ComDef 2017: Realigning Priorities in an Uncertain Era

ComDef 2017 Washington, DC Conference | Sep 6th | Building on the successful ComDef 2016, where 35 nations participated with the United States in a lively and informative presentation and Q&A format, ComDef returns to the DC area to provide further insight, discussions and networking for government, military, academia and industry.

Goals for ComDef 2017 Conference

A changed security situation in Europe, in particular in the Baltic Sea area, have created new challenges and operating environments.
Where are the potential hot spots likely to be? North Korea, Syria or North Africa?
Several nations in Europe have begun to increase defense budgets.
NATO is reviewing its focus areas in light of recent government changes and international events.
The US defense budget will likely grow in the medium term
- What are the Pentagon changes coming down the road? How will they impact R&D and business operations?
- What will its impact be on force structure?
- What programs are likely to be impacted?
- Will it lead to more protectionism?
- Who will be BRAC'ed?
- How will industry adjust to the new realities?
- Will there be a new round of mergers and acquisitions?
How is the threat matrix influencing equipment development and cooperation?
- immediate risk planning and signaling
- Future operating environments
What will come of the Third Offset and BBP?
Will the evolving situation in Europe impact US Pacific efforts?
Have the low hanging fruit of cooperation and capability been exhausted?
How can industry partner internationally for success?
How potent are existing and envisaged export control regimes?

Government and industry representatives from more than 35 countries will be present. Over 30 speakers will provide their insight and perspectives.

Network with Government and industry leaders from all US Services and Agencies at this premier international event held in Washington.

All speakers have been invited. Confirmed speakers are marked with confirmed after their names.

Who Should Attend

Government Industrial policy staff
Government international agreements staff
Government FMS staff
Government R&D community
Embassy officials
- Procurement
- R&D
- Defense Cooperation Attaches
- Service Attaches
Industry government relations executives
Industry business development executives
Industry sales and marketing executives
Industry merger and acquisition staff
Aviation and defense financial analysts
Think Tanks
Defense media

Speaker and Presenter Information

James Jay Carafano,

Vice President for the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy, Heritage Foundation

Adam Culley,

Minister/Counselor, Materiel, Embassy of Australia, Washington, DC

Mackenzie Eaglen,

Research Fellow for national security , American Enterprise Institute (Confirmed)

MG. Stephen E. Farmen, USA,

Commanding General, United States Army Security Assistance Command

Alexander Gray,

Deputy Director, Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy (OTMP), White House (Confirmed)

Steve Grundman,

M.A. and George Lund Fellow for Emerging Defense Challenges, Atlantic Council (Confirmed)

MG Finn Kristian Hannestad,

Defense Attaché, Royal Norwegian Embassy, Washington, DC (Confirmed)

Todd Harrison,

Dir. of Defense Budget Analysis and a Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (Confirmed)

John Luddy,

Vice President, National Security Policy, Aerospace Industries Association (Confirmed)

Maj. Gen. Lawrence M. Martin, Jr.,

Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs (Confirmed)

Senator John McCain, R-AZ,

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services

Beth M. McCormick,

Director DTSA (Confirmed)

Patrick McElwain,

Director, E2C2

John G. McGinn, Ph.D.,

Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense MIBP (Confirmed)

Vago Muradian,

Editor, Defense & Aerospace Report (Confirmed)

Brian H. Nilsson,

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Defense Trade Controls (Confirmed)

VADM Joseph W. Rixey, USN,

Director, DSCA

Anne Sandel,

Executive Director, Navy International Programs Office (Confirmed)

Gary Stanley,

President, Global Legal Services, P.C. (Confirmed)

Congressman William “Mac” Thornberry, R-TX (13th District),

Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee

David M. Van Buren,

Corporate Senior VP, Business Strategy, L-3 Communications Corporation (Confirmed)

Thomas A. Vecchiolla,

President, Raytheon International, Inc.

Matthew Warren,

Director, International Armaments Cooperation, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology and Logistics)

Bob Work,

Deputy Secretary of Defense

Nancy Ziuzin Schlegel,

Vice President, International Government Affairs, Lockheed Martin International.

Expected Number of Attendees

300

Relevant Government Agencies

Air Force, Army, Navy & Marine Corps, Intelligence Agencies, DOD & Military, Office of the President (includes OMB), Dept of Homeland Security, NASA, Coast Guard