CRANE, Ind. – Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane) hosted its fifth annual Advanced Planning Briefings for Industry (APBI) meeting Wednesday at WestGate Academy Conferencing and Training Center. The APBI meeting provided a collaborative forum for industry, government and academic partners to network and provide a view of NSWC Crane’s strategic direction, future needs and requirements.
This year’s event theme was “Partnering to Expand the Advantage”, and nearly 300 people from 200 companies participated in the event.
The APBI forum included presentations and discussions about ways to collaborate with NSWC Crane and build thriving partnerships to ensure future military success. Speakers explained current technical gaps, acquisition perspectives, how to do business with Crane, and how NSWC Crane is Expanding the Advantage through innovation.
“Our partners are an absolutely essential part of helping us accomplish our mission of supporting the Warfighter,” said Janna Foxx, NSWC Crane’s Deputy Technical Director. “We want to do our part to be outstanding partners, and continue to develop an ecosystem in which regional partnerships with industry and academia will thrive. Events like APBI go a long way in helping us do exactly that.”
Guests learned about NSWC Crane’s current contract landscape, science and technology emphasis, and approach to cybersecurity initiatives. They also had the opportunity to network with both government personnel and other industry/academia representatives.
The event also featured breakout sessions on NSWC Crane’s three mission focus areas – Electronic Warfare, Strategic Missions and Expeditionary Warfare – as well as Crane’s Small Business Program office. Attendees had the opportunity to interact directly with NSWC Crane experts and ask questions to learn more about what is involved with each focus area.
“Events like this bring the nation’s best providers of innovative products and services together in one place,” said Kelly Siffin, Chief of the Contracting Office at NSWC Crane and the host of this year’s event. “APBI helps us acquire the best technology at the best value to provide the best solutions for our Navy.”
NSWC Crane is a naval laboratory and a field activity of Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA). The warfare center is responsible for multi-domain, multi- spectral, full life cycle support of technologies and systems enhancing capability to today’s warfighter.