Synchronizing a Fully Integrated Special Operations Network

Alexandria, VA, August 12, 2016 --(PR.com)-- Defense Strategies Institute is proud to announce their 5th Annual SOF Symposium occurring on October 11-12, 2016. As top experts in the SOF community seek to cultivate decisive strategies to advance SOF’s ability to operate unobtrusively in asymmetric, hybrid and gray zone conflicts occurring in theaters across the globe, delegates will have the chance to join in discussions revolving around the central theme of “Synchronizing a Fully Integrated Special Operations Network.”

“The SOF Community is forced to operate in an increasingly complex and rapidly evolving landscape as adversaries continue to exploit instability throughout the developing world. Elements that exist in today’s gray zones have intentionally shaped their activities to become hybrid in nature, operating somewhere in between the threshold of non-state aggression and conventional military force,” states Raymond Polk, Production Manager at Defense Strategies Institute.
Leaders in this educational forum will discuss the complexities of operating in gray zone conflicts, as well as provide their perspectives on SOF’s role in the emerging international security environment.

*Confirmed speakers include:

- The Honorable Michael Lumpkin, Director, Global Engagement Center, US Department of State
- Lt Gen Thomas Trask, USAF, Vice Commander, US Special Operations Command
- LTG Kenneth E. Tovo, USA, Commander, USASOC
- Christopher Maier, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Special Operations and Combating Terrorism, ASD, Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict
- Lisa Sanders (Incoming), Director, Science and Technology, SOF AT&L, US Special Operations Command

*DSI's Lead SOF Advisors at This Year's Symposium

- Ambassador James F. Jeffrey, Philip Solondz Distinguished Fellow, The Washington Institute
- RADM Ed Winters, USN (Ret), Former Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command

*2016’s topics will include:

- The evolution of special operations in an increasingly dynamic and changing threat environment
- Improving civil-military partnership efforts to overcome operational challenges in contested environments
- Enhancing the ability to see, assess, and understand the physical, cognitive, and moral frames within the strategic operating environment
- Developing, coordinating, and overseeing the implementation of global policies and recommendations concerning national security and regional stability
- Challenges to providing greater access to regions in conflict to establish greater connective tissue in a complex and volatile international system
- Bolstering US influence over the terrorist/counterterrorist informational battlefield
- Strengthening partnership capacity to provide greater ISR, precision strike, and IO capabilities in support of SOF operations
- Bolstering SOF’s ability to operate unobtrusively with a small footprint in contested environments
- Perceiving the emerging challenges, threats and opportunities for adversarial campaigns in Gray Zone conflicts
- Near-term perspectives on emerging procedures, equipment and technology in support of SOF operations

Seating is limited –
In order to allow for actionable discussion and dialogue amongst speaker and attendees, seating will be limited. Early Registration has now begun. Register now to reserve your seat. Active military, government and State personnel attend complimentary.

Anyone interested in participating in the 5th Annual SOF Symposium can visit Defense Strategies Institute's website at http://sof.dsigroup.org/ for more information or contact Morgan at mcolfax@dsigroup.org, 1-201-266-005

**Summit is closed to press / No recordings**