Join Holland & Knight and the Silicon Valley Defense Group for an invitation-only gathering of senior leaders across the national security and defense innovation ecosystem, designed to strengthen the connections that move promising technologies and companies from early investment to scaled capability.
Our program will explore the company-building and investment life cycle, including legal and governance readiness, government funding, private capital, strategic partnerships, acquisition and long-term growth. Discussions will examine how founders can position their companies for investment and scale, how investors and acquirers assess opportunities, and how government demand can validate technologies, reduce risk and accelerate deployment.
The gathering at Holland & Knight's Washington, D.C., office will bring together government officials, founders and executives of defense and dual-use companies, venture and family office investors, prime contractors, strategic acquirers, government program and contracting professionals, and legal and financial advisors.
Purposeful networking will be woven throughout the day, giving attendees opportunities to share their goals – whether raising capital, investing, pursuing partnerships or exploring acquisition opportunities – and make direct, productive connections across the ecosystem.
Conference speakers will include leaders in the national security and defense space.
Speakers
Nearby Places
Stay
Hyatt Regency
Washington on Capitol Hill
Hilton Washington DC
Capitol Hill
Phoenix Park Hotel
Kimpton George Hotel
Mike R. Wakefield
The Royal Sonesta Washington, DC Capitol Hill
September 24, 2026
Washington, D.C.
Partner
mike.wakefield@hklaw.com
The National Security Innovation Bridge:
Capital to Capability
Agenda
Speakers
Places to Stay
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Continuing Legal Education
Please note: After completion of the program, Holland & Knight (and its CLE administration partner, CEU Institute) will apply for CLE credit based on attendee requests. Some programs may not be awarded CLE credits because of content or jurisdictional restrictions. Please be aware that the CLE approval process can be lengthy in some jurisdictions. For New York attorneys, this program's format qualifies for CLE for transitional (newly admitted) and experienced attorneys.
Support provided by:
Partner
jason.klitenic@hklaw.com
Jason Klitenic
Managing Director
Juniper Advisory
Brent McDonald
Partner
Holland & Knight
Colin Luke
Partner
Holland & Knight
Lisa Hawke
President and CEO
Federation of American Hospitals
Charlene MacDonald
SVDG Executive Director
Executive Vice President,
General Counsel and
Chief Legal Officer
Northwell Health
Laurence Kraemer
Chief Medical Officer
ESO
Brent Myers, M.D.
Senior Vice President, Partnerships & Business Development System Wide
Cone Health
Preston Hammock
Deputy Administrator and
Chief of Staff
Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services
Stephanie Carlton
Vice President of Privacy and Compliance Services
Clearwater
Andrew Mahler
Vice President of Research
University of Rochester Medical Center
Stephen Dewhurst, Ph.D.
REGISTER HERE
Senior Policy Advisor
Holland & Knight
Miranda Franco
Associate Professor of Medicine The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Brian Miller, M.D.
Deputy Commissioner for Policy, Legislation and International Affairs
Food and Drug Administration
Grace Graham
Vice President, Public Policy
The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME)
Mari Savickis
healthcare Policy
healthcare & Life Sciences
President and CEO
Harris Health System
Esmaeil Porsa, M.D.
Retired Partner
Holland & Knight
Brian Platton
Partner
Holland & Knight
Former Member of Congress
Tom Davis
Partner
Holland & Knight
Former Member of Congress
Ronald Klein
Partner
Holland & Knight
Former Member of Congress
Ed Perlmutter
Senior Policy Advisor
Holland & Knight
Former Member of Congress
Thomas Reynolds
Mike Keating
Chief Government and Community Affairs Officer
Denver Health
Steven Federico, M.D.
Partner
Jarrard
Isaac Squyres
Deputy General Counsel
Northwell Health
Barbara Morrissey
Agenda
Listed speakers are subject to change.
Thursday, September 24 | 11:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET
Opening Reception
Holland & Knight's Washington, D.C., office (rooftop reception to follow)
11:30 a.m – 12:00 p.m.
12:00 – 12:10 p.m.
12:10 – 12:30 p.m.
12:30 – 1:00 p.m.
1:00 – 1:20 p.m.
1:50 – 2:40 p.m.
2:40 – 3:10 p.m.
3:10 – 4:00 p.m.
4:00 – 4:50 p.m.
4:50 – 5:00 p.m.
5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
*Subject to change
Registration and Networking
Opening Remarks
Opening Fireside: Why Capital Is Not Yet Capability
Panel 1 – Built to Scale: The Decisions That Create (or Destroy) Enterprise Value
Break
Panel 2 – Capital Strategy in Defense Tech: From First Check to Exit
Break
Panel 3 – Government as Customer, Validator, and Capital Partner
Panel 4 – From Partnership to Production: How Strategic Buyers Evaluate Capability
Closing Fireside
Reception Networking
President and Chief Research Officer
Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital
Patrick Seed, M.D.
Senior Counsel
Holland & Knight
Jennifer Hananoki
Head of Strategic Research
Abridge
Alex Chouldechova, Ph.D.
Partner
mark.goldschmidt@hklaw.com
Mark R. Goldschmidt
Event program overview
Check-in begins at 11:30 a.m., with lunch provided. Programming runs from 12:30 to 5:00 p.m. and includes dedicated networking opportunities, followed by a rooftop reception.
Fireside 1: Why Capital Is Not Yet Capability
Private investment in defense technology has grown rapidly, but capital alone does not produce operational capability. This opening conversation will examine what government, industry and investors must do differently to move promising technologies into scaled adoption.
Panel 1 – Built to Scale: The Decisions That Create (or Destroy) Enterprise Value
The foundations of a successful defense technology company are often established long before a transaction or major contract. This panel will explore the governance, compliance, ownership, contracting and intellectual property decisions that shape long-term growth and enterprise value.
Panel 2 – Financing the Bridge: Matching Capital to Each Stage of Growth
Different stages of growth require different forms of capital. Investors, strategic partners and operators will discuss how companies can finance expansion while preserving flexibility, managing risk and preparing for future opportunities.
Panel 3 – From Award to Adoption: When Government Funding Becomes Market Validation
Government funding can validate technology and accelerate growth, but not every award creates a pathway to scale. Panelists will examine how companies can convert early government support into recurring demand, durable revenue and operational adoption.
Panel 4 – From Partnership to Production: How Strategic Buyers Evaluate Capability
Prime contractors and strategic buyers have multiple ways to engage emerging companies, from partnerships and investments to integration and acquisition. This panel will explore what buyers look for and what enables a relationship to move from interest to production.
Closing Fireside: The Public Market Moment for Defense Technology
As the defense technology market matures, public markets are becoming an increasingly important source of capital and liquidity. This closing conversation will examine what recent transactions signal for founders, investors and the future of the sector.
Partner
megan.mocho@hklaw.com
Megan Mocho
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Partner
robert.a.friedman@hklaw.com
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Partner
robert.a.friedman@hklaw.com
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Partner
robert.a.friedman@hklaw.com
Partner
robert.a.friedman@hklaw.com
Robert A. Friedman