Advancing Warfighter Readiness & Bio-Innovation at the 8th Human Performance Summit

The Defense Strategies Institute will host the 8th Human Performance & Biosystems Summit on June 10-11 in National Harbor, MD, to address the evolving physical and cognitive demands of modern warfare.

This forum brings together senior level experts and decision makers from across the Department of War (DoW), military research laboratories, industry, and academia. The 2026 Summit is designed to spotlight emerging efforts to optimize physical, cognitive, psychological, and social performance through high-level initiatives. These include Department-wide Human Performance Optimization, Total Force Fitness (TFF), the Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) system, and Marine Corps Total Fitness (MCTF).

The agenda focuses on the technologies and partnerships required to maintain a resilient, adaptable Joint Force both on and off the battlefield. Key discussion topics will range from advancing military injury care and recovery to the role of mental, spiritual, and family health in warrior wellness. Technical sessions will also explore naval potential through the Navy Operational Fitness and Fueling System and strategies for building combat-ready Marines through organic comprehensive programs.

The event will be moderated by Dr. Elizabeth Van Winkle, Former Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Readiness and Executive Director of the Office of Force Resiliency.

Confirmed speakers for the engagement include:

• Peter I. Belk, SES, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Readiness, OUSW P&R
• Dr. Terry Rauch, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Health Readiness Policy & Oversight
• Dr. Theresa Jackson Santo, Acting Director of Warfighter Performance Optimization, OUSW P&R
• SEAC David Isom, USN 6th Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman
• SgtMaj Carlos A. Ruiz, USMC, 20th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
• COL (Ret) Dr. Kevin Bigelman, USA, Holistic Health and Fitness Deputy Director, Center for Initial Military Training, U.S. Army Recruiting Command
• Christine Heit, Lead, Holistic Health Approach and Total Force Fitness, USSF
• Brig Gen (Ret) Kathleen Flarity, USAF, PhD, Co-Founder and Deputy Director, Center for COMBAT Research, University of Colorado Anschutz
• Dr. Malena Rone, Portfolio Manager, Science & Technology Portfolio, Office of the Deputy to the Commanding General, US Army MRDC
• MGySgt Dan Jackson, USMC, WPO Senior Enlisted Leader
• The Honorable Rob Wilkins, NFF Ambassador / Emeritus Member, President’s Council of Sports, Fitness & Nutrition
• Dr. Keith Aronson, Director and Research Professor, Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness
• MG (Ret) Thomas Solhjem, USA, Former 25th Chief of Chaplains, US Army
• Dr. Mark Dertzbaugh, Former Principal Assistant for Research & Technology, US Army MRDC
• Dr. Theresa Larson, DPT, Founder and President, Movement Rx
• Kesh Rao, Assistant Group Leader, Human Health and Performance Systems Group, MIT Lincoln Laboratory
• Dhruv Seshadri, Assistant Professor, Bioengineering, Lehigh University

The summit provides a platform for leadership from the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Space Force to align service-specific readiness strategies with overarching defense policy. By integrating data from military research centers and bio-innovation labs, the event aims to forge a more fit and capable Joint Force for future operational environments.