Events Overview & Previous Events

The Directed Energy Professional Society currently hosts three major events each year, the Directed Energy Science & Technology Symposium, Directed Energy Systems Symposium, and the Directed Energy Test & Evaluation Joint Conference. Some past events—such as those focused on beam control, ultrashort-pulse lasers, modeling and simulation, and others—are now consolidated into the Systems Symposium but can be viewed as separate events below.

Explore our full list of upcoming and past events, along with detailed descriptions of what to expect at each event.

Annual Directed Energy Science and Technology Symposia

The Directed Energy Science & Technology Symposium, typically held in the spring, is our flagship event, offering both broad overviews and in-depth technical sessions. Whenever feasible, each time block includes at least one session open to all participants. This symposium is held in conjunction with the Education Workshop.

The Annual Science and Technology Symposium is the Directed Energy Professional Society's premier, in-person event. Typically held each spring, S&T focuses on all aspects of DE from a research & development perspective. The event includes high-level plenary briefs from distinguished DE leaders and decision-makers, technical sessions, an evening poster session for in-depth discussions, facility tours, and networking opportunities. This event is open to all interested attendees, with a few exceptions for certain foreign countries in accordance with security regulations.

The program features a balanced mix of unclassified public-release sessions, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) sessions, and typically one full day of classified sessions. When feasible, sessions are available to all attendees in each time slot, ensuring that participants can engage in technically rich content regardless of their clearance level or institutional affiliation. Some presentations, which are accessible and valuable for all levels of experience, from students and early-career professionals to senior experts and decision-makers, are presented.

The S&T Symposium brings together representatives from government agencies, industry contractors, universities, and the student community, fostering collaboration and networking across the DE ecosystem. Our objective: connect the community, foster collaboration, and accelerate real progress across the field. In addition to the technical program, attendees can participate in facility / laboratory tours, enjoy evening reception(s), and engage with exhibit booths hosted by industry and academic leaders who are prepared to discuss challenges and potential solutions. Organizations also benefit from a range of promotional opportunities, including exhibit booth rentals, event co-hosting options, advertising placements in the attendee guide and/or agenda, and dedicated hospitality suites to support customer engagement and highlight your organization. Two separate side meeting rooms are available to all on a first-come, first-served basis for private meetings.

Short courses are offered (typically on Monday), earning successful students Continuous Learning Points (CLPs). Short courses are ideal for participants who want to build a strong foundational understanding, obtain required professional education credits to support their career development, or brush up on the latest developments and best practices in the field.

Co-located with the Symposium is the Annual Education Workshop, which highlights students and academic programs in the field of directed energy, showcases emerging research, and provides mentoring and professional development opportunities for the next generation of practitioners.

WHY ATTEND ANNUAL

UNDERSTAND

  • Gain a broad, research-focused view of the directed energy landscape through high-level plenaries and diverse technical sessions.
  • See how foundational science and early-stage technology efforts are shaping future capabilities across government, industry, and academia.
  • Explore emerging concepts and scientific advancements that influence long-term priorities and guide the next decade of DE development.

DISCUSS

  • Connect with researchers, engineers, students, and leaders across the DE ecosystem through open dialogue and interactive sessions.
  • Exchange ideas during the evening poster event, facility tours, technical briefings, and informal networking throughout the program.
  • Engage with presenters and peers across unclassified, CUI, and classified content to explore scientific challenges and spark new collaborations.

Explore the events below

Directed Energy Systems Symposia

The Directed Energy Systems Symposium, usually held in the fall, focuses on advanced systems that are nearing transition—or already transitioning—to the warfighter. This event is conducted in a security-restricted environment to support high-level discussions.

The Directed Energy Systems Symposium is the Directed Energy Professional Society's high-level event that provides dedicated controlled unclassified information (CUI) and classified sessions to address systems nearing or ready for transition to the warfighter on the battlefield. It is typically held in the Fall. The event features keynote presentations from prominent DE leaders and decision-makers, in-depth technical sessions, guided facility tours, and numerous opportunities for professional networking. Attendance is limited to U.S. citizens who are employees of the U.S. Government or its contractors and who hold a required security clearance and/or need-to-know. Discussions focus on end-to-end system integration, operational concepts, lethality, and the practical realities of deploying DE capabilities alongside conventional kinetic weapons in contested environments.

This symposium highlights the unique standards that govern the transition of DE systems into operational use, including rigorous performance, safety, and interoperability requirements. It also emphasizes the specialized training warfighters need to effectively employ and sustain these systems, from tactical employment to maintenance and logistics support. In addition, the event explores the distinct set of expectations and capability needs that government stakeholders bring to the fielding of DE weapons, such as reliability, survivability, scalability, lethality, and alignment with joint service doctrine and acquisition pathways. Together, these discussions help bridge the gap between cutting-edge technology development and real-world operational deployment.

The Systems Symposium convenes a diverse community of stakeholders from government organizations, defense and technology firms, and academic institutions, creating a dynamic environment for collaboration across the directed energy landscape. As with all DEPS conferences, short courses are offered (typically on Monday), earning successful students Continuous Learning Points (CLPs). Beyond the technical sessions, participants have the opportunity to join facility/laboratory tours, attend an evening reception, and visit exhibit booths staffed by leading industry and academic experts who are ready to explore specific challenges and potential solutions.

WHY ATTEND SYSTEMS

UNDERSTAND

  • Gain insight into how directed energy systems integrate, perform, and operate at the mission level.
  • Learn what is required to transition DE technologies into real-world use, from training and logistics to safety and lethality.
  • Understand how fielding decisions are made and what factors determine whether a system is ready for deployment.

DISCUSS

  • Exchange perspectives with system integrators, operators, program managers, and technical experts.
  • Participate in deep-dive sessions - at CUI or classified levels - that explore fielding considerations in detail.
  • Connect with colleagues during networking events, tours, exhibits, and meetings to advance actionable, deployment-focused collaboration.

Explore the events below

Directed Energy Test and Evaluation Conferences

Each winter, DEPS and the ITEA co-sponsor the Directed Energy Test & Evaluation Joint Conference on T&E Support to Prototyping and Experimentation. This event centers on the growing emphasis on prototyping and experimentation and examines the role of T&E across these developmental activities.

The Directed Energy Test & Evaluation Joint Conference on T&E Support to Prototyping and Experimentation, co-sponsored by the Directed Energy Professional Society and the International Test & Evaluation Association, concentrates primarily on the significant increases in prototyping and experimentation efforts and explores the role of T&E in prototyping, experimentation, and other developmental activities. Key plenary speakers, panel discussions, and technical sessions will work together to identify challenges, solutions, innovations and a future state; all contributing to moving us closer to the creation of an infrastructure and principles conducive to testing and training in a more operationally realistic environment. Typically held in the Winter, the T&E conference is open to all interested attendees, with a few exceptions for certain foreign countries in accordance with security regulations. Many sessions are limited to U.S. citizens who are employees of the U.S. Government or its contractors and who hold necessary security clearance and/or need-to-know.

The T&E Symposium gathers a broad cross-section of the test and evaluation community, including representatives from government agencies, industry partners, and academic institutions, creating a rich environment for collaboration and professional connections. Beyond the technical agenda, participants can enjoy an evening reception and visit exhibit booths hosted by leading industry and academic organizations that are ready to discuss specific challenges and potential solutions. As with all DEPS conferences, short courses are offered (typically on Monday), earning successful students Continuous Learning Points (CLPs). Exhibiting organizations have access to a variety of visibility options, such as exhibit booth rentals, event hosting opportunities, and advertising in the attendee guide and/or agenda. Two dedicated rooms are also available on a first-come, first-served basis for private meetings and side-bar discussions.

The T&E Conference also hosts a STEAM Competition for local middle- and high-school students, held during one morning of the event. Student teams from area schools are challenged to design and build a creative contraption from a supplied box of materials within a limited time, then present their solutions to a panel of judges. Cash prizes for winners and participants—supported by ITEA, DEPS, and various STEAM Hack sponsors—recognize ingenuity, teamwork, and problem-solving, while inspiring the next generation of innovators.

WHY ATTEND

UNDERSTAND

  • See how Test & Evaluation accelerates the transition from prototype to field-ready capability.
  • Learn how data, analysis, and test infrastructure shape system maturation and reveal performance gaps.
  • Understand the role of T&E in making experimentation more realistic, repeatable, and operationally meaningful.

DISCUSS

  • Engage with evaluators, developers, and program leaders tackling real test challenges.
  • Participate in open discussions, panels, and technical sessions that encourage problem-solving across the T&E enterprise.
  • Connect with peers, exhibitors, and students to explore new approaches, partnerships, and innovations.

Explore the events below

Education Workshop

Each year, the Education Workshop is co-located with the science and technology symposium. Serving as a supportive, low‑pressure environment, it offers students practical opportunities to refine their presentation abilities and engage with the wider directed energy community. Visit the EDUCATION WORKSHOP page for more details.

Explore the events below

UK/US Directed Energy Symposium

The UK/US DE Symposium was previously the RF Directed Energy Weapons Conference and the High Power Microwave Conference.

Advanced High-Power Laser

Advanced High-Power Laser was formed in 2010 and includes the long-running Solid State Diode Laser Technology Review and Ultrashort Pulse Laser Workshop, as well as the Free Electron Lasers Conference and the Gas Lasers Conference.

Beam Control Conferences

In 2013, the Beam Control Conference became part of the Directed Energy System Symposium

Directed Energy Modeling and Simulation Conferences

DE2DC Exhibitions

Employment of DE Weapons Conferences

High Energy Laser Lethality Conferences

Solid State and Diode Laser Technology Review

Ultrashort Pulse Laser Workshops

Other