Linking the Industrial Heartland to the Irregular Front

Attendees across academia, industry, startups, critical infrastructure, military, intelligence, and government will Forge connections, build skills, and partner for collective defense.

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Agenda

Forge Summit 2026 — Agenda

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Tuesday, October 13

Time	Session
7:00 AM8:00 AM	Doors Open / Badge Pickup / Networking Breakfast
8:00 AM8:30 AM	Main Ballroom Welcome Lee Watson, Chairman & CEO, Forge Institute
8:30 AM9:15 AM	Main Ballroom Great Power Cyber: Smart Grid Nuclear, AI, and Freedom’s Forge. Keynote This presentation explores the intersection of advanced small modular reactors and AI-driven cyber resilient smart grid operations, including in remote locations where “walk away” reliability is necessary. Harry Wingo, Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, Circadence Former Deputy National Cyber Director
9:15AM10:00 AM	Main Ballroom Fireside Chat w/ Air Force Research Lab Fireside Chat Moderator: Lee Watson, Chairman & CEO, Forge institute Paula Lemke, Executive Director, APEX Shanel Fultz, Deputy Director, Small Business Office, Air Force Research Lab Scott Aughenbaugh, Director, Department of the Air Force Technology Transfer & Transition Program Office (DAF T3PO), Air Force Research Lab
10:00 AM	15 Minute Networking Break
10:15 AM11:00 AM	Main Ballroom A Fireside Chat w/ Senator Tom Cotton and STRATCOM Commander, Admiral Rich Correll Fireside Chat Moderator: Buddy Hasten, Buddy became the President and CEO of Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation Senator Tom Cotton, Chairman, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Admiral Rich Correll, Commander, STRATCOM
11:00 AM11:15 AM	Special Announcement Tom Flak, Director of Cyber Programs, Forge Institute
11:15 AM12:30 AM	Lunch & Networking Break Ballroom C Sponsored by HBS \| Cisco
12:30 PM1:15 PM	ResiliencyMain Ballroom Ensuring Community Resiliency Fireside Chat Moderator: Tiffany Pressler Senior Product Manager, First Orion Jonas Anderson, CTO Bank of Cave City & Mayor of Cave City, Arkansas AJ Gary, Director, Arkansas Division of Emergency Management CyberBreakout Ballroom A Protecting M365 Tenant Identity Presentation Microsoft 365 is central to how state and local governments collaborate, communicate, and deliver services. As these environments grow, maintaining visibility across identities, permissions, applications, and administrative controls is critical to strengthening security and reducing risk. Join us for a practical discussion on common Microsoft 365 configuration areas that deserve regular review, including administrative access, policy compliance, separation of responsibilities, and operational resilience. Attendees will leave with practical recommendations to help improve oversight, strengthen security practices, and better manage Microsoft 365 environments. Jonathan Askins, Account Executive SLED, Coreview Breakout Ballroom B Invite Only A Discussion on Data & AI
1:15 PM	15 Minute Networking Break
1:30 PM2:15 PM	CyberMain Ballroom Hardening the Operational Technology Environment to Enhance Resiliency of Critical Infrastructure and Manufacturing Panel Moderator: Phil Clark, Director of Security, Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation Carlos-Raul Sanchez, Sr. Director, Operations Technology Solutions Engineer Specialist, Fortinet Josh Moore, Network Engineer, Dillard's Patrick Grimmett, Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority InnovationBreakout Ballroom A Small Business Opportunities with the Air Force & Air Force Research Lab Panel Moderator: Shanel Fultz, Deputy Director, AFRL S/B Ryan Evans, Outreach Coordinator, Small Business Programs, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command (HQ AFMC) Eric Lam, Collaboration Director, Regional Networks—Midwest and Mid-Atlantic—within the Technical Transition Office (RRA), Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Allen Franke, Engagements Lead at AFWERX Breakout Ballroom B Invite Only A Discussion on the Arkansas DIB & Golden Dome
2:15 PM	15 Minute Networking Break
2:30 PM3:15 PM	WorkforceMain Ballroom Academia and the Critical Infrastructure Workforce Panel Moderator: Tom Flak, Director of Cyber Programs, Forge Institute Chris Farnell, PhD, Assistant Professor, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Arkansas Jack Bradley, Industrial Cybersecurity Instructor, Idaho State University Sandra Leiterman, PhD. Director of Cyber Security Education and Outreach, UA Little Rock CyberBreakout Ballroom A Incident Response Plans: From Shelfware to Survival (Building a Strategic Tabletop Exercise) Workshop Cyber incidents are inevitable, but chaos doesn't have to be. This session explores why every organization needs a practical, tested incident response plan and the common gaps that leave businesses vulnerable when an incident occurs. Attendees will learn the essential components of an effective response plan, discover where organizations most often fall short, and leave with actionable steps to begin building or strengthening their own incident response capability. Whether you're just getting started or looking to mature your existing program, this presentation provides practical guidance to help your team respond with confidence when it matters most. Attend this breakout and get a template IR Plan you can fill in with your organization. John Hollenberger, Lead Consultant, FortiGuard Proactive Services, Fortinet Breakout Ballroom B Invite Only
3:15 PM	15 Minute Networking Break
3:30 PM4:15 PM	Main Ballroom A Conversation with Lori Wade Fireside Chat Moderator: Lee Watson, Chairman & CEO, Forge Institute Lori Wade, Chief Learning Officer, Central Intelligence Agency
4:15 PM	Happy Hour
5:30 PM	End of Day 1
6:00 PM8:30 PM	VIP/Sponsor Dinner Invite Only

Wednesday, October 14

Time	Session
7:00 AM8:00 AM	Doors Open / Badge Pickup / Networking Breakfast
8:00 AM8:30 AM	Main Ballroom Welcome Michael Harrell, Chief Operating Officer, Forge Institute
8:30 AM9:15 AM	Main Ballroom A Conversation with Chairman Crawford Discussion Rep. Rick Crawford, Chairman, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
9:15 AM10:00 AM	Main Ballroom Aligning Research & STEM Capabilities to Pressing National Security Needs Fireside Chat Learn how Arkansas State University, Arkansas Tech University, and the University of Central Arkansas are working to align their unique research and education programs to address pressing national security needs. Moderator: Lee Watson, Chairman & CEO, Forge Institute Jaime Land, Director of Government Affairs, Arkansas Tech University Stephen R. Addison, PhD, Professor and Dean College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics University of Central Arkansas Travis Marsico, PhD, Vice Provost for Research, Innovation & Discovery and Exec. Dir. of the Arkansas Biosciences Institute at Arkansas State University
10:00 AM	Special Announcement Lee Watson, Chairman & CEO, Forge Institute
10:15 AM	15 Minute Networking Break
10:30 AM11:15 AM	Main Ballroom Driving Innovation for the Intelligence Community Fireside Chat Moderator: Lee Watson, Chairman & CEO, Forge Institute Russell Miller, Director, Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA)
11:15 AM	15 Minute Networking Break
11:30 AM1:00 PM	Main Ballroom Lunch Synthetic Risks: Deepfakes, AI-Powered Phishing, and the Collapse of Trust Keynote In a world where voices can be cloned, faces fabricated, and phishing emails indistinguishable from the real thing, trust has become the most endangered element of cybersecurity. Let's explore the emerging threat landscape created by generative AI, particularly the weaponization of deepfakes, voice synthesis, and context-aware phishing campaigns. Bill Carter, Public Sector Cybersecurity Strategist, Fortinet
1:00 PM1:45 PM	Critical InfrastructureMain Ballroom Workshop Facilitators: Matt Bunch, VP & CISO, Tyson Foods Phil Clark, Director Security, Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation InnovationBallroom A Workshop Facilitators: Alese Johnston, Program Manager, Project Phoenix Robert Baker, Innovation Facilitator, Phoenix
1:45PM2:30PM	Innovation Main Ballroom When Information Outruns Judgment The next national security challenge may be our capacity to decide. Presentation As technology changes how information is created, interpreted, and delivered, leaders will face more inputs, competing signals, and less time to assess them. More information won’t automatically produce better decisions. How do we prepare people to turn that information into intelligence, and intelligence into sound action? Kristin Wood, CEO, August Interactive Sarah Kneller, COO & CXO, August Interactive
2:30 PM	Forge Awards & Closing Remarks Michael Harrell, Chief Operating Officer, Forge Institute
3:00 PM	End of Day 2

Phoenix Xcelerator Demo Day Requires separate registration

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Phoenix Xcelerator Demo Day schedule
4:30 PM6:00 PM	Happy Hour
6:00 PM6:05 PM	Welcome
6:05 PM6:10 PM	Program Accomplishments
6:10 PM8:30 PM	Startup Pitches
8:30 PM	Closing Remarks

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Overview

Linking the Industrial Heartland to the Irregular Front

Forge connections, build skills, and partner for collective defense.

Advancing Technology & Uniting for Collective Defense

2026 Summit Speaker Lineup

Shanel Fultz

Deputy Director, AFRL Small Business Office
Bill Carter

Public Sector Cybersecurity Strategist, Fortinet
Scott Aughenbaugh

Director, Department of the Air Force Technology Transfer & Transition Program (DAFT3PO)
Admiral Richard A. Correll

Commander, U.S. STRATCOM
Lori Wade

Chief Learning Officer
Central Intelligence Agency
Rep. Rick Crawford

Chairman, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
Russell Miller

Director, Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA)
Carlos-Raul Sanchez

Sr. Director, Operation Technology Solutions Engineer Specialist, Fortinet
Jonathan Askins

Strategic Advisor, CoreView
Harry Wingo

Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, Circadence
Former Deputy National Cyber Director
John Hollenberger

Lead Consultant, FortiGuard Proactive Services, Fortinet
Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Jay Silveria

President
University of Arkansas System
Paula Lemke

Executive Director, Academic Partnership Engagement Experiment (APEX)
Lee Watson

Chairman & CEO, Forge Institute
Eric Lam

Collaboration Director for AFRL Regional Networks—Midwest and Mid-Atlantic—within the Technical Transition Office (RRA)
Senator Tom Cotton

Chairman, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
Ryan Evans

Small Business Office, HQ Air Force Materiel Command
AJ Gary

Director, Arkansas Division of Emergency Management
Jonas Anderson

Millennial Mayor, CTO & Mayor of Cave City, Arkansas
Tiffany Pressler

Senior Product Manager, First Orion
Allen Franke

SBIR/STTR Engagements Lead, Air Force Research Lab

Videos from Previous Years

Topics:

Artificial Intelligence • Cybersecurity • Quantum • Supply Chain Risk Management • UAS/C-UAS • Critical Minerals • Advanced Manufacturing • & more!

Startups:

The Phoenix Accelerator features high-impact startups developing advanced technologies - ranging from autonomous logistics and AI platforms to cybersecurity and advanced manufacturing - to deliver next-generation warfighting capabilities for the defense sector.

Innovation Alley

Research:

Arkansas university research initiatives are actively advancing defense technology across critical domains, including cyber, space computing, cognitive security, and military regenerative medicine.

Who’s It For:

Academia • Industry • Critical Infrastructure • State & Local Government • Military • Intelligence Community • Startups • Private Capital • Policy Makers • Non Profits • Federal Labs • Warfighters

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Summit Logistics

The Venue

The summit will be held in Central Arkansas. Details provided upon registration.

Who may attend?

Attendees must be a US Citizen. Forge & our partners reserve the right to deny entry to any person or any reason. If we do, we will issue a full refund for the price paid for registration.

Lodging

Convenient lodging options are available at hotels in downtown Little Rock, ensuring a comfortable stay during the summit.

Getting Around

We recommend using UBER or YELLOW CAB to get around the city. Rental cars are available at the airport. Your hotel may offer shuttle services as well.