Baird will host its annual Defense & Government Conference on Tuesday, November 18, uniting senior executives, investors, and government leaders for a full day of dynamic discussion at the Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner in Virginia. The 2025 event, themed “Innovation, Mission, and Capital Market Convergence,” will spotlight the critical intersection where cutting-edge defense and government technology meets growing investor enthusiasm and new opportunities in the public markets.
Disrupting the Battlefield with DefenseTech
This year’s agenda expands significantly beyond traditional government contracting to embrace the rapid technology evolution reshaping the national security landscape. Leading defense-technology executives will participate, including those from companies like Anduril, alongside representatives from major commercial tech firms such as OpenAI and Google. Their participation underscores the increasing cross-sector collaboration driving broader societal shifts related to artificial intelligence (AI).
Attendees will engage with a powerhouse lineup of industry leaders on the “Transforming Warfighting: DefenseTech Disruption” panel. The panel features top executives from innovative companies, including JD Parkes, CEO of Parry Labs; Shubhi Mishra, founder and CEO of Raft; Dan Jablonsky, CEO of Ursa Major; and Tony Frazier, CEO of LeoLabs. Additionally, Van Gurley, CEO of Metron, will contribute insights during the “The Future of Autonomous Maritime” session.
Government and AI in Action
Key government panels will feature representatives from core national security agencies, offering crucial perspectives on current challenges and reforms. Experts from the U.S. Space Force, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Navy, and the General Services Administration (GSA) will lead discussions on critical topics. These sessions include “AI in Action: Impact on the Battlefield,” which examines the operational deployment of artificial intelligence, and the perennial discussion, “Acquisition Reform: Are We There Yet?” A dedicated panel will also explore “Government Perspectives on National Security Space.” The day will conclude with a forward-looking panel, “The Reality of AI Today: Perspectives from Technology Leaders,” featuring additional representatives from Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google Public Sector.
Capital Markets Drive Sector Momentum
Baird’s leadership team will deliver a “State of the Market” update, providing vital context for the day’s discussions on the capital landscape. Executives plan to dive into how the public markets have recently reopened, creating a significant window for space tech and defense tech players to raise capital with incredible momentum. Panel discussions will explore the current environment for venture capital, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and initial public offerings (IPOs), helping investors and companies successfully navigate this new market dynamic.
