Beyond Barriers

In just one year, the DOW has delivered the most substantial transformation to its acquisition system in decades. The new Warfighting Acquisition System, backed by important legislative changes, accelerates delivery of capabilities and sustainment support to the warfighter, charts the way forward to rebuild the industrial base ecosystem, and empowers a streamlined Warfighting Acquisition Workforce to lead implementation with urgency. The Beyond Barriers Summit connects industry and government leaders to execute next steps in year two of this historic transformation.

Contact beyondbarriers@mitre.org for any questions regarding the summit.

Agenda

Day One: April 28, 2026

8:00 – 8:45 am	Registration and Breakfast
8:45 – 9:00 am	Welcome Remarks by MITRE Dr. Mark Peters, President & Chief Executive Officer, MITRE
9:00 – 9:20 am	Keynote Remarks: DOW Leadership Hon. Michael Duffey, Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment (USW(A&S))
9:20 – 10:00 am	Remarks: Acquisition Transformation Initiative Leigh Method, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Logistics
10:00 – 10:30 am	Fireside Chat with DOW Leader Gen. Dale White, USAF, Director, Critical Major Weapon Systems Dr. Keoki Jackson, Senior Vice President, General Manager, MITRE National Security
10:30 – 11:00 am	Networking Break
11:00 – 12:00 pm	Panel: From PEOs to PAEs - Accelerating Warfighting Capabilities
12:00 – 1:00 pm	Networking Lunch
1:00 – 1:30 pm	Keynote Remarks
1:30 – 1:50 pm	Keynote Remarks: Industry Perspective
1:50 – 2:30 pm	Panel: Rapidly Fielding Capabilities for our Warfighters Moderator: Maj. Gen. Edward Vaughan, USAF, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of War, Acquisition Integration and Interoperability
2:30 – 3:00 pm	Networking Break
3:00 – 3:50 pm	Panel: International Cooperation to Expand the Industrial Base and Enable Burden-Sharing Moderator: Dr. LeAnne Howard, Senior Principal – National Security, MITRE Joanne Lostracco, Director General, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) CAPT Tim Ketter, USN, Military Professor, Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies
3:50 – 4:10 pm	Closing Keynote
4:10 – 4:30 pm	State of DOW Acquisition Survey Results Dr. Keoki Jackson, Senior Vice President, General Manager, MITRE National Security
4:30 – 4:35 pm	Closing Remarks Dr. Keoki Jackson, Senior Vice President, General Manager, MITRE National Security
4:35 – 6:00pm	Networking Reception & Lab Tours

Agenda subject to change

Day Two: April 29, 2026

8:00 – 9:00 am	Registration and Breakfast
9:00 – 9:05 am	Welcome Remarks Dr. Keoki Jackson, Senior Vice President, General Manager, MITRE National Security
9:05 – 9:30 am	Keynote Remarks: R&E Priorities
9:30 – 9:45 am	Day 1 Review and Experimentation & Simulation Instructions
9:45 – 12:00 pm	Experimentation & Simulation Working Groups Workshop 1: Extending Acquisition Pathways Workshop 2: PAE Scorecard Workshop 3: Accelerate Private Capital Investment Workshop 4: Connecting Capabilities to Kill Chains with Mission Engineering, Digital Models and Open Systems Approaches Workshop 5: Fixing the Broken Supply Chain Workshop 6: Aggregating Demand and Linking Global Supply Chains with Allies and Partners
12:00 – 12:45 pm	Networking Lunch
12:45 – 1:30 pm	Working Groups Finalize Recommendations
1:30 – 2:30 pm	Working Group Readouts
2:30 – 2:45 pm	Break
2:45 – 3:45 pm	Pillar and Initiative Leads with Industry Q&A
3:45 – 4:00 pm	Closing Remarks