Whitefish Security Summit

Whitefish Security Summit (WSS) is an annual, practitioner-grade national security forum held in Whitefish, Montana. Organized in partnership with the Lobo Institute, the summit brings together speakers and attendees with national security backgrounds for candid discussion grounded in practical experience. Its sessions follow modified Chatham House rules, encouraging frank assessment of difficult issues rather than on-the-record performance. WSS emphasizes the value of meeting outside Washington, where participants can build a different quality of engagement and professional relationships.

The second annual summit is scheduled for February 24–26, 2027, with a special focus on autonomous warfare and artificial intelligence, including their effects on the battlespace, policy, law, doctrine, and oversight. The program features panels, talks, and breakout sessions, with Chris Costa, director of the International Spy Museum, listed as keynote speaker. Attendees can choose between the Green File Pass, offering standard summit access, and the Black File Pass, which adds Three Operators Room sessions, a gathering with the founders, and an official planner. The event is limited to 200 seats.