SOF & Worldwide Operations Symposium

The Special Operations & Irregular Warfare summit is now, SOF & Worldwide Operations Symposium. In line with National Defense Strategy, DoD is working to institutionalize its approach to Irregular Warfare across the entire Department to meet the demands of an evolving and increasingly complex security environment. While IW remains a core element of Special Operations, the modern great power competition requires the SOF strategy to focus on peer and near-peer adversaries global scale and use of information and intermediary operations.

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Topics to be covered at the 2019 Symposium:

• Ensuring US Special Operations Capabilities will Compete and Win in Today's Complex National Security Environment
• Crafting Special Operations Strategies Capable of Meeting National Guidance
• Providing our Nation Options Around the World to Erode the Influence of our Adversaries
• Special Operations Forces Acquisition Modernization Requirements and Priorities for Growing Gray Zone Operations
• Addressing Terrorism and Long-Term Threats in the USCENTCOM and USAFRICOM Theaters
• Collaborating and Coordinating with NATO Allies and Interagency Partners to Combat 21st Century Threats
• Utilizing Development as a Tool to Build Strong Partnerships to Achieve Collaboration and National Security
• Perspective on the Importance of Special Operations Units in Growing Gray Zone Conflicts

Why You Should Attend This Symposium:

This educational Symposium will bring together senior DoD officials, military leaders, academia, and solution providers to explore the growing challenges facing the global special operations community in the era of Great Power Competition. The return to a multipolar global environment will require new tactics, materiel, and ways of thinking in order to maintain American dominance and global influence.

The 2019 Symposium will highlight some of the important efforts currently underway to counter enemy efforts to undermine regional stability and US influence across the globe. Major powers such as China, Russia, and Iran do not want to challenge the U.S. to a conventional fight so they are focusing their efforts on proxy wars and information operations to degrade stability and the rule of law in regions where they wish to spread their influence and power. To counter these efforts United States must utilize capabilities from across the government, both hard and soft power.

This symposium will feature senior level discussions that emphasize the critical need for the rapid acquisition and development of capabilities across the joint force in support of National Defense Strategies in the era of Great Power Competition. This program will allow for open and honest dialogue to solve the nation's most difficult strategic challenges.

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2019 Confirmed Speakers Include:

• Lisa Sanders, Director of Science and Technology, USSOCOM
• COL Lewis Powers, USA, Deputy Commanding Officer, SOCCENT
• Special Envoy Lea Gabrielle, Special Envoy and Coordinator of the Global Engagement Center
• Damon Stevens, Deputy Director, Directorate of Strategic Operational Planning, National Counterterrorism Center
• Dr. Jonathan Schroden, Director, Special Operations Program, CNA

Panel Discussion:

• Panel Moderator: Ms. Lisa Sanders, Director S&T
• Col Melissa Johnson, PEO Fixed Wing
• CAPT Kate Dolloff, PEO Maritime
• Mr. David Breede, PEO Special Reconnaissance
• COL Donald Wols, SOCOM J-4

Advisory Board Member:

• RADM Ed Winters, USN (Ret). , Senior Advisor, DSI SOF and Worldwide Operations Symposium

View 2019 Conference Agenda