The Seven Events That Defined IDGA’s Second Half of 2025

For over two decades, IDGA has served as an events and thought leadership organization connecting the Defense and Security communities interested in solving high-level challenges. 
2025 proved to be an exciting year for IDGA. While departments such as the DoW, DHS, and VA faced constant changes throughout the past 12 months, IDGA managed deliver some of our most well-attended conferences to date.

Through the second half of 2025, IDGA hosted seven events that covered a wide range of themes in the defense space, including counter-UAS, defense logistics, and more.

With new leadership in Washington, IDGA events have continued their growth by ensuring each conference provides industry with the connections and insight. This means diverse speaker rosters, session rooms full of key decision makers and leaders, and networking opportunities that provide spaces for defense industry and government personnel to interface and learn.

This article will highlight the successes of each event, providing an overview of attendance metrics, notable speakers, and key insights.  

If you are interested in learning how to partner with IDGA for an upcoming event, email info@idga.org. To view a calendar of upcoming events, click here. 

VA Healthcare Summit

The VA Healthcare Summit is the flagship event for IDGA, and the 2025 iteration of the conference proved just how established the event is in the veterans healthcare community. Despite turnover in the VA from a transitioning executive branch, the summit proved to be the largest iteration yet with over 650 attendees representing military, government, private and non-profit healthcare sector, academia and consultant communities.

This year’s summit, which took place at the MGM National Harbor in July, provided attendees with a jam-packed agenda covering topics that include the integration of a brand-new electronic health record system, new drugs and procedures, access to mental health services, innovative AI/ML solutions, and much more. Some of the top speakers at this year’s summit included: 

• Dr. Bobby Mukkamala MD, President, American Medical Association
• Dr. David Shulkin MD, Former Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs
• Dr. Neil Evans MD, (A) Program Executive Director, EHR Modernization Integration Office, Department of Veterans Affairs 

Counter UAS Summit

IDGA’s Counter UAS Summit returned for its third year as its largest edition to date, bringing together 300+ leaders from the DoD, federal and state law enforcement, and industry to address the rapidly evolving drone threat.

During the two-day two days, speakers examined kinetic and non-kinetic counter-UAS approaches, real-world case studies, emerging technologies, and shifting legal authorities—underscoring the need for layered defenses, cross-agency collaboration, and rapid innovation to protect military bases, homeland security, and civilian infrastructure.

Notable speakers included:

• General (Ret) Glen VanHerck, Former Commander, NORAD & USNORTHCOM
• Michael Prater, Director, International Acquisition, ASA(ALT)/DASA (DEC), U.S. Army
• Troy Johnson, Deputy Executive Director, Domain Awareness Security Operations, AMO, U.S. Customs and Border Protection

To learn more about IDGA’s Counter-UAS Summit, check out this year’s post-show report. The document highlights the key themes of the summit, shares on-site survey results, provides testimonials from attendees, and much more. 

Border Technology Summit 

IDGA’s Border Technology Summit is another event that saw record turnout in 2025. When the conference returned to San Diego, California for its seventh year this September, it brought together 400+ leaders from federal law enforcement, government, and industry to examine the future of border security.

Across two days, senior officials from DHS and CBP joined technology partners to discuss priorities including biometrics, non-intrusive inspection, AI-enabled surveillance, maritime domain awareness, and digital modernization, highlighting how innovation is shaping integrated, resilient border operations across air, land, and maritime environments.

This year’s summit kicked off before a speaker even took the stage. Before the conference a select group of attendees were welcomed for a tour of Otay Mesa Port of Entry, then the four-star lead partner, Peraton, hosted a drink reception for the early-arriving attendees.     

Notable speakers included:

• Diane Sabatino, (a) Executive Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection
• Susan Thomas, (a) Executive Assistant Commissioner, Office of Trade, U.S. Customs and Border Protection
• Jay Alalasundaram, Deputy Assistant Commissioner, SAS, OIT, U.S. Customs and Border Protection 

Military Flight Training Summit

Amidst an ongoing government shutdown, IDGA’s Military Flight Training Summit managed to deliver a valuable on-site experience for the 240 attending members of the flight training community.

Located in San Antonio, Texas, this year’s summit welcomed top U.S. flight training commands such as AETC, CNATRA, and the Army Aviation Center of Excellence. Additionally, the conference welcomed a large contingency of allied air forces such as NATO nations, Australia, Canada, and more.

During the conference discussions encompassed topics such as harnessing AI, adapting training for 5th and 6th generation fighters, and advancing rotary training, to name a few. 

Notable speakers included:

• Colonel Peter Lee, Commander of the 12th Flying Training Wing, U.S. Air Force
• Lt. Gen. Francesco Vestito, Commander of the Italian Air Force Education and Training Command, Italian Air Force
• Col Justin Stein, Assistant Head Flying Training, UK Military Flying Training System, UK Royal Air Force

Defense Logistics & Support Summit

This September in Reston, Virginia, IDGA’s Defense Logistics & Support Summit returned for its seventh year, bringing together DoD, allied, and industry leaders to examine how logistics underpins readiness in multi-domain operations. In total, this year’s summit welcomed 270 attendees and 20+ speakers from the defense logistics space.

With strong support from the Defense Logistics Agency, discussions focused on data-driven sustainment, digital supply chains, resilience against cyber and global disruptions, and the growing role of energy and space logistics—reinforcing the reality that modern combat power depends on modernized, connected, and secure logistics.

Top speakers included:

• Lieutenant General Mark T. Simerly, Director, Defense Logistics Agency, U.S. Department of Defense
• Captain Corey Odom, Logistics & Sustainment Branch Head, NATO
• Rear Admiral Philip E. Sobeck, Commander, U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command, U.S. Navy 

Biometrics for Government & Law Enforcement

IDGA’s Biometrics for Government & Law Enforcement Summit brought together federal, state, and local practitioners with technologists and researchers to examine how identity capabilities are being operationalized across borders, airports, and frontline policing.

During the two-day conference in Reston, Virginia, discussions moved beyond theory to address deployment realities, ranging from biometric performance and fraud resistance to forensic integrity, training, and interoperability, highlighting how trusted identity solutions are becoming central to homeland security and law enforcement missions.

In total the biometrics conference welcomed 180 attendees, including 30+ speakers. Some of the speakers at this year’s conference included:

• Matthew Lightner, Supervisory Assistant Chief, U.S. Border Patrol
• Angela Yankowski, Director, Biometrics and Identification Division, Michigan State Police
• Douglas Hares, Rapid DNA Implementation Advisor, FBI

Next Gen Missiles and Hypersonics Summit

On the heels of funding being secured for the multi-billion dollar “Golden Dome” program, IDGA hosted its Next Gen Missiles and Hypersonics Summit. The conference took place December 9-10 in Reston, Virginia, and welcomed 150+ attendees from across the government, industry, and academia.  

On top of the Golden Dome, attendees discussed continued investment in hypersonics programs like the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM), Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), and Navy Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS).  

With participation from the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, and Space Force, as well as important academic institutions like the Purdue Applied Research Institute (PARI), the event delivered a complete picture of how the U.S. and its partners are building the next generation of missile dominance and integrated defense. Some prominent speakers at this year's summit include:

• Dr. James Weber Ph.D., Principal Director, Hypersonics, Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering (OUSW(R&E))
• Lieutenant General Frank Lozano, Portfolio Acquisition Executive Fires (PAE Fires), U.S. Army
• Dr. Gillian Bussey Ph.D., Deputy Chief Science Officer, U.S. Space Force