This blog is part of a series about the 2026 Special Air Warfare Symposium, taking place in Ft. Walton Beach, FL, from 10 – 12 FEB 2026.
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It seems silly to say that the event finally kicked off on Wednesday morning, as so much had already happened…. However, that’s exactly what we did!
We were very excited to share with our data-loving CEO, Stu Bradin, that the morning hours brought our “Checked In” number of attendees to over 1,400…especially with last year’s record number of 1,556 total for the whole week.
But more important than the quantity is of course, the quality. As we shared yesterday, the composition of SAWS is sitting at around 50% active duty military and government–a huge testament to the importance of our co-sponsorship with AFSOC to host this event.
We are thrilled to share what we had in store for those attendees on the first full Symposium Day, ranging from an AFSOC Command Team Keynote to Accelerator Alley to a sold out Exhibit Hall.
“Any Place, Any Time, Any Where”
Mr. Robert L. Zackery III, President of Primer Development Group, LLC, provided the opening comments to get the morning started right in front of a packed house in the main auditorium.
The AFSOC Command Team’s Opening Keynote set the tone for the entire symposium. We heard from Lieutenant General Michael Conley, Commander of AFSOC, alongside Chief Master Sergeant Courtney C. Freeman, Command Chief Master Sergeant of AFSOC.
If there was any doubt about the energy in the room and our purpose of being here with AFSOC, the messaging in the opening video was clear: “Any Place, Any Time, Any Where.”
Lt. Gen. Conley didn’t waste a moment capitalizing on that energy, challenging the audience right out of the gate: “Check your boarding pass—you’re on the wrong flight if that doesn’t get you pumped up.”
The session wasn’t just about hype, though. It was a candid look at the friction points of modern warfare and the necessary evolution of the force.
Lt. Gen. Conley described the current landscape as a “world of converging threats,” emphasizing that the conflict we see on the news isn’t abstract. “Thousands of people are dying across the globe,” he noted. “That’s not esoteric, that’s a real thing.”
He reminded the audience that while the U.S. National Defense Strategy (NDS) shifts focus, the old threats haven’t vanished. “The US as a society might be done with terrorism, but the terrorism isn’t done with us,” Conley said, highlighting the intricate links between global threats that “feed into each other.”
A major takeaway for industry partners in the room was AFSOC’s alignment with the NDS. Conley expressed a “feeling of affirmation” that what AFSOC is already doing matches the NDS, specifically regarding:
- Burden sharing with allies: Acknowledging that we cannot go it alone.
- Supercharging the industrial base: Noting that “bold risk-taking with the SOCOM enterprise is perfect for supercharging the industrial base.”
- Defense of the homeland: AFSOC is clearly nested in this priority.
Despite the heavy focus on tech and transformation, the Command Team reiterated that the core competitive advantage remains the operator. “What makes special operations special is the people,” Conley said.
However, the future isn’t about choosing between man or machine. It is about integration. The goal is “a blend of humans and elite technology” to bring a “lethal combination to the table.”
The keynote closed with a strong nod to international cooperation. Looking out at the audience, Conley noted, “It’s impressive the number of international delegates that came all this way to be here, and I’m honored that you’re here.”
He was candid about the nuances of partnership, stating, “The NDS is America’s NDS… it’s not that of our partners. But it sets the foundation for us to marry our priorities to yours and find where there’s opportunities.”
After a lighthearted jab about the Olympic medal count (we see you, Norway!), he thanked GSOF President Stu Bradin for his work in bringing the community together.
The bottom line? We need “a team of teams to set us up to win.”
Tactics, Tzatziki, and Tajin
Following the command team, the focus shifted to the strategic value of the force. Brigadier General Craig D. Prather, Director of Strategic Plans, Programs and Requirements at AFSOC, delivered a compelling presentation titled “Force Multiplier: Unpacking SOF Aviation’s Value Proposition for SOCOM and the Joint Force”.
The morning sessions didn’t shy away from technology. Dr. Michael Hochberg, President of Periplous, LLC, tackled a hot topic with “AI is for Allies” (based on his 2024 article), followed by Dr. Kerry Chavez from the USAF Academy, who gave us “A Glimpse into the Future Fight and what it means to SOF”.
The energy continued through the Networking Lunch, where attendees crowded Accelerator Alley, checked out the SOF Solutions Stage presenters, and grabbed a Mediterranean-themed lunch. We even checked with the Greek Liaison Officer in the crowd… he said the tzatziki was “pretty good!” We’ll take it! 🙂
One of the standout sessions of the afternoon was a Fireside Chat focused on “Unleashing Innovation” in defense acquisition. This discussion on acquisition reform and capability-first budgeting featured heavy hitters including Lieutenant General (Ret.) Scott Howell, Ms. Melissa Johnson (Acquisition Executive, USSOCOM), and Mr. James A. Ruocco, Assistant Secretary of War for Acquisition.
The afternoon sessions continued with a focus on the “how” of operations. In “The Power of Partnerships,” we explored AFSOC’s role in Irregular Warfare and global access with a panel that included CW5 Chad Hord, Lieutenant General (Ret.) Kirk Smith, and COL Stewart Parker.
COL Parker spoke from his current experiences in the Indo-Pacific Theater, noting that “the more expansive the definition of partnership is, the higher likelihood that we can achieve our objectives.”
The panel also noted that the “most valuable partners are the ones who are willing to work with us, even in the face of hardships,” and those that you can “share the risk with.”
We also looked at the critical intersection of agencies in the Western Hemisphere and Interagency Collaboration session. Moderated by Ms. Catherine H. Schweitzer, the panel featured Brigadier General Terence G. Taylor (Deputy Commanding General, JSOC) and Mr. Derek S. Maltz (Former Acting DEA Administrator).
The panel is one not to hold back from very candid feedback, so it was a lively conversation on this hotly watched AOR.
We closed out Wednesday sessions with a keynote from Colonel Roger P. Waleski, Commander of the U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command, who provided a compelling look at the current landscape of aviation from an Army lens.
After a day of heavy strategic discussion, we lightened things up at the Networking Reception in the Exhibition Hall.
Our friends at Viasat truly outdid themselves with one of the most clever sponsorships we’ve seen: the “Pick Your Own Hybrid SATCOM Approach” Margarita Station. Attendees got to build their drink based on network architecture:
• Pick your orbit: Tajin or salt rim
• Pick your band: The flavor garnish
• Add your network: The tequila
Who says we can’t have fun while discussing satellite constellations?
Accelerating in the Alley
One newer element of GSOF events is Accelerator Alley–which we launched at SOF Week 2025 and then executed at Modern Warfare Week and now SAWS.
Accelerator Alley serves as a dedicated, low-barrier-to-entry point for small businesses and startups to engage directly with the special operations community. Designed specifically for companies with fewer than 250 employees and little to no current sales within the SOF market, the program provides a high-visibility platform for emerging innovators.
Located outside the main Exhibit Hall at SAWS, it allows these non-traditional partners to showcase their capabilities directly to AFSOC personnel, senior leaders, and industry decision-makers.
Eleven selected startups were given the opportunity to deliver pitches, drawing audiences eager to hear about dual-use technologies. The pitch schedule was split between the two days, with companies like AZAK, Chariot Defense, and Gambit Defense presenting on Wednesday, followed by Orkid Tech, Paratus AI, and others on Thursday.
The participating companies highlighted a wide range of AFSOC areas of interest, ranging from advanced autonomy to resilient communications. Innovations included AZAK’s self-propelled in-wheel electric drivetrains, Orkid Tech’s runway-independent VTOL drones, and Roke USA’s low-SWaP Electronic Warfare sensors. Other solutions focused heavily on the digital battlespace, such as Kinnami’s zero-trust data management for contested environments and Pryon Inc’s enterprise generative AI platforms.
With its location along the main thoroughfare, the Alley was a focal point of activity throughout the symposium… and we look forward to seeing it in action again tomorrow!
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