On Wednesday, December 10, at 3:30 p.m. ET, the Forward Defense program of the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security will host a conversation with Representatives Mark Messmer (R-IN-08) and Donald Norcross (D-NJ-01), co-chairs of the Congressional Hypersonic Caucus, on the future of US hypersonic capabilities and how Congress can support the defense industrial base in scaling these critical technologies.
Messmer and Norcross launched the Congressional Hypersonics Caucus in July 2025 with a mission to advocate “the importance of hypersonic missile technology as a crucial component in America’s national security platform.” The congressmen will discuss this importance and Congress’s role in meeting the challenge of developing and fielding hypersonic systems. The Atlantic Council’s Hypersonic Capabilities Task Force has called for increased national attention to US hypersonic capabilities and recently published a report providing actionable recommendations for the US government to accelerate and prioritize the development of hypersonic capabilities.
New policy: In-person attendees will be required to show photo ID upon arrival, and no on-site registration will be permitted. Guests will not be admitted later than twenty minutes after the event’s start time. Registration for this event will close at 5:00 p.m. ET the day prior.
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Featuring
The Hon. Mark Messmer
United States Representative (R-IN-08);
Co-chair
Congressional Hypersonic Caucus
The Hon. Donald Norcross
United States Representative (D-NJ-01);
Co-chair
Congressional Hypersonic Caucus;
Ranking Member
House Armed Services Committee’s Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee
Opening remarks
Matthew Kroenig
Vice President and Senior Director
Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security
Atlantic Council
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The Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security works to develop sustainable, nonpartisan strategies to address the most important security challenges facing the United States and the world.
Forward Defense leads the Atlantic Council’s US and global defense programming, developing actionable recommendations for the United States and its allies and partners to compete, innovate, and navigate the rapidly evolving character of warfare. Through its work on US defense policy and force design, the military applications of advanced technology, space security, strategic deterrence, and defense industrial revitalization, it informs the strategies, policies, and capabilities that the United States will need to deter, and, if necessary, prevail in major-power conflict.
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