AFCEA's DoN Maritime IT Summit 2023

I attended the Department of the Navy Chief Information Office (DON CIO) conference, where experts and leaders from the defense sector, government, industry, and academia gathered to discuss cybersecurity, digital innovation, and data democratization. The conference was a multi-day event featuring keynote addresses, panel discussions, and demonstrations showcasing the current and future technological capabilities of the Navy and Marine Corps.

The event's main focus was panel discussions, but I connected with people I already knew and met some new faces in the defense industry around the booths and at the socials, mostly. For instance, it was cool getting some face time with companies in the AI/ML space especially. I connected with the people behind BrewAI, DataDog, GDIT, Jupiter, ManTech, and many more.

Also, visiting Norfolk, VA, for the first time was a pleasant experience. It's a charming small, coastal town with a great waterfront — a good escape from big city life.