2026 NDIA First Coast Defense Round Table: A Strategic “Catalyst” Event
About this Event
This high-impact engagement is purpose-built to accelerate defense-driven growth by breaking down operational and industrial silos across the region. Rather than a traditional conference, it is a mission-focused, roundtable working session designed to generate immediate, actionable outcomes—cultivating strategic partnerships across the Department of Defense, military installations, private industry, and academia throughout Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia.
Positioned at the intersection of national security and industrial capability, this initiative serves as a force multiplier in response to projected defense-sector expansion through 2026. The event operates as a catalyst for:
- Next-Generation Defense Technology: Rapid integration of AI, autonomy, and advanced systems into operational and regional defense ecosystems.
- Defense Industrial Base Expansion: Scaling advanced manufacturing capacity to meet accelerating federal procurement and sustainment demands.
- Veteran Talent Pipeline Development: Transitioning highly trained service members into critical roles that strengthen and sustain the defense industrial workforce.
Strategic Defense Anchors
The region’s strength is anchored by a dense concentration of critical military infrastructure and defense assets, collectively generating billions in annual economic activity and forming the backbone of a resilient defense industrial base:
- NAS Jacksonville: A premier naval aviation hub and major employer, contributing approximately $1.2 billion annually to the regional economy while supporting aviation readiness and sustainment.
- Naval Station Mayport: One of only two East Coast strategic Navy homeports, enabling fleet operations and sustainment, supported by a robust network of more than 50 regional shipbuilding and repair firms.
- NSB Kings Bay: A mission-critical strategic deterrence installation, reinforced by over $556 million in recent federal infrastructure and modernization investments.
- Marine Corps Support Facility Blount Island: The cornerstone of the Marine Corps’ global prepositioning program—1,200 acres of logistics, sustainment, and rapid deployment capability—injecting over $188 million annually into the regional economy.
- 125th Fighter Wing, Florida Air National Guard (Jacksonville): A critical air defense asset responsible for continuous aerospace control alert missions, homeland defense, and rapid-response combat capabilities across the Southeast United States.
By aligning these strategic assets with industry and innovation partners, the First Coast is solidifying its position as a premier national security hub—driving defense readiness, industrial resilience, and technological superiority through 2026 and beyond.
Social Hour to follow at Hyatt Regency Bar at 4pm- 7pm.
For more information about the event: 2026 CTMA Partners Meeting – NCMS
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00 to USD 802.15
