Vital Policy Updates following Space Development Agency Establishment to be Discussed at MilSatCom USA Conference

London, United Kingdom, April 12, 2019 –(PR.com)– The organisers of Global MilSatCom, SMi Group, are bringing back MilSatCom USA this year for its fourth year running to Arlington, Virginia on 26th – 27th June.

In recent news, debates involving the objectives of a potential US Space Force have been a hot topic. One of its main goals would be to continue to increase and maintain the gap between existing US space capabilities and its nearest competitors, in order to expand America�s dominance in the final frontier.

The establishment of space dominance will also rely on creating a space-focused combatant command, and in Defense Secretary Patrick M. Shanahan’s words “change the mission of space from a support function to a leading role”.*

SMi’s 4th annual MilSatCom USA conference will focus on this crucial topic, and how future SATCOM can be enhanced to support the future warfighter as well as recent and planned developments in the future US Space Force and other major policy changes.

The Space Development Agency formally came into existence a few weeks ago, set to be under the direction of Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Mike Griffin. The SDA will lead programmatic policy developments for next-generation military space capabilities residing in the DoD, aiming to help unify office for the department on space acquisition.**

This year’s two-day MilSatCom USA conference is set to host keynote speaker James Faist, working under Mike Griffin as Director of Research and Engineering (Advanced Capabilities), US DoD.

Mr Faist, alongside other senior US speakers, will be discussing vital policy changes in relation to the official creation of the SDA, the establishment of a US Space Command, as well as potential developments in the planned US Space Force.

Mr Faist will be giving a keynote address on “Researching, Developing and Prototyping New Satcom Capabilities” focusing on: current DoD structure and approach to space systems: how we can more effectively exploit the assets we have, modernising communication systems to provide protected capability against red force electronic warfare, exploiting COMSATCOM more effectively – including where future Army bandwidth will come from, developing assets that can effectively counter anti-satellite weapons, and future R&D in SATCOM: delivering the capability demanded by the warfighter.

Attendees of the 2019 event will hear from senior US military representatives and key policy makers, as well as international high-ranking experts from Canada, Belgium, and NATO. They will convene in Arlington, Virginia this June to explore how they’re are devoting their efforts to optimising military SATCOM and the challenges they’re facing, as well as major policy changes driving the reformation of the US approach to military communications.

Download the latest brochure at http://www.milsatcom-usa.com/prcom and view the latest updates of this year’s expanding agenda.

Any commercial organisations who wish to attend and/or sponsor the event should contact Alia Malick, Director by phone: +44 (0) 207 827 6168 or by email: amalick@smi-online.co.uk or submit a Sponsor Enquiry.

All active federal employees, to include Military Personnel, will be granted free admission to the event. However, in order to attend this event pre-registration is required, which is subject to final approval by the conference organizer.

4th Annual MilSatCom USA
26th – 27th June 2019
Arlington, Virginia, USA

Gold Sponsors: Airbus & Lockheed Martin
Sponsor: SES Government Solutions
Exhibitor: Kepler Communications, SKY Perfect JSAT & XTAR

*dod.defense.gov
**defensenews.com

About SMi Group: Established since 1993, the SMi Group is a global event-production company that specializes in Business-to-Business Conferences, Workshops, Masterclasses and online Communities. We create and deliver events in the Defence, Security, Energy, Utilities, Finance and Pharmaceutical industries. We pride ourselves on having access to the world’s most forward-thinking opinion leaders and visionaries, allowing us to bring our communities together to Learn, Engage, Share and Network. More information can be found at http://www.smi-online.co.uk