The Special Air Warfare Symposium isn’t just about the sessions — it’s also about building connections, sharing insights, and strengthening the SOF community. Below are the networking and social events designed to bring together industry, government, and military participants in a relaxed and engaging atmosphere.
Tuesday, 10 February
Welcome Reception
🕒 1800–2000
📍 The Island Resort at Fort Walton Beach – Tower Building, 6th Floor
👔 Casual
Kick off SAWS 2026 in true Gulf Coast style! Join fellow attendees, sponsors, and exhibitors for a relaxed evening of conversation, coastal views, and light refreshments. The reception will be held on the 6th floor of The Island Resort’s Tower Building, offering spectacular views of the Gulf of Mexico — the perfect backdrop to start the week’s events.
This reception is included for all SAWS event registrants.
GSOF Aviation & ISR Committee Meeting
🕒 1300–1400
📍 The Island Resort at Fort Walton Beach – Aruba Ballroom
👔 Business Casual
👤 GSOF Aviation & ISR Committee Members
This Committee Meeting is an add-on during registration. Once this meeting add-on reaches max capacity, we will be accepting additional interested attendees on-site, space permitting.
Agenda
– Opening Comments & Moderator: Aviation & ISR Committee Chairman, MajGen USMC (Ret) Mark “Droopy” Clark
– NATO SOFCOM: New NATO EXERCISE based on Operational Experimentation in the fields of SOF Air, UAS, and C-UAS
– ManTech International: Contested Logistics
Wednesday, 11 February
Health and Human Performance Working Group
🕓 1300–1500
📍 Destin–Fort Walton Beach Convention Center – Sunset 1
👔 Business Casual
The second meeting of GSOF’s Health and Human Performance Working Group is happening at SAWS. This working group meeting will explore what makes health and human performance SOF specific and how this impacts innovation and collaboration. Further, the working group will focus on how a future GSOF HHP Committee can support dual use innovation and influence the priorities, partnerships, and innovation agenda that define the next era of SOF human performance. The working group will be highly interactive and directly influence the development of the committee charter and future committee working groups.
If you cannot join us but have thoughts on these topics that you would like included in the working group meeting, please contact KaLea Lehman. You can also read the report generated from the first working group meeting and provide feedback.
Space is limited.
Networking Reception in the Exhibit Hall
🕓 1630–1800
📍 Destin–Fort Walton Beach Convention Center Exhibit Hall
👔 Business Casual
Continue building connections during our midweek Networking Reception. Enjoy complimentary beverages and hors d’oeuvres while exploring the exhibit hall and meeting the innovators shaping the future of special operations.
This reception is included for all SAWS event registrants.
No-Host Social at The Gulf
🕕 1830–2000
📍 The Gulf, Okaloosa Island
👔 Casual
Soak in panoramic waterfront views and unwind after a day of symposium sessions at this laid-back offsite gathering. The No-Host Social offers the perfect chance to relax and network in a casual beachside setting — food and beverages will be available for individual purchase.
Thursday, 12 February
Closing Reception in the Exhibit Hall & Flash Networking
🕒 1515–1630
📍 Exhibit Hall, Destin–Fort Walton Beach Convention Center
👔 Business Casual
Wrap up SAWS 2026 at our Closing Reception and Flash Networking Hour—the most productive 75 minutes of the week. Designed to connect exhibitors, industry partners, and government attendees one last time before departure, this event ensures you leave with the connections that matter most.
To ensure maximum ROI, AFSOC leadership (O-6 and above) are personally committed to this initiative. Senior leaders will conduct Curated Capability Tours to selected exhibitors throughout the hall, evaluating technologies and industry solutions that directly address current mission gaps. This is a unique opportunity to observe leadership priorities in real-time and engage in deep-dive technical conversations.
Network with Purpose While the hall may be winding down, the highest-value engagements are just beginning.
- Targeted Introductions: GSOF staff will be on hand to facilitate introductions and highlight key takeaways from the week’s sessions.
- Hospitality: Enjoy light bites and refreshments as you finalize partnerships and secure those “last-look” briefings.
- Focused Discovery: Follow the buzz to see which exhibitors have been identified as “must-see” for specific capability requirements.
This reception is included for all SAWS event registrants.
