Assistant Secretary of War for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict (SOLIC) Derrick Anderson announced during his SOF Week 2026 keynote that SOLIC will hold its first quarterly industry day on July 24, 2026 in the Washington, D.C. area. The event is organized by SOLIC’s Capability Development Innovation Directorate, executed through the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Special Operations and Combating Terrorism (ODASW/SOARC).
Event Details
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date | July 24, 2026 |
| Location | Washington, D.C. / Arlington, VA area (exact venue TBD) |
| Sponsor | OASW(SO/LIC) |
| Executor | ODASW(SOARC) |
| Participants | SO/LIC leadership, SOCOM representatives, industry |
| Registration | Via iwtsd.gov/IndustryDay |
| Cadence | First of planned quarterly events |
Anderson’s Directive to Industry
Anderson was explicit about what SOLIC wants to see from vendors:
“I do not want to see slide decks; I want to see the actual thing — to see the technical capabilities that you have to offer.”
He emphasized interoperability as a key focus: “We need systems that can integrate — not just backwards compatibility, but the ability to network and tie sensors from different manufacturers together.”
Context: SOLIC Restructuring
Anderson’s announcement came within a broader SOF Week keynote describing SOLIC’s transformation from an advisory body into a true service secretariat with authority, direction, and control over SOF. Key structural changes underway:
- 90-day sprints with SOCOM to clarify roles, staff integration, joint planning, and organizational responsibilities
- Irregular Warfare Center brought under SOLIC authority
- New directorates being stood up, including the Capability Development Innovation Directorate organizing these industry days
- Legal distinction clarified: SOCOM operates under Title 10 §164 authorities (combatant command); unified SOF falls under §167 authorities subject to ASD(SO/LIC) authority, direction, and control
Anderson compared the restructuring to the Army’s General Order Number One — establishing clear ownership of functions across both organizations.
Source
NDIA Special Operations Division. (2026, June). Industry Day announcement — SOLIC Capability Development Innovation Directorate. LinkedIn.
Military Embedded Systems. (2026, May). SOLIC to hold first quarterly industry day July 24 in Washington, official says.
IWTSD. (2026). Industry Day — July 24, 2026. Irregular Warfare Technical Support Directorate.
Department of War. (2026, May 21). Top special ops civilian recounts successes, lays out vision for future.
USSOCOM. (2026). SOF Week 2026 Keynote: ASW(SO/LIC) Honorable Derrick Anderson.