SEPTEMBER 9, 2025

A Fireside Chat: Warfighting Challenges of the Chief Technology Officer

This Fireside Chat brings together Chief Technology Officers (CTOs) from US Army Forces Command (FORSCOM);  XVIII Airborne Corps, 1st Special Forces Command; and Defense Innovation Unit to discuss the evolving warfighting challenges across the Joint Force. This discussion will explore how technology leaders are leveraging innovation, collaboration, and emerging technologies to strengthen operational effectiveness in complex and contested environments.

Building on the insights from the Airborne Innovation Lab (AIL) and LTG James M. Gavin Joint Innovation Outpost (JIOP), this session will provide a real-time look at how military innovation hubs are identifying and integrating capabilities that meet the demands of multi-domain operations. It will also highlight how North Carolina’s innovation ecosystem—spanning industry, academia, and government—plays a critical role in delivering next-generation solutions.

Participants will gain an inside perspective on defense technology priorities, opportunities for collaboration, and how CTOs are shaping the future of military modernization.

• Dr. Travis Hartman, former Chief Technology Officer, US Army Forces Command
• Rob Braun, Chief Technology Officer, XVIII Airborne Corps
• Amanda Mercier, Chief Technology Officer, 1st Special Forces Command
• Beverly Seay, Senior Strategic Advisor, Defense Innovation Unit

SEPTEMBER 10, 2025

Forging the Future: Strategic Innovation Pathways for National Defense
Time: 0915 - 1015
This session will focus on identifying and leveraging future requirements and innovations to address national security emerging threats and challenges. Panelists will provide valuable insights into current projects and future directions, highlighting specific business opportunities for engagement and collaboration. Attendees will learn about resources available to support their efforts in meeting these challenges, ensuring they are well-equipped to participate in and benefit from the evolving federal technology landscape. 

• Lieutenant Colonel Ian Clowes, Program Manager, AFWERX
• Nicole Fox, S&T Portfolio Manager, Contested Logistics & Sustainment, CATALYST Team Lead, Army Applied SBIR|STTR Program, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, Research and Technology, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology
• James "JJ" Barry, Assistant Chief of the Mineral Commodity Section, US Geological Survey National Mineral Information Center (NMIC)
• Karen Krause-Bencal, Vice President, Federal Programs, Applied Research Institute

Technology Innovation Showcase: Innovative Technologies for the Modern Warfighter
Time: 1045 – 1145
In this interactive session, selected companies will each have five minutes to pitch their innovative technology solutions, followed by five minutes of questions and feedback from government representatives. This dynamic format provides a unique opportunity for companies to showcase their cutting-edge solutions and receive valuable, direct feedback from key government decision-makers. Attendees will gain insights into government needs, increasing their chances of successful collaboration and business growth within the federal marketplace. 

Building Tomorrow's Force: Cultivating Talent for the Defense Industry
Time: 1330 – 1430
This panel will explore the critical role of workforce development in driving innovation and meeting the needs of government and industry engaged in the federal marketplace. Representatives from leading educational institutions and organizations will discuss strategies, programs, and partnerships to equip the future workforce with essential skills and knowledge. The discussion will emphasize the importance of digital transformation in educational curricula, highlighting how integrating cutting-edge technologies prepares students for roles in national security and technological advancement. Attendees will gain insights into successful workforce development initiatives and available resources, ensuring a robust and innovative talent pool for the federal marketplace. 

• Rhiannon Holley, Department Chair, Systems Security & Analysis, Fayetteville Technical Community College
• Chris Crumbly, Executive Director, Institute for Digital Enterprise Advancement (IDEA)
• Dr. Sherine Obare, Vice Chancellor for Research and Engagement, University of North Carolina - Greensboro
• Gregory P. Copenhaver, PhD, Chancellor’s Eminent Professor of Convergent Science, and Director, Institute for Convergent Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Bridging the Gap: Aligning Tactical Solutions with Strategic Goals
Time: 1500 – 1600
This panel will provide an overview of innovation outposts, Defense Innovation OnRamps, highlighting their role in fostering innovation and collaboration to address the needs of the modern warfighter. Companies will gain direct access to warfighter touchpoints, enabling real-time feedback and collaboration on emerging tactical problems. Engaging with these outposts ensures technologies are aligned with actual warfighter needs, enhancing military operations and offering companies a competitive edge in the federal marketplace. Attendees will learn how these outposts bridge innovative companies and military units, accelerating the development of impactful solutions for national security. 

• Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Etheridge, Army Applications Laboratory - Corporate Ventures, US Army Futures Command
• Beverly Seay, Senior Strategic Advisor, Defense Innovation Unit
• Thomas Earnhardt, Force Development Technology and Experimentation, Joint Special Operations Command
• Amanda Mercier, Chief Technology Officer, 1st Special Forces Command

Frontline Technology Innovation: Rapid Iteration Under Fire
Time: 1600-1645

This session features Colonel Vadym Sukharevskyi, one of Ukraine’s most decorated and innovative commanders and the founding leader of the world’s first dedicated Unmanned Systems Forces. From the trenches of Donbas to the creation of a national unmanned command, Vadym has overseen the development, integration, and deployment of drone technologies across logistics, reconnaissance, strike, and counter-drone missions.

Drawing on real-world combat experience, Colonel Vadym will share how Ukrainian forces innovate on a weekly cycle, including embedding engineers with frontline units to adapt drones and ground robots under fire.

He will highlight critical operational lessons including: how unmanned systems have reshaped logistics and casualty evacuation in 20–50 km “kill zones;” why rapid iteration and industry-warfighter co-development are decisive against adversaries who adapt at scale; and the successes and failures (e.g., imported drones collapsing under EW) that provide a roadmap for U.S. defense innovation.

For attendees — small businesses, academics, and federal program managers — this session will directly relate frontline lessons to U.S. SBIR/STTR opportunities, agile acquisition practices, and dual-use technology development. Participants will leave with a sharper understanding of how to align innovations with DoD’s evolving priorities in unmanned systems and counter-drone defense.

Biography: Colonel Vadym Sukharevskyi (“Badger”) is the founding commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, the world’s first dedicated unmanned military branch. A decorated war hero and Deputy Commander of Operational Command East, he has led Ukrainian forces through every phase of the conflict since 2014, from commanding frontline brigades to pioneering drone warfare doctrine. Colonel Vadym brings unmatched frontline experience and technological innovation, offering U.S. and allied audiences rare insight into how unmanned systems are transforming modern combat.

Interpreter.  Hosts of the Federal Technology Symposium gratefully acknowledge the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for generously providing interpreter services in support of Colonel Sukharevskyi’s remarks.