AFCEA TechNet Air explores information dominance in the air, space and cyberspace domains

U.S. Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James sees technology at the core of the building blocks for the Air Force’s next offset strategy. She has identified autonomous learning systems, human-machine collaboration and teaming, truly autonomous platforms and network-enabled semi-autonomous technologies as among the most important future capabilities.

When she speaks, Secretary James will find a receptive audience about these significant technological advances at TechNet Air 2016, which takes place March 22-24 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio. The secretary will deliver the opening keynote speech at this AFCEA International event that will explore the solutions required to ensure information dominance in the air, space and cyberspace domains.

The U.S. military currently is undertaking its third offset strategy, called the Defense Innovation Initiative. The first two offset strategies, nuclear deterrence and precision airpower, were potent enough to defend the United States in the past. However, threats from new adversaries such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and emerging intimidation from previous enemies such as Russia require allies to call upon the full force of technology to preserve the peace.

Secretary James will be one of dozens of government, industry and technology leaders who will delve into the issues and advances in command and control, cybersecurity, intelligence and electronic warfare. In addition to the secretary, Lt. Gen. James M. Holmes, USAF, deputy chief of staff for strategic plans and requirements, HQ USAF A5/A8, and Maj. Gen. Scott A. Vander Hamm, USAF, assistant deputy chief of staff, HQ USAF A3, will present their views about how the U.S. Air Force will achieve mission assurance. The event also will feature demonstrations of some of the latest technologies available in the air, space and cyberspace domains.

“We, the United States Air Force, are dedicated to innovation. We take it very, very seriously. And there is no doubt in my mind that, by pairing future air, space and cyberspace technologies together with innovative concepts, America’s airmen will be the ones leading the joint force in ensuring our nation’s advantage against any adversary into the future,” the secretary says.

Additional information about TechNet Air 2016 is available online.

Source: AFCEA International