Federal Networks 2026
September 17, 2026
The Westin Arlington, Virginia
2026 Agenda is posted below!
We are pleased to announce that the 39th annual Federal Networks Conference will return to the Washington, DC area September 17, 2026.
Federal Networks 2026 brings together the top decision-makers from key Federal and DoD agencies to share their latest plans for how they will design, purchase and operate their networks to improve support for the warfighter and enhance the efficiency of government operations.
Federal Networks is now more important than ever to help you learn the latest requirements, strategies and plans for defending and modernizing the government’s IT technology and infrastructure. We will cover new DoD and civil agency requirements for public and private cloud, Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing, SD WAN, 5/6 G, Zero Trust, SASE, Edge Computing, EITaaS, and other emerging technologies.
We look forward to joining you September 17, 2026 to help determine how the government, partnered with industry, will leverage the latest network and IT technologies to deliver tomorrow’s solutions.
If you have any questions, or are interested in speaking or sponsoring Federal Networks, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.
Sincerely,
Warren Suss – President, Suss Consulting and Federal Networks Program Chair
Dr. Matthew Lucas – TeleStrategies Inc.
For information about sponsoring Federal Networks 2026 please contact Sarah Salko by email at: [email protected] or call 215-884-5900.
Federal Networks 2026 Conference Agenda
Note: additional speakers pending approvals
| 8:30 - 9:00 AM: Keynote Address |
Opening Remarks – How Artificial Intelligence Will Be a Federal Marketplace Game Changer
The conference chairman’s opening remarks will focus on how the rapid evolution of Artificial Intelligence models is resulting in significant federal marketplace disequilibrium that calls into question many of our steady-state assumptions at the heart of the government’s acquisition strategies and industry’s processes for designing winning solutions to address the government’s most important requirements.
Warren Suss – President, Suss Consulting Inc. and Conference Chairman
9:00 - 9:30 AM: GSA Update Part 1: OneGov Initiative Fireside Chat |
OneGov Initiative Fireside Chat
How the Federal Acquisition Service is creating ways to buy smarter, move faster, and deliver better value for customers. This session will include an update on GSA priorities, FAS service model and ASD's expanded portfolio, as well as limited time offers, pathways to direct contracts, considerations for expanding beyond enterprise software and other recent updates to OneGov.
- Lawrence Hale, Assistant Commissioner, Office of Acquisition Solutions Development (ASD), Federal Acquisition Service (FAS)
- Kyra Stewart, Executive Director, Vendor Management Office, ASD, FAS
9:00 - 9:30 AM: GSA Update Part 2: GSA IT Modernization Update |
GSA IT Modernization Update
This panel will provide insights into how industry can partner with GSA to meet emerging agency technology requirements and implement solutions to modernize government IT. The panel will provide an update on GSA’s telecommunications portfolio which includes Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions contracts, as well as Wireless Mobility Solutions, Commercial Satellite Communications Solutions, and Earth Observation Solutions using Special Item Numbers on the Multiple Award Schedule. The panel will also share insights into how GSA will partner with industry to address the government’s emerging technology requirements including Artificial Intelligence, 6G, and Post Quantum Cryptography. They will also share lessons learned from recent contract transitions so that GSA working with their industry partners can better serve government customers in the future.
- Everlean Rutherford (Moderator), Acting Executive Director, Office of IT
Category, ASD, FAS - Deborah Hren, Director, Business Management Division, ETS, ASD, FAS
- Sheela Sastry, Branch Chief - Solutions Brokers, ETS, ASD, FAS
- Loren Smith, Director - Solutions Development, ETS, ASD, FAS
- G. Robert "Bob" Patterson - Solutions Development, ETS, ASD, FAS
GSA Telecommunications Portfolio & Beyond EIS Q&A
10:30 - 11:00AM: GSA Breakout Session/Networking Break
| 11:00 - 11:45AM: Navy Session |
Navy Update
Session description forthcoming
11:45 AM – 12:00PM: Navy CIO Breakout Session
| 12:00 – 1:30 PM: Lunch, Sponsored by: |  |
KEYNOTE LUNCHEON: DISA Keynote Address
An overview of DISA’s most important initiatives, including the latest developments related to network infrastructure and upgrades, cybersecurity, cloud computing, Artificial Intelligence, Unified Communications (UC), and secure mobility. The presentation will also include an update on organizational changes and DISA’s budget.
- Christopher Barnhurst - Deputy Director, DISA
| 1:30 - 3:00PM: DISA Update, Sponsored by: |  |
Top DISA executives will describe the latest strategies and plans for the Defense Department’s networks, network services, and capabilities with an emphasis on upcoming requirements from industry. The presentations will cover upcoming DISA requirements for network infrastructure, services, enhancements, and upgrades; enterprise services; cloud services and migration; Artificial Intelligence; and cybersecurity.
- Sajeel Ahmed (Moderator), Executive Director, DISA J6
- Christopher A. Paczkowski, Director, DISA PAE Transport Directorate
- Brian Hermann, DISA Director and Program Executive Officer, DISA PEO Cyber
- Nick Creswell, DISA Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Mission Partner Environment
- Sharon McMillon, Vice Director for Programs, DISA J-6*
3:00 – 3:30 PM: DISA Breakout Session/Networking Break
| 3:30 – 4:00 PM: DISA J-6 Pentagon Operations Update |
DISA’s Vice Director for Operations will give a briefing on the critical role that the DISA J-6 Pentagon plays in ensuring the highest levels of availability, reliability and cybersecurity of the Pentagon's networks, considering the complexity of the systems and technologies employed to protect and manage them.
- Brigadier General Francisco J. Dominguez, USAF, DISA Vice Director for
Operations*
4:00PM: FEDERAL NETWORKS - Reception and Networking
Conference sessions, times, and speakers are subject to change.
*invited and pending final agency approval
Uniti Wholesale - Lead Sponsor
Uniti Wholesale delivers nationwide AI-ready dark fiber and scalable high-capacity transport—wavelength, Ethernet, and wireless backhaul—over a secure, resilient optical network. Our platform empowers federal agencies to move data confidently and meet evolving requirements, while enabling carriers, cloud providers, and enterprises to scale without limits. Uniti Wholesale—Your Trusted Federal Infrastructure Partner.
Spectrum Enterprise - Associate Sponsor
Spectrum Business®, a Charter Communications brand, has the expertise and solutions to improve constituent service delivery, enable seamless collaboration and help safeguard critical data. Our diverse solutions span security, internet, voice and collaboration, managed services, networking and TV, while our consultative approach helps identify the best technologies to accomplish your mission.
TekSynap
TekSynap delivers cutting-edge IT solutions that power federal agencies through cyber operations, cloud modernization, core infrastructure, and AI ML innovation. With a deep understanding of government environments, we combine enterprise-grade capabilities with a nimble, customer-first approach. Our philosophy—Technology moving at the speed of thought®—drives us to deliver secure, scalable, and forward-thinking solutions that meet the evolving demands of today’s federal missions.
For information about sponsoring Federal Networks, please contact Sarah Salko
[email protected] or by phone at (215) 884-5900