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News

• The Drone Dominance Stage is Set, Pete Modigliani and Matt MacGregor, Substack, Non-legal oriented defense headlines with a focus on acquisition and reform.

• HASC Chair Pushes $450B in Defense Funding, Cites DIB Expansion in FY27 NDAA, Jane Edwards, Executive Gov, February 25, 2026.

• CNBC article about Trump administration seeking equity stakes in commercial companies. 

• Veteran-owned business protests Army’s $5.5B sole-source Salesforce contract, Nick Wakeman, Washington Technology, Feb. 6, 2026. Article discusses recently filed GAO protest in which the protester alleges that it could offer comparable services. Link to redacted Army sole source justification.

• Army CIO Issues Interim Cybersecurity Guidance for Small UAS Operations, Miles Jamison, Executive Gov, February 6, 2026. Guidance notes that rapid and mass procurement of networked sUAS will require the Army to assume more cybersecurity risk. However, sUAS procured by Commanders must not connect to the DoWIN or other DoW network before, during, or after operation unless the system has both a valid authorization to operate (ATO) and authority to connect (ATC). Link to memo.
  
• Navy eyes extended subsea network to link up its arsenal of manned and unmanned assets for DMO, Brandi Vincent, Defense Scoop, Feb. 5, 2026, Article discussing Navy’s Networked Expeditionary Routing and Exchange for Undersea Systems (NEREUS) project.

Social Media and Podcasts

• LinkedIn post by Joshua Johnson promoting a panel on security clearances for government contractors at the Milvets 2026 entrepreneurship conference in San Francisco, February 12-13.

• Ep 17 – Techquisition: The $839B FY26 Defense Appropriations Explained, Maggie Gray and David Rothzeid discuss the FY26 Defense Appropriations Act, $839 billion with Johnnie Kaberle,⁠ former staff director for the House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Defense (HAC-D).

• NASA’s Reauthorization Bill Focuses on Commercial Contributions, The Journal of Space Commerce, Tom Patton, Substack article on the FY2026 NASA re-authorization and other space industry developments.

• LinkedIn post promoting DoW’s program releasing of 400 military patents royalty-free for two years. 

• Blog post on Suspension and Debarment in Federal Contracting, John McAdams, Terry Elling, Jeremy Burkhart, and Angela M. Jimenez, Holland & Knight.

Open Defense Tech Legal Jobs

* Indicates new additions since last newsletter.

• Legal Counsel, Public Sector, Databricks, Washington, D.C. (Data and AI)*
• Associate General Counsel, Persistent Systems, New York, NY (Radio networks)*
• Corporate Counsel, Echodyne, Remote (Radar)*
• Paralegal, Saronic, Austin, TX (Maritime Autonomy)*
• Legal Operations Engineer, Hadrian, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. (Advanced Manufacturing)*
• Corporate Counsel, Ursa Major, Berthoud, CO (Space, hypersonics)
• Senior Corporate Counsel, Rocket Lab Corporation, Long Beach, CA (Space)
• Legal and Compliance Analyst, SpaceX, Starbase, TX (Space)
• Legal Operations Associate, Forterra, Clarksburg, MD (Ground Autonomy)
• Legal Counsel, Blue Origin, Greater Seattle Area, Space Coast, FL, Huntsville, AL (Space)
• Counsel – Supply Chain, Forterra, Arlington, VA (Ground Autonomy)
• Senior Legal Counsel, DEEP, Miami, FL (Deep sea exploration)
• Senior Corporate Counsel – Aerospace & Defense, Microchip, Inc., Chandler, AZ (Semiconductors)
• Compliance Counsel, Saronic, Austin, TX, San Diego, CA, Washington, D.C. Multiple legal positions across legal ops/paralegal/etc. (Maritime Autonomy)
• Associate General Counsel, MP Materials, Las Vegas, NV (Rare earths)
• Legal and Compliance Analyst, Global Trade Compliance, Washington, D.C. and Hawthorne, CA, SpaceX (Space)
• Legal Counsel, Government Contracts, Hadrian, Washington, D.C. (Advanced manufacturing)
• Legal counsel, Air Dominance and Strike, Anduril Industries, Washington, D.C. (Aerial Unmanned Systems)
• M&A Corporate Counsel, Anduril Industries, Costas Mesa, CA (Unmanned systems and AI)
• Satellite Policy Associate (Starlink Regulatory Affairs), SpaceX, Washington, D.C. (Space)
• Product Counsel, Nominal, Washington, D.C. (Engineering and testing platform)
• Sr. Corporate Counsel, SpaceX, Hawthorne, CA (Space)
• Legal Counsel – Contracts, Palantir Technologies, Washington, D.C. (Software/AI)
• Senior Legal Counsel, Supply Chain, Commercial Contracts, Metrea, Temecula, CA, US (Effects as a service, Aerospace)
• Assistant General Counsel, K2 Space, Los Angeles, CA (Space)
• Senior Counsel, Government Business, Beehive Industries, Knoxville, TN (also roles in Loveland, OH and Englewood, CO) (Advanced manufacturing)
• Paralegal, Beehive Industries, Loveland, OH (Advanced manufacturing)
• Commercial Counsel, Government Contracts, xAi, Washington, D.C. (AI)
• Senior Director and AGC, Product Legal (Privacy, IP, Employment), Scale AI, San Francisco, CA (AI)
• Lead Counsel, Product and Employment, Scale AI, San Francisco, CA (AI)

Professional Development and CLE of Interest

Legal and non-legal professional development. Some events have a registration fee. The list will be updated with new events.

Government Contracts & Acquisition

• PubK Law Annual Review, Feb. 10-11, Washington, D.C.

• The Pivot to Commercial Contracting: What Does It Mean for Cost and Pricing in Federal Procurement?, March 3, 2026, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. ET, Webinar. Venable and HKA.

• Government Contracts in M&A: Navigating Compliance and Risk – Events, March 10, 2026, Webinar. Morgan Lewis. Includes overview on M&A compliance obligations, national security considerations, False Claims Act risks, and restrictions on assignment or change of control.

• ABA 2026 Federal Procurement Institute, March 11-13, 2026, Annapolis, MD. ABA Public Contract Law Section’s flagship event with CLE sessions on federal procurement trends relevant to defense tech.

• NCMA Warfighter Acquisition Forum, April 23, 2026, Washington, D.C. One-day forum for defense acquisition pros; discussions on strategies and policies.

• Hilton Head Government Contracts Week, July 27-31, 2026, Hilton Head, SC. FPS conference with masters-level sessions on govcon law; CLE available.

M&A, CFIUS, FOCI, & Trade Regulation

• M&A Academy: CFIUS & Trade Regulation Considerations in M&A Transactions, February 24, Webinar, Morgan Lewis. Presentation on CFIUS due diligence, risk assessment, national security issues, and trade regs in M&A—tailored for defense/govcon deals; part of ongoing academy series with CLE potential.

• 12th National Conference on CFIUS, April 22-23, Washington, D.C. ACI conference with discussions on CFIUS including filing requirements, risk mitigation strategies, and new regulations.

• 9th National Forum on FOCI, September 29–30, Washington, D.C. ACI. Focuses on Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence mitigation (parallel to CFIUS in cleared defense contractors); compliance strategies for national security reviews in defense M&A.

• Advanced Venture Capital 2026 | October 27, 2026 | In-Person Program – PLI, October 27, 2026, San Francisco, CA. PLI.

Export Controls

• Global Export Controls Advanced Forum, February 24-25, 2026, Arlington, VA. American Conference Institute (ACI) conference on multi-jurisdictional export compliance, including deemed exports and sanctions. Offers CLE credits and networking for defense attorneys.

• Live Export Compliance Seminar, June 15-18, Chicago, IL. Enforcement-focused ITAR/EAR.

Intellectual Property (IP)

• 2026 IP Transactions Bootcamp, Feb. 12, 2026, Seattle, WA. AIPLA.

• 2026 AIPLA Spring Meeting, May 13-15, Fairmont San Francisco, San Francisco, CA. 2.5-day conference on trending IP topics, expert insights, networking; focuses on innovation/tech IP relevant to defense sectors.

Space

• Defense and Intelligence Space Conference, National Security Space Association, February 9-11, 2026, Hyatt Regency Reston, Reston VA and NGA, Springfield VA.

• 2026 Space Beach Law Lab , February 24-26, 2026, Long Beach, CA

• 2026 SmallSat Symposium, Silicon Valley, CA, February 10-12, 2026. Industry focused.

• ABA 2026 Washington Update Conference, March 6, 2026, The Ritz-Carlton, Washington, D.C.*

Industry & Entrepreneurship

• Milvetstartups, Feb. 12-13, 2026, San Francisco, CA. Largest conference of military entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders.

• Defense TechConnect Innovation Summit & Expo, Sep. 22-24, 2026, National Harbor, Maryland.

Pro Bono and Volunteer Opportunities

• Volunteer as a judge for this year’s North American Round of the IISL Manfred Lachs Space Law moot court competition. More information about this great event is on the website.*

Contact Defense Tech Legal Network.

Defense Tech Legal Network Est. January 2026

Copyright – Defense Tech Legal Network 2026 – All Rights Reserved