Defense Innovation for Mission Impact
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Program Dates
Format
Time Commitment
Program Fee
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Overview
The U.S. defense sector is entering a period of renewed growth, technological change and industrial-base rebuilding. Bringing together Darden degree program students, many of whom are veterans, with executives in the defense industry, this intensive program gives federal business leaders, investors, entrepreneurs and contractors a practical foundation for serving defense customers.
Collectively, we will explore how the customer buys, how firms innovate under acquisition and security constraints, and how to align strategy, operations, supply chains, cyber, AI and policy with mission needs. Participants will build a playbook for creating value for the warfighter while navigating ethics, compliance and public-sector complexity.
Join our inaugural program, with a unique opportunity to interact with our professional and residential degree program students for a cross-Darden learning experience. The program fee includes tuition, course materials, and scheduled coffee and snacks.
Government and military participants receive 20% discount on program registration fee.
Intended For
Focus
Learn alongside Darden degree program students and defense industry executives as you examine how the defense ecosystem works, how U.S. and allied government customers buy and where new opportunities are emerging. Gain a practical foundation for creating value for the warfighter while navigating the complexities of serving the national-security mission.
Through Darden case discussions, guest-protagonist dialogue and Learning Team application sprints, participants will engage directly with the opportunities and complexities of the defense sector. Subject-matter experts from defense, technology, manufacturing, cybersecurity, space, ethics and public policy are expected to enrich selected sessions; final contributors will be announced as confirmed.
This is a participant-directed executive education program. Darden will provide program communications, essential logistical information and on-site coordination. Participants are responsible for arranging their own travel, accommodations, meals and personal logistics.
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Schedule & Featured Topics
A five-day intensive that runs approximately 9am-5pm daily, wrapping up at lunchtime on the final day. Combining cases, short technical notes, faculty-led discussions, executive dialogue and structured team application work.
Co-led by Tim Laseter, Professor of Practice at Darden and former partner at Booz-Allen, and Joe Thomas, Director of the Stockdale Institute for Ethical Leadership at the Naval Academy and retired Marine Colonel, the program uses Darden's case discussion approach to help participants pressure-test assumptions, learn from peers and apply ideas immediately to their own organizations. Featured session topics include:
- Evolution of the defense industrial base
- Leadership, ethics and rules of engagement
- Project Maven and AI-enabled warfare
- Strategic sourcing, FAR and warfighter acquisition
- Defense Tech and Project management
- Rapid innovation and nontraditional suppliers
- Venture funding for the defense sector
- Customer acquisition in a complex bureaucracy
- Re-shoring and the US Industrial manufacturing base
- Entrepreneurship through acquisition and supplier growth
- Supply-chain management and defense cybersecurity
- Policy analysis and political savvy
- Opportunities for serving international allies
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Impact & Outcomes
- Map the defense ecosystem: customers, primes, suppliers, investors, policy stakeholders and bottlenecks.
- Translate warfighter needs into customer-discovery, acquisition, partnership and operating choices.
- Evaluate innovation opportunities across AI, cyber, space, manufacturing, supply-chain security and acquisition reform.
- Build a practical action agenda for serving defense customers responsibly and competitively.
Participant Takeaway: a defense-sector innovation playbook that clarifies where your organization can compete, how to engage the customer, what capabilities and partnerships are required, and how to manage the ethical, security, regulatory and political risks of serving the national-security mission.
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Participant Profile
This program is designed for:
- Executives, entrepreneurs, investors and functional leaders pursuing growth in defense, aerospace, cyber, space, manufacturing or dual-use technology.
- Business-development, capture, sourcing, supply-chain, operations and product leaders who need to understand defense customers and acquisition pathways.
- Federal employees (from DoD as well as other national security like CBP and TSA) interested in encouraging business innovation to support the mission.
- Government-adjacent and veteran leaders translating mission insight into business innovation. Including current service members transitioning away from active duty.
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Location & Accommodations
Location
UVA Darden DC Metro
1100 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, VirginiaThe program fee includes tuition, course materials, and scheduled coffee and snacks. Lodging, transportation, and meals are not included.
Lodging
Accommodations should be arranged by the participant. Recommended accommodations include:
Hilton Arlington Rosslyn The Key
1900 Fort Myer Drive, Arlington, Virginia, 22209
Tel: +1 703-952-1900Hyatt Centric Arlington
1325 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia, 22209
Tel: +1-703-525-1234Le Méridien Arlington
1121 North 19th Street, Arlington, VA 22209
Telephone: +1-703-351-9170
A five-day intensive that runs approximately 9am-5pm daily, wrapping up at lunchtime on the final day. Combining cases, short technical notes, faculty-led discussions, executive dialogue and structured team application work.
Co-led by Tim Laseter, Professor of Practice at Darden and former partner at Booz-Allen, and Joe Thomas, Director of the Stockdale Institute for Ethical Leadership at the Naval Academy and retired Marine Colonel, the program uses Darden's case discussion approach to help participants pressure-test assumptions, learn from peers and apply ideas immediately to their own organizations. Featured session topics include:
- Evolution of the defense industrial base
- Leadership, ethics and rules of engagement
- Project Maven and AI-enabled warfare
- Strategic sourcing, FAR and warfighter acquisition
- Defense Tech and Project management
- Rapid innovation and nontraditional suppliers
- Venture funding for the defense sector
- Customer acquisition in a complex bureaucracy
- Re-shoring and the US Industrial manufacturing base
- Entrepreneurship through acquisition and supplier growth
- Supply-chain management and defense cybersecurity
- Policy analysis and political savvy
- Opportunities for serving international allies
- Map the defense ecosystem: customers, primes, suppliers, investors, policy stakeholders and bottlenecks.
- Translate warfighter needs into customer-discovery, acquisition, partnership and operating choices.
- Evaluate innovation opportunities across AI, cyber, space, manufacturing, supply-chain security and acquisition reform.
- Build a practical action agenda for serving defense customers responsibly and competitively.
Participant Takeaway: a defense-sector innovation playbook that clarifies where your organization can compete, how to engage the customer, what capabilities and partnerships are required, and how to manage the ethical, security, regulatory and political risks of serving the national-security mission.
This program is designed for:
- Executives, entrepreneurs, investors and functional leaders pursuing growth in defense, aerospace, cyber, space, manufacturing or dual-use technology.
- Business-development, capture, sourcing, supply-chain, operations and product leaders who need to understand defense customers and acquisition pathways.
- Federal employees (from DoD as well as other national security like CBP and TSA) interested in encouraging business innovation to support the mission.
- Government-adjacent and veteran leaders translating mission insight into business innovation. Including current service members transitioning away from active duty.
Location
UVA Darden DC Metro
1100 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, Virginia
The program fee includes tuition, course materials, and scheduled coffee and snacks. Lodging, transportation, and meals are not included.
Lodging
Accommodations should be arranged by the participant. Recommended accommodations include:
Hilton Arlington Rosslyn The Key
1900 Fort Myer Drive, Arlington, Virginia, 22209
Tel: +1 703-952-1900
Hyatt Centric Arlington
1325 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia, 22209
Tel: +1-703-525-1234
Le Méridien Arlington
1121 North 19th Street, Arlington, VA 22209
Telephone: +1-703-351-9170
We’re excited by the breadth of topics ranging from technology to finance to strategic sourcing…but more excited that the format allows us to include both MBAs and non-degree professionals including veterans, entrepreneurs and current federal executives.
Earn Your Certificate
This program counts toward a noncredit Darden Certificate in Leadership & Management. Complete this program and three additional programs within a seven-year period to earn your certificate.
Faculty
Timothy M. Laseter
Professor of Practice
