CDCA Defense Summit Conference

The Charleston Defense Contractors Association (CDCA) held their 12th Annual Defense Summit from December 5-6, 2018 in Charleston, SC. The conference featured multiple sessions throughout the two day period and focused on systems and technologies, to include areas such as C5ISR, cyber security, and information warfare. Two opening keynote speakers were featured during the event: William Williford, SES, Executive Director of Marine Corps Systems Command, and Kevin Fahey, Assistant Secretary of Defense (Acquisition). SPAWAR Atlantic Intel and speakers dominated most of the sessions rendering great insight on what’s to come with other agencies in attendance to include, USMC, Navy, SPAWAR HQ, DTRA, and NSA.

Some highlights from the conference are as follows:

• Data is key. The government is determining how to approach data in a holistic manner and figuring out how to identify, control, move, and secure data.
• OTAs will enable to government to work with industry in a rapid manner and be able to innovate quickly in order to implement technologies to reach the warfighter.
• Two anticipated technologies are expected to have a transformational and lasting impact: quantum computers and blockchain technology.
• There is a focus on moving to the cloud and modernizing outdated systems.
• The government is trying to figure out an approach on how to work with industry to be able to identity and manage cyber threats and system vulnerabilities.

SPAWAR is also assisting NAVSEA in the Navy’s future ship maintenance and shipyard modernization efforts. SPAWAR is expected to lead the IT/system modernization portion of the program, which is projected to have a $20B investment over the next 20 years.

In one of the last sessions of the conference and aligning with information typically provided at the quarterly CDCA Small Business and Industry Outreach Initiative Symposium (SBIOI) industry events, Steven Harnig, Contracts lead for SPAWAR Atlantic, presented the latest SPAWAR Atlantic Contracts Update. This presentation provided procurement information for upcoming agency requirements. Mr. Harnig expected these opportunity specific presentation slides to be published to the SPAWAR Atlantic website within about a week after the event.

The CDCA Defense Summit was informative and provided a good conversation around IT and system capabilities and technologies, along with touching upon various related topics, such as, modernization, C5ISR, and the cloud. By learning about what technologies the government is seeking and where it is headed, interested vendors will gain knowledge and possible foresight into building future capabilities. The next CDCA SBIOI event is expected to be held in Charleston, SC sometime around January or February 2019.