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. This session provides a clear, practical overview how the military departments are soliciting projects and how defense communities and utilities can share in the partnership. Panelists will break down the benefit of these projects, the policy, and approval pathways that govern them, as well as the real world challenges and opportunities communities should anticipate—from grid constraints and cybersecurity considerations to workforce, permitting, and long term mission alignment.

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 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. The conversation will emphasize how REPI partnerships and OLDCC programs help protect military readiness, enhance community resilience, and sustain critical defense missions.

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. Emerging industry trends include alternative onsite power generation, customization of facilities for local needs, and closed-loop water reuse systems. 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. Panelists will share innovative, place-based approaches—from Gulf Coast workforce alignment efforts to Utah’s investments in aerospace incubators and New England’s cross-state collaboration model—demonstrating how regions are scaling impact through coordination and policy engagement. Attendees will gain insight into replicable models that enhance resilience, capacity, and long-term competitiveness across defense manufacturing communities.

What programs in the Department of War are focused on deploying nuclear reactors to military installations to provide assured energy for critical mission operations. How can defense communities get involved to raise awareness and actively engage with the military services to partner on the wide range of issues to station resilient and reliable power sources?

This panel will examine the complex intersection of foreign investment, national security, and local economic growth. Experts will discuss evolving policies, risk considerations, and strategies for safeguarding military installations and mission while maintaining a competitive investment environment. Attendees will gain practical insights on how communities can navigate these challenges and strike the right balance.