Hear directly from Sea Service commanders across warfare domains as they articulate how the Navy and Marine Corps are evolving tactics, training, and capabilities to fight and win in an increasingly complex, multi-domain environment. This panel explores the integration of doctrine, technology, and personnel required to generate lethal, agile forces capable of deterring great power war and responding decisively across contested seas and expeditionary theaters. Watch here...

Sponsored by:

Explore the strategic framework guiding the U.S. Marine Corps' force posture in the Indo-Pacific. Discover how the Corps is modernizing units, deepening alliances, and investing in forward infrastructure to deter aggression and respond decisively to crises in this critical region. Hear from experts on enhancing readiness, maritime dominance, and lethality in the face of peer adversaries. Watch here...

In this session, resource sponsors will explore how the future fleet should be structured to address warfighting requirements. Panelists will discuss the optimal size, composition, capabilities, and adaptability required to maintain superiority with an eye on the rising threat posed by China. Discussions will cover the balance of manned and unmanned platforms, and other transformative technologies that will shape the fleet's capabilities in the next 5-10 years. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of the mission-driven approach to future fleet design. Watch here...

Sponsored by:

The Navy's warfare tactics instructors (WTIs) are the critical connective tissue between real-world operational experience and fleet-wide capability development. This panel brings together WTIs from across warfare communities to discuss how they capture lessons learned from real-world operations and ensure Navy teams receive timely and effective training. Hear directly from those shaping tactical proficiency across the fleet. Watch here...

This session will discuss how the Sea Services are funding the modernization and strategic priorities to meet today's challenges. Panelists will address the budgetary initiatives underway to balance readiness, force structure, and innovation and explain how Congressional engagement shapes naval strategy and budgets. Watch here...

Sponsored by:

As the character of war rapidly evolves, the Marine Corps' Force Design is the driving force behind modernization efforts. This panel discussion will provide an update on how Force Design is enabling the Corps to stay ahead of the curve, equipping Marines with the tools to thrive in contested environments. From precision fires and unmanned systems to resilient command and control and data-driven decision-making, Force Design is the continuous campaign of learning that is refining capabilities and sustaining maritime dominance. Watch here...

The Navy’s modernization depends not only on innovation and acquiring new technologies, but on intellectual advantage enabled by deeply understanding the technologies transforming warfare. This panel examines how defense-focused warfighter education and hands-on applied research can accelerate the development and application of emerging technologies: from AI to directed energy, hypersonics to autonomy, and additive manufacturing to space systems. Panelists will discuss how advanced education has/can shape innovation pathways across the Naval enterprise to enhance lethality, readiness, resiliency, and decisive advantage for the Fleet. Learning Objectives: Upon completion, the participant will gain a better understanding of the new intellectual advantage required for modern... ...read more...

The Indo-Pacific remains the focal point for great power competition and maritime security. This panel convenes senior naval leaders from across the region to discuss how allied and partner navies are operationalizing shared interests, coordinating force employment, and building interoperable capabilities to maintain freedom of navigation, deter aggression, and preserve stability. Watch here...

Sponsored by:

The integration of the Marine Corps into Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO) is critical to sustaining maritime power and warfighting readiness for the future fight. This panel brings together senior Navy and Marine Corps leaders to examine how sea and land forces are evolving to operate as an integrated, forward-postured, lethal naval team. Panelists will discuss the Marine Corps’ role in expeditionary advanced base operations, long-range fires, sensing, and maneuver, as well as the command-and-control structures, force design initiatives, and training efforts that enable effective naval integration. Attendees will gain insight into how concepts, capabilities, and modernization priorities are aligning to... ...read more...

Building a fleet capable of meeting today’s operational demands—and tomorrow’s contested maritime environment—requires a resilient industrial base, an agile workforce, and sustained partnership between government, industry, and Congress. This panel of experts will examine the full ecosystem required to deliver the ships and submarines the nation needs. Panelists will explore the modernization of U.S. shipbuilding infrastructure, workforce development initiatives, and supply chain resilience. They will also discuss the role of public-private partnerships, key policy considerations shaping naval shipbuilding, innovative funding mechanisms, and the integration of advanced manufacturing technologies that can accelerate delivery and improve quality. With perspectives spanning the executive... ...read more...

Sponsored by:

Don't miss the opportunity to hear from all three Sea Service Chiefs in one location. Lunch will be served before the Town Hall. Tickets are required and the lunch is SOLD OUT. If you would like to see the Keynote, please go to the SAILS pavilion and the Operations and Focus Stage - it will be livestreamed there.  Watch here...

Sponsored by:

Unmanned systems are rapidly transforming the battlespace, offering new capabilities to detect, deter, and defeat adversaries in the high-end fight. This panel brings together senior Navy leaders, acquisition officials, and defense experts to examine how the U.S. is accelerating the development, integration, and fielding of unmanned platforms across the Sea Services. Panelists will discuss emerging concepts, acquisition strategies, and operational innovations that enable unmanned systems to complement manned forces, increase lethality, and expand maritime domain awareness. Watch here...

In parallel to the WEST conference theme, “Sustaining Maritime Dominance: Warfighting Readiness for the Future Fight,” this senior-leader panel will explore how the sea services and Joint Force are operationalizing information as a core element of high-end distributed maritime operations This discussion will examine how the services are integrating C4ISR, cyber, data, AI, and spectrum operations to enable resilient command and control, decision advantage, and synchronized effects across a highly distributed force. Panelists will address challenges and opportunities in interoperability, zero-trust architectures, cyber resilience, coalition operations, and accelerating acquisition at the speed of relevance—while maintaining readiness for conflict at scale.... ...read more...

Sponsored by:

As the Navy tries to grow the fleet under increasing industrial strain, innovation and production beyond traditional shipyards is critical to sustaining maritime power. This session will explore how non-traditional defense companies are delivering agile, disruptive solutions and how prime contractors are partnering with innovative small companies to scale capability and close the fleet capacity gap. Moderated by Mr. Michael Stewart, former Director of the Navy Disruptive Capabilities Office, the panel will examine advanced manufacturing, digital engineering, modular design, and new acquisition approaches that accelerate production while reducing costs and improving quality. Attendees will gain insights into the opportunities and... ...read more...

Deterrence in the Indo-Pacific requires integration, operational credibility, and the ability to execute complex warfighting across multiple domains. This panel brings together senior commanders and innovators actively shaping how U.S. forces operationalize warfighting capability, integrate Coast Guard and Marine Expeditionary operations, and develop the tactics and concepts required to prevail. Panelists will discuss how they're building lethal, distributed forces capable of contesting peer competitors, the role of experimentation and warfighting development in closing capability gaps, and the operational approaches that translate deterrent posture into actual fighting strength across the Indo-Pacific. Watch here...

Sponsored by:

Industrial capacity and strategic resilience are inseparable in great power competition. This panel examines how allied nations can contribute shipbuilding and repair capabilities to strengthen collective naval power, reduce dependency on vulnerable supply chains, and build interoperable fleets. Panelists will discuss the strategic calculus behind allied shipbuilding partnerships, the industrial challenges of scaling production while maintaining quality and interoperability, and how nations are positioning shipyards as force multipliers in deterrence and warfighting. Hear from industry leaders and strategic analysts on the geopolitical implications of allied industrial cooperation and the role commercial shipbuilding ventures play in sustaining maritime dominance. Watch here...