TechNet-Aero 2011, Dayton Region's Premiere Aerospace Technology Conference and Trade Show

DAYTON, Ohio, Sept. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- With a new name and broader focus, the Dayton region's premiere aerospace technology conference and trade show is gearing up for its 2011 event at the Dayton Convention Center.

TechNet-Aero is the new name for the annual conference produced by the Dayton-Wright Chapter of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA). It will be a four-day event, held from 17-20 October.

Over 1,500 military, government, and industry members are expected at this year's event. It will feature innovative demonstrations of emerging technologies, discussions and presentations by senior military, government and industry leadership, training programs, business seminars, a career fair and a roundtable on unmanned aerial systems (UAS).

The conference has signed up prominent keynote speakers, including Air Force Gen. Donald J. Hoffman, Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) Commander, Lt. Gen. Janet C. Wolfenbarger, Air Force Deputy for Acquisition and former Vice Commander of the AFMC at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base; Air Force Lt. Gen. Larry O. Spencer, Joint Staff Director of Force Structure, Resources and Assessment; and Brad Montgomery, a nationally known motivational speaker.  

New to the trade show will be the Discovery and Innovation Range, which is sponsored by Dell Inc. The range will provide live technology demonstrations such as micro air vehicles and 3D visualization. Demonstrations are planned from Wright State Research Institute, Air Force Research Lab, and Dell, Inc.

Previously known as InfoTech, TechNet-Aero 2011 signals a closer alignment with Air Force missions at Wright-Patterson, the surrounding aerospace and defense community as well as the State of Ohio's Aerospace Hub for the Dayton Region.

"Our conferences had been very focused on information technology," says Linda Skinner, TechNet-Aero 2011 Conference Chairperson. This year, she says, "We're shifting our focus to aerospace technologies and the innovative capabilities those technologies help create for our nation." She added, "We were a bit nervous initially with changing an already successful conference, but our political delegations, regional organizations, Wright Patterson leadership and AFCEA International have been incredibly supportive in helping our local AFCEA Chapter plan one of the best conferences."

The new focus has drawn some new participants, such as the Wright State Research Institute, the applied research arm of Wright State University. Wright State Research Institute engineers will conduct high-tech demonstrations in the Dell Discovery and Innovation Range throughout the opening day of the trade show.

For those interested in professional development, TechNet-Aero 2011 will offer professional training programs throughout the conference, starting with a two-day program on supply chain management presented by Dwight Smith-Daniels, Ph.D., professor and chair of information systems and operations management in Wright State's Raj Soin College of Business.

A two-day Career Fair, facilitated by Cox Media, is for defense and aerospace professionals seeking employment and companies that need to fill positions. Last year's Career Fair drew more than 400 candidates.

On Thursday, the conference will be the scene of special Science, Technology, Education and Math (STEM) workshops, where students from around the Dayton region will meet senior Air Force, Industry and Academia leaders and enjoy interactive activities, including a splashy demonstration of aquatic Lego robotics.

Wrapping up the conference will be the Capstone Luncheon, followed by the Dayton Development Coalition-hosted UAS Roundtable, an ongoing series of meetings that has galvanized efforts to make the Dayton region a UAS industry hub.

All proceeds of TechNet-Aero are targeted to provide funding and scholarships for enlisted military members and young people in STEM education. The Dayton-Wright Chapter of AFCEA has distributed more than $1.5 million in educational assistance over the past 20 years.

For more information on TechNet-Aero 2011, go to www.afcea-technetaero.org. For more information about AFCEA's Dayton-Wright Chapter, go to www.daytonwright.afceachapter.org.

SOURCE AFCEA International