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.

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs encourage domestic small businesses across technology areas and markets to engage in Federal Research/Research and Development (R/R&D) with the potential for commercialization. During this session several Department of Defense (DoD) SBIR/STTR Small Business Companies (SBCs) will present their successes and challenges, providing attendees with lessons learned and answering questions from attendees.

USSOCOM WCP and POTFF leaders will provide an overview of their programs, priorities, and challenges.

The Capability Accelerator Rally Point will offer a panel discussing the use of Private Equity (PE) and Venture Capital (VC) support to companies specializing in national defense technology. A distinguished panel of investors will discuss their experiences and perspectives from investing in the defense industry. Additionally, company leaders will provide their experiences working with PE and VC firms while operating in the defense sector.

1300-1420: Software Panel

• Moderator:

  • Thom Kenney – Google Technical Director, Office of the CTO:

• VCs:

  • Jeremy Hitchcock – Co-founder, New North Ventures

  • Brian Mongeau – Principle, First In Ventures

• Companies (CEOs/Founders):

  • Prashant Bhuyan – Founder and CEO, Accrete AI (AI analytics)

  • Nini Hamrick – Co-founder and President, Vannevar Labs (Natural Language Processing/AI analytics)

  • Ryan Tseng – Co-founder and CEO, Shield AI (AI pilot/Unmanned Autonomous Systems)

1420-1430:  BREAK

1430-1600: Hardware Panel

• Moderator:

  • CMSgt (ret) Greg Smith – Senior Solutions Architect, TIGRE Global Solutions Inc (Consulting)(Fmr SOCOM Command Senior Enlisted Leader)  

• VCs:

  • Tommy Hendrix – Managing Partner, Decisive Point

  • Coley Lewis – Vice President/Growth Partnerships, In-Q-Tel

• Companies (CEOs/Founders):

  • Dexter Ang – Executive Chairman, Pison (wearables/human performance)

  • Jake Bullock – Founder and CEO, Ravn (Edge data analytics)

  • Dan Magy – Co-founder, Firestorm Labs (Modular Unmanned Autonomous Systems)

  • Brian Streem – Founder and CEO, Vermeer (Alt-PNT and AR UAS Mission Planning/C2)

The Technology Insertion Session will host industry presentations of later stage technology (TRL 5-9) capabilities addressing USSOCOM modernization priorities.

0935-0955: AZAK - Presenting S30 Wheel, Ben Meager, CTO

0955-1015: COGNOVI GOV Service LLC - Presenting Cognovi Emotion AI, Ben-Ami Gradwohl, Ph.D. | Co-Founder & CEO, Nirit Pisano, Ph.D. | Chief Psychology Officer

1015-1035: FIRESTORM LABS Presenting Firestorm, Dan Magy, CEO & Co-founder, Chad McCoy, Co-Founder & VP of BD

1035-1050:    BREAK

1050-1110: CODE-X Presenting All Domain Security Fabric (ADSF), Darren LaCroix, CEO

1110-1130: LOCKHEED MARTIN AERONAUTICS COMPANY Presenting Autonomous AI-enabled InspectoR (AAIR), Larry A Weixel, Skunk Works Autonomy / AI Digital Transformation Portfolio Manager

1130-1150: Q-Net Security presenting Q-Net Secure Network Overlay, Ron Indeck, CEO

1150-1210: Dispel presenting Dispel, Ian Schmertzler, President

1210-1230: Modern Intelligence AI Presenting CUTLASS - Maritime Domain Awareness, Marshal Plotner,  Director of BD Defense - PRESENTING, John Dulin, Founder/CEO -Q&A, Jerrad Ackerman, Head of Product - Q&A

 

• 1000-1020 (Location: KEYHOLE)

Global Ordnance/Mountain Horse Solutions and Gravity will conduct a 15-minute demonstration of a single-person Jet Suit consisting of a 3D-printed modular backpack, with miniature gas turbines and 2 arm worn vectoring assemblies equipped with miniature gas turbines. The Jet Suit currently has a flight time of 4-5 minutes (3-5 miles).

• 1020-1040 (Location: SEAWALL)

Aspen Water Inc. will conduct a 20-minute demonstration of the 800DM and highlight its ability to purify freshwater, brackish water, and full seawater at a rate of approximately 800 gallons per day to be used for drinking water, personal hygiene, food preparation, medical uses, etc.

• 1040-1100 (Location: SEAWALL/DOCK)

MAS SOT will conduct a 20-minute demonstration of the Sillinger 470 SUB Underwater cache technique and the ability to quickly submerse/cache/ and re-deploy the Sillinger 470 SUB watercraft to support SOF maritime operations.

• 1100-1130 (Location: SEAWALL)

Comtech and Silvus Technologies will conduct a demonstration establishing a Beyond Line-of-Sight Communications network highlighting how troposcatter, MANET, and other communications technologies can be integrated into a resilient and flexible network topology that supports the transmission and dissemination of mission critical voice, video, and data services. See how data can be weaponized through transport advancements, predictive analysis, and the prioritized display of existing sensor data. We will show you how putting the most critical data in front of Operators leads to faster, more informed decision-making.

LEARN MORE

 

• 1400-1420 (Location: KEYHOLE)

Global Ordnance/Mountain Horse Solutions and Gravity will conduct a 15-minute demonstration of a single-person Jet Suit consisting of a 3D-printed modular backpack, with miniature gas turbines and 2 arm worn vectoring assemblies equipped with miniature gas turbines. The Jet Suit currently has a flight time of 4-5 minutes (3-5 miles).

• 1420-1440 (Location: SEAWALL)

Aspen Water Inc. will conduct a 20-minute demonstration of the 800DM and highlight its ability to purify freshwater, brackish water, and full seawater at a rate of approximately 800 gallons per day to be used for drinking water, personal hygiene, food preparation, medical uses, etc.

• 1440-1500 (Location: SEAWALL/DOCK)

MAS SOT will conduct a 20-minute demonstration of the Sillinger 470 SUB Underwater cache technique and the ability to quickly submerse/cache/ and re-deploy the Sillinger 470 SUB watercraft to support SOF maritime operations.

• 1500-1530 (Location: SEAWALL)

Comtech and Silvus Technologies will conduct a demonstration establishing a Beyond Line-of-Sight Communications network highlighting how troposcatter, MANET, and other communications technologies can be integrated into a resilient and flexible network topology that supports the transmission and dissemination of mission critical voice, video, and data services. See how data can be weaponized through transport advancements, predictive analysis, and the prioritized display of existing sensor data. We will show you how putting the most critical data in front of Operators leads to faster, more informed decision-making.

LEARN MORE

Welcoming remarks from the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict - U.S. Department of Defense.

The final panel for “Win” Day consists of leaders and experts on how SOF can continue to be the nation’s most effective counter to terrorism and an essential tool in responding to crises and threats to U.S. interests globally. Much like crisis response, SOF’s ability to disrupt and even out-compete VEOs has moved from the forefront of our thinking, to being part of our enduring, no-fail, steady-state operations. Every strategic choice comes with risk, and when it takes only one terrorist event in the homeland to deliver strategic impact, the nation must carefully understand the risk and resource solutions accordingly. These are worries we must remove from the minds of our senior leaders and our citizens, as well as from those of our trusted allies and partners; this is our baseline. To fail in sustaining this baseline is to risk distraction. Going forward, we must think and campaign globally and holistically as never before. Our forces must be coordinated for greater collective effect. Going forward, each operator on every mission must be as focused on opportunities to foster influence as they are to disrupt a VEO; as aware of opportunities to contribute to a deterrent effect toward some adversary, as they are to fostering resilience among some partner or ally.

Today’s focus in the SOF Week agenda is “Win.” The many terms we hear for winning in peace – “left of conflict,” “left of bang,” “below the threshold of armed conflict,” “the gray zone,” and “to win without fighting” – recognize that our greatest competitors actually see peace as war. This panel will discuss how we achieve successful deterrence – achieving our foreign policy aims without risking escalation, lives, and other resources. How does our nation win in peace? How does our military in general, and our Special Operations Forces in particular, contribute to achieving and sustaining such a peacetime win? What does successful campaigning (i.e., “the conduct and sequencing of logically-linked military initiatives aimed at advancing well-defined, strategy-aligned priorities over time” according to the 2022 National Defense Strategy) look like? How do we best cooperate and collaborate with partners in order to deter armed conflict? When war comes, SOF will be ready; today’s panel is about how we help our nation succeed in peace.

Welcome Remarks for Wednesday of SOF Week.

Networking opportunity in the prefunction area.

Strategic competition is a contest not just of will, technology, alliances, and arms races – it is a competition for influence. Influence has a human face and relates to population dynamics and governance. Modernly, influence is far less about the words we say, or in getting others to do for us what they otherwise might not do; rather influence is about how our actions are perceived, be that to deter those who seek to disrupt a rules-based order or be it to provide hope and inspiration to those who see their interests served by the same. The panelists will provide insights into how SOF’s emphasis and investment in people yields value in strategic competition. These leaders will also discuss the criticality of Special Operations Forces’ unique multi-domain capabilities that provide asymmetric options for the nation in the competition for influence among rival great powers.

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.

The mission of the Program Executive Office for Maritime (PEO-M) is to provide game-changing capability to hyperenable Naval Special Warfare operators through the development and fielding of advanced surface and undersea platforms and equipment in order to maintain and expand the competitive advantage in the maritime domain The portfolio provides both surface and undersea maritime mobility platforms in various stages of development, production, and sustainment as well as cutting edge SOF Combat Diving equipment. The surface fleet consists of the Combatant Craft Heavy, Combatant Craft Medium, Combatant Craft Assault, Special Operations Craft – Riverine, and Small Unmanned Surface Vehicles. The undersea fleet consists of the Dry Deck Shelter, Dry Combat Submersible, SEAL Delivery Vehicle, SOF Combat Diving, and Small Unmanned Underwater Vehicles.

The Program Executive Office for Rotary Wing (PEO-RW) 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.

The Program Executive Office for Special Operations Forces Digital Applications (PEO SDA) was officially activated on 1 June 2020. This PEO is home to the trusted experts for on-demand software and data capabilities. This office helps USSOCOM meet the Commander’s priorities by aligning software/digital investments with the National Security Strategy and the Command Planning Guidance to digitally enable strategic campaigning for advantage in the information environment, left of conflict. The PEO SDA mission is to deliver innovative, relevant, and dependable Special Operations-peculiar software and data capabilities for the SOF warfighter to achieve information dominance and win in a complex environment.

PEO - SOF Support Activity’s (SOFSA) 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 multiyear contract (max. of 10 years) valued at $8 billion. These briefings address key areas that the SOF GLSS [Global Logistics Support Services] 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.

The Program Executive Office for 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 comprises 10 Joint Program Management Offices and over 200 military, civilian, and contractor personnel. By cultivating an aggressive, risk-taking culture among acquisition, financial, and contracting personnel, they dutifully and dependably execute every dollar appropriated 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, timesensitive capabilities to widely dispersed and often isolated SOF in several unique commodity areas. PEO- SW manages a portfolio that includes 13 programs, 25 projects, 93 Middle Tier Acquisitions, 216 Combat Evaluations, 110 Studies, and 51 CRADAs 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 /Loitering & other Munitions • Operator Equipment, Protection, and Survival • Operator First Aid Kits, Medic Kits, and Casualty Evacuation

The Program Executive Office for Special Reconnaissance (PEO-SR) 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.

 The Program Executive Office for C4 (PEO-C4) manages the development, acquisition, fielding, new equipment training, and sustainment of C4 and MISO [Military Information Support Information] 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; provide access to required resources from anywhere on the globe; and ensure interoperability with all military, interagency, and international partners.

The Program Executive Office for Services (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.

DNA technology is making an impact on forensic Intelligence. The RapidHIT ID’s technology and portability can be used to run samples that can identify individuals, as well as provide forensic intelligence to aid in mission planning. This four-hour workshop is designed to showcase the operational capability of the RapidHIT ID system and provide participants hands-on instrument operation and practical sample preparation techniques.

This dynamic workshop will help you and your team develop the skills SOF needs to creatively confront the complexity of 21st-century conflict. Now more than ever, the SOF community requires teams at all levels who can generate and implement breakthrough ideas to meet the demands of multiple and varied mission sets across the globe. However, we sometimes confuse modernization with innovation. We often make an already existing product or service just a bit “better” (e.g., 10% increase) rather than generating a “breakthrough” (e.g., 10x) value. Yet in a rapidly changing world, we need our community of military, government, academia, and industry to embrace a growth mindset, implement creative problem-solving skills, and push our brains beyond the basics to address complex challenges. All participants will receive access to a curated online repository of resources (books, articles, podcasts, videos, digital templates, and more) that they can share broadly with their teammates back home. The workshop is designed for and open to civilian and military personnel across all ranks and functional specialties.

The Science & Technology Directorate focuses on integrating S&T efforts across the SOF enterprise. This includes ensuring that technology opportunities are aligned with technology enablers and developers, ongoing efforts are integrated with transition partners, additional innovation that is required to address S&T opportunities 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 is a brief overview about debt, consumer advocacy and protection, money management, credit, financial planning, insurance, and consumer issues. Learn how to get your financial house in order before you begin the next chapter of life!

Come learn how Sound Off is working with benevolent organizations across the special operations community to provide mental health support on your terms, and how you can support your SOF brothers and sisters who may be struggling in silence. Too many of those struggling feel unable to access care for fear of stigmatization or professional blowback; Sound Off offers the opportunity to engage with ongoing peer or clinical support, while maintaining complete anonymity. By the end of the session, you will understand how SOF veterans and service members can access anonymous care, you will be registered to provide peer support via the Sound Off app, and you will have received the necessary training via the GRIT (Greater Resilience Information Toolkit) Resilience Course training team. GRIT was created by the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience at the University of Colorado Springs. It focuses on core principles of psychological first aid, stress, disaster stress, resilience, and self-efficacy, as well as self-care and referring to professional mental health support when needed.

Closing remarks for Wednesday 10 MAY 2023.