The Manufacturing industry is currently caught between record backlogs and a critical exodus of engineering expertise. While ‘Agentic AI’ promises a revolution, the immediate mission is more grounded: accelerating production and ensuring asset readiness. This private dinner moves past the theory of autonomy to the reality of the industrial base. We will discuss how senior leaders are embedding AI into the ‘Golden Triangle’ of Finance, People, and Operations to bridge the skills gap, automate digital sustainment, and build the resilient workforce required to maintain a sovereign edge.