The Potomac Officers Club will kick off next year with the 2025 Defense R&D Summit on Jan. 23. This 11th iteration of the esteemed event will once again gather public and private sector technology experts for an exploration of defense priorities, advanced technologies and the intersection of innovation and national security.
At the summit, you will have the opportunity to learn more about the Department of Defense’s top technology priorities, which include the 14 critical technology areas declared by Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Heidi Shyu, a 2024 Wash100 awardee, in February 2022. Since they were announced, these technologies have served as a guiding light for the department’s research and development endeavors. More recent strategies, such as the May 2023 National Defense Science and Technology Strategy, which aims to fortify R&D foundations and accelerate the delivery of advanced capabilities that serve the joint mission.
What’s Next for Defense Technology?
The Pentagon has recognized the evolving nature of technology, and OUSD(R&E)’s approach to its critical technology areas leaves room for continued transformation to meet changing warfighting demands.
Today, its priorities are split into three categories — seed areas of emerging opportunity, effective adoption areas and defense-specific areas — to help the DOD make targeted investments that match the unique characteristics of each technology. Some key areas of focus include artificial intelligence, quantum science, space technologies and many others.
During the 2025 Defense R&D Summit, you will get exclusive insights from defense technology leaders on all these technology areas and more. Last year’s edition of the event featured six distinguished keynote speakers — including Shyu, who delivered the opening keynote address — and numerous panelists representing a range of DOD components and industry partner organizations.
You will also get the chance to connect with Pentagon leaders and industry experts during periodic networking sessions throughout the day, allowing you to join the defense R&D conversation and work alongside fellow thought leaders to build a pathway for continued warfighting success.
Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity, visit the 2025 Defense R&D Summit event page on the Potomac Officers Club website to register for the event today! To follow speaker confirmations as they occur, click here.
