GovDiscovery AI Podcast Ep. 65

PSC Defense Conference Preview with Steve Harris

Air Date: October 23, 2025
Host: Mike Shanley
Guest: Steve Harris (VP for Defense and Intelligence, Professional Services Council)

Episode Overview

This episode previews the upcoming 7th annual PSC Defense Conference (October 30, 2025) and explores the critical role trade associations like the Professional Services Council (PSC) play in the defense contracting ecosystem. Steve Harris, with his deep background in government and defense policy, joins Mike Shanley to discuss how PSC facilitates connections between industry and government, provides actionable market intelligence, and advocates effectively for its 400+ member organizations. The conversation delves into how PSC events deliver value to both government employees and industry, outlines the conference agenda, and shares networking best practices.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

PSC’s Role & Perspective: Bridging Government and Industry

• Associations in Government View:

  • Steve shares that while not all government agencies constantly think about associations, when he was with the Department of Defense, interaction with trade associations was more common compared to his time at DHS.
  • The real value is in the public-private partnership: “It’s that opportunity to make those matches to allow for private sector to partner with federal agencies and the right officials to be able to deliver the mission and the services...” (Steve, 01:31)

• Trade Associations as Industry Aggregators:

  • PSC represents over 400 companies, from startups to multinationals, and acts as the collective, unified voice for government contractors.
  • Ongoing collaboration among associations: “In the defense space I do take the opportunity. We have a biweekly exchange amongst the other defense associations.” (Steve, 02:54)

• Government Employees & Event Value:

  • Steve asserts attending association events helps government officials obtain a “collective voice” from industry instead of navigating endless individual inputs.
  • Associations foster valuable, often informal, connections at events—especially in hallway conversations.

PSC Advocacy and Market Intelligence

• Advocacy Strengths:

  • PSC actively engages with the executive and legislative branches to advocate for its members, sometimes anonymously when needed.

    “PSC is able to chime in, whether that’s working with the Hill on issues...or making comments on...regulations and sharing them with different federal agencies.”
    (Steve, 05:32)

  • PSC is constantly involved in shaping legislative outcomes like the NDAA and monitoring regulatory changes relevant to government contractors.

• Market Intelligence:

  • Steve was surprised at the depth and accuracy of PSC’s market intelligence across both defense and civilian markets.

    “The accuracy, it is amazingly close. It is really good and great critical information.”
    (Steve, 09:19)

Defense Market Priorities & Conference Themes

• Key Focus Areas for Contractors and Agencies:

  • Anticipating defense and intelligence priorities to enable upfront investments.
  • “Increasing the capacity of the defense industrial base.”
  • Acquisition reform driven by both Executive action and Congressional legislation (FORGED Act, SPEED Act).
  • IT modernization and energy transition, specifically the intersection of AI and energy demand.

• Vision Conference Preview:

  • PSC’s December “Vision Conference” provides unmatched market intelligence through volunteer-driven, government and private sector-informed reports:

    “No better place to get market intelligence than the Vision Conference.”
    (Steve, 07:03)

2025 PSC Defense Conference Preview

[10:47-14:50] Conference Agenda Breakdown:

• When/Where: October 30th, Westin Gateway (Arlington, VA) + virtual option, 12–6 PM EST.
• Main Topics:
  • Acquisition reform and its implications
  • Expansion and modernization of the defense industrial base
  • The impacts of funding lapses and government shutdowns
  • Insights from National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and key legislation (FORGED, SPEED Acts)
  • Energy challenges tied to AI and IT modernization
• Speakers/Format Highlights:
  • Rep. Whitman (Virginia): Defense industrial base, SPEED Act perspective
  • Expert panel: Collaboration among Congress, industry, and executive branch professionals
  • Rep. Walkacha (Virginia): Industrial base capacity, IT modernization, government funding lapse impacts
  • Acquisition experts panel: Commercial solutions and procurement trends
  • Panel on aligning energy and investment for future defense requirements, with a focus on AI’s energy demand
  • Closing remarks: Hon. Michael Kadonazi, Assistant Secretary for War for Industrial Base Policy

    “What will probably be one of the most considerable forms of acquisition reform...an overhaul.”
    (Steve, 12:23)

Unique Value Proposition of PSC Conferences

• Smaller, High-Access Format:

  • Hundreds rather than thousands of attendees facilitate real dialogue and networking.
  • Direct access to senior officials, staffers, and decision-makers, with structured Q&A.

    “You can’t really network with 45,000 people...What I like about the PSC...is that we’re talking hundreds, probably a couple hundred people in the room.”
    (Mike, 16:51)

  • Ample time for networking: lunch, breaks, and a reception.

• Sponsor Influence and Networking:

  • Title sponsor: Golden Key Group; premier sponsors include Amentum, CACI, DLH, HII, Leidos, and others.
    • Sponsors signal which large contractors and players will be present and accessible for smaller companies and prospective partners.

    “A really good time to make that connection and build that relationship with those primes...especially for those groups that are small businesses or maybe doing more subbing in the market.”
    (Mike, 20:07)

Getting Involved with PSC

• Event Participation:

  • Open to members and non-members, in-person and virtual attendance.
  • Registration: defense.pscouncil.org
  • PSC conferences are a gateway to PSC’s wider portfolio: advocacy, intelligence, and member engagement.

• Ways to Maximize ROI:

  • Volunteers can join planning committees (e.g., Defense AI & Cyber, Defense Services) to gain deeper network access and insider intelligence.
  • Even as non-members, organizations can use these events to learn PSC’s offerings and make valuable industry and government contacts.

Network & Engagement Strategies

• Best Practices for Attendees:

  • Prepare a concise, 30-second pitch or question in advance.
  • Be specific in your networking (“What’s the ask?”), especially for subs seeking to connect with primes.

    “Knowing what you hope to get out of that engagement...what is that message you want to resonate?”
    (Steve, 23:12)

  • For high-level speakers or officials, make connections and then identify the right staffer/contact for follow-up.
  • Use PSC itself as a follow-up resource—aiding with introductions and additional context.

    “Being able to leverage someone like a trade association like PSC to help you with that follow up as well.”
    (Steve, 25:15)

• Value for Small Businesses:

  • Build relationships with primes and access mentorship, partnership, and lessons-learned opportunities.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Event Value for Contractors and Government:

  “The value...is being able to get the collective voice unified into one place...and make introductions so companies can develop their relationships as well.”
  (Steve, 02:54, 04:41)

• On PSC’s Advocacy:

  “That level of advocacy that is continuously going on I thought was incredible.”
  (Steve, 05:32)

• On Market Intelligence:

  “The accuracy, it is amazingly close...just great critical information.”
  (Steve, 09:19)

• On Conference Networking:

  “What differentiates it is...you’re talking hundreds versus thousands...we’re able to actually ask our speakers questions.”
  (Steve, 18:00)

• On Maximizing Engagement:

  “If you only have 30 seconds, what is it that you want to say? What’s going to make you stand out?”
  (Steve, 23:12)

Key Timestamps

• Introduction & Guest Background: 00:13–01:31
• Role of Trade Associations: 01:31–05:21
• PSC’s Advocacy & Market Intelligence: 05:32–06:48
• Defense Market Priorities: 07:03–10:05
• PSC Defense Conference Agenda: 10:47–14:50
• Conference Networking & Format: 16:51–18:54
• Sponsors & Attendee Value: 19:15–20:44
• Small Business & Partnerships: 20:44–21:07
• Maximizing ROI & Engagement: 21:36–25:15
• Best Engagement Practices: 23:12–25:26
• Closing Remarks: 25:37–26:32

Final Takeaways

• The PSC Defense Conference is a must-attend event for defense contractors, offering direct access to senior government and industry leaders, actionable intelligence, and invaluable networking in an intimate setting.
• PSC’s advocacy, market data, and ability to convene both sides of the table deliver unique value to both members and the wider defense contracting community.
• Effective networking at these events requires preparation, specificity, and leveraging both formal sessions and informal opportunities.

Connect with the Guests:

• Steve Harris (LinkedIn)
• Mike Shanley (LinkedIn)

More Info:

• PSC Defense Conference Registration
• govdiscoveryai.com
• konektid.com