Charting America’s Newest Frontiers
IMPORTANT: If your organization is part of the TVC Leadership Council or a Summit Sponsor, please register by contacting your organization’s TVC contact to ensure your complimentary registration as part of the organization’s Group Registration.
The Agenda
Summit Location:
Westin Hotel Chattanooga
801 Pine St,
Chattanooga, TN 37402
All Times Eastern Daylight Time
Check back regularly for agenda updates.
Day 1 // Thursday // May 28, 2025
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Summit Exhibits Set-Up 9am - Noon
Westin Hotel, Downtown Chattanooga
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Summit Registration Opens 10am
Westin Hotel, Downtown Chattanooga
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Summit Board, Leadership Council & Sponsors Luncheon 11am
Location - TBD
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Summit Opening & Welcome 1pm
Westin Hotel Ballroom
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General Session One 1:15 - 3pm
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General Session Two 3:30 - 5:30pm
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Summit Reception 5:30 - 7pm
Summit Exhibits Area, Westin Hotel
Dinner on Own in Chattanooga
Day 2 // Friday // May 29, 2025
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Continental Breakfast 7:30 - 8:30am
Westin Hotel Ballroom
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General Session Three 8:30 - 10:15am
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General Session Four 10:30 - 11:45am
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Closing Remarks and Adjourn Noon
Day 1 // Thursday // May 28, 2026
-
Summit Exhibits Set-Up 9am - Noon
Westin Hotel, Downtown Chattanooga
-
Summit Registration Opens 10am
Westin Hotel, Downtown Chattanooga
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Summit Welcome & Opening 1 - 1:45pm
Westin Hotel Ballroom
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General Session One 1:45 - 3pm
Driving Innovation in Quantum and AI
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General Session Two 3:15 - 5pm
Leading America’s Nuclear Renaissance
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Summit Reception 5 - 6pm
Summit Exhibits Area, Westin Hotel
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Dinner on Own in Chattanooga or Enjoy A Night at the Ballpark!
Chattanooga Lookouts vs. Knoxville Smokies - 6:30 pm at Erlanger Park - Ticket Info Coming Soon!
Day 2 // Friday // May 29, 2026
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Continental Breakfast 7:30 - 8:30am
Westin Hotel Ballroom
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General Session Three 8:30 - 10:15am
Ensuring America’s National Security
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General Session Four 10:30 - 11:45am
Powering Our Future in Space and Defense
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Closing Remarks and Adjourn 11:45am - Noon
Day 1 // Thursday // May 28, 2025
-
Summit Exhibits Set-Up 9am - Noon
New Hope Center, Y-12 National Security Complex
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Summit Registration Opens 9am
New Hope Center, Y-12 National Security Complex
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Summit Welcome 1pm
New Hope Center, Y-12 National Security Complex
Greetings and Remarks:
Mark Gradkowski, TVC Board Chair
Rich Tighe, CNS/Y-12 National Security Complex -
General Session One 1:15 - 3pm
Working Together to Create The Nation’s Energy Hub
Greetings and Remarks:
Congressman Chuck Fleischmann
U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn
Panel Discussion:
Moderator - Mike Magill, Oak Ridge Corridor Development Corporation
Commissioner Stuart McWhorter, TN Dept. of Economic & Community Development
Erik Olds, Manager, U.S. Department of Energy Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management
Ken Rueter, UCOR
Dr. Ashley Stowe, Oak Ridge Associated Universities
Dr. Chris Whaley, Roane State Community College
Dr. Brian Wirth, UT Knoxville Nuclear Engineering -
General Session Two 3:30 - 5pm
Powering the Future of New Nuclear
Session Host: Sean Gleason, IB3 Global Solutions
Greetings and Remarks:
Congressman Tim Burchett
Opening Presentations:
Don Moul, Tennessee Valley Authority
Dena Volovar, Bechtel
Panel Discussion:
Moderator - Tracy Boatner, East Tennessee Economic Council
Joel Duling, President, TRISO-X
Peter Hastings, Kairos Power
Dr. Brooke Morrison, Solestiss
Jean-Luc Palayer, Orano USA
Mike Rinehart, Kiewit Nuclear Solutions
Amir Vexler, CEO, Centrus
Closing Presentation: Joseph Pelfrey, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center -
Summit Reception 5 - 6pm
New Hope Center, Y-12 National Security Complex
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TVC 30th Anniversary Dinner 6:30 - 8:30pm
Invitation-Only*
Hosted by the City of Oak Ridge
Oak Ridge Conference Center
*Due to capacity restrictions, this is an invitation-only event for TVC Board and Leadership Council members, Summit Sponsors, and other invited guests
Day 2 // Friday // May 29, 2025
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Continental Breakfast 7:30 - 8:30am
New Hope Center, Y-12 National Security Complex
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General Session Three 8:30 - 10:15am
Leading the Nation in Science, Research & Space
Session Host: Erin Koshut, Cummings Research Park
Greetings and Reflections:
Former Congressman Zach Wamp
Opening Presentations:
Dr. Stephen Streiffer, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Dr. Donde Plowman, University of Tennessee Knoxville
Panel Discussion:
Moderator - Nathan Green, Vanderbilt University
Dr. Lori Mann Bruce, Tennessee Tech University
Evann Freeman, EPB Chattanooga
Shaun Gleason, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Dr. Robert Lindquist, University of Alabama in Huntsville
Betsey Kirk McCall, Seven States Power Corporation -
General Session Four 10:30 - 11:45am
Ensuring America's Continued Security & Leadership
Session Host: Dr. Martin Williamson, CNS/Y-12 National Security Complex
Greetings and Remarks:
Mary Helen Hitson, National Nuclear Security Administration
Congressman Scott DesJarlais
Panel Discussion:
Moderator - Sean P. Williams, C2Labs and Protection Strategies, Inc.
Dr. Deborah Crawford, University of Tennessee Knoxville
Dr. Moe Khaleel, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Ben Souther, Bechtel
Dr. Craig Whittinghill, Auburn University McCrary Institute -
Closing Remarks Noon - 12:15pm
Congressman Chuck Fleischmann
Mark Gradkowski, TVC Board Chair
Keynote Speakers and Panelists
Confirmed Speakers
Congressman Chuck Fleischmann
Tennessee's 3rd District
Senator Marsha Blackburn
Tennessee
Congressman Chuck Fleischmann
Tennessee's 3rd District
Senator Marsha Blackburn
Tennessee
Senator Bill Hagerty
Tennessee
(Invited)
Congressman John Rose
Tennessee's 6th District
Congressman Dale Strong
Alabama's 5th District
(Invited)
Congressman Matt Van Epps
Tennessee's 7th District
Brandon Williams
Under Secretary of Energy, and Administrator National Nuclear Security Administration
Tim Kelly
Mayor, City of Chattanooga
(Invited)
Lori Mann Bruce
Chancellor, The University of Tennessee in Chattanooga
Stephen Streiffer
Director, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Lori Mann Bruce
Chancellor, The University of Tennessee in Chattanooga
Congressman Scott DesJarlais
Tenneessee's 4th District
Congressman Tim Burchett
Tennessee's 2nd District
Commissioner Stuart McWhorter
Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
Joseph Pelfrey
Director, Marshall Space Flight Center
Donde Plowman
Chancellor, University of Tennessee Knoxville
Stephen Streiffer
Director, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Don Moul
President & CEO, Tennessee Valley Authority
Rich Tighe
President & CEO, Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC
Dena Volovar
President, Nuclear, Security & Environmental, Bechtel
Invited Speakers
Senator Bill Hagerty
Tennessee
Congressman Robert Aderholt
Alabama's 4th District
Congressman Morgan Griffith
Virginia's 9th District
Congressman John Rose
Tennessee's 6th District
Many Thanks To Our 2026 National Summit Sponsors
& TVC Leadership Council Members
