The AFCEA Bethesda Emerging Leaders are excited to host the 14^th Annual AFCEA Bethesda Winter IT Luncheon on February 11^th, 2026 from 11am-2pm at District Winery in downtown DC. This year’s theme will be: “The Heart of Federal Government: What Makes Today’s Leaders Tick”.

The event will bring together senior officials and emerging leaders within the govcon space for engaging conversations on the driving forces behind modern federal leadership. Over a shared meal, participants will explore how Technology, Innovation, Cybersecurity, and Knowledge management are shaping decision-making at the highest levels of Government. Roundtable discussions over lunch will highlight the challenges that today’s leaders face in balancing tradition with transformation, while offering insights into the strategies that keep agencies agile, secure, and forward-looking.

This annual event is designed to foster candid dialogue and cross-sector collaboration. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how today’s leaders harness emerging technologies, champion innovative practices, safeguard critical systems, and balance knowledge and finances to strengthen institutional resilience. Each roundtable will have discussions not only around the motivations of our Federal leaders, but also how their impact ripples across agencies, communities, and the nation’s future.