Defense Strategies Institute (DSI)

The 2026 Annual Operational Medicine Symposium (OpMed) & Technology Showcase is one of the largest and most influential military medical events in North America for senior medical officials, clinicians, government leaders, and solution providers. The 8th Annual Symposium will explore how the Military Health System is preparing for large scale combat operations by championing innovations in combat casualty care to strengthen Warfighter survivability and enhance the medical readiness of the Joint Force. 

Formerly hosted by Advanced Onion, Inc, the Insider Risk Summit West will bring together leading security experts, advocates, and decision-makers from across both the public and private sectors to share their perspectives and engage in meaningful dialogue. This event will provide attendees with critical insight into the evolving insider risk landscape, along with the technologies, policies, and strategies required to detect, mitigate, and respond to these threats.

The Insider Risk Summit West unites the nation’s leading experts, innovators, and security professionals dedicated to tackling one of today’s most complex challenges — the insider risk. Hosted on the West Coast, this premier forum will bring together voices from big tech, AI, social media, energy, and all levels of government to explore the evolving insider risk landscape and the strategies needed to stay ahead of it.

Attendees will gain actionable insights into emerging technologies, advanced behavioral analytics, and proactive detection capabilities shaping modern insider risk programs. From safeguarding sensitive data to strengthening organizational resilience, the Summit will foster candid dialogue and real-world collaboration between public and private-sector leaders on the front lines of trust, technology, and national security.

DSI’s 3rd annual FutureG for Defense & Warfare Summit will convene senior leaders from the DoW, Federal Government, Industry, and Academia in a dynamic ‘Town-Hall’ style event to focus on operationalizing current 5G networks, securing supply chains, and charting the research roadmap toward 6G (FutureG). This must-attend two-day event seeks to detail the strategic objectives and goals around the full-scale integration of secure, resilient commercial and military network technologies in support of the Warfighter.

The pursuit of FutureG (6G) is crucial to ensuring U.S. technological power and remains designated as a critical technology area by OUSW R&E. 5G already offers the speed, bandwidth, and low latency essential for increasingly complex demands like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), positioning FutureG as the digital nervous system for Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2). To maintain the tactical edge, greater cooperation between the private sector and the government is required to rapidly integrate these capabilities.

Attendees will have unparalleled access to the change-makers who are shaping the FutureG strategy and translating resilient, domestic innovation into warfighting advantage. Senior leaders at this forum will address key initiatives, including:

• Expeditionary and Tactical Use (ETU): Detailing strategies for extending reliable 5G/FutureG connectivity to forward operating bases and challenging operational setting.
• Open Architectures & Standardization: Focusing on the continued development and deployment of Open Radio Networks (O-RAN) to ensure multi-vendor interoperability and cyber-resilience across the Joint Force.
• Next-Generation Network Development: Offering insight into the key initiatives laying the groundwork for a modernized network, from hardware innovation to effective spectrum management strategies.

Defense Strategies Institute’s 6th Annual Assured PNT Summit will convene leaders from the military services, federal government, industry, and academia in a collaborative, town hall forum to discuss the advancement and development of a robust, resilient U.S. PNT enterprise.  The 2026 Summit will highlight the need to ensure PNT services are robust, resilient, and available for military, civil, and commercial applications across the United States.

The United States currently relies on the Global Positioning Systems (GPS) as its primary source of positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services, leaving the nation vulnerable to billions of dollars in losses should GPS be disrupted, even for a few minutes.  As adversaries continually advance their PNT capabilities, the 2026 Assured PNT Summit will explore how the United States is modernizing GPS and pursuing alternative and complementary sources of PNT to develop a robust, resilient national PNT architecture.

GPS underpins countless daily operations across modern society, including military and civil critical infrastructures.  PNT is essential for battlefield maneuver and navigation, precision strike, target tracking, weapon system accuracy, as well as for power grids, telecommunications networks, financial markets, transportation systems, and civilian navigation. However, GPS signals remain vulnerable to disruption, jamming, and spoofing, highlighting an urgent need for additional and complementary sources of PNT that can be used in the event GPS is denied or degraded.  This year’s Summit will support the national security imperative to reduce reliance on a single PNT source by advancing a diversified, resilient PNT ecosystem.  

Speakers will explore opportunities to introduce and scale terrestrial PNT solutions while also strengthening space-based PNT technologies to withstand jamming and spoofing from adversaries.  Join us at the 2026 Assured PNT Summit to hear from and directly engage with leaders across the DoW, federal government, academia, and industry as they discuss the steps being taken to assure PNT for military, commercial, and civilian applications.

The 14th Annual Unmanned & Autonomous Systems Summit brings together key experts, decision-makers, and innovators from the DoW, Military Services, Industry, and Academia for in-depth discussions on advancements and innovations in unmanned and autonomous technologies essential for the future of military defense and mission success in all combat environments. With recent acceleration in autonomous capability development, including new breakthroughs in AI-enabled mission autonomy, advanced loitering munitions, and next-generation drone swarms, this year’s Summit reflects the rapidly shifting landscape shaping the future force.

Defense Strategies Institute’s 2nd Annual MOSA for Defense Summit will provide a forum for members of the DoD, Military Services, Industry, Academia, and other key stakeholders to discuss the warfighting imperative of implementing a modular open systems approach (MOSA) in the design, development, delivery, acquisition, and sustainment of modern defense systems. 

96.1 billion dollars or 31% of the DoD’s total investment funding, was dedicated to major defense acquisition programs (MDAPs) in FY 2025. These programs under US law: Title 10 U.S.C. 2446a.(b), Sec 805 states all major defense acquisition programs (MDAP) are to be designed and developed using a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA). This approach is an attempt to counter rapidly modernizing adversaries and is DoD’s plan to modernize its acquisition and development processes, prioritizing adaptability, accelerating innovation, and lowering cost. A cornerstone of this transformation is the implementation of MOSA across all defense systems. MOSA is an integrated business and technical strategy that uses open standards and modular design to achieve competitive and affordable acquisition and sustainment of defense systems throughout their lifecycle MOSA enhances flexibility, interoperability, and efficiency, ensuring the U.S. maintains a technological edge.

This year’s MOSA for Defense Summit brings together leaders from across the DoD, industry, and academia at the forefront of MOSA implementation. Attendees will gain insights into how these organizations are implementing this critical strategy and the resulting benefits.

The summit will explore how MOSA is driving enhanced competition, innovation, interoperability, and cost-effective system design and delivery through open system development. By enabling easier and more cost-effective addition, removal, and replacement of components and subsystems, MOSA enhances program agility and reduces costs. This year’s event will delve into MOSA’s impact on key areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Air Dominance, Space and Missile Defense, and Ground Combat Systems. Attendees will also hear the role of Intellectual property laws play in MOSA and hear from the perspective of a Tri service panel. Connect with senior leaders and join the critical discussion around implementing open systems across the DoD.

Due to the federal government’s lapse in budget appropriations, the October DoW/VA & Government Health IT Summit will be postponed and rescheduled for Spring 2026.

DSI’s 29th DoW/VA & Government HIT Summit will bring together leaders from across the VA, DHA, DoW, federal government, and relevant industry stakeholders to improve the delivery of lifelong patient-centered healthcare for military members and Veterans.  The October 2025 Summit will explore the role of health IT in advancing the interoperability, delivery, accessibility, affordability, and resiliency of Veteran and military healthcare.

Defense Strategies Institute’s 5^th Annual Assured Logistics Summit will convene senior leaders, leading experts, and strategic decision makers from across the DoW, military services, and industry for in-depth discussion on the strategies, policies, and technologies enabling secure, resilient, efficient, and responsive supply chain and sustainment operations in contested logistics environment.

In response to evolving threats and increasing operational complexity, the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research & Engineering has identified contested logistics as one of its six Critical Technology Areas (CTAs), underscoring its importance in ensuring U.S. military access to mission-critical resources in disrupted or denied environments. The 2026 Summit will highlight how the DoW is modernizing its vast global supply chains to maintain effective and resilient logistics operations, ensuring warfighters have the capabilities and resources necessary to achieve battlefield success in contested environments.

This year’s Assured Logistics Summit will examine how the Joint Force is adapting to enable mobility and freedom of movement, deliver resources, equipment, and manpower, and sustain operations at the point of need through initiatives focused on strengthening the resiliency, readiness, and security of military supply chains. Join us at DSI’s 5th Annual Assured Logistics Summit to convene with senior leaders from the DoW, military services, industry, logistics experts, and academia in a dynamic ‘town-hall’ style event. Attendees will gain the unique opportunity to engage with the policies, technologies, and innovative solutions that keep the Warfighter prepared, support, and resilient in complex operating environments.

The 2026 Advanced Energy Storage for Defense & Security Summit will convene key decision-makers and innovators from across the DoW, Federal Government, Commercial Sector, & Academia to explore how emerging technologies such as customizable, intelligent battery cells and management systems are helping to power the future. This forum aims to examine how lithium-ion and other battery technologies can help to improve Warfighter platforms such as tactical UAVs & EVs by offering higher density, longer duration, & better safety. Advancements in energy storage are transforming how we harness and utilize power for mobility systems, as well as help to enhance portable electronics in austere environments.

DSI’s 8th Annual Human Performance & Biosystems Summit will convene senior-level leaders and decision-makers from across the Department of War, Military Research Laboratories, Industry, and Academia to examine the latest policies, strategies, and innovations shaping the future of Warfighter human performance. As the character of war continues to evolve toward multi-domain, highly contested, and cognitively demanding environments, the Summit will focus on advancing integrated, data-driven approaches that preserve readiness, resilience, and lethality across the Joint Force. The 2026 Summit will spotlight current and emerging efforts to optimize physical, cognitive, psychological, and social performance through Department-wide Human Performance Optimization initiatives, Total Force Fitness (TFF), the Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) system, the Marine Corps Total Fitness (MCTF), the Navy’s Operational Fitness and Fueling System (NOFFS), and aligned Service-specific readiness strategies. Discussions will emphasize prevention-focused, sustainable performance models that reduce injury, improve recovery, enhance decision-making under stress, and support long-term force readiness.

The 14th Annual Border Security & Intelligence Summit will bring together leading experts and decision-makers from across the law enforcement and intelligence community to share insights and engage in strategic dialogue on the state of U.S. border security and the innovative technologies advancing the protection of our Nation’s borders. 

In response to evolving challenges at U.S. borders from illegal immigration to transnational crime, border security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies are enhancing their capabilities to effectively address these threats. The 2026 Border Security & Intelligence Summit will highlight the latest trends, technologies, and strategies for securing borders and advancing intelligence operations in an increasingly digital environment. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the most pressing issues facing the border security community, as well as the implementation of cutting-edge technologies that support national and global security. 

The 2026 event will convene senior level experts, decision-makers, and innovators from across DHS, the Intelligence Community, federal agencies, & industry to discuss emerging threats and the tools needed to counter organized crime and illicit actors. Key panel discussions will examine innovative surveillance technologies, the integration of AI and advanced data analytics, evolving challenges at the U.S.-Canada border, and local strategies for enforcement and security. Attendees at the 2026 Border Security & Intelligence Summit will have the unique opportunity to explore the policies, technologies, and solutions essential to achieving current security objectives and protecting U.S. citizens from emerging threats.