Introduction
The 2010 Symposium brings together recognized experts from Government, Military and Industry to showcase the latest developments in Targets, UAVs and Range Operations. As threats and weapons systems evolve and robotics become ever more prominent in warfare, training and testing for these advanced scenarios becomes increasingly critical. Questions of threat replication and fidelity versus the realities of cost and funds availability make the planner’s role in product selection difficult.
This symposium addresses these realities through presentations on such cutting edge developments as diverse as naval targets and control systems that can deal with swarm threats in a credible way, to testing of directed energy weapons systems and the challenges of making these systems affordable for the end user. Included in this symposium are presentations from high-ranking OSD officials concerning the big picture as to way ahead, and from international experts concerning their perspectives in these areas.
Highlights of the symposium include overviews from the lead officials of each uniformed service, as well as keynote addresses by ranking leaders in the field, including Major General James A. Whitmore, USAF, Director of Intelligence, Operations and Nuclear Integration, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Randolph AFB.
Please join us for this uniquely informative symposium dealing with some of today’s most pressing issues in the testing and training arena.
Save the Date
The Hugh Harris Memorial Scholarship Golf Tournament will be held on Tuesday, October 19 in conjunction with this year's symposium. Additional details coming soon!
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.