Defense Leaders to Discuss Evolving National Strategy’s Impact on Special Operations Forces and its Partners at NDIA Symposium

The National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) will hold its 21st Annual Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict [SO/LIC] Symposium and Exhibition at the Marriott Wardman Hotel in Washington, DC, February 9-11, 2010. Hosted by NDIA’s SO/LIC Division, the event will address the theme: “The Evolving National Strategy: The Impact on Special Operations and its Partners.”

Arlington, VA (Vocus) January 8, 2010

The National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) will hold its 21st Annual Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict (SO/LIC) Symposium and Exhibition at the Marriott Wardman Hotel in Washington, DC, February 9-11, 2010. Hosted by NDIA’s SO/LIC Division, the event will address the theme: “The Evolving National Strategy: The Impact on Special Operations and its Partners.”

The event will bring together senior Administration, military, government and defense industry leaders who will discuss the impact of evolving national security and military strategies not only on special operations forces but their partners in government, private industry and the international arena. Speakers will examine new strategic requirements and approaches and explore how to generate and execute all aspects of national power in a new era of engagement.

The Symposium will feature:

• Keynote addresses from the Honorable Michele Flournoy, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, U.S. Department of Defense; Admiral Eric T. Olson, USN, Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command; the Honorable Michael Vickers, Assistant Secretary of Defense for SO/LIC and Interdependent Capabilities (Invited) and numerous other senior military and leading defense policy experts.
• Panel discussions offering international, interagency, regional and U.S. Special Operations Command perspectives on evolving national security strategies as well as analysis of how to make those strategies successful.
• Gen James Mattis, USMC, Commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command will speak at the Annual SO/LIC Symposium Awards Banquet featuring awardees who have supported the Special Operations Forces and USSOCOM communities. This year’s banquet will host wounded Special Operations Forces warriors and their families from Bethesda Naval Hospital and Walter Reed Army Medical Center who will attend as special guests.

The 2010 Symposium follows a year of significant changes in America’s national security leadership and the conducting of a new Quadrennial Defense Review. Increasingly, national security strategies are focusing on smaller conflicts, irregular warfare, insurgencies, terrorism and greater reliance on special operations forces. With national security and military strategies calling for new international partnerships, interagency approaches, and changes in the way general purpose forces contribute to future conflicts, this year’s event will provide a forum to discuss the expanded role of special operations forces and their partners in a changing strategic environment.

The Symposium is expected to attract over 500 attendees representing a wide cross section of the defense business community, the Department of Defense and other Federal Agencies, U.S. Service Academies, the International Military Community and others interested in the national security field.

Among the senior officials and defense experts invited to participate in this year’s event are:
Ambassador Daniel Benjamin, Coordinator for Counterterrorism, U.S. Department of State; MG Charles T. Cleveland, USA, SOCCENT; Ms. Sara "Bette" Franken, Program Manager, International Counterterrorism Fellows, NDU; VADM Mark D. Harnitchek, USN, Deputy Commander, TRANSCOM; BG Christopher Haas, USA, SOCAFRICA; Maj Gen Susan Helms, USAF, J5, Director, Plans & Policy, STRATCOM; CAPT Philip "Gardner" Howe, USN, Director, Legislative Affairs, SOCOM, SOLA; LTG Keith M. Huber, USA, Deputy Commander, JFCOM; Maj Gen Frank J. Kisner, USAF, SOCEUR; MajGen Paul E. Lefebvre, USMC, Commander, MARSOC; Dr. Michele Malvesti, Vice President, Special Programs, SAIC; Mr. Timothy McClees, Senior Staffer, House Armed Services Committee - Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities; COL Kevin McDonnell, USA, Director, SOCOM, WO; Congressman Jeff Miller (R-FL-01), Member, House Armed Services Committee, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Committee on Veterans' Affairs; RDML Sean Pybus, USN, SOCPAC; Mr. James Q. Roberts, Principle Director, Special Operations and Combating Terrorism, OASD (SO/LIC&IC); Congressman Ike Skelton (D-MO), Chairman, House Armed Services Committee; Mr. Mark Thompson, Deputy Coordinator, Operations Directorate, Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism; Rear Admiral Edward G. Winters, III, USN, Commander, NAVSOC; and Lt Gen Donald C. Wurster, USAF, Commander, AFSOC.

For further information and to register, go to http://www.ndia.org/meetings/0880

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