PAST EVENT
September 18-19, 2026 | St Paul, MN
Annual Retreat
Interoperability and Plug & Play Capabilities
Creative Disruptors By The Lakes is a two-day convening that brings together leaders from government, industry, allied nations, investors, and emerging technology companies to advance innovation across the national security ecosystem.
Day one featured the inaugural convening of the National Security Prototype to Production Consortium (NSPPC), focused on consortium formation, interoperability, government challenge briefings, and real-world examples of plug and play ecosystems in action.
Day two featured the Creative Disruptors Leadership Forum, convening government, industry, allies, and investors for strategic dialogue on national security priorities, business model innovation, public-private investment, and accelerating interoperable solutions at scale.
SUMMARY REPORTS
Agendas
Welcome Remarks
Remarks by:
Bill Harper, Chair, Minnesota National Security Ecosystem
Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN-4), Ranking Member, HAC-D
Rep. Brad Finstad (R-MN-1)
Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN-4), Ranking Member, HAC-D
Rep. Brad Finstad (R-MN-1)
NSPPC Opening
Remarks by:
Rich Carroll, Founder & Chairman, Creative Defense Foundation
Fireside Chat – Introducing the NSPPC
Moderated by:
Adam Fife, CEO, CenCore
Participants:
Rich Carroll, Founder & Chairman, Creative Defense Foundation
Jeremy Verbout, PTDO ASW, Mission Capabilities
Jim Juster, Deputy Director, DoN Rapid Capabilities Office
Jeremy Verbout, PTDO ASW, Mission Capabilities
Jim Juster, Deputy Director, DoN Rapid Capabilities Office
Panel – Organization Governance of Plug-and-Play Ecosystems
Moderated by:
Matt MacGregor, COO, Creative Defense Network
Participants:
George Rumford, Director, TRMC
Dr. Alex Miller, Army CTO
Justin Fanelli, Navy CTO
Bernie Gauf, CEO, Innovative Defense Technologies
Dr. Alex Miller, Army CTO
Justin Fanelli, Navy CTO
Bernie Gauf, CEO, Innovative Defense Technologies
Panel – Incentivizing Multi-Vendor Integration at Scale
Moderated by:
Rich Carroll, Founder & Chairman, CDF
Participants:
Cameron Stanley, Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer, DoW
Dr. Artie Mabbett, CEO, North Wind
Jeb Nadaner, Senior Vice President, AIR
John Conafay, CEO, Integrate
Dr. Artie Mabbett, CEO, North Wind
Jeb Nadaner, Senior Vice President, AIR
John Conafay, CEO, Integrate
Fireside Chat – Rebuilding the National Security Industrial Base
Moderated by:
Ellen Lord, Advisory Board, CDF
Participants:
Michael Cadenazzi, ASW, Industrial Base Policy
Michael Dodd, ASW, Critical Technologies
Michael Dodd, ASW, Critical Technologies
Leadership Forum Opening
Remarks by:
ADM (Ret) John Richardson, Board Member, CDF
Fireside Chat – Accelerating Navy Rapid Acquisition
Moderated by:
ADM (Ret) John Richardson, Board Member, CDF
Participants:
Will Mahan, PTDO ASN, RD&A
VADM Seiko Okano, Principal Military Deputy, ASN, RD&A
VADM Seiko Okano, Principal Military Deputy, ASN, RD&A
Panel – Manufacturing Attritable Mass at Scale
Moderated by:
Andrew Magliochetti, DASN, Defense Industrial Base
Participants:
Chris Miller, Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager, Robotic & Autonomous Systems
Dr. Jennifer McArdle, General Manager, U.S., Helsing
Lukas Czinger, CEO, Divergent
Doug Denneny, CEO, CoAspire
Dr. Jennifer McArdle, General Manager, U.S., Helsing
Lukas Czinger, CEO, Divergent
Doug Denneny, CEO, CoAspire
Fireside Chat – Frontline Lessons from Ukraine to Fielded Capability
Moderated by:
Rep. Ed Case (D-HI-1)
Participants:
Owen West, Director, Defense Innovation Unit
MOU Signing Ceremony – DIU and the Minnesota National Guard
Moderated by:
ADM (Ret) John Richardson, Board Member, CDF
Participants:
Owen West, Director, Defense Innovation Unit
MG Shawn Manke, Adjutant General, Minnesota National Guard
MG Shawn Manke, Adjutant General, Minnesota National Guard
Panel – Transforming the Innovation Ecosystem
Moderated by:
Arun Seraphin, Executive Director, NDIA Emerging Technologies Institute
Participants:
James Mazol, Deputy USW, Research and Engineering
Dr. Craig Martell, CTO, Lockheed Martin
Roy Levy, Executive Vice President and General Manager, XTEND
John Garrity, Vice President, Directed Energy, AV
Dr. Craig Martell, CTO, Lockheed Martin
Roy Levy, Executive Vice President and General Manager, XTEND
John Garrity, Vice President, Directed Energy, AV
Fireside Chat – Shaping the Future of National Security
Moderated by:
Bill Harper, Chair, Minnesota National Security Ecosystem
Participants:
Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA-41), Chairman, HAC-D
Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN-4), Ranking Member, HAC-D
Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN-4), Ranking Member, HAC-D
Welcome Remarks & Honorary Co-Host Panel
Moderated by:
Dave Ramey, President & Board Member, CDF
Participants:
The Honorable Ken Calvert
The Honorable Betty McCollum
The Honorable Michael Duffey
The Honorable James Mazol
The Honorable Betty McCollum
The Honorable Michael Duffey
The Honorable James Mazol
Fireside Chat – Congress and A&S: Partnering to Move Capability Faster
Moderated by:
Rich Carroll, Founder & Chairman, CDF
Participants:
Michael Duffey, USW, Acquisition and Sustainment
Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-TX-6)
Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-TX-6)
Panel – Allied Priorities After the Ankara Summit
Introduction (virtual):
Tarja Jaakkola, ASG Defence Industry, Innovation and Armaments, NATO
Moderated by:
Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN-4), Ranking Member, HAC-D
Participants:
Hannes Hanso, Ambassador of Estonia to the United States
Mark Newton, Minister Defence (Director USA), United Kingdom
Sander Oude Hengel, Chair of Defense MoUs Attachés Group, Netherlands
Amir Koopaei, Counsellor (Director), Defence Procurement, Defence Investment Agency (DIA) of Canada
Chloe Friberg, Counselor for Defense Industry Cooperation, Norway
Mark Newton, Minister Defence (Director USA), United Kingdom
Sander Oude Hengel, Chair of Defense MoUs Attachés Group, Netherlands
Amir Koopaei, Counsellor (Director), Defence Procurement, Defence Investment Agency (DIA) of Canada
Chloe Friberg, Counselor for Defense Industry Cooperation, Norway
Panel – Plug and Play Composable Systems for Army Modernization
Moderated by:
Dr. Alexis Lasselle Ross, President, Apex Defense Strategies
Participants:
Michael Obadal, Under Secretary of the Army
MG Patrick Ellis, Commanding General, 4th Infantry Division
BG David Phillips, ASA(ALT)
Will Edwards, CEO, Firehawk Aerospace
MG Patrick Ellis, Commanding General, 4th Infantry Division
BG David Phillips, ASA(ALT)
Will Edwards, CEO, Firehawk Aerospace
Fireside Chat – Aligning Navy Policy with Best Practices
Moderated by:
ADM (Ret) John Richardson, Board Member, CDF
Participants:
Maria Proestou, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Acquisition Policy & Budget
Fireside Chat – Meeting the Moment: Readiness at Speed and Scale
Moderated by:
Ellen Lord, Advisory Board, CDF
Participants:
Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA-41), Chairman, HAC-D
Michael Ellis, Deputy Director, Central Intelligence Agency
Lieutenant General Brett Sylvia, Director for Strategy, Plans, and Policy, J-5, Joint Staff
Michael Ellis, Deputy Director, Central Intelligence Agency
Lieutenant General Brett Sylvia, Director for Strategy, Plans, and Policy, J-5, Joint Staff
Panel – Reshaping National Security Investments
Moderated by:
Pete Modigliani, Co-Founder, Creative Defense Network
Participants:
Jules Hurst III, USW (Comptroller)
David Lorch, Director, Office of Strategic Capital
Matthew Shortal, Deputy Director, Defense Innovation Unit
Eric Lofgren, VP, Acquisitions, CHAOS Industries
David Lorch, Director, Office of Strategic Capital
Matthew Shortal, Deputy Director, Defense Innovation Unit
Eric Lofgren, VP, Acquisitions, CHAOS Industries
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