Agenda
October 6–7, 2026Grand Forks, North Dakota

Two days of operational discussions, collaboration, matchmaking, technology demonstrations, and deployment-focused engagement.

Event Highlights

Invitation Only

Limited to 200 Participants

U.S.-Canada Participation

Operational Collaboration & Matchmaking Workshop

Pilot & Testing Opportunities

90-Day Execution Pipeline

What You Will Leave With

Curated partner introductions

Identified pilot and testing opportunities

Defined deployment pathways

Collaboration opportunity brief-out report

90-Day execution roadmap

Ongoing matchmaking support


Day 1: Strategic Context, Operational Challenges & Ecosystem Building
Day 1 | October 6, 2026 | 08:00 – 17:00
Day 1 Morning | 08:00 – 12:45
08:00 – 09:00
Registration & Coffee Networking

Coffee, pastries, fruit, and informal networking.

09:00 – 09:10
Welcome Remarks

Jean-Marc Sheitoyan, PMP — Program Director, Counter-UAS & AI Deployment Accelerator, S4B Defense Corp.

09:10 – 09:20
Event Orientation

Alexandre Joyce, PhD — Master of Ceremonies

09:20 – 09:40
Keynote Address

Invited Senior Military Leader

09:40 – 10:20
The Evolving UAS & Counter-UAS Threat Environment

Lessons from Ukraine, the Middle East, FPV drones, AI-enabled threats, and emerging operational trends.

10:20 – 10:35
Networking Break

Open networking.

10:35 – 11:20
Operator Perspectives Panel

Military, government, and critical infrastructure stakeholders discuss capability gaps and operational challenges.

Moderated by Mr. Jim Falasco, Director of Strategic Business, AeroGear Telemetry.

11:20 – 11:45
Grand Forks Ecosystem Spotlight

Featuring Grand Forks AFB, the Point Defense Battle Lab, GrandSKY, UND, Camp Grafton, and regional innovation partners.

11:45 – 12:45
Networking Lunch

Curated seating and strategic introductions.

Signature Session: Operational Collaboration & Matchmaking Workshop
Day 1 Afternoon | 13:00 – 17:00

The centerpiece of Day 1. This facilitated workshop combines operational challenge identification, structured networking, capability mapping, matchmaking, and opportunity development to accelerate pilots, partnerships, testing opportunities, and deployment.

Hosted by Alexandre Joyce, PhD, Lead Workshop Facilitator

13:00 – 13:20
Operational Challenge Framing

Participants identify the most significant barriers preventing faster Counter-UAS adoption, testing, and deployment.

13:20 – 14:00
Structured Speed Networking

Facilitated introductions designed to rapidly connect operators, technology providers, integrators, academia, government, and investors around identified operational challenges.

14:00 – 14:45
Operational Use Cases

Base Protection · Critical Infrastructure · Border Security · Arctic Operations · Expeditionary Operations

Participants identify needs, capability gaps, and deployment requirements.

14:45 – 15:00
Networking Break

Open networking.

15:00 – 15:40
Capability & Ecosystem Mapping

Participants identify operational needs, technology capabilities, testing resources, funding opportunities, and deployment enablers across the ecosystem.

15:40 – 16:20
Curated Matchmaking & Collaboration Formation

Participants form collaborative groups around pilot, testing, experimentation, and deployment initiatives.

16:20 – 17:00
Collaboration Opportunity Brief-Outs & Day 1 Wrap-Up

Teams present operational challenges, solution pathways, stakeholder requirements, pilot opportunities, and next steps toward deployment.

Evening Networking Reception
Day 1 Evening | 18:30 – 21:30

Cocktail reception featuring strategic introductions, food stations, sponsor recognition, and live acoustic entertainment designed to foster strategic conversations and relationship building.

Hosted Introductions

Facilitated introductions between key stakeholders based on Operational Collaboration & Matchmaking outcomes.

Cocktail Reception

Food stations, refreshments, and informal networking designed to encourage continued dialogue and new connections.

Sponsor Recognition

Recognition of organizations supporting the Bootcamp and its mission.

Special Performance

Live acoustic entertainment.


Day 2: Technology, Partnerships & Deployment Acceleration
Day 2 | October 7, 2026 | 08:00 – 16:30
Day 2 Morning | 08:00 – 12:45
08:00 – 09:00
Coffee Networking

Coffee, pastries, fruit, and informal networking.

09:00 – 09:10
Day 2 Kickoff

Alexandre Joyce, PhD — Master of Ceremonies

Review of Day 1 observations, collaboration opportunities, and Day 2 objectives.

09:10 – 10:20
Technology & Innovation Spotlights

Counter-UAS, Artificial Intelligence, Autonomy, Sensors, Electronic Warfare, Directed Energy, and UAS Integration.

Featured Innovation Speaker:

Dr. Alain L. Bujold, PhD, DBA, Founder & CEO, Bujold Innovation LABS19 LLC

Nature-Inspired Innovation for Future Counter-UAS and UAS Systems

10:20 – 10:35
Networking Break

Open networking.

10:35 – 11:45
Industry Demonstrations & Capability Showcases

Selected companies present technologies and capabilities to military, government, and industry stakeholders.

11:45 – 12:45
Networking Lunch

Curated seating and strategic introductions.

Day 2 Afternoon | 13:00 – 16:30
13:00 – 13:45
Pilot, Testing & Experimentation Opportunities Roundtable

Discussion of capability gaps, testing opportunities, acquisition pathways, and deployment requirements.

13:45 – 15:15
Deployment Readiness Review Panel

Military, government, industry, and investment stakeholders assess pilot, testing, and deployment opportunities from Day 1 and provide operational, technical, acquisition, and partnership feedback.

Panel Member:

LCol Steve Nash (Ret'd)

Owner & Chief Instructor, Traditional Excellence Human Performance Inc.

Former Senior Leader, CANSOFCOM

15:15 – 15:30
Networking Break

Open networking.

15:30 – 16:15
90-Day Execution Planning Session

Participants establish 30-, 60-, and 90-day action plans, including stakeholder engagement, pilots, testing opportunities, partnership development, funding pathways, and deployment milestones.

16:15 – 16:30
Commitments & Next Steps

Jean-Marc Sheitoyan, PMP, Program Director, Counter-UAS & AI Deployment Accelerator, S4B Defense Corp.

Formal capture of commitments, key observations, and follow-on actions.


Featured Leadership

The Bootcamp is led by experienced defense, operational, and technology professionals with direct experience in Counter-UAS operations, capability development, and deployment.

Jean-Marc Sheitoyan, PMP

Program Director, Counter-UAS Bootcamp

S4B Defense Corp.

Mr. Jim Falasco

Panel Moderator

Director of Strategic Business, AeroGear Telemetry

Alexandre Joyce, PhD

Master of Ceremonies & Lead Workshop Facilitator

Strategy & Innovation Advisor, innovation.expert

LCol Steve Nash (Ret'd)

Operational Assessment & Evaluation Panel Member

Owner & Chief Instructor, Traditional Excellence Human Performance Inc.

Former Senior Leader within the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM)

Dr. Alain L. Bujold, PhD, DBA

Featured Innovation Speaker

Founder & CEO, Bujold Innovation LABS19 LLC

Nature-Inspired Innovation for Future Counter-UAS and UAS Systems


The Event Is the Starting Point, Not the Finish Line

Participants receive curated introductions, matchmaking support, and structured follow-on engagement designed to accelerate pilots, partnerships, testing opportunities, and deployment.

October 6–7
The Accelerator

Collaboration brief-outs, matchmaking, deployment opportunity reviews, and 90-day execution planning completed on-site.

Week 1
Match Reports & Introductions

Curated match reports delivered and formal introductions initiated between identified partners and stakeholders.

Month 1
Pilot & Partnership Discussions

Facilitated pilot discussions, partnership development, and opportunity scoping.

Month 3
Deployment Pathway Follow-Up

Progress reviews, opportunity tracking, and deployment pathway follow-up to advance commitments toward execution.


Counter-UAS & AI Deployment Accelerator 2026
From Innovation to Operational Capability. Faster.

Jean-Marc Sheitoyan, PMP • Program Director • S4B Defense Corp.

jm@s4bdefense.com+1 (514) 238-3005linkedin.com/in/jmsheitoyan

© 2026 S4B Defense Corp. All Rights Reserved.