-funded Tabletop Exercise with an Army Black Start Exercise for critical energy infrastructure.

Speakers:

• Col. Brendan Gallagher, Commander, USAG Fort Bliss, TX
• Paul Albright, Chief Military Officer, City of El Paso, TX
• Hector Gonzalez, Government Affairs Manager, El Paso Water
• Jay Sweat, Project Manager, OLDCC
• Steve Bonner, President & CEO, Sonri

PFAS contamination has been discovered in groundwater at 500 military installations nationwide. Cleaning up contamination to protect communities from these “forever chemicals” will cost billions. Many defense communities are just learning about the threat of PFAS contamination and the Department of Defense cleanup process. At this session, panelists from the private sector, government, and communities will discuss their role in tackling the PFAS challenge and its implications for communities.

Speakers:

• John Reeder, Vice President for Federal Affairs, Environmental Working Group
• Tony Spaniola, Co-chair of the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network
• Greg Gervais, Director, EPA Federal Facility Restoration and Reuse Office
• John Dwyer, President, Small Environmental Business Action Coalition (SEBAC)