2026 Global Security Forum, America at 250: A Defining Moment for American Statecraft and Military Power

June 30, 2026 • 8:30 am – 5:00 pm EDT

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Join the CSIS Defense and Security Department on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, for its annual Global Security Forum. This year's conference will center on the theme America at 250: A Defining Moment for American Statecraft and Military Power.

Through expert panel discussions with government, industry, and finance experts, the Forum will examine how the tools of statecraft are being redefined and how the United States can harness innovation, rebuild industrial capacity, strengthen deterrence, and renew the foundations of leadership in a more dangerous world.

Further details on the agenda and panelists will be updated in the leadup to the Forum in June.

This event is made possible by the generous support of Leonardo DRS. 

Additional support provided by Hadrian and Washington Harbour Partners.

Registration Information

Registration for this event is now closed. Guests may still watch this event and its panels via the livestream on this page and the associated panel pages.

Conference Agenda

Welcome & Opening Remarks

8:30 am

General Joseph F. Dunford Jr., USMC, Ret., Chief Executive Officer, CSIS

John Baylouny, President and Chief Executive Officer, Leonardo DRS 

 

Master of Ceremonies: 

Dr. Heather Williams, Director, Project on Nuclear Issues, CSIS

The End of Sanctuary: The Evolution of Homeland Defense

8:45 am

Panelists:

Congressman Jeff Crank (R-CO), Member, House Armed Services Committee

Congressman George Whitesides (D-CA), Vice Ranking Member, Science, Space, and Technology Committee, and Member, House Armed Services Committee

Chief Cathy Lanier, Senior Vice President and Chief Security Officer, National Football League

Lieutenant General Daniel L. Karbler, USA, Ret., Former Commander, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command 

 

Moderator: 

Dr. Tom Karako, Director, Missile Defense Project, CSIS

Break

9:45 am

Principal Military Advisor: The Role of the Chairman and Joint Staff Through Strategic Change

10:00 am

Introduction:

Dr. Seth Jones, President, Defense and Security Department, CSIS

 

Panelists:

General Joseph F. Dunford, Jr., USMC, Ret., Chief Executive Officer, CSIS 

The Honorable William "Mac" Thornberry, Former Chairman, House Armed Services Committee

Admiral John C. Aquilino, USN, Ret., Former Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command

 

Moderator:

The Honorable Kari A. Bingen, Director, Aerospace Security Project, CSIS

Break

11:00 am

Building at Scale: Implementing the Defense Industrial Base Reform Agenda

11:15 am

Introduction: 

Dr. Jerry McGinn, Director, Center for the Industrial Base, CSIS

 

Panelists:

The Honorable Michael Duffey, Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment

Congressman Rob Wittman (R-VA), Vice Chairman, House Armed Services Committee

John Baylouny, President and Chief Executive Officer, Leonardo DRS

Chris Power, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Hadrian

 

Moderator: 

Morgan Brennan, “Morning Call” Anchor, CNBC

Lunch

12:15 pm

Food and beverages will be provided.

Patriotic Capital: Financing Industrial Strength and Security

1:00 pm

Panelists:

David Lorch, Director, Office of Strategic Capital, Department of War

The Honorable Ellen M. Lord, Former Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment

Mina Faltas, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Washington Harbour Partners

Kirsten Bartok-Touw, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, New Vista Capital

 

Moderator: 

Corey Johnston, Executive Vice President, Strider Technologies, and former Chief Competition Officer, U.S. Department of State

Break

2:00 pm

The Future of Command: Leadership Through Crisis and Change

2:15 pm

Panelists:

Admiral Christopher W. Grady, USN, Ret., Former Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff

General David L. Goldfein, USAF, Ret., Former Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force

General Austin S. (Scott) Miller, USA, Ret., Former Commander, Joint Special Operations Command, and former Commander, NATO Resolute Support Mission and United States Forces-Afghanistan

 

Moderator: 

Dr. Seth Jones, President, Defense and Security Department, CSIS 

Break

3:15 pm

What Must America Defend? The Future of American Statecraft

3:30 pm

Panelists:

The Honorable Paul Ryan, Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives

Vincent J. Viola, Founder and Chairman Emeritus, Virtu Financial, and Owner, Florida Panthers Hockey Club

 

Moderator: 

Jennifer Griffin, Chief National Security Correspondent, Fox News Channel

Closing

4:30 pm

General Joseph F. Dunford Jr., USMC, Ret., Chief Executive Officer, CSIS

Networking Reception

4:45 pm

Tags

North America, Defense and Security, Military Technology, Technology and Innovation, American Innovation, Defense Budget and Acquisition, Defense Industry, Acquisition, and Innovation, and Defense Industrial Base

Hosted By

Contact Information

Seth G. Jones

Seth G. Jones

President, Defense and Security Department; Harold Brown Chair
Kari Bingen

Kari A. Bingen

Director, Aerospace Security Project and Senior Fellow, Defense and Security Department
Williams

Heather Williams

Director, Project on Nuclear Issues and Senior Fellow, Defense and Security Department

Programs & Projects

Breakout Panels