Decision makers from the top levels of the Executive and Legislative branches, the Pentagon, industry and Wall Street will meet in Washington, D.C., Feb. 14-15 at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Defense Reform 2001 Conference and Exhibition to recommend sweeping changes to the new Administration regarding defense reform initiatives.

The two-day conference, to be held at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, will be chaired by Darleen Druyun, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition and Management).

The forum will give key industry, Executive branch, Congressional and Wall Street leaders an opportunity to evaluate the current status of defense reform and address future initiatives in an effort to assist the new Administration in setting its defense priorities and reform agenda. Additionally, attendees will participate in an interactive forum and will leave with a published copy of "A Blueprint for Action" -- an agreed upon, definitive plan for action, which will set the pace for defense reform efforts in the years ahead.

  The "Blueprint" will be a consensus document designed to do three things:

  *     Leverage to the greatest extent possible the studies and
        recommendations made over the last decade with regard to acquisition
        reform
  *     Build a decisive political constituency favoring far-reaching
        changes
  *     Produce an actionable plan to bring those changes about

Sponsored by the AIAA and defense contractors, the conference will feature a wide variety of speaking panels led by decision makers from all aspects of the defense and financial industries.

Topics for discussion at the two-day event will include: Assessing the Health and Viability of the U.S. Defense Industry; The Future of Acquisition Reform; Setting the New Defense Priorities and Reinvigorating the Acquisition Reform Agenda; DoD and the Defense Industry Partnership; Financial Health of the Defense Industry in 2001; Military Requirements for Defense and the Budget Allocation for Defense Procurement; The Global Marketplace, and Defense Reform Recommendations.

For conference and registration information, please visit the AIAA website at http://www.aiaa.org/. Pre-registrants may pick up their materials at the advance conference registration desk. There will also be onsite registration available from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 14, or from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 15, at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

Credentialed members of the press will be allowed into the conference free of charge, however, they must sign in at the conference registration desk.

CONTACT: Kathy Watkins, Market Development of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 703-264-3847, or Fax: 703-264-7551, or kathyw@aiaa.org.

PRNewswire -- Feb. 9

SOURCE: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics