TECH DAY 2026: AI, Aerospace & Defense in LA

The New Industrial Revolution: How AI Is Changing What America Can Build

AI is ushering in a new era of American manufacturing, transforming how products are designed, engineered and built across aerospace, defense and robotics. From AI-powered engineering and autonomous systems to the software and infrastructure connecting the factory floor, a new generation of technologies is reshaping how America develops and manufactures critical products. This conversation will explore how AI is moving from the digital world into the physical one—and what it means for America’s ability to design, manufacture and build at a new scale.

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MODERATOR & SPEAKER

The SoCal Aero-Defense Boom

Southern California has long been a hub for aerospace and defense, but a new generation of technologies, companies and talent is reshaping the region’s role in the national security landscape. This conversation will explore what is driving the region’s continued growth, from defense innovation and emerging technologies to government investment and the convergence of commercial and military capabilities. Leaders with deep experience across the military, government and private sector will discuss where the region’s aerospace and defense ecosystem is headed and what will shape its next chapter.

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MODERATOR

From Prototype to Production: The Hard Part of Hard Tech

Breakthroughs may make headlines, but bringing them from the lab to full-scale production is where the real challenge begins. Machina CEO and Co-Founder Edward Mehr has built a company around closing the gap between what can be invented and what can be made at scale. Moderated by Cambium’s Co-Founder and Head of Government Affairs Stephan Herrera, who has also built a company focused on bringing breakthrough technologies from innovation to production, this conversation will explore what it takes to move from prototype to production, where the biggest barriers emerge, and why speed is becoming an increasingly critical competitive advantage.

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