CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS
Current conferences and meetings of interest to Defense Acquisition readers. Links provided to registration and additional information. Inclusion herein is for informational purposes only and does not in any way imply endorsement by the Warfighting Acquisition University or the Department of War of any particular event or organization. CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS Future Indirect Fires
Surface Navy National Symposium The 38th Surface Navy National Symposium will convene Jan. 13–15, 2026 , at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Ar- lington, Va. This event brings together leaders, innovators, and warriors from across the maritime domain to collabo- rate, learn, and prepare for upcoming Surface Navy chal- lenges. Emphasizing readiness, operational excellence, and continual improvement, this symposium is dedicated to “sharpening the sword” to ensure U.S. Surface Navy forces maintain superiority on the seas. Registration will be avail- able soon at this website. Department of War Maintenance Symposium The Department of War Maintenance Symposium has been rescheduled for Jan. 20–23, 2026 , at the Phoenix Conven- tion Center in Phoenix, Ariz. The Maintenance Symposium together with the co-located Maintenance and Logistics Exhibition is the only official DoW event conducted by the Office of the Secretary of War and solely focused on main- tenance and sustainment of weapon systems and equip- ment. “Advancing Readiness to Exploit the Logistics Deter- rent Effect–Maintaining the Capability and Capacity to Fight and Win” is the theme selected for this year’s event. The symposium will also feature keynote presentations from senior DoW leaders and commercial industry executives. The co-located Maintenance and Logistics Exhibition will showcase insights into capabilities that both industry and government activities now providie to the sustainment en- terprise. The 2026 symposium includes the annual Secre- tary of War Maintenance Awards Ceremony. Visit www. sae.org/dow for regularly updated information about all the activities occurring throughout the week. Contacts are Dana Sanford, dana.j.sanford4.civ@mail.mil , 571-256-7052 and Chuck Field, charles.e.field4.ctr@mail.mil , 703-459-0701. (Register here) Military Aviation & Air Dominance Summit The 8th Annual Military Aviation and Air Dominance Sum- mit will take place Jan. 21–22, 2026 , at the Jackson Center in Huntsville, Ala. The 2025 summit will convene senior- level experts and decision-makers from across the military services, Department of War, international partners, acqui- sition authorities, and industry for a Joint Service discussion on strategies, initiatives, and emerging capabilities critical for enhancing lethality and restoring the warrior ethos in pursuit of total air dominance. Army Maj. Gen. Clair Gill, commanding general, Army Aviation Center of Excellence will be a featured guest speaker. (Register here)
The 2026 Future Indirect Fires Summit will be held Jan. 27–28, 2026 , at the Westin Arlington in Arlington, Va. The 2025 summit will bring together leaders from the indirect fire community to discuss the latest innovations in indirect fire systems, support systems, munitions, and challenges presented by the current conflict in Ukraine. Discussions will focus on achieving enhanced lethality, survivability, precision, and range. Thought leaders will provide insights into modern warfare and the quest for increased firepower. Throughout the summit, participants will examine cur- rent U.S. Department of War programs, including the new self-propelled howitzer, the Indirect Fire Protection Capa- bility Increment Two, and Project LASSO among others. (Register here) Defense Research & Development Summit The 2026 Defense Research and Development (R&D) Sum- mit will convene Jan. 29, 2026 , from 7 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. ET at the Hilton-McLean in McLean, Va. The 2026 Defense R&D Summit is a forum where the nation’s top defense leaders, researchers, and innovators can converge to ex- amine the technologies revolutionizing the future of warfare. Through expert-led discussions and actionable insights, this summit offers a unique opportunity to explore research and development strategies that will strengthen U.S. military capabilities and ensure national security. (Register here)
50 | DEFENSE ACQUISITION ONLINE | November-December 2025
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