Warfighting, warfighters and the future fleet. What does it take to command our maritime forces? Our panel of sea service chiefs will discuss the myriad opportunities and challenges our commanders face while operating on land, sea and air. 

How do we best ensure readiness in the Arctic domain to meet the challenges of the future? This includes battling harsh, dynamic operational conditions as well as countering volatile influences at the strategic level. The approach will require whole-of-government and like-minded, transparent partners to address Arctic security risks and readiness in both the current and future Arctic environments.

As Americans increasingly recognize the integral role space plays in their everyday lives, DOD is looking to take innovative leaps in order to integrate space as a warfighting domain critical to the Nation’s security, economic prosperity, and scientific knowledge. U.S space interests are threatened more and more as America’s adversaries develop and field capabilities that put allied space systems and services at risk. This panel will discuss the novel, rapid, and agile approach DOD is taking to deliver on the needs of the warfighter at or ahead of the speed of the threat and to ensure U.S. technological and military advantage in space for national defense.

Transition Connection links everyone in the military community, from enlisted service members to veterans to military spouses and civilians, with organizations looking for the caliber of employees that come from having a strong military connection. Join us at the first ever Sea-Air-Space hiring event, where some of the leading employers in one of the hottest hiring markets in the nation are seeking to make offers to individuals that are either transitioning out of military service, trying to find a job that offers flexibility for military families on the move or just looking for that next big opportunity.

We see a greater dependence on cloud infrastructure, but naval forces will operate in environments where the connectivity to the cloud will be disrupted, disconnected, intermittent or low bandwidth (D-DIL). Although the services have ventured into partnerships with commercial industry to address their challenges, there still remains government responsibility to be technically proficient in this emerging and very dynamic environment. The panel will discuss the challenges the community will face in D-DIL, not just from an operator’s perspective, but also from the technical perspective.

A peaceful, free, and open Indo-Pacific is vital to the US and its allies’ economy in the 21st century. All nations should enjoy unfettered access to the seas and airways upon which all nations’ economies depend. Panelists will discuss what it takes to maintain safe sea lines of communication and growth in such a large and dynamic region.

Historically, the Department of the Navy has assumed risk in shore infrastructure investments to increase readiness, future force structure and other priorities. Given the imperative of contested domains in future operations outlined in the 2018 “National Defense Strategy,” today’s enterprise of installations and ranges serving as platforms for a new generation of weapon systems need to be configured and resilient to enable current and future missions. The panel will address initiatives and challenges to sustain U.S. shore capabilities, while enhancing installation resilience to meet mission assurance requirements for the warfighter.

As the Jones Act enters its second century, much is still misunderstood about the law and its impact on the U.S. economy and national security. This forum will provide a fact-based discussion on the practical effects of the reservation of coastwise cargoes for American vessels and will provide insight into the practices of U.S. global competitors in supporting their maritime industries and preventing foreign domination of their coastwise and inland trades.

A returning favorite, this panel will culminate Monday’s internationally focused theme and will be directly followed by the International Reception. Moderated by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for International Programs, RADM Frank Morley, this panel will include Navy leadership from across the globe discussing critical maritime issues from various perspectives, exploring how we better integrate our collective maritime power, and addressing how our navies can work together to uphold our shared values, open seas, free trade, and continue to ensure economic prosperity in this changing geopolitical environment.