The Standing Committee’s 35th Annual Review of the Field of National Security Law is almost here. This week, Elisa sits down with Standing Committee Chair Stephen Preston to highlight what’s ahead at this year’s conference—taking place November 13–14 in Washington, DC. From keynotes on artificial intelligence and defense innovation to panels exploring ethics, cybersecurity, and private sector engagement, Stephen shares how this year’s program captures the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly changing technological era. Afterwards, Elisa recaps the latest national security headlines—from hostage exchanges and AI investments to international jewelry heists and more.

Stephen W. Preston is Partner and Co-Chair of Defense, National Security and Government Contracts Practice at WilmerHale, and chair of the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Law and National Security.

References:

• Register Now: 35th Annual Review of the Field of National Security Law CLE Conference, November 13–14, 2025, with an opening reception on November 12. Register before November 1 for early bird rates.
• Ep. 373, From Pipelines to Prisoners: Security in the Energy Sector with Kieran Ramsey (Part 1)
• Ep. 392, Empire AI: OpenAI’s Rise and the Race for Global Power with Karen Hao