Fort Liberty’s largest high tech and communications expo is returning to the Iron Mike Conference and Catering Center from Feb. 21 through Feb. 23 with the theme: “Data at the Helm: Steering the Future of National Security.” 

TechNet Fort Liberty offers an opportunity for experts and leaders from across the Army and Fort Liberty community to address various sides of the tough, controversial issues facing the FORSCOM, USSOCOM, JSOC and USASOC community. 

The goal of this symposium is to allow a forum to demonstrate new, innovative ideas and share best practices that promote valuable results to technology challenges faced by our military today, especially in the Fort Liberty area. The Symposium aims to build solutions and create future “road maps” while providing a unique opportunity for differing opinions and positions to be expressed and debated.

The Exposition offers an excellent opportunity to learn about the latest advances in technology through an interactive approach with attendees. Participating industries will showcase products and services among key decision makers within the Department of Defense (DoD) from the Fort Liberty area. 

“TechNet Fort Liberty offers an opportunity for experts and leaders from across the Department of Defense and Fort Liberty community to address various sides of the tough, controversial issues facing the multiple commands on Fort Liberty, the largest and most elite military post in the world,” shared AFCEA North Carolina Chapter President Gerald “Marv” Gordner. 

This year's symposium will feature topics focused on specific areas of Mission Command and address the hard-hitting issues facing the C4 community over the next 12 to 18 months. 

The full event will feature two Keynote Speakers and 20 Breakout Sessions including: Secure Commercial Networking, The Executive Order on AI & Opportunities Ahead for Contracting, Navigating the Frontier of Generative AI: Implications for National Security and Defense with more still in the works.

New to the Symposium lineup, the 2024 event will also host the first ever Resource & Career Fair held specifically on Feb. 21 from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. which will allow corporate, U.S. government and military employers to come onsite to look for candidates of all skill levels. The Resource and Career Fair is open to active duty, military spouses, Veterans and national guard and reserve members.

“We are already sold out at 80 exhibitors in the expo hall. There are still a few tables for our recruiting event, they are available to government organizations and industry,  at very reasonable prices. (Free for government and military organizations.),” shared Gordner. 

The event is held every year by the Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association International (AFCEA) North Carolina Chapter. The NC Chapter includes over 300 technology professionals from across several technology communities in the Fort Liberty and Raleigh NC area, including HQ FORSCOM, HQ USARC, JSOC, USASOC, XVIII Airborne Corps, 82 ABN Div, GISA, Ft Liberty NEC, as well as DoD industry partners and research facilities in Raleigh. Along with their annual TechNet conferences, the chapter also hosts monthly luncheons and golf tournaments. It also supports the development of future technology leaders by presenting scholarships to college students and STEM grants to local teachers.

In August of 2023, the chapter’s ROTC and Veteran's Scholarship Program held a ceremony at Fayetteville State University (FSU) which awarded scholarships to ROTC cadets at Campbell University, North Carolina State and FSU and a Veteran at Fayetteville Technical Community College. These awards were in addition to chapter scholarships given to graduating high school seniors. 

Also in August at their Chapter Luncheon, the AFCEA awarded 31 local educators each $1,000 STEM grants. Educators submitted proposal ideas on how they would use funds to grow STEM education in their classrooms and the awardees were invited to share their ideas at the luncheon.

According to Gordner, funds raised during TechNet fund Local Teacher STEM Grants and ROTC and Veteran student scholarships were valued at $75,000 per year.

Registration is still open to vendors and attendees for the 2024 TechNet Fort Liberty event. Anyone in the military or who is a government civilian working in the technology industry from the North Carolina region is encouraged to attend. 

Those without Department of Defense IDs are also encouraged to arrive 30 minutes early, to get a Fort Liberty visitors pass. 

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Find out more about how to get involved at www.technetfortliberty.com.