Wednesday, December 10 and Thursday, December 11, 2025
Philadelphia PA
INNOVATION PAVILION AGENDA
121 N Christopher Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Thurs. Oct 9
Small Business Day (open to the public)
| Thurs. Oct. 9 | Topic |
|---|---|
| 12:00 Noon | Innovation Pavilion Opens |
| 12:30pm |
Opening Remarks
Chris Scafario, President & CEO, DVIRC
|
| 12:30pm-1:30pm |
Fueling Innovation: Partnerships for the Maritime Industrial Base Future
Josh Sturgill, PA Workforce Lead, Maritime Industrial Base
|
| 1:30pm-2:00pm |
Workforce, Technology, Supplier Development Tools and Programs for SMMS
Beth Deuermeyer, Director of Workforce Development
Matt Bilsky, Ph.D., PE Founder & CEO, Flx Solutions Mike Hiller , Director, Laboratory Testing, Inc. |
| 2:00pm-2:30pm |
One Team One Fight: The Talent Pipeline Program & Why it Matters for your Workforce
Vince Jordan, New Flag Expansion U.S. Navy Talent Pipeline Project, Chief of Workforce Success, TMG Inc.
|
| 2:30pm-3:15pm |
The Future is Now: AI and Tech Insights from the AI Center of Excellence
Moderator: Brian Deal, Business Strategy Advisor, DVIRC
Sylvia Wower, COO, DVIRC Ken Jones, Co-Founder, Claritee AI Sam Thevanayagam, CEO, Parts Life Inc. and Deval Lifecycle Support Rob Crossett, Regional VP of Business Development, DVIRC Nico de Soussa Serro, CI/Lean Consultant, DVIRC |
| 3:15pm-4:00pm | General Pavilion Activities |
| 5:00pm | Executive Reception |
Fri. Oct 10
Supplier Development Day (ticketed event)
| Fri. Oct. 10 | Topic |
|---|---|
| 8:30am–9:30am | Registration & Networking |
| 9:30am–9:45am | Opening Ceremony |
| 9:45am–10:00am |
Welcome to Philadelphia: A City of Innovation
Jen Gilburg, Deputy Secretary Technology & Innovation, PA-DCED
Antonio Merlo, President of Drexel University |
| 10:00am–10:45am |
Advanced Maritime Manufacturing Technologies and the Navy’s View Towards the Future
Moderator: Jonathan E. Spanier, Drexel University
Nigel Thijs, Technical Director, Naval Surface Warfare Philadelphia Division Yolanda Mack Ph.D., Associate Dean, Industry Partnerships, College of Engineering, Rowan University Shari Sterling, Director, Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Rotary and Mission Systems, Lockheed Martin Don Hairston, VP for Submarines & Advanced Technologies, AUSTAL USA |
| 10:45am–11:00am | Networking Break |
| 11:00am–11:30am |
The Future of Talent, Technology and Innovation in the Defense Industrial Base
Dr. Michael Winter, FRAeS, FAIAA Chief Scientist, RTX
|
| 11:30am–12:00pm |
Maritime Industrial Base Insights
Matt Sermon, Executive Director of Programs, Executive Office Strategic Submarines Program Manager, Maritime Industrial Base
|
| 12:00pm–1:00pm | Lunch Pavilion Exploration |
| 1:00pm–1:15pm |
The Maritime Future: Innovation for Security and Prosperity
David Kim, CEO Hanwha
|
| 1:15pm–2:15pm |
Charting the Navy’s Industrial Future: Keynote Address
Jason Potter, Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition)
|
| 2:15pm–2:30pm | Break and Pavilion Exploration |
| 2:30pm–3:15pm |
Control OR Command
David Marquet, Retired U.S. Navy Captain, Submarine Commanding Officer, Best-Selling Author of Turn the Ship Around
|
| 3:15pm–4:00pm |
Building Tomorrow’s Talent: Maritime Industrial Base Insights
Moderator: Josh Sturgill, PA Workforce Lead, Maritime Industrial Base
Stephanie Montejano, Workforce Development HR Rep Sr., Electric Boat Corporation Vince Jordan, New Flag Expansion U.S. Navy Talent Pipeline Project – Chief of Workforce Success, TMG Inc. Joseph Welsh, Government Affairs, Community College of Philadelphia |
| 4:00pm |
Networking & Booth Exploration
|
Sat. Oct 11
Workforce Development Day (open to the public)
| Sat. Oct. 11 | Discussion |
|---|---|
| 9:00 AM–12:00 Noon | Booth Exploration & Demonstrations |
| 12:00pm–12:20pm |
Myth Busters: What’s Cool in the School – Educational Resources
Carrie Curtis, Lead Strategic Partnerships, Education, and Workforce Systems
|
| 1:00–3:00pm |
STEM Event - Shark Tank Student Competition
Charles Lentz
|
| 2:00pm–2:20pm |
Myth Busters: What’s Cool in the School – Educational Resources
Carrie Curtis, Lead Strategic Partnerships, Education, and Workforce Systems
|
| All Day |
First Robotics booth with Frank Farrell and Robotics Team Welding students with Joe Williams from the Joe Williams Welding Foundation NJMEP with virtual welding BuildSubmarines Inflatable Submarine Electric Hydroplane Demonstrations with Michael Briscoe Am Soc. Of Naval Engineers |
Upcoming Events
NDIA Delaware Valley’s 2025 Naval Nuclear Submarine and Aircraft Carrier Suppliers Conference
DVIRC’S Annual Look Forward for 2026
Details Coming Soon