NIWC Atlantic leaders briefed the Charleston Defense Contractors Association (CDCA)’s 66th Small Business and Industry Outreach Initiative (SBIOI) symposium at Trident Technical College in Charleston, South Carolina, on Oct. 18.

Described as a key networking opportunity for government organizations and commercial industry, SBIOI events aim to increase the pace of collaboration in the region in order to ultimately deliver innovative solutions. In the case of NIWC Atlantic, that means innovation in the information technology domain.

Mr. Greg Lancaster, who leads NIWC Atlantic’s Fleet C4I & Readiness Department, discussed naval objectives and invited others from his group to provide industry an outlook into some of their most important capability requirements and procurement opportunities involving information warfare solutions.

Also, Palmetto Tech Bridge Director Erik Gardner explained the tech bridge's purpose and its ongoing mission of engaging with non-traditional small businesses in the State of South Carolina to build an ecosystem of trust, innovation and collaboration that helps deliver critical capabilities for the naval and joint warfighter on behalf of NIWC Atlantic.

After other updates that included Sasha Pascual from NIWC Atlantic's Acquisition Planning Services discussing an upcoming Prize Challenge-based “Innovation Pitch Jam,” Mr. Steve Harnig, NIWC Atlantic Contracts Competency Director, led his team in an update on current and future contracting opportunities at NIWC Atlantic.