Frontiers of Defense Tech in the Shifting US Alliances with Japan and Beyond: Space, Cyber, and AI
Frontiers of Defense Tech in the Shifting US Alliances with Japan and Beyond: Space, Cyber, and AI
Monday, May 4, 20269:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Pacific)
Encina Hall, First floor, Central, S150
616 Jane Stanford Way, Stanford, CA 94305
This Conference will bring together international relations experts and policymakers with Silicon Valley technology leaders to consider the significant impact of new technologies on U.S. relationships with Japan and other powers in East Asia. Sessions will explore how critical emerging technologies in AI, cyber, defense, and space are forcing new strategies and approaches, requiring world leaders and policymakers to pivot rapidly to harness their benefits and avoid their dangers.
Browse the conference agenda, speaker biographies, parking information, and media advisory using the tabs below. On mobile, toggle the dropdown menu to access these sections.
9:00-9:15 a.m.
Welcome Remarks
9:15-10:30 a.m.
Panel 1: Pacific Alliances
Rui Matsukawa
House of Councilors, The National Diet of Japan
Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer
Founder and CEO, Envoy International LLC and former U.S. Ambassador to Australia and Japan
Victor Cha
Center for Strategic and International Studies
Panel Moderator:
Katherine Monahan
Adjunct Lecturer, Ford Dorsey Master's in International Policy, Stanford University and former U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Japan
10:45-12:00 p.m.
Panel 2: New Defense Tech
Michael Brown
Partner, Shield Capital and former Director of the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), U.S. Department of Defense
Arthur Dubois
Co-Founder and CEO, Grid Aero
Jingo Kikukawa
Director-General of the Innovation and Environment Policy Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan
Panel Moderator:
Suzanne Basalla
Partner, Geodesic Capital
12:00-12:30 p.m.
Lunch Break
12:30-1:30 p.m.
Keynote Fireside Chat
Masataka Okano
Former Japanese National Security Advisor and Foreign Ministry Vice Minister
Lt. General HR McMaster
Bernard and Susan Liautaud Visiting Fellow, Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General and U.S. National Security Advisor
Moderated by
Colin Kahl
Director, Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies
2:00-3:15 p.m.
Panel 3: Cyber and AI Threats
Michael Sulemeyer
Professor of the Practice and Director of Cyber Programs, Georgetown University and the first U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy and the Principal Cyber Advisor to the Secretary of Defense
Andrew Grotto
Research Fellow and Co-Director, Stanford Program on Geopolitics, Technology, and Governance
Panel Moderator:
To be confirmed
3:30-4:45 p.m.
Space Technologies
General John W. "Jay" Raymond
First Chief of Space Operations, U.S. Space Force
Senior Managing Director, Cerberus Capital Management
Jeff Thornburg
CEO and Co-founder, Portal Space Systems
Panel Moderator:
Naohiko Kohtake
Professor, Graduate School of System Design and Management, Keio University and former space systems engineer with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and Visiting Professor at the Center for Design Research, Stanford University
4:45-5:00 p.m.
Closing Remarks
Parking
Click here for instructions on purchasing visitor parking. The closest visitor parking to Encina Hall can be found at the following:
- Track House Lot (ParkMobile Parking Zone 7295)
- Memorial Lot (ParkMobile Parking Zone 7213)
- Littlefield Lot (ParkMobile Parking Zone 7282)
- Knight Management Center Garage (ParkMobile Parking Zone 7207)
Journalists interested in covering the conference should contact Shorenstein APARC’s Communications team at aparc-communications@stanford.edu to register. At the venue, they will be required to present a press credential from an established news organization. Freelance reporters should email a letter from the news organization for which they work. The press area is limited, and press seating is not guaranteed.