PRESS RELEASES

AFCEA/U.S. NAVAL INSTITUTE BRINGS WARFARE AND TECHNOLOGIES CONFERENCE AND EXPOSITION TO SAN DIEGO 
Focusing on the Future of the U.S. Military

For Immediate Release January 4, 2006

AFCEA Media Contact
Tobey Jackson
(703) 631-6189
Email

FAIRFAX, VA—The largest state-of-the-art warfare and technologies conference and exposition on the West Coast is coming to the San Diego Convention Center, January 10-12, 2006. At West 2006, senior military leaders and defense industry experts will address the theme “Service Roles & Structures: What’s Right for the Way Ahead?” The annual conference, which is expected to draw over 10,000 people, covers hot issues facing the military including lessons learned in combat and the role of special forces. With over 380 exhibitors showing communications, homeland security, biometric technologies and more, West 2006 provides everything you need to know about defense transformation. The conference is open to the public and admission is free.

The conference theme and panel session topics are based on input from operating forces. Speakers and panel participants will voice their different points of view and experiences with these issues, allowing attendees to benefit from their knowledge and candid discussion.  Featured speakers include ADM Michael Mullen, USN, Chief of Naval Operations; ADM William Fallon, USN, Commander, U.S. Pacific Command; The Honorable Dr. Linton Wells II, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Networks and Information Integration; VADM Eric Olson, USN, Deputy Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command and VADM Harvey Johnson, Jr., USCG, Commander, Pacific Area Command.

Six panel sessions will provide West attendees opportunities to question experts one-on-one about the latest policy and technology issues. Topics include: warfighters’ lessons learned; intelligence issues; special operations; Type Commanders; IT challenges, and “How Do We Do Right by Our People?”

The event also will feature two new parallel conference tracks this year.  First, the Chief Information Officer of the Department of the Navy will present sessions focusing on “How Do We Get the Right Information Technology to the Warfighter?” The conference features technical sessions on specific IT programs within the Navy and Marine Corps.

The second track spotlights military recruitment and retention—particularly issues of pay and benefits, the role of the family, leadership styles, and family support. Featured speakers include Charlie Abell, who recently served as Deputy Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, and Tom Hall, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs.  Conference sponsor 

CinCHouse.com, the nonprofit community of military families, has also scheduled panel discussions on the topics of “Do Pay and Benefits Affect Retention?” and “The Impact of Family on Future Retention.”

West 2006 attendees will have the unique opportunity to tour Stiletto, an Office of Force Transformation Initiative, in association with USSOCOM, to develop a dedicated operational R&D surrogate for special operations and distributed naval force missions.  The ship will be docked at the back of the San Diego Convention Center and open for tours during West 2006.

West 2006 is open to the public and admission is free. Tickets are required for meals. On-site registration is available beginning Monday, January 9. For details and a complete schedule of events please visit http://www.west2006.org.

AFCEA International is the premier nonprofit association representing professionals in communications, electronics, intelligence and information systems. AFCEA provides a multi-faceted professional development forum, including courses, conferences, SIGNAL Magazine and networking opportunities. For more information, please visit www.afcea.org.

The U.S. Naval Institute publishes the highly respected Proceedings and Naval History magazines as well as more than 900 professional books each year. Established in 1873, the professional membership association serves as the only independent forum that advances the understanding of sea power and other issues critical to national defense. For more information, please visit www.usni.org.

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