LCID 2026 Panel: Develop High-Performing Systems

About this video

Col. Chuck “LEANS” McNeil, deputy director & senior materiel leader (SML) Air Force Materiel Command’s Integrated Development Office (IDO) leads a panel discussion on developing high-performing systems during the Life Cycle Industry Days (LCID) 2026 conference. Panel members included: Lea T. Kirkwood, SES, Portfolio Acquisition Executive (PAE) for AFLCMC's Electronic Systems Directorate based at Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts; Col. Tim Helfrich, PAE, for AFLCMC’s Fighters and Advanced Aircraft Directorate; Col. John Dayton, PAE, for AFLCMC’s Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance & Special Operations Forces (ISR & SOF) Directorate and Stuart Voboril, Vice President, E-7 Programs, Boeing, Inc. Co-hosted by Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) and Dayton Defense Life LCID and Air Force Research Lab’s (AFRL) Wright Dialogue with Industry (WDI) took place July 27 – 31, 2026, at the Dayton Convention Center in Dayton, Ohio. Though standalone events, LCID and WDI are aligned to gain efficiencies in sharing information, collaboration, and discussion. LCID focuses on the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center's future requirements, collaboration opportunities, and topics covering the entire acquisition life cycle and management across AFLCMC portfolios. Historically, LCID hosts more than 1,000 Government, Industry, and academic attendees and every AFLCMC program office. (U.S. Air Force video by Jim Varhegyi)