IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to the prolonged government shutdown, the 2025 GovCon International and Global Defense Summit has been cancelled.
Potomac Officers Club, the capital region’s leading GovCon networking events organization, is pleased to share that Joseph F. Lyden, chief procurement officer of the NATO Support and Procurement Agency, will deliver a keynote address at the 2025 GovCon International Summit on Oct. 16 at the Hilton McLean in Virginia.
Now in its second year, the GovCon International Summit is POC’s flagship forum for exploring the rapidly expanding global contracting market. The event unites senior government officials, NATO leaders and top industry executives to discuss how technology, acquisition reform and international partnerships are shaping the future of global defense contracting. Join this essential industry gathering now!
Lyden’s participation is a major highlight for GovCon executives. As one of NATO’s top acquisition leaders, he oversees procurement strategies that directly influence billions of dollars in international contracting opportunities. His perspective offers rare, high-value insights into how allied defense agencies are engaging with industry partners to deliver cutting-edge solutions.
Who Is Joseph Lyden?
Lyden is a seasoned defense acquisition professional with more than three decades of leadership in procurement, contracting and program management. His career includes senior posts across the U.S. Air Force, NATO and major international defense programs. Key highlights include:
- NSPA leadership: Appointed as chief procurement officer in 2024, Lyden leads one of the most significant acquisition portfolios in the NATO alliance, responsible for ensuring readiness and modernization through strategic industry partnerships.
- U.S. Air Force service: Spent over 20 years in Air Force acquisition roles, where he managed multi-billion-dollar programs and oversaw contracting teams supporting major defense systems.
- International contracting expertise: Brings deep experience in cross-border acquisition, harmonizing NATO member state requirements with commercial innovation.
- Focus on modernization: Known for championing advanced procurement strategies that integrate AI, digital tools and emerging technologies into NATO supply chains.
Lyden’s combination of U.S. military acquisition expertise and NATO leadership gives him a unique perspective on how allied nations and the defense industrial base can work together to strengthen collective security.
What Lyden Will Address in His Presentation
As chief procurement officer of NATO’s largest acquisition agency, Lyden is expected to highlight themes with direct relevance to the GovCon community, including:
- Global acquisition opportunities: Where NATO procurement is headed and how U.S. and international contractors can better position themselves to win in the alliance market.
- Technology-driven modernization: How AI, IT, and advanced digital tools are being embedded into NATO acquisition strategies to enhance readiness and interoperability.
- Building resilient supply chains: Addressing vulnerabilities, ensuring speed and scale, and integrating commercial solutions into allied defense logistics.
- Strengthening public-private partnerships: The essential role of industry in delivering next-generation capabilities to NATO and its member nations.
- International collaboration in procurement: How NATO’s acquisition approach is evolving to align with allied priorities and support collective defense missions.
Why This Matters for GovCons
For executives in the federal contracting and international defense market, Lyden’s GovCon International Summit keynote represents a rare opportunity to hear directly from the NATO procurement enterprise:
- Global insights: Understand NATO’s procurement strategy at a time when allied nations are expanding defense investments.
- Business opportunities: Position your company to compete for and contribute to international acquisition programs.
- Networking: Connect with government and industry leaders shaping the global GovCon landscape.
- Competitive edge: Gain the knowledge needed to align your strategy with NATO’s modernization and procurement priorities.
The 2025 GovCon International Summit provides a gleaming opportunity for industry members who want to expand into new markets, as well as those who already have an international scope to their business. Join top GovCon colleagues and competitors from SAIC, Vultron and many more on Oct. 16 to understand the key issues and technologies driving the global GovCon space. Register today!
