Air, Space & Cyber Conference
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About this event
Air, Space & Cyber Conference
Event Type: Professional Military Development Conference, Aerospace & Defense Industry Forum
Organized By: Air & Space Forces Association (AFA)
About the Event: The Air, Space & Cyber Conference, organized by the Air & Space Forces Association (AFA), serves as the premier professional military development event for Airmen, Guardians, and aerospace industry members. It brings together military personnel, industry experts, and stakeholders to discuss advancements, challenges, and future directions in air, space, and cyber domains.
Who Attends:
- Active-duty and veteran Airmen and Guardians
- Aerospace and defense industry professionals
- Government and policy-makers
- Academia and research institutions
- Technology innovators in cyber, space, and aviation sectors
Audience Reach: Global (with a focus on U.S. Air and Space Forces and international defense partners)
Key Focus Areas:
- Modernization of air and space capabilities
- Cybersecurity and emerging technologies
- Joint force integration and multinational collaboration
- Workforce development and leadership training
- Innovation in defense and aerospace systems
Event Highlights:
- Keynote addresses by senior military and industry leaders
- Technical exhibits showcasing cutting-edge defense technologies
- Professional development workshops and training sessions
- Networking opportunities with defense and aerospace stakeholders
- Discussions on policy, strategy, and technological advancements
Buyer Engagement Opportunities:
- Sponsorship and exhibition opportunities for defense contractors
- Partnerships for technology demonstration and collaboration
- Recruitment and talent acquisition platforms for aerospace/defense employers
- Collaborative forums for public-private sector partnerships
Official Website: Air, Space & Cyber Conference
Data sheet
Air, Space & Cyber Conference – Event Attendee & Buyer Profile Analysis
Event Date: 14–16 September 2026
Location: Gaylord National, Washington, DC, United States
Event Status: Upcoming
Research Date: 30 June 2026
Event Overview
| Event Name | Air, Space & Cyber Conference |
| Event Date | 14–16 September 2026 |
| Event Status | Upcoming |
| Venue | Gaylord National |
| City | Washington |
| State / Region | DC |
| Country | United States |
| Organizer | Air & Space Forces Association (AFA) |
| Official Event Website | AFA Air, Space & Cyber Conference |
| Event Type | Professional Military Development Conference; Aerospace & Defense Industry Forum |
| Primary Category | Security & Defense |
| Secondary Applicable Categories | Aviation & Aerospace; IT & Technology; Telecommunication |
| Audience Reach | Global, with a strong U.S. defense and aerospace concentration |
| Estimated Attendance / Expected Footfall | Attendance figure not publicly confirmed by the organizer. |
| Attendance Data Reliability | Low-to-medium; official page confirms event positioning, but no public attendee count was provided in the supplied primary source text. |
| Main Purpose of Event | Professional military development, defense industry engagement, innovation exchange, and networking among air, space, cyber, government, and industry stakeholders. |
About the Event
The Air, Space & Cyber Conference is the flagship professional military development event of the Air & Space Forces Association. It brings together Airmen, Guardians, defense industry leaders, government stakeholders, and technology providers to discuss the strategic priorities shaping airpower, space operations, and cyber capabilities.
This event matters because it sits at the intersection of national defense, procurement, modernization, and mission readiness. For suppliers, primes, integrators, and advisory firms, it is a high-value forum for networking with decision-makers who influence capability development, contracting, training, communications, cybersecurity, sustainment, and innovation across the U.S. defense ecosystem.
1. Who Attends: Buyers / Attendees
| Buyer / Attendee Segment | Typical Organizations | Buying Role or Influence | Relevance to Exhibitors / Suppliers |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Air Force leadership | Major commands, base-level organizations, program offices | Requirement setting, modernization priorities, mission sponsorship | High-value audience for mission systems, training, logistics, IT, and support services |
| U.S. Space Force leadership | Field commands, mission deltas, program offices | Capability development, architecture, space and cyber acquisition priorities | Relevant for space systems, cyber resilience, data, secure comms, and ISR solutions |
| Defense acquisition and contracting personnel | Program executive offices, contracting commands, procurement teams | Solicitations, source selection, contract awards, vendor qualification | Direct channel for vendors pursuing federal opportunities and capture relationships |
| Prime contractors and integrators | Aerospace, defense, C4ISR, cyber, communications firms | Supplier sourcing, teaming, subcontract awards, program pursuits | Strong fit for subcontracting, technology partnerships, and channel development |
| Cybersecurity and IT leaders | Defense IT, cyber units, managed service providers, systems integrators | Technology adoption, modernization, risk reduction, architecture decisions | Relevant for zero trust, identity, cloud, endpoint, network, and data protection vendors |
| Space and aerospace engineers | Labs, command units, R&D groups, OEMs, research organizations | Technical evaluation, innovation scouting, specification influence | Useful for technical solution selling and product demonstration |
| Policy, strategy, and government relations professionals | Defense policy offices, associations, advocacy teams | Influence on priorities, legislative alignment, program advocacy | Important for firms targeting strategic positioning and public-sector business development |
| Academia and research institutions | Universities, defense research centers, applied science groups | Research partnerships, workforce development, innovation pipelines | Strong for R&D collaboration, grants, and talent development solutions |
| Defense consultants and analysts | Consultancies, market intelligence firms, think tanks | Advisory influence, market shaping, decision support | Useful for solution partners, research vendors, and executive outreach |
2. Event Location and Attendee Geographic Origin
| Geographic Area | Likely Attendee Origin | Buyer Concentration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Host city: Washington, DC area | High local attendance from government, associations, contractors, and nearby defense offices | Very High | Washington is the primary U.S. defense decision-making hub |
| Host state / region: Mid-Atlantic | Attendees from Northern Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and surrounding defense corridors | High | Strong proximity to federal agencies and contractor headquarters |
| Nearby business hubs | Arlington, Alexandria, Reston, Tysons, Chantilly, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Raleigh-Durham | High | Defense contractors, tech firms, and consulting firms travel easily to DC |
| National reach | U.S. Air Force, Space Force, DoD suppliers, federal contractors, and state-linked defense stakeholders | Very High | The event is highly relevant to nationwide public-sector and B2B outreach |
| International reach | Allied defense organizations, global aerospace suppliers, foreign military attachés, multinational primes | Medium to High | Likely international participation is meaningful, though U.S.-centric |
| Relevant trade corridors | East Coast defense corridor; Pentagon-centered procurement network; aerospace corridor connections | High | Best for account-based outreach to defense and aerospace companies |
3. Audience Reach
| Reach Level | Assessment | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Global | Primary classification | The conference is centered on U.S. air, space, and cyber defense but is positioned within a global aerospace and security ecosystem. |
4. Sample Buyer Companies and Websites
| Buyer Company / Organization | Buyer Type | Why It Is Relevant | Website | Best Job Titles to Target | Evidence Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Department of the Air Force | Government / procurement organization | Core audience for capability development, contracts, and modernization | af.mil | Program Manager, Contracting Officer, Division Chief, Acquisition Lead | Confirmed Government / Procurement Organization |
| U.S. Space Force | Government / procurement organization | Direct stakeholder for space and cyber modernization | spaceforce.mil | Program Executive, Capability Manager, Contract Specialist, Requirements Officer | Confirmed Government / Procurement Organization |
| Northrop Grumman | Prime contractor | Major defense supplier with air, space, and cyber relevance | northropgrumman.com | Capture Manager, VP Business Development, Supplier Diversity Manager, Subcontracts Manager | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Lockheed Martin | Prime contractor | Defense and aerospace leader likely to engage on programs and partnerships | lockheedmartin.com | Business Development Director, Supplier Manager, Program Manager, Strategy Lead | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Boeing Defense, Space & Security | Prime contractor | Relevant for aerospace systems, sustainment, and defense programs | boeing.com | Category Manager, Capture Lead, Subcontracts Lead, Procurement Director | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| RTX | Prime contractor / defense supplier | Defense electronics, communications, and aerospace systems relevance | rtx.com | Director of Procurement, Strategic Sourcing Manager, Capture Manager | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| L3Harris Technologies | Defense technology supplier | Strong fit for communications, ISR, and cyber solutions | l3harris.com | VP Procurement, Program Manager, Partner Manager, Business Development Director | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| General Dynamics Mission Systems | Prime contractor / systems integrator | Relevant for secure communications, mission systems, and cyber capabilities | gdmissionsystems.com | Procurement Manager, Subcontracts Manager, Technical Director | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| SAIC | Government services contractor | Provides IT, engineering, and mission support to defense customers | saic.com | Capture Manager, Federal Account Executive, Proposal Director | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Leidos | Government services contractor | Defense, cyber, and federal IT delivery footprint | leidos.com | VP Business Development, Solutions Architect, Program Director | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Peraton | Government services contractor | Cyber, space, intelligence, and federal mission support | peraton.com | Director of Capture, Strategic Sourcing, Federal Growth Lead | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Maxar | Space / geospatial intelligence provider | Relevant to space, ISR, and mission planning stakeholders | maxar.com | Government Sales Director, Partnerships Director, Program Manager | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| MITRE | Federally funded R&D organization | Supports defense innovation, systems analysis, and mission development | mitre.org | Research Director, Program Manager, Partnerships Lead | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Aerospace Corporation | Research / advisory organization | Relevant for space systems engineering, architecture, and government advisory work | aerospace.org | Principal Engineer, Program Director, Business Development Director | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
5. Job Profiles, Industries and Event Type
| Priority | Job Title / Function | Department | Seniority Level | Why This Role Matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chief Procurement Officer / Head of Procurement | Procurement | C-level / VP | Owns supplier strategy, sourcing decisions, and category priorities. |
| 2 | Contracting Officer / Contract Specialist | Acquisition / Contracts | Manager / Senior IC | Controls purchasing actions and vendor qualification. |
| 3 | Director of Procurement / Strategic Sourcing Manager | Procurement | Director / Manager | Key for supplier onboarding, RFPs, and contracting pipelines. |
| 4 | Program Manager / Portfolio Manager | Programs / Operations | Manager / Director | Influences program requirements and vendor selection. |
| 5 | Capture Manager / Business Development Director | Business Development | Manager / Director | Responsible for pursuit strategy, teaming, and opportunity creation. |
| 6 | CIO / CTO / IT Director | Information Technology | Executive / Director | Important for cyber, cloud, data, and enterprise tech buying. |
| 7 | Cybersecurity Director / CISO / Security Architect | Security / IT | Executive / Director / Senior IC | Evaluates secure communications, identity, compliance, and resilience. |
| 8 | Supply Chain Director / Logistics Manager | Supply Chain | Director / Manager | Relevant for sustainment, distribution, and operational readiness vendors. |
| 9 | Facilities Director / Base Operations Lead | Facilities / Operations | Director / Manager | Potential buyer for facility services, infrastructure, security, and support solutions. |
| 10 | Supplier Diversity Manager / Small Business Liaison Officer | Supplier Diversity / Procurement | Manager / Director | Important for small business outreach and subcontracting strategies. |
| Priority | Apollo Industry | Why It Fits the Event | Best Buyer Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Defense & Space | Core industry for air, space, and cyber defense stakeholders. | Prime contractors, DoD suppliers, mission systems, and capture teams. |
| 2 | Aviation & Aerospace | Highly relevant for aerospace systems and aviation modernization. | OEMs, MRO providers, aerospace suppliers, and engineering firms. |
| 3 | Government Administration | Essential for federal and public-sector buyer targeting. | Agency leadership, contracting, program offices, and policy stakeholders. |
| 4 | Information Technology & Services | Cyber, cloud, data, and digital modernization are major themes. | IT leaders, integrators, managed services, and software vendors. |
| 5 | Computer Software | Relevant for enterprise software, mission software, and analytics. | Cyber, data, workflow, AI, and command-and-control software sellers. |
| 6 | Computer & Network Security | Defense cyber buyers need identity, endpoint, and network security. | Cybersecurity vendors and managed security services providers. |
| 7 | Logistics & Supply Chain | Supports sustainment, readiness, and operational support needs. | Logistics tech, warehouse, fleet, and distribution solutions. |
| 8 | Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing | Strong fit for comms, sensing, avionics, and defense electronics. | Hardware vendors and component suppliers. |
| 9 | Telecommunications | Relevant for secure communications and resilient networks. | Defense comms providers, network infrastructure vendors, and integrators. |
| 10 | Industrial Automation | Can support mission-critical manufacturing and sustainment workflows. | Automation, robotics, and control-system providers. |
| 11 | Management Consulting | Defense strategy, transformation, and acquisition support are common needs. | Advisory firms supporting federal growth and modernization. |
| 12 | Research | Relevant for innovation, labs, and advanced development partnerships. | R&D organizations, labs, and applied science vendors. |
6. Estimated Attendance
| Metric | Figure | Status | Source / Basis | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated total footfall | Not publicly confirmed | Confirmed unavailable | Official event page text supplied in prompt | Attendance figure not publicly confirmed by the organizer. |
| Exhibitor count | Not publicly confirmed | Unconfirmed | Official event page text supplied in prompt | No verified current-year count provided in the supplied source text. |
| Buyer count | Not publicly confirmed | Unconfirmed | Official event page text supplied in prompt | Buyer attendance is expected, but not numerically disclosed. |
| Speaker count | Not publicly confirmed | Unconfirmed | Official event page text supplied in prompt | No current-year agenda or speaker roster was supplied. |
| Sponsor count | Not publicly confirmed | Unconfirmed | Official event page text supplied in prompt | No verified sponsor list provided in the supplied source text. |
| Historical attendance | Not used here | Not required | No verified prior-year attendance data supplied | This report avoids unsupported attendance estimates. |
7. Key Focus Areas and Buyer Engagement
| Focus Area | Typical Buyer Need | Buyer Engagement Opportunity | Relevant Supplier Offering |
|---|---|---|---|
| Defense modernization | Upgrading mission capability, systems, and readiness | Executive briefings and capability demonstrations | Hardware, software, integration, sustainment, and advisory services |
| Cybersecurity | Protection against cyber threats, identity attacks, and data loss | Target CISOs, cyber commanders, and IT directors | Zero trust, endpoint, network, cloud security, SIEM/SOAR |
| Space operations | Architecture, sensing, communications, and mission assurance | Meet program offices and technical stakeholders | Space systems, geospatial, ground segment, analytics |
| Airpower and aviation systems | Missions, sustainment, avionics, and operational support | Fleet, command, and program-level discussions | Aerospace components, MRO, training, analytics |
| Digital transformation | Automation, data, workflow efficiency, and decision support | Meet CIO/CTO, data, and program teams | Cloud, AI/ML, analytics, integration, enterprise software |
| Workforce development | Training, leadership development, recruitment, and retention | Engage training and association leaders | Learning platforms, coaching, HR tech, talent solutions |
| Procurement and teaming | Supplier discovery, subcontracting, and partnerships | Schedule meetings with capture and sourcing teams | Teaming services, marketplace tools, sourcing platforms |
Lead Quality Assessment
| Factor | Assessment | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Buyer relevance | Very High | The event is directly aligned to defense, aerospace, cyber, procurement, and mission support buyers. |
| Decision-maker availability | High | Likely presence of senior military, contracting, program, and industry leaders. |
| Data collection potential | Medium | Strong topical relevance, but current-year attendee data is not publicly confirmed in the supplied source text. |
| Apollo targeting potential | Very High | Excellent fit for defense, government, cyber, aerospace, and procurement filters. |
| Geographic targeting potential | High | Washington, DC provides concentrated access to federal buyers and contractors. |
| Best outreach approach | Account-based outreach | Target defense primes, contractors, federal agencies, and technology vendors with tailored mission and procurement messaging. |
| Overall lead quality | Very High | One of the strongest B2B events for aerospace, defense, cyber, and government lead generation. |
| Best use case | Lead list building, exhibit strategy, sponsorship targeting, and procurement outreach | Useful for sales teams, attendee-list vendors, market researchers, and ABM campaigns. |
| Limitations / risks | Limited public participant data | Without a current exhibitor/speaker/attendee roster, prospecting should rely on verified firmographic fit rather than assumed attendance. |
Apollo.io Targeting Recommendation
| Filter Type | Recommended Filters | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Apollo industries | Defense & Space; Aviation & Aerospace; Government Administration; Information Technology & Services; Computer Software; Computer & Network Security; Logistics & Supply Chain; Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing | Focus on the most relevant buyer and supplier ecosystem. |
| Departments | Procurement; Operations; Information Technology; Security; Engineering; Business Development; Program Management; Supply Chain | Reach the teams most likely to evaluate, source, or influence purchases. |
| Seniority | Manager; Director; VP; CXO; Owner; Partner; Senior | Prioritize budget holders and high-influence stakeholders. |
| Job titles | Contracting Officer, Procurement Manager, Director of Procurement, Strategic Sourcing Manager, Program Manager, Capture Manager, Business Development Director, CIO, CTO, IT Director, CISO, Security Architect, Supply Chain Director | Target the most actionable buyer and influencer titles. |
| Geography | United States; Washington DC Metro; Virginia; Maryland; Northern Virginia; Mid-Atlantic; select allied nations where relevant | Concentrate on the defense procurement corridor and adjacent contractor hubs. |
| Employee size | 51–200; 201–500; 501–1,000; 1,001–5,000; 5,001–10,000; 10,000+ | Capture both nimble specialists and large defense organizations. |
| Keywords | air force, space force, defense, cyber, procurement, acquisition, contracting, zero trust, cloud, mission systems, ISR, aerospace, sustainment | Refine searches to the event’s core buying intent. |
| Technologies | Cloud platforms; cybersecurity; enterprise software; data analytics; systems integration; communications; ERP; procurement tech | Useful for solution-specific campaigns and technographic segmentation. |
| Company type | Government agencies; prime contractors; subcontractors; aerospace OEMs; systems integrators; research organizations; consultancies | Separates buyers from pure vendors where needed. |
| Revenue / funding | Revenue filters for mid-market and enterprise; public company filters where applicable | Useful for prioritizing high-probability accounts. |
Suggested Apollo Search Logic: ("defense" OR "aerospace" OR "space" OR "cyber" OR "procurement" OR "acquisition" OR "contracting" OR "mission systems") AND (title contains "Director" OR "VP" OR "Manager" OR "Chief" OR "Officer") AND geography: Washington DC Metro, Virginia, Maryland, United States.
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Sources & Verification Notes
| Source | Type | What It Verified | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air & Space Forces Association – Air, Space & Cyber Conference | Official organizer event page | Event identity and official positioning as the premier professional military development event for Airmen, Guardians, and aerospace industry members | Very High |
| User-supplied event details | Prompt-provided event data | Dates, venue, city, state/region, country, organizer name, and event description context | High for operational fields; not independently verified here |
| Official venue website | Venue reference | Venue identity support for Gaylord National | Not directly accessed in supplied source text |
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