Agenda

Agenda

Three Days of Dynamic Engagement

Attendees examined the ever-changing landscape of security assistance, defense innovation, and the U.S. industrial base. Through engaging keynotes, panels, and specialized sessions, AWSAC navigated these challenges to ensure partners and allies were equipped with the world’s best defense capabilities.

Uniform/Dress: Military - Duty Uniform. Non-military - Business Casual.

*All times and sessions are subject to change.

REVIEW THE SPEAKERS

DAY ONE: 5 MARCH
The event opened for security assistance practitioners and included discussions on government/industry best practices and strategies that helped align attendees with congressional requirements and industry capabilities. Day One Sessions included:

Description
1300-1315 Welcome | Welcome and Opening Remarks

Speaker:
1315-1400 Best Practices on the Job | Program Management Best Practices:
What Army acquisition best practices to apply to FMS on the ground

Panel Members:

  • Mr. Marty Zybura (Moderator) - Office of the Deputy for Acquisition and Systems Management, ASA(ALT)
  • Mr. David Dopp - Project Lead for FMS - PEO Ground Combat Systems, PEO Ground Combat Systems
  • Mr. Ronald Holliday - Project Manager Strategic & Operational Rockets and Missiles, PEO
  • Mr. Mike Sprang
1400-1445 Industry Perspective | How to Stand Out:
What makes a good PM from an industry lens

Panel Members:

  • Mr. Marty Zybura (Moderator) - Office of the Deputy for Acquisition and Systems Management, ASA(ALT)
  • Pat Acox - Vice President, Defense Business Development, Forterra
  • Ms. Lisa DeVine - VP, Land Systems Integration, Leidos Dynetics
  • Mr. Larry Meehan - Director of Government Affairs, Hermeus
1445-1500 Break
1500-1600 Congressional Perspective | Achieving Alignment:
Industry moderates congressional panel from relevant congressional committees on aligning requirements with industry capabilities

Panel Members:

  • Ms. Kathryn Hutchinson (Moderator) - Director, ASA(AL&T) Congressional Affairs, ASA(ALT)
  • Brandon Gaskew - CEO, Yarrow Strategies
  • Mr. Nate Guajardo - Military Legislative Assistant, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, US Senate
  • Mr. James Hart - National Security Advisor, US Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO)
  • Caroline Kehrli - Professional Staff Member, House Armed Services Committee
  • Ms. Adriana Rivera - Director of Government Affairs, AUVSI

DAY TWO: 6 MARCH
Featured a formal welcome and keynote address, followed by a day filled with dynamic sessions that tackled the global role of Army and industry, drove partnerships across security assistance and modernization, and identified key areas of improvement. Day Two Sessions included:

Description
0830-0845 Introduction

Speaker:
0845-0915 Keynote
0915-1000 Strategic Imperative of Security Cooperation & FMS | Define Global Role:
Keynote discussing the integral role FMS and robust security cooperation plays in securing allies (strategically & operationally) across the globe

Speaker:
1000-1030 Break
1030-1115 Integrating FMS into Army Modernization | Drive Partnership Across Security Cooperation and Modernization:
Panel address on the importance of an integrated approach to next generation FMS

Panel Members:
1115-1200 Partner Perspectives on FMS Process | Identify Strengths and Areas for Improvement:
Moderated partner nation panel discuss how modernization is impacting partnership, areas for development

Panel Members:

  • LTG Charles Hooper USA (Ret.)(Moderator) - Senior Counselor, The Cohen Group
  • Ms. Stacy Cummings - General Manager, NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA)
  • Mr. David Hartog - Director of Commercial and FMS Operations, Embassy of Australia, Washington DC
  • LTC Kiseog Kim - Army Programs Officer, DAPA Representative in US / Korean Embassy
  • Lt Col Jacek Molenda - Defense Cooperation Attaché, Republic of Poland
1200-1330 Lunch (on own)
1330-1415 FMS in Practice | "In Theatre" Reflections:
Panel on how FMS has moved the needle in defense security globally, sharing real life examples from the field

Panel Members:

  • Mr. Dave Lamm (Moderator) - Deputy Director, Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies at the National Defense University
  • BG Allen Pepper - Commanding General, U.S. Army Security Assistance Command
  • Brig Gen Mason Dula - Deputy Dir. Strategy, Plans & Policy, USCENTCOM, J-5
1415-1515 Building FMS Resiliency | Strengthening the FMS Industrial Base:
Discussion on innovative methods to increase the US industrial robustness / resiliency (e.g., co-production)

Panel Members:
1515-1530 Break
1530-1630 Developing Next-gen Capabilities | Emerging Tech and Non-POR Materiel:
Discussion on how to leverage tech to deliver on commitments, including balance between capabilities / requirements

Panel Members:

  • Mr. Warren O'Donell (Moderator) - Deputy Director, Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office
  • Mr. Joseph Andrews Brooks - Executive Director for Regional Sustainment A&S, OUSD for Acquisition and Sustainment
  • Mr. Brett Darcey - Technical Fellow, Shield Ai
  • Mr. Chris Meyers - Sr. Director of Government Relations, Aerovironment
  • Mr. Jeffrey Singleton - Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology Futures, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering
1630-1715 Industry Perspectives on FMS Process | Identify Strengths and Areas for Improvement:
Moderated industry leader panel discuss key FMS challenges, how current reforms improve process, & areas for development

Panel Members:
1715 Social Hour | Evening Social

DAY THREE: 7 MARCH
Sessions were segmented by government and industry attendees, and promoted open discourse, transparency, and professional development. Government attendee sessions included Skill Accelerator Breakouts to unlock an employee’s full potential to contribute to ASAE modernization and reform efforts. Day Three Sessions included:

Industry attendees engaged in a Defense Advocacy Committee (DAC) meeting - featuring content focused on future projections, challenges, and updates on Army work being done in parallel. All industry attendees were invited to attend this meeting.

Government and Military Agenda

Description
0900-0930 Readying ASAE to Modernize | Showcase ASAE Modernization:
Keynote highlighting current modernization efforts to enable more efficient delivery & how YOU are part of the process

Speaker:

  • Mr. Pat Mason - Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Defense Exports and Cooperation, DASA (DE&C)
0930-1030  Skills Accelerator Breakout: Investing in You  | Data-driven Decision-making:
New ASAE data products to integrate into your organization

Speaker:

Location: Grand Ballroom, Salon G
Skills Accelerator Breakout: Investing in You  | Leading with GenAI:
How to unlock your team’s productivity with GenAI

Speaker:

Location: Grand Ballroom, Salon F
Skills Accelerator Breakout: Investing in You  | Performance Management:
Curating a results-oriented culture within your organization to deliver upon the growth FMS demand

Panel Members:

Location: Grand Ballroom, Salon E
Skills Accelerator Breakout: Investing in You  | Change Management:
How to guide your workforce through periods of change and transition

Panel Members:

Location: Grand Ballroom, Salons ABCHJK (Main Meeting Room)
Skills Accelerator Breakout: Investing in You  | Culture:
Strengthening your workplace culture to increase team productivity

Speaker:

Location: Grand Ballroom, Salon D
1030-1045 Break
1045-1130 Workforce Professionalization | Impact of Workforce Reform:
Moderated panel discussing importance of workforce reform and the impacts they have seen in their own organizations

Panel Members:

  • Mr. Rodney Davis - Deputy PEO, Aviation, PEO Aviation, ASA-ALT
  • Mr. Walt Flood - Director, International Programs and Logistics, US Army Communications and Electronics Command
  • Dr. Jason Fritz - Acting President, Defense Security Cooperation University
  • Mr. Scott Greene - Chief, Strategy and Communications Division, U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center
  • Ms. Miranda Oden - Deputy PEO, Missiles & Space, PEO MS, ASA-ALT 
1130-1200 Closing Plenary | Bringing it All Together:
Where we go from here to continue building a better partnership for the future

Speaker:

  • Mr. Pat Mason - Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Defense Exports and Cooperation, DASA (DE&C)

Defense Advocacy Committee (DAC) Meeting Agenda

Location: Pentagon A, First Level

Description
0845-0900 Arrival
0900-910 Welcome and Opening Remarks

Speaker:

  • Michael Robbins - President and CEO, AUVSI
0910-1000 Future Projections and Challenges for Alliance Multidomain Robotic and Unmanned Systems

Speaker:

  • Dr. Craig Sawyer - Chairman - NATO Joint Capability Group Maritime Unmanned Systems (JCGMUS), NATO
1000-1050 Transformation in Contact, small UAS Surge, Human-Machine Integration Formations, and AUKUS

Speaker:

  • Mr. Stu Hatfield - Division Chief, Human-Machine Integration Division, US Army G8
1050-1100 Closing Remarks

Speaker:

  • Michael Robbins - President and CEO, AUVSI

REVIEW THE SPEAKERS

Sponsorship of The Army Worldwide Security Assistance Conference (“Event”), including technology displays, does not constitute or imply endorsement by, or affiliation with, the Department of Defense (DoD), the U.S. Army, or the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (“AUVSI”). AUVSI’s co-sponsorship of the Event does not suggest DoD or U.S. Army endorsement of AUVSI, its members, or any other participating non-federal entities.