NatSec + Space Innovation Summit

Innovation Day Schedule

Day Two · October 9, 2026 · San Francisco Fleet Week
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Innovation Day — Agenda

Day Two of the NatSec + Space Innovation Summit convenes government innovation units, investors, founders, and veteran technologists for a full program of panels, briefings, and firesides, closing with the Blue Angels flyover over San Francisco Bay.

Time Session
Opening
8:30 AM Registration & Networking Breakfast
9:00 AM Welcome Remarks Katherine Webster, CEO, VetsinTech Emcee: Mike McNerney, Board Member, VetsinTech & Chief Compliance Officer, Arkenstone · Introduction of Libby Schaaf, CEO, Bay Area Council
9:10 AM Special Remarks Libby Schaaf, CEO, Bay Area Council
Setting the Landscape
9:20 AM Briefing: The Defense Tech Market in the U.S. - A Bay Area Focus Sean Randolph, Bay Area Council 30 min, including Q&A
9:50 AM Panel: DIU History and Mission Bucky Butow; Mike McNerney 25 min
Morning Panels
10:15 AM Fireside Chat: Artemis II - the Mission Victor Glover; Raj Shah 45 min, including Q&A
11:00 AM Special Remarks Zane Teeters
11:05 AM Academic/Research Panel Davis Hake; Andrew Reddie; Kaitie Penry; Dr. Kimberly Budil 30 min, including Q&A
11:35 AM Special Remarks Peter Dixon
11:40 AM Panel: Military Innovation Units Vinny Pande; Blaise Zandoli; Ben Richardson; Artem Sherbinin
Moderator: Sean Singleton 30 min, including Q&A
Keynote & Lunch
12:10 PM Working Lunch & Networking 30 min
12:40 PM Special Remarks: Holland & Knight Ike Blanton 5 min
12:45 PM Fireside Chat: Lethal Autonomy: The Future of Warfare Whether we like it or not Maynard Holliday; Frank Kendall III 30 min
Afternoon Panels
1:15 PM Panel: Drones & Robots: Lessons from Ukraine (Hardware) Maynard Holliday; Jennifer Daskal; Frank Kendall III; Kevin Damoa; Dan Morse; Sampriti Bhattacharyya 30 min, including Q&A
1:45 PM Panel: AI & Cyber Security at the Edge of National Security (Software) Ernie Bio; Vinnie Liu; Zane Teeters; Josh Marques
Moderator: Ian Kalin 30 min, including Q&A
2:15 PM Special Remarks: Velodyne Space David Hall, CEO, Velodyne Space 5 min
2:15 PM Panel: Vets in Space Col. Andrew S. Menschner; Dr. Victoria Coleman; Nick Curry
Moderator: Chris Pimentel 30 min, including Q&A
2:45 PM Panel: VetVC: Capital Behind the Mission Ryan Micheletti; Ernie Bio; Raj Shah
Moderator: Josh Marcuse 30 min, including Q&A — may incorporate a live founder pitch segment
Fleet Week Experience
3:15 PM Break: Blue Angels Flyover & On-the-Bay Technology Demonstrations 45 min — Waterfront viewing
Closing
4:00 PM Reconvene: Closing Plenary 45 min
4:45 PM Closing Remarks Katherine Webster, CEO, VetsinTech 15 min
5:00 PM Program Concludes

All panel sessions are capped at 30 minutes, inclusive of moderated Q&A. Speaker confirmations for each panel are in progress; sessions and times are subject to change.