Topic: Quantum Technology 2026: Breakthroughs, Barriers, and Federal Applications on the Horizon
Quantum technology is rapidly transitioning from theoretical promise to early-stage practical capability—but what has actually changed in the past year, and where can it deliver real mission impact in the near term?
Join the ACT-IAC Emerging Technology COI meeting this month featuring a panel that brings together leaders from government and industry to cut through the hype and examine the latest advances in quantum technology. Panelists will explore what these developments mean for federal agencies today and in the next 1–3 years.
The discussion will highlight emerging use cases where hybrid solutions may provide value—such as optimization, materials science, logistics, and national security applications—while also addressing the technical, operational, and acquisition challenges that must be overcome. Attendees will gain a grounded understanding of where the technology stands, what hurdles remain, and how federal organizations can begin preparing for meaningful adoption.
Moderator:
- Dr. Vanessa Lynch, Quantum Scientist, Leidos
Panelists:
- Dr. Yaakov Weinstein, Chief Quantum Scientist, MITRE
- Rima Oueid, Sr. Commercialization Executive, Department of Energy
- Dr. Carl Williams, CEO, CJW Quantum
Dr. Joseph S. Broz, Vice President, Government Quantum Business Development, IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center
Speaker Bios
Dr. Yaakov S. Weinstein is the Chief Scientist for Quantum Technologies in MITRE’s Emerging Technologies division. In that role, Dr. Weinstein designs and implements MITRE’s Quantum Horizon Strategy, interacts with sponsors across the government, and cultivates collaborations with academia and industry. In addition, Dr. Weinstein is the Department Head for the Quantum, Imaging, and Optics Department, comprising 40 staff dedicated to impactful, technical work for federal sponsors and the nation beyond. Dr. Weinstein received his Ph.D. in Nuclear Sciences and Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and was awarded a National Research Council Research Associateship at the Naval Research Laboratory. Outside of MITRE, Dr. Weinstein is the Editor-in-Chief of the Springer journal Quantum Information Processing and an Editor of the Quantum Science and Technology book series.
Rima Kasia Oueid is a Senior Commercialization Executive at the DOE’s Office of Technology Transitions, where she leads market development and commercialization of emerging technologies with a focus on quantum technologies, transportation, grid modernization, and space-based applications. She is the architect and lead of the DOE Quantum in Space Collaboration with DOD, NASA, and industry partners, as well as the V2X Partnership with major OEMs and utilities.Rima is a co-author of a peer-reviewed publication in Nature on energy-sector use cases for quantum sensing and brings deep experience in negotiating technology license agreements for quantum innovations originating from DOE national laboratories.
She serves as a DOE representative on the board of the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QEDC), chairs QEDC’s Use Case Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) on Quantum Sensing, and is a member of the Quantum Computing and Quantum Networking/Communications TACs.
Rima began her career at Accenture, helping Fortune 500 companies leverage cutting-edge technologies. She later spent six years in venture capital and private equity, investing in and evaluating opportunities across residential and commercial real estate, solar, biofuels, solid-state lighting manufacturing, and water purification.
Rima earned an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and was selected as a Kauffman Fellow. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Dr. Carl J. Williams is the CEO and President of CJW Quantum Consulting LLC. As a consultant he works with both startups and Fortune 100 companies who are working in the nascent quantum industry. He established CJW Quantum Consulting after a highly successful career at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), where he led the NIST Quantum Information Program and played a major role in establishing the United States government policy that led to the National Quantum Initiative Act. His career accomplishments include the establishment of the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C), the establishment of the Joint Quantum Institute, major leadership leading to the 2019 Redefinition of Treaty of the Meter, and more than 100 scientific publications. He is a member of the Global Future Councils of the World Economic Forum. Dr. Williams received his B.A. from Rice University in 1981 and his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1987.
Dr. Broz has responsibility for leading IBM Quantum’s USG Business Development and is responsible for government quantum initiatives. Joe joined IBM Quantum in March 2021 after serving as the founding Executive Director of the federally chartered Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C) under the 2018 National Quantum Initiative Act. Prior to the QED-C, he served as Vice President of Applied Sciences at SRI, where he led six laboratories in applied science, government business development, technical and business strategy. His work has supported DOE, DOD, Air Force, Army, Navy, DHS, NIH, NIAID, DOJ, and other departments through research contracts and advisory boards. In the 1990’s he was VP of Business Development and Research at Titanium Metals, and Laboratory Director of Tenneco, Inc., where he was responsible for metallurgy, product development, manufacturing operations, quality, technology, and environmental management across corporate divisions worldwide. He has served as a White House Fellow for the Office of Science and Technology Policy in the administration of George H.W. Bush. He was a British American Fellow at Johns Hopkins SAIS, and a Senior Fellow for National Security and Energy for NORC at the University of Chicago. Broz has a B.S. in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. in physics from the Swiss Federal Institute (ETH) in Zurich.
Dr. Vanessa Lynch is a Quantum Scientist, Computational Chemist, and AI/ML Researcher whose work sits at the intersection of quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and advanced analytics. She holds a PhD in Quantum Chemistry and a Master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence, and currently serves as a Research Scientist at Leidos. Her research spans quantum technologies, machine learning applications, and emerging computational methodologies, with an emphasis on addressing complex, real-world challenges.Dr. Lynch also serves as the Quantum Industry Lead for ACT-IAC, where she advances collaboration between the public and private sectors on quantum initiatives. In addition, she is an instructor in Quantum Computing at Johns Hopkins University, where she integrates technical rigor with practical perspective to educate and prepare future leaders in the field.
She is committed to bridging theory and application, driving innovation in quantum technologies, and mentoring the next generation of scientists and engineers.
United States