AFCEA/INSA Intelligence & National Security Summit

The AFCEA and INSA Intelligence and National Security Summit is the metro's marquee unclassified gathering for intelligence, defense, and national-security professionals: more than 2,000 government, industry, and academic attendees across plenaries, ignite rounds, breakouts, and an exhibit hall. The 13th annual edition runs August 26 to 27, 2026 at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, 5701 Marinelli Road in Rockville, branded Bethesda North. Hosts frame it as mission conversation between U.S. intelligence agencies and their industry and academic partners, including sessions on open-source intelligence, AI, space acquisition, and great-power competition.

AFCEA International is a nonprofit professional association formed in 1946 to connect military, government, industry, and academic people working communications, cyber, and intelligence. The Intelligence and National Security Alliance, based in Arlington, began in 1979 as the Security Affairs Support Association and now counts more than 180 member organizations as a nonpartisan public-private forum for the intelligence community. Because both are nonprofits, registration and sponsorship also fund year-round workforce programs, not only two days of badges. ClearanceJobs partners on Career Conversations, a free cleared job fair Wednesday 9:00 to 11:00 AM before the opening keynote luncheon.

This summit is right if you are an intelligence or national-security practitioner, a cleared or clearable technologist, a student or faculty member on an .edu path into the field, or an industry partner who needs intelligence-community density. Skip if you want a free founder rooftop, a $35 biotech speed round, or a chamber mixer. Friendly foreign nationals are welcome. Contractors do not get the free government rate. That $0 tier is for verified .mil or .gov addresses only, and meals are extra on that badge.

Wednesday and Thursday, August 26 to 27, at Bethesda North Marriott. After the June 30 early-bird window, industry AFCEA or INSA members are listed at $900 and non-members at $975. Faculty are $225. Full-time students are $50. Government and active-duty military register free with verification. Full-pass meals include breakfast, lunch, and a networking reception. Cancellations after August 14 are not refundable. Earlier cancellations carried a $50 fee. Bring government-issued photo ID for badge pickup. Dress is business attire.

The hotel group cutoff was August 4 at $179, so treat that Passkey block as likely gone and confirm Marriott availability directly. North Bethesda on the Red Line is the closest Metro. On-site conference parking is listed as free daily. Day one closes with a reception. Day two ends with a young-professionals happy hour. Study the live agenda for plenaries, and budget exhibit-hall time alongside keynote seats. Register on intelsummit.org for the tier that matches your sector.