About SAWS - Special Air Warfare Symposium

FEEDBACK OF THE SYMPOSIUM THROUGHOUT THE YEARS

What Our Attendees Have to Say

2022

“Outstanding time at SAWS and congratulations on a first-time event being such a huge success”

Marc Anderson

2023

“Traffic in the expo hall is really really good, the show has been so smooth and well run. The food is tasty and the all day coffee is an awesome added bonus!”

Kain Holland

Darley Defense

2024

“GSOF really knocked it out of the park this year with the speaker sessions, a lot of value-added overall and high attendance rates. Very valuable for the SOF community to attend.”

Gwyn Armfield

Chair, GSOF Aviation / ISR Committee

ATTENDANCE AND SPEAKERS

Military & Government

2022

37% Military and Government Representation

Speakers included:

Lt Gen Jim Slife (US), Lt Gen (Ret.) In-Bum Chun (ROK), His Excellency Juan Carlos Pinzon (COL) & BG Branislav Benka (SVK)

2023

47% Military and Government Representation

Speakers included:

Lt Gen Tony Bauernfeind and Maj Gen Matthew Wolfe – the Commander and Deputy Commander of AFSOC.

2024

55% Military and Government Representation

Speakers included:

Gen Bryan P. Fenton, Lt Gen Tony Bauernfeind, Maj Gen Rebecca J. Sonkiss, and Ms. Melissa Johnson, Acquisition Executive at USSOCOM

2025

48.7% Military and Government Representation

Speakers included:

Major General Jasper Jeffers III, Lieutenant General Michael Conley, Ms. Melissa Johnson, Acquisition Executive at USSOCOM

HERE YOU CAN FIND ALL PAST NEWS AND EVENT PRESS RELEASES

SAWS in the News

Defense & Aerospace Report

Air Power Podcast

Defense & Aerospace Air Power Podcast [Feb 29, 24] Season 2 Ep8: Going Air Commando

Listen here

Air Force Special Operations Command

By Maj. Jessica Gross

“Allies, Partners, SOF community forge partnerships at SAWS”

Read article

OFFICIAL 2024 Press Release

1,300 Attend Special Air Warfare Symposium in Fort Walton Beach
FORT WALTON BEACH, FL – The annual symposium and industry conference for America’s Air Commandos co-sponsored by The Global Special Operations Foundation (GSOF) and U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) grew significantly this year.

Read here

PAST EVENTS

SAWS Attendee Numbers

507

2022 Attendance

886

2023 Attendance

1,256

2024 Attendance

1,556

2025 Attendance