Apex Defense Conference 2025

Hudson Institute’s Center for Defense Concepts and Technology cohosted the APEX conference, which worked to improve information and insight sharing between military, government, and industry to support critical warfighting requirements.

AUKUS Pillar 2 Panel: Harmonizing Near-Term Advanced Capabilities

Panelists discuss collaborative efforts on technological advancements under the AUKUS agreement’s Pillar 2. These efforts include autonomous systems, hypersonic weapons and defense, artificial intelligence, quantum science, and electronic warfare.

Participants

• Doug Jankovich, Executive Vice President, AUKUS, QinetiQ
• Pete Quinn, AO CSC, Vice President Strategy, Anduril Australia and Asia Pacific
• Nicholas Hasko, Principal Deputy Advisor, Office of the AUKUS Senior Advisor, US Department of State
• Tim Woodcock, Minister Counsellor Defence Acquisition, Defence Research and Technology, British Embassy Washington

Moderator

• Bryan Clark, Director of the Center for Defense Concepts and Technology, Hudson Institute

Replicator: An Update with DIU’s Sunmin Kim

The Defense Innovation Unit’s policy director discusses the progress in the Department of Defense Replicator initiative for fielding uncrewed systems quickly at scale.

Participants

• Bryan Clark, Director of the Center for Defense Concepts and Technology, Hudson Institute
• Sunmin Kim, Chief of Policy, Defense Innovation Unit

Lessons from Special Operations Command (SOCOM)

SOCOM’s acquisition chief discusses insights from the special warfare community’s rapid acquisition approaches.

Participants

• Bryan Clark, Director of the Center for Defense Concepts and Technology, Hudson Institute
• Melissa Johnson, Acquisition Executive and Director, Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, US Special Operations Command (SOCOM)

Defense Innovation Unit Keynote with Liz Young McNally

Panelists discuss how the Pentagon can better exploit commercial technology to field a more lethal, adaptable, and scalable force.

Participants

• Bryan Clark, Director of the Center for Defense Concepts and Technology, Hudson Institute
• Liz Young McNally, Deputy Director, Commercial Operations, Defense Innovation Unit

Countering Uncrewed Systems on the Battlefield

Panelists discuss disrupting, degrading, and defending against unmanned systems on the battlefield.

Participants

• Captain Dave Stoner, Deputy Director for Weapons and Sensors N96C, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations Surface Warfare
• Aaron Martin, Strategy Director, Future Concepts, Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Jerry Carter, Vice President of Business Development, Integrated Mission Systems
• Brad Garber, Chief Operating Officer, Hidden Level
• Trip Ferguson, Chief Operating Officer, BlueHalo
• Mike Hiatt, Chief Engineer, Epirus

Moderator

• Bryan Clark, Director of the Center for Defense Concepts and Technology, Hudson Institute

Solving Critical Operational Problems

Panelists discuss readiness in the era of artificial intelligence and navigating adoption and scale of commercial technology for near-term use.

Participants 

• Stuart Wagner, Chief Data and AI Officer (CDAO), US Navy
• Andy Mapes, Acting Deputy Chief Digital and AI Officer for Scaled Capabilities, CDAO
• Nathan Michael, Chief Technology Officer, Shield AI
• Ryan Gabriele, Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President, Defense and Intelligence, Parsons

Moderator 

• Vago Muradian, Editor and Host, Defense and Aerospace Report Podcast