DEF2019: Engaged & Empowered
Event Information
Description
DEF IS HEADING TO WASHINGTON, D.C. FOR OUR 2019 CONFERENCE!
After previous years in Chicago, Austin, and Denver, this year the annual conference will be held in Washington, D.C.! On September 27-29, DEF2019 will bring the community together for three days of speakers, panels, breakouts, workshops, happy hours, and a pitch competition. The annual conference's unique mix of junior and senior military leaders, policy experts, creatives, veterans, and entrepreneurs creates a perfect environment for disruptive thinkers to develop new ideas with unmatched energy and engagement. All of this supports DEF's vision for a culture of innovation in the national security community. This is not just another beltway event or defense conference: this is the Virtuous Insurgency. See you at DEF2019!
EXPLORING THE THEME OF "ENGAGED & EMPOWERED"
Our theme for DEF2019 is simple: “Engaged & Empowered.” Tied closely to our core mission statement “Inspire, Connect, Empower,” this theme carries on the logical next step after previous conferences: where first DEF inspired a movement, then connected people into a community, now we seek to focus on empowering that community to effect good change. No coincidence that this correlates with the annual conference's first meeting in the nation's capitol--the seat of many forms of power from a national security perspective! Last year, we focused on “Ideas to Impact.” This year we take the next step, engaging with the landscape and empowering ourselves and each other to Get Stuff Done!
Plan Your Visit
We are not endorsing any specific hotel but realize the experience might be enhanced if you are able to stay with other attendees in the nearby area. The following hotels are near to the conference site:
Hilton Garden Inn Washington D.C. / U.S. Capitol
1225 First Street NE, Washington, D.C., 20002
(202) 408-4870
Hyatt Place Washington D.C. / U.S. Capitol
33 New York Ave NE, Washinton D.C., 20002
(202) 289-5599
Kimpton George Hotel
15 E Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 347-4200
DIRECTIONS TO VENUE
This year DEF2019 will be held at Spire Events in Northeast Washington, DC. For more information about the conference space please visit: spireeventsdc.com
By Metro
Take the Red Line to Union Station. Exit Union Station towards Massachusetts Ave. Turn right onto First Street NE and walk 0.3 miles. Spire Events will be on First Street to your left between G and H street.
By Ride Share or Taxi
If you are traveling by ride share or taxi, have your driver drop you off at 750 First Street Northeast, Washington, DC 20002.
Driving
Street parking may be limited by the event space, however, underground parking is available at the Spire for a daily rate of $20.
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Greg Allen
JAIC Chief of Strategy and Communications -
Mike Anderson
Anno.ai Chief Strategy Officer -
Wendy Anderson
SparkCognition General Manager, Defense and National Security -
Samuel Bendett
Center for Naval Analyses Researcher -
Gregory Bernard
Department of Homeland Security Innovation Officer, National Risk Management Center -
Alexis Bonnell
USAID Chief Innovation Officer -
Susan Bryant
Strategic Education International Executive Director -
Richard Buchter
Army Research Lab Computational and Information Science SME -
Molly Cain
GovCity Creator -
Nicolas Chaillan
U.S. Air Force Chief Software Officer -
Lauren Dailey
Second Front Systems Chief Operating Officer -
Peter Dixon
Second Front Systems Chief Executive Officer -
Wyn Elder
Deloitte Innovation & Readiness Leader -
Anna Leese De Escobar
Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific Distinquished Scientist for Cryogenic Electronics -
Bo Ewald
ColdQuanta Chief Executive Officer -
Maggie Feldman-Piltch
NatSecGirlSquad Founder, Managing Director -
Meg Furman
Defense Digital Service Deputy Director -
Adam Furtado
Kessel Run Branch Chief, Air Operations -
Sam "Chubs" Gray
NavalX Director of Tech Bridge -
Andrew Harrison
Bonfire Consulting Founder -
Thomas Hendrix
Decisive Point Co-Founder & Managing Partner -
Sean Heritage
Authentic8 Head of DOD & IC Engagement -
Scott Holmes
DARPA Microsystems Technology Office Program Manager -
Eric Horan
Decisive Point Co-Founder & Managing Partner -
Hanna Hunt
Kessel Run Chief of Staff -
Mike Kanaan
U.S. Air Force Co-Chair for Artificial Intelligence -
Elsa Kania
Center for a New American Security (CNAS) Adjunct Fellow -
Jason Knudson
Vyzva Lab Owner and CEO -
Jason Korman
Gapingvoid Culture Design Group Chief Executive Officer -
Joanne Lo
Elysian Labs Chief Executive Officer -
Chris Lynch
Rebellion Defense Chief Executive Officer -
Justin Lynch
National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence Research & Analytics -
Joe McCormack
The BRIEF Lab Managing Director and Founder -
Ben McMartin
US Army CCDC Ground Vehicle Systems Center Chief of the Acquisition Management Office -
Sean Murphy
U.S. Air Force Deputy Surgeon General -
Dave Nobles
TANG Assistant Program Manager -
Joe Oletti
National Reconnaissance Office Legislative Liaison -
Michael Osborne
IBM Principal RSM -
Jeremiah Patterson
Operational Mental Health Technician 480th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group, USAF -
Chad Plenge
West Point Center for Junior Officers Operations Officer -
John Price
Boone Group Chief Operating Officer -
Terry Rice
Epigen Technology Founder and Chief Executive Officer -
Stephanie Riley
US Air Force -
Scott Robertson
U.S. Department of Labor Policy Advisor, Office of Disability Employment -
John Rogers
RL Leaders CEO -
Alicia Sanchez
Defense Acquisition University Games Czar -
Michael Schmidt
Microsoft Digital Advisor -
Joseph Schuman
National Security Innovation Network Deputy National Service Portfolio Director -
Joy Shanaberger
Boone Group Chief Executive Officer -
Mike Snyder
Booze Allen Hamilton Lead Associate