Considered the number-one show for infrared (IR) imaging, optics and sensors, and the largest international unclassified defense-related symposium, SPIE Defense, Security and Sensing 2010 will offer attendees access to more than 2300 technical presentations, 500 exhibiting companies and 50 professional development courses and workshops all in one place. The five-day conference and exhibition will take place April 5-9 at the Orlando World Center Marriott Resort and Convention Center in Orlando. Orlando World Center Marriot Resort and Convention Center. Technologies for defense, industrial and commercial application presentations will include topics for emerging technologies, unmanned, robotic and layered systems, displays and space technologies and operations. The sensing systems and platforms sector of the program will address imaging, including IR, radar, passive millimeter-wave and terahertz, chemical biological radiological nuclear and explosives, biometrics, cyber sensing, energy harvesting, and sensing platforms. Image and data processing, visual analytics situation management, and information systems and networks will all be featured in the sensor and data analysis portion of the program. The 2010 program will also feature a symposium-wide plenary speaker April 6 at 8:30 a.m. The Honorable Zachary J. Lemnios, director of defense research and engineering and chief technology officer at the US Department of Defense, will present “Transforming U.S. Defense R&D to Meet 21st Century Challenges.” Prior to his current position, Lemnios was the MIT Lincoln Laboratory CTO responsible for coordinating technology strategy across the laboratory. He has also held the director position for DARPA’s Microsystems Technology Office and as the deputy director of its Information Processing Technology Office. Additionally, he has held various positions at Hughes Aircraft Co., Westinghouse Electric Co. and Ford Microelectronics Inc. Two additional programs will also be held at the event. The first, the banquet and awards presentation, will be held April 7 at 7 p.m. Titled, “Sensing Challenges of Asymmetric Warfare,” it will be presented by Dr. A Fenner Milton, director of night vision and electronic sensors directorate communications-electronics research at the Development & Engineering Center of the US Army Research, Development & Engineering Command in Fort Belvoir, Va. Milton will discuss new sensor requirement associated with asymmetric and irregular warfare, with an emphasis on the difficulties of distinguishing combatants from civilians and the broad area surveillance issues associated with road and border security. The second program, the keynote industry presentation, will take place April 8 at 9 a.m. The talk, titled, “Leveraging Optoelectronics to Respond to a Changing Battlespace,” will be presented by Dr. John Zolper, vice president of R&D at Raytheon Co. The presentation will review recent progress in optoelectronics in the context of emerging threats. SPIE Defense, Security and Sensing 2010 will also feature over 55 conferences covering the latest enabling technologies and applications in infrared, sensors, image analysis and more. Attendees can also get the latest technical training, choosing from over 50 half- and full-day courses in a range of topics, including IR sensing and systems, lasers, robotics, homeland security, sensor data and more. Other program tracks include optical and optomechanical engineering, business and professional development, defense, displays, unmanned, robotic and layered systems, and signal, image and neural net processing. A host of special forums and events will also be offered, including a banquet, industry forums, hot topics, social and networking events and student events. Technical events will include a poster session, vender presentation and a reception. An invited panel discussion will also take place to discuss issues and challenges in the integration of fusion functions. A panel discussion, titled “The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) is in trouble!,” will also be presented. Special social and networking events for 2010 will include a Women in Optics presentation and reception, a banquet and award presentation, an All Symposium welcome reception, early career networking social and poster session. The Women in Optics presentation will be held April 6 and will be presented by Angelique X. Irvin, president and CEO of Clear Align, a company that designs, prototypes and manufactures custom imaging, sensing and fiber-optic systems for defense and aerospace customers. She will deliver a presentation titled, “Fueling technical innovation, culture and tactics learned from Bell Laboratories.” Other professional development events featured include an SPIEWorks Career Fair and Essential Skills for Engineering Project Leaders. Hosted by SPIE Student Services, a luncheon with the experts will be held April 5 to give students the opportunity to network with experts. SPIE will also host more than 500 exhibitors who will present the latest hardware, systems and services across a range of technology in defense, security and sensing. Technology will encompass infrared sources, detectors and systems, cameras and CCD components, displays, fiber optic components, equipment and systems, high speed imaging and sensing, nanotechnology, law enforcement technologies and optics manufacturing. For more information, visit: http://spie.org/defense-security-sensing.xml