Registration Opens for FPED VIII Government-Industry 2011 Force Protection Equipment Demonstration

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Registration has opened for the Eighth Force Protection Equipment Demonstration (FPED VIII), a collaborative effort between government and industry, which presents the latest commercial off-the-shelf technology for countering terrorist threats. FPED VIII will be held at Northern Virginia's Stafford Regional Airport next May 17-19.

The federally produced demonstration will feature the products of more than 575 exhibitors demonstrating more than 3,000 technologically advanced commercial off-the-shelf items in 20 equipment categories. The DoD Physical Security Equipment Action Group (PSEAG), administered by the Office of the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Nuclear and Chemical and Biological Defense Programs/Nuclear Matters (OATSD(NCB/NM)), will direct and sponsor the demonstration. Additional sponsors include the U.S. Department of Energy and the Technical Support Working Group. The demonstration is coordinated and executed by the U.S. Army Product Manager, Force Protection Systems.

An online registration form, descriptions of the 20 equipment categories to be demonstrated, and other detailed information on the event are provided on the FPED VIII website at: https://register.rcsreg.com/r2/fped2011/ga/top.html

The Force Protection Equipment Demonstrations have been held every two years since 1997. Due to increasing terrorist strikes against U.S. forces and diplomatic posts at that time, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff determined a need for frequent reviews of potential solutions for countering the expanding array of weapons and delivery methods being developed and employed by terrorists in combat zones and against personnel and infrastructure at military and other facilities at home and abroad. In the years since the first FPED, increased acts of terrorism and attempted terrorist attacks have been carried out on U.S. and allied troops and civilians in combat zones and domestic settings, both in the American homeland and abroad. The most deadly was the use of commercial airliners as weapons on September 11, 2001. In counter-terrorism planning, authorities now have to consider improvised explosive devices (IEDs), car bombs, explosives emplacement aboard cargo and commercial passenger aircraft, suicide bombers and direct assaults with small arms or heavy weapons.

During FPED VIII, attendees will examine, first-hand, the best available force protection equipment and systems for countering those types of weapons and attacks. The focus includes reducing vulnerabilities to threats such as IEDs and conventional explosives, weaponized chemical and biological agents, and nuclear materials, among others. Security systems and equipment first seen by counter terrorism and first-response authorities at earlier editions of the Force Protection Equipment Demonstrations are now in use by U.S. and allied agencies around the world.

The theme for FPED VIII, "Force Protection Through Integrated Physical Security Solutions," reflects a growing emphasis on mutually supporting resources to meet current and evolving force protection needs, anti-terrorist requirements, and the demands of an increasingly broad range of security challenges.

The FPED series serves U.S. and allied leaders in defense, homeland security, nuclear security, first-response, and other agencies, as well as officials in state and local law enforcement, physical security and first-responder organizations throughout the United States and abroad. Military and civilian personnel in command, physical security and first response positions are encouraged to attend and see, first-hand, the latest in immediately available integrated force protection, anti-terrorist and first-response solutions. The demonstration is open only to defense, law enforcement, other physical security, and first-responder personnel, and to members of the media who cover defense, homeland security and first-responder operations and training. The event is not open to the public.

The venue for FPED VIII, Stafford Regional Airport, is located just off Interstate-95 in Northern Virginia, 40 miles south of Washington, DC.

The venue for the Eighth Force Protection Equipment Demonstration will be Northern Virginia's Stafford Regional Airport, 40 miles south of Washington, D.C., during May 17-19, 2011: http://www.ereleases.com/pic/2010-FPEDVIII-Venue.jpg

More than 575 exhibitors will present nearly 3,000 items from 20 categories of force protection and anti-terrorism equipment during FPED VIII at Northern Virginia's Stafford Regional Airport: http://www.ereleases.com/pic/2010-FPEDVIII-Montage.jpg

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SOURCE Force Protection Equipment Demonstration VIII