The HUSTLE Defense Accelerator is an elite and immersive accelerator for seed stage tech startups pushing AI/ML, cyber, quantum and UAS solutions with dual-use potential and the drive to elevate the United States’ national security and economic competitiveness.

This program is 100% in person and on site May 23 – August 12 at Innovare Advancement Center in Rome, NY. Ten startups will be selected for participation in this elite program for defense innovation and summer residency in our world-class facility.

Deadline to Apply is Febraury 14 at 2:14 pm

We are excited to announce that in 2022, Air Force Research Lab’s (AFRL) Wright Dialogue with Industry (WDI) and Life Cycle Management Center's (LCMC) Life Cycle Industry Days (LCID) will take place within the same week (8-12 August). Both events will be co-hosted with Dayton Defense and both events will be hosted at the Dayton Convention Center. LCID and WDI will remain standalone events; we are combining the events in one week as to gain efficiencies in the sharing of information, collaboration and discussion.

WDI offers three days of in-depth unclassified and classified comprehensive presentations, panels, one-on-one technical sessions, and leadership meet-and-greet exchanges focused on the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Science and Technology.  Technical portfolios and contracting opportunities for each of Technical Directorates and supporting organizations will be presented by the Tech Directors and SMEs.   

This is not an “Approved for Public Distribution” level event; topics will be discussed in detail at the Distribution-C (Government and Government Contractor Only) and Classified information levels.

Historically, over 600 Government, Industry, and Academia attendees representing 36 states and every AFRL Directorate participated in the last in-person 2021 WDI discussing unclassified and classified information.  This proven successful format will continue where two-way dialogue between attendees and presenters is fostered through focused technical, opportunity, and educational tracks and sessions.  View the draft agenda for details.

The event will include:

The SMD Symposium is the leading educational, professional development and networking event in the space and missile defense community. The symposium is widely attended by leaders and professionals from the United States and our allies around the world.

The health and safety of all SMD 2022 participants is of the utmost importance, and the executive committee is focused on adhering to all federal, state, and local orders regarding COVID-19. Additional health and safety measures, including frequent surface sanitizing, mask requirements and social distancing measures will be implemented to ensure a safe event for attendees.

Pilots and instructors will test state-of-the-art training prototypes from Mixed Reality Air Refueling Training Challenge selects Vertex Solutions and VR Training. This invitation-only event will aid in selection of one trainer that will accelerate the training of new pilots to accomplish mid-air refueling in the B-52 bomber.

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AFLCMC’s Life Cycle Industry Days (LCID) will take place 10-12 August, in-person, at the Dayton Convention Center.
 
We are excited to announce that in 2022, Life Cycle Industry Days (LCID) and Air Force Research Lab’s (AFRL) Wright Dialogue with Industry (WDI) will take place within the same week (8-12 August). Both events will be co-hosted with Dayton Defense (operating as The Dayton Development Coalition) and both events will be hosted at the Dayton Convention Center. LCID and WDI will remain standalone events; we are combining the events in one week as to gain efficiencies in the sharing of information, collaboration and discussion.

Early-stage ventures, start-ups, entrepreneurs, and investors interested in doing business with the Department of Defense (DoD) are invited to the Defense Entrepreneur Symposium on August 11, 2022.

Attendees will increase their understanding of defense venture development and the opportunity for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) contracts which provide millions of dollars of non-dilutive funding to early-stage ventures every year and are a key way to expand into the defense market.

The National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) will also present how it identifies startups emerging from the academic and venture communities that can address DoD problems in innovative ways, and how it supports the creation of new ventures from technologies emerging from DoD labs.

• Who: Early-stage ventures, start-ups, entrepreneurs, and investors (angel and venture capital) interested in the defense market
• What: Presentations, Panel Discussions, Success Stories
• When: August 11, 2022 | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM (CST)
• Where: Hybrid Virtual / In Person
• Why: Increase understanding of defense venture development and the opportunity for SBIR, STTR, and other contracts which provide millions of dollars of non-dilutive funding to early-stage ventures every year and are a key way to expand into the defense market.

Informational links and Zoom conference details will be provided to all registered participants 24-hours in advance of the event.

The Professional Aerospace Contractors Association (PACA) of New Mexico is hosting its 34th BRIEFING FOR INDUSTRY (BFI), 15 – 18 August 2022, at Hotel Albuquerque in Old Town, Albuquerque, New Mexico. The 2022 BFI offers three days of presentations and an opportunity to meet with industry and government customers face-to-face. This event draws more than 500 industry and government representatives annually. The presentations feature business opportunities for 2022 and beyond and include descriptions of missions; program objectives and plans; and, most importantly, identify contracting opportunities and technical points of contact. Topics will include:

• Research and development
• Test and evaluation
• Technical and analytical support
• Operations and maintenance
• Systems procurement

The following organizations have been invited to present:

• AF Global Strike Command
• Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center (AFNWC)
• Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC)
• Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) (all directorates)
• AFRL Office of Scientific Research (AFRL/AFOSR)
• High Energy Laser Joint Technology Office (HEL-JTO)
• Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)
• National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)
• Space Rapid Capabilities Office
• PEO for Strategic Systems
• Sandia National Laboratories (SNL)
• Space Systems Command (SSC) Directorates
• White Sands Missile Range (WSMR)
• Others

BRIEFING FOR INDUSTRY traditionally features senior leaders from the military services and government as keynote and guest speakers. Speaker information, updated event information, registration fee schedule, draft program agenda and online registration are all available at pacanm.org/briefing-for-industry. The on-line registration site is open and attendees are encouraged to register early. For assistance call: (505) 450-1165.

The NDIA Space Division and Rocky Mountain Chapter are pleased to announce the 3rd annual Space Warfighting Industry Forum (SWIF). Bringing together leaders from industry, government, and academia, SWIF 2022 promises to further the discussion on space warfighting visions, requirements, and existing and emerging capabilities. Attendees will be sure to hear from top USSPACECOM and USSF leadership in both unclassified and classified forums, as well as from entrepreneurs and thought leaders on partnerships, coalitions and international engagement, new technologies, pushing data to the tactical edge, and legislative actions. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.

The National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) will participate in the 44th Annual BDPA Conference in Atlanta, GA, August 18 - 20, 2022.

Black Data Professional Association (BDPA) is an international organization with a diverse membership of professionals and students at all levels in the fields of information technology, computer science and related STEM fields. Members are actively engaged in serving the community through outreach and charting the future of the IT industry.

Overview
The purpose of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program is to strengthen the role of innovative Small Business Concerns (SBCs) in federally-funded research or research and development (R/R&D). The Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program stimulates a partnership of ideas and technologies between innovative SBCs and non-profit Research Institutions. By providing awards to SBCs for cooperative R/R&D efforts with Research Institutions, the SBIR and STTR programs assist the U.S. small business and research communities by supporting the commercialization of innovative technologies. The SBIR/STTR programs employ a phased process:

Phase I: Phase I involves a solicitation of contract proposals or grant applications to conduct feasibility-related experimental or theoretical R/R&D related to described agency requirements. These requirements, as defined by agency topics contained in a solicitation, may be general or narrow in scope, depending on the needs of the agency. The object of this phase is to determine the scientific and technical merit and feasibility of the proposed effort and the quality of performance of the SBC with a relatively small agency investment before consideration of further Federal support in Phase II.

Phase II: The object of Phase II is to continue the R/R&D effort from the completed Phase I.

Direct to Phase II: Department of Defense may issue a Phase II SBIR award to an SBC that did not receive a Phase I SBIR or STTR award for that R/R&D. Direct to Phase II involves a solicitation of contract proposals or grant applications and the SBC’s proposal must demonstrate the scientific and technical merit and feasibility of the ideas that appear to have commercial potential.

Phase III: The objective of Phase III, where appropriate, is for the small business to pursue commercialization objectives resulting from the Phase I/II R/R&D activities. The SBIR/STTR programs do not fund Phase III.

SBIR Process Timeline
07 July 2022: Topic issued for pre-release
21 July 2022: USSOCOM begins accepting proposals via DSIP
11 August 2022: DSIP Topic Q&A closes to new questions at 12:00 PM ET
23 August 2022: Deadline for receipt of proposals no later than 12:00 PM ET 

Special Areas of Interest
DIRECT TO PHASE II:
SOCOM224-D001: Track Correlation/Data Deduplication for SOF Mission Command
SOCOM224-D002: Natural Language Processing for Special Operations Forces
SOCOM224-D003: Low/No Code Data Manipulation and Discovery for Special Operations Forces
SOCOM224-D004: Human Machine Teaming for Reduction of Operator Cognitive Load

How You Can Participate
Industry and Non-Traditional Attendees 

1. Review supporting documents: Click Here to View
2. Q&A Telecon Transcript Coming Soon!
3. Submit your proposal: Click Here to Submit (NLT 23 August)

Questions?
For questions on the special areas of interest, please email sbir@socom.mil
For questions about the SBIR/STTR program, please visit events.sofwerx.org/dcode

Join us for the first-ever Catalyst Campus for Technology & Innovation (CCTI) Digital Engineering Conference bringing together thought leaders, disrupters, academia and government leaders in the Digital Engineering Space to explore the latest research, build connections, and spark innovation to meet the Department of Defense’s current and future challenges.
 

Purpose
SOFWERX, in coordination with the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP), will provide a forum for Small Businesses with technologies that support National Security Interests and/or the USSOCOM technology interest areas to learn more about doing business with USSOCOM.

The OSBP is dedicated to helping you and your business. They will explain known requirements, help you understand who buys what within the Command, and can assist you in locating other likely markets within DoD and developing strategies for accessing those markets. They provide information and guidance on defense procurement policies and procedures as well as methods for identifying prime contracting and subcontracting opportunities.

Objective
Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) will provide an overview of USSOCOM, as well as information on the basic components and requirements of working with the Department of Defense, and how to engage with USSOCOM. Additionally, there will be briefings from external support organizations that can help you shape and scale your business.

The NGAUS General Conference is the Association’s annual business meeting. Army and Air National Guard officers from all 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia gather to network, set their legislative agenda and hear from America’s civilian and military leaders. Family members, industry representatives and local officials also attend. 

Recent speakers include congressional leaders, cabinet-level secretaries, Army and Air Force secretaries and chiefs, and other senior Pentagon officials.

Primary social events include the Governor’s Reception, Hospitality Night and the States Dinner. Other events include golf tournaments, a Fun Run, mixers and luncheons. Conference registration is $180.

The theme for the Conference will be The National Guard: At the Heart of It All. The NGAUS board has decided on the Operational Camouflage Pattern uniform for business sessions and other meetings and approved the Ohio National Guard Association’s recommendation of sports jerseys — high school, college, pro or Olympic — for the States Dinner.

The Department of the Air Force Information Technology and Cyberpower 2022 will be held in Montgomery, Alabama from August 29-31.

Join thousands of AF peers, along with private sector leaders in the IT and cyber security field. Learn how to assess and combat the newest and most prevailing threats to our global networks and national defense. With 60+ training  sessions, a trade show with  over 125 vendor booths and a roster of expert keynote speakers, there’s no limit to the knowledge, ideas and solutions these 3 short days can provide.

The last DAFITC in person event saw nearly 4000 attendees, speakers and exhibitors  take part in the critical public/private partnership and dialogue that is key to keeping our country safe and secure.  From leading voices in the public and private sector, DAFITC attendees hear a range of ideas, opinions and assessment of the current state of all things cyber as well as insights into what the keys to future success might will be

With this year’s theme,  A Resilient Digital Air and Space Force: Enabling Deterrence Through Cyber,  DAFITC 2022 examines the ever-changing ways in which big data and emerging cyber technologies are reshaping the landscape in which we live.

Hybrid DoD 6.1 Basic Research Conference

Last year, we wrote to gauge the DoD research community’s interest in participating in a DoD 6.1 research conference aimed at providing a forum for expanding information exchange between 6.1 researchers across all DoD laboratories and warfare centers.  We are happy to report that we received over 500 responses with over 350 interested in presenting.  Thus, we are announcing that we will be holding the first hybrid DoD 6.1 Basic Research Conference on 6-9 Sept 2022 at the Basic Research Innovation Collaboration Center (BRICC) in Arlington, VA and are now requesting that those interested in presenting submit abstracts.  In order to foster participant interactions, we are encouraging in-person attendance but will provide the ability for virtual attendance for those unable to travel to the DC area. We are looking forward to your participation.

We welcome abstract submissions from 6.1 basic researchers working at DoD labs (including on-site contractors), other government collaborators and the like. Registration to attend either in-person or virtually for program officers, past and present DoD fellows (i.e. VBFF, MURI, etc.), government officials, and others will open on July 1, 2022.

Very respectfully,

Dr. Michael Osofsky                                          Dr. Charles “Chip” Eddy, Jr.
U.S. Naval Research Laboratory                      Office of Naval Research Global - London

The TETS Symposium is a biennial forum where the United States' turbine engine community gathers to review and discuss the latest turbine engine technology advances. The Symposium draws an audience of approximately 1000 engineers, scientists, managers, and operational personnel from throughout the turbine engine community, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, NASA, DARPA, DOE, FAA, engine and aircraft manufacturers, material and component suppliers, and academia. Beginning in 2018, the TETS Symposium expanded its scope to include an increased emphasis on review and discussion of critical complementary technologies in the areas of aircraft power generation and thermal management. Over three days of technical presentations, supported by relevant hardware displays, will underscore the United States' commitment to advance the state of the art in gas turbine engine technology. The audience is limited to US Citizens only via DD2345.

AFA's Air, Space & Cyber Conference is the leading professional development event for Air Force and Space Force officers, enlisted members, civilians, veterans, and defense industry leaders and representatives.

Our conference brings together top Air Force and Space Force leadership, industry experts, and government officials to discuss challenges facing the aerospace and cyber communities today and in the future. 

Entering its tenth year, the annual Defense TechConnect (DTC) Summit, co-located with the Fall SBIR/STTR Innovation Conference and Operational Energy and Logistics Summit (OE&L), brings together defense, private industry, federal agency, and academic leadership to accelerate state-of-the-art technology solutions for the military and national security. This year's key focus areas include but are not limited to energy, climate, cyber, biodefense, space, advanced manufacturing, and 5G.

The DTC supports innovation imperatives in the National Defense Strategy (NDS) and is a unique platform to reach thousands of public and private leaders focused on innovation and technology to support the warfighter. At last year's Defense Innovation Summit (virtual), more than 1,300+ one-on-one meetings took place, 200+ virtual booths and tabletop displays in the Exhibit Hall representing private sector companies and non-traditional innovators, and close to 40 breakout sessions.

The annual DTC is one of the most well-attended defense innovation conferences of the year. We are proud to be one of the original innovation hubs to support the DOD and its missions.

The 2022 Technical Interchange Meeting (TIM) and Expo will feature expert presentations and demos by a cross-section of the defense community and industry.  Attendees will hear presentations from industry and government, detailing the positive impact of FACE and SOSA adoption for buyers (end users), suppliers, integrators, and business representatives, including both Business and Technical lessons learned. Technology Interchange Meetings allow DoD, Industry, and Academia to collaborate on Research and Engineering technology challenges.

Announcement Number: ACC-ADAIRUX-2022
Agency: Department of the Air Force
Office: Air Combat Command (ACC) Acquisition Management and Integration Center (AMIC)

The Commander, Air Combat Command (ACC), views ADAIR-UX as an opportunity to improve in-flight training for Combat Air Force fighter aircrew by increasing the quantity and quality of adversary air platforms. Simultaneously, this program will advance the technical maturation of ACPs while building aircrew trust in this class of vehicle. ADAIR-UX will also usher in an era of decreased fuel consumption and carbon emissions, as we seek to maximize credible high-end live-fly training while minimizing our impact on the budget and the environment.

ADAIR-UX is not just an air vehicle; it will be a synergy of six capability areas: the physical vehicle, missionized sensors and payloads, datalinks and computing, human-machine interface, autonomy, and “DOTmLPF-P” (Doctrine, Organization, Training, materiel, Leadership/Education, Personnel, Facilities, and Policy). To this end, ACC is requesting industry engagement to help government understand industry’s “art of the possible” in terms of an uncrewed, semi-autonomous, tactically-sized platform which can credibly replicate the capabilities of our pacing threats.

This announcement will establish an initial list of vendors who will be individually provided with a submission template to inform the government of their potential offerings in support of the technical areas described below. Upon receiving all the returned templates, ACC will convene a technical and security review to nominate a subset of vendors to receive a copy of the Rapid Prototyping Requirements Document (RPRD) for ADAIR-UX, which is meant to help those vendors refine their initial submission for a subsequent and more fully informed project concept. ACC will convene a second round of vetting, resulting in a set of invitations to present project concepts in-person to a government team at Langley AFB, VA currently planned for October 2022. The information provided to the government in this engagement will help inform our strategy for prototyping the ADAIR-UX capability in cooperation with the Strategic Development Planning and Experimentation Office.

This 2022 TIM engagement has broad goals to increase awareness, stimulate collaboration, and seek alignment between industry’s Independent Research & Development (IR&D) innovation investments and DAF’s high-priority science and technology needs and corresponding acquisition sustainment roadmaps. Senior-level, top-notch Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) from the AF are expected to participate, representing the AF Futures team at Air Staff, Air Combat Command, the AF Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), the AF Research Lab (AFRL) and several other agencies.

Don’t miss the opportunity to meet with the Department of Defense’s Science and Technology (S&T) experts in Directed Energy and Non-Lethal Weapons technologies.

During the week of 24-28 October 2022, the Directed Energy and Non-Lethal Weapons (DE & NLW) Communities of Interest (CoIs) teams are staging their Independent Research & Development (IR&D) Technology Interchange Meetings (TIMs). This invitation is open to all industry with IR&D and corporate investments, including large and small businesses, academia, National Labs and FFRDCs. This engagement will be held at the Phillips Conference Center, Kirtland AFB NM.

Directed Energy is an umbrella term covering technologies that relate to the production of a beam of concentrated electromagnetic energy or atomic or subatomic particles. Examples include: high-efficiency laser sources and high-power RF systems, including pulsed power sources, micro-/millimeter wave sources, and antennas. Directed energy weapons use directed energy to incapacitate, damage, or destroy enemy equipment, facilities, and/or personnel.

Today, Directed Energy weapons are being developed by the US and its adversaries for land, sea, and air and space applications. On land, this includes base defense, where DE can provide a deep magazine, long-range engagement, and low cost-per-shot against proliferated threats. Other land-based applications include clandestine target engagement using the ability of high-power microwaves to penetrate structures, invisible to the naked-eye, and damage or interrupt electronics without harming humans. On the sea, in the air, and in space DE weapons can provide platform self-defense. In a world of expanding, potential, DE military capabilities, a determination of scenarios that bound potential futures is a key input to creation of a national strategy that will shape the future to the advantage of the US and prevent our rivals and adversaries from obtaining them.

WEPCON consists of classified forums introducing new technologies, discussing capability gaps, and highlighting opportunities for engagement between industry partners and the Department of Defense.

During the week of 2-6 May 2022, the Air Force’s Cyberspace Superiority Mission Area together with the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s (AFLCMC’s) Crypto/Cyber Systems Division plan to co-sponsor the 2022 Cyberspace and Crypto Independent Research & Development (IR&D) Technology Interchange Meeting (TIM). This will be a classified event and will likely be held at Kelly Field, Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA), TX.

This invitation is open to all industry IR&D participants, including large corporations, medium-sized, and small businesses, as well as, academia, National Labs and FFRDCs.

This engagement has broad goals to increase awareness, stimulate collaboration, and seek alignment between industry’s IR&D innovation investments and the Air Force’s high-priority science and technology needs and corresponding acquisition and sustainment roadmaps. Leading Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) from Air Combat Command (ACC), AFLCMC, the 16th Air Force at JBSA, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Air Force Futures (formerly AF Warfighting Integrating Capability Office) and the Cyberspace Research Center at the AF Institute of Technology (AFIT) are expected to participate. This year we could also see SMEs from the National Security Agency and other non-DoD agencies, partnering to meet national cyberspace strategies in unison.

The Cyberspace and Crypto taxonomies are high priority areas of interest being looked at to enrich our S&T and acquisition roadmaps, as well as to expand our lenses in the related focus areas of your IR&D portfolios and corporate investments.

Please Note: This webpage supplements the event announcement SAM.gov https://sam.gov/. Future postings of changes and updates including final venue details will only be posted on this page. Therefore, companies are encouraged to check back

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The AFA Warfare Symposium is the premier professional development event for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force and the aerospace and defense industry that supports them—focused on the critical concerns and challenges of joint warfare in every corner of the globe. Drawing speakers from combatant commands, as well as from the Air and Space forces, the symposium featured opportunities to network and dynamic exhibits, as well as the unique Spark Tank innovation competition. 

Click here for the latest information and updates!

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