Pre- and Post-Conference Sessions

These 4 sessions require separate registration. Add them when you register for Capital Week.

Already registered for Capital Week? Email registration@same.org to request that a session be added to your registration.
 

IGE Summit #1: AI in the Federal A/E/C Sector

Tuesday, March 24, 2026 | 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Registration Fee: $99 Industry Member | $129 Industry Non-Member | $0 Government Member | $29 Government Non-Member

Artificial intelligence is increasingly part of the federal A/E/C conversation, but practical adoption remains uneven, cautious, and often opaque. While some organizations are experimenting with AI to improve efficiency, decision-making, and delivery, many leaders are still grappling with questions around security, compliance, data governance, and where AI can realistically be applied within federal constraints.

This Industry Government Engagement (IGE) session will create space for a candid, informed discussion on the current state of AI adoption across the federal A/E/C ecosystem. Rather than focusing on speculative future capabilities, the session will explore where AI is being tested today, what barriers are commonly encountered, and how both industry and government are approaching risk, policy, and implementation decisions.

Through a facilitated mix of discussion, examples, and interactive engagement, participants will examine:

• Common AI use cases being explored in federal A/E/C environments
• Friction points related to cybersecurity, CMMC, acquisition, and data protection
• How leaders are evaluating AI opportunities without compromising compliance or mission outcomes
• Where collaboration between industry and government can accelerate responsible adoption

 Designed for senior leaders and practitioners, this session emphasizes practical insight, shared learning, and actionable perspective over vendor-driven narratives. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of the AI landscape today—and better questions to guide decisions moving forward.

IGE Summit #2: NDAA & Procurement: Change is Coming

Tuesday, March 24, 2026 | 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Registration Fee: $99 Industry Member | $129 Industry Non-Member | $0 Government Member | $29 Government Non-Member

This IGE Session is divided into 4 modules and will explore recent changes in federal acquisition, driven by the 2026 NDAA signed in December 2025. The new law aims to boost innovation, speed up capabilities, expand competition, and lower barriers for small businesses and non-traditional contractors. Notable updates include increased use of design-build approaches and multi-year contracting to save costs and improve planning for military construction. Defense agencies will focus on faster technology adoption, alternative contracting methods, and stronger industry partnerships with open communication.

MOD 1: Understand the strategic implications of the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act and how recent acquisition reforms expand authorities to accelerate readiness and infrastructure delivery across the Joint Force.
MOD 2: Evaluate how to translate the full legal and operational authority granted for progressive design build into effective practice—drawing on lessons from public sector successes and identifying how acquisition teams can confidently apply these tools under current statutes to deliver mission aligned outcomes.
MOD 3: Assess how acquisition teams can translate legally granted authorities for industrialized construction and alternative construction methods into practical, mission focused execution—leveraging these tools to deliver cost effective, scalable infrastructure solutions at speed that meet modern operational demands.
MOD 4: Translate the legally granted authorities embedded in the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (RFO) into consistent, practical execution by integrating War University (WARU) insights, training, and best practices—ensuring acquisition teams can confidently apply new statutory authorities in real world operations. And finally melt the frozen middle.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

• Understand the strategic implications of the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act and how recent acquisition reforms expand authorities to accelerate readiness and infrastructure delivery across the Joint Force.
• Evaluate the full legal and operational use of progressive design build authorities, including lessons from public sector success and how acquisition teams can confidently apply these tools under current statute.
• Translate acquisition reform into execution by integrating Defense Acquisition University (DAU) insights, training, and best practices to enable teams to implement new authorities consistently and effectively.
• Assess the role of industrialized construction and alternative building methods in delivering cost effective, scalable infrastructure solutions at speed to support modern operational demands.

 

Ukraine Symposium: Defense and Civilian Sector Forecasts

Tuesday, March 24, 2026 | 1:30-4:00 p.m.
Registration Fee: $99 Industry Member | $129 Industry Non-Member | $0 Government Member | $29 Government Non-Member

This joint event organized by SAME Ukraine Field Chapter, with SAME Blue Ridge Post, SAME DC Post and ISOA will be delivered via two panel sessions.

Defense Panel 1: Ukraine’s Defense Outlook for 2026: Strategy, Capacity, and Operational Realities
This panel examines Ukraine’s anticipated defense posture in 2026, including battlefield dynamics, force readiness, sustainment challenges, and allied support, with a focus on how current military realities are shaping near- and mid-term planning assumptions.

Civil Panel 2: Resilience by Design: Planning Now to Rebuild Ukraine’s Civilian Infrastructure
This panel focuses on how ongoing Russian attacks on civilian energy infrastructure underscore the need to plan now for resilient reconstruction, examining steps that can be taken during the conflict to protect civilians, preserve essential services, and accelerate long-term recovery.
 

Advancing the Sentinel Mega Series Program 

Tuesday, March 26, 2026 | 12:30-4:00 p.m. includes lunch
Registration Fee: $149 Industry Member | $199 Industry Non-Member | $0 Government Member | $49 Government Non-Member

Through the Sentinel Program, the Air Force is modernizing the U.S. land-based leg of the nuclear triad, launching one of the largest infrastructure programs in recent history. The Sentinel will replace the Minuteman III nuclear deterrent, presenting a unique, once-in-a-generation effort that requires full collaboration between the A/E/C industry and government. As stated by Northrup Grumman, the lead contractor responsible for developing the system: Sentinel includes "a new missile, a vast command, control, and communications capability, and hundreds of infrastructure projects, including hardened facilities spread across thousands of miles in five states." Sentinel is expected to be in operation, once completed, through 2075. SAME has established a multi-part IGE Series on Sentinel, bringing leading decision-makers and industry stakeholders together to help ensure that private industry is informed of opportunities, timelines and expectations for this $100 billion-plus decades-long investment. This session will continue the conversation that has gathered several senior leaders across the defense community, including agency representatives overseeing the scope and planning of Sentinel's infrastructure support.