Multi-domain Autonomy: From Innovation to Fleet Execution

Multi-Domain Autonomy: From Innovation to Fleet Execution

Tuesday, February 10, 2026

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM PT

Location: Excellence in Warfighting Stage - Sails Pavilion

Confirmed Moderator(s)

Brent Sadler

Senior Research Fellow
Allison Center for National Security, Heritage Foundation

Confirmed Panelist(s)

CDR Sophia Haberman, USN

Commanding Officer
Unmanned Surface Vessel Squadron THREE
CD

CAPT Jerry Daley, USN

Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Robotic and Autonomous Systems
CAPT Newt McKissick, USN

Military Deputy and Navy Service Lead
Defense Innovation Unit
Paul Lwin

Founder and CEO
Havoc AI

Sustaining maritime dominance requires forces that are ready, resilient, and adaptive under fire. Robotics and autonomous systems are critical enablers of warfighting readiness, reducing risk to personnel, increasing operational tempo, and providing commanders with decision advantage. As pacing threats accelerate and operational environments become increasingly contested, the Sea Services must compress timelines from concept to deployment.

The panel will explore how robotics and autonomous systems are transitioning from experimentation to operational capability across Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard missions. Topics include multi-domain autonomy (air, surface, subsurface), expeditionary and littoral operations, maritime security and interdiction, logistics under threat, and persistent ISR. Panelists will address integration challenges, human–machine trust, sustainment, and interoperability—focusing on what it takes to deliver reliable, combat-credible autonomy to the Fleet and joint force.