Introduction
This year's event will begin with the golf tournament on Wednesday, October 21 followed by an evening opening reception. General Sessions will be held on Thursday and Friday, October 22 - 23.
The symposium will include important presentations by leading military and civilian officials in the targets, UAV and range operations arenas, as well as special presentations by representatives of the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory.
Other cutting-edge presentations will include topics concerning directed energy weapons and their targets, micro UAVs, recent developments in seaborne targets, latest generation simulators and a USAF presentation on the Air-to-Air Weapon System Evaluation Program.
This symposium is especially relevant in these times of changing priorities and funding and will bring to the attendee the latest information from senior government decision-makers and industry insiders, as well as affording an opportunity to interact directly with the individual presenters.
Golf Tournament
The Hugh Harris Memorial Golf Tournament will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, October 21 at Hunter Golf Club, Hunter Army Airfield.
Hugh Harris Scholarship
NDIA is pleased to announce the recipients of the Hugh Harris Scholarship:
- Hannah Marie Needleman of Niceville High School
- Thomas Fitzgerald of Choctawhatchee High School
- Dustin Draper of Buena High School
Visit the Gulf Coast Chapter website for additional information!
The Hubert D. Harris Scholarship Program was established in 1991 to memorialize Hugh Harris for his many contributions to the targets community in both government and industry. The Division has been joined by NDIA’s Gulf Coast Chapter as a co-sponsor of the scholarship program.
Hugh was a longtime member and leader in various professional organizations including the IEEE, AOC and ADPA (forerunner of the NDIA). He served two years as the national chairman for the Aerial Targets and RPV Section, working closely with all three military services. Subsequent to his death on June 9, 1991, Hugh was the posthumous winner of the Division’s Willis Howard Award for outstanding service.
The Hugh Harris Scholarship is presented annually to a deserving high school senior who will be entering an accredited four-year university in pursuit of a math, engineering or hard science degree. Profits from the Hugh Harris Memorial Golf Tournament supplement the $50,000 base scholarship fund.
Willis Howard Award
The Willis Howard Award is presented annually at the Symposium to the person, either corporate or military, who in the view of the Executive Board, has demonstrated both sustained superior service within the communities now represented by the NDIA Targets Division, as well as active service to the Division.
Named after Mr. Willis Howard, one of the founding owners of Cartwright Electronics (now a division of Meggitt Defense Systems, Inc.), it is the highest award presented within the targets community. Willis was also one of the founding corporate members of the NDIA Targets Division, which was originally the Aerial Targets Division of the American Ordnance Association. He was an extremely active member of the Division who presented papers, chaired Sessions and was Chairman of the Annual Symposium on two occasions.
Willis was killed in an auto accident while working with the USAF Weapons Evaluation Group at Tyndall Air Force Base. He was so well respected throughout the Targets Community that the Division implemented an award in his honor.