AFA 2027 Warfare Symposium

Programming is organized around Learn and Connect tracks. Learn covers legal, regulatory, innovation, and economic forces shaping mining and minerals, including mining law, permitting, litigation trends affecting critical mineral exploration and development, executive strategy, risk management, workforce development, geopolitical pressures, legislation, and energy security. Connect includes an exhibit hall spanning engineering and consulting, legal and financial services, environmental and ESG advising, recruitment, technology, equipment, and exploration and development. Its Business Development Forum offers one-on-one company meetings focused on opportunities and potential partnerships.

The technical program covers mining research and operational innovation, including AI, robotics and automation; advanced process control and digital twins; mineral processing, metallurgy and critical minerals; and bulk material handling, transfer-chute engineering and dust mitigation. Presentations address rare-earth extractant modeling, nickel leaching, copper flotation, sensor drift in AI systems, and coal mining beneath water bodies. The program includes the Robert E. Murray Innovation Award Lecture and the Dreyer Lecture. Conference registration includes technical sessions, keynote sessions, poster sessions, digital technical preprints, and access to the Western Mining Summit and the expo.

The symposium focuses on Army materiel readiness, sustainment, logistics, acquisition, modernization, and the defense industrial base. Its stated themes include logistics, maintenance, supply, and lifecycle management; accelerating capability development and integrating emerging technologies; and partnerships among Army organizations, government, industry, and academia. Programming is described as strategic discussions and professional development centered on acquisition, experimentation, readiness, and modernization. The event is open to interested parties, subject to AUSA’s stated identifiable-relationship criteria and its right to deny admission or cancel registration.

Provides first-class professional military development, facilitates sharing of emerging requirements and technologies, and helps fuel connections that advance the cause of airpower and spacepower.

The symposium focuses on space and missile defense, with organization updates from Space and Missile Defense Command, Space Command, Golden Dome for America’s Direct Report Program Manager, T2COM, CUAS, Northern Command, PAE Fires, the Missile Defense Agency, and space and missile defense companies. Panel themes include SPACECOM, Missile Defense System Next, International Space, INDOPACOM, industry, next-generation space and missile defense, and PAE Fires. The program also includes a technology track with technical paper presentations, a small-business showcase, and an exhibit hall featuring technology and products.

The conference theme is “Generating Combat Power Across Multiple Global Maritime Fronts.” Topics include evolving threats facing the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard; maritime operations; platforms, technologies, and advanced capabilities; and enhancing operational capabilities. The event brings together military and government leaders, industry professionals, and experts from academia for discussions, keynotes, panels, and special presentations. The 2027 agenda and speaker lineup were not available on the event pages reviewed.

Annual convention for the SOF community, co-hosted by Global SOF Foundation and U.S. Special Operations Command. The campus includes exhibition and demonstration areas for SOF Warrior, Special Air Warfare, maritime, information systems, government, space capabilities, human performance, and digital applications. The 2027 All Domain Autonomous Systems Zone is planned for demonstrations of UAS, counter-UAS, unmanned surface vessels, ground robots, and AI/ML technologies across air, land, and sea. Listed 2027 industry priorities include autonomous unmanned platforms, multi-domain defensive countermeasures for air and maritime environments, and AI/ML algorithms to support decision-making and operational efficiency. Conference sessions require a Full Conference and Exhibition pass.

A Secret/NOFORN forum for aerospace and defense leaders addressing strategic, programmatic, and technical challenges, as well as policy issues affecting the aerospace and national security communities. The forum requires attendees to hold final U.S. SECRET or higher clearance.

The 2027 forum theme, “Resilience in a Changing World,” examines tools, approaches, and breakthroughs intended to strengthen resilience across aerospace, defense, and the broader engineering enterprise amid rapid technological and global change. The program combines technical sessions focused on research and technologies addressing specific problems with plenary and Forum 360 sessions on issues affecting aerospace. It serves civil, commercial, and national security sectors and connects academic, industry, and government professionals. Featured speakers include James Kenyon, Associate Administrator of NASA’s Research and Technology Mission Directorate; Daniel Hettema, Director of Digital Engineering, Modeling & Simulation at the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering; and Sha-Chelle Devlin Manning, Chief of Commercial Strategy at DARPA.

The summit gathers Air Force and Space Force modeling, simulation, and analytics experts to learn about new initiatives and techniques and consider how modeling and simulation can move more training from the real world to digital. It provides a forum for shared information and connection across military services, the Department of War, industry, academia, and international partners. Focus areas include AI, machine learning and cloud; augmented, mixed, extended and virtual reality; analytics; digital engineering; healthcare simulations; joint coalition; multi-domain environments; and test evaluation and experimentation. Panel themes include senior leadership, Digital Space Range, NCO, Resilient, Ready & Responsive Airmen and Guardians, and Partner to Win. The summit also includes an industry exhibition and classified briefings.

AOC’s mission-critical summits bring together active-duty military, government leaders, industry partners, and academia to address challenges facing warfighters. Subject-matter experts represent electronic warfare, electromagnetic spectrum operations, and information operations disciplines.