SOFIC 2012
"Building the Global SOF Partnership"

The 2012 Special Operations Forces Industry Conference (SOFIC) and Exposition was held 22-24 May at the Tampa Convention Center, Tampa, FL. Approximately 9,500 key stakeholders from industry, academia, professional organizations, and government agencies who support the SOF enterprise attended the event. Under the theme, "Building the Global SOF Partnership," this conference provided an open forum for national and international military, government, and industry stakeholders to collaborate, network, and discuss current and future challenges and how to best build key global partnerships that support special operations.

General and Breakout Sessions

USSOCOM Commander, Admiral William McRaven, and USSOCOM Acquisition Executive, Mr. James Cluck, provided their perspectives on SOF's current challenges, trends, and interests in support of SOF's global missions with a vision toward forging global SOF partnerships.

General sessions with the USSOCOM Component Commanders, Theater Commanders, and Senior Enlisted Advisors consisted of panel discussions that provided attendees with enhanced knowledge, understanding, and awareness of key acquisition requirements, operations, and technology issues in the context of SOF's current component and theater missions.

Breakout sessions by USSOCOM acquisition Program Executive Officers and the Science and Technology Director explored target issues in current and future acquisition programs. The breakout sessions identified USSOCOM's top priorities, technology game changers, key enablers, business opportunities, and interests for current, planned, and future acquisition programs.

In addition to the general and breakout sessions, business opportunities sessions were conducted with personnel from USSOCOM's Office of Small Business Programs, Technology & Industry Liaison Office, Comparative Technology Office, Small Business Innovation Research, Services Acquisition Management Office, and Directorate of Procurement. These acquisition experts addressed requirements and opportunities for our industry partners supporting SOF. Attendees were provided an opportunity to establish key partnerships, gain insight, and hear first hand from acquisition leaders about current USSOCOM and DOD changes and priorities.