HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- Senior acquisition leaders will discuss business and partnership opportunities with industry and academia during this year’s New Horizons event, March 9-11, at the Marriott Hotel in Newton, Massachusetts.
The theme for this year’s event is “Code to Combat Power: Accelerating Software for Integrated Defense and Strategic Advantage.”
“This year’s symposium will offer invaluable insights focused on the Electronic Systems Directorate’s technologies and capabilities that address the needs of today’s warfighter,” said Lea Kirkwood, program executive officer for Electronic Systems. “Spectrum dominance is critical to our warfighters, and Electronic Systems is committed to delivering the innovative technologies that outpace our adversaries.”
The focus of the event aligns with Secretary of War priorities on speed, operational relevance, and decisive combat advantage in an era of strategic competition.
"I look forward to discussing the future of Cyber & Networks and how, together with our industry partners, we can best support the nation by continuing to accelerate the delivery of innovative, combat-ready capabilities," said Brig. Gen. Joshua Williams, program executive officer for Cyber & Networks.
New Horizons, sponsored by AFCEA’s Lexington-Concord chapter, is New England’s leading defense-sector event for partnerships and support to the nation’s defense industrial base.
“We have an exciting agenda of speakers, technology demonstrations and a 50th anniversary celebration with a drone hologram show over the Charles River, accompanied by musical performance by the Middlesex Volunteers Fifes and Drums Corps,” said Alexis Presti-Simpson, New Horizons 2026 chairperson. “This year is not to be missed!”
Registration details can be found at the AFCEA registration page. The deadline to register is Feb. 28.
Scheduled presenters include Kirkwood; Williams; Col. William Collins, deputy PEO, Electronic Systems; Jeremy Thiele, deputy PEO for Cyber & Networks; Scott Hardiman, program acquisition executive, Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center's Nuclear Command, Control and Communications Integration Directorate; Kate Nelson, director and PAE for the Command, Control, Communications and Battle Management Directorate.
Elie Niewood, director of the Integrated Capabilities Office, and Steven Wert, deputy assistant secretary for acquisition integration, will also attend.
New Horizons panels and speakers will highlight missions and business opportunities designed to ensure the U.S. Air Force remains ahead of global competitors.
The agenda also includes networking sessions and an innovation showcase.
Prior to New Horizons, a small business panel is scheduled for March 9, from 9-11 a.m. The no-cost event will be held in-person.
Panelists include senior leaders from Cyber & Networks, C3BM, Electronic Systems, NC3, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Strategic Services Division, AFLCMC Contracting at Hanscom AFB, and the U.S. Small Business Administration Area 1.
AFCEA participates in strengthening military, government, academia and industry by enabling them to collaborate to accelerate change.