Microgrids & Energy Resilience Summit 2026
The 3rd Annual Microgrids & Energy Resilience Summit will focus on the deployment, integration, and scaling of resilient microgrids across defense installations and critical infrastructure.
The Washington, D.C. event will bring together stakeholders from the Department of War (DoW), Military Services, Federal Government, industry, academia, utilities, and research organizations to discuss how energy systems can support mission readiness and installation resilience.
The town-hall style summit will examine military microgrid programs alongside emerging approaches to nuclear firm power, 5G-enabled controls, energy storage, operational technology cybersecurity, and the financing and delivery of mission-critical energy infrastructure.
When is the Microgrids & Energy Resilience Summit?
The 2026 Microgrids & Energy Resilience Summit will take place November 4-5, 2026 at the AIA Global Campus for Architecture & Design in Washington, D.C.
The program will run across two days, with sessions covering both operational requirements and technologies intended to strengthen energy resilience at defense installations.
Themes
A central focus of the summit will be the role of advanced microgrids in supporting defense energy resilience and mission assurance. Discussions will examine efforts to accelerate microgrid deployment at DoW installations and lessons from existing military microgrid programs.
The program will cover Army installation energy requirements, Navy waterfront resilience, and approaches being taken by the Air Force Office of Energy Assurance.
Sessions will also explore nuclear power as a firm power anchor for defense microgrids, including Project Pele, together with 5G-enabled wireless microgrid controls, AI-driven energy storage prediction tools, and operational technology cybersecurity for contested environments.
Utility and developer approaches to financing and delivering mission-critical microgrids will also form part of the agenda.
What’s On?
Attendees will hear from military installation leaders, senior government officials, energy program representatives, utilities, developers, laboratories, and industry specialists involved in the design and operation of resilient energy systems.
The summit will examine the technical and operational challenges associated with microgrid deployment, including the integration of energy generation, control, storage, and cybersecurity capabilities.
The program will also address financing and delivery models for mission-critical microgrids, including Utility Energy Service Contracts (UESCs) and Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).
The town-hall format is designed to allow attendees to ask questions and participate in discussions with speakers and other representatives from across the defense energy community.
Attendance for Government Personnel
Attendance is complimentary for DoW and Federal employees, with the summit described as an educational and training forum. Industry and academia attendees are charged an admission fee.
The summit is closed to press and recordings are not permitted.
Speakers
The confirmed 2026 speaker lineup includes Dr. Jeff Waksman, SES, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, Installations, Energy and Environment; William L. T. Schirano, SES, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Multilateral Engagement and Market Development; and Christine Ploschke, SES, N4 (Director Facilities and Environmental), Navy Installations Command.
Speakers also include Emily Vogeler, SES, Deputy Director, DLA Energy; Hon. Ravi Chaudhary, former Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations and Environment; and Kirk Phillips, Director, Air Force Office of Energy Assurance.
Industry and installation representatives include Kevin Mann, Director, Federal Energy Solutions, Dominion Energy; Fred Hankerson, Deputy Garrison Commander, White Sands Test Center; Dave Irwin, Director, Army Office of Energy Initiatives; Shawn Bennett, Director of Origination, Office of Energy Initiatives, Office of the Deputy; and Monica DeAngelo, Director, Federal Partnerships, Southern Company.
JT Craft, Army Executive Agent, Installation/Operational Nuclear Energy and Director, Nuclear Energy Office/Janus, U.S. Army, is also confirmed to speak.
Where is the Microgrids & Energy Resilience Summit?
The 2026 Microgrids & Energy Resilience Summit will be held at:
American Institute of Architects (AIA) Global Campus for Architecture & Design
1735 New York Ave NW
Washington, DC 20005
United States
To learn more about Microgrids & Energy Resilience Summit 2026, to register to attend or exhibit, please click below .
