Thank you to every member of the CDF team for making #DisruptorsByTheLakes 2026 a success! Behind the event are hundreds of hours of planning, coordination, and collaboration — all driven by a shared commitment to supporting America’s warfighters and strengthening our national security. #CreativeDisruptors

A great first visit within the 🇺🇸 for Amb. Hanso @Creative_Def #DisruptorsByTheLakes in St. Paul, Minnesota. Important discussions on defense innovation, technology adoption and allied cooperation, with 🇬🇧 🇨🇦 🇳🇴 🇳🇱 partners, Members of Congress, and @DeptofWar tech leaders.

Dr. Jenny McCardle, General Manager, US for @HelsingAI: Designing for manufacturability up front is the only way forward to manufacture for mass. Our design team works hand in glove with production the moment we start developing a new attritable system. This allows us to make design decisions that drive subcomponents and cost down and strip out significant assembly time. It also ensures the production process is simple, allowing us to train people off the street in 1.5 days and invest in Americans to build. #DisruptorsByTheLakes #CreativeDisruptors

Lukas Czinger, CEO of @Divergent__Tech: What do we need to be successful in providing end systems at scale? We need to pair resiliency with scale, using tools that can multitask to make a cruise missile, an auto part, or a fuselage. The factory needs to be agnostic to the end project and able to adapt rapidly. That is how we add value to our partners and the warfighter. #DisruptorsByTheLakes #CreativeDisruptors

Jeb Nadaner, Senior VP of Air: Congress and the Department's leadership have given the authorities and powers that are needed, but there is still a gap among some of the mid-level resource managers in how to maximize these tools to unleash innovation. #DisruptorsByTheLakes #CreativeDisruptors

Bernie Gauf, CEO of IDT: The speed at which you can deliver results through automation and AI will only get faster. The profound impact of the National Security Prototype to Production OT Consortium (NSPPC) will allow you to push those innovations in real time. #DisruptorsByTheLakes #CreativeDisruptors

.@RepFinstad: We have seen huge leaps in the last few years to bring innovation to the warfighter, and we are committed to providing the time, the effort, and the sweat to keep the momentum going. #DisruptorsByTheLakes #CreativeDisruptors

.@BettyMcCollum04: We know that to bring innovation to the warfighter, we need to go beyond talk and take decisive steps to change the culture at the department. #DisruptorsByTheLakes #CreativeDisruptors

We’re thrilled to welcome @FirehawkAero back as a Strategic Partner for #DisruptorsByTheLakes! Firehawk is the propulsion company built for the age of volume, delivering solid rocket motors, energetic materials, and propellant at scale. #CreativeDisruptors

America’s defense depends on innovation that keeps our national security ecosystem agile and resilient. We look forward to convening government, industry, and investment leaders driving defense innovation for #DisruptorsByTheLakes, Sept. 18–19 in St. Paul. Learn more ➡️ creativedefense.org #CreativeDisruptors

SAVE THE DATE: #DisruptorsByTheLakes is back September 18-19, 2026, in St. Paul. More information + registration coming soon!

Thank you to every sponsor, exhibitor, and speaker who made #DisruptorsInTheDesert 2026 our most disruptive event yet! America's security is dependent on the kind of groundbreaking innovation we saw this weekend -- and we're just getting started. Stay tuned for more info on this year's #DisruptorsByTheLakes.

Dave Alexander, President of @GenAtomics_ASI, on being mission-driven: A lot of people want to work in the field of uncrewed aircraft. What sets us apart is our bigger purpose. It keeps us all coming back to work because we're actually making a difference. #DisruptorsInTheDesert

Bernie Gauf, CEO of IDT: I commend the leadership of the RCO and ONR. They’ve been very flexible and clear about their needs and priorities. From an industry perspective, that’s a huge help: being clear on what’s needed and when. #DisruptorsInTheDesert

disRUFFtors in the desert? 🤖🐶 #DisruptorsInTheDesert #CreativeDisruptors

2nd and final day of #DisruptorsInTheDesert! 🚀#CreativeDisruptors

...and that's a wrap on our first Warfighting Innovation Summit! 🎖️ Thanks to everyone who made these unique discussions possible. Tune in again tomorrow for the final day of #DisruptorsInTheDesert.

Susanne Hake, EVP and GM for U.S. Government Business @vantortech: "You don’t have to create everything from scratch. There are so many companies here that do great work. Partner with them." #DisruptorsInTheDesert #CreativeDisruptors

Kicking off #DisruptorsInTheDesert 2026 and looking forward to our best event yet! Today, we're launching the first-ever Warfighting Innovation Summit. 🫡 #CreativeDisruptors

With just two weeks to go, we want to thank the sponsors powering #DisruptorsInTheDesert! Your support makes this gathering of defense innovators possible. #CreativeDisruptors