August 11, 2026

WIN Summit Series Louisville, Kentucky

Supported by DAFT3 and DIU OnRamp Hub: Kentucky

Connecting defense innovators with the Defense Health Agency (DHA) and the Department of the Air Force (DAF) ecosystem through direct engagement with government stakeholders, insights into funding pathways, and opportunities to accelerate technology transition.

Register

Supported By

Event Details

The Summit at a Glance

  • August 11, 2026 | 2:30 - 6:30

  • The Nucleus Building, 300 East Market St., Louisville, KY 40202

  • Business casual is recommended.

  • A check-in table will be located on the first floor of the Nucleus Building.

  • Please park in the covered parking garage located at 220 S Preston Street, Louisville, KY 40202. The garage entrance is accessible from S Preston Street. Please note that parking is only permitted in the covered garage and not in the surface-level parking area.

  • Location: The Last Refuge, 600 E. Market St., Louisville, KY 40202

    Time: 5:00 - 6:30 PM

    Conveniently located within walking distance of the Panel Discussions & Q&A.

  • A reserved block of rooms is available at the Residence Inn by Marriott Louisville Downtown at a group rate of $109/night. 

    Booking deadline: July 26, 2026

    Book Your Hotel ↗

 

Defense Health Innovation in the Commonwealth

The Warfighting Integration Network (WIN) is coming to Kentucky on August 11th to bring together government, industry, academia, and innovators to advance defense and health innovation in collaboration with DAFT3 and the Defense Innovation OnRamp Hub: Kentucky.

White wireframe globe on black background.

❯ Built to Take Action

Designed to move beyond information sharing, the WIN Summit Series fosters valuable engagement, relationship-building, and actionable pathways within the DHA & DAF ecosystems.

Attendees will have the opportunity to choose between two concurrent panel discussions featuring Defense Health Agency (DHA) and Department of the Air Force (DAF) stakeholders. Each panel will explore mission priorities, funding pathways, capability discovery, and transition opportunities, followed by audience Q&A and dedicated networking designed to spark collaboration and meaningful connections across the defense innovation community.

❯ Who Should Attend

  • Small businesses

  • Academic researchers

  • Nontraditional innovators working on dual-use or defense health innovations

❯ What You’ll Walk Away With

  • Direct access to Air Force and DHA stakeholders

  • Mission priorities

  • Funding pathways

  • Capability discovery

  • Technology transition opportunities

❯ Readiness Assessment

Connect with Defense Innovation OnRamp Hub: Kentucky to receive a structured evaluation of company readiness, identify capability gaps, and assess mission fit. This will provide you with a clear, actionable transition pathway into the DoW marketplace.

The Schedule

Your Agenda

Check-In

2:30 PM

Attendees arrive, check in at the registration table, and have time to network informally before the program begins.

Defense Health Panel and Q&A

3:15 PM

A moderated discussion featuring Air Force and DHA stakeholders, followed by an open Q&A session where attendees can ask questions in real time. A virtual option is available.

Defense Innovation Panel and Q&A

3:15 PM

A moderated discussion featuring Air Force stakeholders, followed by an open Q&A session where attendees can ask questions in real time. In-person only.

Join us after the panels and Q&A at The Last Refuge to continue the conversation in a casual networking environment. Meet government stakeholders, speakers, innovators, and fellow attendees while enjoying complimentary pizza, hors d'oeuvres, and an open bar, sponsored by D!NG.

Networking Social Sponsored by D!NG

5:00 PM

Defense Health Panel Speakers

  • Sean Frisbee

    MODERATOR

    President & Founder, Vertx Partners

  • Portrait of a smiling man with short gray hair, wearing a checkered shirt and a dark jacket, standing outdoors near white pillars.

    Scott Aughenbaugh

    PANELIST

    Director, Department of the Air Force (DAF) Technology Transfer & Transition (T3)

  • A man with glasses, a suit, and a bow tie standing in front of an American flag.

    Dr. Daniel Zelik

    PANELIST

    Deputy Director of the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Human Effectiveness Directorate (RH)

  • A black and white photo of a smiling man with short, light-colored hair, wearing a suit jacket over a collared shirt, standing in front of a background with diagonal wooden panels.

    Barry Datlof

    PANELIST

    Chief, Business Development and Commercialization for the Medical Technology Transfer Office, DHA

  • A person with short blonde hair sitting on a beige cushioned bench, writing in a notebook, with sunlight casting shadows on the wall and a potted plant nearby.

    Tony Perez

    PANELIST

    Strategic Advisor, Vertx Partners

Defense Innovation Panel Speakers

  • Shanel Fultz

    MODERATOR

    Deputy Director, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Small Business Office

  • Portrait of a smiling man with short gray hair, wearing a checkered shirt and a dark jacket, standing outdoors near white pillars.

    Ryan Evans

    PANELIST

    Outreach Coordinator, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) Small Business Programs

  • A man with glasses, a suit, and a bow tie standing in front of an American flag.

    Greg Green

    PANELIST

    Senior Advisor, Vertx Partners

  • James McCormack

    PANELIST

    Business and Technical Advisor, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Small Business Office

  • Carissa Grosh

    PANELIST

    Acquisition Planning Lead, AFWERX

Frequently Asked Questions

  • No. The WIN Summit Series is completely free to all registered attendees.

  • Small businesses are encouraged to bring a capability statement, business cards, and similar materials to facilitate discussions and follow-up with government attendees.

  • A check-in table will be located on the first floor of the Nucleus Building.

  • A virtual option will be available for the Defense Health Panel and Q&A session. You can register here.

  • Yes. The informal networking session provides you with an opportunity to have direct engagement with relevant stakeholders.

  • For any questions, please contact Lia Frisbee, lia.frisbee@vertxpartners.org

Attend

Register

If you plan to attend in person, please fill out the following form. If you would like to attend the Defense Health Panel virtually, please register using the button below.

Please note that the Defense Innovation Panel is available for in-person attendance only.

Registration closes August 5th, 2026

Register Virtually

Supported By

Defense Innovation Networking Group (D!NG)

The Defense Innovation Networking Group (D!NG), is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that catalyzes innovation and advancement in the defense sector, through collaborative education, workforce development, vital knowledge transfer, and facilitation of growth opportunities for individuals and businesses in order to fortify the nation's defensive capabilities and protect the warfighter by focusing on the one thing that matters most - the people.

Based in Indiana, we help advance the most disruptive technologies into the hands of the warfighter.

DIU OnRamp Hub: Kentucky

By creating a more accessible and streamlined path for funders, founders, and talent to engage with the Department of War, OnRamp Hub: Kentucky embodies DIU’s “front door” to the private sector and academia.

The OnRamp Hub: Kentucky team quickly identifies and evaluates commercial technologies for warfighter needs and serves as a center of gravity within the region, facilitating interactions between the DoW, industry, and academia that result in rapid advances in military capability. OnRamp Hub: Kentucky leverages relationships with the military sector to allow commercial startups and small businesses access to mission partners and their testing environments, accelerating commercial technology into the DoW.