ARP and NPS News
The Honorable Michael P. Duffey, Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment, left, and Jason L. Potter, performing the duties of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition will serve as keynotes for Accelerating Warfighting Capabilites, the 23rd Annual Acquisition Research Symposium & Innovation Summit, hosted online by the Naval Postgraduate School, May 6-7, 2026. (Courtesy photos)
The Need for Speed — Senior DOW Acquisition Leaders to Keynote NPS Symposium
NPS Public Affairs, Naval Postgraduate School
High-level leaders from the Department of War (DOW) will join scholars and industry experts to discuss strategies for speeding the transition of technology from development to the battlefield at Accelerating Warfighting Capabilities, the 23rd Annual Acquisition Research Symposium and Innovation Summit hosted by NPS.
- Prominent Speakers: The Honorable Michael P. Duffey, Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment, and Mr. Jason L. Potter, performing the duties of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition, will headline the event, bringing senior-level perspectives on accelerating acquisition outcomes during a decisive moment for national defense.
- Actionable Reform: The event emphasizes the urgent need to translate broad acquisition reforms into tangible results, specifically focusing on how the department can move faster to deliver critical capabilities to the warfighter.
- Research-Centric Foundation: As the only forum dedicated specifically to research informing acquisition reform, this event provides the essential analytical foundation for improving how the military acquires and adapts force capabilities.
- Legacy of Excellence: Following last year's record-setting 1,400 participants, the event - now in its 23rd year - continues NPS’s long-standing tradition of fostering innovation in support of national priorities.
- Program Details: Visit the event website at ResearchSymposisum.com to see the full speaker line-up and complete your registration.
Faces of NPS: Michael Cadenazzi, Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy
Naval Postgraduate School Foundation
This interview with the Honorable Michael Cadenazzi, an NPS alumnus currently serving as the Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy, explores how NPS can bridge the gap between technical engineering and national security strategy.
- Industrial Base Chief: Sworn in as Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy in September 2025, Cadenazzi serves as the principal advisor for securing critical supply chains for national security.
- Global Competition: Cadenazzi highlights the urgent challenge posed by China’s massive manufacturing capabilities and civil-military fusion, necessitating a "whole of nation" approach to revitalize the defense industrial base.
- Operational Sandbox: He views NPS as a vital, neutral environment where active-duty students can rapidly test and validate unproven industry technologies before formal programs spend significant funds.
- Portfolio Strategy: Cadenazzi advocates for a venture-capital-inspired approach, allowing the Department of War to hedge bets on multiple agile spinouts instead of committing prematurely to a single monolithic program.
- Symposium Participation: Hear directly from Hon. Cadenazzi at Accelerating Warfighting Capabilities, NPS's 23rd Acquisition Research Symposium & Innovation, taking place virtually on May 6 & 7. Visit the event site to see the full program and complete your registration.
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