Nellis to host 21th annual air defense system forum Published June 4, 2010 By Staff Sgt. Nicole Greene 547th Intelligence Squadron NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Approximately 150 personnel from more than 80 operational, intelligence and acquisition organizations, will come together as the 547th Intelligence Squadron hosts the 21st annual Integrated Air Defense Systems Forum from June 22-25 in the Threat Training Facility here. The 547 IS initiated the IADS Forum in 1990 to provide an event to discuss state-of-the art adversary air defense systems and tactics. The event complements the nationally-recognized Weapons and Tactics Conference, held at Nellis every January. "The IADS Forum gives line combat unit aircrews and intel professionals an interface with national and service-level agencies," said Larry Shoger, a 547th civilian intelligence analyst who has assisted with the IADS Forum for the past 10 years. "It greatly assists in spreading information from different government agencies to our sister military branches, which allows for invaluable information to be disseminated throughout joint and combined combat air forces." During the forum, participants will review and discuss the latest intelligence on adversary ground-based air defense as well as the impact on U.S. and allied weapon systems and tactics. But, the forum's primary focus is getting the various engineers, analysts and warfighters on the same sheet of music and put relevant information into the hands of those who will make the changes to tactics. "The IADS Forum aims to establish and support dialogue between combat forces and national-level agencies...between aircrews and intel... and between US and coalition partners...in the development of adversary air defense analysis," said Lt. Col. Greg Brown, 547th IS commander, "Back in the day, it was largely about getting intel out from behind closed doors to interface with operators. Forums like this played a critical role in integrating our forces to the point that today intel 'is' recognized as part of operations." During the IADS Forum, the Threat Training Facility's main entrance will be closed. For questions or tour availability, the office may be reached at (702) 652-5119.
