The Irregular Warfare Initiative (IWI) and the Special Operations Association of America (SOAA) will host a two-day conference at Carahsoft Headquarters in Reston, Virginia, focused on the role of critical minerals and rare earth elements in strategic competition. As demand for these resources grows across defense, energy, and advanced technologies, control of supply chains has become a central factor in national security and irregular competition.
Bringing together 400–600 leaders from government, industry, academia, and the national security community, the conference will examine how strategic resources are used as instruments of leverage, denial, and influence. Day one will focus on supply chain vulnerabilities, economic statecraft, and gray-zone dynamics, while day two shifts to forward-looking solutions and emerging approaches to strengthening resilience. The event will also include an invitation-only working group and tabletop exercise (TTX), convening senior stakeholders to explore how to compete and shape outcomes in contested resource environments.
Bringing together 400–600 leaders from government, industry, academia, and the national security community, the conference will examine how strategic resources are used as instruments of leverage, denial, and influence. Day one will focus on supply chain vulnerabilities, economic statecraft, and gray-zone dynamics, while day two shifts to forward-looking solutions and emerging approaches to strengthening resilience. The event will also include an invitation-only working group and tabletop exercise (TTX), convening senior stakeholders to explore how to compete and shape outcomes in contested resource environments.
Location
Carahsoft HQ
11493 Sunset Hills Road, Reston, VA
11493 Sunset Hills Road, Reston, VA
Date & Time
July 21, 2026, 8:30 AM- 4:00 PM
July 22, 2026, 8:30 AM- 3:30 PM
July 22, 2026, 8:30 AM- 3:30 PM
Keynote Speakers
Maura Burns
Former Chief Operating Officer, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
Jacob Clayton
Chief Executive Officer, SAGINT
Day One Fireside Chat
Ambassador Sarah Ann Lynch
- Former U.S. Ambassador to Guyana
Rick de la Torre
Founder & CEo, tower strategy
CONFERENCE AGENDA
Day One: Tuesday, July 21st
Systems, Risk & Strategic Competition
7:30 AM
Registration and Coffee
8:30 AM
Welcome
8:45 AM
Opening Remarks
Special Operations Association of America (SOAA) and Irregular Warfare Initiative (IWI) Leadership
9:00 AM
Keynote Address
Maura Burns
Former CIA Chief Operating Officer
Former CIA Chief Operating Officer
9:30 AM
Networking Break
9:40 AM
Panel One: Supply Chain Deconstructed
Mining, processing, logistics, and critical chokepoints
Moderator:
Clinton West- Partner & President of Supply Chain Security Practice, Aardwolf Global Solutions
Panelists:
Brad Dragoon- Partner, HKA
Evanna Hu- Co-Founder, Critical Minerals Forum
Geoff Atkins- Managing Partner, Strategic Minerals Group
Dana Bralver- Senior Services Analyst, Sayari
Moderator:
Clinton West- Partner & President of Supply Chain Security Practice, Aardwolf Global Solutions
Panelists:
Brad Dragoon- Partner, HKA
Evanna Hu- Co-Founder, Critical Minerals Forum
Geoff Atkins- Managing Partner, Strategic Minerals Group
Dana Bralver- Senior Services Analyst, Sayari
10:30 AM
Networking Break
10:40 AM
Panel Two: Economic Statecraft & Strategic Competition
Resource constraints, national security implications, and investment as a tool of state power
Moderator:
Alex Zerden- Founder, Capitol Peak Strategies
Panelists:
Clara Park- Senior Research Scientist, Duke University
Ike Blanton- VP, Government Relations, JA Green & Company
Aubrey Hruby- Co-Founder, Tofino Capital
Ryan Berg- International Affairs Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations
Moderator:
Alex Zerden- Founder, Capitol Peak Strategies
Panelists:
Clara Park- Senior Research Scientist, Duke University
Ike Blanton- VP, Government Relations, JA Green & Company
Aubrey Hruby- Co-Founder, Tofino Capital
Ryan Berg- International Affairs Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations
11:30 AM
Fireside Chat
Moderator-
Timothy Torres- Managing Partner, SOF(t)
Guests:
Ambassador Sarah Ann Lynch- Former Ambassador to Guyana
Rick de la Torre- Founder & CEO, Tower Strategy
Timothy Torres- Managing Partner, SOF(t)
Guests:
Ambassador Sarah Ann Lynch- Former Ambassador to Guyana
Rick de la Torre- Founder & CEO, Tower Strategy
12:15 pM
Lunch
1:15 PM
Panel Three: Illicit Networks & Grey Zone Activity
Non-state actors, shadow trade, and proxy dynamics
Moderator:
Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Christopher Burns- Senior Advisor, Valens Global
Panelists:
Professor John Melkon Ph.D- Critical Minerals Consoritum, West Point
Dr. Sean McFate- Senior Advisor, Valens Global
Kristi M. Rogers- Founder & CEO, P2P Strategies
James Mulvenon- Vice President of Intelligence, Pamir Consulting
Moderator:
Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Christopher Burns- Senior Advisor, Valens Global
Panelists:
Professor John Melkon Ph.D- Critical Minerals Consoritum, West Point
Dr. Sean McFate- Senior Advisor, Valens Global
Kristi M. Rogers- Founder & CEO, P2P Strategies
James Mulvenon- Vice President of Intelligence, Pamir Consulting
2:05 PM
Networking Break
2:15 PM
Partner Brief: No One Left Behind
2:20 PM
Panel Four: Private Sector on the Front Lines
Industry perspectives on operating in contested environments
Moderator:
Hamlet Yousef- IronGate Capital Advisors
Panelists:
Shayne Berlo- Founding Partner & Executive Vice President, Kinetix International Logistics
Eric Muschinski- Founder & CEO, Phenom Ventures
Rick de la Torre- Founder & CEO, Tower Strategy
Tom Albanese- Chairman, American Ocean Minerals (AOM)
Moderator:
Hamlet Yousef- IronGate Capital Advisors
Panelists:
Shayne Berlo- Founding Partner & Executive Vice President, Kinetix International Logistics
Eric Muschinski- Founder & CEO, Phenom Ventures
Rick de la Torre- Founder & CEO, Tower Strategy
Tom Albanese- Chairman, American Ocean Minerals (AOM)
3:10 PM
Closing Remarks
3:30- 7:00 PM
Networking Reception & Strategic Capabilities Showcase
Network with attendees and engage with organizations advancing solutions in critical minerals and supply chain security.
Day Two: Wednesday, July 22nd
Futures, Solutions & Strategic Response
7:30 AM
Coffee and Conversation
8:30 AM
Opening Remarks
8:35 AM
Keynote Address
Jacob Clayton
CEO, SAGINT
CEO, SAGINT
9:05 AM
Panel Five: The Future of Extraction & Processing
Emerging methods, alternative materials, and reshoring efforts
Moderator:
Eric Muschinski- Founder & CEO, Phenom Ventures
Panelists:
Dr. David Dreisinger- Metallurgical Advisor, Phenom Resources Corp.
Ben Kincaid- CEO, ReElement Africa
Jonathan Ray- Director of Government Services, Pamir Consulting
Moderator:
Eric Muschinski- Founder & CEO, Phenom Ventures
Panelists:
Dr. David Dreisinger- Metallurgical Advisor, Phenom Resources Corp.
Ben Kincaid- CEO, ReElement Africa
Jonathan Ray- Director of Government Services, Pamir Consulting
9:55 AM
Networking Break
10:00 AM -
2:00 PM
2:00 PM
Invite-Only Table Top Exercise (TTX)
Closed-door scenario-based session for senior leaders from government, industry, and academia.
10:10 AM
Panel Six: Innovation in Supply Chain Resiliency & Security
Tools, data, and approaches to improving visibility and control
Moderator:
Mahnaz Khan- Vice President of Policy for Critical Supply Chains, Silverado Policy Accelerator
Panelists:
Hannah Kelley- Senior Advisor, National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB)
Alex Warthen- Head of Government Relations, Phoenix Tailings
Jacob Clayton- CEO, SAGINT
Dr. Samanbir Kalirai- SILA Nano
Moderator:
Mahnaz Khan- Vice President of Policy for Critical Supply Chains, Silverado Policy Accelerator
Panelists:
Hannah Kelley- Senior Advisor, National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB)
Alex Warthen- Head of Government Relations, Phoenix Tailings
Jacob Clayton- CEO, SAGINT
Dr. Samanbir Kalirai- SILA Nano
11:00 AM
Networking Break
11:15 AM
Fireside Chat: Capital Allocation for Strategic Advantage
Mobilizing investment to build resilient critical mineral supply chains and strengthen national security.
Moderator:
Eric Muschinski- Founder & CEO, Phenom Ventures
Guests TBA
Moderator:
Eric Muschinski- Founder & CEO, Phenom Ventures
Guests TBA
12:00 PM
Lunch
1:00 PM
Innovation Showcase
Featuring live capability demonstrations from industry and academia, highlighting innovative approaches to supply chain intelligence, secure communications, advanced research, and strategic decision support.
- The Pennsylvania State University – Center for Critical Minerals
- Sayari
- Hadean
- BlackBerry
2:15 PM
Networking Break
2:20 PM
Panel Seven: Building Resilient Systems
Public-private coordination, capital deployment, and policy frameworks
Moderator:
Vivian Eng Bendewald- George C. Marshall Center for European Security Studies, US Energy Sector
Panelists:
David Wiseman- VP of Secure Communications, BlackBerry
Paul Cowley- CEO, Phenom Resources
Dr. Sarma Pisupati- Director of Center for Critical Minerals, Penn State
Tom Albanese- Chairman, American Ocean Minerals (AOM)
Moderator:
Vivian Eng Bendewald- George C. Marshall Center for European Security Studies, US Energy Sector
Panelists:
David Wiseman- VP of Secure Communications, BlackBerry
Paul Cowley- CEO, Phenom Resources
Dr. Sarma Pisupati- Director of Center for Critical Minerals, Penn State
Tom Albanese- Chairman, American Ocean Minerals (AOM)
3:10 PM
Closing Remarks
About Us
Irregular Warfare Initiative (IWI)
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 (SOAA)
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, VA
11493 Sunset Hills Road, Reston, VA
Contact Us
If you have questions about the conference, are interested in sponsorship opportunities, would like to participate as a speaker or attendee, or are interested in supporting the event, please contact our team.
We welcome engagement from government, industry, academia, media, and organizations working in areas related to strategic resources, supply chains, and irregular competition.
We welcome engagement from government, industry, academia, media, and organizations working in areas related to strategic resources, supply chains, and irregular competition.