On Thursday, October 9, 2025, from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m., the Atlantic Council’s Forward Defense Program will publicly launch the final report of the Hypersonic Capabilities Task Force.
Any future large-scale conflict will take place in a highly contested environment where US capability will be aggressively challenged in the air, on land, at sea, and in space. The US military must have the ability to rapidly deliver lethal effects at range in a timescale of relevance. To close the growing capability gap between the United States and its adversaries in China and Russia, the Pentagon and Congress must prioritize the accelerated fielding of these capabilities.
This report presents the hypersonic imperative, offering recommendations for the Pentagon and Congress to adopt or pursue to maintain the US military’s ability to dominate the battlefield against an increasingly capable set of adversaries.
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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Speakers
Deborah Lee James
23rd Secretary of the Air Force
Board Director and Co-Chair of the Hypersonic Capabilities Task Force
Atlantic Council
Ryan McCarthy
24th Secretary of the Army
Co-Chair of the Hypersonic Capabilities Task Force
Atlantic Council
General Jim McConville, USA (ret.)
40th Army Chief of Staff
US Army
Task Force Member, Hypersonic Capabilities Task Force
Atlantic Council
Whitney McNamara
Senior Vice President
Beacon Global Strategies
Task Force Member, Hypersonic Capabilities Task Force
Atlantic Council
Michael E. White
Former Principal Director of Hypersonics
US Department of Defense
Task Force Author, Hypersonic Capabilities Task Force
Atlantic Council
Moderated by
Matthew Kroenig
Vice President and Senior Director
Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security
Atlantic Council
Mark J. Massa
Deputy Director, Strategic Forces Policy, Forward Defense, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security
Atlantic Council
Stephen Rodriguez
Senior Advisor; Hypersonic Capabilities Task Force Director
Atlantic Council
Agenda
3:30 p.m. ET | Welcome remarks
Matthew Kroenig
Vice President and Senior Director
Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security
Atlantic Council
3:35–4:15 p.m. ET | Fireside chat with Hypersonic Capabilities Task Force co-chairs
Speakers
Deborah Lee James
23rd Secretary of the Air Force
Board Director and Co-Chair of the Hypersonic Capabilities Task Force
Atlantic Council
Ryan McCarthy
24th Secretary of the Army
Co-Chair of the Hypersonic Capabilities Task Force
Atlantic Council
Moderated by
Stephen Rodriguez
Senior Advisor,Forward Defense, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security
Atlantic Council
4:20–5:00 p.m. ET | Panel discussion with Task Force lead author and Task Force members
Speakers
General Jim McConville, USA (ret.)
40th Chief of Staff
US Army
Task Force Member, Hypersonic Capabilities Task Force,
Atlantic Council
Whitney McNamara
Senior Vice President
Beacon Global Strategies
Task Force Member, Hypersonic Capabilities Task Force,
Atlantic Council
Michael E. White
Former Principal Director of Hypersonics
US Department of Defense
Task Force Author, Hypersonic Capabilities Task Force,
Atlantic Council
Moderated by
Mark J. Massa
Deputy Director, Strategic Forces Policy, Forward Defense, Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security
Atlantic Council
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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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