- MDA executive Warren O’Donnell will deliver a keynote address at the 2026 Defense R&D Summit on Jan. 29.
- O’Donnell’s extensive career in national security R&D makes him a highly pursued expert on helping warfighters get the top technologies to win battles decisively.
- Get your burning questions addressed by O’Donnell following his keynote. Buy your ticket today!
Potomac Officers Club, the nation’s leading GovCon networking, events and media organization, is excited to announce that Warren O’Donnell, Missile Defense Agency program executive for the Advanced Capability Office and director of the MDA’s federal laboratory, will deliver a keynote address at the 2026 Defense R&D Summit on Jan. 29 at the Hilton McLean in northern Virginia.
The 2026 Defense R&D Summit is POC’s elite venue for evaluating business opportunities in the prosperous emerging defense technology realm. The Department of War requested an eye-popping $179 billion for research, development, test and evaluation funding in FY 2026. That is an additional 27 percent from the $141 billion appropriated in FY 2025.
Why Is the 2026 Defense R&D Summit a Can’t-Miss Event for GovCon Executives?
The event gathers leading technology professionals from the DOW and industry to discuss the emerging technologies set to revolutionize future combat. Listen firsthand to the nation’s top defense officials, innovators, researchers and industry experts and obtain actionable business intelligence from discussions led by the best in the technology business.
Leverage this unique chance to engage with the top decision-makers moulding the future defense landscape. Tickets are going fast—buy yours today!
Who Is Warren O’Donnell?
As the program executive for the MDA’s Advanced Capability Office and its federal laboratory director, O’Donnell leads the fast delivery of advanced asymmetric capabilities to the field to fight evolving threats. Critical areas in his portfolio include:
- Hypersonic and kinetic defense
- Command and control and battle management
- Electronic and integrated non-kinetic warfare
O’Donnell’s extensive career in national security R&D makes him a highly-pursued expert on helping warfighters get the top technologies to win future battles decisively. GovCons will benefit from hearing O’Donnell’s deep technical and acquisition knowledge, his insight into MDA priorities and processes and his experience with the rapid development of critical emerging capabilities.
What Has Warren O’Donnell’s Career Focused On?
O’Donnell has spent his career solving the DOW’s toughest emerging technology challenges. Some of his previous roles include:
- Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office deputy director
- Army Program Executive Office for Missiles and Space acting deputy
- Army PEO for Missiles and Space deputy for acquisition and systems management
- MDA deputy for targets and countermeasures
What O’Donnell Will Discuss in His Keynote
O’Donnell’s keynote at the 2026 Defense R&D Summit will provide GovCon technology executives with a rare chance to hear directly from one of the DOW’s top experts on emerging military technologies.
Some possible topics include:
- Golden Dome. MDA is wasting little time contracting for the big-budget homeland missile defense system. Hear directly from O’Donnell about the potential $151 billion Scalable Homeland Innovation Enterprise Layered Defense—or SHIELD—contract and upcoming awards.
- Updates on critical MDA efforts like the Glide Phase Interceptor and sourcing a second solid rocket motor for the Next Generation Interceptor
- Plans for a third continental U.S. interceptor site and improved ground-based homeland defense sensor architecture
- And much more!
Why O’Donnell’s Keynote Is Critical for GovCons
O’Donnell’s keynote at the 2026 Defense R&D Summit on Jan. 29 is a must-attend event for GovCon technology executives to hear directly from one of the Pentagon’s top R&D experts. Attendees can look forward to:
- Spending insights. Hear directly from O’Donnell about MDA investment priorities for FY 2026 and beyond.
- Q&A session. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to have your pressing questions answered by O’Donnell after his keynote.
- Networking. Take part in the invaluable face-to-face conversations with other GovCon titans that only take place in live venue settings.
Why Should I Attend the 2026 Defense R&D Summit?
The 2026 Defense R&D Summit on Jan. 29 at the Hilton McLean in northern Virginia is the leading forum for GovCon technology professionals. It will bring together top federal officials and GovCon executives under one roof to examine the most crucial issues in national security technology contracting.
What’s the Agenda for the 2026 Defense R&D Summit?
The agenda includes (with more speakers continually added!):
- Keynotes by
- Dr. Ronzelle Green, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency director of R&D (just announced!)
- Michael Duffey, DOW under secretary for acquisition and sustainment
- Emil Michael, DOW under secretary for research and engineering and Defense Innovation Unit acting director
- Dr. Thomas Rondeau, DOW principal director for FutureG
- Panels on essential technology topics:
- Securing the Future of Defense Innovation, featuring Air Force Chief AI Officer for Intelligence Col. Daniel May and Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Logistics Leigh Method
- Advice on delivering emerging technologies into the hands of warfighters at the Crossing the Valley of Death and Ready to Fight on the Far Side panel discussion, featuring three top Pentagon officials
- Cmdr. Jeremiah Daley, PACFLT N9WAR military director
- Lt. Col. Gregory Haverkorn, Air Force Tactical Exploitation of National Capabilities battlespace awareness division chief
- Maj. Kyle Dempsey, Air Force deputy division chief for ISR and combat applications, AF TENCAP
- The newest requirements in AI and quantum computing at the Powering AI at Mission Scale: Energy, Compute and Infrastructure for Defense Innovation and Securing the Quantum Edge: Advancing U.S. Leadership as a National Security Imperative panels
The 2026 Defense R&D Summit on Jan. 29 is the must-attend GovCon conference for professionals interested in the essential warfighting technologies of tomorrow. Take advantage of this chance to learn of new business opportunities and get an edge on your competition in 2026. Sign up today!
