Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) will host the Small Business Aviation Technology Conference on Wednesday and Thursday, October 28 and 29, at the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center located in California, Maryland. The focus of this year’s conference is How to do Business with NAVAIR. Government presenters will explain both the fundamentals and intricacies of government contracting. The Patuxent Partnership and the China Lake Alliance are conference Co-Sponsors.

NAVAIR Commander Vice Admiral Dave Venlet said, "We designed this conference as a warm welcome to small business professionals who desire to partner with NAVAIR to provide unique capabilities to our Sailors and Marines. That's why we invest so much time and effort in this annual event, because we understand the power of small business."

The conference agenda includes a wide range of presentations and break-out sessions over the course of less than two days. "This conference is designed to address the basic 'how-tos' for new small businesses," said Emily Harman, Associate Director, of NAVAIR's Office of Small Business Programs, "along with providing insights into specific programs and policies, such as Seaport-e and ethics and conflicts of interest." The conference will also include a presentation on NAVAIR's Long Range Acquisition Forecast.

Advance registration is strongly encouraged. The conference is expected to be filled to capacity and walk-in registration is discouraged. Interested attendees can view the agenda and register at www.paxpartnership.org. The cost per person to attend is $45.00, which includes the two-day conference, continental breakfast and lunch both days and a reception on Wednesday, October 28. The Southern Maryland Higher Education Center is located at 44219 Airport Rd, California, MD, 20619 and is adjacent to St. Mary's County Regional Airport (2W6), a small airport which accommodates private aircraft. Attendees traveling into the area can access hotel information which is posted on www.paxpartnership.org.