The landscape of modern warfare is evolving at an unprecedented pace, driven by intensifying global competition and the rapid emergence of new technologies. In this critical moment, the need for integrated solutions and agile partnerships across sectors has never been greater. It's against this backdrop that the Federal Technology Symposium (FTS) returns to Fayetteville Technical Community College for its fourth year on September 9–10, 2025. This pivotal gathering serves as one of the most important platforms in the nation, aligning federal defense priorities with private-sector innovation and academic expertise.

Hosted by the Offices of U.S. Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd, the North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC), and Fayetteville Technical Community College, FTS offers a high-level forum to explore how the United States can dramatically accelerate capability development and strengthen its defense industrial base through a truly whole-of-nation approach.

From Operational Need to Innovation Delivery

What truly sets FTS apart is its direct link to operational commands and real-world warfighter requirements. The FTS kicks off with an impactful "fireside chat" featuring Chief Technology Officers (CTO) from the XVIII Airborne Corps, Joint Special Operations Command, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, and U.S. Army Forces Command. This unique conversation provides attendees with an unparalleled, firsthand perspective on how technology must evolve to meet current and future mission demands, grounded in the realities of multi-domain operations, contested logistics, and the digital battlefield. Attendees will also have an opportunity to visit and learn how leading innovation hubs like the Airborne Innovation Lab and the LTG Gavin Joint Innovation Outpost, both located on Fort Bragg, are actively bridging the critical gap between prototype development and fielded solutions.

Strategic Sessions, Real-World Applications

FTS will feature sessions that explore the future of national defense technology and its supporting industrial ecosystem and provide practical pathways for engagement with federal agencies and end-users.

• Forging the Future: Strategic Innovation Pathways for National Defense: This session will reveal how the Department of Defense (DoD) is identifying and investing in emerging technologies from artificial intelligence and autonomy to cyber resiliency and energy systems. Attendees will gain crucial insights into how industry can anticipate and align with these vital future requirements.
• Technology Innovation Showcase: In this high-energy format, select companies will deliver rapid pitches of their dual-use technologies directly to senior federal decision-makers. This is an unparalleled opportunity for innovators to receive direct feedback and for government leaders to discover promising dual-use technology solutions that might otherwise remain unseen.
• Building Tomorrow’s Force: Cultivating Talent for the Defense Industry: This crucial discussion focuses on the human element of innovation. Representatives from higher education and workforce development organizations will share vital insights on equipping the next generation of technical talent for essential roles in defense, cybersecurity, and advanced manufacturing.
• Bridging the Gap: Aligning Tactical Solutions with Strategic Goals: Highlighting leading defense innovation outposts and OnRamp initiatives, this session will demonstrate how early-stage technologies are rigorously tested, adapted, and rapidly accelerated into the hands of warfighters. The focus remains on ensuring seamless alignment between technology developers and the operational realities of modern conflict.

Policy-Aligned, Opportunity-Driven

FTS is aligned with key national policy directives, including DoD’s emphasis on rapid acquisition, dual-use technology transition, and resilient supply chains. The event also strongly supports the goals of the SBIR and STTR programs, which are instrumental in enabling small businesses to engage in federal research & development and commercialization efforts. While recent updates to these programs, such as simplified contracting and transition incentives, may be discussed, the FTS’ core emphasis will remain on driving practical outcomes: prototypes delivered, contracts executed, and technologies successfully transitioned to operational use.

"FTS is designed to do more than just inform. We want companies and universities to walk away with a clear understanding of where the opportunities are and precisely how to act on them. Whether it’s through a pitch session, a direct conversation with a CTO or Warfighter, or forging a new relationship with an agency, the ultimate goal is impact,” Bob Burton, Director of Defense Technologies at the North Carolina Military Business Center 

North Carolina: A Defense Innovation Leader

North Carolina has firmly established itself as a national model for aligning regional innovation capacity with federal mission needs. With institutions like Fayetteville Technical Community College leading crucial workforce development efforts and its strategic proximity to major commands at Fort Bragg, the state is uniquely positioned to lead the way in defense technology integration. FTS leverages these inherent strengths, providing a vital venue where national strategy converges with regional capability and where innovation is swiftly transformed into mission-ready solutions through structured collaboration.

Looking Ahead: Innovation as a Strategic Imperative

The FTS arrives at a time of urgency and immense opportunity. DoD is urgently calling for faster development cycles, greater interoperability, and more robust partnerships across its innovation base. Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security is making significant investments in advanced systems for border security, disaster response, and critical infrastructure protection, all while America’s adversaries are rapidly fielding disruptive technologies.

In this context, FTS is far more than a mere convening. It is a strategic instrument designed to forge essential connections, dramatically reduce barriers to entry, and ultimately shape the technologies that will define the next generation of national defense. By anchoring innovation firmly in operational need and seamlessly linking strategy with execution, FTS powerfully affirms that national security is not the sole work of one sector. It is a shared mission, one that demands the collective talents, tools, and unwavering commitment of our entire nation.

For more information on the FTS visit: https://defense.ncmbc.us/ and the NCMBC https://www.ncmbc.us/

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