As part of the San Diego-Taiwan Security Initiative, TMA BlueTech and its regional partners will convene a private roundtable bringing together a select group of leaders from Taiwan and San Diego's defense, maritime, technology, government, academic, research, and national security communities.
The October 9 gathering is designed as a working session rather than a traditional conference program. Building on the activities and public discussion of October 8, participants will have an opportunity to engage directly with Admiral Lee Hsi-Min (Ret.) and one another around areas of shared interest between Taiwan and the San Diego region.
The objective is to move beyond general dialogue and explore where relationships, capabilities, expertise, and institutional resources can be connected to support continued collaboration.
From Strategic Dialogue to Practical Collaboration
Admiral Lee served as Taiwan's Chief of the General Staff from 2017 to 2019, the nation's highest-ranking military officer and a key military advisor to the President. His previous leadership roles include Chief of Navy and Vice Minister of Defense.
He is also the architect of Taiwan's Overall Defense Concept (ODC), an asymmetric approach developed specifically around Taiwan's defense needs.
Admiral Lee's participation provides an opportunity for San Diego leaders to better understand the strategic and operational context shaping Taiwan's defense priorities while exploring how the region's defense, maritime, technology, research, and innovation capabilities may intersect with those priorities.
Rather than a series of formal presentations, the roundtable is intended to encourage candid, cross-sector discussion among participants.
Topics are expected to include defense and dual-use innovation, maritime capabilities, emerging technologies, research and industry collaboration, and mechanisms for strengthening longer-term connections between San Diego and Taiwan.
The goal is to identify practical areas for continued engagement and potential next steps following Admiral Lee's visit.
A Curated, Cross-Sector Discussion
Participation will be limited to approximately 20–30 invited attendees to preserve the working nature of the conversation.
The group will include a carefully selected cross-section of senior representatives from industry, government, the military, academia, research institutions, investment, and organizations supporting defense and technology innovation.
The morning will begin with breakfast on the Prebys Foundation's third-floor outdoor deck, allowing participants to connect informally before moving to the seventh-floor offices for the facilitated strategic roundtable.
Schedule & Location
Friday, October 9, 2026
Prebys Foundation
1420 Kettner Blvd.
San Diego, CA
8:00 AM | Breakfast & Informal Networking
Third-Floor Deck
Participants will gather for breakfast and informal conversation before the formal roundtable begins.
Approximately 9:30 AM | San Diego-Taiwan Defense Industry Roundtable
Seventh-Floor Prebys Foundation Offices
The facilitated discussion will focus on areas of shared strategic and technological interest and opportunities for continued collaboration.
11:30 AM | Program Concludes
Participation
This is a private, invitation-only gathering.
Participation in the October 9 roundtable is being coordinated by TMA BlueTech in consultation with the initiative's organizing partners. Attendance is intentionally limited, with invitations extended to individuals whose expertise, organizations, and perspectives are particularly relevant to the objectives of the discussion.
The initiative's original program identifies the October 9 gathering as the San Diego-Taiwan Defense Industry Roundtable, hosted by Prebys Foundation and by invitation.
Part of the San Diego-Taiwan Security Initiative
The roundtable concludes two days of engagement designed to strengthen connections between Taiwan and San Diego's defense and national security communities.
October 8 programming includes technology and test-range demonstrations, local defense industry facility visits, and a public conversation with Admiral Lee Hsi-Min followed by a reception.
Together, the October 8 and 9 programs are intended to create multiple levels of engagement, from exposure to San Diego's defense technology ecosystem and public strategic dialogue to a smaller working session focused on relationships and potential areas for continued collaboration.
Convened by: TMA BlueTech
Hosted by: Prebys Foundation
In Partnership with: The La Jolla Center for Pacific Strategy and San Diego Military Advisory Council (SDMAC)
