Call for Session Proposals
The San Diego Military Summit invites thought leaders, practitioners, innovators, educators, employers, military leaders, entrepreneurs, researchers, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and community partners to help shape one of the nation's emerging forums where military, industry, and community come together to exchange ideas, strengthen partnerships, and develop practical solutions.
If you have something that can make a difference—
Share Something That Matters.
Why Present?
The San Diego Military Summit exists because meaningful progress happens when diverse experiences and expertise come together.
Every year, our presenters help attendees discover new ideas, challenge assumptions, strengthen organizations, and build partnerships that extend well beyond the Summit itself.
Whether your expertise was developed through military service, professional practice, research, entrepreneurship, healthcare, education, government, nonprofit leadership, or another professional path, we welcome your perspective.
A Summit Built on Diverse Perspectives
One of the defining characteristics of the San Diego Military Summit is the diversity of voices represented throughout the program.
Military experience provides extraordinary leadership, technical expertise, and operational insight.
At the same time, many of the ideas that shape career readiness, workforce development, employer success, innovation, healthcare, education, entrepreneurship, and community leadership come from professionals working across industry, academia, government, healthcare, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector.
The San Diego Military Summit intentionally brings these perspectives together because we believe our attendees are best served when military experience is complemented by expertise from across the broader community.
By combining these perspectives, we create richer conversations, broaden professional understanding, and develop practical solutions that no single sector could achieve alone.
Areas of Focus
(These Areas of Focus are intended to inspire—not limit—your ideas. We welcome innovative proposals that align with the Summit's mission, even if they do not fit neatly within a single category)
Career Readiness & Lifelong Success
Career success begins long before a servicemember, military-connected family member, or veteran enters the civilian workforce. The San Diego Military Summit welcomes proposals that help military-connected individuals intentionally prepare for meaningful careers at every stage of life—from those just beginning military service to those planning their next professional chapter years or even decades into the future. We are looking for sessions that encourage lifelong learning, leadership development, and intentional career planning that empowers long-term success.
Representative topics may include:
- Career planning throughout military life
- Leadership development
- Education and credentialing
- Professional networking
- Entrepreneurship
- Financial readiness
- Professional branding
- Executive career pathways
- Transition planning
- Lifelong learning
Military Families & Community Support
Strong military communities are built upon strong families, engaged community partners, and effective support systems. We welcome proposals that strengthen opportunities, workforce participation, quality of life, and community resources for military-connected families, caregivers, veterans, and the organizations that serve them. We encourage programming that recognizes military-connected family members as active participants in career development, education, entrepreneurship, and community leadership.
Representative topics may include:
- Career opportunities for military-connected family members
- Education and credentialing
- Entrepreneurship
- Mental health and resilience
- Family readiness
- Housing
- Financial wellness
- Childcare and caregiver support
- Community partnerships
- Nonprofit collaboration
Employer Enablement
Military-connected talent represents one of America's strongest leadership and workforce pipelines. The San Diego Military Summit welcomes proposals that help employers successfully recruit, hire, develop, retain, and advance military-connected talent through sustainable workforce strategies and organizational best practices. We are particularly interested in sessions that move beyond military hiring as an act of goodwill and instead demonstrate the measurable business value of military-connected talent.
Representative topics may include:
- Military hiring best practices
- Skills translation
- Workforce planning
- Veteran retention
- Military-connected family employment
- Apprenticeships and internships
- Leadership development
- Employer branding
- Federal and state workforce programs
- Building the business case for military-connected talent
Innovation, Industry & National Security
Innovation strengthens both national security and economic opportunity. We welcome proposals that explore emerging technologies, entrepreneurship, workforce development, defense innovation, and collaboration between military, industry, academia, and government. Sessions should help attendees better understand the innovation ecosystem while encouraging new ideas, partnerships, and practical solutions that contribute to America's future defense and workforce capabilities.
Representative topics may include:
- Artificial intelligence
- Cybersecurity
- Maritime technologies
- Autonomous systems
- Defense innovation
- Advanced manufacturing
- Small business and startups
- Research partnerships
- Technology commercialization
- Workforce innovation
Presentation Formats
We welcome proposals for:
- Presentations
- Interactive Workshops
- Panel Discussions
- Fireside Conversations
- Facilitated Discussions
- Case Studies
- Demonstrations
- Innovative learning experiences
If you have another idea that contributes to the Summit experience, we'd love to hear it.
What Makes a Strong Proposal?
The strongest proposals are:
✔ Practical
✔ Actionable
✔ Engaging
✔ Collaborative
✔ Relevant
✔ Forward-looking
✔ Solution-oriented
✔ Designed to leave attendees with ideas they can immediately apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I submit multiple proposals?
- Yes.
Do I need military experience?
- No.
In fact, one of the defining characteristics of the Summit is the diversity of expertise represented throughout the program. We actively encourage proposals from professionals across industry, education, healthcare, nonprofit organizations, government, entrepreneurship, and other fields whose knowledge can benefit military-connected careers, employers, families, and communities.
Can I propose a panel?
- Absolutely.
Can my organization submit more than one proposal?
- Yes.
Can vendors present?
- Yes, provided the proposal is educational in nature rather than promotional.
When will presenters be notified?
- by September 1, 2026
Ready to Share Something That Matters?
Your experience may help shape someone's career.
Your ideas may strengthen an organization.
Your expertise may inspire a new partnership.
Your perspective may challenge assumptions and open new possibilities.
If you have something that can make a difference—
We invite you to share it.
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