Patuxent Partnership Hosts 2025 Defense Summit With NAWCAD Leaders

LEXINGTON PARK, Md. — The Patuxent Partnership 2025 Defense Summit, a full-day program held on Wednesday, November 19th, 2025, brought together more than 200 attendees for the 3rd Annual TPP Defense Summit. The event featured dynamic panels and speakers, including NAWCAD leadership, centered on the theme: “Technology, Innovation and Capability to the Warfighter.”

Ms. Bonnie Green, TPP Executive Director, welcomed attendees and noted the challenges of organizing the Defense Summit during a government shutdown. Delivering a useful, informative full-day Summit while coordinating with speakers who could not commit until the 11th hour made for an interesting experience.

Mr. Steve Spehn, Technology Development Advisor, U.S. European Command, served as Summit moderator, introducing the speakers, offering perspective on the topics, and providing a rundown of the day’s events.

The first speaker, Ms. Mieke Eoyang, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy, covered a broad range of cyber issues. One key point addressed the risks of storing security information in data centers rather than the cloud. She highlighted Ukraine’s decision to move its security data to the cloud to avoid losing critical information due to Russian bombing of key sites.

The next speaker, Mr. Jim Woolsey, former President of Defense Acquisition University, presented “AI Implications for the DOD Workforce and Beyond.” He discussed customizing AI to translate “government speak,” improve acquisition language and requirements, and better inform the workforce. Woolsey also touched on AI’s role in translating legislative language into understandable text. One of the first audience questions was a request for his presentation.

Mr. Russell Rumbaugh, Former Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller) and last year’s TPP Defense Summit Keynote, offered perspective on acquisition across the Navy, from shipbuilding to aviation. He spoke about the long-discussed but not-yet-transformational reinvention of government acquisition.

The focus then shifted to a panel discussion on Digital Transformation with moderator Mr. Travis Methvin, CDW-G, former Deputy Chief Strategy Officer and Director of Partnerships at PEO Digital; Mr. David Meiser, SSTM, Technical Director, NAWC Systems Engineering; and Mr. Ken Senechal, KBR, Senior Technical Advisor supporting the Test Resource Management Center.

The first afternoon panel, “U.S. Shipbuilding – Requirements, Capabilities, Carriers,” featured Mr. Steve Wills, PhD, Navalist, Center for Maritime Strategy, and Mr. John Lehman III, former naval aviator, former U.S. Senate Staff (McCain), and shipbuilding executive. They discussed the challenges of rebuilding and reinvigorating U.S. shipyards to meet Navy and Coast Guard demands. They noted that upgrading or establishing shipyards is difficult and that commercial maritime shipbuilding also needs attention. The panelists highlighted the critical role of the aircraft carrier in national defense.

Mr. Steve Cricchi, Executive Director of NAWCAD, discussed new capabilities and the importance of building capacity, offering “The View from NAWCAD Forward.”

The final panel focused on “Nontraditional Technology, Tools, Innovation, and OTAs.” Mr. Rick Tarr, SOMD Tech Bridge & Director, NAWCAD Tech Transfer Office, co-moderated with Mr. Kedar Pavgi, Director, Commercial Strategy and Operations at the Defense Innovation Unit.

Panelists included Mr. Drew Thomson, Director of Growth and Development, Anduril Industries; Mr. Todd Wesley, Senior Director, Hivemind Solutions, Strike Portfolio, Shield AI; and Mr. Garth Blakely, Director of Government Business Development and Strategy, Castelion. They shared experiences, perspectives, and major acquisition challenges.

The conversation explored how the government can benefit from nontraditional technologies and the need to maintain strategic advantage against vigilant adversaries.

Mr. Spehn offered closing remarks, and Ms. Green thanked the sponsors.