by Nuala Kimball
One of the most influential procurement specialists in the Pentagon will frame the COTScon `98 conference and exhibition May 28 with a keynote speech that will settle, once and for all, how leaders of the U.S. Department of Defense define the term commercial off-the-shelf (COTS).
Greg Saunders, the Defense Department`s deputy director for acquisition practices, will kick off the conference with a keynote address on "Dispelling the Myths of COTS," on Thursday, May 28 at the McLean Hilton at Tysons Corner in McLean, Va.
COTScon `98, an educational conference sponsored by Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine and PennWell, will be May 28 and 29 at the McLean Hilton. This industry technical exchange is for engineers, engineering managers, and marketing experts involved in military and aerospace electronic component, subsystem, and system design.
The overall theme of COTScon `98 is how suppliers can make COTS components work effectively in modern military and aerospace systems designs. A central thrust of the presentations is how attendees can operate safely and profitably in the COTS marketplace.
In addition to the Saunders keynote address, the technical conference will feature presenters organized in three panel discussions - subsystems, integrated circuits, printed circuit boards, and major system platforms.
Each of the first three topics and sessions divides into panel discussion groups. The session on major system platforms will center on the degree to which designers are implementing COTS components and subsystems on major weapons such as the Joint Strike Fighter, SC-21 surface ship, and on upgrades to the M1A2 main battle tank.
The subsystems topic features one panel discussion on the most effective ways to package COTS components in ruggedized military systems, and another panel discussion on ensuring system reliability by using commercial-grade, industrial-rugged, or mil-std boards and devices.
The integrated circuits topic features one panel discussion on how best to deal with parts obsolescence in light of the push to incorporate plastic encapsulated modules, and another panel on reliability, liability, and the future of the QML.
The printed circuit board topic has one panel discussion on taking responsibility for using upscreened components in place of mil-std devices - also referred to as "parts abuse," and another panel on using the right mix of commercial-grade, ruggedized, or mil-std components.
The cost of COTScon`98 is $495 per person when registering by 17 April 1998.
The February 1998 issue of Military & Aerospace Electronics incorrectly listed the telephone numbers of two important COTScon `98 contacts:
For information on COTScon, contact Nuala Kimball at PennWell by phone at 603-891-9267, by fax at 603-891-9490, or by e-mail at [email protected]. Those interested in exhibiting can contact Jerry Boyle by phone at 603-891-9202, by fax at 603-891-9146, or by e-mail at jerryb@ pennwell.com.
