The annual OODAcon event brings together the hackers, thinkers, strategists, disruptors, leaders, technologists, and creators with one foot in the future to discuss the most pressing issues of the day and provide insight into the ways technology is evolving. 

Our theme for our 29 October OODAcon is  Accelerating Disruptive Technologies, recognizing that the pace of technological advancement demands new frameworks for assessing, adopting and scaling innovation.

Join us in Reston Virginia as we examine topics critical to our collective future, each selected to empower the network with insights needed to accelerate the deployment of disruptive technologies and prepare for disruptions in government and business models that will flow from exponentially accelerating technologies.

The Thematics and Agenda of OODAcon 2025

Architecting the Edge: Welcome to OODAcon 2025
This opening session will set the tone for OODAcon 2025 by examining the inflection points shaping the global landscape, from accelerating AI and fusion energy breakthroughs to heightened geopolitical friction and the retooling of industrial strategy. It will provide an executive-level preview of the technologies and national security trends driving this year’s discussions and offer a call to action for navigating disruption with clarity, agility, and foresight.
Matt Devost

Offense, AI and the Future of U.S. Cyber Power
A thematic throughout the day is how accelerating the right use of AI and the right tools will impact U.S. national security including Cyber Power.
Alexei Bulazel

Quantum Advantage in Action: Lessons from DEFCON’s Quantum Village
The quantum revolution is no longer theoretical, it is materializing across computing, sensing, and security. This session will explore the state of quantum readiness, including updates on trapped ion and superconducting platforms, the race toward quantum networking, and the impact of NIST’s post-quantum cryptography standards. Executives will leave with a practical understanding of how quantum disruption is unfolding in the next 12–18 months, and what steps they should take to prepare.
Mark Carney and Bob Gourley

Hardware Supply Chain Security and HBOM
Hardware Bill of Materials (HBOM) advances supply chain security by bringing transparency to the components and dependencies in hardware systems, mirroring the role of Software BOMs (SBOM) in helping organizations proactively identify and mitigate vulnerabilities. Learn the latest on this new approach which can allow rapid response and risk management when flaws or threats are discovered.
Allan Friedman

Outpacing the Adversary: Accelerating Innovation with Urgency and Purpose
Time-to-field now defines success. This session looks at how leaders can move from pilots to capabilities that scale, integrate across silos to create momentum, and apply adversarial thinking to stay ahead of fast-moving competitors. Drawing on lessons from intelligence and industry, we’ll examine what it takes to build strong foundations, align innovation with mission, and form the partnerships that let us outpace the adversary.
Jennifer Ewbank

Securing Internet First Principles; Access, Privacy, and Expression in the Age of Disruptive Technology
This fireside chat with the CEO of Snowstorm examines issues of privacy. Data is being captured everywhere, from edge devices and satellites to biometric wearables and smart infrastructure. This session will examine how governments, corporations, and malicious actors are weaponizing data at scale using AI, and what it means for civil liberties and organizational risk. Strategies for preserving privacy, operational security, and resilience in the face of ubiquitous surveillance will be discussed.
Serene and Matt Devost

Privacy in Prelude: Serene Live at OODAcon
Serene’s music is celebrated for its passionate interpretations and technical mastery, spanning a vast repertoire from Bach to contemporary composers, and she is especially noted for her performance of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3, described as “unprecedented” by the Liszt Academy. Her performances often merge classical piano with technology-driven audiovisual elements, creating immersive experiences that reflect both her artistic and engineering backgrounds.

Annual Global Threat Brief
This high-impact briefing will examine the most urgent and emerging global threats that decision-makers must track. From cybercrime-as-a-service and regional conflict escalation to systemic risks in energy and technology supply chains, this session will provide a concise, scenario-driven view of where the world is heading, and what it means for your organization.
Jen Hoar and Johnny Sawyer

Data at the Edge: Subsea and Sustainable Next-Gen Datacenters
Gain new insights into how deploying subsea data centers at the network edge can dramatically improve sustainability and reduce operational costs by leveraging the ocean’s cooling properties and proximity to renewable energy sources.
Maxie Reynolds

AI, Space, Automation and the Impact on Modernizing the Military
This session explores the transformative impacts of Space, AI and Automation upon U.S. national security. Panelists will discuss how advanced technologies are enabling new approaches to protecting our way of life and deliver actionable insights that will drive decisions in the coming year.
Bill Vass, Lisa Costa, Renee Wynn and Bob Gourley

From Automation to Autonomy: Navigating the Next Wave of AI Agents
This panel will examine the realities of AI as it is being applied to real world enterprises, with a focus on how to navigate the coming age of Agentic AI.
Josh Devon, Thomas Quinn, David Ginn, Josh Ray, Andy Black

Navigating the Deep Future: From Strategic Foresight to Action
This session will draw on years of national security and innovation leadership to explore how strategic foresight can drive better decision-making in an era defined by cascading crises and continuous disruption. Attendees will be challenged to rethink planning assumptions and adopt more adaptive, anticipatory approaches to strategy.
Dawn Meyerriecks

China’s Technology Disruption Strategy
The PRC’s efforts to assert dominance across AI, biotech, space, and advanced manufacturing are increasingly strategic and coordinated. This session analyzes China’s integrated approach to reshaping global technology standards and supply chains while expanding influence through legal, cyber, and gray-zone tactics. Expect an unclassified but deeply informed look at how these moves affect U.S. competitiveness, national security, and the global innovation order.
Bill Hagestad

For more and to register see: OODAcon 2025