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.
Welcome to the 2026 Forge Summit!
Main Event: October 13-14, 2026
Classified Day: October 15, 2026 (cancelled)
Location: Downtown North Little Rock, Arkansas - Exact Location will be shared via email to approved registrants.
Join us for a day filled with cybersecurity, emerging technology and national security insights, innovative technologies, and networking opportunities. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting in the field, this summit is the place to be. Learn from industry experts, engage in interactive sessions, and stay ahead of the curve in the ever-evolving world of cyber & emerging technology. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details!
Sponsorship Opportunities: Entities wishing to become a sponsor of this year’s event should email summit@forge.institute for more information.
Security: Attendees must be U.S. Citizens. The event is "off the record" and closed to the press/media. Chatham House Rules Apply. We reserve the right to deny admittance to anyone for any reason. Attendees agree to follow all posted and verbal security instructions.
Clearances: Those who register for the limited Classified day must have a final granted TS//SI/TK clearance. Do not register if you don't. Additional information will be sent via email.
Linking the Industrial Heartland to the Irregular Front
Forge connections, build skills, and partner for collective defense.
Sponsors
Keynote Sponsors
Supporting Sponsors
Meal Sponsors
Agenda
Select a day
Tuesday, October 13
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 7:00 AM8:00 AM | Doors Open / Badge Pickup / Networking Breakfast |
| 8:00 AM8:30 AM |
Main Ballroom
Welcome & the Forge Institute Annual Report Lee Watson, Chairman & CEO, Forge Institute |
| 8:30 AM9:15 AM |
Main Ballroom
Great Power Cyber: Smart Grid Nuclear, AI, and Freedom’s Forge. KeynoteThis 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 ChatModerator: 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 PM | 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 ChatModerator: 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 |
| 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 ChatModerator: Tiffany Pressler Senior Product Manager, First Orion Jonas Anderson, CTO & Mayor of Cave City, Arkansas AJ Gary, Director, Arkansas Division of Emergency Management CyberBreakout Ballroom A
Protecting M365 Tenant Identity PresentationMicrosoft 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
|
| 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 PanelModerator: Phil Clark, Director of Security, Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation Carlos-Raul Sanchez, Sr. Director, Operations Technology Solutions Engineer Specialist, Fortinet InnovationBreakout Ballroom A
Small Business Opportunities with the Air Force & Air Force Research Lab PanelModerator: 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, SBIR/STTR Expert, Air Force Research Lab Breakout Ballroom B
Invite Only
|
| 2:15 PM | 15 Minute Networking Break |
| 2:30 PM3:15 PM |
WorkforceMain Ballroom
Academia and the Critical Infrastructure Workforce PanelModerator: Tom Flak, Director of Cyber Programs, Forge Institute Chris Farnell, PhD - Jack Bradley, Industrial Cybersecurity Instructor, Idaho State University Philip Huff, PhD, Director CORE, UA Little Rock CyberBreakout Ballroom A
Incident Response Plans: From Shelfware to Survival (Building a Strategic Tabletop Exercise) WorkshopCyber 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 PM |
Main Ballroom
A Conversation with Lori Fireside ChatLori Wade, Chief Learning Officer, Central Intelligence Agency |
| 4:15 PM |
Happy Hour
Sponsored by TBA |
| 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 |
| 8:30 AM9:15 AM |
Main Ballroom
Talk Name TBA DiscussionRep. Rick Crawford, Chairman, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence |
| 9:15 AM10:00 AM |
Main Ballroom
Talk Name TBA Fireside ChatModerator: Lee Watson, Chairman & CEO, Forge Institute Other panelists TBA. |
| 10:00 AM | Special Announcement |
| 10:15 AM | 15 Minute Networking Break |
| 10:30 AM11:15 AM |
Main Ballroom
Talk Name TBA Fireside ChatRussell Miller, Director, Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity |
| 11:15 AM | Forge Awards |
| 11:30 AM1:00 PM |
Lunch & Networking Break
Ballroom C
Sponsored by TBA |
| 1:00 PM1:45 PM |
Main Ballroom
TBA Keynote |
| 1:45PM2:30PM |
Innovation
Main Ballroom
When Information Outruns Judgment: The next national security challenge may be our capacity to decide. PresentationAs 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 | 15 Minute Networking Break |
| 2:45 PM3:30 PM |
Main Ballroom
Synthetic Risks: Deepfakes, AI-Powered Phishing, and the Collapse of Trust KeynoteIn 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 |
| 3:30 PM4:15 PM |
Main Ballroom
TBA |
| 4:15 PM | Closing Remarks |
| 4:30 PM | End of Day 2 |
Phoenix Xcelerator Demo Day Requires separate registration
Register on Eventbrite| 5:00 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 |
Thursday, October 15 (Classified Day) Canceled
Canceled due to lack of support from the Arkansas National Guard.
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
BECOME A SPONSOR
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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.
Flights
Clinton National Airport (LIT) offers great regional access.
PREVIOUS PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS
