Defense Leadership Forum Convenes National Small Business Government Contracting Conference
Brought Together Government, Military, and Small Business Leaders RESTON, VA, UNITED STATES, September 3, 2026
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Brought Together Government, Military, and Small Business Leaders
RESTON, VA, UNITED STATES, September 3, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — The Defense Leadership Forum (DLF) convened the 2026 Small Business Government Contracting Summit this week in the Washington, DC area, bringing together military and government officials, GovCon experts, and small businesses nationwide. The purpose of the national conference and expo was to introduce small businesses to government and private sector agencies and organizations which can strengthen the backbone of America’s economy.
The Summit Opening Address was provided by John Shultz, Acting Director of the new DoW Warfighting Investments, Resourcing, and Execution (WIRE) Office, which is working to substantially expand the U.S. industrial supply chain so it can support new DoW priorities.
The Summit Keynote Address was given by Greg Justice, the Associate Administrator of GSA’s Office of Small Business. The latest in GSA acquisition services was provided by Rear Admiral (Ret.) Nick Kalathas, Division Director, GSA Acquisition Solutions Division.
Subcontracting opportunities for small businesses were highlighted by Rita Brooks, SAIC’s Small Business Director, who convened a panel of small business directors from Boeing Defense, SoSi, and NTT DATA.
An update on Iran and the Middle East and how it affects U.S. military contracting was provided by Rear Admiral (Ret.) Brad Williamson, the 32nd Commandant of the Joint Forces Staff College.
The Summit was held at the Carahsoft Conference & Collaboration Center in Reston, Virginia. Carahsoft is a leader in providing a comprehensive range of IT solutions for customers across the U.S. and Canada, including the U.S. government. Its Vice President of Government Programs & Strategy, Michael McCalip, provided welcoming remarks.
The Summit was supported by multiple U.S. Department of War (DoW) agencies, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), and the National Veteran Small Business Coalition (NVSBC). Major Summit Sponsors included USFCR, CLEATUS, RADICL, A-LIGN, databrackets, and Espresso Labs. The Summit was moderated by Neil McDonnell, CEO of the GovCon Chamber of Commerce.
The Summit was organized by the Defense Leadership Forum, a public service organization bringing together Congressional leaders, Pentagon officials, military commanders, and business representatives to identify the best solutions to defend the United States. For the past 16 years, thousands of military, government, and business leaders have participated in DLF’s highly regarded national conferences.
William Loiry
United States Defense Leadership Forum
+1 202-375-9587
william.loiry@usdlf.org
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