For Immediate Release: Aug. 12, 2019
Contact: Tom McMahon, tmcmahon@auvsi.org, (571) 255-7786

MEDIA ADVISORY: AUVSI’s Unmanned Systems – Defense. Protection. Security. to Convene in Washington, D.C., Aug. 20-21

Media registration now open for annual unmanned systems conference focused on defense, protection and security

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems (AUVSI) will host its annual Unmanned Systems – Defense. Protection. Security. (USDPS) conference at the Marriott Wardman Park in Washington, D.C. on Aug. 20 to 21. The conference will bring together high-ranking government officials and senior industry executives to explore how unmanned and autonomous systems are changing the landscape of military and government operations.

The 2019 USDPS will feature prominent keynote speakers including Ellen Lord, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment; Lisa Atherton, president and CEO of Textron Systems; Maj. Gen. Richard G. Kaiser, Deputy Chief of Engineers/Deputy Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; and Helen Greiner, Highly Qualified Expert for Robotics, Autonomous Systems for the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology). Keynote speakers provide attendees with the opportunity to hear from prominent military and defense leaders about the development of unmanned systems technology and applications.

The event also includes Breakout Sessions, which are small, intimate meetings to facilitate an interactive and engaging experience through shared interests. The sessions’ topics will include unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operations across the services, surface and subsurface unmanned systems, UAS threat detection and mitigation and artificial intelligence. This year’s Breakout Sessions will include high-ranking government officials and industry leaders such as Elizabeth Neumann, Assistant Secretary for Threat Prevention and Security Policy at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Dyan Gibbens, CEO of Trumbull Unmanned.

Another feature at USDPS will be the Roundtable Luncheons, an opportunity for attendees to make new connections, share ideas and gain valuable insights into the future of unmanned defense systems. During registration, attendees will select topics of interest, including key industry issues, technology trends or service-specific discussions, and will be assigned to participate in interactive discussions over lunch on each conference day. Roundtable discussion leaders include Adam Robertson, CTO of Fortem Technologies, Dave Sharpin, Vice President and General Manager of Auterion, John Perry, CEO of Altavian, and many more.

AUVSI will also host the USDPS Innovation Challenge, a competition for small, start-up and early stage companies operating in the commercial, defense and non-traditional unmanned systems or autonomous systems sectors. The companies will present their technology to government and industry representatives at a session during the conference. The winner will receive a prize package valued at more than $35,000 and finalists will have the opportunity to present their ideas to the defense, protection and security community at the conference.

Detailed information about each feature and the full program is available at

https://www.thedefenseshow.org/schedule.

This year, registration is complimentary for military and government personnel.

Please visit the conference website for media registration, or contact Tom McMahon at tmcmahon@auvsi.org.

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About AUVSI

The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) — the world's largest non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of unmanned systems and robotics — represents corporations and professionals from more than 60 countries involved in industry, government and academia. AUVSI members work in the defense, civil and commercial markets. For more information, visit AUVSI.org.