2026 Forge Summit Unveils High-Profile Speaker Roster; Final Call for Registrations and Sponsorships

National security leaders, defense innovators, critical infrastructure partners, and cyber executives to gather for high-level briefings under Chatham House Rules.

The Forge Institute has announced an expanded lineup of prominent federal, defense, and industry leaders scheduled to speak at the 2026 Forge Summit. With registration now open, the summit serves as the premier gathering for intelligence, cybersecurity, and technology leaders in America’s heartland working to secure national defense, critical infrastructure, and regional economic resilience.

The 2026 Forge Summit addresses urgent cybersecurity challenges, technology transfer, and national defense readiness. To foster candid, actionable dialogue on sensitive national security topics, all sessions will operate strictly under Chatham House Rules. Attendance is restricted exclusively to U.S. citizens.

“Over the years, we’ve welcomed attendees from 29 states and 130 cities across the country—ranging from academic researchers and startup innovators to industry leaders, critical infrastructure experts, and military and intelligence officials. They come to forge connections, build skills, partner for collective defense, and share new innovations engineered to support our warfighters and give national security professionals an unfair advantage.” — Lee Watson, Chairman & CEO, Forge Institute

World-Class Speaker Lineup

This year’s summit brings together a powerful cross-section of decision-makers from Capitol Hill, federal research labs, academia, and the private sector. Featured and invited speakers include:

• Congressional Leadership

  • Congressman Rick Crawford, Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

  • Senator Tom Cotton, Chairman, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (invited)

• Industry Leaders

  • Jonathan Askins, Strategic Advisor SLED, CoreView

  • Harry Wingo, Sr. VP Strategic Initiatives, Circadence & Fmr. Deputy National Cyber Director

  • Tom Flak, Director of Cyber Programs, Forge Institute

  • Bill Carter, Public Sector Cybersecurity Strategist, Fortinet

  • John Hollenberger, Lead Consultant, FortiGuard Proactive Services, Fortinet

  • Carlos-Raul Sanchez, Sr. Director, Operation Technology Solutions Engineer, Fortinet

• Senior Military & Intelligence Community Leaders

  • Admiral Richard Correll, Commander, STRATCOM (invited)

  • Russell Miller, Director, Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity

  • 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

  • Ryan Evans, Outreach Coordinator, Small Business Programs, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command

  • Eric Lam, Collaboration Director, Regional Networks—Midwest and Mid-Atlantic—within the Technical Transition Office, Air Force Research Lab

• Regional Ecosystem Partners

  • Jonas Anderson, CTO & Mayor of Cave City, Arkansas

  • AJ Gary, Director, Arkansas Division of Emergency Management

  • Paula Lemke, Executive Director, APEX

  • Chris Farnell, PhD, Assistant Professor & Associate Director of NCREPT, University of Arkansas

  • Jack Bradley, Industrial Cybersecurity Instructor, Idaho State University

  • Philip Huff, PhD, Director CORE, UA Little Rock

Industry Sponsorship & Support

The 2026 Forge Summit is supported by industry leaders committed to advancing national security and cyber innovation:

Keynote Sponsors: Fortinet / Q2

Supporting Sponsors: DAFT3 APEX

Meal Sponsors: HBS | CISCO

A limited number of additional sponsorship opportunities remain available for organizations seeking to demonstrate leadership in cybersecurity, resiliency, and innovation and connect directly with critical infrastructure, defense, and public-sector stakeholders.

Registration and Sponsorship Details

Due to strict seating capacities and vetting protocols, early registration is strongly recommended.

• Eligibility: Attendance is restricted to U.S. Citizens only.

• Meeting Rule: Chatham House Rules apply across all sessions.

• Register & Sponsor: To register or inquire about remaining sponsorship packages, visit https://www.forge.institute/summit.

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Key Facts:

• Event: 2026 Forge Summit | Dates: October 13-14 | Location: North Little Rock, Arkansas

• Security & Governance: Restricted exclusively to U.S. Citizens; all sessions operate strictly under Chatham House Rules.

• Focus Areas: Critical infrastructure protection, Artificial Intelligence, technology transfer, irregular warfare, cyber resilience, and national defense innovation.

• Registration & Sponsorships: Open now at www.forge.institute/summit.