Postponed: Regional Trip to Rock Island Arsenal
September 18, 2025 @ 2:00 pm - September 19, 2025 @ 6:00 pm CDT
| Share:
*This regional engagement has been postponed; we will share an updated date once details are confirmed. Questions? Contact ncallone@bens.org.
Join BENS for an exclusive trip to Rock Island Arsenal (RIA), the nation’s largest government arsenal. Led by BENS Chief Operating Officer Major General Chris Craige, USAF (ret.), our delegation will be on the ground with US First Army Command, Army Sustainment Command, and Joint Munitions Command. We will also tour the Joint Manufacturing Technology Center.
RIA plays an integral role in our nation’s defense industrial base. The 2.5 sq. mile island is home to the Army’s prime 3D printer and is leading additive manufacturing efforts to revolutionize machine repair, lower costs, and enhance military readiness. RIA is focused on preparedness for wartime mobilization and logistics for material resupplies of ammunition, equipment, food, and uniforms.
Agenda
- Thursday, Sept. 18, 2 p.m. Group ground transport will depart from the Chicago Loop
- 5 p.m. Members arrive and check in to the hotel in Moline, IL
- 6 p.m. Welcome brief with COO Major General Chris Craige USAF (ret.), followed by dinner with Commanding General of US First Army Command, Lieutenant General Mark Landes
- Friday, Sept. 19, morning-3 p.m. Travel to Rock Island Arsenal for high-level engagements and tour the Joint Manufacturing Technology Center.
- 6 p.m. Group ground transport returns to the Chicago Loop
Trip Logistics
Attendees are responsible for their own expenses and will share all group and staff expenses incurred on the trip. The estimated cost for this trip is $650 per person; however, this may fluctuate based on overall participation to include late additions and/or cancellations. A $250 deposit will be required at the time of registration, which will be deducted from your trip invoice. If a BENS member needs to cancel trip participation, BENS staff will make every effort to find a substitute traveler. If the space cannot be filled, the deposit may be retained for BENS expenses.
Registration
Space for this trip is limited so please contact Natalie Callone right away with your interest and availability. In addition, please refrain from making any travel arrangements until your participation is confirmed.
This is a great opportunity for our members to interface with the crossroads of the US defense industrial base.
Cost: $650
Organizer:
NCallone@bens.org
More Events
Reagan National Security Innovation Base Report Card Discussion
Please join BENS for an important roundtable discussion with the Report Card research team: Rachel Hoff, Policy Director at the Ronald Reagan Institute, Mr. Christian Rodriguez, McKinsey & Co, and Mr. Eric Snelgrove, their subject matter expert. During this discussion, we will take a deep dive into the Institute’s NSIB Report Card. In turn, the Reagan Institute team is eager to hear directly from BENS members – particularly your insights and recommendations that could inform and shape future iterations of the…
The Psychology of Security: Defending Against Influence Operations
As adversaries increasingly leverage disinformation to destabilize institutions, safeguarding the domestic information environment has become a critical requirement for homeland resilience. Please join us for a BENS luncheon discussion on this topic with Dr. Dana LaFon, Senior Fellow for Behavioral Science at the Institute for Advertising Ethics. Dr. LaFon is the former NSA Senior Technical Leader for Operational Psychology. Dr. LaFon will lead a briefing on “influence inoculation”-the strategic application of behavioral science to preemptively protect organizations and the public…
Southeast Recap on Davos, Munich Security Conference, and RSAC
Please join BENS Southeast for an interesting virtual discussion with BENS Member Tony Sibert providing a recap and insights from his experiences at The World Economic Forum at Davos 2026, the 2026 Munich Security Conference, and the 2026 RSA Conference. This promises to be yet another great opportunity to learn about the topics that were covered and some of his takeaways gleaned from the panels and the “hallway chats” that are interest from national security and public private partnership perspectives.…
REFUNDS: Event Registration Fees are fully refundable up to 3 business days before the event. After that time, they are non-refundable as BENS has already incurred the expense of registration. Contact your Regional Director, the event coordinator, or email BENS@bens.org to withdraw from an event and begin the refund process. For additional information on refunds and payment policies, please visit our payment information page.