GMU Defense Tech Hackathon - Contested Logistics + Aerial ISR
🚀 GMU High-Altitude Balloon (HAB) Hackathon
Join a select group of developers, engineers, and hackers for a 36-hour hands-on sprint to design, build, and deploy next-generation high-altitude balloon systems for defense and humanitarian applications.
Hosted at George Mason University, this event is the beta pilot for the NDIA Global Defense Tech Hackathon platform—an exclusive opportunity to work on real-world unclassified tech challenges inspired by INDOPACOM and CENTCOM operational needs.
🛰️ Your Missions...
1) Design and test Low-Cost Long-Range ISR Solutions. Integration goals include:
📡 TAK (Team Awareness Kit) Integration: Real-time location and telemetry
🧠 Autonomous/Semi-Autonomous Guidance: Navigation and recovery logic
🌐 Mesh Network Payload: Create a resilient airborne data relay
📶 (Bonus): Integrate a secure, SIPR-compatible 5G communication hub
🌍 Remote Collaboration Challenge: Coordinate with a distributed partner (DoD, nonprofit, VC-backed startup, or research lab)
2) Discover and define measurable efficiencies in existing logistics processes by:
Resilience: Identifying redundancy to global supply chains and ensuring agility in asset delivery
Streamlining: Reducing process and routing burden through pre-hoc and ad-hoc logistics practices
Expect to develop hardware solutions, identify and anaylize critical data sets, and utilize advanced HAB and additive manufacturing techniques.
🧪 Why Join?
🔧 Build, test, and fly hardware with real-world DoD applicability
🛠️ Be the first to battle-test the NDIA Hackathon platform before its full-scale launch
🤝 Collaborate with SMEs from defense, academia, and industry
📊 Deliver outcomes that may directly inform future operational tools
📅 Tentative Schedule
Day 1: July 31 (Thursday)
09:00 AM Check-in
10:00 AM Opening Briefing + Safety Review
10:30 AM Team Formation + Platform Onboarding
11:30 AM Challenge Deep Dive + SME Q&A
12:30 PM Lunch (on-site)
01:30 PM Build Begins (Hardware + Code Dev)
06:00 PM Dinner + Midpoint Sync
07:00 PM Late-Night Build / Testing Continues
11:00 PM Optional Overnight Work (GMU access provided)
Day 2: August 1 (Friday)
08:00 AM Breakfast + Updates
04:00 PM Final Project Submissions
4:00 - 5:00 PM Judging
5:00 - 6:00 PM Final Presentations
6:00 PMAwards + Closing Remarks
07:00 PM Event Ends / Optional Social Gathering
🧠 Key Partners
GMU – Host Institution
Maximus – Hackathon Registration Lead
NALEJ – Hackathon Dev Environment Lead
Kyberdyne – HAB Hardware & Launch SME
Metro Star- Contested Logistics solutioning
📬 Apply Now
Spots are extremely limited. We’re selecting 30-50 participants to help shape the future of defense tech innovation.