More than 100 public-sector leaders gathered in Renton, Washington, on November 5 for a Counter-UAS Summit as local, state and federal agencies prepare for increasingly complex drone threats ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The event, hosted by Major General Gent Welsh, Washington’s Adjutant General and Homeland Security Advisor, brought together senior officials from government, academia, public safety, the legal community and the defense industry. Organizers described it as a rare opportunity for agencies to confront emerging unmanned aircraft risks in a unified setting.

“This isn’t about the World Cup. This is about protecting America,” Welsh told attendees, drawing a parallel between current security challenges and the conditions the United States faced prior to the Sept. 11 attacks back in 2001. He cited the 9/11 Commission Report’s findings on failures of imagination, authority and capability, urging participants not to repeat past mistakes.

Welsh explained that the recent New Jersey drone incidents highlighted the vulnerabilities shared by states across the country. He noted the need for a coordinated approach as agencies often “talk past each other” when addressing unmanned aircraft threats.

Simulating the threat

The central portion of the event featured a tabletop exercise simulating a coordinated drone attack on Lumen Field during a World Cup match. Participants worked through the timeline of the hypothetical incident, identifying potential launch locations, methods of attack and gaps in preparedness. The scenario also included two simulated drone strikes on critical infrastructure to test interagency coordination and expose operational weaknesses.

Discussions repeatedly returned to the constraints posed by fragmented authorities, resource shortfalls and existing legal and policy barriers that limit the ability of state and local entities to respond to unmanned aircraft. Attendees emphasized that these obstacles remain among the most significant challenges in national counter-drone planning.

Is the available tech enough?

Industry representatives later briefed participants on current technologies for detection, disruption and mitigation. Their presentations highlighted rapid advancements in the sector but also the difficulty public agencies face in adopting those tools without clearer authorities and streamlined processes.

Welsh said such collaboration between government and industry will be essential as drone activity continues to expand.

“I imagine we have solutions, but you guys have the tools that will take us from concept to practical application,” he told the group.

While preparations for World Cup 2026 framed much of the discussion, officials stressed that the exercise was part of a broader national effort to strengthen defenses against unmanned systems.

“Our mission isn’t just about securing the games,” Welsh said. “It’s about ensuring the safety of our communities and protecting America through joint planning, foresight and cooperation.”

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投稿画像クレジット Joseph Siemandel, State Public Affairs Officer for the Washington National Guard

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