Conference Shot Down

The 11th annual U.S. Missile Defense Conference -- hosted by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) in cooperation with Lockheed Martin, and supported by the Missile Defense Agency -- has become a casualty of federal fiscal woes.

The event, slated to take place March 18-20 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, DC, has been canceled. In recent days, AIAA had the event labeled "currently waiting DOD approval" on its website, noting registration would begin early this month. Even today, AIAA still had the conference listed on the site as an upcoming event. But those clicking on the event now see this message: "Due to the uncertain atmosphere surrounding the budget sequestration and the near term guidance received from the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the 11th U.S. Missile Defense Conference and Exhibit has been cancelled."

Gone is AIAA's previous statement that the event "aims to provide a world-class, secure environment for the U.S. missile defense community to meet and discuss the future of homeland and regional missile defense." According to the statement, the national missile defense community includes senior executive leaders, program managers, scientists, and staff in government, defense, and industry, as well as members of active duty, Reserve, and National Guard forces.