The SOF Week General Session Program will kick-off with a proclamation of welcome from the City of Tampa.

Global SOF Foundation President and CEO Stu Bradin will share the Foundation's excitement about jointly sponsoring the inaugural SOF Week!

Representatives from the Media will be invited to join the SOF AT&L Acquisition Executive (AE) for a Media Roundtable after the conclusion of his Keynote Remarks.

Top experts in brain health, traumatic brain injury, and mental health will discuss the unique issues in the SOF community as well as the most current and effective treatments and protocols.

The Program Executive Office for C4 (PEO-C4) manages the development, acquisition, fielding, new equipment training, and sustainment of C4 and MISO systems. The portfolio includes two primary capability areas—Enterprise Networks & MISO Systems and Tactical Communications. PEO-C4 will continue to integrate new or emerging technologies as part of its systems’ life-cycle refresh, and in parallel, will leverage other government agencies and offices to transform SOF C4 and MISO capabilities. The focus is to enable a culture of connectivity, providing access to required resources from anywhere on the globe, and ensuring interoperability with all military, interagency, and international partners.

Program Executive Office for Fixed Wing (PEO-FW) delivers Special Operations (SO)-peculiar manned and unmanned fixed wing airpower capabilities to effectively enable Special Operations Forces (SOF). PEO-FW partners with the Warfighter and various development and support organizations to synchronize acquisition activities to field an array of advanced technology sensors, defensive countermeasures, advanced avionics, and mission training systems. This partnership ensures SOF fixed wing aircraft can accomplish its missions in expected threat environments and address supportability challenges of an aging legacy fleet. USSOCOM's manned and unmanned fixed wing aircraft provide the backbone for SOF airborne mobility, aerial refueling support, airborne precision engagement, and aerial intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.

They provide critical infiltration, exfiltration, and resupply capabilities for SOF in and out of hostile territory through weapon systems such as the MC-130H Combat Talon II, the MC-130J Commando II, and CV-22 Osprey aircraft. The AC-130J Ghostrider, AC-130W Stinger, and the AC-130U Spooky provide critical precision engagement and close-air support using both service common weapons and SO-peculiar Stand-off Precision Guided Munitions to engage a variety of high value targets. Various manned and unmanned systems deliver real-time worldwide aerial ISR of the battlefield for the individual Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine, and Task Force Commander through systems such as the U-28A aircraft, JAVAMAN, MC-12 Liberty, Mid-Endurance UAS, and MQ-9. The low-density, high-demand nature of the SOF fixed wing fleet is a key driver in the acquisition approaches used to continue to improve and sustain the force. The high operational tempo of these aircraft requires innovative means to incorporate capability and sustainment improvements while ensuring adequate aircraft availability.

U.S. Navy Captain Randy Slaff leads the Program Executive Office for Maritime (PEO-M). PEO-M’s mission is to deliver the most effective and advanced maritime mobility solutions to SOF. To accomplish this critical mission, PEO-M partners with Naval Special Warfare Command, building unmatched affordable surface and undersea platforms that deliver SOF safely and undetected to any global operation with SOF focus. The surface fleet consists of the SEALION, Combatant Craft Medium, Combatant Craft Assault, Special Operations Craft - Riverine, and Combatant Craft Forward Looking Infrared 2. The undersea fleet consists of the Dry Deck Shelter, Dry Combat Submersible, Shallow Water Combat Submersible, SEAL Delivery Vehicle, SOF Combat Diving, and small unmanned Underwater Vehicles. 

Mr. Geoffrey Downer leads the Program Executive Office for Rotary Wing (PEO-RW). The PEO is responsible for providing rapid and focused acquisition, research and development, and life-cycle logistics support to the operators of the US Army Special Operations Aviation Command and the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, which provides SOF rotary-wing capability to the joint force. PEO-RW provides the most advanced rotary wing aircraft, mission equipment, and training systems available to the U.S. military by continuing to focus on technologies that ensure operators have a comparative advantage against all potential threats. PEO-RW accomplishes this critical mission with a three-part strategy focused on readiness, recapitalization, and investments in lethality and survivability. The rotary wing fleet consists of the MH-47G Chinook, MH-60M Black Hawk, and the A/MH-6M Little Bird. 

Theodore Koufas leads the Program Executive Office for Services (PEO-SV). PEO-SV is responsible for planning, policy, and execution oversight and management of USSOCOM service acquisitions awarded in accordance with the contracting authority of USSOCOM’s Acquisition Executive. PEO-SV’s customers are in the USSOCOM headquarters, including SOF AT&L, as well as the Component Commands and Theater Special Operations Commands. 

The Program Executive Office for Special Operations Forces Digital Applications (PEO SDA) was officially activated on 1 June 2020. This PEO was created to provide USSOCOM a “one-stop-shop” for SOF software intensive digital applications.

This PEO will provide acquisition expertise in support of the Command’s significant investment in the Chief Data Officer, the Chief Information Officer and the Digital Engineering Lab. This office will help USSOCOM meet the Commander’s priorities by aligning software/digital investments with the National Security Strategy and the Command Planning Guidance to support Counter Terrorism/Counter Violent Extremist Organization threats as well as Great Power Competition requirements.

Mission: Rapidly consolidate, integrate, acquire, and/or divest of SOF unique software solutions through the use of the Agile Acquisition Framework’s Software Acquisition Pathway (DoDI 5000.2/DoDI 5000.82) and by utilizing commercial “best practices” while providing “cradle-to-grave” management for the duration of required capabilities.

The Program Executive Office, Special Operations Forces Warrior (PEO-SW) is a diverse organization which provides rapid and focused acquisition of Special Operations-Peculiar capabilities to USSOCOM operators conducting decisive ground Special Operations Forces (SOF) activities and global operations against terrorist networks. 

PEO SOF Warrior is comprised of 10 Joint Program Management Offices and over 200 military, civilian, and contractor personnel. By cultivating an aggressive, risk-taking culture amongst acquisition, financial, and contracting personnel, they dutifully and dependably executed $1.8 billion dollars to develop, acquire and field critical warfighting capabilities in support of USSOCOM's five Component Commands. 

PEO-SW is a critical enabler to SOF AT&L's no fail mission to provide effective, wide-ranging, time-sensitive capabilities to widely dispersed and often isolated SOF in several unique commodity areas. PEO-SW manages a portfolio that includes 130 programs and projects, using an investment budget of over $1 billion of Major Force Program-11 (MPF-11) funds over the Future Years Defense Plan. The portfolio is diversified and includes six primary warfighting focus areas:

• Ground Mobility
• Operator Target Acquisition & Visual Augmentation Systems
• Operator Weapon Systems & Accessories
• Operator Ammunition/Demolition
• Operator Equipment, Protection, and Survival
• Operator First Aid Kits, Medic Kits, and Casualty Evacuation

COL Joseph Blanton, USA, leads the Program Executive Officer of Special Operations Forces Support Activity (SOFSA). PEO SOFSA’s mission is to manage the capability development, modification and integration of SOF peculiar equipment on a variety of SOF rotary and fixed wing aircraft as well as ground vehicles and maritime vessels. SOFSA provides responsive, tailored contractor logistic support worldwide to Special Operations Forces Component Commands and Theater SOCs to enhance Theater Combatant Commander (COCOM) readiness and warfighting capabilities. PEO SOFSA supervises execution of a multi-year contract (max of 10 years) valued at $8B. These briefings address key areas that the SOF GLSS prime contractor desires from industry. The briefing also informs industry of expeditionary logistics capability development requirements. These requirements will be executed by PM Expeditionary Support within PEO SOFSA. 

David Breede is the Program Executive Officer for Special Reconnaissance (PEO-SR). The office is responsible for the development, fielding and sustainment of state-of-the-art sensors and associated C2, emplacement, recovery and specialized communication systems across all domains to enable total situational awareness for the SOF Warfighter. PEO-SR’s capability portfolio includes Tagging, Tracking, and Locating Systems; Blue Force Tracking; Sensor Systems; Biometrics and Forensics Systems; Joint Threat Warning System; Group 1-3 Unmanned Aerial Systems and Focused Research, Development, Test and Evaluation. 

Considering a career in Project Management? This informational session will explore the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification process and how military experience can be leveraged to achieve certification as well as success in project management roles in a post-military career.

This is a non-technical course meant to develop awareness of cybersecurity risks so that senior managers are better informed to properly protect the organization during a cybersecurity incident. It is designed to help senior management work more effectively with their Information Technology departments to mitigate cyber threats. The training is tailored to government, critical infrastructure, and private sector personnel who have the responsibility for directing and developing policy within their organization.

Registration desks available to get printed badges, holders and lanyards, event bags, and event information.

Registration desks available to get printed badges, holders and lanyards, event bags, and event information.

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) information session.

Ms. Lisa R. Sanders is the Director of Science and Technology (S&T). She is responsible for all S&T funded activities. The S&T Directorate focuses on integrating S&T efforts across the SOF enterprise. This includes ensuring that capability gaps are aligned with technology enablers and developers, ongoing efforts are integrated with transition partners, additional innovation that is required to address S&T gaps is identified, and disruptive technology solutions are assessed for their impact and potential benefit to the SOF mission set and SOF operator of the future. S&T priorities are aligned with the USSOCOM Commander’s Capabilities and Programming Guidance (CPG). S&T is focusing its efforts on these six Capability Focus Areas: Biotechnologies/Human Interface; Hyper Enabled Operator; Network and Data Management; Next Generation Effects/Precision Strike; Network and Data Generation Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance/Tactically Relevant Situational Awareness; and Next Generation Mobility.

This session led by Mr. Jim Smith, Acquisition Executive and features Lt Gen Tony Bauernfeind, Commander, AFSOC; LTG Jonathan Braga, Commander, USASOC; RADM Keith Davids, Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command; and MajGen Matthew Trollinger, Commander, MARSOC. They will address how USSOCOM and industry can collaborate more closely to provide special operations forces around the world with what they need to fill capability gaps. This session is open to advanced registrants that are approved to participate.

Media is not permitted.

Learn how to create and strengthen your LinkedIn profile, as well leverage LinkedIn to expand and nurture your network.

Obtain a top-level overview of VA benefits application process, with a specific SOF personnel lens. Ideal for military personnel that are 24 to 18 months out from retirement or separation from active duty service.

Overflow viewing space for the opening sessions of SOF Week will be available via livestream.

Overflow viewing space for the opening sessions of SOF Week will be available via livestream.

Closing remarks for Tuesday of SOF Week.