DIRECTED ENERGY SYMPOSIUM
- September 17-18, 2025
- 151 St George, National Harbor, MD
Event Overview
The 8th Annual Directed Energy Symposium will convene leading experts, senior policymakers, industry innovators, and defense stakeholders from across the directed energy community to explore the most recent breakthroughs in DE systems, weapons, and technologies. With directed energy transitioning from the lab to the battlefield, this year’s event will focus on how these rapidly maturing capabilities are enhancing warfighter readiness, strengthening offensive and defensive operations, and advancing national security objectives. Attendees will gain timely insights into the evolving landscape of directed energy warfare—including operational deployments, integration challenges, and emerging opportunities that are shaping the future of military power.
2025 Confirmed Speakers Include
Agenda Coming Soon!
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Lt Gen Heath Collins, USAF
Director, Missile Defense Agency Keynote Speaker -
Mark Spencer
Acting Principal Director, Directed Energy, OUSD R&E -
Dr. Amy Sunshine Smith-Carroll, SES
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Platform and Weapon Portfolio Management, OUSD A&S -
Melinda K. Reed, SES
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Enabling Technology, OUSD R&E -
COL Steven Gutierrez, USA
Program Manager DE M-SHORAD, Army RCCTO -
COL Matt Johnson, USA
Commander, White Sands Test Center -
Col Andrew Konicki, USMC
Program Manager, Ground Based Air Defense, PEO Land Systems -
Dr. Neset Akӧzbek
Senior Research Scientist, Technical Center, Army Space and Missile Defense Command -
Dr. Neil Thurgood
Senior Strategy Advisor, Anduril -
Peter A. Morrison
Program Officer, Directed Energy Weapons Counter Directed Energy Weapons and High Energy Lasers, Office of Naval Research -
Dr. Steve T Fiorino
Director, Center for Directed Energy, Air Force Institute of Technology -
Dr. Yongendra Joshi
Thermal Management Project Manager, DARPA
About the 2025 Directed Energy Symposium
TOPICS TO BE COVERED
- Leading Development and Implementation of DE Capabilities for the Defense of the United States
- Electromagnetic Dominance: High Powered Microwaves in Modern Defense
- Directed Energy and Survivability: Adapting to Emerging Threat Vectors
- Conquering Group 3 UAS Threats Using Rapidly Developing HEL Systems
- Autonomy and Lethality: The Future of AI-Driven Directed Energy Warfare
- Operationalizing Directed Energy Weapons Through Thermal and Optic Innovations
Why You Should Attend This Symposium
The directed energy weapon market is projected to grow from USD 5.3 in 2022 to USD 10.27 billion by 2031. The Department of Defense (DoD) is investing approximately $1 billion annually across more than 30 active programs to develop and test directed energy weapons, including high-energy lasers and high-power microwave systems. Senior DoD officials have indicated that these technologies have matured to the point where they can be fielded and operationalized, offering the potential to help the U.S. maintain technological superiority over adversaries and counter a range of aerial threats such as missiles and drones. The 8th Annual Directed Symposium will highlight how DoD and the Military Services are working to develop directed energy systems and integrate them into offensive and defensive capabilities for a decisive warfighting advantage.
The directed energy weapon market is projected to grow from USD 5.3 in 2022 to USD 10.27 billion by 2031. The Department of Defense (DoD) is investing approximately $1 billion annually across more than 30 active programs to develop and test directed energy weapons, including high-energy lasers and high-power microwave systems. Senior DoD officials have indicated that these technologies have matured to the point where they can be fielded and operationalized, offering the potential to help the U.S. maintain technological superiority over adversaries and counter a range of aerial threats such as missiles and drones. The 8th Annual Directed Symposium will highlight how DoD and the Military Services are working to develop directed energy systems and integrate them into offensive and defensive capabilities for a decisive warfighting advantage.
This year’s Directed Energy Symposium will spotlight how the Department of Defense (DoD) and Military Services are advancing the development and integration of directed energy (DE) systems into operational warfighting capabilities. Between 2025 and 2030, the DoD plans to deploy DE technologies for tactical missions such as countering anti-ship cruise missiles, land-attack cruise missiles, and enemy aircraft. Looking beyond 2030, the focus will shift toward strategic applications, including the defense against high-speed threats like ballistic missiles and hypersonic weapons. This symposium will feature speakers from across the U.S. government, military services, DoD, academia, research institutions, and industry, who will share updates on current projects, emerging innovations, and future opportunities to support the next generation of DE technologies. The 2025 event will include panels on high-power microwaves, artificial intelligence for DE systems, Directed energy weapons and survivability, and the thermal and optical management of DE platforms. Senior leaders will also discuss cutting-edge DE weapons such as P-HEL, DE M-SHORAD, HELIOS, and ODIN, exploring their roles and effectiveness on today’s battlefield. Attendees of the 8th Directed Energy Symposium will have a unique opportunity to engage directly with key decision-makers, subject matter experts, and solution providers to accelerate the adoption and operational impact of directed energy capabilities in future combat scenarios.
DSI’s team specializes in the extensive research and development of our Symposium’s content and focus areas, and we will assemble the most respected minds in the Directed Energy community, including DoD, federal, and industry. Our non-partisan approach allows us to reach across all services and organizations to bring together a truly holistic group of decision makers and solution providers.
At our Symposium You Have the Ability To
Gain Education & Insight: Walk away with knowledge gained from our senior level speakers on some of the complex challenges facing the DoD and Federal Government as it relates to directed energy systems.
Build Partnerships: The agenda is designed to allow for ample networking opportunities and the ability to discover
Influence: Help foster ideas! Share your own insight and knowledge during our interactive sessions. All attendees are encouraged to address our speaker faculty and each other with their questions, comments or ideas.
Operating Guidance for Government Attendees
DSI’s Symposium directly supports DoD & Federal Government priorities by providing a conduit for officials to efficiently reach audiences outside of their respective offices that directly impact their department’s mission success, at no charge to the government, and in an efficient expenditure of time.
DSI’s Symposium will provide a forum to address and improve internal and external initiatives, meet with and hear from partner organizations, disseminate vital capability requirements to industry, increase visibility within the larger community, and generally support their mission.
The Symposium is open and complimentary to all DoD and Federal employees and is considered an educational training forum, and a widely attended gathering.
*Symposium is CLOSED TO PRESS / NO RECORDINGS*
SPONSORS & EXHIBITORS
The 2025 Directed Energy Symposium provides opportunities including exhibit space, product demonstrations, and networking receptions.
BECOME A SPONSOR or Exhibitor
