Vanderbilt University co-hosted the inaugural Defense Tech Leadership Summit on February 17 in West Palm Beach, Florida, convening leaders from business, government, defense and academia in a city emerging as a hub for defense and high-technology innovation.
The summit was co-hosted by Vanderbilt, Related Ross and Amazon Web Services. It reflected the region’s growing focus on national security and advanced technology and Vanderbilt’s expanding engagement in South Florida.
In opening remarks, Chancellor Daniel Diermeier emphasized the role universities play in advancing research and translating ideas into real-world impact.
“One of our hallmarks at Vanderbilt is our practice of what we call radical collaboration—reaching across disciplines and sectors to solve problems and invent things faster and better than we could on our own,” Diermeier said. “This event is radical collaboration brought to life.”
The program featured Vanderbilt Institute for National Security founding Director Gen. Paul M. Nakasone (Ret.), who addressed the evolving global security landscape and the importance of technological leadership. He was joined by retired Adm. Christopher Grady and New York Times journalist Julian E. Barnes for a panel discussion, “Reflections from the Frontlines,” that focused on lessons from senior defense leadership and the future of national security.
Bruce and Bridgitt Evans Dean of Engineering Krish Roy spoke on a panel titled “Securing the Innovation Pipeline,” which explored how universities, industry and government can strengthen the pathway from research discovery to defense application. His participation underscored Vanderbilt’s leadership presence in West Palm Beach and highlighted the university’s commitment to accelerating innovation through cross-sector collaboration.
Throughout the summit, speakers emphasized the growing convergence of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data analytics and defense strategy, as well as the need for deeper partnerships among academia, industry and government.
By co-hosting the summit and engaging its senior academic leadership in the region, Vanderbilt underscored its commitment to collaboration, discovery and national impact.
See additional coverage:
The Palm Beach Post: South Florida’s defense tech boom: Palantir, Vanderbilt, and new jobs
West Palm CW34: West Palm Beach eyes bigger role in booming defense industry
