More than 30 officials of government, the military, defense-related industry and academia--including U.S. Congressman Roger Wicker--will gather on the Mississippi State University campus Friday [Aug. 12] for a one-day conference on "Mississippi Missile Defense Research and Development: Challenges and Opportunities."
Conference sponsors include MSU, the university's ERC/Computational Simulation and Design Center, and Northrop Grumman Corp. It will be held at MSU's Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems in the Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park, Highway 182 East in Starkville, north of the MSU campus.
MSU President Charles Lee will open the conference with welcoming remarks at 8:30 a.m. Rep. Wicker, R-Miss., will serve as luncheon speaker.
The scheduled speakers include:
8:30 a.m.--Dr. Charles Lee, MSU president, welcome and introductions.
9 a.m.--Mike Cantrell, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, on the topic, "Value of Modeling and Simulation."
9:30 a.m.--Craig Staresinich, Northrop Grumman Mission Systems, "Kinetic Energy Interceptor."
10 a.m.--William C. Williston, Northrop Grumman Advanced Programs, "CG(X) as a Missile Defense Platform."
10:30 a.m.--Sam Reaves, Missile and Space Intelligence Center, "Threat Missile Modeling and Simulation."
11 a.m.--Dr. Keith Payne, president, National Institute for Public Policy, "Missile Defense Policy and Perspectives."
11:30 a.m.--Dr. David Marcum, SimCenter, "MSU's Role in Missile Defense."
Noon--U.S. Rep. Roger Wicker.
Reporters wishing to attend the luncheon or get additional information should contact Debbie McBride at (662) 325-9333 or dmcbride@gri.msstate.edu.
