2024 Agenda
Wednesday
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8:30 am — 1:30 pm
Pre-Conference Workshop: Unlocking Integrated Deterrence: A Dynamic Approach to Effective Response Strategies Across Multiple Arenas
If you would like to attend the Pre-Conference Worshop, please add this session to your registration for an additional $199. To view the pre-conference agenda, click here.
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2:00 pm — 5:00 pm
Afternoon Coffee Sponsor
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2:00 pm — 2:15 pm
Welcome to the 16th Annual Summit
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2:15 pm — 3:15 pm
Keynote: Office of Defense Programs
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3:15 pm — 4:00 pm
International Security Environment
Department of Defense leadership will discuss the international security environment, reflecting upon its continued deterioration. The panel will provide the DoD perspective on direction that the United States is taking, as well as the positions and actions of our Allies and Partners.
Austin Long, PhDDeputy Director for Strategic Stability, STS, J5 and Joint StaffDepartment of Defense
Vipin Narang, PhDPrincipal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space PolicyDepartment of Defense
Drew WalterDeputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear MattersDepartment of Defense
James MyersSenior Vice President, Civil Systems GroupThe Aerospace CorporationModerator -
4:00 pm — 4:30 pm
Networking Break
Join us in the Expo hall for a toast to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Kansas City National Security Campus and Sandia National Laboratories.
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4:30 pm — 5:15 pm
Oversight Updates
This session will discuss current oversight initiatives including cross cutting themes such as program and project planning, anticipated moves toward portfolio management, and the importance of public health and safety at nuclear defense facilities.
Allison BawdenDirector, Natural Resources & Environment; Nuclear Security/Clean Up GroupU.S. Government Accountability Office
Thomas SummersVice Chairman of the BoardDefense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board
Robert DeGrasseVice President and Manager, Government AffairsBechtelModerator -
5:15 pm — 6:00 pm
National Lab Directors Update
The directors of the Lawrence Livermore, Los Alamos and Sandia national laboratories will discuss how they are working to ensure an adaptive, responsive and resilient nuclear security enterprise in today’s geopolitical climate and current challenges to achieving those goals including the status in implementing EMDI.
Kimberly S. Budil, PhDDirectorLawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Thomas Mason, PhDDirectorLos Alamos National Laboratory
James Peery, PhDLaboratories DirectorSandia National Laboratories
John LongeneckerChief Executive OfficerLongenecker & AssociatesModerator -
6:00 pm — 7:30 pm
Wine Garden Welcome Reception
Please join us in the Exhibit Hall for our Wine Garden Welcome Reception and enjoy sipping on exquisite wines paired with light bites! Don’t forget to grab a bingo board as you enter and join in on our networking bingo for a chance to win an exciting prize!
Thursday
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7:30 am — 8:15 am
Networking Breakfast
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9:00 am — 12:00 pm
Morning Coffee Sponsor
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8:15 am — 8:30 am
Opening Remarks
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8:30 am — 9:30 am
Keynote: Updates and Initiatives from NNSA Leadership
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9:30 am — 10:30 am
Weapons Directors Update
Join us for a session featuring updates directly from the leads of our national laboratory weapons programs. These individuals are at the forefront of the scientific, engineering, and other technical undertakings that ensure the safety, security, and efficacy of the U.S. nuclear deterrent.
The session will offer a non-classified overview of current weapons programs, the challenges of design and maintenance projects dealing with system alterations, life-extension, stewardship, the impact and consequences of recapitalization, schedule compression due to mission expansion, and initiatives for improved mission delivery.
Laura McGillDeputy Laboratories Director for Nuclear Deterrence and Chief Technology OfficerSandia National Laboratories
Bradley Wallin, PhDDeputy Director Strategic DeterrenceLawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Robert Webster, PhDDeputy Director, WeaponsLos Alamos National Laboratory
Brian D’AndreaChairman and Chief Executive OfficerTechSource, Inc.Moderator -
10:30 am — 11:00 am
Networking Break
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11:00 am — 12:00 pm
Pit Production Updates
The NNSA continues to pursue its current pit production goals annually at the Los Alamos National Laboratory and at the Savannah River Site in Aiken, S.C. This session will discuss current updates, expectations and progress for pit production schedules.
John BennerAssociate Laboratory Director Weapons ProductionLos Alamos National Laboratory
Dennis CarrPresident and Chief Executive OfficerSavannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC
Summer JonesPrincipal Assistant Deputy Administrator for Production Modernization & Materials Management in Defense ProgramsNational Nuclear Security Administration
Cheryl D. CabbilSenior Vice President Operations, Nuclear & EnvironmentAmentumModerator -
12:00 pm — 1:00 pm
Networking Luncheon
Sponsored by:
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1:00 pm — 4:00 pm
Afternoon Coffee Sponsor
Sponsored by:
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1:00 pm — 2:00 pm
Charting the Course for the Future of Nuclear Arms Control
This thought-provoking session will delve into the complexities and possibilities surrounding the future of nuclear arms control. Against the backdrop of evolving geopolitical landscapes, emerging technologies, and shifting global dynamics, experts and policymakers will engage in insightful discussions on the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Corey HindersteinDeputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear NonproliferationNational Nuclear Security Administration
Mallory StewartAssistant Secretary for the Bureau of Arms Control, Deterrence & StabilityU.S. Department of State
Pranay VaddiSpecial Assistant to President & Senior Director for Arms Control, Disarmament, and NonproliferationWhite House National Security Council
Greg MeyerSenior Vice President Nuclear and Civil SolutionsFluorModerator -
2:00 pm — 3:00 pm
Perspectives from NNSA Site Operations
This session will feature engaged discussion among the contractor heads at key NNSA sites responsible for stockpile stewardship and national security. These leaders will discuss a number of priorities and challenges, including the status of UPF, progress of NNSA’s warhead modernization efforts; creating and maintaining a culture of disciplined nuclear operations; ensuring strong safety performance; continued infrastructure modernization; and addressing supply chain and regulatory challenges.
Dennis CarrPresident and Chief Executive OfficerSavannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC
David Funk, PhDVice President Enhanced Capabilities for Subcritical ExperimentsNevada National Security Sites
Richard Tighe, PhDPresident and CEOConsolidated Nuclear Security, LLC
Eric WollermanPresidentHoneywell Federal Manufacturing and Technologies
Christine GellesChief Operating OfficerLongenecker & AssociatesModerator -
3:00 pm — 3:30 pm
Networking Break
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3:30 pm — 4:15 pm
Production Best Practices
Over the last 30 years, many of our production capabilities have atrophied or become obsolete. In order to provide a safe, secure, reliable, and effective nuclear deterrent, the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) must reconstitute those lost capabilities. We will hear from industry production experts on the best practices they employ to ensure their quality products are delivered on schedule and on budget.
Brian FieldsVice President, ManufacturingNewport News Shipbuilding
Mike RinehartPresidentKiewit Nuclear Solutions
Michael LempkePresident, Nuclear and Environmental GroupHIIModerator -
4:15 pm — 5:00 pm
Site Vulnerability, Reliability and Sustainability in the Age of Climate Change
Over the years, climate change and extreme weather events have shut down NNSA sites and increased operational cost. For example, in February 2021, the Texas freeze caused operations at Pantex to shut down for a week to conserve energy and in January 2023, extreme flooding at LLNL Site 300 forced operational shutdown for three weeks.
During 2022, NNSA sites developed Vulnerability Assessment and Resilience Plans and Site Sustainability Plans, and provided input into planning for NNSA carbon pollution-free electricity implementation. Sites are now executing against their plans. This session will discuss the ongoing impact of climate change on our nation’s national security interests.
Ahmad Al-DaoukAssociate Administrator for the Office of Environment, Safety, and HealthNational Nuclear Security Administration
Jim BlankenhornSenior Vice President and Manager, Environment & Security Business LineAmentumModerator -
5:00 pm — 6:30 pm
Networking Reception
Please join us in the Exhibit Hall for an evening of networking. Sip on the iconic Moscow Mule while you enjoy light bites!
Friday
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7:30 am — 8:15 am
Networking Breakfast
Sponsored by:
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8:15 am — 8:30 am
Opening Remarks
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8:30 am — 9:30 am
Morning Keynote: Enhanced Mission Deliver Initiative - One Year Later
Hear updates on these major efforts such as the PHASE X review results, plutonium management plan, efforts to prepare for full production of pits, supply chain management, and other initiatives that support this initiative.
James McConnellAssociate Principal Deputy AdministratorNational Nuclear Security Administration
Dena VolovarPresidentBechtel National Inc.
T. Levitte CoxVice President and General ManagerJacobs’ Nuclear Projects & ConsultingModerator -
9:30 am — 10:30 am
Fireside Chat with STRATCOM Commander
Join this session to hear the latest perspectives on emerging technology and digital innovation, the evolving global environment, and force modernization for STRATCOM’s global mission.
General Anthony J. CottonCommanderU.S. Strategic Command
Liz MartinDirector, DoD, Worldwide Public SectorAmazon Web ServicesModerator -
10:30 am — 11:00 am
Networking Break
Sponsored by:
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11:00 am — 12:00 pm
Strategic Deterrence Initiatives
Panelists will discuss strategic deterrence and innovation, including concepts and technologies for resilience, survivability and reducing the risk of inadvertent or rapid escalation. The advent of new domains, including space and cyber, new threats that could lead to miscalculation and inadvertent rapid escalation, and new technologies are impacting strategic deterrence requirements and levers. The panelists will discuss these changes and opportunities.
Col. Alexander “Raz” RasmussenProgram ManagerU.S. Space Force
Stephen RodriguezSenior Advisor, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and SecurityAtlantic Council
Andrew L. RossProfessor of International AffairsTexas A&M University and Joint Appointment: X Theoretical Design—DO, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Leonor TomeroSenior Vice PresidentJA Green & CompanyModerator -
12:00 pm — 1:00 pm
America’s Strategic Posture: What You Need to Know about the Report and What’s Next
America’s Strategic Posture: The Final Report of the Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States is profound in how it arrived at 81 recommendations in a bipartisan fashion.
We will hear from the Commission Chair, Madelyn Creedon, and her counterpart, on what were their findings and recommendations as the United States faces, as the report states, “the militarily troubling and increasingly aggressive behaviors of Russia and China,” leading Congress to ask for a review of the strategic posture of the United States, “including nuclear weapons policy, strategy, and force structure”.
We will also hear from an expert panel how they see the recommendations unfolding in the next year or more as our nuclear security enterprise grapples with the implementation of the Commission’s recommendations.
Madelyn CreedonChairCongressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States
Jonathan EpsteinProfessional Staff MemberU.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services
Matthew Kroenig, PhDCommissionerCongressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States
Adam TrullProfessional Staff MemberU.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services
L. David CheringtonCo-Founder and Managing DirectorAdvanced Nuclear Weapons Alliance Deterrence CenterModerator
Jeffrey CraterCo-founder and Managing DirectorAdvanced Nuclear Weapons Alliance Deterrence CenterModerator -
1:00 pm — 1:00 pm
Conference Ends
