Defense Innovation Days Charts Course for Faster Technology Deployment

4 September 2026
Edited By: Ed Freeman

Defense Innovation Days Offers Practical Roadmap for Accelerating Growth in Defense Sector

The Honorable Michael Cadenazzi, Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy, at SENEDIA’s Defense Innovation Days 2026. (Credit: SENEDIA)

The Alliance for Defense Tech, Talent, and Innovation yesterday concluded its 12th Defense Innovation Days, New England’s signature national security event that attracted more than 400 of the most important decision makers and innovators in the defense industry. Across a dozen speakers and panels, attendees received practical procurement advice and guidance on how the sector can collectively accelerate development and deploy critical technology to the field faster.

“From cutting edge submarines to state-of-the-art autonomous underwater vehicles, Ocean State companies and workers are essential to building the tools, technologies, and manufacturing capacity that keeps America safe. I’m pleased to welcome national security experts and industry leaders from all over to Rhode Island for SENEDIA’s twelfth annual Defense Innovation Days summit. This forum is an opportunity for industry leaders to connect with Rhode Island-based companies, help showcase their capabilities, and create new partnerships that will benefit the state’s economy and America’s security,” said Senator Jack Reed, Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “I’ve worked hard to ensure Rhode Island is a critical defense hub, and I appreciate the outstanding contributions of SENEDIA for hosting this event, strengthening the state’s defense workforce, and helping to sustainably grow Rhode Island’s defense industry.”

Distinguished speakers joining Reed at the sold-out event represented decades of experience in the private and public sectors and armed services, including the Honorable Michael Cadenazzi, Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy; Ian Easton, Associate Professor at the China Maritime Studies Institute, US Naval War College; RDML Kelly Ward, Director, Strategic Effects, Commander US Naval Forces Europe/Africa, Commander, Task Force 66 (CTF-66); BG Chris Hackler, Deputy Commanding General, US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command; and CAPT Matthew Lewis, Acting Deputy Director of In-Service Submarines and Industrial Base.

Remarks were also provided by key state and federal leaders such as Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). Panels included Strength Through Partnership, moderated by Gloria Berlanga, Vice President of Business Development at Rhode Island Commerce; Unmanned Vehicle Technology, moderated by CAPT Colin Corridan (Ret.), former US Navy DCO, Task Force 59, along with RDML Ward and CMDR Thomas Wieland, Deputy Sector Commander, USCG Sector Southeastern New England; a panel on Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport, moderated by three-time Defense Innovation Days speaker Marie Bussiere, NUWC Newport’s Technical Director; and BG Christopher M. Burns, US Army (Ret.), senior advisor VALENS Global.

Key takeaways from this year’s event:

The US defense industrial base is facing a critical workforce shortage, which requires intervention at every stage and entry point of the pipeline, from early career exploration and education to armed services to later stage professional development.
The complexity of the current threat landscape demands greater urgency in developing technology and solutions and in building a culture of experimentation and flexibility to get those tools into the hands of warfighters more quickly.
While Defense Innovation Days always explores challenges and opportunities in national security, this year’s event put practical guidance at the center and highlighted a continued effort to make it easier to do business in the industry and with the Department of War.

“New England is at the center of defense innovation, but as our impressive Defense Innovation Days speakers reinforced, we must do more and move faster to grow the workforce pipeline and foster greater collaboration across the supply chain,” said Stephen Guertin, Executive Director of SENEDIA. “I’m grateful to our speakers, sponsors, and guests, and especially to the hardworking team at SENEDIA, for making this event a success and creating meaningful opportunities for defense businesses and national security leaders to work together in service of our country.”