Readiness Begins Locally

Norfolk, VA  //  April 1 – 2, 2026

Our military’s readiness begins locally in the communities that host our defense installations and industrial base. Given Virginia’s premier role in supporting military missions, servicemembers and their families, and veterans, the inaugural 2026 Virginia Defense Forum offers an incredible opportunity to focus on improving the value and lethality of our military installations. Hosted by the Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs in partnership with the Association of Defense Communities (ADC), this event will bring together military installations, host communities, industry, and defense leaders to drive meaningful change.

Taking place in Norfolk, Virginia, from April 1-2, 2026, the forum will feature dynamic panels, inspiring keynote speakers, senior Commonwealth and federal leadership engagement, a networking reception on the Battleship Wisconsin, and so much more. Dive into critical discussions on installation resilience, public-public/public-private partnership opportunities and best practices, defense industrial base, quality of life initiatives, veteran transition to employment, and other key issues enhancing mission readiness and lethality in Virginia. Don’t miss this chance to connect, collaborate, and champion initiatives that make a real difference in Virginia’s military communities.

Our military’s readiness begins locally in the communities that host our defense installations and industrial base. Given Virginia’s premier role in supporting military missions, servicemembers and their families, and veterans, the inaugural 2026 Virginia Defense Forum offers an incredible opportunity to focus on improving the value and lethality of our military installations. Hosted by the Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs in partnership with the Association of Defense Communities (ADC), this event will bring together military installations, host communities, industry, and defense leaders to drive meaningful change.

Taking place in Norfolk, Virginia, from April 1-2, 2026, the forum will feature dynamic panels, inspiring keynote speakers, senior Commonwealth and federal leadership engagement, a networking reception on the Battleship Wisconsin, and so much more. Dive into critical discussions on installation resilience, public-public/public-private partnership opportunities and best practices, defense industrial base, quality of life initiatives, veteran transition to employment, and other key issues enhancing mission readiness and lethality in Virginia. Don’t miss this chance to connect, collaborate, and champion initiatives that make a real difference in Virginia’s military communities.

Virginia Defense Forum // April 1 – 2, 2026

AGENDA

Wednesday, April 1

8:00 AM

Registration Opens / Coffee + Networking

8:45 AM – 10:15 AM

Opening Remarks / Installation Commander Panel
Installation commanders sit at the nexus of national defense, community partnership, and day-to-day operational reality. As missions grow more complex and external pressures increase, commanders are navigating challenges that range from infrastructure resilience and workforce needs to community growth and emerging security risks. This panel offers a candid, commander-level perspective on what it takes to sustain mission readiness in today’s environment. Installation leaders will share insights on priorities, lessons learned, and what they need most from state and local partners to ensure Virginia’s installations remain ready, resilient, and indispensable to national defense.

10:15 AM – 10:30 PM

Networking Break

10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Compete to Win — Federal Funding Opportunities That Boost Military Value
Federal funding is a powerful catalyst when communities align their priorities with defense mission needs. This panel explores a range of federal programs that help strengthen installation resilience, readiness, and long-term military value, spanning infrastructure, planning, energy, transportation, and community support. The discussion will take a broad view of how Virginia communities can identify the right funding sources, build compelling cases for investment, and coordinate across jurisdictions and installations. Panelists will share practical insights on turning federal dollars into durable improvements that protect missions, enhance quality of life, and reinforce Virginia’s role in national defense.

11:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Networking Break

12:00 PM – 1:15 PM

Keynote Speaker Luncheon – Governor Abigail Spanberger (Invited)

1:15 PM – 1:30 PM

Networking Break

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM

Shared Affordability — Maximizing Public-Public/Public-Private Partnerships
No single agency or sector can tackle today’s defense, infrastructure, and resilience challenges alone. In Virginia, where military installations, state and local governments, utilities, universities, and private industry are tightly interconnected, partnerships are often the catalyst for turning good ideas into lasting impact. This panel examines how public-public and public-private partnerships can be structured to share risk, align incentives, and accelerate solutions that support both mission readiness and community goals. Panelists will highlight successful partnership models, lessons learned from Virginia projects, and practical steps for moving from collaboration in concept to collaboration in execution, unlocking innovation, funding, and capacity that no one could achieve on their own.

2:30 PM – 2:45 PM

Networking Break

2:45 PM – 3:45 PM

Compatibility is King — Sharing Space and Resources for Success
As Virginia’s communities grow and missions evolve, the space surrounding military installations is becoming as critical as what happens inside the fence line. Incompatible development, encroachment, and competing demands for land and infrastructure can threaten readiness, increase costs, and strain community relationships. This panel focuses on how military installations, local governments, developers, and residents can proactively share space and resources in ways that support both mission success and community prosperity. Panelists will highlight Virginia-based strategies such as joint land-use planning, buffering and conservation tools, infrastructure coordination, and collaborative governance models that reduce conflict, unlock investment, and ensure that growth strengthens national defense.

3:45 PM – 4:00 PM

Networking Break

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Freedom’s Forge, Built in Virginia — Supercharging the Commonwealth’s Maritime/Defense Industrial Base
Virginia’s defense and maritime industrial base is a cornerstone of national security, supporting shipbuilding, ship repair, logistics, advanced manufacturing, and a highly specialized workforce. As demand grows and supply chains face increasing pressure, sustaining this industrial base requires more than contracts alone. This panel examines the infrastructure, workforce, permitting, energy, and transportation challenges that shape the future of the defense and maritime sectors. Panelists will discuss how coordinated action among industry, government, and communities can expand capacity, improve resilience, and ensure Virginia remains a globally competitive hub for maritime and defense innovation that directly supports fleet readiness and mission success.

5:00 PM – 5:30 PM

Transition to Reception

5:30 PM – 7:00 PM

Reception at Battleship Wisconsin

Thursday, April 2

8:00 AM

Registration Opens

8:30 AM – 9:30 AM

General Session Breakfast
Virginia’s federal lawmakers play a critical role in shaping defense policy, securing funding, and supporting the Commonwealth’s military installations and surrounding communities. This panel brings together members of Virginia’s congressional delegation to discuss current priorities, emerging challenges, and opportunities to strengthen the partnership between the Department of Defense, local governments, and industry. Panelists will highlight how federal action can protect missions, enhance readiness, support economic growth, and ensure that Virginia continues to lead as a hub of national defense capability. Attendees will gain insight into legislative perspectives, funding pathways, and strategies for aligning community and military interests.

9:30 AM – 9:45 AM

Networking Break

9:45 AM – 10:45 AM

All Source Energy — Shared Energy Solutions for Community and National Security
Energy is not just an infrastructure issue – it’s a readiness issue. In Virginia, where major military installations, defense manufacturers, ports, data centers, and fast-growing communities all depend on the same power systems, energy disruptions can ripple quickly from the local level to the national mission. This panel explores how shared energy solutions, such as microgrids, distributed generation, energy storage, and small modular reactors, can strengthen installation resilience while delivering reliability and cost savings to surrounding communities. Panelists will examine real-world Virginia examples, policy and financing tools, and how collaborative energy planning can enhance mission assurance, support economic growth, and safeguard national security in an era of increasing grid stress and climate risk.

10:45 AM – 11:00 AM

Networking Break

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

The Homefront Advantage — Keeping Talent in the Military, and Families in Virginia Through the Nation’s Highest Quality of Life
Mission readiness depends on people, and people stay where their families can thrive. Nationwide, challenges like access to affordable childcare, spouse employment opportunities, housing, healthcare, and transportation increasingly influence retention, recruitment, and long-term assignment decisions. This panel focuses on quality-of-life strategies that help keep talented service members, veterans, and their families rooted in Virginia. Panelists will explore how installations, state and local governments, employers, and community organizations can work together to address everyday barriers, strengthen family stability, and position Virginia as the premier place to serve and to live, reinforcing military readiness through the nation’s highest quality of life.

12:00 PM – 12:15 PM

General Session Closing Remarks

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Registration

Event Location

Norfolk Waterside Marriott
235 East Main Street
Norfolk, VA 23510

BOOK A ROOM

Norfolk Waterside Marriott

Sponsorship

Sponsoring the 2026 Virginia Defense Summit is a great way to promote your brand’s visibility. Sponsorships include levels ranging from Signature ($10k) to Silver ($1k) and include benefits such as complimentary registrations, your logo on the event website, the opportunity to be involved in one of the panels and more.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

For more information, please contact Rick Dwyer at rdwyer@hrmffa.org.

Sponsorship

Sponsoring the 2026 Virginia Defense Summit is a great way to promote your brand’s visibility. Sponsorships include levels ranging from Signature ($10k) to Silver ($1k) and include benefits such as complimentary registrations, your logo on the event website, the opportunity to be involved in one of the panels and more.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

For more information, please contact Rick Dwyer at rdwyer@hrmffa.org.

SPONSORED BY