As global cyberattacks escalate against military systems, energy grids, and autonomous technologies, the National Defense Industrial Association Michigan Chapter will host the 10th Annual Cyber-Physical Systems Security Summit on May 13–14 at Oakland University in Rochester Hills.
The event — the only one of its kind in the United States — will convene some of the nation’s foremost defense strategists, military scientists, technology leaders, and business innovators to address existential threats to America’s critical infrastructure and battlefield systems.
Attendees will engage with leaders shaping national security, including:
- Gen. Paul Rogers, adjutant general of the Michigan National Guard, discussing cyber-physical threats to domestic infrastructure.
- Dariusz Mikulski, lead research scientist for the United States Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) and event chair, presenting research on preventing robot hijacking in military systems.
- John Garstka, director of cyber warfare for the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, detailing unclassified five-year projections for Department of Defense cyber threats.
- Brennan Hay, cybersecurity director at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and Dan Trujillo, space cyber resiliency lead for the Air Force Research Laboratory, revealing strategies to secure aerospace systems.
- And additional leaders
“The Cyber-Physical Systems Security Summit is where the nation’s brightest minds come together to confront the most urgent security challenges of our time,” says Jennifer Tisdale, NDIA board member and event co-chair. “This is the place where tomorrow’s defense strategies are forged, and attendees can become part of the solution.”
Sessions are designed to deliver tactical solutions, including:
- Robot Hijack Resiliency: Learn how the U.S. Army is hardening autonomous systems against cyberattacks.
- Securing the Skies: Boeing and NASA experts expose vulnerabilities in connected aviation systems.
- Digital Engineering Revolution: Carnegie Mellon and Army researchers demonstrate how AI-driven design is transforming military cybersecurity.
- Open-Source Intelligence Capture-the-Flag: Hands-on exercises led by United States Army cyber specialists.
The summit is a unique event where automotive, aerospace, and robotics leaders can directly connect with procurement officers from the Department of Defense, senior advisors from the U.S. Department of Energy, and representatives from NASA, General Dynamics, Bosch, and other prime contractors.
Attendees will learn:
- Align with Department of Defense Priorities: Learn how to position products and services for upcoming defense contracts in cybersecurity, autonomous systems, and digital engineering.
- Solve Real-World Challenges: Panels will dissect case studies from the Army, NASA, and critical infrastructure operators.
- Forge Defense Partnerships: Connect with the Michigan Capital Network’s Small Business Investment Company Critical Technologies Initiative, a gateway to defense funding.
- Networking: Meet and greet top defense companies and explore ways to collaborate
“This summit is a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between research, policy, and real-world defense operations. The conversations and collaborations that happen here will shape the future of cybersecurity for our nation’s most critical systems,” says Dariusz Mikulski, lead research scientist at U.S. Army DEVCOM GVSC, and event co-chair.
The event will be held at Oakland University’s Oakland Center at 312 Meadow Brook Rd. in Rochester.
To register, visit here.
The NDIA Michigan Chapter has supported America’s warfighters since its founding in 1944. As a nonprofit organization committed to fostering collaboration between government, industry, and academia, NDIA MI serves as a connector within the defense community. For more information, visit ndia-mich.org.
