Hundreds of science, technology, defense and policy leaders from across the Southeast are gathering in Chattanooga this week for the 2026 Tennessee Valley Corridor National Summit, an annual event focused on advancing federal missions and expanding economic development tied to research, energy, aerospace and national security.
The two-day summit kicks off today at The Westin Chattanooga under the theme “Charting America’s Newest Frontiers.”
The event is hosted by Tennessee Valley Corridor and will feature discussions on artificial intelligence, quantum computing, nuclear innovation, national security, space exploration and defense technologies.
Several speakers with strong North Alabama and Huntsville ties are expected to participate, including Terry Grisham and Roger Baird.
Grisham currently serves as Redstone’s Transition Director for U.S. Space Command, while Baird serves in a senior leadership role at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, one of the nation’s leading centers for propulsion, space systems and deep-space exploration programs.
The summit also includes appearances from U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn, Congressman Chuck Fleischmann, Congressman John Rose, Congressman Matt Van Epps, Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy James P. Danly, Under Secretary for Nuclear Security for the U.S. Department of Energy Brandon Williams, among other federal, academic and industry leaders.
Sessions scheduled Thursday include discussions focused on quantum computing, artificial intelligence and America’s growing nuclear energy sector.
Friday’s programming shifts toward national security, defense and space exploration, including a featured session titled “Powering Our Future in Space and Defense.”
Officials said the summit is intended to strengthen collaboration between government agencies, universities, research institutions and private industry across the Tennessee Valley region.
The Tennessee Valley Corridor now represents 13 congressional districts spanning Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia and North Carolina.
The nonprofit organization was originally founded in the 1990s through efforts led by former Tennessee Gov. and U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander and former Congressman Zach Wamp.
Since its creation, the organization has focused on leveraging major federal missions and investments across the region to support economic growth, workforce development and technology innovation.
Organizers said federal investment across the Tennessee Valley Corridor region now exceeds $75 billion annually and supports more than 150,000 jobs tied to 82 federal agencies.
