TechNet Orlando 2026 brings together leaders from government, military, industry, and academia to explore how artificial intelligence, cyber capabilities, data, and immersive technologies are transforming military training and readiness. The event will highlight the partnerships and innovations driving the next generation of training, simulation, and mission rehearsal capabilities across the defense enterprise.
As the nation's premier hub for modeling, simulation, and training, Orlando is uniquely positioned to lead these conversations. Home to a world-class ecosystem of military organizations, defense agencies, research institutions, and technology companies, the region continues to pioneer the integration of AI, cyber, and emerging technologies into the future of warfighter preparation.
Attendees will gain insight into how artificial intelligence is enhancing training effectiveness through intelligent tutoring systems, adaptive learning, synthetic data generation, and automated scenario development. Discussions will also examine the growing importance of cyber readiness and how cyber operations are being integrated into live, virtual, constructive, and gaming-based training environments to better replicate real-world threats and contested operational environments.
Through keynote presentations, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, participants will explore the technologies, partnerships, and strategies driving innovation across the defense training enterprise. The event will also showcase Orlando's unique role as a national hub where government, industry, and academia collaborate to accelerate capability development and deliver mission-focused solutions to the warfighter.
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AI-Powered Training: Moving from Static Instruction to Adaptive Readiness
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Cyber-Resilient Training Environments: Preparing for Contested Operations
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Digital Twins, Synthetic Environments & Data-Driven Readiness
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Live, Virtual, and Constructive (LVC) Training
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Human Performance and Adaptive Learning
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Data Analytics and Decision Support
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Joint and Coalition Training Initiatives
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The Future of Defense Training and Operational Readiness
Where
Tech Grove
12809 Science Dr., Room 160
Orlando, FL 32826
When
September 17, 2026
Thursday
From 8:00am, Until 6:00-pm
Keynote
Mr. Lee James III, SES
Deputy Capability Program Executive, U.S. Army CPE ST3
Mr. Lee James, III is the Deputy Capability Program Executive for the Capability Program Executive for Simulation, Training, Test & Threat (CPE ST3). In this position, Mr. James assists the Capability Program Executive in the execution of multi-billion-dollar testing, training and threat portfolio annually, and is staffed by more than 1,000 military, government civilians, and service support contractors. The organization also manages portfolios of fielded systems with a current inventory value of over $2.65B in 125 locations; over 335,000 training devices in 65 countries; and over 480 sites worldwide.
Prior to his current assignment, Mr. James served as the Project Manager of Enterprise Business Systems – Convergence (EBS-C), a newly created program within the PEO Enterprise Information Systems (EIS) at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. EBS-C is the Army’s pathfinder for business modernization and transformation and will simplify, streamline, standardize and unify business operations while improving auditability.
Featured Speaker
Dr. Dan Daniels
CISO | Director, Cybersecurity Office, U.S. Army CPE ST3
Dr. Daniels is a CISO, cybersecurity executive, and university professor with more than 15 years of experience leading cyber risk, governance, and security strategy across the Army, industry, and academia. His work focuses on executive cyber decision-making, risk management, information assurance, open-source intelligence, and building practical strategies that help leaders understand and act on today’s most pressing cybersecurity challenges.
Agenda
8:00 - 9:00
8:00 - 9:00
Breakfast and Registration
(1hr)
9:00 - 9:15
9:00 - 9:15
Opening Remarks
(15min)
Courtney Powell, AFCEA Orlando President
President/CEO and Owner
AceApplications, LLC
9:15 - 10:00
9:15 - 10:00
Opening Keynote
(45min)
The Transformation of Acquisition into a Warfighting Function and Delivering Training Capabilities to the Warfighter Faster than Ever Before
Deputy Capability Program Executive
CPE ST3
10:00 - 10:45
10:00 - 10:45
Intersection of AI and Cyber
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(45min)
Moderator
Acquisition Initiatives & Engagement
Bylight
Cyber CTO and AI Officer
Cole Engineering Services Inc.
Director of Cyber Solutions and Technology
USF
PCTE Chief Engineer
CPE ST3
10:45 - 11:15
10:45 - 11:15
Break and Network with Exhibitors
(30min)
11:15 - 12:00
11:15 - 12:00
Turning Training Data into Decisions: Analytics and Readiness at Scale
Central tension: We collect enormous training data and almost none of it reaches a commander as an actual readiness decision. Is that a data-plumbing problem, a standards problem, or a trust problem? And are we culturally willing to let analytics inform manning, resourcing, and who deploys?
(45min)
Moderator
Associate
JL O'Connell & Associates, Inc.
Chief Technology Advisor
Federal for
World Wide Technology
Director of Special Projects
Pegasus Research Institute for UCF
Program Manager
QinetiQ
R&D Portfolio Manager
Automated Performance Assessment from Design Interactive
Program Manager and Solutions Architect
PeopleTec
12:00 - 1:15
12:00 - 1:15
Networking Lunch
(1hr 15min)
1:15 - 1:45
1:15 - 1:45
Scaling Real-Time CJADC2, C4ISR & LVC Simulations
Building an Edge AI Warchest
In modern defense, latency is lethal. The hidden barrier to Joint Force decision superiority across CJADC2, C4ISR, and LVC simulation networks is Tactical Data Gravity. Streaming petabytes of satellite, drone, and sensor telemetry back to core data centers is physically impossible over DIL links, while custom ingestion pipelines trigger 12–18-month ATO delays.
The solution? Send compute to the data.
(30min)
Senior Director,
Public Sector, MariaDB
1:45 - 2:30
1:45 - 2:30
Academic Panel:
From Research to Mission: Building Florida’s Distributed Defense Experimentation Ecosystem
The discussion will examine the full research-to-mission continuum—from emerging university research and advanced modeling through integrated experimentation, physical-system evaluation, and operational transition—and explore how Florida institutions can contribute differentiated capabilities to common defense mission problems.
(45min)
Moderator
Research Commercialization Specialist
FAU
Chief Operating & Growth Officer
UCF Pegasus Research Institute
Director
UCF LIMB Lab
National Security Program Area Lead
University of Florida
Executive Director
Vertex Applied Innovation Hub
2:30 - 3:00
2:30 - 3:00
The Intersection of Cybersecurity Compliance and Generative AI
(30min)
RMF and Automation in the Army Environment
Dr. Dan Daniels
CISO, Cybersecurity Office (CSO)
Chief Information Office, CPE ST3
3:00 -3:15
3:00 -3:15
Break and Network with Exhibitors
(15min)
3:15 - 4:15
3:15 - 4:15
Space-Sim-Synergy Sisters-Sectors Simulation-Session Smash-Ups
Dive into the ultimate interactive, immersive, and insightful Space Simulation at TechNet Orlando
Building a dominant space ecosystem is not just about launching rockets—it is instead a relentless, multi-domain collision of physical infrastructure, microelectronics, orbital logistics, and human capital. To establish Central Florida as the undisputed leader in the simulation of the space domain, we need massive, rapid-fire cross-sector synergy.
(1hr)
Leah Cheli Doolittle
Executive Director
EarthLight Foundation
Lindsey Spalding
Director, Workforce Development
National Center for Simulation (NCS)
Sierra Pollard, PhD
Director of Space Innovation
University of Florida
Robert S. Katz
CEO & Executive Director
World Innovation Network (WIN) & LaunchWERX
Angela Hamilton
Program Lead
UCF METIL / Institute for Simulation & Training
Scarlett Arana
Co-Founder
BitBasel
Sarah Gal
Executive Director
WorldOrlando
Keely DeGroot
Director, Semiconductors
Plug and Play Tech Center
Coleen McManus
Builder of Human
Connection
Spartan
Lt. Col (ret) Julia Black
Former Launch Director
U.S. Air Force
4:15 - 4:30
4:15 - 4:30
Closing Remarks
(15min)
Courtney Powell, AFCEA Orlando President
President/CEO and Owner
AceApplications, LLC
4:30 - 6:00
4:30 - 6:00
Networking Social
(1hr 30min)
Hosted by:
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Diamond
For more information on exhibiting or to support the event, please contact
Platinum
Gold
Silver
TechNet Orlando Supporters
Media Supporters
Networking Social
Lanyard Sponsor
Break Sponsor
AFCEA Orlando 2nd Annual Golf Outing 2026
Join AFCEA Orlando for our 2nd Annual Golf Tournament & Golf Clinic on September 18, 2026, at Twin Rivers Golf Club for a day of golf, networking, and impact.
This exciting event directly supports STEM scholarships for students pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Through your participation and sponsorship, we help empower the next generation.
Whether you're a seasoned golfer competing in the tournament or a beginner looking to sharpen your skills during the Golf Clinic, this event offers something for everyone.
AFCEA Orlando
Founded in 2024, AFCEA Orlando is a non-profit organization that fosters global connections among individuals, ideas, and solutions. Through the development of networking and educational opportunities, we aim to provide ethical engagement worldwide. Our focus is aligning technology with critical sectors’ needs, including defense, homeland security, cyber, and intelligence.
Our association comprises individual and corporate members, and we leverage AFCEA’s international, regional chapter network to facilitate networking, relationship-building, and the expansion of opportunities. Our diverse membership includes military, government, industry, and academia professionals.
We engage with our members through various meetings and events designed to enhance their experience and provide an ethical platform for communication with the government. These initiatives include monthly luncheons featuring prominent government speakers who address how information technology contributes to national security and other relevant Department of Defense topics.
AFCEA Orlando Website: https://afceaorlando.org/
