Highlights from past Exchanges
Context
Why This Moment Is Critical?
The United States faces transformative change across strategic, technological, and warfare realms.
Two Days. One Stage.
A program designed to bring military commanders, defense technologists, policymakers, and industry leaders into the same conversation about the future of national security.
Video; Welcome
Sources of Innovation at 300
- SpeakerSteve BowsherCEO, In-Q-Tel
- ModeratorStephanie Carter
U.S. Army at 300
- SpeakerThe Honorable Michael ObadalUnder Secretary of Army
- ModeratorYlli BajraktariCEO, SCSP
Defense Industrial Base at 300
- SpeakerThe Honorable Mike CadenazziAssistant Secretary of War, Industrial Base Policy
- ModeratorYlli BajraktariCEO, SCSP
Space and the Next American Century
- SpeakerThe Honorable Jared IsaacmanNASA Administrator
- ModeratorMaj Megan Hainline
Allied Forces of the Future
- SpeakerAdmiral Pierre VandierSupreme Allied Commander Transformation
- ModeratorDan MichaelsBrussels Bureau Chief for The Wall Street Journal
The Future of Learning, Talent, and Competitiveness in the Age of AI
- SpeakerDr. Joseph E. AounPresident of Northeastern University
- ModeratorStephanie Carter
Identifying, Developing, and Fielding Disruptive Capabilities
- SpeakerJay DryerDirector, Strategic Capabilities Office
Drone Dominance
- SpeakerMaj. Gen. Joseph D. KunkelMilitary Deputy Director, Defense Innovation Unit
- ModeratorYlber BajraktariVice President, SCSP
Special Address
- SpeakerHsu Szu-ChienVice Minister for Policy, Ministry of National Defense of Taiwan
American Strategy at 300
- SpeakerLieutenant General (ret.) H.R. McMasterHoover Institution
- SpeakerDr. Graham AllisonHarvard University
- SpeakerStephen HadleyRice, Hadley, Gates & Manuel
- ModeratorEllen NakashimaThe Washington Post
Why Machines Fail at Teaming
- SpeakerDr. Eric DavisProgram Manager, DARPA
America’s Military Technologies of the Future
- SpeakerThe Honorable Dr. Joseph JewellAssistant Secretary of War for S&T
- ModeratorChip UsherSenior Director, AI Adoption
The Future of America’s Advanced Research
- SpeakerDr. Jack CooperActing Deputy Director of IARPA
- SpeakerDr. Rafid FadulChief Medical Director, ARPA-H
- SpeakerMichael HalemActing Assistant Secretary of Transportation, ARPA-I
- SpeakerSpencer SilvermanSenior Advisor & COS, ARPA-E
- ModeratorDavid LinSenior Director, SCSP
Rethinking the National Security Enterprise
- SpeakerGarrett BerntsenChief AI Officer, Accenture Federal Services
Closing
The Exchange · AI+ Expo · 2026
Confirmed Speakers
Military commanders, defense technologists, policymakers, and industry leaders defining how AI will transform national security.
Themes
Interconnected Focus Areas
Future Joint Fighting Concept
A Production Mindset
Dominating Established-Evolving-Emerging Technologies
Credible Allied Capabilities
Institutional Reforms
Force of the Future
The Exchange · June 2025
Featured Sessions
Watch previous conversations that shaped the defense AI agenda.
Past Speakers
Voices That Shaped the Exchange
In Memoriam
Vision that inspired the Exchange
Ash Carter: A Once-in-a-Generation Leader
Our series of Exchanges was inspired by Dr. Ash Carter, the 25th U.S. Secretary of Defense. Dr. Carter uniquely understood the impact of emerging technology on national security long before it became more widely accepted. He was the first U.S. Secretary of Defense to visit Silicon Valley in over 20 years, established the Defense Innovation Unit, created a Defense Innovation Board, and launched a Defense Digital Service. He advocated tirelessly, in and out of government, for bridging national security and innovation, and left a lasting imprint on defense and national security through his leadership and foresight. The nation is better prepared for the challenges ahead thanks to his service.
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The Exchange Archive
Five gatherings bridging national security and technology innovation — each one shaping the AI defense agenda.










