The Potomac Officers Club, which is a big player in the GovCon scene around Washington, is super excited to announce that Thomas Rondeau, the main guy in charge of FutureG at the Department of War, will be the keynote speaker at the upcoming Defense R&D Summit. Mark your calendars for January 29 at the Hilton McLean in Northern Virginia! This summit is really the go-to spot for exploring fresh business opportunities in the booming defense tech sector. Plus, it’s got some serious funding behind it – we’re looking at a whopping $178 billion budget, which is a 27% jump from last year’s $141 billion!
So why should anyone in the GovCon community make it a point to attend this event? Well, it’s a fantastic opportunity to rub elbows with top tech experts from both the Pentagon and the industry, all while diving into the innovative technologies that are set to change the face of warfare. Participants will get to hear firsthand from some of the nation’s leading defense figures, researchers, and innovators, and they can grab valuable insights from expert-led discussions. It’s a golden chance to connect with key players shaping the future of defense, but hurry – tickets are flying off the shelves!
Now, let’s talk about Thomas Rondeau. As the principal director for FutureG, he’s steering the Pentagon on where to put their money, research, and how to roll out programs focused on future wireless technologies in combat. Rondeau knows his stuff when it comes to wireless networking and communication. He even spent over six years managing programs for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Some of his notable projects include working on software-defined arrays, advancing capabilities in software-defined radio, and researching new edge processor architectures, among others. His background makes him a hot topic in discussions about how to keep communication reliable and effective for those in combat situations. He’s also facilitated hackfests on software radio and has been a thought leader on numerous initiatives for the Department of War and the intelligence community. To top it off, he’s been recognized for his work with a Distinguished Public Service Medal from DARPA.
Attending Rondeau’s keynote will give GovCon players a unique inside look at his budget priorities for FutureG and 5G, along with what emerging wireless communication needs are on the horizon. Given his wealth of knowledge, it’ll be an invaluable session for anyone looking to understand the direction the Pentagon is heading, especially in terms of communication tech.
Rondeau’s career has been all about tackling the tough problems in wireless communications for over 15 years. He spent nearly a decade at the Pentagon, starting at DARPA from 2016 until 2022. After that, he took on the role of principal director in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. Rondeau also spent time as a visiting researcher at the University of Pennsylvania, where he focused on issues related to software and cognitive radio. Plus, he was the brain behind Rondeau Research LLC, helping out with consulting on wireless communications and signal processing.
During his keynote, Rondeau is expected to dive into some exciting topics, such as the significance of open software in driving innovation in wireless communications and what we learned from the Pentagon’s biggest spectrum-sharing demo. He’s likely to touch on the role of FutureG in the Golden Dome missile defense strategy as well as updates on 6G research.
Why should you be at this keynote? Because it’s not just a chance to listen but to also engage. After his talk, there will be a Q&A session where you can get your questions answered directly by Rondeau, plus you’ll have the opportunity to network face-to-face with other GovCon leaders, which is really a priceless part of the experience.
The lineup for the summit on January 29 promises to be top-notch, featuring discussions led by key officials on vital defense technology contracting issues. Gabe Camarillo, a senior vice president of defense tech solutions, highlighted just how crucial owning battlefield data is for future combat success. He pointed out that the challenges of ensuring effective communication in tough environments have been ongoing for the last 25 years. With the rise of low Earth orbit satellites providing wireless capabilities, it’s essential for AI advancements in combat scenarios. Having enough bandwidth to support AI algorithms and their learning processes on the battlefield makes 5G capabilities incredibly important.
The agenda is packed. Attendees can expect keynotes not just from Rondeau but also from other leaders in defense, along with panels discussing the latest in getting emerging technologies to warfighters and how to secure the future of defense innovation. It’s an unmissable encounter for anyone serious about keeping up with the latest trends in defense tech, getting a jump on new opportunities, and staying ahead of the game as we head into 2026. Don’t let this chance pass you by!
