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

8:40 AM – 8:45 AM

Welcome

Councilman Carlos Clanton, City of Norfolk

8:45 AM – 9:05 AM

Opening Remarks

RADM Stephen Barnett, Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic

9:05 AM – 10:15 AM

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.

Moderator: Charlie Perham, Col, USAF(Ret), Matrix Design Group

Panel Members:

  • CAPT Matt Olson, Commanding Officer, Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads
  • Col Stephen Anderson, Commander, 633d Air Base Wing, Joint Base Langley-Eustis
  • COL Rich Bendelewski, Garrison Commander, Fort Lee

10:15 AM – 10:30 AM

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.

Moderator: Teran Judd, The Roosevelt Group

Panel Members:

  • John Kiersma, Assistant Chief of Staff G7, USMC Base Quantico
  • Terry Soska, Grants Manager, City of Virginia Beach Police Department
  • Vonzell Mattocks, Director of Community and Military Partnerships, Northern Virginia Regional Commission

11:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Break / Lunch Buffet Open

12:00 PM – 1:15 PM

Keynote Speaker Luncheon — The Honorable Jackie Glass, Virginia House of Delegates District 93

1:15 PM – 1:30 PM

Networking Break

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM

Shared Affordability — Maximizing Public-Public/Public-Private Partnerships
Sponsored by: Cox Communications

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.

Moderator: Teran Judd, The Roosevelt Group

Panel Members:

  • CAPT Rob Littman, Commanding Officer, NAS Oceana
  • LTC Matt Bauer, Garrison Commander, Fort A.P. Hill
  • Phillip Fleming, Community and Military Project Manager, Northern Virginia Regional Commission

2:30 PM – 2:45 PM

Networking Break

2:45 PM – 3:45 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.

Moderator: Casey Bartholomew, Matrix Design Group

Panel Members:

  • Col Naomi Henigin, Commander, 633d Mission Support Group, Joint Base Langley-Eustis
  • Jane Elyce Glasgow, PhD, Executive Director, Minus 9 to 5 and Ready Region Southeastern Lead, Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University
  • Kayla LaFond, Virginia Military Spouse Liaison
  • Sultan Camp, Director, Hampton Roads Veterans Employment Centers

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
Sponsored by: Versability Resources

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.

Moderator: Jamie Jones Miller, Dean and CEO, Northeastern University-Arlington

Panel Members:

  • Fred Pasquine, President and CEO, Fairlead
  • Telly Tucker, President, Institute for Advanced Learning and Research
  • Shawn Avery, President and CEO, Hampton Roads Workforce Council
  • Doug Smith, President and CEO, Hampton Roads Alliance

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 / Breakfast Opens

8:30 AM – 9:30 AM

Congressional Panel
Sponsored by: The Roosevelt Group

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.

Moderator: Rick Dwyer, Executive Director, HRMFFA

Panel Members:

  • The Honorable Tim Kaine, U.S. Senator for Virginia
  • The Honorable Jen Kiggans, Representative (VA-02)
  • The Honorable Bobby Scott, Representative (VA-03)

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
Sponsored by: Dominion Energy

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.

Moderator: Lucian Niemeyer, CEO, Building Cyber Security & Founding Partner, UCAN Power

Panel Members:

  • CAPT Dan Patrick, Commanding Officer, NWS Yorktown
  • COL Rich Bendelewski, Garrison Commander, Fort Lee
  • Todd Flowers, Director – Generation Development, Dominion Energy
  • Morgan Whayland, Director of Governmental and Public Affairs, Virginia Natural Gas

10:45 AM – 11:00 AM

Networking Break

11:00 AM – 12:00 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 man-made and natural threats to military missions impair readiness, increase costs, and strain community relationships. This panel focuses on how military installations and local governments 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, resilience coordination, and collaborative governance models that reduce conflict, unlock investment, and ensure that growth strengthens national defense.

Moderator: Tom Crabbs, Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs Military Liaison

Panel Members:

  • Terry Lasher, VA State Forester
  • John Kiersma, Assistant Chief of Staff G7, USMC Base Quantico
  • Chris Moi, Potomac Sentinel Landscape Coordinator, VA Dept of Forestry
  • Ward Burton, President, Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation

12:00 PM – 12:15 PM

General Session Closing Remarks (Timothy P. Williams, Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs)

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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