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Special Air Warfare Symposium

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Special Air Warfare Symposium

Agenda

Special Air Warfare Symposium

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

SOF for Life Seminar co-hosted by The Honor Foundation

PLEASE NOTE: Active duty SOF and those who have retired or separated less than two years ago and their spouses (U.S. and non-U.S.). Free to attend, but separate registration is required.  Register here.

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09:00
  1. SOF for Life Seminar co-hosted by The Honor Foundation
    SOF for Life Seminar co-hosted by The Honor Foundation
    Palm 1 & 2
    420 mins

    SOF for Life is a platform of mutually supporting and networked non-governmental programs that enable special operations personnel transitioning from military service to civilian employment.  Two of the supporting organizations—the Global SOF Foundation and The Honor Foundation—have joined to host this seminar.  

    • Time: 9:00 - 16:00; lunch available with ticket purchase
    • Qualified Attendees:  Active duty SOF and those who have retired or separated less than two years ago and their spouses (U.S. and non-U.S.) 
    • Cost: FREE to Attend

    *Separate registration required.  Register here.

 

Professional Development Sessions

PLEASE NOTE: Professional Development (Pro-Dev) Day is only open to Active Duty Military and Government Representatives.

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10:00
  1. AFSOC Introduction
    Emerald Grand Ballroom 4
    60 mins
    Major General Matthew Wolfe Davidson
    Major General Matthew Wolfe Davidson, Deputy Commander - U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command
11:00
  1. The National Defense Strategy in Practice: The Role of SOF in Integrated Deterrence
    Emerald Grand Ballroom 4
    60 mins
    Colonel Adrian Donahoe
    Colonel Adrian Donahoe, Deputy Director, J5 - U.S. Special Operations Command
12:00
  1. Networking Lunch
    Emerald Grand Ballroom 3
    60 mins
13:00
  1. PEO Fixed Wing and PEO Rotary Wing 101
    Emerald Grand Ballroom 4
    60 mins
    Mr. Geoffrey Downer
    Mr. Geoffrey Downer, Program Executive Officer for Rotary Wing - U.S. Special Operations Command
    Colonel Kenneth Kuebler
    Colonel Kenneth Kuebler, Program Executive Officer for Fixed Wing - U.S. Special Operations Command
14:00
  1. The STOL Concept for Belgium’s SOF
    Emerald Grand Ballroom 4
    60 mins
    Major Mark Goris
    Major Mark Goris, ACOS Operations and Training - Special Operations Command, Belgium
15:00
  1. Talent Management
    Emerald Grand Ballroom 4
    60 mins
    Dr. Jonathan Schroden
    Dr. Jonathan Schroden, Director, Countering Threats and Challenges Program (CTCP) - Center for Naval Analysis

 

Industry Matchmaking

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The Island Hotel 
15:00
  1. Industry Matchmaking Sessions
    The Island Hotel - Capri Ballroom (6th Floor)
    120 mins
    The Matchmaking event aims to create opportunities between large businesses and/or government agencies ("buyers") and small businesses ("sellers"). This event is FREE to all registered industry attendees. 

Welcome Reception

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The Island Hotel
17:00
  1. Welcome Reception
    The Island Hotel - Maui Ballroom (6th Floor)
    120 mins
    Help us kick-off SAWS 2023 by joining us at the always popular Welcome Reception!

    The Welcome Reception is Sponsored by 

    Navigators Global

Wednesday, March 1, 2023

Symposium Day 1

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Destin - Fort Walton Beach Convention Center 
07:30
  1. Networking Breakfast
    Expo Hall - Emerald Grand Ballroom Hall 1
    75 mins
    Please join us for an opportunity to network with fellow attendees over breakfast.
  2. Exhibit Hall Open
    Expo Hall - Emerald Grand Ballroom Hall 1
    630 mins

    All Day Coffee is Sponsored by 

    Phoenix Global Support

09:00
  1. Opening Remarks
    General Session - Emerald Grand Ballroom 2-4
    15 mins
    Master of Ceremonies: Brigadier General (Ret.) Gwyn Armfield
    Master of Ceremonies: Brigadier General (Ret.) Gwyn Armfield
09:15
  1. Keynote Presentation: Special Operations Air Transformation
    General Session - Emerald Grand Ballroom 2-4
    45 mins
    Lieutenant General Tony Bauernfeind
    Lieutenant General Tony Bauernfeind, Commander - U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command
10:00
  1. Strategic Competition: Framing the Problem with the Pacing Threat
    General Session - Emerald Grand Ballroom 2-4
    30 mins
    Major Nathan Schimmel
    Major Nathan Schimmel - Naval Postgraduate School
10:30
  1. Networking Break
    Expo Hall - Emerald Grand Ballroom Hall 1
    45 mins
    Please join us for a mid-morning break to and an opportunity to network with fellow attendees before the afternoon sessions.
11:15
  1. Keynote Speech: DARPA and the Competition Space
    General Session - Emerald Grand Ballroom 2-4
    30 mins
    Dr. Stefanie Tompkins
    Dr. Stefanie Tompkins, Director - DARPA (via VTC)
11:45
  1. Keynote Speaker: Global Competition in the Gray Zone
    General Session - Emerald Grand Ballroom 2-4
    45 mins
    Lieutenant General Kirk Smith
    Lieutenant General Kirk Smith, Deputy Commander - U.S. Africa Command
12:30
  1. Networking Lunch
    Expo Hall - Emerald Grand Ballroom Hall 1
    90 mins
    Please join us for lunch in the Exhibit Hall to network with your fellow attendees and check out the latest capabilities available to the SOF community.

    Wednesday's Lunch is Sponsored by 

    Berry Aviation

14:00
  1. Panel: SOF Air Power in the Joint Force: Requirements and Capabilities
    General Session - Emerald Grand Ballroom 2-4
    60 mins
    Purpose: Discuss ground user requirements for SOF lift, ISR, Fires, and ability of AFSOC and USASOC to meet the demand in a dynamic environment
    Moderator: Major General (Ret.) Mark Clark
    Moderator: Major General (Ret.) Mark Clark, Former Commander - U.S. Marines Special Operations Command
    Major John Cumbie
    Major John Cumbie, G3 Air/Fires Officer - U.S. Marine Forces Special Operations Command
    Colonel Jocelyn Schermerhorn
    Colonel Jocelyn Schermerhorn, A3 - U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command
    Colonel Roger Waleski
    Colonel Roger Waleski, Commander - 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (A)
    Major Gabriele Zito
    Major Gabriele Zito, Italian Liaison Officer, J3-International - U.S. Special Operations Command
15:00
  1. Senior Leader Conversation: Transforming the Force for Competition, CVEO, and CT Operations
    General Session - Emerald Grand Ballroom 2-4
    45 mins
    Moderator: Chief Master Sergeant (Ret.) Matt Caruso
    Moderator: Chief Master Sergeant (Ret.) Matt Caruso, Vice President of Business Development - Berry Aviation
    Command Sergeant Major Robert Armstrong
    Command Sergeant Major Robert Armstrong - U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command
    Chief Master Sergeant Cory M. Olson
    Chief Master Sergeant Cory M. Olson, Command Chief - U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command
15:45
  1. Keynote Presentation: Shifting the Focus of the Nation’s Strategic Capabilities to Competition
    General Session - Emerald Grand Ballroom 2-4
    45 mins
    Mr. Jay Dryer
    Mr. Jay Dryer, Director of the Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO) - U.S. Department of Defense
16:30
  1. Networking Reception
    Expo Hall - Emerald Grand Ballroom Hall 1
    90 mins

    Networking Reception Sponsored by 

    cambian

     

     

Thursday, March 2, 2023

Government Only - Special Air Warfare Roundtable & Breakfast

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Destin - Fort Walton Beach Convention Center
07:30
  1. Government Only - Special Air Warfare Roundtable & Breakfast: Transforming the Force to Solve Complex Problems
    Palm 1 & 2
    90 mins
    Lieutenant General Tony Bauernfeind
    Lieutenant General Tony Bauernfeind, Commander - U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command
    Colonel Eries Mentzer
    Colonel Eries Mentzer, Director - Air Commando Development, HQ Air Force Special Operations Command
    Colonel Stewart Parker
    Colonel Stewart Parker, Vice Commander - 492d Special Operations Wing

Symposium Day 2

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Destin - Fort Walton Beach Convention Center
08:00
  1. Networking Breakfast
    Expo Hall - Emerald Grand Ballroom Hall 1
    45 mins
    Please join us for an opportunity to network with fellow attendees over breakfast.
  2. Exhibit Hall Open
    Expo Hall - Emerald Grand Ballroom Hall 1
    360 mins

    All Day Coffee is Sponsored by 

    Phoenix Global Support

09:00
  1. Opening Comments
    General Session - Emerald Grand Ballroom 2-4
    10 mins
09:15
  1. Keynote Presentation: Army SOF Aviation’s Approach to Competition
    General Session - Emerald Grand Ballroom 2-4
    45 mins
    Brigadier General Philip J. Ryan
    Brigadier General Philip J. Ryan, Commander - U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command
10:00
  1. Fireside Chat
    General Session - Emerald Grand Ballroom 2-4
    30 mins
    Moderator: Lieutenant General (Ret.) Tom Trask
    Moderator: Lieutenant General (Ret.) Tom Trask, Former Vice Commander - U.S. Special Operations Command
    CW5 Justin Karls
    CW5 Justin Karls, Chief Command Warrant Officer - 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (A)
10:30
  1. Networking Break
    Expo Hall - Emerald Grand Ballroom Hall 1
    45 mins
    Please join us for a mid-morning break to and an opportunity to network with fellow attendees before the afternoon sessions.
11:15
  1. Views from Ukraine
    General Session - Emerald Grand Ballroom 2-4
    45 mins
    Colonel Oleksandr Kyrychok
    Colonel Oleksandr Kyrychok, Acting Chief of UAV Directorate - Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine
    Colonel Ihor Sadovenko
    Colonel Ihor Sadovenko, Commander, Military Unit A0420 - Armed Forces Ukraine
12:00
  1. SOF Slam: Venture Capital Investment in Defense
    General Session - Emerald Grand Ballroom 2-4
    30 mins
    Mr. Joe Musselman
    Mr. Joe Musselman, Venture Capital Investor, Entrepreneur & Navy Veteran
12:30
  1. SOF Slam: Counter-UAS Futures
    General Session - Emerald Grand Ballroom 2-4
    30 mins
    Colonel William Parker
    Colonel William Parker, Military Deputy Director - Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office/Director of Fires, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7, United States Army
13:00
  1. Networking Lunch
    Expo Hall - Emerald Grand Ballroom Hall 1
    60 mins
    Please join us for lunch in the Exhibit Hall to network with your fellow attendees and check out the latest capabilities available to the SOF community.

    Thursday's Lunch is Sponsored by 

    Berry Aviation

14:00
  1. Panel: ISR Next
    General Session - Emerald Grand Ballroom 2-4
    60 mins
    Moderator: Mr. Patrick Tucker
    Moderator: Mr. Patrick Tucker, Technology Editor - Defense One
    Mr. Sean Anderson
    Mr. Sean Anderson, Project Manager - Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)
    Mr. David Breede
    Mr. David Breede, Program Executive Officer for Special Reconnaissance - U.S. Special Operations Command
    Dr. David Hanson
    Dr. David Hanson, A5-8 Strike & ISR Requirements Division Chief - U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command
    Ms. Diane Rose
    Ms. Diane Rose, Vice President of Programs - Insitu
15:00
  1. Transforming SOF Air Power: Theater Engagement Approach to Air Power
    General Session - Emerald Grand Ballroom 2-4
    45 mins
    Brigadier General Justin R. Hoffman
    Brigadier General Justin R. Hoffman, Director, Strategic Plans, Programs and Requirements - U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command
    Colonel Jocelyn Schermerhorn
    Colonel Jocelyn Schermerhorn, A3 - U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command
15:45
  1. Closing Comments
    General Session - Emerald Grand Ballroom 2-4
    15 mins

Closing Reception - Beach Bonfire

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17:00
  1. Closing Reception - Beach Bonfire
    The Island Hotel - Beach
    180 mins
    End the evening at our beach bonfire.  Come for the s'mores, stay for the networking!

Jointly Hosted by AFSOC and Global SOF

Host Logo

Please note: Co-sponsorship of this event does not imply endorsement of Global SOF, its services, or products by the United States Government, the Department of Defense, or U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command.

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