In this keynote interview, Hon. Dale Marks will share perspectives on the evolving priorities shaping military energy, installation management, and environmental stewardship. The conversation will highlight key challenges and opportunities ahead, including resilience, infrastructure modernization, and partnerships that strengthen mission readiness. Attendees will gain insight into the strategic direction and leadership approach guiding these critical efforts.

Senior installation leaders from the Army, Air Force, and Navy will discuss emerging policy priorities shaping the future of military installations, with a focus on energy, resilience, and infrastructure. The session will explore how surrounding communities play an increasingly critical role in supporting mission readiness and long-term installation sustainability. Panelists will share insights on collaboration opportunities and the evolving partnership between installations and the communities that support them.

In this moderated discussion, GEN Thomas Carden will provide insights into the National Guard's evolving role in supporting both national defense and domestic missions. The conversation will explore how Guard installations and surrounding communities can work together to enhance resilience, readiness, and response capabilities. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the Guard's unique position at the intersection of state and federal priorities.

With the new Administration budget under consideration by Congress, what could this level of funding mean for installation infrastructure and readiness? This panel brings together former government leaders and commercial experts to examine where the most significant shortfalls and emerging requirements exist inside the fence — and how a major infusion of resources could address them. Panelists will also explore how different investment strategies could improve outcomes across the installation enterprise within the United States Department of Defense.

Join Patrick O'Brien for an interactive town hall focused on the priorities and programs of the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC). This session will highlight how communities can leverage federal resources to support installation resilience, compatible development, and economic sustainability. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage directly on challenges, best practices, and partnership opportunities.

Family readiness is mission readiness, but some of its most important drivers are often overlooked. This session explores the hidden costs of mobility and how housing and educational experiences shape the wellbeing of military families and children. We'll examine how stronger alignment across communities, schools, and installations can better support families — and, in turn, strengthen force readiness.

Defense communities are at a strategic inflection point: Critical energy reliability, accelerating digital infrastructure demands, and new missions such as Golden Dome and the military deployment of Artificial intelligence that will need both. New acquisition authorities are opening the door for data centers and prime power generation projects on underutilized military installation land. These opportunities — once considered niche — are rapidly becoming essential components of future military value, mission assurance, and regional economic competitiveness.

Housing is no longer just a quality-of-life issue — it is a readiness issue. Panelists will offer unique policy to practitioner perspectives relative to housing availability and affordability for military members and their families.

Although supercharging the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) is central to the 2026 National Defense Strategy, the commercial electric grid serving defense industrial base facilities, military installations, and defense communities is currently underinvested in and vulnerable. This panel will bring together defense community and DIB leaders to examine the munitions reconstitution challenge, the grid infrastructure investments required to meet it, and what it means to truly supercharge the industrial base for robust, credible deterrence.

This special recognition event will honor three outstanding Defense Community Champions whose leadership and dedication have strengthened the partnership between military installations and their surrounding communities. Sponsored by Navy Federal Credit Union, the program will highlight impactful initiatives and best practices that support service members and their families. Join us in celebrating the individuals making a lasting difference across defense communities nationwide.

An in-depth discussion of how Congress, the U.S. military and defense industry partners are aligning policy, technology and on-the-ground power to counter the growing capabilities of our adversaries.

An in-depth discussion of how communities, the U.S. military and defense industry partners are aligning policy, technology and on-the-ground power to counter the growing capabilities of our adversaries.

Each year, the Great American Defense Communities program recognizes communities across the country that go above and beyond for military families and the installations they support. This year's announcement celebrates the tenth class of honorees — communities whose stories represent the very best of what it means to show up for this mission.

A discussion of the key issues facing military families, and how the department, communities and the private sector are exploring new partnerships and innovative policy ideas to tackle persistent challenges.

A one-on-one conversation with HON Chris Pilkerton who leads the federal inter-agency Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and the Outbound investment security program. This discussion will explore the emerging challenges posed by foreign investment near military installations and how the federal government is looking to work with local communities and other entities to detect and deter bad actors, while still providing opportunities for economic development and foreign investment.

This session will explore how private capital, long-term investment strategies, and bold ingenuity can align with community and military leadership to reimagine the defense installations of the future. Drawing on innovative models like California Forever and the American Dynamism movement, panelists will discuss how mission-driven development can solve critical national problems and deliver resilient infrastructure, workforce housing, and modernized community assets that directly support military readiness.

The Nation's electricity grids are straining from a perfect storm of exploding national demand, increased cyber/kinetic threats, and deteriorated infrastructure at a time when power prices are increasing and regulatory/permitting obstacles persist. The Administration's declaration of a National Energy Emergency has accelerated programs in both the Department of War and Department of Energy to enhance power reliability nation-wide by building new power generation on military land, including nuclear reactors. This panel will offer defense communities a glimpse into the future of military value — energy independence and assured reliability regardless of the threat.

A discussion of the key issues facing military families, and how the department, communities and the private sector are exploring new partnerships and innovative policy ideas to tackle persistent challenges.

In a bipartisan conversation, Representatives Jason Crow and Brad Finstad explore how "national security starts at home," highlighting the critical role defense communities play in military readiness and resilience. The discussion will examine shared priorities across the aisle — from strengthening the defense industrial base and workforce pipeline to addressing emerging threats and improving quality of life for service members and their families.

This session highlights how the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program and the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC) work together to strengthen installation resilience and support defense communities. Panelists will discuss priority issues for the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Environment & Energy Resilience, including compatible land use, mission footprint pressures, and noise and operational compatibility.

AI is driving tremendous growth in U.S. data centers, placing strain on power generation and transmission infrastructure. Data centers can also pose a range of community concerns, including potential increases in electricity costs, noise and air pollution, and water scarcity. Industry practices and state and local government policies are evolving to meet demand and address challenges. This panel will explore the opportunities and challenges for defense communities and military installations from such trends.

What happens when federal law promises military spouse portability, but the family still cannot get a license after PCS? Join the architects of the emerging framework for a rare look inside the next phase of implementation, enforcement, and the data now shaping State reputations, service basing decisions, and whether military families stay in uniform.

This panel brings together a diverse set of regional leaders to highlight successful strategies for strengthening the defense industrial base through workforce development, supply chain support, and public-private partnerships.