About this Event
The 2026 California CCAP Industry Days Expo features unprecedented interaction with over 150 procurement and RDTE personnel from NAWCWD China Lake and Pt. Mugu in the two-day event.
The California Contracting/Acquisition/Procurement (CCAP) Industry Days Expo is a crucial bridge between industry leaders and government agencies, facilitating connections for the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) at China Lake and Pt. Mugu. This event holds particular significance for the U.S. Navy, providing a unique platform for engaging with skilled individuals and companies passionately dedicated to supporting the warfighter.
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Presented by Saalex Solutions
, a division of Saalex Corp., is an engineering and information technology services company providing support to battlefield environments ranging from undersea warfare, surface warfare, air warfare, and the space program. The organization focuses on information technology and cybersecurity support, test range operations and management services, training and training support, engineering, and logistics services.
PROGRAM – DAY ONE
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Kerr McGee Convention Center • 100 W California Ave • Ridgecrest, CA
0800 – 0845 Registration Opens – Continental Breakfast
0845 – 0900 Program Opening and National Anthem
Invocation John Paul, President, NDTI
Welcome Remarks Kari Crutcher, Executive Director, RACVB
0900 – 0930 Keynote Address Travis Mack, Chairman and CEO, Saalex Corporation
AI and Automation: The Advantage Goes to the Adopters
Framed around “AI and Automation: The Advantage Goes to the Adopters,” Mr. Mack will translate today’s rapid advances into practical actions for industry and how to move beyond pilots to operational deployment; how to harden AI-enabled workflows for reliability, cyber resilience, and compliance; and how to redesign teams so automation amplifies human judgment rather than replacing it.
0930 – 1015 Opening Plenary: 2026 National Defense Strategy: From Strategic Priorities to Contracting Pathways
2026 National Defense Strategy released by the Department of War provides insight and capability outcomes, integration expectations, and the contracting realities that will shape awards in the next 12–24 months. Organized around its four Lines of Effort: 1) Defend the homeland, 2) deter China in the Indo-Pacific, 2) Deepen allied burden-sharing, and 4) supercharge the defense industrial base. This panel will connect strategy to execution through the lens of NAWCWD China Lake and Point Mugu mission priorities, test and evaluation pathways, and production-at-scale requirements.
1015 - 1045 Networking Break
Policy and The Warfighter: Changes Needed to Secure Rapid Innovation
This session builds on the session at ARDIS 2025 which examines how policy is reshaping defense acquisition toward commercial-first solutions, faster decision cycles, and a stronger industrial base, and what still must change to deliver capability at speed and scale.
1130– 1215 Regional Strategic Opportunities Roundtable
Join key regional innovation and capital enablers to translate near-term mission needs into executable pathways for industry—spanning upcoming contracting, subcontracting, and OTA opportunities. Featuring perspectives from regional partners Matter Labs, TechGrid, Golden State APEX Accelerator, the discussion will explore how non-traditional and traditional suppliers can plug into those pipelines, and will highlight state-level tools that strengthen scale-up readiness—financing, incentives, site selection, and market entry strategies.
1215 - 1300 Open Lunch Break
1300 - 1700 Exhibition Hall Opens
1300 - 1600 Breakout Session: Weapons Systems Integration Support Services (WSISS) Contract Follow-on
Breakout Session presentation and 1-on-1 Q&A (Pre-Signup available on SAM.gov after 1/7/26. Signup for 1-on-1 after presentation based on availability).
1330 - 1600 Breakout Session: Aircrew Electronic Warfare Tactical Training Range (AEWTTR) Contract Follow-on
Breakout Session presentation and 1-on-1 Q&A (Pre-Signup available on SAM.gov
after 1/7/26. Signup for 1-on-1 after presentation based on availability).
1730 – 2000 CCAP Evening Reception
Charlie’s Pub and Grill @Clarion Hotel. 901 N. China Lake Boulevard, Ridgecrest
PROGRAM – DAY TWO
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
0800-0845 Open Registration – Continental Breakfast
0845-0900 Welcome – Kari Crutcher, Executive Director RACVB
What to Expect – Derrick Hu, Deputy Director, NAVAIR OSBP
0900-1000 NAWCWD Leadership Strategic Overview 2026
RDML Keith Hash, Commander, NAWCWD
Mr. Dan Carreno, SES, Executive Director, NAWCWD
1000-1030 Networking Break
1030-1045 Weapons System Development Transformation
Mr. Jason Cushing, SES, Director, Targeting & Kinetic Effects
1045-1100 Advanced Weapon Prototypes- Chainsaw
Mr. Nic Albrecht, Director, Advanced Weapon System Prototypes
1100-1115 NAWCWD UxS
Mr. James Bell, UxS Program Manager, NAWCWD
1115-1130 Autonomy and Specialty Aircraft Designs
Mr. Travis Canfield, Section Head, Exploratory Development
1130-1200 Federal Acquisition Regulations Part 19, Small Business Programs Re-write
Mr. Derrick Hu, Deputy Director, NAVAIR OSBP
1200-1300 Open Lunch and Networking
1300-1600 Exhibition Hall Opens
1300-1600 Long Range Acquisition Forecast (LRAF) – NAWCWD Contract Exhibitors
Weapons Systems Engineering Contracts
Weapons & Energetics/R&D Contracts
China Lake RTOIL/R&D Contracts
Command Support & Sustainment Contracts
Point Mugu RTOIL/R&D/NTWP Contracts
Simplified Acquisition/Purchase Card/Government Property
1300-1600 Open Forum with NAWCWD RDT&E Personnel Exhibitors
CTO/CSA/CRADA/SBIR
Weapons & Energetics
Research & Development
Airborne Threat Simulation
Airborne Instrumentation Systems
Corporate Business & Analysis
Sustainment
Visionary Engineering for Combat Technology & Rapid Response (VECTR)
F/A-18 & F-35
Targeting & Kinetic Effects
1600 Adjournment
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Kerr McGee Center, 100 West California Avenue, Ridgecrest, United States
USD 0.00 to USD 289.95
