Session Summaries
The Department of Defense National Defense Industrial Strategy
Speaker: Laura D. Taylor-Kale, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy (invited)
Assistant Secretary Taylor-Kale will discuss the National Defense Industrial Strategy (NDIS), which offers a strategic vision to coordinate and prioritize actions to build a modern defense industrial ecosystem that is fully aligned with the National Defense Strategy (NDS). It also calls for sustained collaboration and cooperation between the entire U.S. government, private industry, and our Allies and partners abroad. As this strategy makes clear, we must act now to strengthen and modernize our defense industrial base to ensure the national security of the United States.
Defense Logistics Agency Industry Engagement and Supply Chain Security
Speaker: Lieutenant General Mark Simerly, Director, Defense Logistics Agency (invited)
Lieutenant General Simerly will discuss how the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) plans to engage with industry to bolster supply chain security, as outlined in DLA’s “Industry Engagement Plan” and “Supply Chain Security Strategy.” By collaborating closely with industry partners, promoting transparency, strengthening cybersecurity and implementing advanced technologies, DLA seeks to enhance resilience and safeguard the defense supply chain to ensure consistent availability of essential resources for national security.
Sustaining Supply Chain for Ground Vehicles / Maritime Systems (Agency). Government panel members will discuss policies, procedures, acquisitions and industry engagement initiatives to sustain, expand and enhance the supply chain for existing and future ground vehicle and maritime systems. Panel members will address and seek industry input on measures to optimize supply chains and supply chain management, while reducing risk (to industry and government) and encouraging domestic manufacturing to address supply chain vulnerabilities, build combat power and project it globally.
Empowering the Future: Strengthening the DoD Aerospace Workforce. This session will address the critical challenges, opportunities, strategies and resources available to recruit, educate, train and retain top talent within the aerospace sector. Panelists will share insights on strategic initiatives, emerging technologies, industry-specific training and workforce development programs designed to enhance the capabilities of a future-ready workforce in support of the aerospace industry, the Department of Defense and the national security of the United States.
Technology and Innovation Shark Tank. Selected businesses will each have five minutes to pitch their innovative technology solutions, followed by questions and feedback from government representatives. This interactive format provides a unique opportunity to showcase cutting-edge solutions and receive valuable, direct feedback from government officials. Session attendees will gain insights into government needs and requirements, increasing their own chances of successful collaboration and business growth in the federal marketplace.
Sustaining Supply Chain for Aerospace and Armament Systems (Industry). Industry panelists, including manufacturers and service providers, will address current and anticipated opportunities, requirements and challenges to engagement in the defense aerospace and armament markets. The panel will address a broad scope of issues including procurement and contracting challenges, supplier and demand volatility, compliance requirements, technology integration and risk reduction in sustainment throughout the contract performance period(s) and system life cycle, including obsolescence.
Offices of Small Business Programs – Executive Panel Discussion. This session features speakers from DoD agencies and industrial activities who are dedicated to supporting small business engagement in the federal market. Speakers will address agency requirements, forecasts, goals, outreach efforts, workshops, webinars and other activities to engage small businesses and foster collaboration with their acquisition teams. This session will empower small businesses with the knowledge, tools and support required to engage and ultimately thrive in the defense industrial supply chain.
Overview of DLA Aviation and Land and Maritime Acquisition Processes. This session provides an in-depth focus on acquisition processes of the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Aviation and DLA Land and Maritime. Speakers will address their agencies’ procurement strategies, acquisition workflows, software platform utilization, supplier and small business engagement and contract management and technology implementation activities to enhance supply chain resilience and sustain the defense industrial base.
Army Future Technologies and Emerging Requirements. This panel will address the Army’s modernization priorities within the aerospace, ground vehicle and armament domains and its anticipated challenges in engaging a defense industrial base capable of delivering and sustaining these advanced systems throughout their life cycle.
Sustaining the Warfighter, Sustaining our Defense industrial Base. The commanders of DLA Aviation and DLA Land and Maritime will highlight the monumental challenges facing their agencies in engaging a viable and innovative defense industrial base capable of sustaining America’s warfighters in peace and conflict worldwide.
Sustaining Supply Chain for Aerospace & Armaments Systems (Agency). Panel members will discuss policies, procedures, acquisitions and industry engagement initiatives to sustain, expand and enhance the supply chain for existing and future aerospace and armaments systems. Particular emphasis will include challenges and innovative solutions to address obsolescence. Panel members will address and seek industry input on measures to optimize supply chains and supply chain management, while reducing risk (to industry and government) and encouraging domestic manufacturing to address supply chain vulnerabilities, build combat power and project it globally.
Fortifying the Future: Enhancing the DoD Industrial Workforce. This session will address the critical challenges, opportunities, strategies and resources available to recruit, educate, train and retain a highly skilled industrial workforce. Panelists will highlight strategic initiatives, emerging technologies and industrial training and workforce development programs designed to enhance the availability and capabilities of a future-ready industrial workforce for DoD and the defense industrial base.
Sustaining Supply Chain for Ground Vehicles & Maritime Systems (Industry). Industry panelists, including manufacturers and service providers, will address current and anticipated opportunities, requirements and challenges to engagement in the DoD ground vehicle and maritime markets. The panel will address a broad scope of issues and lessons learned from both prime and subcontractor perspectives regarding barriers to entry, contracting challenges, supplier certification, demand volatility, compliance requirements, technology integration and risk reduction throughout the contract performance period(s) and system sustainment life cycle, including obsolescence.
DLA Vendor Support Panel – An Overview of Resources, Procedures and Systems Essential to Maximizing Success as a DLA Provider. Panel members from DLA will discuss the tools and platforms businesses must master to become highly valued DLA vendors. These resources include the DLA Internet Bid Board System (DIBBS), DLA Collaboration Folders (cFolders), Supplier Requirements Visibility Application (SRVA), Post Award Requests (PARs), Joint Certification Program (JCP), Source Approval Requests (SARs) and Replenishment Parts Purchase or Borrow Program (RPPOB)
Cybersecurity Compliance Panel – Securing Your Business in the Defense Supply Chain . Because businesses within the defense supply chain are increasingly vulnerable to cyber threats, DoD is increasing security requirements contractors must implement to keep sensitive information secure. This session provides essential insights and practical, low/no-cost strategies to safeguard businesses against evolving cyber risks. Topics include an overview of CMMC 2.0, basic cyber strategies and resources/tools to help businesses comply with DoD standards and to safeguard data in support of US national security.
Why present your Technology or Innovation to the Federal Government? In this session you will learn about the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program and how it might benefit your company. You will learn how it works, how to apply, the many Federal agencies that award contracts or grants through the program, and why a quad chart explaining your innovation is the first step. So, if you would like to get an award of up to $1.5 Million to develop your technology or innovation, then you won’t want to miss this session.