CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS
Michigan Defense Expo & Advanced Planning Briefing for Industry
VIP GROW Training VIP GROW Training, a program designed to help veteran- owned small businesses accelerate their success in gov- ernment contracting, will be offered April 14–16 and May 19–21 at the William F. Bolger Center in Potomac, Md. This training embodies a hands-on, market-driven approach. It dives into real-world strategies and best business prac- tices that help participants gain the practical knowledge and skills needed to not only win government contracts but The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers World Artificial Intelligence Internet of Things Conference will convene May 27–29 at the Seattle Convention Center in Seattle, Wash. The 2026 conference will promote an in- tense dialogue between academia and industry to bridge the gap between academic research, industry initiatives, and governmental policies. This dialogue will be fostered through panel discussions, keynotes, and industry exhibits where academia is exposed to state-of-practice and results from trials and interoperability experiments. Scholars from different disciplinary backgrounds will disseminate their ongoing research in the fields of Internet of Things, ma - chine learning, artificial intelligence, communication, cloud computing, big data, data management, and analytics. (Register here) also maintain them. (Register here) IEEE World AIIoT Congress Navy & Marine Corps Procurement Conference The 2026 Navy and Marine Corps Procurement Conference will be held May 28–29 at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott in Norfolk, Va. Engage directly with decision-makers from the Pentagon, Navy and Marine Corps Commands, and leading prime defense contractors. Network with defense industry leaders, government program managers, and contracting officers. Gain critical information on current defense spend - ing plans and procurement priorities. (Register here) NCMA Warfighter Acquisition Forum The 2026 National Contract Management Association Warfighter Acquisition Forum will be held Nov. 12 at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C . The theme of the 2026 forum will be “Delivering Capabilities Faster to the Fight.” This one-day event, a specialized experience for those working at the heart of defense contracting, is dedicated to the business of warfighting acquisition, where speed, adaptability, and mission readiness are nonnego- tiable. This forum moves beyond theory to actionable steps government and industry must take to accelerate delivery and help lead change in delivering capabilities faster to the Warfighter. (Register here)
The 17th Annual Michigan Defense Expo and Advanced Planning Briefing for Industry (APBI) will be held May 12– 14 at Huntington Place Convention Center in Detroit, Mich. This Expo and APBI are where industry, government, and academia come together with a singular, unwavering mis- sion: ensuring the men and women of our armed forces re- ceive the most advanced, reliable, and effective equipment to maintain battlefield superiority. Connect with industry, government, and academia to explore and learn about the best equipment American engineering and innovation can provide Warfighters on land, sea, air, and space. (Register here) The 2nd International Conference on Artificial Intelligence Systems (AIS) will take place May 12–15 (both in person and virtual) at Texas A&M University in San Antonio, Texas. AIS 2026 aims to bring together leading researchers, academ- ics, and practitioners from around the world to share their latest findings, innovations, and applications in artificial in - telligence and intelligent systems. The 2026 conference will provide an interdisciplinary platform for presenting keynote talks, technical paper sessions, workshops, and tutorials on the theoretical foundations, cutting-edge technologies, and real-world implementations of AI. Participants will also learn about the use of advanced intelligent systems in pro- viding cybersecurity solutions in many fields and the chal - lenges, approaches, and future directions. (Register here) SOF Week 2026 International Conference on Artificial Intelligence Systems Special Operations Forces (SOF) Week 2026 will convene May 18–21 at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Fla. This convention for U.S. Special Operations Command and Global Special Operations Forces will include a diverse slate of programs, including professional development sessions, interactive discussions about the future of SOF, and an up- close view of some of the best tech available to our nation’s Warfighters. (Register here) ASCEND 2026 ASCEND 2026 will convene May 19–21 at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C. Sponsored by the American In- stitute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, ASCEND is where the global space community comes together to drive real, actionable outcomes. Participants will hear fresh ideas, de- velop new partnerships, and grow momentum toward tech- nical excellence throughout the space domain. (Register here)
62 DEFENSE ACQUISITION ONLINE | MARCH – APRIL 2026
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