Resilience Planning for Maryland Defense Communities

Registration

Welcoming Remarks

Resilient Maryland Defense Communities Project Findings

This presentation will introduce the draft output of the Resilient Maryland Defense Communities Project: the Draft Maryland Defense Communities Collaborative Resiliency Framework. Chris will walk through the identified gaps and recommendations formulated from the project’s interdisciplinary approach which included convening subject matter experts, completing a literature review, hosting resilience exercises, engaging with Mid-Atlantic military installations, as well as conducting surveys and targeted interviews. Attendees will be invited to provide feedback and make suggestions for improvements.

Fireside Chat: Flooding and Community Partnerships

This fireside chat explores how military installations and surrounding communities can work together to address shared flooding risks. Using the City of Annapolis and NSA Annapolis collaboration and the City Dock/USNA Flood Protection project as a case example, speakers will discuss governance models, lessons learned, and how successful approaches can be adapted in other defense communities.

Break

Panel: Innovative Energy Partnerships

This panel highlights emerging energy resilience and reliability partnerships between military installations, utilities, local governments, and private-sector partners. Panelists will share real-world examples from Maryland and beyond, focusing on how innovative energy projects support mission assurance, grid resilience, and mutual benefits for installations and host communities.

Catered Lunch and Networking

Panel: Federal and State Financing Opportunities

This panel provides an overview of current and upcoming federal and state funding programs that defense communities can apply for that will support community infrastructure. Panelists from key federal and state agencies will focus on actionable opportunities, eligibility considerations, and strategies for aligning community and installation priorities with available funding.

Panel: Creative Financing Opportunities

This panel examines nontraditional and blended financing models that can advance resilience, energy, and infrastructure projects when grant funding alone is insufficient. Panelists will discuss tools such as green banks, resilience authorities, revolving funds, and public-private partnerships, with examples relevant to flooding mitigation, energy resilience, and sustainable community development.

Break

Regional Workshops / Breakouts

Participants will break out into regional groups to discuss the unique challenges and opportunities for resilience in their areas. Each group will be facilitated by a subject matter expert who will guide the discussion and help identify key takeaways. Facilitators will guide a discussion on how the identified recommendations from the Draft Maryland Defense Communities Collaborative Resiliency Framework could be applied to their specific regional contexts, and get feedback on how to improve the framework to better meet the needs of different regions. This session will provide an opportunity for attendees to share their experiences, learn from one another, and develop actionable strategies for improving resilience in their communities.

Transition & Break

Wrap-Up and Next Steps

Adjourn