Counter-UAS & AI Bootcamp / Deployment Accelerator
October 13–14, 2026 | Grand Forks, North Dakota
Objective
Bring together military, government, industry, academia, operators, investors, and integrators to accelerate partnerships, pilots, testing, and operational deployment.
Event Highlights
Invitation Only
Limited to 200 Participants
U.S.-Canada Participation
Pilot, Testing & Experimentation Opportunities
Operational Collaboration & Matchmaking Workshop
90-Day Execution Pipeline
What You Will Leave With
Curated partner introductions
Identified pilot and testing opportunities
Mapped deployment pathways
90-Day execution commitments
Ongoing matchmaking support
Collaboration brief-out deliverables
Day 1 — Strategic Context, Operational Challenges & Ecosystem Building
October 13, 2026
1
08:00 – 08:45 | Registration & Coffee Networking
Coffee, pastries, and fruit served. Open networking begins.
2
08:45 – 08:50 | Welcome Remarks
Jean-Marc Sheitoyan, PMP — Program Director, C-UAS Bootcamp
Lessons from Ukraine, the Middle East, FPV drones, AI-enabled threats, and emerging trends shaping the operational landscape.
5
09:45 – 10:30 | Operator Perspectives Panel
Military, government, law enforcement, and critical infrastructure stakeholders discuss current capability gaps and operational challenges. Moderated by Mr. Jim Falasco.
6
10:30 – 10:45 | Networking Break
Facilitated open networking.
7
10:45 – 11:30 | Grand Forks Ecosystem Spotlight
Featuring Grand Forks AFB, Point Defense Battle Lab, GrandSKY, UND, Camp Grafton, and regional innovation partners.
8
11:30 – 12:15 | Directed Energy Counter-UAS & Emerging Technologies
Panel discussion on emerging operational capabilities and deployment opportunities.
9
12:15 – 13:15 | Networking Lunch
Curated seating arranged by stakeholder category to maximize strategic introductions.
The centerpiece of Day 1. This structured workshop moves participants from problem identification to actionable collaboration opportunities. Facilitated by Dr. Alexandre Joyce and moderated by Jim Falasco, Director of Strategic Business Development, AeroGear Telemetry.
1
13:15 – 13:35
Trust Building What is the biggest obstacle slowing Counter-UAS adoption and deployment today?
2
13:35 – 14:15
Operational Use Cases Base Protection · Critical Infrastructure · Border Security · Arctic Operations · Expeditionary Ops
3
14:15 – 14:45
Ecosystem Mapping Operators · Integrators · Tech Providers · Academia · Government · Capital Providers
A curated networking reception designed to deepen relationships formed during the day's sessions. Hosted introductions, light dinner, and sponsor recognition create a structured yet relaxed environment for strategic conversations.
Hosted Introductions
Facilitated connections between key stakeholders based on workshop matchmaking outputs.
Light Dinner Reception
Casual setting for continued dialogue and relationship-building beyond the formal program.
Sponsor Recognition
Formal acknowledgement of organizations supporting the Bootcamp and its mission.
Special Performance
Acoustic performance featuring members of The Gibson Brothers.
Day 2 — Technology, Partnerships & Deployment Acceleration
October 14, 2026
1
08:00 – 08:45 | Morning Coffee & Networking
Coffee, pastries, and fruit served. Continued networking from Day 1 connections.
Covering Counter-UAS, Artificial Intelligence, Autonomy, Sensors, Electronic Warfare, Directed Energy, and UAS Integration. Featured Innovation Speaker: Dr. Alain L. Bujold — Nature-Inspired Innovation for Future UAS and Counter-UAS Systems.
4
10:30 – 10:45 | Networking Break
Facilitated open networking.
5
10:45 – 11:45 | Industry Demonstrations & Capability Showcases
Selected companies present deployment-ready technologies and capabilities to military and government stakeholders.
6
11:45 – 12:45 | Networking Lunch
Continued curated seating and facilitated introductions.
Review of selected opportunities identified during Day 1. Panel includes military, government, industry, and investment stakeholders. Evaluation criteria: mission relevance, operational value, feasibility, pilot potential, and partnership opportunities. Panel member: LCol Steve Nash (Ret'd), Former Commander, CANSOFCOM.
9
15:15 – 15:30 | Networking Break
Facilitated open networking.
10
15:30 – 16:30 | 90-Day Execution Planning Session
Participants identify follow-up meetings, pilot opportunities, partnership pathways, funding opportunities, resource requirements, and deployment pathways.
11
16:30 – 16:55 | Commitments & Next Steps
Formal capture of commitments made during the event.
12
16:55 – 17:00 | Closing Remarks
Jean-Marc Sheitoyan, PMP — Program Director, C-UAS Bootcamp
Featured Leadership
The Bootcamp is led by experienced defense, operational, and technology professionals with direct engagement in Counter-UAS policy, operations, and deployment environments.
Jean-Marc Sheitoyan, PMP
Program Director C-UAS Bootcamp
Dr. Alexandre Joyce
Master of Ceremonies & Workshop Facilitator
Jim Falasco
Panel Moderator Director of Strategic Business Development, AeroGear Telemetry
LCol Steve Nash (Ret.)
Operational Assessment Panel Former Commander, Canadian Joint Incident Response Unit (CJIRU), Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM)
Dr. Alain L. Bujold
Featured Innovation Speaker Nature-Inspired Innovation for Future UAS and Counter-UAS Systems
The Event Is the Starting Point, Not the Finish Line
Participants receive curated introductions, matchmaking support, and structured follow-on engagement designed to accelerate pilots, partnerships, testing opportunities, and operational deployment activities well beyond the two-day program.
Curated match reports delivered. Formal introductions initiated between identified partners and stakeholders.
Month 1: Pilot & Partnership Discussions
Active facilitation of pilot program discussions and strategic partnership scoping sessions.
Month 3: Deployment Pathway Follow-Up
Progress review, opportunity tracking, and deployment pathway follow-up to ensure commitments made at the event are advancing toward execution.
Apply to Participate
The Counter-UAS & AI Bootcamp / Deployment Accelerator is invitation-only and limited to 200 participants. Applications are reviewed to ensure a curated, high-value cohort of military, government, industry, and investment stakeholders capable of driving real deployment outcomes.
"From Capability Gaps to Deployment Pathways" October 13–14, 2026 · Grand Forks, North Dakota · U.S.–Canada Participation
Invitation Only
Curated participant cohort — 200 seats maximum
U.S. & Canada
Cross-border defense and security community
Deployment-Focused
Structured to produce pilots, partnerships, and next steps