2022 AIAA DEFENSE Forum to Focus on Accelerating Modernization for Operational Relevance Written 6 April 2022

April 6, 2022 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) announced its three-day program on advancing and accelerating modernization for the 2022 AIAA DEFENSE Forum, 19–21 April, Laurel, Maryland. This year’s program will explore how the science and technology community can advance research and development to rapidly provide operationally relevant capabilities to the warfighter. This Secret/NOFORN event provides the ideal venue for leaders from government, military, industry, and academia to advance and accelerate modernization.

Registration for the 2022 AIAA DEFENSE Forum is open for the defense aerospace community to attend in person.

“We are excited to welcome the defense community to the 2022 AIAA DEFENSE Forum in person. We believe it’s more important than ever for this community to gather. There are important issues and perspectives we must share, discuss, and debate around modernization to position the defense sector for continued success,” said AIAA Executive Director Dan Dumbacher.

The speakers and panelists participating in the 2022 AIAA DEFENSE Forum are proven leaders and innovators within the industry. Attendees will hear their perspectives on the most pressing issues impacting the future of national defense. Confirmed speakers include:

• Kathleen Cooper, Associate Director, Capability and Resource Integration Directorate, U.S. Strategic Command/J8A
• Shari Feth, Director, Innovation, Science and Technology, Missile Defense Agency
• Alexander Kott, Chief Scientist and Senior Research Scientist – Cyber Resiliency, DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory
• Jean-Charles Ledé, Autonomy Technology Advisor, Air Force Research Laboratory
• Ruth Moser, Director, Requirements, Analysis and Resources, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command
• Sarah Muccio, Acting Chief Scientist, Information Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory
• Eliahu Niewood, Vice President, Intelligence and Cross-Cutting Capabilities, The MITRE Corporation
• Philip Perconti, Chief Technology Officer, Leonardo DRS
• Yevgeniya “Jane” Pinelis, Chief of AI Assurance, Department of Defense Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC)
• Lael Rudd, Program Manager, Tactical Technology Office, DARPA
• Gurpartap “GP” Sandhoo, Deputy Director, Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA)
• The Honorable Heidi Shyu, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, Department of Defense  

The forum technical sessions will cover research topics including: Weapons Systems Effectiveness, Testing and Evaluation, Air and Missile Defense, High-Maneuverability and Hypersonics Systems and Technologies, Directed Energy Weapons, and more.

For the most up-to-date program and registration information, visit aiaa.org/Defense.

Media Contact: Rebecca B. Gray, RebeccaG@AIAA.org, 804-397-5270 cell

About AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit www.aiaa.org, or follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.