2008 Homeland Security S&T Stakeholders Conference East

“Partnering for a Safer Nation”
June 2-5, 2008 * Ronald Reagan International Trade Center * Washington, D.C.
The Secretary of Homeland Security and the Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Science and Technology highlight the speakers list for the 2008 Homeland Security S&T Stakeholders Conference East, taking place June 2-5 at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center in Washington, D.C,, presented by the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) with subject matter support provided by the Science & Technology (S&T) Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security. The theme for the conference is “Partnering for a Safer Nation.”

The purpose of the conference is to inform Federal, state, and local government personnel, First Responders, industry, and academia of the direction, emphasis, scope, and status of the research investments by the Department of Homeland Security S&T Directorate, and to describe the business opportunities for private sector organizations and universities.

Keynote speakers committed to the event include The Honorable Michael Chertoff, Secretary of Homeland Security and The Honorable Jay Cohen, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Science and Technology. Other invited speakers include The Honorable Paul Schneider, Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, The Honorable Arturo Sarukhan, Ambassador of Mexico to the United States, Mr. Alfonso Martinez-Fonts, Assistant Secretary for the Private Sector Office, Department of Homeland Security, Mr. Bead Buswell, Deputy Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Science and Technology, and Mr. Adam Tsao, Chief of Staff of Operational Process and Technology for the Transportation Security Administration. Other notable speakers include Capitol Hill staffers and leaders from government, academic, and private sector organizations that are partnering with S&T in science & technology research. There will be a significant international component to the event.

The leadership and key staff of the S&T Directorate will be broadly represented throughout the S&T Stakeholders Conference East. Registered attendees will have extensive opportunities for formal and informal interaction with Directors, Division Heads, and Program Managers from the S&T Directorate. The S&T Directorate is the gateway into DHS for innovative concepts and technologies that can support the Homeland Security mission from all levels of government, the private sector, academia, and individuals with good ideas, new products, and new or improved capabilities.

Pre-Conference Training & Familiarization Session
Monday, June 2 will be the Pre-Conference Training and Familiarization Training Session at the 2008 Homeland Security S&T Stakeholders Conference East. Attendees can access a wide range of informative sessions on multiple subject areas including Doing Business with the S&T Directorate, Science & Technology for First Responders, IEDs, Crisis Communication, and many other topics. Conference attendees can get an in-depth understanding of the organization, focus, and plans of the S&T Directorate, and hear the S&T Divisions describe their areas of responsibility, and highlight key deliverables and technologies being worked on now and planned for the future. The Pre-Conference Training and Familiarization Training Session is included in a full conference registration. Registration for the training & familiarization session only is also available.

Plenary Sessions
The theme of the 2008 Homeland Security S&T Stakeholders Conference East is “Partnering for a Safer Nation”. The Science & Technology Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security has spent the past two years building partnerships with Federal, state, local, and international governments, industry, inventors, and academia, all for the purpose of delivering effective products and capabilities to people performing the Homeland Security mission across the nation and around the world. Since good partnerships are built on two-way communication, the S&T Directorate will spend two and ½ days at the conference not just telling conference attendees what the Directorate has been doing the last two years, but also listening to the attendees at the conference, getting their feedback on the Directorate’s track record since 2006, and their input on the plans and budgets for science & technology research for homeland security in the years ahead. Plenary sessions on Tuesday, June 3 will be feature several panels that will highlight partnerships built by the S&T Directorate over the last two years to help make the nation safer. The panels will be composed of S&T Directorate leadership personnel and representatives from the organizations with which partnerships have been fostered. On Wednesday, June 4 and Thursday, June 5, the conference will focus on the future plans of the S&T Directorate, and where investments in research are planned. Input from conference attendees is an important part of these two days, and conference attendees can anticipate intense discussions with S&T Directorate personnel about capability gaps and technology requirements that S&T’s customers need filled. Conference attendees are encouraged to provide their thoughts, input, and suggestions to the people who are setting the priorities for science and technology research for homeland security in the coming years.

Exhibit Hall

The exhibit hall at the 2008 Homeland Security S&T Stakeholders Conference East will display significant new technologies relevant to the Homeland Security mission at the national, state, and local level, with particular attention to and focus on products and technology relevant to First Responders and other authorized emergency response personnel. Attendees can see and discuss scientific breakthroughs and the latest products with researchers and representatives from industry, laboratories, and all levels of government. Free passes to the exhibit hall only on June 3-5 are available for First Responders, Homeland Security professionals and people in businesses related to the Homeland Security mission. To get the free “View Exhibits Only” pass, go to http://exhibits.ndia.org/NDIA/CUSTOM/DHSSandTEast08VEOPassprint.pdf where you will download the application form for the pass. Fill out the application and bring it with you to the exhibit hall registration desk during the designated hours for VEO admission.

More Information
Visit the official web site for the conference at http://www.ndia.org/meetings/8680