Defense Leadership Forum Co-Organizes Major Navy Technology Conference

HAMPTON ROADS, Va. - June 25, 2018 - PRLog -- The Defense Leadership Forum was a major organizing partner to produce Catapult – the Naval Technology Discovery-to-Deployment Forum & Expo, held June 5 – 6, 2018 at the Sandler Center in Virginia Beach, Va.

Responding to the Navy's call for rapid identification and deployment of new technologies from industry, the two-day conference and expo featured the presentations of top Navy officials, described accelerated partnering vehicles, and included one-on-one matchmaking sessions between companies and Navy officials. More than 40 companies explained their innovations to more than 60 representatives of the Office of Naval Research (ONR).

Speakers included Virginia Senator Frank Wagner; the Hon John Uhrin, Virginia Beach City Council and Military Liaison; VADM David Architzel (Ret.), Catapult Honorary Chairman; Dr. David Walker, Portfolio Director, Office of Naval Research; Debbie Rafi, Director, ONR Office of Contracts and Grants; Emily Harman, Director, Naval Office of Small Business Programs; Bob Smith, DON Director of SBIR/STTR, Rapid Innovation Fund, Tech Transfer; and many others.

Local companies exhibiting their defense innovations included Kloch; J&F Alliance Group; Mode 5; NetSecurity Corporation; ViGYAN, PERcoLATOR; Surge Force; Fairwater Associates; Fuller Perez; Imageonix Technologies; ComSec LLC; and other small firms in the Hampton Roads area.

"The Hampton Roads region is a powerful emerging tech hub, located within the largest concentration of U.S. Navy facilities in the world," said Chief of Naval Research Rear Adm. David Hahn. "We depend on innovative technologies from companies in the region to give our Sailors and Marines the capabilities they need—and we look forward to this event."

Regional economic development agencies and organizations also participated, including Virginia Beach Economic Development; Hampton Economic Development; City of Norfolk Economic Development; Chesapeake Economic Development; Newport News Economic Development; and Gloucester County Economic Development.

Virginia universities participating included Old Dominion University; Christopher Newport University; Hampton University; and the University of Virginia.

About the Defense Leadership Forum: The Defense Leadership Forum is a public service organization bringing together Congressional leaders, Pentagon officials, military base commanders, and business representatives to identify the best solutions to defend the United States. We work closely with Congress; the Pentagon; local military bases throughout the U.S.; federal, state, and local government officials; industry; nonprofit organizations; and professional associations. For information, visit http://www.defenseleadershipforum.org.