Pre-Summit
Tuesday, February 23, 2027EveningEveningVespersHeld at Lobo Institute Headquarters, Vespers kicks off the summit with a welcome toast for VIP ticket holders and sponsors the evening before the main program begins.
Day One
Wednesday, February 24, 20276:00 – 7:00 AMOptionalPT with OllyMorning workout session.
8:50 – 9:00 AMWelcomeWelcome — Host: Eric HarryOpens the program.Summit Coordinator: Elise Martin
9:00 – 10:00 AMKeynoteKeynote: Chris CostaKeynote speech by Chris Costa
10:00 – 11:00 AMPanel 1Strategy at the CrossroadsWhat the new National Security and National Defense Strategies mean for America’s priorities, partners and postureModerator: TBAPanelists: Mick Mulroy, LtGen Sam Mundy, USMC (Ret), MajGen Scott Benedict, USMC (Ret.)
11:00 AM – 12:00 PMPanel 2Diplomacy Under FireThe future of American statecraft in an era of great-power competition and shrinking budgetsModerator: John RobertsPanelists: Michael Ratney, Carrie Filipetti, Marc Polymeropoulos, TBA
12:00 – 1:30 PMBreakLunch
1:30 – 2:30 PMPanel 3The Tip of the SpearHow special operations and infantry forces must adapt to drones, sensors and the next fightModerator: Eric OehlerichPanelists: RADM Matthew J. Burns, USN (Ret.), Pat McCulley, Rich Puglisi, Andrew Hartsog
2:30 – 3:30 PMPanel 4Behind the CurtainCollection, analysis and covert action: how U.S. intelligence finds, understands and shapes threatsModerator: Sandrea HwangPanelists: Ralph Goff, Marc Polymeropoulos, John Nash, TBA
3:30 – 4:30 PMPanel 5Winning Without Firing a ShotHumanitarian aid, development and the strategic power of American soft powerModerator: Chris HyslopPanelists: Ryan Walther, Sasha Lezhnev, LtGen Sam Mundy, USMC (Ret), Erin McFee
6:30 PMEveningSip to Remember and Watches of WhitefishDrinks and dinner at the Great Northern, open to everybody, built around the auction of the Proof Rifle.
Day Two
Thursday, February 25, 20276:00 – 7:00 AMOptionalPT with OllyMorning workout session.
9:00 – 10:00 AMPanel 6The Arsenal of Democracy, RevisitedEconomic warfare, supply chains and rebuilding the defense industrial baseModerator: Nancy YoussefPanelists: Tony DeMario (Strider), MajGen Scott Benedict, USMC (Ret.), Steve Potter, TBA
10:00 – 11:00 AMPanel 7Cold FrontNATO, the Arctic and transatlantic security at the top of the worldModerator: TBAPanelists: MajGen Scott Benedict, USMC (Ret.), Carrie Filipetti, RADM Matthew J. Burns, USN (Ret.), Tony DeMario (Strider)
11:00 AM – 12:00 PMPanel 8The Long GameChina, Taiwan and deterrence in the Indo-PacificModerator: Sandrea HwangPanelists: RADM Matthew J. Burns, USN (Ret.), Tony DeMario (Strider), Steve Potter
12:00 – 1:30 PMBreakLunch
1:30 – 2:30 PMPanel 9Unmanned, UnrelentingDrones and autonomous systems in warfare, from battlefield practice to policy guardrailsOpens with a five-minute North Sector video.Moderator: Eric OehlerichPanelists: RADM Matthew J. Burns, USN (Ret.), Alex Plitsas, Steve Potter
2:30 – 3:30 PMPanel 10The Fourth FrontHow the media covers war, intelligence and national security, and why it mattersModerator: Marc PolymeropoulosPanelists: TBA, John Roberts, Nancy Youssef
3:30 – 4:00 PMSpotlightCode and ConflictCyber operations and artificial intelligence, from the battlefield to the homelandA 30-minute session.Moderator: Jeff CarusoPanelists: Mark Beal (remote), TBD, TBD
4:00 – 5:00 PMPanel 11Emerging Threats, Emerging MarketsWhere security risk meets opportunity: navigating threats, investment and growth in frontier and emerging marketsModerator: John RobertsPanelists: Kyle Sweet, Tony DeMario (Strider), John Nash
EveningEveningTech RodeoOrganized by Eric Harry, showcasing pre-seed military and defense tech.
Day Three
Friday, February 26, 20276:00 – 7:00 AMOptionalPT with OllyMorning workout session.
9:00 – 10:00 AMPanel 12A Tale of Two WarsLessons and stakes from the conflicts in Ukraine and IranModerator: TBAPanelists: Mick Mulroy, LtGen Sam Mundy, USMC (Ret), Col. Andrew "Andy" Milburn, USMC (Ret.), Ralph Goff
10:00 – 11:00 AMPanel 13Clear and Present DangerTerrorism, espionage and emerging threats to the American homelandModerator: John RobertsPanelists: Chris Costa, Ben Binger, Darren Duke, John Nash
11:00 AM – 12:00 PMPanel 14Bring Them HomeThe fight to recover U.S. hostages and political prisoners held abroadModerator: Chris CostaPanelists: Bryan Stern, Ben Binger, Eric Oehlerich, Andrew Hartsog
12:00 – 12:10 PMClosingClosing RemarksMick Mulroy and Eric Oehlerich close the summit and thank sponsors and speakers.
12:10 PMBreakClosing Lunch — Program Concludes
1:00 – 4:00 PMAfternoonGroup Ski on Big MountainAfternoon activity following the close of the formal program.
7:00 – 10:00 PMEveningEvening Event
Operator’s Room · Closed Breakouts
Off the record. Small group. No recordings. One session each morning, exclusively for Black File pass holders.
