Today at a Glance

Keynote Session: Today's keynote will be delivered by Mr. Chris O’Donnell, DASD, Platform and Weapon Portfolio Management OUSD, A&S; and VADM Kelly Aeschbach, Commander, Naval Information Forces, (NAVIFOR)

Symposium Spotlight Session: Strategy Meets the Hill — This session examines the role of Congress in advancing electromagnetic warfare (EW) capabilities considering Russia's invasion of Ukraine and other emerging threats. Congress has the constitutional authority to provide oversight and funding for US national defense. This includes sustainably funding EMS capabilities, training, and force integration across to strengthen the Department of Defense's (DoD) ability to achieve and sustain EMS superiority. This expert panel will look at how Congress addresses EMS operations through its annual National Defense Authorization Act and Defense Appropriations processes.

Symposium Breakout Sessions: 
Cognitive EW — Cognitive EW is not just a future challenge, it is a TODAY challenge. Technology is racing ahead of operational issues such as security, safety, and risk management. This panel brings together thought leaders from operations, industry, and academia to explore important aspects of the practical operational issues that must begin to be addressed. The discussion generated by the expert panel in addressing these and similar questions is intended to facilitate a holistic awareness and improved understanding of how COgEW might change operations, and what prudent actions all actors must undertake now to be prepared for the future.

Supply Chain — General Eisenhower famously stated, “Plans are worthless, planning is everything.” Nothing could be truer today than when a lack of material in the supply chain forces government and industry leaders to rebuild their plan daily. The panel will cover key domestic dependencies of the supply chain, i.e. microelectronics, and the foundational access to materials which support our EMSO systems. The U.S. has a unique lead in some of these technologies, such as GaN for DE systems, while others are global commodities. Additionally, the panel will discuss how visionary development methods such as digital engineering are flowing down to partners and suppliers, expediting the delivery of new systems.

Standards & MOSA — This panel will discuss the Open Architecture ecosystem: how different standard bodies are governed, how to get involved, and how to ensure conformance with the standard to meet the ultimate expectation of improved performance, schedule, cost, modularity, upgradability, sustainability, and ultimately improved warfighting capabilities. The panel will include advanced standards that support Cognitive EW.

Unmanned/Uncrewed Systems — Uncrewed systems require different technology under the hood to make real-time decisions instead of depending on operators. What does an uncrewed system need to return from a mission to enable a “debrief?” Does reprogramming change in this new world? How does AI & ML impact the operations of the EMSO systems on these platforms?

Program Manager Briefing Series: Army Programs and Air Force

AOC Assembly of Delegates: AOC Awards Presentation 

Special Session: Young Engineer Panel

More details are available from our symposium agenda.