Current

May 5-6, 2021 | Mary M. Gates Learning Center, Alexandria, VA

DSI’s 4th Annual Directed Energy Symposium will address the increasing need across the military to develop offensive and defensive directed energy capabilities as well as the systems needed to store the power needed for a directed energy weapon. As near-peer threats develop more sophisticated missile systems and the use of cheap drones by non-state actors grows, the need for directed energy capabilities to counter these threats will only increase. Directed energy weapons have the potential to stop a future hypersonic or ballistic missile attack or counter swarms of enemy drones, as the future battlefield becomes more technologically advanced.

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Current Health and Safety Protocols

 

2021 Confirmed Speakers Include:


LTG Neil Thurgood, USA
Director of Hypersonics, Directed Energy, Space and Rapid Acquisition
Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology)

MG Sean Gainey, USA
Director, Joint C-UAS Office (JCO) and Director, Fires, G3/5/7
HQ Department of the Army


BG Brian Gibson, USA
Director
Air and Missile Defense CFT



Paul Mann, SES
Department of the Navy’s Chief Engineer
DASN (RDT&E)



Stanley Stafira, Jr.
Chief Architect
Missile Defense Agency



Thomas Weber, SES
Director, Technical Center
USASMDC/ARSTRAT



Download the 2021 Agenda

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Why You Should Attend This Symposium:

The 2021 Directed Energy Symposium will provide a forum to discuss the current efforts and innovations in directed energy in support of advancing US warfighter's edge on the battlefield. As the US maintains its counter-terrorism operations across and continues to ramp up its efforts to shift towards great power competition, new and advanced weapons will need to be rapidly developed and fielded to provide the Warfighter the edge on the battlefield needed to overcome enemies in any operating environment.

Directed Energy weapons have the potential to provide low cost, high capacity capabilities to defend against emerging enemy missiles threats and the rise of non-state actors utilizing commercial UAV platforms. The pace at which America’s enemies are developing these new systems and tactics will require the US to ramp up its own development of directed energy systems and move this technology from the labs to the battlefield. Directed Energy weapons have the potential to counter the advantage that emerging technologies have provided potential enemies and shift the balance back to the US Warfighter.

As the battlefield of the 21st century and beyond continue to evolve and new technology is introduced at a rapid pace the US will need to continue to advance its capabilities. Directed Energy Systems have the potential to boost US dominance in any future operation environment.

DSI’s team specializes in the extensive research and development of our Summit’s content and focus areas, and we will assemble the most respected minds in the directed energy community to include key policy-makers across military and civilian offices. Our non-partisan approach allows us to reach across all services and organizations to bring together a truly holistic group of decision-makers and solution providers.

Topics to be covered at the 2021 Symposium:

- Creating Game-Changing Directed Energy Weapons for our Warfighters

- Enhancing US Missile Defense Capabilities through Directed Energy

- Applying DE to counter enemy UAV threats

- Providing Directed Energy Weapons Systems to Warfighters for Increased Lethality and Support Across Multi-Domain Operations

- Testing and Evaluating Emerging Directed Energy Weapons

- Enabling Warfighter Dominance on Current and Future Battlefields with DEW

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At our Symposium You Have the Ability To:

  • Gain Education & Insight: Gain Education & Insight: Walk away with knowledge gained from our senior level speakers on some of the complex challenges facing our Directed Energy Community.

  • Build Partnerships: The agenda is designed to allow for ample networking opportunities and the ability to engage in constructive dialogue among all in attendance.

  • Influence: Help foster ideas. Share your own insight and knowledge during our interactive sessions. All attendees are encouraged to address our speaker faculty and each other with their questions, comments or ideas.
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Exhibit and Sponsorship Information:

The Directed Energy Symposium provides opportunities including exhibit space, round table discussions, product demonstrations, and networking receptions.

Download the Sponsorship and Exhibiting Prospectus Here

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Operating Guidance for Government Attendees:

- DSI’s Directed Energy Symposium directly supports DoD and Federal Government priorities by providing a conduit for officials to efficiently reach audiences outside of their respective offices that directly impact their department’s mission success, at no charge to the government, and in an efficient expenditure of time.

- DSI’s Symposium will provide a forum to address and improve internal and external initiatives, meet with and hear from partner organizations, disseminate vital capability requirements to industry, increase visibility within the larger community, and generally support their mission. The Symposium is open and complimentary to all DoD and Federal employees and is considered an educational and training forum.

- The Symposium is open and complimentary to all DoD and Federal employees and is considered an educational and training forum.

(Industry and academia members are charged a fee for admission)


*Symposium is CLOSED TO PRESS / NO RECORDINGS*