Another defense conference bites the dust

Following shortly on the heels of the Defense Information Systems Agency’s cancellation/postponement of its Forecast to Industry event, the Army’s Program Executive Office for Enterprise Information Systems (PEO EIS) said that it won’t participate in the annual Belvoir Industry Days scheduled for April 1-3, leading the Belvoir chapter of Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association International (AFCEA) to postpone the event.

This note from AFCEA Belvoir chapter president Bill Jones was posted to the AFCEA website on February 15.

“Current budget directives and fiscal constraints within the Department of Defense dictate that the 12th Annual Industry Days conference scheduled for April 1-3, 2013 be postponed. We realize the importance of bridging the gap between government requirements and industry capabilities and will continue to work with our industry partners and government leaders to reschedule this very important event.”

According to a PEO EIS spokesperson, the decision to cancel Belvoir Industry Days was made by AFCEA, but “in the face of the budget uncertainty and guidance issued from both the Deputy Secretary of Defense and the Secretary and Chief of Staff of the Army, PEO EIS would not have been able to participate this year.”

Asked whether PEO EIS might address the industry later this year, the spokesperson commented: “We recognize the importance and value of information sharing with our industry partners, and will continue to look for opportunities through which we can facilitate that conversation and keep the lines of communication open.”