2026 Draft Agenda
SUBJECT TO CHANGE
PHOENIX CHALLENGE® 2026 MARCH 23-25
Information Operations: Evolving for Strategic Dominance –
Integrating Capabilities, Forging Alliances, and Executing with Precision
MONDAY MARCH 23, 2026
CRYSTAL GATEWAY MARRIOTT
ARLINGTON, VA
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7:00am – 8:00am
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Exhibitors
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8:00am – 8:15am
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Welcome - Office of IO Policy
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8:15am – 8:45am
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Keynote
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8:45am – 10:00am
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CCMD/Service Panel - Evolving for Strategic Dominance
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10:00am – 10:45am
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Break
Coffee Break Exposure Sponsor (TBA)
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10:45am – 12:00pm
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IO and the INDSG/NDS priorities
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12:00pm – 1:00pm
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Lunch
-Lunch Exposure Sponsor (TBA)
-Lunch Presentation
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1:00pm – 2:30pm
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Intel Support to IO
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2:30pm – 3:00pm
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Keynote
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3:00pm – 3:30pm
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Break
Coffee Break Exposure Sponsor (TBA)
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3:30pm – 4:45pm
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Strategic Communications
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4:45pm – 5:00pm
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Close
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TUESDAY MARCH 24, 2026
CRYSTAL GATEWAY MARRIOTT
ARLINGTON, VA
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7:00am – 8:00am
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Exhibitors
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8:00am – 9:30am
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Cyber, AI and IO Influence
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9:30am – 10:00am
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Keynote
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10:00am –10:30am
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Break
Coffee Break Exposure Sponsor (TBA)
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10:30am – 12:00pm
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Allies and Partners
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12:00pm – 1:00pm
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Lunch
-Lunch Exposure Sponsor (TBA)
-Lunch Presentation
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1:00pm – 2:30pm
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Senior NCO Panel
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2:30pm – 3:00pm
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Break
Coffee Break Exposure Sponsor (TBA)
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3:00pm – 4:30pm
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Determining Acceptable Risk for IO OR
Influence Campaigning
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4:30pm – 4:45pm
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Updates
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4:45pm – 5:00pm
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Closing
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UNCLASSIFIED WORKING GROUPS
WEDNESDAY MARCH 25, 2026
CRYSTAL GATEWAY MARRIOTT
ARLINGTON, VA
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8:30am – 1:00pm
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Institutional Evolution. This working group will generate PME thesis recommendations for IO, develop IO TTX/Wargame requirements, and explore future IO workforce organization/categories.
Acquiring AI to improve influence activities. This working group will define AI capability requirements for influence activities, provide recommended Policy guidance inputs, develop guidelines (guardrails) to govern the use of AI-generated output in influence activities and provide knowny AI training and education opportunities.
IO Assessments. This working group will discuss best assessment best practices and provide feedback on the IO assessment capability.
Additional Presentations. There will be additional presentations that offer valuable insights and specialized knowledge for Information Operations professionals.
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CLASSIFIED WORKING GROUPS
WEDNESDAY MARCH 25, 2026
PENTAGON
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7:30am – 8:30am
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Pentagon Visitor Center
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8:30am – 1:00pm
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Intel Support to IO (S//REL FVEY)
IO and Deterrence
S//REL FVEY/NATO/SGP/JPN. Real world intelligence brief and notional TTX.
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11:00am – 1:00pm
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U.S. Council of Colonels - INDSG/NDS priorities
12-1:00pm w/ DDGO and DPIOA (subject to their availability)
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