CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – As the 2026 FIFA World Cup nears and drone threats grow more complex, more than 100 public-sector leaders convened in Renton on Nov. 5, for a Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems, or CUAS, Summit.
The summit was hosted by Maj. Gen. Gent Welsh, Washington’s adjutant general and Homeland Security advisor. It united government, academic, legal, public safety and industry experts to bolster national security readiness.
“If you think about where the world was on September 10th, we are at a very similar place,” Welsh said in his opening remarks. “This isn’t about the World Cup. This is about protecting America.”
The summit served as a rare convergence of government and private-sector expertise.
“This is a true blending of industry and the government,” Welsh noted, underscoring the importance of unified action as unmanned aerial threats continue to accelerate in complexity and frequency.
The summit also emphasized the sobering parallels between today’s challenges and the vulnerabilities the nation faced prior to Sept. 11, 2001. Citing the findings of the 9/11 Commission Report, which acknowledged failures of imagination, law, capability and management, Welsh urged leaders and attendees to learn from the past.
“The commission report talked about red flags that popped up prior to 9/11, and now we have seen what is happening across the globe with drones and need to be ready,” Welsh said.
In reference to recent drone incidents in New Jersey, Welsh explained that the real-world events highlighted regional vulnerabilities.
“That kicked me into high gear, because I immediately asked myself, if that happened in Washington state, how would I respond to the governor,” Welsh said. “We have a lot of people talking about the problem, from different angles, but we are talking past each other. I am glad we finally got everyone together and can walk through the problem.”
The central component of the summit was a tabletop exercise simulating a coordinated drone attack on Lumen Field during a World Cup match. Participants examined the steps leading to the hypothetical attack, conducted pre-incident assessments and explored possible drone launch points and attack methods. The scenario also included two drone-based attacks on critical infrastructure, designed to expose vulnerabilities, test response capabilities and evaluate interagency coordination.
Throughout the exercise, participants confronted persistent challenges: limited authority across various levels of government, resource gaps and barriers embedded in current policy and legal frameworks. These obstacles, many agreed, continue to hinder a unified response to unmanned system threats.
Defense industry partners later showcased a range of available technologies for detection, deterrence, disruption and mitigation. Their presentations highlighted both the rapid innovation occurring in the counter-UAS arena and the need for streamlined pathways to integrate these tools into public safety operations.
“I imagine we have solutions, but you guys have the tools that will take us from concept to practical application,” Welsh said.
The summit’s overarching goal was clear: Identify actionable solutions to counter the rising threat posed by unmanned systems and strengthen collaborative planning across jurisdictions. As the World Cup 2026 approaches and drone-related incidents become more frequent worldwide, Welsh stressed that preparation must extend far beyond a single global event.
“Our mission isn’t just about securing the games, it’s about ensuring the safety of our communities and protecting America through joint planning, foresight and cooperation,” Welsh said.