The Irregular Warfare Initiative (IWI) and the Special Operations Association of America (SOAA) are proud to present the South America in Competition Conference on July 16th and July 17th, 2025. Bringing together ~200 leaders from government, academia, private industry, and media, the event will feature keynote speakers and expert panels exploring the region’s role in strategic competition. Topics will include the influence of alliances and non-state actors, threats to the U.S. homeland and emerging technologies, the SOF–Space–Cyber triad, critical minerals and supply chain resilience, economic statecraft and democratic backsliding, and the evolving landscape of information operations and open-source intelligence.
This conference aims to foster interagency collaboration across the Departments of Defense, State, Treasury, Commerce, Congress, and private sector leaders. Government and industry participants will have dedicated networking opportunities, and attendees will experience live demonstrations of cutting-edge technologies by sponsors.
The event will culminate in an invitation-only South America-focused crisis simulation, offering select participants a unique opportunity to model integrated responses to adversarial escalation and build cross-sector relationships critical to advancing U.S. objectives in the Western Hemisphere.
Who Should Attend:
This conference aims to foster interagency collaboration across the Departments of Defense, State, Treasury, Commerce, Congress, and private sector leaders. Government and industry participants will have dedicated networking opportunities, and attendees will experience live demonstrations of cutting-edge technologies by sponsors.
The event will culminate in an invitation-only South America-focused crisis simulation, offering select participants a unique opportunity to model integrated responses to adversarial escalation and build cross-sector relationships critical to advancing U.S. objectives in the Western Hemisphere.
Who Should Attend:
- U.S. government officials and interagency professionals involved in national security and policy
- Senior military and defense leaders
- Industry stakeholders across defense, finance, and critical infrastructure sectors
- Academic researchers and scholars focused on security, strategy, and international affairs
- Journalists and media professionals covering defense, geopolitics, and economic statecraft
Location
Carahsoft Headquarters
11493 Sunset Hills Road
Reston, Virginia 20190
11493 Sunset Hills Road
Reston, Virginia 20190
Date & Time
July 16th and 17th, 2025
7:30am-6pm
7:30am-6pm
General (ret.) Alberto José Mejía Ferrero
Former General Commander of the Colombian Military Forces
General Mejía led the Colombian Army, and subsequently the Colombian Military Forces, between 2015 and 2018. His prestigious four-decade career has spanned irregular warfare, counterinsurgency, and special operations. Since leaving military service, General Mejía has also served as the Colombian Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand, and is currently a consultant with the United States Institute of Peace.
Major General (ret.) James Linder
Former Chief of Staff at U.S. Special Operations Command
Maj. Gen. Linder is the former Chief of Staff at U.S. Special Operations Command. He has led troops and operations globally with a career spanning from the 82nd Airborne Division to the 75th Ranger Regiment to the 5th Special Forces Group to commanding Special Operations in Africa, the Philippines, and Afghanistan. MG(R) Linder has also served with NATO and the Intelligence Community.
Ms. Theresa Whelan
Director of Defense Intelligence for Sensitive Activities and Special Programs
Theresa Whelan is the Director for Defense Intelligence Collections and Special Programs. Theresa is the Former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Global Security. With over 30 years in defense intelligence and policy, Theresa has advised on U.S. national defense strategy and served in multiple roles at the DOD and the National Intelligence Council.
Mr. Randall Harvey
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations Policy & Programs, Secretariat for Special Operations
Mr. Randall Harvey is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations Policy and Programs. He has supported special operations for over 20 years, with a career across the Office of the Secretary of Defense (Policy), Air Force Special Operations Command, and most recently, as a leader at a data analytics company.
July 16th: Conference
0730-0830
Registration and Coffee
0830-0840
Welcome and Overview
Umar Ahmed Badami, Conference Director
0840-0850
Opening Remarks
- Craig Abod, CEO, Carahsoft
- Kyle Atwell, Co-Founder and Chair of the Board of Directors, Irregular Warfare Initiative
- Daniel Elkins, Founder and President, Special Operations Association of America
- Kyle Atwell, Co-Founder and Chair of the Board of Directors, Irregular Warfare Initiative
- Daniel Elkins, Founder and President, Special Operations Association of America
0850-0940
Keynote Address: General Alberto José Mejía Ferrero on South American Perspectives on Regional Security and Competition
0940-1000
Guest Address: Leland Lazarus on the Importance of South America in Competition
1010-1100
Panel Discussion: Emerging Technologies and Threats to the Homeland
Moderator: Will Walker, Head of Growth, Onebrief
Panelists:
- Dr. Evan Ellis, Research Professor, U.S. Army War College
- Hunter Stires, Maritime Strategist to the Secretary of the Navy
- Lino Miani, Managing Director, Aero-Eye
- Adam Fife, CEO, CenCore Group
Panelists:
- Dr. Evan Ellis, Research Professor, U.S. Army War College
- Hunter Stires, Maritime Strategist to the Secretary of the Navy
- Lino Miani, Managing Director, Aero-Eye
- Adam Fife, CEO, CenCore Group
1110-1200
Panel Discussion: Economic Statecraft and Supply Chains
Moderator: Dr. Erin McFee, President, Corioli Institute
Panelists:
- Leland Lazarus, Term Member, Council on Foreign Relations
- Alexa Van Anne, Deputy Branch Chief for Economic Security and Strategic Engagement, DoD GIES
- Catherine Woods, Associate Managing Director, Institute for Financial Integrity
- Siddharth Iyer, Strategic Growth Lead, Vannevar Labs
Panelists:
- Leland Lazarus, Term Member, Council on Foreign Relations
- Alexa Van Anne, Deputy Branch Chief for Economic Security and Strategic Engagement, DoD GIES
- Catherine Woods, Associate Managing Director, Institute for Financial Integrity
- Siddharth Iyer, Strategic Growth Lead, Vannevar Labs
1200-1300
Catered Lunch
1300-1350
Roundtable Discussion: Operations-Intel Fusion
Moderator: Lt. Col. Douglas Livermore, Deputy Commander, Special Operations Detachment - X
Panelists:
- Maj. Gen. (ret.) James Linder, Former Chief of Staff, USSOCOM
- Ms. Theresa Whelan, Director for Defense Intelligence Collections and Special Programs
- Mr. Randall Harvey, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations Policy and Programs
Panelists:
- Maj. Gen. (ret.) James Linder, Former Chief of Staff, USSOCOM
- Ms. Theresa Whelan, Director for Defense Intelligence Collections and Special Programs
- Mr. Randall Harvey, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations Policy and Programs
1400-1450
Panel Discussion: The SOF-Space-Cyber Triad in South America
Moderator: Guido Torres, Executive Director, Irregular Warfare Initiative
Panelists:
- Rear Adm. (ret.) Robert Wright, United States Space Command
- Lt. Col. Moises Juliao, Alenttay Solutions
- Mr. Rick de la Torre, Senior Vice President, Continental Strategy
- Dr. Fabiana Perera, Defense Security Cooperation University
Panelists:
- Rear Adm. (ret.) Robert Wright, United States Space Command
- Lt. Col. Moises Juliao, Alenttay Solutions
- Mr. Rick de la Torre, Senior Vice President, Continental Strategy
- Dr. Fabiana Perera, Defense Security Cooperation University
1500-1550
Panel Discussion: Adversary Networks and Open-Source Intelligence
Moderator: David Cook, Executive Director, Special Operations Association of America
Panelists:
- Dr. Ryan Berg, Director of the Americas Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies
- Dr. John Stockton, Co-Founder, Quantifind
- Phil Fuster, VP of Government Sales, SpyCloud
Panelists:
- Dr. Ryan Berg, Director of the Americas Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies
- Dr. John Stockton, Co-Founder, Quantifind
- Phil Fuster, VP of Government Sales, SpyCloud
1600-1630
Reflections and Look Ahead
Umar Ahmed Badami, Conference Director
1630-1800
Technology Demos and Social Hour
July 17th: Invitation-Only Crisis Simulation
0730-0800
Registration and Coffee
0800-0830
Welcome
- Umar Ahmed Badami, Head of Wargaming, Irregular Warfare Initiative
- Guido Torres, Executive Director, Irregular Warfare Initiative
- Guido Torres, Executive Director, Irregular Warfare Initiative
0830-0850
Keynote Address
Clementine Starling-Daniels, Director of Forward Defense Program, Atlantic Council
0850-0920
Plenary Address and Intro to Onebrief
Adam Lackey, COO, Onebrief
0930-1000
Crisis Simulation Briefing
Umar Ahmed Badami, Head of Wargaming, Irregular Warfare Initiative
1000-1200
Crisis Simulation
1200-1300
Working Lunch
1300-1600
Crisis Simulation
1600-1700
Debriefing and Closing Remarks
- Umar Ahmed Badami, Head of Wargaming, Irregular Warfare Initiative
- Guido Torres, Executive Director, Irregular Warfare Initiative
- Guido Torres, Executive Director, Irregular Warfare Initiative
1700-1800
Social Hour
By registering for the crisis simulation, you consent to audio recording for internal transcription purposes.
Organizers and Sponsors
Irregular Warfare Initiative
The Irregular Warfare Initiative (IWI) is a non-profit organization working to bridge the gap between scholars, practitioners, and policymakers engaged in the study and practice of irregular warfare. Through a mix of publications, podcasts, and events, IWI fosters dialogue on gray zone conflict, information warfare, proxy competition, and other forms of conflict that fall below the threshold of conventional war. By connecting academic research with operational insights, IWI helps prepare today’s thought leaders for the complex challenges of the modern national security environment and strategic competition.
Special Operations Association of America
The Special Operations Association of America (SOAA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for the interests of the U.S. special operations community. SOAA works to ensure that current and former special operations personnel receive the support, resources, and recognition they have earned. The organization also engages directly with Congress, the Department of Defense, and other stakeholders on national security issues that affect the special operations enterprise. SOAA promotes public understanding of special operations through strategic communications, veteran engagement, and partnerships with industry and academia.
Location
Carahsoft HQ
11493 Sunset Hills Road, Reston, Virginia 20190
11493 Sunset Hills Road, Reston, Virginia 20190
Join us on July 16th and 17th!