This Fleet Week, join the founders, investors, and government leaders building the future of defense, AI, and space aboard San Francisco’s historic Klamath.

Join VetsinTech and the Bay Area Council for the NatSec + Space Innovation Summit, October 8–9 on San Francisco’s waterfront, where Fleet Week meets SF Tech Week.

The featured lineup includes Artemis II pilot Victor Glover, former Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall, former DIU Director Doug Beck, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Director Kimberly Budil, and leaders from OpenAI, Google, Blue Origin, Scale AI, Shield AI, and Shield Capital.

Across two days, founders, investors, government leaders, researchers, and veteran technologists will explore what’s moving from breakthrough to deployment—and meet the people who can help move their work forward.

📍 The Klamath, Pier 9, The Embarcadero · October 8–9, 2026

Why be in this room

Building a company? Meet investors, government innovation leaders, and potential partners working across defense, AI, autonomy, cybersecurity, and space.

Deploying capital or scouting technology? Explore startup demonstrations and hear directly from founders, technical leaders, and people who have led major government acquisition and innovation programs.

Working in tech—or planning your next move? Connect with other veterans, explore employers in defense and space, and build practical AI skills through OpenAI Academy.

The program combines keynotes, focused discussions, startup demos, and attendee matchmaking, with time to continue conversations over breakfast, lunch, and waterfront networking.

Day One · Thursday, October 8 — Careers in Defense Tech & Space

10 AM–3 PM · Free for veterans, service members, and military spouses

A day dedicated to connecting military experience with opportunities in technology, defense, and space.

Meet employers recruiting for technical and leadership roles, hear how veterans are building careers across these industries, and learn what those organizations are looking for.

1–3 PM · OpenAI Academy hands-on ChatGPT workshop

A practical workshop built for the military community, with guided opportunities to use ChatGPT and develop skills you can apply in your work.

Thursday evening · Private VIP reception

Continue the conversation with fellow VIP attendees. Reception access is included with the VIP Pass.

Day Two · Friday, October 9 — Innovation Summit

A full day bringing together government innovation leaders, investors, founders, researchers, and veteran technologists.

The program spans frontier AI, autonomous systems, national security, cybersecurity, and space, with:

  • Keynotes, firesides, and panels capped at 30 minutes, including Q&A.

  • A startup demo floor featuring defense, dual-use, and space companies.

  • Attendee matchmaking to help you identify and connect with relevant people.

  • Networking breakfast and working lunch.

  • A planned live, on-water autonomous systems demonstration.

  • Waterfront viewing for the Blue Angels during Fleet Week.

The Bay Area Council Economic Institute will also debut its report on the region’s defense-tech ecosystem.

All panels are capped at 30 minutes including Q&A. Sessions and times subject to change; speaker confirmations are in progress.

Speakers

Featured speakers

Victor Glover — Former NASA Astronaut & Artemis II PilotRetired Navy captain and test pilot who piloted Artemis II and NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 mission.

Frank Kendall III — 26th Secretary of the Air ForceFormer leader of the U.S. Air Force and Space Force, with decades of experience in defense technology and acquisition.

Doug Beck — Former Director, Defense Innovation UnitFormer Apple vice president and Navy Reserve captain who led DIU’s work connecting commercial technology with defense needs.

Dr. Kimberly S. Budil — Director, Lawrence Livermore National LaboratoryLeads one of the nation’s principal national security laboratories, including its work in nuclear security, advanced computing, and fusion.

Maynard Holliday — Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Critical TechnologiesRoboticist and former Pentagon leader whose portfolio spanned AI, autonomy, space, microelectronics, and advanced computing.

Victoria Coleman — Associate Provost, Berkeley Air & Space CenterFormer DARPA director and U.S. Air Force chief scientist, now helping build UC Berkeley’s innovation hub at NASA Ames.

Government, defense & space

  • Maj. Gen. Steve “Bucky” Butow — Commander, California Air National Guard; Strategic Advisor, Defense Innovation Unit

  • Col. Andrew S. Menschner — Deputy Commander, Space Systems Command, U.S. Space Force

  • Benjamin Richardson — Commanding Officer, Marine Innovation Unit; Co-Founder & Chief Commercial Officer, Gambit

  • Blaise Zandoli — Private Capital and Portfolio Manager, U.S. Army

  • Kaitie Penry — Director, Emerging Tech & Innovation, Naval Postgraduate School

  • Chris Pimentel — Mayor, City of El Segundo; Former Marine Corps Infantry Officer

Technology & company builders

  • Joshua Marcuse — Director of Defense Strategy & Growth, Google

  • Jon Bal — Account Director, OpenAI for Government

  • Zane Teeters — Head of Public Sector GTM, Scale AI

  • Xiuya Yao — Solutions Engineer, Public Sector, Scale AI

  • Dan Morse — Product Manager, Shield AI

  • Peter Dixon — CEO, Arkenstone Defense

  • Mike McNerney — Chief Compliance Officer, Arkenstone Defense; VetsinTech Board Member; Summit Emcee

  • Ian Kalin — CEO & Co-Founder, TurbineOne

  • Kevin Damoa — Founder & CEO, Glīd Technologies

  • Vinnie Liu — CEO & Co-Founder, Bishop Fox

Capital & company formation

  • Raj Shah — Managing Partner, Shield Capital; Former DIUx Leader

  • Ernie Bio — Managing Director, Forgepoint Capital; Former DIU Chief Operating Officer

  • Ryan Micheletti — Co-Founder & General Partner, The Veteran Fund

  • Sean Singleton — Managing Principal, Oglethorpe Capital; U.S. Venture Partner, Beaten Zone Venture Partners

Talent, research & policy

  • Nick Curry — Head of Military & Veteran Talent Strategy, Blue Origin

  • Skyra Rideaux — Director, Inclusive People Systems, Blue Origin

  • Katherine Webster — Founder & CEO, VetsinTech

  • Libby Schaaf — President & CEO, Bay Area Council

  • Sean Randolph — Senior Director, Bay Area Council Economic Institute

  • Jennifer Daskal — Partner, Venable LLP

  • Davis Hake — Senior Director of Cybersecurity Services, Venable LLP

  • Andrew Reddie — Associate Research Professor, UC Berkeley

Additional speakers will be announced. Speaker confirmations are ongoing; participation, sessions, and timing are subject to change.

The autonomous systems demo

One of the summit's defining moments: a live, on-the-water autonomous systems demonstration staged against Fleet Week's naval operations — Blue Angels overhead, Navy vessels on the bay, and next-generation autonomy operating in a real maritime environment. No panel or keynote can match it.

Aboard the Klamath

The summit takes place aboard the historic 1924 Klamath ferryboat, home of the Bay Area Council, moored at Pier 9 on the Embarcadero.

Between the Ferry Building and Pier 39, the venue puts the summit directly on the waterfront during Fleet Week.

Address: Pier 9, San Francisco, CA 94111

BART and Muni connections are available at Embarcadero Station, approximately a 15-minute walk away. The F-line streetcar also serves the waterfront. Plan extra travel time during Fleet Week; transit, ferries, and walking are recommended.

Hosts & partners

VetsinTech connects veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses with opportunities in technology through education, employment, and entrepreneurship.

The Bay Area Council brings together business and civic leaders to advance the region’s economy, including its role in defense innovation, frontier technology, and space.

SponsorsHolland & Knight · JPMorgan · Arkenstone Defense · Scale AI · Blue Origin · Google · Navier · Shield Capital · OpenAI Academy

Media partnersMilitary Times · Defense News

For sponsorship, startup participation, or program inquiries: [email protected]

Connect with VetsinTech: vetsintech.co/nssis · LinkedIn · X · YouTube

The NatSec + Space Innovation Summit · The Klamath, San Francisco · Fleet Week, October 8–9, 2026 · Hosted by VetsinTech in partnership with the Bay Area Council