Joint Air and Space Power Conference 2024
8–10 October 2024
Congress Centre Essen, Germany
Challenges and Opportunities for Air and Space Power in an Evolving Security Environment
We cordially invite distinguished delegates, stakeholders, and experts in the field of Joint Air and Space Power to attend our annual conference, which will take place from 8 to 10 October 2024 at the Congress Centre ‘Messe Essen’ in Essen, Germany. This event offers a forum to explore the theme of ‘Challenges and Opportunities for Air and Space Power in an Evolving Security Environment’.
Participants can look forward to a comprehensive two-day programme featuring intellectually stimulating panels, thought-provoking sessions, and active engagement and networking opportunities.
Beginning with Panel 1 – A World Reshaped: Navigating the Ripple Effects of Shifting Power Dynamics, we will explore the complex changes in global power dynamics and how they impact NATO’s strategic landscape. From emerging conflicts to evolving international relations and rapid technological advancements, this panel will set the stage for following panellists and speakers.
Panel 2 – Battlefield Evolution: The Role of Joint Air and Space Power in Contemporary Conflict will focus on the crucial role of Joint Air and Space Power in shaping modern conflicts. Through a detailed analysis of adaptability and innovation, panellists will discuss how connectivity and technological advancements have transformed warfare. By examining examples such as Ukraine’s innovations and the impact of connectivity on military operations, this session aims to shed light on the challenges and opportunities to operations brought by changing technology.
Panel 3 – Contested Air Superiority: Adapting to the Drone and Missile Age, will examine the implications of advanced drone and missile technologies on current offensive and defensive operational practices. As drones, loitering munitions, and precision missiles challenge traditional concepts of air dominance, this panel will bring together a group of experts to analyse the strategic, operational, and tactical consequences of these developments. Valuable insights will be shared to help maintain freedom of action in an increasingly contested airspace.
In conclusion, Panel 4 – The Role of Industry: Bolstering Deterrence Through Enhanced Capabilities will highlight the crucial partnership between defence agencies and industry in maintaining technological superiority. This panel will explore how industry can support NATO’s efforts in advancing emerging technologies and adapting to the changing nature of warfare. From production capacity to technological innovation, this session will provide a thorough evaluation of options to preserve our technological advantage.
Conference Overview
Conference Panels
Panel 1
A World Reshaped: Navigating the Ripple Effects of Shifting Power Dynamics
As the global security changes, how will NATO adapt to evolving relationships, new conflicts, and emerging technology? Smaller countries and terrorist organizations have shown that small investments can significantly impact the global economy, requiring NATO to look beyond its traditional area of interest. This panel will discuss the changing landscape of warfare and the need for our alliance to adapt in order to effectively deter and prevail in future conflicts.
Panel 2
Battlefield Evolution: The Role of Joint Air and Space Power in Contemporary Conflict
Ukraine’s superior innovation compared to Russia has allowed them to maintain their OODA (Observe, Orient, Decide, and Act) loops and ISR capabilities, enabling their much smaller military to effectively impact the enemy at a significant cost. Contemporary conflict capitalizes on connectivity, resulting in campaigns that create effects in the physical, cognitive, and virtual dimensions at speeds that continue to accelerate. How will NATO adapt to effectively carry out operations that surpass, outmanoeuvre, and outsmart our adversaries across all domains?
Panel 3
Contested Air Superiority: Adapting to the Drone and Missile Age
The proliferation of advanced drones, loitering munitions and precision missiles represents a pivotal shift, challenging the conventional paradigms of air dominance. This panel will convene a diverse group of experts to delve into the various implications of these technologies on strategic, operational, and tactical levels. Our goal is to offer valuable insights into navigating the complexities of modern air warfare, promoting a comprehensive understanding of how forces can sustain operational advantage in an increasingly contested airspace. Join us in this crucial dialogue on modern air warfare and shaping the future of aerial combat.
Panel 4
The Role of Industry: Bolstering Deterrence Through Enhanced Capabilities
Our concluding panel will explore the industry’s contribution to enhancing NATO Allies’ dedication to the defence sector in maintaining the necessary production capacity for defence in times of peace, crisis, and the preparation for conflict escalation. How can the industry best assist NATO in meeting its needs for advancing emerging technologies and innovating at a pace faster than the changing nature of warfare? Sustaining our technological advantage requires a combination of military and industrial ingenuity, both in terms of processes and capabilities. What is the industry’s perspective on how we can uphold our technological superiority?
Why you should attend
Exhibitor Information
The Joint Air and Space Power Conference, organized annually by the Joint Air Power Competence Centre (JAPCC), offers a splendid opportunity to discuss imminent and future challenges in the Air and other interconnected domains. Together with the team of the Messe Essen Congress Centre, the JAPCC provides a unique setting to enable far-reaching debates for high-ranking leaders and experts from politics and the military, as well as from academia and industry. The conference will as usual be an ideal venue for a stimulating exchange of thoughts and ideas. Industry involvement is greatly valued as part of the networking and cooperation activities that have made the JAPCC conference so special.
Please read our Exhibitor Packages Fact Sheet
Conference Speakers
Keynote Speaker
General
Stephen N. Whiting
United States Space Force
Commander, United States Space Command
As Commander, Gen. Whiting is responsible for defending U.S. and allied interests in the space domain while providing space-enabled combat effects to joint warfighters around the globe. Prior to his current position, the general was Commander, Space Operations Command.
Dr
Gergely Németh
Hungarian Defence Innovation Research Institute
Director General
Dr Gergely Németh is a leader in defence policy, planning, and analysis. He recently assumed position as the Director General of the Hungarian Defence Innovation Research Institute. Prior to his current assignment, he directed the development of NATO Strategic Foresight Analysis 2023.
Dr
Jyh-Shyang Sheu
Institute for National Defence and Security Research, Taiwan
Assistant Research Fellow, Division of Chinese Politics, Military and Warfighting Concepts
Dr Sheu’s research interests encompass developments of global military, including advanced weapon systems and warfighting concepts, emerging technologies; Cross-Strait relations in particular the Chinese PLA; European Studies.
A World Reshaped: Navigating the Ripple Effects of Shifting Power Dynamics
Air Vice-Marshal
Dianne Turton
Australian Air Force
Australian Military Representative to NATO/EU
In January 2024, Air Vice-Marshal Turton was appointed the Australian Military Representative to NATO and EU. She was the first female Air Force Intelligence officer to achieve star rank and the first Air Force Intelligence officer to be promoted to Air Vice-Marshal.
Brigadier General
Heinz Volker Samanns
NATO International Military Staff
Head, Joint Air Power and Space Staff Element (JAPSSE)
Brigadier General Heinz Volker Samanns assumed the position as Head of JAPSSE in July 2024. In his most recent position as Commander of German Air Force’s Ground-Based Forces he oversaw all Ground-Based Air Defence, Tactical Air Control System, and Air Force Protection forces.
Mr
George Barros
Institute for the Study of War (ISW)
Head Russia & Geo Intel
George is the Team Lead of the ISW Russia and Ukraine portfolio and has worked on every major effort in that team since the 2020 Belarus protests. He focuses on Russian information operations, the Kremlin’s operational art and campaign design in Ukraine and Belarus, and Ukrainian politics.
Prof.
Alessandro Marrone
Italian Institute of International Affairs (IAI)
Head of IAI Defence Programme
Alessandro Marrone is Head of IAI’s Defence Programme where he has been working from 2007 onwards. Since 2018 he is also Professor at the Istituto Superiore di Stato Maggiore Interforze (ISSMI) of the Italian Ministry of Defence, after four years of teaching at the University of Perugia.
Mr
Bartas Trakymas
Permanent Delegation of the Republic of Lithuania to NATO
Bartas is a strategist and defence policy expert focusing on Air Defence. He is also a delegate to NATO Cyber Defence Committee and NATO CNAD. His previous assignments include serving as an Air domain adviser at the Lithuanian MoD and National coordinator for Afghanistan affairs.
Dr
Vlasta Zekulic
Allied Command Transformation
Branch Head, Strategic Issues and Engagement
Dr Vlasta Zekulic is a renowned strategist with extensive experience in international security affairs. She specializes in crisis management, strategic planning, and key leader engagement. Since 2021, she has worked at ACT, where she directs the development of strategic issues and engagement.
Battlefield Evolution: The Role of Joint Air and Space Power in Contemporary Conflict
Lieutenant General
Luigi Del Bene
Italian Air Force
Commander, Italian Air Force Combat Command
Lieutenant General Luigi Del Bene currently commands the Italian Air Force Combat Command and holds the position of Commander of the 1st Regional Air Command, both located in Milan.
Major General
Jason R. Armagost
United States Air Force
Commander, Eighth Air Force and Joint-Global Strike Operations Center
“The Mighty Eighth” is responsible for the service’s bomber force and airborne nuclear command and control assets, encompassing approximately 24,000 Airmen across six installations, proudly operating more than 150 E-4, B-1, B-2, B-52 and T-38 aircraft.
Brigadier General
Arnaud Bourguignon
French Air Force
Chief of Staff, Air Defence and Air Operations Command
Brig Gen Bourguignon oversaw the comprehensive security framework and innovative aerial and drone defence strategies for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, a role of utmost importance given these events’ global visibility and significance.
Air Commodore
Blythe Crawford OBE
Royal Air Force
Commandant, Air & Space Warfare Centre
Air Commodore Crawford currently serves as Commandant of the Air & Space Warfare Centre, a role he assumed in May 2022. Crawford also served as Deputy Director of Defence Studies, Assistant Head Development in Joint Warfare, and UK representative to the USAF Chief of Staff’s Strategic Studies Group.
Brigadier General
Scott Rowe
United States Air Force
Director of Plans and Programs, U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa
Brig Gen Rowe leads theater engagement throughout Europe and Africa by managing unit basing, organization, and force structure. He is responsible for developing and directing the command’s resource capability processes, doctrine review, strategy initiatives, and political-military affairs program.
Contested Air Superiority: Adapting to the Drone and Missile Age
Vice Admiral (ret.)
Robert Harward
Shield.AI
Executive Vice President for International Business and Strategy
Before joining Shield AI, he was a chief executive at Lockheed Martin for eight years and a Vice Admiral (SEAL) in the United States Navy, with his last assignment as Deputy Commander, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM).
Lieutenant General
Dick van Ingen
Royal Netherlands Air Force
Military Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the NATO and EU Military Committees
Lieutenant General Dick van Ingen held several key positions in recent years, including Deputy Commander of the Royal Netherlands Air Force, Chief of Staff of the Royal Netherlands Air Force Staff, and Commander of approximately 500 Dutch military personnel within the UN mission MINUSMA in Mali.
Major General
Andrea Argieri
Italian Air Force
Chief of Staff, Italian Air Force Operations Command
Major General Andrea Argieri has been the Italian Air Force Operational Forces Command’s Chief of Staff since 15 September 2021. He advises senior leadership and coordinates force generation and training for all operational elements.
Mr
Michael Callender
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Head Aerospace Capabilities
Mr. Michael Callender is Head of Section, Aerospace Capabilities responsible for policy guidance, capability delivery, and cooperation in the air and space domains with a total systems approach in support of NATO core tasks, missions, and operations.
Mr
Ryan McBeth
Ryan McBeth Productions LLC
Intelligence Consultant
Ryan McBeth is an intelligence analyst, software architect, cybersecurity professional, and content creator of military, intelligence and disinformation topics. He appears on the American news channel NEWSMAX as an intelligence consultant and consults for Veloxxity on OSINT and information warfare.
Mr
Dietmar Thelen
HENSOLDT
Head Spectrum Dominance & Air Solutions
Dietmar Thelen is a member of the HENSOLDT AG Executive Committee and Head of Division Spectrum Dominance & Airborne Solutions at HENSOLDT Sensors GmbH. Recent roles have included Executive Board Member at RUAG and MBDA-D, and Programme Director for NATO AGS.
The Role of Industry: Bolstering Deterrence Through Enhanced Capabilities
Lieutenant General (ret.)
Giovanni Fantuzzi
Italian Air Force
Director, Center for Military Aerospace Studies
Lt Gen Fantuzzi was Logistics Commander of the Air Force until retiring in 2021. In 2022, he became director of the Center for Military Aerospace Studies “Giulio Douhet.” He holds a second degree in Political Science, flew over 4,500 hours on 55 aircraft, and received several international honours.
Lieutenant General
Gerald Funke
German Air Force
Commander, German Logistics Command
Lieutenant General Gerald Funke has been Commander of the Bundeswehr Logistics Command in Erfurt since March 25, 2021. From 2016 to 2021, he headed the Division for Strategic Defence Planning and Concepts at the Federal Ministry of Defence in Bonn.
Mr
Jay Ballard
Calian Ltd
Vice President Defence - Learning
Jay Ballard is a corporate leader, military educator, and training specialist with a 38-year career in leadership, operational planning, and joint warfare. Jay oversees 1,500 experts that deliver military training and immersive simulation solutions in Canada, the UK, Europe and NATO.
Mr
George Buckingham
NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA)
Acting Director of Acquisition Programmes
George’s directorate is the focus for NSPA to be the Alliance’s first choice for acquisition of multinational, national and common funded systems, incorporating innovative practices and technologies.
Mr
Peter Engberg
Saab AB
Vice President, Head of Strategy and Portfolio
Saab Aeronautics where Mr Engberg leads the Strategy and portfolio department, is Saabs Business Area to develop and build world-class aircraft systems, advanced aerostructures and a wide range of support solutions within civil and military aviation.
Mr
Douglas Stevenson
Raytheon
Vice President of Europe and NATO, Requirements and Capabilities
Doug is the lead executive for Raytheon responsible for business development across all mission areas with senior government and military leaders across the region, including EUCOM and NATO, delivering solutions to the pressing defense and security needs they face.
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