ADC’s 2023 Defense Communities National Summit aims to maximize the impact of America’s defense communities to advance policies and ideas that address the key challenges facing installations, military families and the communities they call home. Over the course of three days, hundreds of defense community leaders and ADC members will gather to hear from senior military officials, key members of Congress and the nation’s top defense policy and budget experts, and have the opportunity to engage in conversations that will help define the future of our nation’s national security.
WHY ATTEND?
WHO ATTENDS?
Over 800 attendees representing DOD, defense industry and nearly every defense community and state in the country.

KEY TOPICS INCLUDE:
- FY23 & FY24 NDAA and Defense Budget
- DOD Climate Resilience Strategy & Initiatives
- The Role of Defense Communities in Supporting Military Service Recruitment Efforts
- Creating Great Places To Call Home: How Communities and DOD Can Improve Childcare, Education, Employment Opportunities, Support Service s and Housing for Military Families
- National Guard State Partnership Program – Defense Communities & States Supporting Our Allies
- Defense Energy & Water Sustainability Policy
- Defense Workforce Development – Pursuing New Policies to Support Industry, Community and DOD Efforts
- Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act – What’s in There for Defense Communities and Installations?
- National Guard and Reserve Component Policy and Evolving Missions
- Defense Supply Chain and Industry Capacity Policy and Investments
- New Federal Grant Programs – How Can Defense Communities Take Advantage?
- Preparing the Next Generation – How Can We Invest in Child Education Today To Develop the Military Leaders of Tomorrow?
- Lesson Learned in Ukraine – What Does This Conflict Teach Us About How Our Military Must Train and Prepare for Future Missions?
- Understanding Foreign Investment in Your Community and the Potential Impact to Installations and Missions
Keynote Speakers

Hon. Christine Wormuth
Secretary of the Army

U.S. Rep. Don Bacon (NE-2)
House Armed Services Committee

U.S. Rep. John Carter (TX-31)
Chairman, House Appropriations Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee

U.S. Rep. Jason Crow (CO-6)
House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (IL)
Senate Armed Services Committee

U.S. Rep John Garamendi (CA-08)
Ranking Member, House Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee

U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (VA)
Senate Armed Services Committee

Edwin Oshiba
Acting Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Energy, Installations, & Environment)

Hon. Alex Wagner
Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Manpower and Reserve Affairs)

Dr. Agnes G. Schaefer
Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower & Reserve Affairs

Paul W. Farnan
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Installations, Energy and Environment)

Robert E. Thompson
Performing the Duties of the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations & Environment

Paul Cramer
Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment

Brendan Owens
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment
Featured Speakers

Brian Abbe
Executive Vice President, Global Defense Sector Engineering Division, Booz Allen Hamilton

Brig. Gen. TERRENCE A. ADAMS
Director, Cyberspace Operations and Warfighter Communications, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Cyber Effects Operations

Patricia M. Barron
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy

Maj. Gen. Matthew P. Beevers
Acting, the Adjutant General

Shawn Bennett
Director for Clean Energy, White House Council for Environmental Quality

IVAN BOLDEN
Chief, Army Partnerships, Chair, Joint Services Partnership Committee, Deputy Chief of Staff, G-9, (Installations)

Sharene Brown
Spouse of the 22nd Chief of Staff of the Air Force

Joseph Bryan
Chief Sustainability Officer, Office of the Secretary of Defense

Sgt. Maj. Daniel A. Dailey (Ret.)
Vice President, Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier Programs, Association of the U.S. Army

Mona Dexter
Vice President, Military and Veteran Affairs, Comcast NBCUniversal

Mackenzie Eaglen
Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute

Daryl Haegley
Technical Director, Control Systems Cybersecurity, Deputy Chief of Staff, Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection, U.S. Air Force

Todd Harrison
Managing Director, Metrea Strategic Insights

Kristi Hilbert
CEO, Heroes Supporting Heroes; Air Force Civic Leader Program

MAJ. GEN. JOHN P. HRONEK, II
Adjutant General, Commander of the Montana National Guard, Director of the Department of Military Affairs

LTG Jon A. Jensen
Director, Army National Guard

Karen Jowers
Senior Reporter, Military Times

Richard Kidd
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Environment & Energy Resilience

Meredith Lozar
Vice President, Military & Veterans Affairs, JPMorgan Chase

Maj. Gen. David Maxwell
Commander, Marine Corps Installations Command

Maj. Gen. Gregory J. Mosser
Deputy Chief of Army Reserve

Halimah Najieb-Locke
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Resilience

Patrick O’Brien
Director, Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation

Brynt Parmeter
Senior Director of Military Affairs and Head of Non-Traditional Talent Acquisition, Walmart

Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Pennington
Deputy Commander, Air Force Reserve Command

Maj. Gen. Duke A. Pirak
Deputy Director, Air National Guard

Rachel Ross
Deputy Chief Sustainability Officer, U.S. Department of Defense

Geraldine Valentino
Director, Defense State Liaison Office, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Military Community and Family Policy)

LTG Kevin Vereen
Deputy Chief of Staff, G-9

Craig Wilhelm
Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army

Maj. Gen. William L. Zana
Director, Strategic Plans and Policy, and International Affairs (NGB-J5)
AGENDA
For access to the full Summit agenda, complete with room locations, an attendee list and more, download ADC’s conference app ADC Go.
To access the browser-friendly version of the attendee portal, click here.
MONDAY, MARCH 6
9:00 – 10:00 AMPre-Conference Sessions
10:00 – 11:00 AM
Pre-Conference Sessions
ADC Membership Meeting
11:00 – 12:30 PM
New Attendee Gathering
State Advisors Council Meeting
FOAC Council Meeting
12:00 – 1:00 PM
Lunch (On Your Own)
1:00 – 3:00 PM
Opening General Session
3:00 – 3:15 PM
Coffee Break
3:15 – 4:00 PM
Breakout Sessions
4:00 – 4:15 PM
Networking Break
4:15 – 5:00 PM
General Session
5:00 – 6:00 PM
We Are One Community Opening Reception
Sponsored by Corvias
TUESDAY, MARCH 7
7:30 – 8:15 AMNetworking Breakfast
Includes coffee and continental breakfast offerings
8:30 – 9:15 AM
Breakout Sessions
9:15 – 9:30 AM
Networking Break
9:30 – 11:30 AM
General Session
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Networking Break
12:00 – 1:30 PM
Lunch (Provided) & General Session
Defense Community Champions Award Ceremony
1:30 – 1:45 PM
Networking Break
1:45 – 2:30 PM
Breakout Sessions
2:30 – 3:00 PM
Coffee Break
3:00 – 5:00 PM
General Session
5:00 – 6:00 PM
Defense Community Champions Celebration
Sponsored by Navy Federal Credit Union
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8
8:30 – 10:00 AMBreakfast (provided) & General Session
10:00 – 10:15 AM
Networking Break
10:15 – 11:15 AM
Breakout Sessions
ADC GO
For access to the full Summit agenda, attendee list and more, download ADC’s conference app.
- Search “ADC Go” on the Google Play or Apple App Store
- Download and open the app
- Select “2023 Defense Communities National Summit” from the event list
- Log in with the name and email address you used to register for the conference
- Check your email for a verification code and type it into the prompted space

LOCATION

CRYSTAL GATEWAY MARRIOTT
The 2023 Defense Communities National Summit hotel room block at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel has closed. Please contact the Crystal City Gateway Hotel for current rates and availability at 703-920-3230.
REGISTRATION
Pre-registration is closed. Onsite registration is available.
SPONSORSHIP
Sponsoring the 2023 National Summit is an excellent way to promote your brand’s visibility with key leaders at the community, state and national levels. Sponsorships include complimentary registrations, your logo on digital and print signage, the opportunity to be involved in one of our sessions and more.
For more information regarding sponsoring future ADC events, please contact Chris Duyos at cduyos@defensecommunities.org.
Event Sponsors
National Partners
The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.