Warren Sponsler and Dean Wurzell attended AUVSI 2025 in Washington, DC, last week along side NAMC board advisory member, Michael Robbins. Here’s their takeaways.
The event centered on Securing the Edge and Scaling Autonomy, underscoring the nation’s urgent need to strengthen the U.S. industrial base and accelerate the delivery of autonomous capabilities to the warfighter. Conversations focused on practical implementation rather than theory, spotlighting real-world pathways to defense innovation and modernization.
A key theme that emerged was the role of private capital and diversified funding mechanisms in driving technological advancement for the Department of War, ensuring sustained momentum beyond traditional acquisition cycles.
Key Takeaways from Michael Robbins’ Remarks
Michael Robbins’ keynote highlighted the intersection of acquisition reform, supply chain resilience, and rapid capability delivery. Multiple panels examined how companies can transition from prototype to Program of Record through accelerated vehicles such as Other Transaction Authorities (OTAs) and the Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve (RDER) initiative.
The overarching “America First Supply Chain” theme emphasized securing critical components—printed circuit boards, sensors, and batteries—as foundational to national security. A notable announcement included a new partnership between AUVSI and Altana, which will leverage an AI-powered platform to enhance supply chain visibility and verification for the Green and Blue UAS programs.
Emerging Trends in Multi-Domain Autonomy
Sessions throughout the event highlighted the continued push for multi-domain autonomous integration—synchronizing air, ground, and maritime systems under frameworks like CJADC2 to achieve seamless operational command and control.
Additionally, the newly announced GoAERO design challenge will advance development of autonomous emergency response drones, reinforcing the role of public-private collaboration in innovation.
Summary
The event underscored that maintaining a strategic edge demands speed, resilient production, and trusted technology. With growing participation from private capital and commercial innovators, the U.S. industrial base is better positioned to deliver scalable autonomy solutions that strengthen the warfighter and secure the nation’s technological advantage.