Defense Strategies Institute’s 15th Annual Special Operations Force & Irregular Warfare Symposium will convene senior leaders, leading experts, and strategic decision makers from across the SOF community, regional combatant commands, the DoW, industry, and academia to examine the complexities of unconventional and hybrid warfare strategies, as well as the operational challenges currently facing the SOF enterprise. Discussions will explore force modernization, capability development, irregular warfare strategies, technology integration, and the partnerships required to ensure USSOF remains a globally deployed, high-impact force prepared to counter emerging threats and succeed across future operational environments.
Topics to be discussed
- Prioritizing asymmetric deterrence & special operations readiness in contested environments
- Maintaining SOF technological & operational superiority in a dynamic threat landscape
- SOF AT&L: providing innovative technology through strategic acquisition
- Winning in the gray zone: successfully operating in the information domain
- Integrating AI & autonomy at the tactical edge to increase SOF lethality
- Accelerating cutting-edge technology for special operations forces
- Bridging strategy & policy: synchronizing SOF capability with regional geopolitics
- SOF convergence: integrating cyber, space, & special warfare for strategic advantage
- Past & current conflicts & SOF in the future of irregular warfare
Why you should attend
As security threats continue to evolve, the demand for Special Operations Force (SOF) has increased dramatically, with presidential-directed missions rising by 200% and overall demand for SOF capabilities growing by as much as 300% over a five-year period. Maintaining the SOF enterprise’s strategic advantage requires rapidly adapting to the changing character of warfare while accelerating the integration of emerging technologies, innovative capabilities, and modern operational concepts.
The 2026 SOF & Irregular Warfare Symposium will bring together senior leaders and subject matter experts from across the SOF community to examine the current state of the SOF enterprise, the impact of evolving global conflicts, emerging operational challenges, and the technologies shaping the special operations. Discussions will explore force modernization, capability development, irregular warfare strategies, technology integration, and the partnerships required to ensure SOF remains a globally deployed, high-impact force prepared to counter emerging threats and succeed across future operational environments. Attendees will gain actionable insights into the priorities, challenges, and opportunities shaping the Special Operations enterprise and its ability to meet evolving mission demands.
DSI’s team specializes in the extensive research and development of our Symposium’s content and focus areas, and we will assemble the most respected minds in US special operations and irregular warfare as well as key policy makers across military, federal government, IC, academia, and industry. Our non-partisan approach allows us to reach across all services and organizations to bring together a truly holistic group of decision makers and solution providers.
Gain Education & Insight: Walk away with knowledge gained from our senior level speakers on some of the complex challenges facing the SOF community.
Build Partnerships: The agenda is designed to allow for ample networking opportunities and the ability to engage in constructive dialogue among all in attendance.
Influence: Help foster ideas! Share your own insight and knowledge during our interactive sessions. All attendees are encouraged to address our speaker faculty and each other with their questions, comments, or ideas.
For more information
SOF & Irregular Warfare Symposium | DSI Group
