Air Defense Summit Panel to Tackle Multi-Domain Innovation

The Potomac Officers Club’s 2024 Air Defense Summit on July 23 will give you the chance to dive into a variety of relevant U.S. Air Force topics with key leaders from both the public and private sectors. At the event, you will have the opportunity to sit in on four panel sessions, each of which will bring together USAF officials and industry executives for an in-depth discussion about a specific topic.

One panel, titled “Harnessing Technology, Science, and Innovation for Force Readiness in Multi-domain Operations,” will consider the design and development of new technologies that could revolutionize multi-domain activities. Keep reading for a look at what you will learn during this conversation.

Meet the “Harnessing Technology, Science, and Innovation for Force Readiness in Multi-domain Operations” Panelists

Scott Ariotti

Scott Ariotti, senior program manager at Capgemini Government Solutions, will moderate this discussion. His 30-year career has centered around simulation and training technologies, and in his current role, he uses this knowledge to cultivate client relationships and work with internal teams to identify new opportunities to support Capgemini’s customers.

Prior to joining the company, he served as senior solutions partner for digital twin solutions for government and defense at Unity Technologies, vice president of awards and recognitions for AUSA’s Sunshine Chapter and director of defense solutions at C2 Technologies, among other roles.

Christopher Thomas

Christopher Thomas currently serves as administrator of the Defense Technical Information Center, a role he has held for over a decade. In this position, Thomas leads the center’s efforts to support Department of Defense researchers by providing knowledge platforms that can help progress the development of new capabilities.

DTIC is a DOD component responsible for collecting information gathered during scientific and technical research activities and making it accessible to all DOD users. The center manages the department’s Information Analysis Centers, which provides research and analysis to help DOD personnel answer technical questions relevant to research and development and contract work.

Along with his role at DTIC, Thomas leads the DOD Open Science Activity and represents the department on the National Science and Technology Council’s Subcommittee on Open Science as well as on the Office of Science and Technology Policy’s Working Group on Scientific Collections.

Multi-domain Progress

The Air Force has recently taken multiple steps forward in its efforts to develop and test cutting-edge technologies to support multi-domain operations. These advancements were demonstrated at two recent events:

Project Convergence Capstone 4

Managed by the Army Futures Command, Project Convergence is a joint and multinational experiment that brings together U.S. military services and allies to test out cutting-edge technologies that could transform the way forces operate on the battlefield. Today, the program serves as a major part of the Department of Defense’s Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control initiative, or CJADC2, which aims to establish seamless connectivity between DOD components, allies and partners.

During this year’s edition of the event, which took place in February and March, the Air Force participated in an experiment designed to create a multi-synchronized air picture that would enable decision making up- and down-echelon for the joint force, mission partners and allies.

Command and Control Warrior Advanced Course

The Command and Control Warrior Advanced Course is a high-level USAF program focused on multi-domain integration. It is taught by the 705th Training Squadron and instructs air component headquarters personnel on the planning and execution of air component operations at the operational level to meet the requirements of the Joint Force Commander.

At the August 2023 iteration of the course, participants developed a modern air battle plan for the Combined/Joint Forces Air Component Commander based on kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities “across the full spectrum of conflict,” according to Capt. Austin Hairfield, C2WAC 23-4 graduate and Air Combat Command/A3JC.

Why You Should Attend

The USAF is constantly striving to evolve, and new developments in its modernization initiatives are a regular occurrence. At the Potomac Officers Club’s 2024 Air Defense Summit, you will not only get a glimpse at today’s priorities, but also at the Air Force’s future objectives as it expands its capability reservoir and builds out its strategic goals. 

To leverage this exciting opportunity, register for the 2024 Air Defense Summit on the Potomac Officers Club website.