More than 10,000 attendees at 2016 SOFIC.

• Position: NDIA News - Conference notes

The 2016 Special Operations Forces Industry Conference hosted well over 10,000 attendees and featured 400 exhibiting companies May 23-26 at the Tampa Convention Center.

The conference provided a forum for military, government, academia and industry stakeholders to network, collaborate and discuss current and future initiatives for supporting special operations forces.

Army Gen. Raymond Thomas III, SOCOM commander, and Acquisition Executive James F. Geurts provided perspectives on requirements, initiatives, future needs and how industry partners can contribute solutions and new capabilities.

The conference included panels of component and theater Special Operations Command commanders, and senior military leaders who provided overviews of acquisition requirements, operations and technology needs in the context of SOF's global missions.

"The industrial base is an indispensable SOF partner that continues to innovate and develop new technologies that will give our forces the advantage to decisively win," said Thomas. "This week was an opportunity to gather all the components of the special operations force enterprise to share collective ideas and explore our future together."

Geurts added: "SOF requirements have grown substantially, as has the demand...