Agenda
MADS 2026 | SEPT. 2-4, 2026 | FLOWOOD, MISSISSIPPI
Agenda as of July 28, 2026
Agenda as of July 28, 2026
Wednesday, September 2, 2026 |
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7:00 AM
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Exhibitor Set Up Begins
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10:00 AM
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Registration Opens
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2:00 PM
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Welcome Remarks
Location: Grand Ballroom
Confirmed Speakers:
The Honorable Tate Reeves - 65th Governor of Mississippi
Dr. Denise Jones Gregory, President, Jackson State University (JSU)
Davis Pace, President and CEO, Mississippi Enterprise for Technology (MSET)
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2:30 PM
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Government Affairs Panel
Location: Grand Ballroom
Confirmed Speakers:
Ryan Walker, External Relations Manager, Google
Michelle Richardson, Executive Vice President, Elevate Government Affairs
Rakhee Khambhati, Director of Government Partnerships, Reflect Orbital
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3:30 PM
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Working with Industry Panel
Location: Grand Ballroom
Confirmed Speakers:
Bret Perry, General Manager, Anduril Solid Rocket Motor Systems
Mark Kaufman, Co-Founder, Chairman, Chief Strategy Officer, X-Bow Systems Inc.
Stephen Fitts, Vice President of Supply Chain Management, Ingalls Shipbuilding
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4:30 PM
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Welcome Reception
Location: Breakout 2/Exhibit Hall
4:30 PM Exhibit Hall Grand Opening with Special Guest
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6:00 PM
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VIP Dinner (Invitation Only)
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Thursday, September 3, 2026 |
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7:30 AM
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Registration Opens
Breakfast
Location: Hallway
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8:00 AM
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Welcome Remarks
Location: Grand Ballroom
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8:30 AM
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Exhibit Hall Opens
Location: Exhibit Hall
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8:45 AM
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SBIR/STTR Bootcamp
Location: Breakout 1
Confirmed Speakers:
Tasha Bibb, Senior Program Manager, Mississippi State University (MSU)
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8:45 AM
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University Showcase
Location: Breakout 2
Confirmed Speakers:
PJ Waldrop, Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, Mississippi Development Authority (MDA)
Dr. Almesha Campbell, Vice President for Research, Jackson State University (JSU)
Dr. John C. Higginbotham, Vice Chancellor of Research and Economic Development, Ole Miss
Dr. Kelly Lucas, Vice President for Research, The University of Southern Mississippi (USM)
Dr. Scott Willard, Interim Vice President for Research and Economic Development, Mississippi State University (MSU)
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10:00 AM
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Super Talk: MidDays with Gerard Gibert
Location: Hallway
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12:00 PM
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Lunch and Putting Together a Defense Deal
Location: Grand Ballroom
Confirmed Speakers:
Bill Cork, Executive Director, Mississippi Development Authority (MDA)
Michael Grasso, Co-Founder and CEO, The Lumber Manufactory, Inc.
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1:00 PM
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ADAM Member of the Year Award
Location: Grand Ballroom
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2:00 PM
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Airport Tours
Location: Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN)
Register Here
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4:45 PM
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Networking Reception
Location: Jackson State University Student Center
Register Here
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Friday, September 4, 2026 |
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| 7:30 AM |
Breakfast
Location: Hallway
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| 8:00 AM |
Welcome Remarks
Location: Grand Ballroom
Confirmed Speakers:
U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, Mississippi
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| 8:30 AM |
Exhibit Hall Opens
Location: Exhibit Hall
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8:30 AM
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Working with Gov/DoW Panel
Location: Breakout 1
Confirmed Speakers:
Jace Ponder, Director, Governor's Office of Military Affairs, MDA
Dr. Joe Calantoni, Senior Executive Service Technical Director, U.S. Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command (CNMOC)
Dr. William Burnett, Director, National Data Buoy Center (NDBC)
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8:30 AM
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Invite-Only Session
Location: Breakout 2
Speakers Coming Soon
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| 12:00 PM |
Lunch and Closing Remarks with Special Guest
Location: Grand Ballroom
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Event Attire
CONFERENCE: BUSINESS CASUAL
RECEPTIONS AND DINNER: POLISHED CASUAL