Directed Energy Symposium 2025

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.

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

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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.

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.

The 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.

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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.

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Sponsors & Exhibitors

The 2025 Directed Energy Symposium provides opportunities including exhibit space, product demonstrations, and networking receptions.
demonstrations, and networking receptions.
Contact us for sponsorship information

2025 Confirmed Speakers Include

• Lt Gen Heath Collins, USAF, Director, Missile Defense Agency
• 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
• 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 Ak?zbek, 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
• Douglas Werner, Director, Center of Excellence in Directed Energy, Penn State

Venue

151 St. George
151 St. George Blvd, 20745
Oxon Hill, National Harbor, MD

Parking Details
Parking details will be provided to registrants one week before the event in the “Event Logistics” e-mail.

Nearby Hotels
Hotel rooms are available at a discounted rate at the below hotels.

*Please Note: AC Hotel National Harbor discounted partner rate will be available starting 60 days before the event begins.

The Hyatt Place National Harbor
123 Waterfront St. National Harbor, Maryland, United States, 20745
check availability

The Westin Washington National Harbor
171 Waterfront St. National Harbor, Maryland 20745
check availability

AC Hotel National Harbor
156 Waterfront St. National Harbor, Maryland 20745
check availability