CDCA 2026 Eastern Defense

The app for the Eastern Defense Summit

The 2026 Eastern Defense Summit
An Operationally Essential Summit in a Strategic Location

The Eastern Defense Summit is the premier East Coast defense event, uniting over 2,300 government, military, academic, and industry leaders to address the most pressing threats to national security. As global challenges intensify, the Summit is mission essential—driving collaboration that ensures the U.S. maintains strategic foresight, technical superiority, and operational readiness.

Held in Charleston, SC—a region with a strong military and industry presence, including Joint Base Charleston, NIWC Atlantic, the Marine Corps, the Army, and the Coast Guard—the Summit sits at the crossroads of defense innovation and operational capability. The Lowcountry’s defense ecosystem enables seamless collaboration between industry and warfighters, ensuring that solutions discussed at the Summit translate directly into real-world impact.

The 2026 Summit theme, "Collaborating on Actionable Solutions for Our Nation's Pacing Threats: From Mission Need to Fielded Capability: Speed, Scale, and Operational Advantage" reflects the urgency of translating mission requirements into operational capability. Discussions will focus on the policies, partnerships, acquisition strategies, industrial capacity, and emerging technologies needed to move solutions from concept to deployment faster and at greater scale. The Eastern Defense Summit catalyzes innovation, tactical coordination, and force modernization.

Through high-impact exhibits, cutting-edge demonstrations, real-world training, innovation spotlights, and dynamic technical exchanges, attendees gain critical insights to improve operational readiness. This Summit is more than a platform for discussion—it is a strategic engine for actionable outcomes, where workforce partnerships and technological advancements deliver a decisive tactical advantage.

The 2026 Eastern Defense Summit will be held in person at the Charleston Area Convention Center in North Charleston, SC—a strategic hub where military and industry converge to shape the future of national defense.

Search exhibitors, review exhibitor profiles, and interact with the floor plan to plan your visit. If education is your focus, review the sessions and speakers within the app.