SACRAMENTO, CA  |  MAY 24 – 25

California serves.

Our state provides unique, mission-critical capabilities for the armed forces that must be preserved and strengthened if America is to maintain its position of leadership in a rapidly changing world.

Home to the world’s most valuable network of air, sea and land ranges, California’s national security installations have prepared generations of American service members for conflicts around the world and provide a critical staging ground for current actions.

The state’s defense infrastructure also provides the essential ingredients necessary to transform and strengthen national defense power for the new century. California offers the best combination of technology, industry and academia in support of military needs both today and in the future. In addition to the Naval Postgraduate School, seven of the top 25 research universities are in California, and they all provide critical contributions to national security. America’s best-trained and most experienced aerospace and technology workforce lives and works here and we as a state recognize that the past few years have highlighted critical issues here that are common across the bases, communities and workforce that require prompt attention to reinforce these valuable defense networks.

The 2023 California Defense Leadership Summit is presented by ADC and the California Governor’s Military Council.

Keynote Speakers

MG Matthew Beevers

Acting, the Adjutant General, California Military Department

Mario A. Diaz

Deputy Under Secretary of the Army

Chief Master Sergeant Willie Frazier

Senior Enlisted Leader, Space Systems Command, US Space Force

Brigadier General Matthew Higer

412 Test Wing, Edwards Air Force Base

Dee Dee Myers

Director, Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz)

RADM Andrew Sugimoto

Commander, 11th District, U.S. Coast Guard

Brigadier General Jason G. Woodworth

Commanding General, Marine Corps Installations – West

Featured Speakers

Jose Anaya

Dean of El Camino College’s Community Advancement Division and the Business Training Center

Alethea Arguilez

Executive Director, First Five San Diego

Ivan Bolden

Chief of Army Partnerships

Shivani Bose-Varela

California Grants Portal Project Manager California State Library

Vice Admiral Jody A. Breckenridge

Director of Strategic Transformation and Assistant Commandant for Human Resources at U.S. Coast Guard

Ben Chida

Chief Deputy Cabinet Secretary, Office of the Governor

Colonel Jason Clarke

Garrison Commander, Fort Irwin, US Army

 Captain Dwight Clemons

Chief of Staff, NRSW

Wade Crowfoot

Secretary, Natural Resources Agency

Kelli May Douglas

Pacific Southwest Regional Liaison, Defense – State Liaison Office

Tom Ducker

Homeland Security Division Critical Infrastructure, California Office of Emergency Services

Rick Hern

Partnership Broker, Air Force Community Partnerships

Willie A. Hopkins, Jr.

City Manager, City of Barstow

Kimberly Kirchmeyer

Department of Consumer Affairs Director

Louis Littleton

Director, Western Regional Office, Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation

Clare Mendelsohn

Deputy Secretary of Public Policy, CAL EPA

Mark Merrifield

Director, Center for Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation, Scripps Institute of Oceanography

Fred Meurer

Councilmember, Governor’s Military Council

Amy Miller

Grants Manager, Office of Planning and Research

John D. Moreno, P.E., SES

Programs Director, USACE South Pacific Division

Jesse M Najera

Superintendent, Silver Valley USD

Meg O’Grady

Senior Vice President, Military and Government Programs National University

Colonel Gregory Pace

Marine Corps Logistics Base – Barstow

Sandy Person

Executive Director, Travis Community Consortium

John Pope

Executive Director, Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR)

Rachel Posner Ross

DoD Deputy Chief Sustainability Officer

Eldon Regua, MG(R), USA

Member, Governor’s Military Council

Brigadier General (P) Derek M. Salmi

Commander, 60th Air Mobility Wing, Travis Air Force Base

Mary Vixie Sandy

Commission on Teacher Credentialing

Nancy Vogel

Deputy Secretary for Water, California Natural Resources Agency

Hannah Walker

Associate Deputy Director for the California Transportation Commission

Colonel Mia Walsh

Commander, Space Base Delta 3 (formerly LA Air Force Base), US Space Force

Colonel Daniel M. Whitley

Commanding Officer, Headquarters & Support Battalion, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

Agenda

Wednesday, May 24

Legislative and Agency Office Visits by Support Organizations and Installation Commanders

  • By Request Only (Contact allison.henderson@opr.ca.gov if you would like to assistance in contacting your Assembly or Senate Member’s office)

3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

CA Executive Agency Roundtable (Service Component GOs and CA agency leads)
Beavis Room, 2nd Floor Space, Sheraton Grand Hotel

Select senior Defense leaders meet with requested state agency leadership to cover exclusive topics in an intimate conversation setting.

  • Limited space for invitation-only participants

6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Welcome Reception

Gardenia Ballroom, Lower Level

Take advantage of this unique opportunity to network and engage with defense stakeholders from across the state in a relaxed environment.

Welcome:

  • Vice Admiral Jody Breckenridge, U.S. Coast Guard (ret.), Chair, Governor’s Military Council
  • Matt Borron, Executive Director, Association of Defense Communities
Thursday, May 25

7:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Registration Open

7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.

Continental Breakfast

Grand Nave Foyer, Lower Level, Self-service

8:00 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.

Welcome/Opening Session

Camellia/Gardenia Ballroom, Lower Level

  • National Anthem – Amia Baptise, Grant High School
  • Invocation – Chaplain (Major) Saul Castillo, California National Guard
  • Joint Color Guard – California National Guard

Speakers:

  • Governor’s Council Welcome – Vice Admiral Jody Breckenridge, U.S. Coast Guard (ret.), Chair, Governor’s Military Council
  • Municipal Welcome – City of Sacramento
  • Opening Address, Dee Dee Myers, Senior Advisor to the Governor and Director, Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development
  • Video Keynote Address, Governor Gavin Newsom

8:45 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Service Senior Leader Roundtable

Camellia/Gardenia Ballroom, Lower Level

Learn the top priorities and mission critical concerns from senior leaders across the state’s military services and listen in on their biggest issues today.

Moderator:

Major General Eldon Regua, U.S. Army (ret.) Governor’s Military Council

Speakers:

  • Major General Matthew Beevers, Acting, The Adjutant General, California National Guard
  • Chief Master Sergeant Willie H. Frazier, II, Senior Enlisted Leader, Space Systems Command, Los Angeles Air Force Base, US Space Force
  • Brigadier General Matthew Higer, Commanding General, 412th Test Wing, Edwards Air Force Base, US Air Force
  • RADM Andrew Sugimoto, Commander, 11th District, U.S. Coast Guard
  • Brigadier General Jason Woodworth, Commanding General, Marine Corps Installations – West, US Marine Corps

9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.

Networking Break

9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

Education and Workforce Development in the California Defense Industry

Camellia/Magnolia Ballroom, Lower Level

Explore how California’s education and defense sectors are adapting to meet the challenges and evolving demands of defense.

Moderator:

  • Robert Meyer, Director of Economic Development, Employment Training Panel

Speakers:

  • Jose Anaya, Dean, El Camino College’s Community Advancement Division and the Business Training Center; Leadership Board of UpSkill California
  • Philip Juarez, Director, Cybersecurity Engineering Division, Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific (NIWC)
  • Meg O’Grady, Senior Vice President, Military and Government Programs, National University

10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Networking Break

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Building Stronger Partnerships: Installations and the Community

Camellia/Magnolia Ballroom, Lower Level

Defense and community partners share best practices in building and maintaining strong military/community partnerships.

Moderator:

  • Sandy Person, Executive Director, Travis Community Consortium

Speakers:

  • Colonel Gregory Pace, Marine Corps Logistics Base – Barstow
  • William A. Hopkins, Jr., City Manager, City of Barstow
  • John W. R. Pope, III, Executive Director, Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR)
  • Ivan Bolden, Chief of Army Partnerships
  • Rick Hern, Partnership Broker,  Air Force Community Partnerships

12:00 p.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Networking Break

12:15 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Lunch Buffet Service

Grand Nave Foyer, Lower Level

12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Lunch Program

Camellia/Magnolia Ballroom, Lower Level

Topic 1: California Commitment: The Army’s Strategic Re-Engagement in the Golden State

The US Army has a renewed commitment to its defense activities in California; hear about its plans to reinforce the mission here.

Speaker:

  • Mario Diaz – Deputy Under Secretary of the Army

Topic 2: California Legislative Update

Receive the latest information on legislation impacting military and defense communities in the state and at the national level.

Speaker:

  • Jeff Breiten – Legislative Director, California Military Officers Association of America

1:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.

Networking Break

1:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Breakout Sessions

Breakout A: Quality of Life

Camelia Room

Hear updates on critical quality of life topics affecting military families and state policy considerations.

Moderator:

  • Kelli May Douglas, Defense-State Liaison Office, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Military Community and Family Policy.

Speakers:

  • Childcare: Ms. Alethea Arguilez, Executive Director, First Five San Diego
  • K-12 Education and Teacher Licensure: Mr. Jesse M Najera, Superintendent, Silver Valley Unified School District
  • Spouse Employment and Licensure: Ms. April Palmer, Army SgtMaj Spouse (Special Education Teacher)
  • Military/Veteran Quality of Life State Policy Considerations: Mr. Christian Burkin, Chief Consultant, Assembly Military and Veteran Affairs Committee

Breakout B: Climate & Environment

Magnolia Room

Leaders in climate sustainability research and execution discuss the critical role of the military in addressing the impact of climate change on national security and the state’s efforts and role in partnering with them.

Moderator:

  • Wade Crowfoot, Secretary, California Natural Resources Agency

Speakers:

  • Mark Merrifield, Director, Center for Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation, Scripps Institute of Oceanography
  • Nancy Vogel, Deputy Secretary for Water, California Natural Resources Agency
  • Rachel Posner Ross, Deputy Chief Sustainability Officer, Department of Defense
  • Clare Mendelsohn, Deputy Secretary of Public Policy, California Environmental Protection Agency

3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.

Networking Break

3:15 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.

Breakout Sessions

Breakout A: Grant and Funding Opportunities

Camelia

Receive insights into the latest funding opportunities and grant programs available for defense and community initiatives. The panel will feature experts from state and federal government agencies who will discuss the criteria, application process, and success stories of past grant recipients. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the funding landscape and valuable tips for crafting successful grant proposals.

Speakers:

  • Shivani Bose-Varela, California Grants Portal Project Manager California State Library
  • Louis Littleton, Director, Western Regional Office, Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation
  • Amy Miller, Grants Manager, Governor’s Office of Planning and Research

Breakout A: Ensuring Resilience of Critical Infrastructure

Magnolia Room

Experts will discuss the challenges and strategies for safeguarding critical infrastructure from natural disasters, cyber-attacks and other threats and explore innovative technologies and best practices to enhance the resilience and reliability of critical infrastructure in the face of evolving risks.

Moderator:

  • Colonel Fred Meurer, U.S. Army (ret.), Governor’s Military Council

Speakers:

  • Hannah Walter, Associate Deputy Director, California Transportation Commission
  • John John D. Moreno, Programs Director, US Army Corps of Engineers South Pacific Division
  • Tom Ducker, Homeland Security Division Critical Infrastructure, California Office of Emergency Services
  • Lance L. LaBreck, Business Continuity & Corporate Preparedness, California Independent System OperatorLance L. LaBreck, Business Continuity & Corporate Preparedness, California Independent System Operator

    4:45 p.m.

    Summit ends

    Register

    Pre-registration for the California Defense Leadership Summit has closed. Onsite registration will be available.

    Sponsorship

    Sponsoring the 2023 California Defense Leadership Summit is an excellent way to promote your brand with key leaders at the community, state and national levels. Sponsorships include complimentary registrations, the opportunity to be involved in one of our sessions and more.

    For more information, please contact Maggie McAlexander at mmcalexander@defensecommunities.org.

    Event Location

    Sheraton Grand Sacramento
    1230 J St, Sacramento, CA 95814

    Take advantage of exclusive group rates at the event hotel.

    Sheraton Grand Sacramento

    Event Sponsors