Agenda & Speakers
December 13–15, 2026 · West Point, NY. The call for speaker proposals closes September 7, 2026, and the agenda publishes here by the end of the month.
Two documentary screenings and a sponsor reception
We welcome proposals from employers, workforce experts, agencies, educators, military leaders, VSOs, and non-profit partners.
Accepted speakers receive a 10% ticket discount for their organization. The proposal window closes September 7 and the agenda publishes by the end of the month.
What the program covers.
Session titles and speakers publish after the call closes on September 7. These are the tracks the program is built around, with Registered Apprenticeship running through the whole agenda.
- Track 01
Registered Apprenticeship
Standing up and expanding Registered Apprenticeship programs that turn military training into credentialed civilian careers — sponsors, standards, and what the first year actually takes.
- Track 02
Hiring & retention
What employers are learning about sourcing, onboarding, and keeping military talent — including apprenticeship as a retention tool rather than a recruiting line item.
- Track 03
Career development & mentorship
Mentorship structures, credential pathways, and the apprenticeship-to-advancement route for service members, veterans, spouses, and members of the Guard and Reserve.
- Track 04
Policy & federal programs
Department of Labor apprenticeship intermediaries, SkillBridge, state workforce boards, and the funding mechanisms employers can use — explained by the people who run them.
- Track 05
Transition & resilience
Keynotes and working sessions on transition, mental health, and community — the human side of the same pipeline the apprenticeship track builds.
- Track 06
Recognition
Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence, the West Point Athletics Hall of Fame Reception, and the ceremonies that surround the summit.
The agenda is still taking shape.
The call for speakers is active through September 7, 2026. The agenda will be finalized shortly after it closes — please check back then for the full program.
Screening night at West Point
Sunday, December 13, 2026An additional day opens the week: two documentary screenings from filmmakers who have spoken from the summit stage, followed by a sponsor networking reception.
D-Day+80
D-Day+80 is a documentary chronicling the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion. We speak to some of the last remaining vets about their memories of the war and their view of America today.
Nate Boyer is a former active-duty Green Beret, a philanthropist and community leader, and a former member of the Seattle Seahawks. He served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan with 3rd, 10th, and 1st Special Forces Groups.
Noori
Embark on a compelling road trip with two Afghan soldiers as they connect with U.S. SOF veterans and everyday Americans. As they exchange stories, they discover unexpected common ground — finding connection and bridging cultural divides through their shared struggles, resilience, and aspirations.
Lyla Kohistany is a U.S. Navy veteran, entrepreneur, nonprofit leader, and documentary filmmaker. She served as a Surface Warfare officer and as an Intelligence Officer in Afghanistan, later working at DIA, the Joint Staff, and U.S. Special Operations Command.
Topics covered in past summits
- 01 Government resources for veteran hiring
- 02 Supporting military spouses
- 03 Hiring from higher education
- 04 Apprenticeship and career skills programs
- 05 SkillBridge and other transition programs
- 06 Recruiting from Guard and Reserve
- 07 Breaking the stigma on veterans’ mental health
- 08 Pathways for veterans in emerging tech roles
- 09 Veterans in leadership development
- 10 Veteran-centric onboarding and training
- 11 Veteran ERG (VERG) best practices
- 12 Maximizing ROI on veteran hiring
- 13 Leveraging data for hiring and retention
- 14 Leadership in championing Veteran Ready
- 15 Local and state resources for military talent
- 16 Cross-industry hiring program design
Previous speakers have included
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Hon. Anthony Tata
Undersecretary of War for Personnel and Readiness
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Hon. James Rodriguez
U.S. Department of Labor
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Hon. Patrick Murphy
U.S. House of Representatives, Hiring Our Heroes, Task Force Movement
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Clint Romesha
Medal of Honor recipient
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Dakota Meyer
Medal of Honor recipient
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Soldier for Life
U.S. Army Reserve military leadership
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White House Office of the National Cyber Director
Federal cyber workforce policy
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Veteran entrepreneurs
Workforce program innovators across sectors