The Space and Missile Defense Working Group (SMDWG) provides technical leadership, support, and education for the defense of our deployed forces and our nation from ballistic and cruise missiles.
Purpose
Support collective and informed advocacy on Space and Missile Defense programs
Assist in the decision making process with respect to Space and Missile Defense
Educate the general population and elected representation on Space and Missile Defense
Encourage and facilitate the exchange of information between industry and government with particular reference to Space and Missile Defense
Membership is open to all members of industry, government, and the local community who are concerned with space and missile defense issues and are members of NDIA or Affiliate.
The Working Group meets once a month, usually on the 3d Thursday. Videos and charts from past meetings can be viewed here.
Our Special Session for the Wed 9 July SMDWG will be a discussion on Golden Dome for America led by Riki Ellison, Founder and CEO of Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance. Content will include what Golden Dome is, what it means for the Defense Industry, and what it means for North Alabama. This special session is hosted by Cepeda Systems.
Location will be Invention to Innovation Center (I2C) on UAH Campus UAH I2C Building (Room 104), 850 Ben Graves Dr, Huntsville, AL 35816. The Special Session will be held in Room 104, accessed directly from outside the building for convenience.
Doors will open at 0800 for Networking and refreshments and the presentation will start at 0830. Don’t miss this great informational and networking opportunity.
No RSVPs required and visitors are welcome - see you there!
Our speaker for the Thu 17 July SMDWG will be COL Adam Miller, the Deputy Director for Directed Energy, Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office, US Army. This vitally important briefing topic is offered as a precursor to the August SMD Symposium.
Location will be Yulista Conference Center at 8600 Advanced Gateway in the Redstone Gateway Park just outside Redstone Gate 9.
Doors will open at 0800 for Networking and refreshments and the presentation will start at 0830. Don’t miss this great informational and networking opportunity.
No RSVPs required - see you there!
Our June SMDWG was held Wednesday the 18th at Venturi with our speaker Mr. Burke "Wild" Hare, the Site Director for the Space Development Agency-South (SDA-South) at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. Mr. Hare provided an update on the Space Development Agency (SDA-South) as a central hub for PWSA operations and sustainment, ensuring its readiness for current and future mission. Thank you to our hosts, Venturi.
Mr. Burke's briefing is available here.
Our speaker for the Thu 15 May SMDWG was Marsha Berry, the Chief, Virtual Systems Branch and Tactical Trainers Branch for Software, Simulation, Systems Engineering & Integration (S3I) Directorate of Combat Capability Development Command (CCDC) Aviation & Missile Center Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. Thank you to SAIC for hosting at their Conference Center located at 6725 Odyssey Dr. Slides have been posted here
Our speaker for the Tue 29 Apr SMDWG Special Session was COL Tony Behrens, the Executive Director, Guam Defense System, RCCTO. COL Behrens spoke on the Guam Defense System and its relationship to the Golden Dome for America. Location was Torch Freedom Center at 4090 Memorial Pkwy SW, Huntsville, AL 35802. His slides are here
The 2025 NDIA-TVC Awards Dinner was held 28 April 2025 at the Jackson Center, where the SMDWG presented $70,000 in scholarships. Photos of the event are now available on our 2025 photos page - 2025 Dinner and Awards
The April meeting of the SMDWG was held Wednesday 16 April at Venturi, LLC conference room at 360D Quality Circle, Suite 400 Huntsville, AL 35806.
COL Pat Farrell, the Project Manager for Mid-Range Capability Weapon System and Task Force STRIKE at PEO Missiles and Space, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama was our guest speaker. His slides are here