High-Value Connections and Timely Insights Define ACG’s Fifth Annual Aerospace & Defense Forum

CHICAGO — October 16, 2026 — The Association for Corporate Growth^® (ACG) brought together aerospace and defense executives, dealmakers, lenders, and advisors for the 2026 Aerospace & Defense Middle Market Leadership Forum this week. Nearly 300 A&D professionals registered for this intimate event, which paired timely market insights with direct access to senior leaders and dedicated opportunities to build and advance business relationships.

Held Oct. 14–15 at the Marina del Rey Marriott in Los Angeles, the fifth annual Forum retained the close-knit format that distinguishes it from larger industry conferences. Networking took on a larger role through expanded use of the ACG Access scheduling software and dedicated one-on-one meeting blocks across the two-day conference. ACG Access opened earlier than in prior years, while advance outreach to attendees helped drive usage, leading to nearly 700 meetings scheduled over the course of the event.

“The Forum makes it easy to connect with the right people in a focused setting, and the ACG Access platform helped facilitate even more meetings for us this year,” said Josh Donnelly, managing partner at Stone Canyon Advisors and co-chair of the 2026 Forum. “More dedicated meeting time in the schedule and the earlier opening of ACG Access helped our team maximize the number of A&D connections we made on-site.”

The Forum’s move from December to October this year aligned the event more closely with the A&D industry’s fall planning cycle, giving attendees time to assess the deal pipeline, make year-end decisions, and evaluate market trends shaping 2027.

Nearly 30 speakers examined the forces impacting A&D deal activity during the two-day program, with panels covering government priorities, defense spending, national security initiatives, AI, cybersecurity, autonomy, advanced manufacturing, space opportunities, and geopolitical developments.

Fairmont Consulting Managing Director Ben Harper opened the program with a keynote on the A&D macroeconomic outlook. On Day 2, entrepreneur Scott Tibbitts delivered the “Garage to Mars” keynote, sharing lessons from his career and exploring what it takes to move breakthrough aerospace ideas from early development to far-reaching missions.

“The combination of a senior-level audience, an intimate format, and high-quality content sets this Forum apart,” said Rose Sorensen, partner at Snell & Wilmer and co-chair of the Forum. “Attendees connected directly with industry leaders, gained a clearer view of the market, and carried those conversations from scheduled meetings into sessions and informal networking throughout the event.”

The A&D Forum reflects ACG’s commitment to hosting events that help members build connections tailored to their roles and business priorities.

“ACG creates opportunities for middle-market professionals to connect at every level—from broad gatherings like DealMAX to focused forums serving industries like aerospace and defense,” said ACG CEO Brent Baxter. “That range helps our members find the right people, learn about the latest developments in the market, and build relationships that help them achieve their business goals.”

The 2026 Forum was supported by sponsors Baker Tilly, CohnReznick, Covington, Fairmont Consulting Group, Forvis Mazars, Ground Control, Pillsbury, and Polsinelli.

The 2027 A&D Forum will be held next fall, with dates and venue information to be announced in the coming months.

About the Association for Corporate Growth
ACG is the premier global community for middle-market M&A professionals. ACG's mission is to empower dealmakers with the connections, insights, and resources that accelerate business growth. Founded in 1954, ACG’s global network operates in more than 60 markets worldwide and comprises more than 100,000 middle-market professionals who invest in, own, and advise growing companies. Learn more and become a member at acg.org.

Media Contact:
Katie Maloney
VP, Communications & Content
kmaloney@acg.org