ARLINGTON, VA, Aug. 12, 2008 -- The Office of Naval Research (ONR) today announced that more than 1,300 science and technology (S&T) industry professionals from Department of Defense, private industry, small business, and academia gathered to engage with ONR´s principal S&T decision makers at the 2008 ONR Naval S&T Partnership Conference. The conference kickoff was held at the Marriott Wardman Park hotel in Washington, D.C., and runs through Thursday.
The partnership conference is offering members of the science and technology industry the unique opportunity to network with like-minded professionals from a wide range of organizations and disciplines committed to the exploration and discovery of new and promising innovations.
"We are interested in tapping into all the science and technology we can find. Wherever the best stuff is, ONR wants to go get it," said RADM William Landay, Chief of Naval Research at ONR. "This is about relevant research and taking that great science we discover and turning that into capability in the hands of the warfighters."
For the first time in the partnership conference history, the number of participants more than doubled from the past high attendance mark of approximately 600. This year´s conference displays the latest and greatest in the ONR S&T portfolio with direct access to program managers. Turnout at the event underscores the increasing significance and need to make forward-looking investments in defense-related technologies.
Numerous educational and engagement sessions are to be held at this year´s convention, including keynote presentations by RADM William Landay III, Chief of Naval Research at ONR; VADM John C. Harvey, Jr., USN., Director, Navy Staff; Lt. Gen George J. Flynn, USMC., Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command. Feature presentations will be given by Dr. Walter Jones, ONR Executive Director; Dr. Patricia Gruber, ONR Director of Research; Dr. Joseph Lawrence, ONR Director of Transition; Dr. Lawrence Schuette, ONR Director of Innovation; and CAPT Dan Gahagan, USN, Naval Research Laboratory Commanding Officer.
Commenting on national defense during a keynote speech, VADM Harvey said, "There are rapidly emerging threats which we must be able to respond quickly. Developing the technology which will allow us early detection to counter these threats will be truly critical to our ability to defend our homeland."
The event also includes the 2008 CNR Challenge which will award a total of $1 million for innovative technology ideas. The challenge allows for ONR to support up to 10 awards, each totaling $100K, to provide seed money for science and technologies suitable to ONR´s research opportunities.
Audio and video recordings of convention sessions are available by contacting ONR´s Office of Corporate Strategic Communications at onrpao@navy.mil.
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