Moving Targets: Navigating Shifting Government Priorities in Autonomy & Robotics Contracts

With government funding, restrictions and autonomy programs in constant motion, winning federal, state and local contracts requires agility and insight. This panel of procurement experts, government advisors and successful industry leaders explores how changing NDAA provisions, Chinese drone bans at the federal, state and local levels and the execution of OBBBA funding continue to reshape the competitive landscape. Attendees will leave armed with the tools to thrive in a fast-evolving government autonomy & robotics marketplace with practical strategies to secure awards under major programs like DIU’s Blue Framework, SBIR/STTR, NASA SEWP and OMNIA Partner contracts and more. (Worth 1 General CLE Credit Hour)

Building the Future: Legal Frameworks for Global AAM and eVTOL Operations and Infrastructure

As Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and eVTOL operations move from concept to reality, the race is on to establish the legal, regulatory and infrastructure frameworks that will enable this transformative mode of transport. This expert panel will examine the evolving global regulatory landscape, including the FAA’s Powered-Lift and Vertiport regulatory and policy frameworks, emerging state and local considerations and the parallel global developments shaping vertiport design, certification and AAM integration. Experts will analyze what’s in place, what’s missing and how governments, airports and operators can close the regulatory and infrastructure gaps necessary to make air taxis, cargo eVTOLs and other advanced air truly take off. (Worth 1 General CLE Credit Hour)

Guardrails for Innovation: Liability & Risk Management in Autonomy and Robotics

In the fast-moving world of autonomy, robotics, drones and air taxis, protecting your business from legal, financial and operational risks is mission-critical. This panel of legal, insurance and security experts will explore end-to-end strategies for liability protection, from physical security and data protection to information assurance and intellectual property safeguarding. Attendees will also learn how robust safety management systems (SMS), tailored insurance coverage and proactive legal engagement can mitigate the impact of accidents, security breaches and disputes. Whether defending against IP infringement, securing sensitive operational data or ensuring regulatory compliance, attendees will walk away with a framework to protect their autonomy-driven enterprises from mayhem. (Worth 1 General CLE Credit Hour)

State of the States Vol. III

This high-impact roundtable explores U.S. drone and AAM legal and other readiness at the state level. Building on the past two years’ acclaimed discussions on this topic, panelists will reveal how leading states are advancing commercial drone and AAM integration through legislative engagement, relevant laws, task forces, operational test beds and more. Discover how policy innovation and coordinated governance continue to boost each state’s position on the tech leaderboard and gain actionable insights into how federal, state and local collaboration continues to shape nextgen emerging aviation policy. (Worth 1 General CLE Credit Hour)

Minds and Machines: AI Law and Ethics in Autonomous Systems

Artificial intelligence continues to reshape autonomy, robotics and uncrewed operations, which raises complex legal, ethical and governance questions. This expert panel will examine the hottest issues driving today’s AI policy landscape, from military and international regulations to AI transparency, algorithmic accountability and liability when the “machine” makes a bad “decision.” Discussion will address both defense and commercial applications, spotlighting how various AI tools are influencing design, decision-making and operational oversight in autonomous systems. Attendees will gain practical insights into managing AI compliance, bias mitigation and business risk while fostering innovation in a rapidly evolving technological ecosystem. (Worth 1 General CLE Credit Hour)

Layers of Protection: Airspace Awareness, Safety & Counter-Drone Defense

In low-altitude airspace, one catastrophic drone or air taxi incident could set the industry back years. Using the “Swiss Cheese Model” of airspace safety, this high-impact panel will explore how overlapping layers of technology, policy and law can prevent disaster and build public trust in emerging aviation. Experts will examine cutting-edge tools for airspace awareness and protection, including counter-UAS systems, electronic conspicuity solutions, detect-and-avoid technology, ADS-B, radar integration and air/ground risk analytics. Discussion will also address evolving legal frameworks, operational best practices and lessons learned from real-world safety events to provide a comprehensive view of how to safeguard both the skies and the communities below. (Worth 1 General CLE Credit Hour)

Building Digital Fortresses: Cybersecurity, National Security & Communications Resilience for Autonomous Systems, Sara Baxenberg, Panelist

As autonomous systems increasingly power critical missions, from commercial drone deliveries to military robotics, cybersecurity, communications integrity and regulatory compliance remain the foundation of safety and trust. This panel of technical, legal and policy experts will explore end-to-end protection strategies against GPS spoofing, signal jamming, command-link interference and network breaches, drawing lessons from real world use cases including the war in Ukraine, where unmanned systems faced persistent electronic warfare and cyber attacks. Beyond securing the aircraft or robot itself, panelists will examine vulnerabilities across backend networks, cloud-based control systems and data pipelines, alongside the laws, regulations and compliance frameworks such as Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) that shape accountability in autonomy. The panel will also explore the evolving patchwork of national security-focused supply chain and equipment restrictions being implemented across the federal government. Attendees will gain actionable insights on building resilient architectures and clean supply chains, maintaining communications network stability, deploying compliance-driven security protocols and fostering robust cyber awareness programs to ensure autonomous operations remain secure, lawful and mission-ready. (Worth 1 General CLE Credit Hour)

Closing Comments LTC Day 2 – Keeping the Connections Alive

Host summary of workshop, next steps and future synergies and survey administration.