Defense Curious: From Curious to Mission Critical
Tuesday, September 29, 2026, 12:00 PM PDT – 8:00 PM PDT
777 S Aviation Blvd ste 210, El Segundo, CA 90245, USA
Hosted by THE BR-DGE
Defense Curious connects commercial founders and venture capital with senior national security leaders for a full afternoon of candid, tactical conversation. Designed for newcomers to defense, the event unpacks how to navigate government contracting, deploy capital, convert dual-use tech into mission-critical capability, and solve the space sector's most urgent capability gaps. Meet Representatives & Decision-Makers From: Connect directly with decision-makers, program offices, and key defense innovation hubs including general officers and senior executive leadership in attendance to validate capability gaps and pinpoint your government customers: Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) Missile Defense Agency (MDA) USSF PAE Leads Commercial Space Office (COMSO) Space Systems Command (SSC) Small Business Office Agenda Highlights • Keynotes: Maj. Gen. Joseph Kunkel (Evolution of Military Space) and Ms. Natalie Riedel (Closing Critical Capability Gaps) Fireside Chat: Maj. Gen. Kim Crider (ret) on military to commercial innovation transitions Tactical Panels: Acquisition pathways, dual-use scaling, and regional economic growth Legal & IP Briefing: ITAR, FOCI, and protecting IP rights High-Value Networking: Interactive government Q&A, pre-assigned investor/founder matchmaking, and an extended evening reception with defense and military leaders Event Details • Date: September 29, 2026 • Time: 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM • Location: THE BR-DGE, 777 South Aviation Boulevard, El Segundo, CA Key Attendance Information Government Tickets: Strictly for verified military/government personnel. Registration requires an official .mil/.gov email address (personal emails will be declined). Parking & Logistics: Rideshare encouraged. Onsite parking is $20 (credit/debit only; no Apple Pay). Sponsorships: Email marketing@dti.space for networking sponsorship opportunities.