The American Helicopter Society (AHS) International’s Executive Director Michael J. Hirschberg announced the speaker line-up for its 15th Annual Helicopter Military Operations and Technology (HELMOT) Conference, to take place 30 October through 1 November 2012. “Vertical Lift Technology: Mission Performance Now — Flexibility for the Future” is the theme for the 2 1/2-day conference. The conference is cosponsored by AHS and the Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA). Details and links are available at www.vtol.org/helmot

The conference will start with a full day of classified presentations restricted to US citizens only, held on Fort Eustis, Virginia. This will be followed by 1 1/2 days of unclassified, unrestricted presentations held at the Crowne Plaza-Williamsburg at Fort Magruder, Williamsburg, Virginia. HELMOT XV considers the full spectrum of our global operations, and looks at warfighter capabilities needed to keep our edge. The following presentations are all unclassified and open to all registrants:

* Lt General William Phillips, US Army, Military Deputy / Director of the Office of the United States Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology (ASA(ALT)) – invited: Changes in the Acquisition Environment
* Senior Executive Dr. William Lewis, Director for Aviation Development, US Army Aviation and Missile Research Development and Engineering Center (AMRDEC): LHX Lessons Learned for Future Vertical Lift (FVL)
* Colonel William Gayler, US Army, Deputy Division Commander (Support) 7th Infantry Division: Technology Development and Integration in the 7th ID
* Colonel Patrick Mason, US Army, PM TAPO: Overview of the Technology Applications Program Office (TAPO) and Systems Integration and Management Office (SIMO)
* Commander Alekxander McGuinnes, US Navy, Executive Officer, HSC-84: Search And Rescue (SAR) Operations in the HH-60H Seahawk
* Lt Commander Steve Bonn, US Coast Guard, MH-60T IP/FE, USCG Air Station Elizabeth City: Operation of MH-60T Upgrade Helos
* LTC Geof McLaughlin, US Army 2-3rd AVN (GSAB) / 5-159th Avn (GSAB): Heavy Lift Operations in OEF and OIF
* MAJ Jonathan Bidstrup, US Marine Corps, OPNAV 98: Operational Insights about the AH-1Z and UH-1Y
* Mr. Glenn Harrison, Director of the Concepts Experiment Analysis Directorate (CEAD), Aviation Center of Excellence, US Army: Requirements Definition for Future Vertical Lift Aircraft
* Mr. Scott Hofacker, US Army, AMRDEC: Roadmap for FVL S&T
* Ms. Anastasia Kozup, US Army, Power Systems Division Army, AMRDEC: AATE and FATE Engine Program Status
* Ms. Sara Condon, US Army, Technical Manager, ATUAS, AMRDEC, US Army: Autonomous Technologies for Unmanned Air Systems (ATUAS) Joint Capability Technology Demonstration
* Mr. Azi Sharif, Deputy Program Manager AACUS, US Navy: Autonomous Aerial Cargo Utility System (AACUS) Program Status
* Mr. Marcell Padilla, AMRDEC, US Navy: Future Airborne Capability Environment (FACE) Consortium
* Mr. Michael Hirschberg, Executive Director, AHS International: US Military Rotorcraft Modernization Efforts

Immediately following HELMOT, the US Army is hosting a Joint Multi-Role (JMR) Technology Demonstrator (TD) Industry Day. The deadline to register for it is October 17. The meeting will be immediately following HELMOT on Thursday November 1, from 1 pm to 5 pm. You must RSVP by October 17 to attend. See the HELMOT website for details: www.vtol.org/helmot

The American Helicopter Society (AHS) International is the world’s premier vertical flight technical society. Since its inception in 1943, AHS has been a major force in the advancement of vertical flight. The Society is the global resource for information on vertical flight technology. It provides global leadership for scientific, technical, educational and legislative initiatives that advance the state-of-the-art of vertical flight.