Digital Engineering for Defense Summit Returns June 25–26

Defense Strategies Institute’s 3rd Digital Engineering for Defense Summit will bring together leaders from the Department of Defense (DoD), federal agencies, industry, academia, and other key stakeholders on June 25–26 in Washington, DC.

The event will highlight the modernization of defense engineering and acquisition practices through digital engineering tools, technologies, and processes. This effort aligns with DoD Instruction 5000.97, which mandates the integration of digital engineering across acquisition and sustainment lifecycles to boost efficiency, reduce risk, and drive innovation in defense systems.

To maintain a competitive edge against increasingly advanced adversaries, the United States is committed to delivering warfighting capabilities at speed and scale. In support of this goal, the DoD is prioritizing the modernization of its engineering practices to streamline and accelerate the development of next-generation technologies, weapons, and platforms.

Topics of discussion include how the DoD is leveraging digital tools to support integrated mission success and championing digital engineering strategies, policies, and best practices. The agenda also explores how digital transformation is enhancing Department of the Air Force (DAF) acquisitions and materiel management, modernizing test and evaluation to improve speed, reliability, and efficiency, and accelerating the delivery of capabilities to the warfighter through agile, digitally driven approaches.
Complimentary registration is available for active-duty U.S. military, government, and state personnel.

Key Speakers:

• Philomena Zimmerman, SERC/AIRC – Event Moderator
• Elmer L. Roman, SES, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Mission Integration, OUSD R&E
• Lily Arcusa, SES, Director of Engineering and Technical Management Chief Engineer, AFLCMC
• Rear Admiral Peter D. Small, USN, Chief Engineer and Deputy Commander of Naval Systems, NAVSEA
• Daniel Hettema, Director, Digital Engineering, Modeling & Simulation, OUSD R&E
• Kyle Hurst, Director, Digital Transformation Office, Department of the Air Force
• Julia Romanchik, Chief Engineer for Digital Engineering, Army PEO Aviation
• Terry Hill, Digital Engineering Program Manager HQ Office of the Chief Engineer, NASA
• Ben Jimenez, Digital Engineering Lead, MITRE

Register for the Digital Engineering for Defense Summit 2025 >>