The Black Hills Defense and Industry Symposium is coming to The Box Elder Event Center, April 10-11, 2024. This annual event will bring leaders of academia, research, industry, the military, the federal government, and the Black Hills community together for meaningful dialogue highlighting the importance of collaborative relations in western South Dakota. Leaders will discuss how attendees can contribute to solutions for stronger national defense and bolstered regional economic development.
The 2024 Symposium will feature high-level discussions and breakout sessions regarding PFOS/PFOA, critical minerals, Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR), partnerships between prime and subcontractors, military family quality of life, along with important information regarding the B-21 Raider. We encourage all Black Hills residents to register and attend.
Day 1 (April 10) will kick off at 8:30 a.m., starting with a technical seminar focused on PFOS/PFOA. At 1 p.m., a separate, simultaneous session will kick off featuring panels of military and civilian experts who will participate in a war gaming simulation called The Perils of Theater Nuclear Escalation. Following these opening sessions, the Symposium will feature a high-level military speaker at 4:30 p.m. At 5 p.m., South Dakota School of Mines will host a welcome reception for all attendees in the foyer of The Box Elder Events Center.
Day 2 (April 11) will feature general sessions in addition to 16 different breakout session offerings throughout the day. Featured speakers include Congressman Dusty Johnson, Major General Mark Morrell (South Dakota National Guard Adjutant General), Lieutenant General Caroline Miller (Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel and Services), Sean Jackson (VP, B-21 Program Manager, Northrop Grumman), and Colonel Derek Oakley (Ellsworth Air Force Base Commander).
Mission
The Black Hills Defense & Industry Symposium is a 2-day long regional conference featuring discussions around defense entrepreneurship, development, national security, military quality of life, critical minerals, and local industry opportunities. We feature key leaders from the US Congress, Department of Defense, US Air Force, National Guard, US Army Corps of Engineers, and many more. We expect approximately 500 attendees at this event. This is an opportunity to be a part of a premier event focused on the growing defense industry of the area.
Dusty Johnson
Dusty Johnson brings an energetic and optimistic leadership style to Washington as South Dakota’s lone voice in the U.S. House of Representatives. As a “policy guy,” he works hard to be a knowledgeable and value-added member on issues related to his committee assignments: Agriculture, Transportation & Infrastructure, and the Select Committee on China.
Events
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
7:30am
7:30am - 5:00pm
8:30am - 4:30pm
8:30am
8:40am
11:00am - 1:00pm
1:00pm - 4:30pm
1:00pm - 4:30pm
1:00pm
1:15pm - 4:20pm
4:30pm
5:00pm - 7:00pm
Thursday, April 11, 2024
6:30am
7:00am
8:00am
9:00am
10:00am
11:00am
12:00pm
1:30pm
2:30pm
3:30pm
4:00pm - 5:00pm
5:30pm
