January 29, 2026 // Arlington, VA

Presented in collaboration with Utility Privatization Partners

REGISTER

Ensuring the Power & Water Behind the Mission

Energy and water are the backbone of installation readiness—powering operations, supporting families, and enabling the mission. As AI, autonomy, and advanced communications redefine defense, the systems that sustain installations must be trusted, resilient, and always on.

Unlike many mission functions, energy and water security can’t be solved by DoD alone. It requires deep partnership—across installations, utilities, communities, industry, and technology innovators.

The ADC Installation Energy & Water Forum is the only national event dedicated exclusively to installation energy and water issues. Returning in 2026, this one-day, Washington-area program brings together senior DoD decision-makers, utility leaders, community partners, and industry experts to tackle the central question:

How do we strengthen and modernize the shared systems installations rely on—so they remain resilient, adaptable, and mission-ready in an evolving threat environment?

The Forum will:

  • Provide insight into DoD’s priorities and strategy for installation energy and water
  • Offer direct engagement with senior DoD, Service, utility, industry, and community leaders
  • Examine policy, planning, and investment drivers shaping future projects
  • Highlight innovations and lessons learned from installations, communities, and industry partners
  • Create a venue to advance partnerships that strengthen resilience and mission assurance
  • Build new relationships during dedicated networking opportunities, including a closing reception

Who Should Attend

This event is designed for leaders and practitioners across the installation energy and water ecosystem, including:

  • DoD and Service headquarters staff
  • Installation commanders, public works, and energy/resilience offices
  • Utility Privatization system owners and operators
  • Investor-owned, municipal, and cooperative utilities
  • Energy, water, and infrastructure companies
  • Engineering, planning, and resilience firms
  • State and local government officials
  • Community leaders supporting military installations
  • Technology providers in microgrids, cyber, storage, AI, and advanced energy systems

U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Jason Goins

Agenda at a Glance

Subject to change

8:00 – 8:30
Registration/Networking Breakfast
8:30 – 9:45 AM
Welcome & Opening Panel: Installation Energy & Water Resilience: Leadership Priorities, Policy, and the Path Ahead
This opening session sets the stage for the forum with a senior leadership discussion on the Pentagon’s priorities and evolving policy direction for installation energy and water resilience. The panel will dive directly into high-visibility challenges and emerging opportunities, examining the DoD’s posture to host data centers, the state of play for advanced nuclear energy, and the growing importance of cybersecurity in protecting critical infrastructure.
9:45 – 10:15 AM
Networking Break
10:15 – 11:00 AM
Powering the Mission: Understanding the Emerging Challenges & Opportunities
From AI data centers and advanced manufacturing to next-generation nuclear projects, the Trump Administration is increasingly looking to non-excess land on military installations to support national security missions and critical commercial technologies. This panel will explore best practices for engaging utilities, co-ops, and other energy partners early in the solicitation of on-base commercial opportunities to help structure investments that enhance infrastructure resilience and strengthen the defense mission.
11:00 – 11:15 AM
Break
11:15 AM – 12:00 PMM
Addressing Water Resilience for Mission Assurance
Installations worldwide face growing water resilience challenges, including aging infrastructure, depleting resources, emerging contaminants like PFAS, and increasing mission demands. This panel will examine how the MilDeps can strengthen water resilience by applying lessons from mature energy portfolios and leveraging tools like performance contracts and IGSAs. Panelists will highlight success stories where installations and defense communities have tackled water vulnerabilities and PFAS risks, and discuss how DoD can better signal support to federal agencies, industry, and academia to address current and future water challenges.
12:00 – 1:30 PM Networking Lunch (on-you-own)/UPP Meetings
1:30-2:15 PM
Advancing the Strategic Role of Utilities Privatization: Updates & Opportunities
Utilities Privatization (UP) remains one of DoD’s most powerful tools for enhancing installation resilience, modernizing critical infrastructure, and leveraging industry expertise to reduce risk and improve mission assurance. This session will provide direct updates from the military components on the current state of UP programs, emerging priorities, and evolving governance models. Panelists will discuss how strong utility partnerships accelerate modernization, strengthen cybersecurity and physical resilience, and create long-term value for installations. The conversation will highlight best practices, new authorities, and opportunities for deeper collaboration between DoD, industry, and privatized system owners.
2:15 – 2:30 PM
Break
2:30 – 3:15 PM
Powering the Fight: Expanding and Fortifying the Grid to Achieve Energy Dominance
Since taking office, President Trump has issued a series of executive actions to rapidly strengthen grid resilience and reliability for national and economic security. This panel will examine the national defense dimensions of the transmission grid and how DoD can work with defense communities, utilities, co-ops, and grid operators to align mission needs with transmission expansion. Discussion will focus on both wires and non-wires solutions, including advanced transmission and grid-enhancing technologies that can quickly increase capacity to meet the urgent demands of the modern military.
3:15 – 3:30 PM
Break
3:30 – 4:15 PM
Authority to Act: Tools to Advance Energy and Water Resilience
In recent years, Congress has expanded DoD’s authorities to tackle energy and water resilience through new and modified tools for infrastructure partnerships. This panel will explore how DoD can creatively apply those authorities—examining roadblocks and enablers across ERCIP, Utilities Privatization (UP), and performance contracts, and clarifying who can resolve key barriers. Panelists will also highlight innovative funding and partnership models inside and outside the fenceline that maximize government-owned infrastructure, prevent stranded assets, and accelerate deployment of modern energy and water resilience technologies to support mission-ready installations.
4:15 – 4:45 PM
Strategic Synthesis & Path Forward
A facilitated wrap-up that provides Q&A with key speakers, highlights major themes and actionable recommendations, and explores a collaborative path forward from the perspectives of industry, defense communities, and DoD.
4:45 – 5:30 PM
Networking Reception

Partners

Event Partner

Utility Privatization Partners (UPP) brings together the companies responsible for owning, operating, and modernizing privatized utility systems across U.S. military installations. Through long-term partnerships with DoD, UPP members deliver critical investment, operational expertise, and resilience improvements that ensure safe, reliable energy and water infrastructure supporting the mission.

Content Partner

Converge Strategies is a national advisory organization supporting DoD, utilities, and energy innovators on projects and policies that advance installation resilience, modernize infrastructure, and strengthen mission assurance. Their expertise bridges federal, community, and industry perspectives to help shape forward-leaning solutions.

Registration

Register before December 15 to receive special launch discounts!

This event will sell out, and space is limited.

Registration Instructions:
  • Please select the correct category and click Checkout. You will then be directed to a registration page to submit your details.
  • After your registration is reviewed and approved by ADC, you will receive either a payment link or a confirmation of no-fee federal status.

For paid registrations, your attendance is not confirmed until payment is received.

Venue

The Forum will be held at the Marriott Crystal Gateway, a conveniently located hotel in Arlington with direct access to restaurants, transit, and Reagan National Airport.

BOOK A ROOM