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Autonomous systems are fast becoming the primary weapon for militaries on the battlefield, as seen currently in the war in Ukraine. The force multiplier that uncrewed aerial systems (UASs) have been on that battlefield has motivated the U.S. military to drastically reform their acquisition approach by way of removing bureaucratic obstacles to get autonomous systems technology into warfighters’ hands more quickly. These reforms mean faster acquisition of sensor processing technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and security solutions, and will lead to more systems that follow a modular open systems architecture (MOSA) approach to enable smarter, faster, and more lethal autonomous systems. This approach will also spur development of complex and effective countermeasures to adversarial UxS platforms.
Autonomous systems are fast becoming the primary weapon for militaries on the battlefield, as seen currently in the war in Ukraine. The force multiplier that uncrewed aerial systems (UASs) have been on that battlefield has motivated the U.S. military to drastically reform their acquisition approach by way of removing bureaucratic obstacles to get autonomous systems technology into warfighters’ hands more quickly. These reforms mean faster acquisition of sensor processing technology, artificial intelligence (AI) and security solutions, and will lead to more systems that follow a modular open systems architecture (MOSA) approach to enable smarter, faster, and more lethal autonomous systems. This approach will also spur development of complex and effective countermeasures to adversarial UxS platforms.
Thu, Apr. 16, 2026 · 8:00 am (PDT)
CEO of Red Cat
Jeff Thompson is the Founder and CEO of Red Cat (Nasdaq: RCAT), a drone technology company integrating robotic hardware and software for military, government, and commercial operations. A serial tech entrepreneur, Thompson has a proven track record of building and scaling companies from startup to exit and IPO, including founding ISP EdgeNet (acquired by Citadel Broadcasting) and co-founding wireless provider Towerstream. He founded Red Cat in 2016 and has since grown the company through strategic acquisitions such as Teal Drones, FlightWave Aerospace, and the launch of the maritime division, Blue Ops. Under his leadership, the company is positioned at the forefront of U.S.-made drone innovation aligned with evolving defense and national security priorities.
EVP & Group Editorial Director, Military Embedded Systems
Thu, Apr. 16, 2026 · 8:45 am (PDT)
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The U.S. military is investing more heavily in autonomous systems while simultaneously reforming acquisition processes and practices to get the latest autonomous systems and payload technology into warfighters’ hands more quickly. These efforts include embracing modular open systems approach (MOSA) strategies to more quickly adapt commercial technology. Open architecture initiatives such as the Sensor Open Systems Architecture, or SOSA; and the Future Airborne Capability Environment, or FACE, are enabling faster acquisition and adoption of commercial innovation in flight controls; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) payloads; communications; and other hardware and software designs. This session covers how open architectures and plug-and-play solutions are driving autonomous system designs.
The U.S. military is investing more heavily in autonomous systems while simultaneously reforming acquisition processes and practices to get the latest autonomous systems and payload technology into warfighters’ hands more quickly. These efforts include embracing modular open systems approach (MOSA) strategies to more quickly adapt commercial technology. Open architecture initiatives such as the Sensor Open Systems Architecture, or SOSA; and the Future Airborne Capability Environment, or FACE, are enabling faster acquisition and adoption of commercial innovation in flight controls; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) payloads; communications; and other hardware and software designs. This session covers how open architectures and plug-and-play solutions are driving autonomous system designs.
FACE Consortium Program Director, The Open Group
Alicia Taylor serves as the Program Director for The Open Group FACE® Consortium. In this role, she is responsible for the strategic development and overall program management of the Consortium. Prior to taking the current position with The Open Group, Alicia spent 6.5 years as a contractor supporting US Army PEO Aviation where she was responsible for completing special projects, managing budgets, tracking tasks, providing expertise to the FACE Consortium & SOSA Consortium Business Working Group, working with universities, and coordinating the Army FACE & SOSA TIM and Expos. During the last nine months as an analyst, she supported the digital engineering and model-based system engineering program and contributed to policy, procedure, and SharePoint site updates. Before joining the DOD world in 2015, Alicia spent 26 years in higher education as a mathematics professor, department chair, dean, and vice president. She also holds a doctorate in Instructional Leadership.
SOSA® Consortium Director, The Open Group
Nicholas Borton is the SOSA® Consortium Director at The Open Group with 20+ years of experience in digital hardware design, embedded processors, heterogeneous compute, and low-level (bare metal) software design. His wide ranging experience includes data analysis; software and hardware development; Very High Speed Integrated Circuit (VHSIC) Hardware Description Language (VHDL) development; integration and test; production support; and lifecycle support for radar, electronic warfare (EW), and machine learning systems.
Prior to joining The Open Group, Nick was Principal Embedded Engineer at SRC Inc which was a Principal member organization of the SOSA Consortium. During his participation in the consortium, Nick was elected to the SOSA Steering Committee Vice-Chair position for 5 years. In that role he guided many of the technical and architectural elements of the SOSA Technical Standard.
Nick earned bachelor’s degrees in both Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering from Clarkson University.
Prior to joining The Open Group, Nick was Principal Embedded Engineer at SRC Inc which was a Principal member organization of the SOSA Consortium. During his participation in the consortium, Nick was elected to the SOSA Steering Committee Vice-Chair position for 5 years. In that role he guided many of the technical and architectural elements of the SOSA Technical Standard.
Nick earned bachelor’s degrees in both Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering from Clarkson University.
Thu, Apr. 16, 2026 · 10:00 am (PDT)
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Uncrewed aerial systems (UASs) provide a decisive advantage on the battlefield for the U.S., its allies, and its adversaries, especially in Ukraine. However, complex UAS tactics and proliferation makes countering them a challenge of approach, acquisition strategy, and technology. Faster adoption and acquisition of the technology to counter the threat — including sophisticated commercial radar, processing, and radio-frequency (RF) technology with open architecture designs — will enable faster deployment of counter-drone solutions to the front lines. This session covers how those technologies can effectively disable multiple drone threats.
Uncrewed aerial systems (UASs) provide a decisive advantage on the battlefield for the U.S., its allies, and its adversaries, especially in Ukraine. However, complex UAS tactics and proliferation makes countering them a challenge of approach, acquisition strategy, and technology. Faster adoption and acquisition of the technology to counter the threat — including sophisticated commercial radar, processing, and radio-frequency (RF) technology with open architecture designs — will enable faster deployment of counter-drone solutions to the front lines. This session covers how those technologies can effectively disable multiple drone threats.
Director Aerospace & Defense Markets, RTI
John Breitenbach is Director of Aerospace & Defense Markets for Real-Time Innovations. He has over 30 years of experience designing software for intelligent machines. He’s worked on industrial, medical, consumer and military products - everything from artificial hearts to autonomous vehicles to elevators.
EVP & Group Editorial Director, Military Embedded Systems
Thu, Apr. 16, 2026 · 11:15 am (PDT)
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For military sensor systems, the edge is often defined as where the sensor collects the data. Securely analyzing and disseminating the tremendous amounts of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) data and electronic warfare/signals intelligence (EW/ SIGINT) data collected by the sensors on strategic autonomous platforms — air, land, sea, and space — is a herculean task. Sensor data management requires sophisticated signal processing and the latest in artificial intelligence (AI) solutions together with robust and secure data frameworks having strong cyber protection. This session details how secure embedded AI and commercial technology innovations enable users to gather more accurate intelligence at greater speed from autonomous ISR platforms.
For military sensor systems, the edge is often defined as where the sensor collects the data. Securely analyzing and disseminating the tremendous amounts of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) data and electronic warfare/signals intelligence (EW/ SIGINT) data collected by the sensors on strategic autonomous platforms — air, land, sea, and space — is a herculean task. Sensor data management requires sophisticated signal processing and the latest in artificial intelligence (AI) solutions together with robust and secure data frameworks having strong cyber protection. This session details how secure embedded AI and commercial technology innovations enable users to gather more accurate intelligence at greater speed from autonomous ISR platforms.
Strategic Partnerships Director, Crystal Group
Todd Prouty is the Strategic Partnerships Director at Crystal Group, where he drives collaboration and growth across the rugged computing and defense technology markets. He plays a key role in advancing Crystal Group’s high-performance, rugged solutions for defense, government, and industrial customers, helping strengthen technology partnerships and expand mission-critical capabilities. He also serves as Treasurer of the Iowa–Illinois chapter of the National Defense Industrial Association and brings decades of experience aligning technical innovation with customer needs.
Software Engineer Team Lead, Sealevel Systems
Martin Bowman is the Software Engineer Team Lead at Sealevel Systems, leading secure embedded development for mission-critical applications. With a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering and decades of experience across semiconductors, industrial systems, and oil and gas, he specializes in embedded security, including secure boot, cryptography, and hardware root of trust.
