2026 Warfare Symposium | Agenda

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday

Monday, February 23, 2026

1:30 – 4:00 pm
Aurora Exhibit Hall
Technology Exposition
3:05 – 3:50 pm
Aurora Ballroom
Keynote Address
  • Dr. Troy Meink
    Secretary of the Air Force
4:00 – 4:30 pm
Aurora Ballroom
Keynote Address
  • Gen. B. Chance Saltzman
    Chief of Space Operations
4:30 – 5:00 pm
Aurora Ballroom
Polaris Awards
5:15 – 5:45 pm
Aurora Ballroom
Keynote Address
  • Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach
    Chief of Staff of the Air Force
5:45 – 7:00 pm
Aurora Exhibit Hall
Polaris Reception
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday

Tuesday, February 24, 2026

9:00 am – 4:30 pm
Aurora Exhibit Hall
Technology Exposition
8:30 – 9:10 am
Aurora Ballroom
A Conversation with CMSSF and the Space Force’s Top Guardians
  • Moderator:
    Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force John Bentivegna
8:30 – 9:10 am
Colorado B
BMT Next: A Fireside Chat with 2nd Air Force
  • Maj. Gen. Wolfe Davidson
    Commander, 2nd Air Force
  • Chief Master Sgt. Colin A. Fleck
    Command Chief, 2nd Air Force
8:30 – 9:10 am
Colorado C
Generating EW Effects
  • Patrick Creighton
    Vice President and General Manager, Electronic Warfare, L3Harris Technologies
  • Joshua Niedzwiecki
    Vice President and General Manager, Electronic Combat Solutions, BAE Systems
  • Col. Nick Yates, USAF (Ret)
    Senior Business Development Manager, CAE USA
  • Moderator:
    Col. Angelo Fernandez
    Commander, Mission Delta 3
9:20 – 10:00 am
Aurora Ballroom
Reinforcing Warfighting and Personnel Readiness
  • Matthew Lohmeier
    Under Secretary of the Air Force
  • Gen. Shawn Bratton
    Vice Chief of Space Operations
  • Moderator:
    Gen. Mike Minihan, USAF (Ret.)
    Former Commander, Air Mobility Command
9:20 – 10:00 am
Colorado B
Long-Range Kill Chains
  • Elaine Bitonti
    Vice President & General Manager, Connected Battlespace and Emerging Capabilities Mission Systems, Collins Aerospace an RTX Business
  • Matt George
    CEO and Co-founder, Merlin Labs
  • Col. Scott “Fug” Gilloon, USAF (Ret.)
    Sector Vice President, USAF Strategic Development, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
  • Orlando ‘OJ’ Sanchez Jr.
    Vice President & General Manager, Skunk Works, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
  • Moderator:
    Col. Gary E. Roos
    Senior Materiel Leader, Adaptive Weapons Division, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center
9:20 – 10:00 am
Colorado C
Battle-Hardening Commercial Space
  • Matt Hungerford
    Chief Technology Officer, Space and Intel Business Group, SAIC
  • Mark Lundstrom
    CEO, Radia
  • David Schmolke
    Vice President, Mission Connections and Cybersecurity, Viasat
  • Moderator:
    Lt. Col. Timothy Trimailo
    Director and Senior Materiel Leader, Commercial Space Office, Space Systems Command
11:00 – 11:40 am
Aurora Ballroom
International Partnerships in Space
  • Thomas Goffus
    Former Assistant Secretary General-Operations, NATO
  • Air Marshal Paul Godfrey
    Assistant Chief of Space Operations for Future Concepts and Partnerships
  • Brig. Gen. Christopher Gardiner
    Space and Cyber Attache, Embassy of Australia
  • Moderator:
    Heidi Grant
    Partner, Elara Nova
11:00 – 11:40 am
Colorado B
Integrated Air & Missile Defense
  • Johnathon Caldwell
    Vice President & General Manager, Strategic & Missile Defense Systems, Lockheed Martin Space
  • Lukas Czinger
    CEO, Divergent
  • Rob Fleming
    Sector President, Northrop Grumman Space Systems
  • Jon Piatt
    Executive Vice President, ISR, Aviation & Security, SNC
  • Moderator:
    Col. Jennifer Reeves, USAF (Ret.)
    Senior Fellow, Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence
11:00 – 11:40 am
Colorado C
Air-to-Air Sensors and Weapons
  • Taylor Frank
    Executive Director, Strategy & Development, Air Dominance, Boeing Defense, Space & Security
  • Dr. Dan “Animal” Javorsek
    Chief Engineer, Aviation, Applied Intuition
  • Jon Norman
    Vice President, Requirements & Capabilities for Air & Space Defense Systems, Raytheon, an RTX business
  • Steve Sargeant
    CEO, Marvin Test Solutions
  • Moderator:
    Maj. Gen. William D. Betts
    Director of Plans, Programs, and Requirements, Air Combat Command
1:10 – 1:50 pm
Aurora Ballroom
Leveraging Private Capital to Advance DAF Priorities
1:10 – 1:50 pm
Colorado B
Desert Storm 35: A Turning Point in Warfare
  • Lt. Gen. Dave Deptula, USAF (Ret.)
    Dean, AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
  • Maj. Gen. Gregory Feest, USAF (Ret.)
    F-117 Nighthawk pilot, dropped the first bomb of Desert Storm
  • Gen. Lance Lord, USAF (Ret.)
    Former Commander, Air Force Space Command
  • Moderator:
    Col. Richard Reynolds, USAF (Ret.)
    Author, Heart of the Storm: The Genesis of the Air Campaign Against IRAQ
1:10 – 1:50 pm
Colorado C
Guardians in Space
  • Maj. Gen. Robert W. Claude
    Mobilization Assistant to the Chief of Space Operations
  • Brig. Gen. Matthew Cantore
    Deputy Commander, Space Training and Readiness Command
  • Brig. Gen Nick Hague
    Assistant Deputy Chief of Space Operations
  • Moderator:
    Col. Kyle Pumroy, USSF (Ret.)
    Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies, AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
2:05 – 2:45 pm
Aurora Ballroom
Defending the Homeland
  • Gen. Stephen N. Whiting
    Commander, U.S. Space Command
  • Gen. Gregory M. Guillot
    Commander, U.S. Northern Command
  • Lt. Gen. Michael J. Lutton
    Deputy Commander, Air Forces Strategic-Air, U.S. Strategic Command
  • Moderator:
    Gen. David D. Thompson, USSF (Ret.)
    Former Vice Chief of Space Operations
2:05 – 2:45 pm
Colorado B
AI and Data Management
  • Chris Brown
    Chief Technology Officer, Virtualitics 
  • Nicky Pike
    Field CTO, Coder
  • Jess Salzbrun
    Senior Executive Director, Digital Technology, GE Aerospace
  • Jay Theodore
    CTO, ArcGIS Enterprise & AI, ESRI
  • Moderator:
    Susan Davenport
    Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence Officer
2:05 – 2:45 pm
Colorado C
Moving Target Indications from Space
  • Dr. Gurpartap “GP” Sandhoo
    Acting Director, Space Development Agency
  • Dan Stewart
    National Reconnaissance Office
  • Lt. Gen. Gregory J. Gagnon
    Commander, U.S. Space Force Combat Forces Command
  • Moderator:
    Col. Jennifer Reeves, USAF (Ret.)
    Senior Fellow, Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence
3:45 – 4:25 pm
Aurora Ballroom
Forward Air Base Defense
  • Lt. Gen. Jason T. Hinds
    Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa
  • Lt. Gen. Derek France
    Commander, Air Forces Central Command
  • Lt. Gen. Thorsten Poschwatta
    Commander, German Air Operations Command
  • Moderator:
    Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian, USAF (Ret.)
    Former Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa
3:45 – 4:25 pm
Colorado B
Realistic Training for Space
  • Maj. Gen. James E. Smith
    Commander, Space Training and Readiness Command
  • Brig. Gen Nick Hague
    Assistant Deputy Chief of Space Operations
  • Col. Agustin Carrero
    Commander, Space Delta 11 (Ranges & Aggressors, Training & Exercises, Weapons School)
  • Lt. Col. Josh Print
    Commander, 98th Space Range Squadron
  • Col. Kyle Pumroy, USSF (Ret.)
    Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies, AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
3:45 – 4:25 pm
Colorado C
Long-Range Strike—With Speed
  • Lt. Gen. Jason Armagost
    Deputy Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command
  • Brig. Gen. Brian Laidlaw
    Director of Operations, Air Combat Command
  • Tom Jones
    President, Aeronautics Systems, Northrop Grumman Corporation
  • Mike Rothstein
    Vice President, Strategy & Requirements, Air Weapons & Sensors, Lockheed Martin Missiles & Fire Control
  • Moderator:
    Lt. Gen. David S. Nahom, USAF (Ret.)
    Former Commander Alaskan Command, 11th Air Force
4:35 – 5:15 pm
Aurora Ballroom
Winning Above the Atmosphere: Future Technologies for Space Advantage
  • Tory Bruno (Invited)
    President, National Security, Blue Origin
  • Robert Lightfoot
    President, Lockheed Martin Space
  • Dr. Gurpartap “GP” Sandhoo
    Acting Director, Space Development Agency
  • Lt. Gen. Philip A. Garrant
    Commander, Space Systems Command
  • Moderator:
    Lt. Gen. Nina Armagno, USSF (Ret.)
    Executive Director, International Partnerships, Elara Nova
4:35 – 5:15 pm
Colorado B
Improving Readiness for Peer Conflict
  • Gen. Adrian L. Spain
    Commander, Air Combat Command
  • Lt. Gen. Case Cunningham
    Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations
  • Lt. Gen. Rebecca “Reba” Sonkiss
    Deputy Commander, Air Mobility Command
  • Moderator:
    Lt. Gen. Dave Deptula, USAF (Ret.)
    Dean, AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
4:35 – 5:15 pm
Colorado C
DAF Battle Network: Connecting Every Domain from Cloud to Constellation
  • Dr. Bryan Tipton
    Chief of Architecture and Engineering at the Department of the Air Force Integrating Program Executive Office for Command, Control, Communications, and Battle Management
  • Shannon Pallone
    Program Executive Officer, Battle Management Command, Control & Communications, USSF
  • Taylor “Bingo” Herron
    Executive, Palantir Technologies
  • Moderator:
    Heather Penney
    Director of Studies and Research, AFA's Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday

Wednesday, February 25, 2026

8:30 am – 4:00 pm
Aurora Exhibit Hall
Technology Exposition
8:00 – 8:40 am
Aurora Ballroom
What Satellite Imagery Can Tell Us About China’s Military Build Up
  • J. Michael Dahm
    Senior Fellow, AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
8:00 – 8:40 am
Colorado B
Space Supply Chain Resilience
  • Bradley Leonard
    Bradley Leonard, Director of Installations, Logistics and Product Support, Space Systems Command
  • Maj. Gen. David J. Sanford
    Director, Logistics Operations (J3) and Commander, Joint Regional Combat Support, Defense Logistics Agency
  • Jeff Schrader
    Vice President, Strategy and Business Development, Lockheed Martin Space
  • Moderator:
    Col. Kevin Sampels, USAF (Ret.)
    Senior Vice President of Operations, Systecon North America
8:00 – 8:40 am
Colorado C
Readiness for Anything: Leadership in the Trenches
  • Chief Master Sgt. Kathleen McCool
    Command Chief, Pacific Air Forces
  • Chief Master Sgt. Karmann-Monique Pogue
    Command Senior Enlisted Leader, Space Training and Readiness Command
  • Chief Master Sgt. Joshua D. Moore
    Command Chief, Air National Guard
  • Chief Master Sgt. Israel Nunez
    Command Chief, Air Force Reserve
  • Moderator:
    Dr. Patrick Donley, USAF (Ret.)
    Director, AFA's Doolittle Leadership Center
8:50 – 9:30 am
Aurora Ballroom
Integrating CCAs into the Operational Force
  • Brig. Gen. David C. Epperson
    Commander, U.S. Air Force Warfare Center
  • Lt. Col. Matthew Jensen
    Commander, Experimental Operations Unit, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
  • Col. Timothy Helfrich
    Portfolio Acquisition Executive, Fighters and Advanced Aircraft Directorate
  • Moderator:
    Heather Penney
    Director of Studies and Research, AFA's Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
8:50 – 9:30 am
Colorado B
Target Indication from Space
  • Daniel Dant
    Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, Mission Technology Solutions, KBR
  • Jon Rhone
    Senior Program Director, SAIC
  • Brandon White
    Vice President and General Manager, Multi-Domain Operations, Northrop Grumman
  • Moderator:
    Col. Ryan Frazier
    Acting PAE, Space-Based Sensing & Targeting
8:50 – 9:30 am
Colorado C
The Power of Digital Twins
  • Austen Bruhn
    Solution Engineer, Coder
  • Karr W. “Win” Farrell, Jr
    Digital Transformation Officer, Space Force Range Contract, Amentum
  • Michael Foust
    Executive Director, T-7 Services, Boeing
  • Peter Sommerkorn
    Vice President, Military Development Programs, Pratt & Whitney an RTX Business
  • Moderator:
    Dr. Michael Gregg
    Director, Aerospace Systems Directorate
10:30 – 11:10 am
Aurora Ballroom
The Space Force We Need: Delivering a Combat-Ready Force in an Evolving Operational Environment
  • Lt. Gen. Gregory J. Gagnon
    Commander, U.S. Space Force Combat Forces Command
  • Lt. Gen. Douglas A. Schiess
    Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Operations
10:30 – 11:10 am
Colorado B
Integrating for the Fight: Finding the Jets to Fly, Fix and Fight
  • Gen. Adrian L. Spain
    Commander, Air Combat Command
  • Lt. Gen. John P. Healy
    Chief, Air Force Reserve
  • Lt. Gen. Linda Hurry
    Commander, Air Force Materiel Command
  • Maj. Gen. Duke Pirak
    Acting Director, Air National Guard
  • Moderator:
    Lt. Gen. Dave Deptula, USAF (Ret.)
    Dean, AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
10:30 – 11:10 am
Colorado C
Rapid Spacecraft Development and Manufacturing
  • Kevin Czinger
    Founder, Lead Inventor, and Executive Chairman, Divergent
  • Chris Long
    Deputy General Manager, Space, Cyber and Intelligence Systems, General Dynamics Mission Systems
  • Tony Ulloa-Severino
    Vice President, Manufacturing, Millennium Space Systems, a Boeing Company
  • Moderator:
    Col. Bryon E.C. McClain (Invited)
    Program Executive Officer for Space Combat Power, Space Systems Command
11:20 am – 12:00 pm
Aurora Ballroom
Acquisition Reform: A Warfighting Imperative
  • Gen. Dale R. White
    Director, Critical Major Weapon Systems, Office of the Secretary of War
  • William D. Bailey
    Performing the Duties of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics
  • Maj. Gen. Stephen G. Purdy
    Acting Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition & Integration
  • Moderator:
    Kirk Rieckhoff
    Senior Partner and Leader of Global Defense and Security Practice, McKinsey & Co.
11:20 am – 12:00 pm
Colorado B
AI Autonomy in the Fight: How Agentic AI Is Transforming the Tempo of Air, Space, and Cyber Operations
  • Maj. Gen. Luke C.G. Cropsey
    Department of the Air Force Program Executive Officer for Command, Control, Communications, and Battle Management
  • Col. Timothy Helfrich
    Portfolio Acquisition Executive, Fighters and Advanced Aircraft Directorate
  • Shannon Pallone
    Program Executive Officer, Battle Management Command, Control & Communications, USSF
  • Jonathan Hudgins
    Strategic Growth Leader, Google
  • Moderator:
    Maj. Gen. Kimberly Crider, USAF (Ret.)
    Founding Partner, Elara Nova
11:20 am – 12:00 pm
Colorado C
Defending the Homeland from Small Drones
  • Aaron Dann
    Vice President, Secure Processing and Networks, Northrop Grumman
  • Travis Gomez
    Director, Business Development, Engineering & Technology, Amentum
  • Tyler Griffin
    C-UAS Program Director, Lockheed Martin Rotary & Mission Systems
  • Moderator:
    Col. Jason Eckberg
    P2MR Division Chief
1:30 – 2:10 pm
Aurora Ballroom
Readiness Informed Metrics: The New Measure of Readiness
  • Brig. Gen. Brian Laidlaw
    Director of Operations, Air Combat Command
  • Brig. Gen. Derek M. Salmi
    Director of Operations, Strategic Deterrence, and Nuclear Integration, Air Mobility Command
  • Moderator:
    John “JV” Venable
    Senior Fellow, AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace
1:30 – 2:10 pm
Colorado B
Priorities for the Air Force’s Future Force Design
  • Mr. Thomas J. Lawhead
    Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategy, Integration and Requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force
  • Lt. Gen. Jason Armagost
    Deputy Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command
  • Gen. James “Mike” Holmes, USAF (Ret.)
    Senior Advisor, Boeing Defense
  • Moderator:
    Heather Penney
    Director of Studies and Research, AFA's Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
1:30 – 2:10 pm
Colorado C
Dynamic Space Operations
  • Dr. Kelly D. Hammett
    Director and Program Executive Officer, Space Rapid Capabilities Office
  • Maj. Gen. Anthony Mastalir
    Director of Global Space Operations (J3), Headquarters U.S. Space Command
  • Scott Forney
    President, General Atomics Electromagnetics
  • Ryan Tintner
    Vice President and General Manager, Northrop Grumman Space Systems
  • Moderator:
    Col. Charles Galbreath, USSF (Ret.)
    Senior Resident Fellow for Space Studies, AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
3:10 – 3:40 pm
Aurora Ballroom
Keynote Address
  • Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force David R. Wolfe
5:00 – 6:30 pm
Mountain Pass Sports Bar
Rock the Rockies Reception