National security leaders and defense industry innovators gathered this week for the 10th anniversary of Defense Innovation Days, highlighting the urgent need for collaboration and technological advancement in the face of global threats.
The sold-out event, organized by SENEDIA, the Alliance for Defense Tech, Talent, and Innovation, brought together nearly 400 influential decision-makers to discuss strategies for protecting democracy and strengthening the economy through defense innovation.
U.S. Sen. Jack Reed (R.I.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, emphasized the event’s significance: “For a decade, Defense Innovation Days has been a can’t-miss event for all those working in service of our national defense. There is tremendous value in bringing government, academia, and industry together to discuss how we can work together more effectively to protect democracy and strengthen the economy. I am grateful to SENEDIA for making these connections happen and keeping their foot on the gas to accelerate innovation in defense technology.”
Key speakers included Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro and U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, who underscored New England’s critical role in the defense sector. According to SENEDIA’s latest economic impact report, defense accounts for 407,523 jobs and $119.1 billion in economic output in the region.
“The defense economy in New England provides many good jobs and plays an outsized role in safeguarding our national security and helping prepare and keep our Allies safe from global threats,” Shaheen said.
The three-day conference focused on several pressing issues, including the need for rapid innovation to counter threats from China and Russia, the importance of leveraging artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies, and the critical need for a skilled workforce to support the defense industry.
Dr. Andrew Erickson of the Naval War College’s China Maritime Studies Institute emphasized the urgency of the current geopolitical situation, telling attendees, “The stakes could scarcely be higher, the timeline could not be more urgent, and your work matters greatly.”
Climate change emerged as another significant threat to national security. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse highlighted the potential impact on coastal military installations, while Vice Admiral Nancy Hann of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration discussed the agency’s role in providing crucial environmental intelligence.
The event also focused on the need for faster development and deployment of new technologies. Michael Stewart, Director of the Navy Disruptive Capabilities Office, stressed the importance of speed and collaboration with non-traditional partners.
“The way we operate internally in the Navy has got to change,” Stewart said. “You’re going to optimize against the Navy you think you’re going to fight, so we need non-traditional players to come into this space. Speed matters. We have to move much faster.”
Secretary Del Toro emphasized the critical role of the defense workforce, stating, “Our people are the foundational strength of this department. We rely on the talent and the skill of the people in this room because we do face tremendous challenges across the world.”
The Honorable Nickolas Guertin, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition, highlighted the need for significant workforce expansion to meet ambitious submarine production goals. “We’ve got to hire a ton of people,” he said. “We need your ideas; we need your innovation about how we can do better on building and maintaining the fleet.”
Lieutenant General Eric E. Austin, USMC, Deputy Commandant Combat Development and Integration, called for greater institutional flexibility and humility in addressing defense challenges. “We need to have the institutional humility to make corrections when we’ve made mistakes or we’re going in the wrong path,” he said.
Major General Luke Cropsey, Air Force Integrating Program Executive Officer for Command, Control, Communications, and Battle Management, concluded the event by urging attendees to work with a sense of urgency. “We have to build a compulsion in our workforce that we’re out of time, we’re out of money, we’re out of options so we better get working,” he said.
The 11th annual Defense Innovation Days is scheduled for Aug. 25-27, 2025, in Newport, with registration opening in January.
