WEST 2027

Name: WEST 2027
Start: 2027-02-16
End: 2027-02-18
Location: San Diego Convention Center

WEST 2027 takes place on 16–18 February 2027 at San Diego Convention Center, San Diego. It is organised by U.S. Naval Institute and AFCEA International, and B2DB lists 95 speakers and 21 sessions announced so far.

WEST 2027 is the West Coast naval conference and exposition, held February 16-18, 2027 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. Organised by AFCEA International and the U.S. Naval Institute, it brings Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard leaders together with industry and academia experts to discuss operational challenges, network with peers and see the latest platforms, technologies and capabilities supporting maritime operations.

Key facts

Dates	16–18 February 2027 (upcoming)
Venue	San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, United States of America
Organisers	U.S. Naval Institute, AFCEA International
Series	WEST
Speakers	95
Sessions	21
Stages	Warfighting & Readiness, Autonomy & Emerging Tech, Shipbuilding, Navy Information Warfare, Acquisition & Innovation, Allies & Partnerships
Sponsors	19
Official site	westconference.org/West27/Public/sessions.aspx?ID=127029&view=sessions&sortMenu=102001

Keynote speakers

ADM Brad Cooper USN Commander, U.S. Central Command
ADM Samuel Paparo USN Commander, U.S. Pacific Command
The Honorable Hung Cao USN (Ret.) Acting Secretary of the Navy
ADM Daryl Caudle USN Chief of Naval Operations
ADM Kevin Lunday USCG Commandant of the Coast Guard
Gen Eric Smith USMC Commandant of the Marine Corps

Speakers (95)

Compiled from the published agenda; speakers can claim and verify their own entry.

ADM Brad Cooper USN Commander, U.S. Central Command
ADM Samuel Paparo USN Commander, U.S. Pacific Command
The Honorable Hung Cao USN (Ret.) Acting Secretary of the Navy
ADM James Winnefeld USN (Ret.) Former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
ADM Jonathan Greenert USN Former Chief of Naval Operations
CAPT Bryan Clark USN (Ret.) Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for Defense Concepts and Technology, Hudson Institute
CDR Ward Carroll USN (Ret.) Host, Ward Carroll's YouTube Channel
Honorable Sean Stackley Former Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition
LTG Bruce Crawford USA (Ret.) President and CEO, AFCEA International
LtGen Karsten Heckl USMC (Ret.) Former Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration, Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command
MajGen Kyle Ellison USMC Commanding General, 3rd Marine Division
Mr. Bill Hamblet Editor-in-Chief, Proceedings, U.S. Naval Institute
Mr. C. Michael Petters Former Executive Vice Chairman, Board of Directors, Huntington Ingalls Industries
RADM Raymond Spicer USN (Ret.) CEO and Publisher, U.S. Naval Institute
The Honorable Nickolas Guertin Former Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition
VADM Fred Kacher USN (Ret.) Former Commander, U.S. SEVENTH Fleet
VADM Fred Midgette USCG (Ret.) former Commander, Coast Guard Pacific Area
VADM John "Terry" Blake USN (Ret.) Professor of the Practice, Financial Management, Naval Post Graduate School and Former Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Integration of Capabilities and Resources, N8
VADM Peter Daly USN (Ret.) Former CEO and Publisher, U.S. Naval Institute
VADM William Galinis USN (Ret.) Former Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command
ADM Daryl Caudle USN Chief of Naval Operations
LtGen Eric Austin USMC Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command; Deputy Commandant, Combat Development and Integration; Portfolio Acquisition Executive Marine Corps
ADM Kevin Lunday USCG Commandant of the Coast Guard
Col Gabriel Diana USMC Commanding Officer, 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment
Gen Eric Smith USMC Commandant of the Marine Corps
LtGen Benjamin Watson USMC Commander, III Marine Expeditionary Force; and Commander, Marine Forces Japan
LtGen Jay Bargeron USMC Deputy Commandant, Plans, Policies, and Operations
RADM Bradley Andros USN Commander, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command
VADM Douglas "V8" Verissimo USN Commander, Naval Air Forces and Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet
VADM Joseph Buzzella USCG Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area
VADM Michael Wosje USN Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfighting Requirements and Capabilities, N9
ADM Kim Kyung-ryul ROKN Chief of Naval Operations, Republic of Korea Navy
BG Matthew Ross USA Director, Joint Interagency Task Force 401
BGen Dustin Byrum USMC Commanding General, Marine Corps Warfighting Lab
BGen Samuel Meyer USMC Director, Expeditionary Warfare, OPNAV N95
BGen Tamara Campbell USMC Commander, Marine Corps Systems Command, and Deputy Portfolio Acquisition Executive Marine Corps
CAPT Garrett Miller USN Commodore, Surface Development Group One
CAPT James Davenport USN Commander, Task Force 59
Col Carlos Flores USMC Robotics and Autonomous Systems Capability Portfolio Manager, Marine Corps Warfighting Lab
General Sir Gwyn Jenkins KCB ORE RM First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, Royal Navy
Honorable Michael Dodd Assistant Secretary of War for Critical Technologies, Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering
LtGen Christian Wortman USMC Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force
LtGen James Wellons USMC Deputy Commandant, Programs and Resources
LtGen Joseph Matos USMC Deputy Commandant, Information
LtGen Thomas Savage USMC Commanding General, Training and Education Command
LtGen William Swan USMC Deputy Commandant for Aviation
Maj Gen Randy "Church" Kee USAF (Ret.) Director, Ted Stevens for Arctic Security Studies
MajGen David Walsh USMC Deputy Portfolio Acquisition Executive Marine Corps Aviation
Mr. Andrii Hrytseniuk Head of Brave 1
Mr. Christian Brose President and Chief Strategy Officer, Anduril Industries
Mr. Christopher A Miller Acting Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Robotic and Autonomous Systems,, Portfolio Acquisition Executive Robotic and Autonomous Systems
Mr. Duane Fotheringham President, Unmanned Systems, Huntington Ingalls Industries Mission Technologies
Mr. Jeffrey Dodge Executive Director, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division
Mr. Joe Depietro Vice President and General Manager Mission Integrated Command and Control (MIC2), Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems
Mr. M. Barry Tanner Chief Information Officer, Department of Navy
Mr. Michael Coulter President & CEO, Hanwha Defense USA
Mr. Michael McMillan SES Executive Director, Naval Information Warfare Center, Pacific
Mr. Mykhailo Fedorov former Minister of Defense, Ukraine
Mr. Owen West Former Director, Defense Innovation Unit
Mr. Peter Reddy SES Executive Director, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Naval Surface and Undersea Warfare Centers
Mr. Scott St. Pierre Chief Information Officer, Assistant Commandant, and Program Executive Officer, C5I, United States Coast Guard
Ms. Anne Marie Schumann Principal Cyber Advisor, Department of the Navy
Ms. Marie Bussiere SES Technical Director, Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport
Ms. Van Hendrey Portfolio Acquisition Executive Munitions
RADM Benjamin Reynolds USN nominated as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Integration of Capabilities and Resources, N8
RADM Carlos Sardiello USN Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Southern Command and U.S. FOURTH Fleet
RADM Casey Moton USN Acting Portfolio Acquisition Executive Maritime
RAdm David Patchell CD Commander, Maritime Forces Pacific and Joint Task Force Pacific
RADM Kavon Hakimzadeh USN Commander, Norfolk Naval Shipyard
RADM Peter Small USN Acting Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command and Commander, Naval Surface and Undersea Warfare Centers
RADM Susan BryerJoyner USN Director, Information Warfare, N99, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations
RDML Bob Little USCG Commander, Coast Gaurd Arctic District
RDML Frank "Dusty" Rhodes USN Director, Air Warfare Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (N98)
RDML Matthew Kawas USN Commander, Carrier Strike Group EIGHT
RDML Melvin Smith USN Commander, Submarine Group TWO
RDML T.J. Zerr USN Commander, Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center
RDML Todd Whalen USN Commander, Naval Safety Command
RDML Walter Allman USN Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command
Representative Jake Ellzey (R-TX) Member, House Appropriations Committee and Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense
Representative Joe Courtney (D-CT) Member, House Armed Services Committee and Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces
VADM Elizabeth Okano USN Principal Military Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition
VADM Heidi Berg USN Commander, Fleet Cyber Command/ Commander, Navy Space Command Commander, U.S. 10th Fleet
VADM John Dougherty USN Commander, Naval Air Systems Command, and Portfolio Acquisition Executive Aviation
VADM Jose MA Abrosio Ezpeleta Flag Officer-in-Command, Philippine Navy
VADM Joseph Cahill USN Commander, Naval Surface Forces and Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet
VADM Marc Miguez USN Commander, U.S. THIRD Fleet
VADM Matthew Buckley AM CSC, RAN Chief of Navy, Royal Australian Navy
VADM Michael Connor USN (Ret.) Chairman and CEO, ThayerMahan
VADM Michael Vernazza USN Commander, Naval Information Forces
VADM Nathan Moore USCG Deputy Commander for Operations, U.S. Coast Guard
VADM Omachi Katsushi JMSDF Commander in Chief, Self Defense Fleet, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
VADM Patrick Hannifin USN Commander, U.S. SEVENTH Fleet
VADM Richard "Rick" Seif USN Commander, Naval Submarine Forces and Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic
VADM Robert Gaucher USN Director, Submarine Programs (DRPM SUBS and PAE Undersea)
VADM Scott Conn USN (Ret.) Vice President Growth Execution, Aeronautics Systems, Northrop Grumman

Most represented companies

U.S. Naval Institute — 3 speakers
Marine Corps Warfighting Lab — 2 speakers
U.S. SEVENTH Fleet — 2 speakers

Agenda (21 sessions)

Day 1 — Tuesday 16 February 2027

Opening Keynote- Learning Under Fire: Naval Warfightling Lessons from Recent Operations 08:30–09:30 · Warfighting & Readiness — ADM Brad Cooper USN
Adapting at Warfighter Speed: How Naval Forces are Evolving for the Next Fight 10:00–11:45 · Warfighting & Readiness — VADM Peter Daly USN (Ret.), LtGen Eric Austin USMC, RADM Bradley Andros USN, VADM Douglas "V8" Verissimo USN +4 more
How Are We Integrating Unmanned Systems into the Fleet We Have Today? 11:00–12:15 · Autonomy & Emerging Tech — CAPT Bryan Clark USN (Ret.), Col Gabriel Diana USMC, CAPT Garrett Miller USN, CAPT James Davenport USN +2 more
Accelerating the Transition to Autonomous Warfare 13:00–14:15 · Autonomy & Emerging Tech — VADM Michael Wosje USN, Honorable Michael Dodd, Mr. Christian Brose, Mr. Mykhailo Fedorov +1 more
Building the Fleet: Expanding America's Shipbuilding Capacity for the Future Flight 13:00–14:15 · Shipbuilding — Mr. C. Michael Petters, Mr. Michael Coulter, RADM Kavon Hakimzadeh USN
Resourcing the Sea Services to Restore Maritime Dominance 13:00–14:15 · Warfighting & Readiness — VADM John "Terry" Blake USN (Ret.), LtGen James Wellons USMC, RADM Benjamin Reynolds USN, Representative Jake Ellzey (R-TX) +1 more
From Experimentation to Operations: How Today's Concepts become Tomorrow's Warfighting Capabilities 14:45–16:00 · Warfighting & Readiness — LtGen Karsten Heckl USMC (Ret.), LtGen Eric Austin USMC, Col Gabriel Diana USMC, LtGen Benjamin Watson USMC +3 more
Carrier Strike Power: Combat Lessons, Readiness, and Modernization 14:45–16:00 · Warfighting & Readiness — CDR Ward Carroll USN (Ret.), VADM Douglas "V8" Verissimo USN, RDML Frank "Dusty" Rhodes USN, RDML Todd Whalen USN +1 more
Winning the C2- Counter - C2 Fight: Command and Control in a Contested Information Environment? 14:45–16:00 · Navy Information Warfare — LTG Bruce Crawford USA (Ret.), LtGen Joseph Matos USMC, Mr. M. Barry Tanner, Mr. Scott St. Pierre +3 more

Day 2 — Wednesday 17 February 2027

Wednesday Morning Keynote 08:30–09:30 · Warfighting & Readiness — ADM Samuel Paparo USN
Operational Advantage: Fighting as a Joint and Combined Force in the Pacific 10:00–11:15 · Warfighting & Readiness — VADM Fred Kacher USN (Ret.), LtGen Benjamin Watson USMC, VADM Joseph Buzzella USCG, LtGen Christian Wortman USMC +3 more
Winning the Adaptation Race: Designing Naval Combat Power for Tomorrow 10:00–11:15 · Autonomy & Emerging Tech — The Honorable Nickolas Guertin, VADM Michael Wosje USN, Mr. Andrii Hrytseniuk, Mr. Joe Depietro +2 more
Sea Service Chief Town Hall 11:30–13:15 · Warfighting & Readiness — RADM Raymond Spicer USN (Ret.), ADM Daryl Caudle USN, ADM Kevin Lunday USCG, Gen Eric Smith USMC
The Arctic Front: Gray Zone Operations in an Era of Strategic Competition 13:30–14:45 · Warfighting & Readiness — VADM Fred Midgette USCG (Ret.), VADM Joseph Buzzella USCG, Maj Gen Randy "Church" Kee USAF (Ret.), RAdm David Patchell CD +2 more
The Future Fleet: What Kind of Navy Does America Need? 13:30–14:30 · Acquisition & Innovation — ADM James Winnefeld USN (Ret.)
How is Portfolio Acquisition Reform Delivering Combat Power Faster? 15:00–16:30 · Acquisition & Innovation — Honorable Sean Stackley, LtGen Eric Austin USMC, Mr. Christopher A Miller, Ms. Van Hendrey +4 more
Defending Distributed Forces Against Massed Autonomous Threats 15:00–16:15 · Autonomy & Emerging Tech — MajGen Kyle Ellison USMC, LtGen Jay Bargeron USMC, BG Matthew Ross USA, BGen Tamara Campbell USMC +2 more

Day 3 — Thursday 18 February 2027

Thursday Morning Keynote 08:30–09:30 · Warfighting & Readiness — The Honorable Hung Cao USN (Ret.)
Building Maritime Advantage Through Allied Integration 10:00–11:15 · Allies & Partnerships — ADM Jonathan Greenert USN, ADM Daryl Caudle USN, ADM Kim Kyung-ryul ROKN, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins KCB ORE RM +2 more
The Engineering Edge: Turning Technology into Fleet Combat Power 11:00–12:15 · Acquisition & Innovation — VADM William Galinis USN (Ret.), Mr. Jeffrey Dodge, Mr. Michael McMillan SES, Mr. Peter Reddy SES +2 more
Securing the Sea Lanes: Mine Warfare and the Fight for Maritime Access 11:00–12:15 · Warfighting & Readiness — Mr. Bill Hamblet, RADM Bradley Andros USN, BGen Samuel Meyer USMC, Mr. Duane Fotheringham +2 more

Organisers, sponsors and partners