Critical Ops Hackathon
Georgetown National Security Hackathon 2027
The finale of the second annual Georgetown National Security & Technology Conference
National security needs more builders. On Saturday, April 3, 2027, we’re bringing engineers, operators, policy minds, and domain experts together in Washington, DC to build working tools around real national security challenges.
Form a team, be assigned a problem, and spend the day turning an idea into a solution. Challenges are designed with input from defense and intelligence professionals, with topics like adversarial AI, cyber warfare, supply chain vulnerabilities, and space domain awareness. At the end, you’ll demo your project live to a panel of judges.
What to expect
Real-world problem sets rooted in current national security needs
Mentorship from engineers and leaders working in defense technology
Live demos and judging at the end of the day
Recruiting and networking exposure with people hiring in the field
Who should join: Students, researchers, and early-career professionals from any background. You don’t need a defense or military resume. Come solo, and we’ll help you find a team, or bring your own. Cross-university teams are encouraged.
What to bring: A laptop, a charger, and any hardware you want to build with.
Admission is free, and spots are limited, so register early. The Hackathon is the last of three events: the Defense Tech Career Fair is on April 1, and the Conference is on April 2.
Hosted by the Georgetown National Security Technology Club.