Reagan Institute Announces National Security Innovation Base Summit Agenda

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 6, 2026

Reagan Institute Announces National Security Innovation Base Summit Agenda

The fourth annual summit convenes key lawmakers, senior national security officials, and leading innovators at the Ronald Reagan Institute in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Ronald Reagan Institute’s Center for Peace Through Strength released the agenda for the National Security Innovation Base (NSIB) Summit, taking place March 11–12, 2026, in Washington, D.C. Leaders from across all sectors of the innovation ecosystem will join to discuss how the United States can translate innovation into operational advantage at the speed required to deter and win.

The Summit comes at an inflection point for America’s innovation advantage. In April 2025, President Trump signed an executive order directing the federal government to modernize defense acquisitions and spur innovation in the defense industrial base, emphasizing speed, flexibility, and execution. The Pentagon has reinforced that direction through the Acquisition Transformation Strategy announced by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in November, which focused on rebuilding the industrial base and strengthening demand signals to deliver capability faster. Sustaining that momentum will depend on Congress providing timely, predictable funding.

As the push to modernize accelerates, the Summit will feature the release of the Reagan Institute’s fourth annual NSIB Report Card, an authoritative assessment of the innovation ecosystem’s health and resilience, with recommendations to strengthen performance across demand, modernization, talent, and industrial capacity. In its fourth year, the Report Card tracks where progress is advancing, and where the United States is falling behind.

The Summit agenda features fireside chats and keynote conversations with speakers including:

·       Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN) and Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) in a bipartisan opening fireside chat on Congress’s role in strengthening the NSIB and rebuilding industrial capacity.

·       Hon. Michael Duffey, Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment, in the Summit’s keynote luncheon conversation on acquisition reform and accelerating innovation.

·       Sen. Todd Young (R-IN), and Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) in an afternoon fireside chat on sustaining America’s technological edge.

Media wishing to request credentials to attend in-person or virtually can do so here.

NSIB Summit Agenda:

8:30 AM – 8:35 AM Welcome Remarks

·       Mr. Roger Zakheim, Director, Ronald Reagan Institute

8:35 AM – 9:05 AM Opening Fireside Chat

·       Introduction: Mr. Fred Ryan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute

·       Sen. Jim Banks, U.S. Senate, Indiana

·       Sen. Ruben Gallego, U.S. Senate, Arizona

·       Moderator: Ms. Briana Reilly, Punchbowl News

9:10 AM – 9:55 AM Plenary Panel: Innovation at an Inflection: Grading the NSIB Ecosystem        

·       Sen. Kevin Cramer, U.S. Senate, North Dakota

·       Adm. Christopher Grady (Ret.), 12th Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

·       Mr. Doug Philippone, General Partner and Co-Founder, Snowpoint Ventures

·       Mr. Christian Rodriguez, Partner, McKinsey & Company

·       Moderator: Ms. Rachel Hoff, Ronald Reagan Institute

10:10 AM – 10:55 AM Panel 1: Next Generation Edge: Transforming Security through AI and Quantum Technology

·       Mr. Justin Fanelli, Chief Technology Officer, U.S. Department of the Navy

·       Mr. Rich Goldberg, Chairman, Defense Technology Alliance

·       Rep. John McGuire, U.S. House of Representatives, Virginia, 5th District

·       Mr. Andrew McLaughlin, Chief Operating Officer, Sandbox AQ

·       Moderator: Mr. Will Knight, WIRED

Panel 2: Financing Advantage: Leveraging Private Capital for National Security

·       Mr. Jamil Jaffer, Venture Partner and Strategic Advisor, Paladin Capital Group

·       Mr. Peter Ludwig, Co-Founder, Applied Intuition

·       Mr. Alex Moore, Partner, 8VC

·       Mr. Raj Shah, Former Director, Defense Innovation Unit

·       Moderator: Mr. Cory Weinberg, The Information

11:10 AM – 11:55 AM Panel 3: Digital Dominance: Innovating for Cyber Advantage

·       Rep. Sarah Elfreth, U.S. House of Representatives, Maryland, 3rd District

·       Ms. Alexandra Seymour, Principal Deputy Assistant National Cyber Director for Policy

·       Mr. Matt Tait, President and Chief Executive Officer, MANTECH

·       Hon. Mac Thornberry, Former Chair, House Armed Services Committee

·       Moderator: Ms. Suzanne Kelly, The Cipher Brief

Panel 4: Signaling Demand: Aligning Budget Priorities and Customer Clarity

·       Mr. Mike Brown, Former Director, Defense Innovation Unit

·       Hon. Jules "Jay" Hurst III, PTDO U.S. Under Secretary of War (Comptroller)/Chief Financial Officer

·       Mr. Josh Wilson, Chief Executive Officer, LMI Solutions

·       Rep. Rob Wittman, U.S. House of Representatives, Virginia, 1st District

·       Moderator: Ms. Valerie Insinna, Breaking Media

12:05 PM – 2:00 PM Keynote Program and Luncheon

·       Introduction: Mr. Roger Zakheim, Director, Ronald Reagan Institute

·       Hon. Michael Duffey, U.S. Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment

·       Moderator: Ms. Morgan Brennan, CNBC

2:00 PM – 2:30 PM Fireside Chat

·       Introduction: Mr. David Trulio, President & Chief Executive Officer, Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute

·       Sen. Tim Kaine, U.S. Senate, Virginia

·       Sen. Todd Young, U.S. Senate, Indiana

·       Moderator: Mr. Marcus Weisgerber, The Wall Street Journal

2:45 PM – 3:30 PM Panel 5: Winning the Talent Battle: Strengthening the National Security Workforce

·       Hon. Sasha Baker, Head of National Security Policy, OpenAI

·       Hon. Eric Fanning, 22nd U.S. Secretary of the Army

·       Lt. Gen. John Healy, Chief, U.S. Air Force Reserve; Commander, U.S. Air Force Reserve Command

·       Mr. Chris Power, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Hadrian

·       Moderator: Ms. Jen Judson, Bloomberg

Panel 6: Capacity to Compete: Strengthening Defense through Industrial Innovation

·       Hon. Michael Cadenazzi, U.S. Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy

·       Ms. Madeline Hart, Defense and Space Lead, Palantir Technologies

·       Mr. Dino Mavrookas, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Saronic Technologies

·       Moderator: Mr. Noah Sheinbaum, Crossing the Valley

3:45 PM – 4:30 PM Panel 7: The Drone Battlefield: Innovation and Modern Warfighting

·       Hon. Brent Ingraham, U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology

·       Mr. Oleg Rogynskyy, Chief Executive Officer, UFORCE

·       Mr. Bob Simmons, Vice President, Defense, Space & Security - Government Operations, The Boeing Company

·       Mr. Ryan Tseng, Co-Founder and President, Shield AI

·       Moderator: Mr. Colin Demarest, Axios

Panel 8: Modernizing Together: Advancing Capabilities with Allies and Partners

·       Ms. Hamutal Meridor, Co-Founder and President, Kela Technologies

·       Dr. Nadia Schadlow, Former U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategy

·       Adm. Pierre Vandier, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, NATO

·       Rep. Eugene Vindman, U.S. House of Representatives, Virginia, 7th District

·       Moderator: Ms. Courtney Kube, NBC

4:45 PM – 6:00 PM  Closing Reception

What:  

National Security Innovation Base Summit

Who:

Members of Congress, civilian and military leadership of the Pentagon, former officials, scholars, defense industry leaders, technology innovators, investors, and members of the press

When:

Wednesday-Thursday, March 11-12, 2026

Where:

Ronald Reagan Institute
850 16th St NW
Washington, DC  20006

The Hay-Adams
800 16th St NW
Washington, DC 20006

For more information, visit www.reaganfoundation.org or follow @ReaganInstitute. 

About the Reagan Foundation and Institute

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute (RRPFI) is the sole nonprofit organization created by President Reagan charged with advancing his legacy and principles – individual liberty, economic opportunity, freedom and democracy, peace through strength, and national pride.

A globally recognized nonpartisan organization based in Simi Valley, CA, with a leading policy institute in Washington, DC, RRPFI delivers impactful public affairs programming, policy convenings and projects of national and international significance, scholarly initiatives, and distinctive educational programs shaping the perspectives of middle, high school, and college students.

In addition, RRPFI sustains the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, the largest and most visited presidential library. A leading cultural institution, RRPFI houses a remarkable 125,000 square foot museum with unique historical pieces that tells the story of Ronald Reagan’s life, presidency, and enduring impact, and hosts world-class special exhibitions.

Contact: reagan@invariantgr.com