Last night, Greystones Group joined leaders from across government, industry, and the investment community at the Leonid Capital x War on the Rocks event. The event was centered on the hard work of turning emerging technologies into real operational capability.
Too often, defense innovation conversations stall at the level of buzzwords. What made this discussion different was its focus on execution. From generative AI and advanced analytics to open, modular architectures, the emphasis was squarely on how these technologies are built, integrated, deployed, and sustained in mission-critical environments. The question wasn’t what’s possible, but what works and how to deliver it at speed without sacrificing rigor, trust, or resilience.
The value of gatherings like this lies in who is in the room. Operators, technologists, investors, and policymakers each bring distinct perspectives, and real progress happens when those viewpoints intersect. Aligning incentives across these communities is essential to accelerating capability delivery while ensuring systems are secure, interoperable, and designed for long-term impact rather than short-term demonstrations.
We’re grateful to Leonid Capital and War on the Rocks for creating a forum that prioritizes substance over spectacle and thoughtful debate over innovation theater. These conversations are critical as the national security community works to bridge the gap between promising technology and enduring mission advantage.
Greystones Group looks forward to continuing this dialogue and contributing to the work required to translate innovation into operational reality.