Edwards hosts Industry Outlook Conference

8/7/2002 - EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFPN) -- Experts from an array of aerospace businesses together with Air Force senior project managers will gather here October 24 to 25 to learn how they can best support future flight-test and evaluation programs.

The Industry Outlook Conference will provide an opportunity for engineers, acquisition professionals and industry executives to discuss the technologies and business strategies needed to deliver future capabilities to the warfighter.

According to conference organizers, the event is slated to be held here annually and become known as the Test and Evaluation Summit.

"We all want to develop and procure better weapon systems, faster, at affordable costs to the taxpayer," said Maj. Gen. Doug Pearson, flight test center commander.

According to Pearson, this first industry conference is important because today's environment provides numerous opportunities for government and industry to form partnerships, which can significantly improve Air Force end products.

"This forum will bring together the right people to have meaningful discussions on critical matters important to the weapon system developmental process, including the manned and unmanned systems that support air, space and land-based operations," Pearson said. "A better developmental process equals a better acquisition process. This means better weapons sooner for our warfighters and increased combat power for America's military."

The two-day event will showcase the flight test center's test facilities and capabilities through a series of exhibits, guest speakers, strategy panels and a short flightline tour. Industry participants will actively discuss how acquisition reform initiatives are making it easier for them to work with the Department of Defense. Contracting and acquisition experts from Edwards, Air Force Materiel Command and Air Force headquarters will explain how industry can do business with the government.

Attendees will have access to more than 40 exhibits from a variety of large and small aerospace businesses, and DOD organizations.

Col. Steve Cameron, commander of the 412th Test Wing here, added that the conference is being designed so test and evaluation experts will walk away with a better understanding of industry's needs for the next few years.

"With a better understanding of industry needs, we can make sure we're planning for the infrastructure needed to support aerospace test and evaluation for the first part of the 21st century," Cameron said. "In turn, by showing industry representatives the full range of test and evaluation capabilities available at Edwards, businesses can factor in our capabilities when they have a test and evaluation need." (Courtesy of AFMC News Service)