We are well into planning for the 2019 SERDP and ESTCP Symposium and excited about this year’s event. The 2019 Symposium will be held at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park in Washington D.C. on December 3-5, 2019. The Symposium will open with a Plenary Session featuring The Honorable Al Shaffer, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment; The Honorable Sherri Goodman, Senior Fellow at the Wilson Center's Environmental Change and Security Program and Polar Institute; and Dr. Susan Hockfield, Author, President Emerita, and Professor of Neuroscience at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as keynote speakers.

The technical program at the 2019 Symposium will address a number of timely topics including implementation of microgrids, management of contaminated groundwater and sediments, management of threatened and endangered species, management of unexploded ordnance in the underwater environment, and alternative technologies for weapons systems. In addition, this year celebrates ESTCP’s 25th year of funding innovative technology demonstrations. The 2019 Symposium will be a chance to reflect on the accomplishments of the last 25 years and also look forward to meeting DoD’s future environmental and installation energy challenges.

As in previous years, the 2019 Symposium will feature a two-night technical poster session which highlights much of the ongoing work funded by SERDP and ESTCP as well as other relevant research and demonstration efforts. Each session features a different group of approximately 230 posters. A majority of the posters that are presented are of SERDP and ESTCP funded projects; however, we also encourage individuals outside of SERDP and ESTCP who are working towards addressing DoD’s environmental or energy issues to submit an abstract for consideration. An acceptable poster will be within the general scope of SERDP and ESTCP’s mission and focus on a research or demonstration effort; we do not accept posters that are focused solely on marketing a specific product. Those interested in submitting an abstract must do so by July 1, 2019 through the SERDP and ESTCP Management System. Selections will be made, and submitters notified in the August timeframe.

Registration for the 2019 Symposium is now open. Registration rates ($595 for DoD and students; $955 for all other attendees) remain the same as last year. This year we are pleased to announce that when you register one student, any subsequent student registrations are half off! For more information on the Symposium and to register, please visit the 2019 Symposium website. The site will be updated frequently with additional information on the technical program and other details as they are finalized.

As always, I look forward to seeing many of you this December 3-5 at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park for the 2019 SERDP and ESTCP Symposium.