Marcus Evans announces Aerospace & Defense Summit
Business intelligence and executive events organiser Marcus Evans has announced that it will hold the Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing & R&D Summit 2026 from November 16-17 in San Diego, California.
The invitation-only summit will bring together senior manufacturing and engineering executives from some of North America’s leading aerospace and defence organisations to address the complex challenges and transformative opportunities defining the sector.
As the aerospace and defence industry navigates unprecedented levels of production demand, accelerating digital transformation, and increasing supply chain complexity, the need for focused, high-level dialogue has never been greater. The summit is designed to meet that need, offering a curated environment where executives can benchmark priorities, examine real-world strategies, and build the relationships that drive organisational performance.
The programme
The 2026 agenda reflects the most pressing priorities facing aerospace and defence manufacturing leaders. Discussions will span mission assurance in space and defence, examining how organisations are enhancing readiness, resilience, and security in an increasingly contested environment.
AI-enabled operations will be a central theme, with sessions exploring how artificial intelligence is transforming decision-making, optimising production, and driving enterprise-wide performance improvements.
Delegates will also engage in substantive dialogue on resilient supply networks, addressing how leading organisations are building agility and adaptability into their procurement and logistics frameworks in the face of persistent global disruption. Sessions on next-generation autonomy will look at the technologies shaping the future of defence systems, while dedicated discussions on workforce continuity will address the critical challenge of knowledge retention and accelerated talent development across the sector.
The event will feature a faculty of senior practitioners, including:
- Nargis Atamy – Director of Strategic Programs for Space Exploration, Environment and Earth Intelligence at Leidos Focus: Mission-critical programme management and strategic innovation
- Ryan Udell – Technical Program Manager at Boeing Focus: The integration of artificial intelligence within large-scale aerospace programmes
- Sunita Vij, Sr – Director of Supply Chain at Teledyne Technologies Focus: The operational realities of managing complex supply networks under pressure
- Mark Lemke – Vice President of Supply Chain and
Operations at Radia, Inc - Matthew Dzielo – Director of Operations and Manufacturing at Woodward
- Justin Craun – Director of Supply Chain at Raytheon
- Christi Tomaselli – Director of Supply Chain at Moog Aircraft Group’s Military Division
- Srinivas Suresh – Head of Supply Chain at Joby Aviation
- Robert Yancey – Business Development Director at Hexcel Corporation
- Zachary Kues, Sr – Manager of Procurement at Raytheon
- Jake Irwin – Program Manager at Boeing
Invitation
The Aerospace & Defence Manufacturing & R&D Summit is structured as an intimate, invitation-only gathering, enabling every interaction to be purposeful and ensuring that every conversation is conducted among peers. The summit prioritises depth over breadth, enabling executives to move beyond surface-level discussion and engage with the practical strategies and emerging intelligence that can drive real organisational change.
The summit will be held at the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & Spa. Senior executives interested in attending can submit an enquiry via the event website. Attendance is limited and subject to approval.
www.marcusevans.com/summit/aerospacedefense
