The first day of the largest annual land warfare exposition in North America features a keynote address by Army Secretary Christine Wormuth, the unveiling of the winners of the Army’s Best Squad Competition, and much more.

The Association of the U.S. Army’s 2024 Annual Meeting and Exposition is being held for the 21st time at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. The three-day in-person event will take place Oct. 14–16 and feature more than 750 exhibits in five halls on both levels of the convention center.

“Transforming for a Complex World” is the theme of this year’s meeting, highlighting how the Army is innovating and adapting for the future battlefield.

From recruiting and retention, to training and equipping the force for large-scale combat operations, the Army is focused on transforming—and transforming quickly.

This transformation is expected to be the focus of Wormuth’s keynote speech during the opening ceremony, which begins at 9:30 a.m. in the conference center ballroom.

Winners of the Best Squad Competition and the Soldier of the Year and NCO of the Year will be announced during a luncheon hosted by Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Weimer. Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. James Mingus is scheduled to speak.

Gen. Andrew Poppas, commander of Army Forces Command, will speak at the Maj. Gen. Robert G. Moorhead National Guard and Army Reserve Breakfast, while Gen. Gary Brito, commander of Army Training and Doctrine Command, will lead a trio of speakers at the Army Cadet Luncheon.

An afternoon forum titled “Enabling Transformation” will feature Douglas Bush, assistant Army secretary for acquisition, logistics and technology; Gen. James Rainey, commanding general of Army Futures Command; and industry partners from Northrop Grumman, Boeing Defense, Space and Security, and Sydio.

A second forum, this one titled “Positional Advantage: Landpower in the Indo-Pacific,” will be led by Gen. Charles Flynn, commanding general of U.S. Army Pacific, and Lt. Gen. Christopher LaNeve, commanding general of Eighth Army. Also scheduled to speak is Rep. Rob Wittman, vice chairman of the House Armed Services Command, and industry partners from L3Harrris Technologies and CACI.

There will be a panel on integrated air and missile defense hosted by Army Undersecretary Gabe Camarillo and featuring speakers such as Lt. Gen. Sean Gainey, commanding general of Army Space and Missile Defense Command, and Maj. Gen. Frank Lozano, program executive officer, Missiles and Space.

There also will be two Warfighter and Family Forums—one focused on education and employment readiness for soldiers and families, and the other focused on educating Army dependents from pre-K through 12th grade.

A Leader Solarium hosted by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George and organized by AUSA’s Center for Leadership will take place in conjunction with the Annual Meeting. About 130 specially selected battalion-level Army leaders are expected to attend. They will hear from Army leaders and civilian subject-matter experts, engage in small group discussions and provide feedback to senior Army leaders on opportunities and challenges facing the Army.

The Center for Leadership also will conduct a Generation Next Forum with about 100 young people, part of its Young Professionals Program to develop and grow the next generation of leaders.

Presentations at the Warriors Corner, at the Army exhibit in Booth 1825 in Hall B, include discussions on the small, unmanned aircraft systems threat, boosting 155 mm munitions production, Army energy initiatives and transforming the Army network.

At Innovator’s Corner, Booth 2261 in Hall B, the Army xTech Program will showcase winners and finalists from its technology search, with companies showing off new solutions to Army problems.

There also will be a veterans hiring event called “Your Next Mission.” Formerly known as Warriors To The Workforce, it will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day of the annual meeting at Booth 161 in Hall A. The free event aims to help veterans, transitioning service members and military spouses find employment.

Registration opens at 6:30 a.m. The exhibits are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This year’s hashtag is #AUSA2024.

For the full agenda, click here. To download AUSA’s Annual Meeting app, click here.

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