CDCA to Proceed with the Eastern Defense Summit on December 10–11, 2025
The Charleston Defense Contractors Association (CDCA) will move forward with the Eastern Defense Summit (EDS) on December 10–11, 2025, as scheduled.
Should the shutdown continue, the EDS will still take place. CDCA is committed to providing a venue that fosters collaboration, accelerates problem-solving, and connects the people and organizations working at the forefront of national defense.
While we continue to monitor the federal government shutdown and encourage timely action from Congress, CDCA remains in close coordination with our government, military, industry, and academic partners. Planning for EDS is well underway, and we are maintaining
strong forward momentum to deliver a forum that brings together leaders across the joint force and the defense industrial base to discuss and address the nation’s most pressing challenges.
With this year’s theme, “Collaborating on Actionable Solutions for Our Nation’s Pacing Threats – Enabling the Joint Mission: Technologies that Deliver Capabilities,” EDS will highlight innovative, mission-focused solutions that strengthen readiness, resilience,
and integrated operations across all domains.
As a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening the relationship between government, industry, and academia, CDCA will continue advancing its mission and supporting the warfighter through meaningful engagement at EDS and throughout the year.
The 2025 Eastern Defense Summit
An Operationally Essential Summit in a Strategic Location
The Eastern Defense Summit is the premier defense-focused event on the East Coast, bringing together more than 2,300 government, military, academic, and industry leaders to address the most pressing threats to national security. As global challenges intensify, the Eastern Defense Summit is mission-essential - driving collaboration that ensures the United States out paces our adversaries in strategic foresight, technical capabilities, and operational execution.
Held in Charleston, SC - a region with a powerful industry and military presence, including Joint Base Charleston, NIWC Atlantic, the Marine Corps, the Army, and the Coast Guard - the Summit is uniquely positioned at the crossroads of defense innovation and operational readiness. The Lowcountry’s defense ecosystem fosters seamless collaboration between industry and warfighters, ensuring that solutions discussed at the Eastern Defense Summit translate directly into real-world capability needs and operational impact.
The Summit’s theme, “Collaborating on actionable solutions for our nation’s pacing threats - Enabling the Joint Mission: Technologies that Deliver Capabilities
,”
underscores the urgent need for near-term solutions that enhance U.S. defense capabilities. With a strong focus on technological convergence, interoperability, and rapid capability development, the Eastern Defense Summit serves as a catalyst for innovation,
tactical coordination, and force modernization.
Through high-impact exhibits, cutting-edge demonstrations, real-world training, innovation spotlights, and dynamic technical exchanges, attendees gain mission-essential insights to enhance operational readiness. This Summit is not just
a platform for discussion – it is a strategic engine for actionable outcomes, where workforce partnerships and technological advancements translate into decisive tactical advantage no foreign adversary can match.
The Eastern Defense Summit will be held in-person only at the Charleston Area Convention Center in North Charleston, SC - a strategic hub where military and industry converge to shape the future of national defense.
