WEST Frequently Asked Questions
The premier naval conference and exposition on the West Coast, WEST is now in its 28th year of bringing military and industry leaders together. Co-sponsored by AFCEA International and the U.S. Naval Institute, WEST is the only event in which the makers of platforms and the designers of technologies can network, discuss and demonstrate their solutions in a single locale.
One recurring highlight of WEST is a town hall discussion among the Chief of Naval Operations, the Marine Corps Commandant and Coast Guard Commandant. In addition to the main program, WEST offers two Engagement Theaters; smaller, more intimate venues in which military, government and industry professionals will drill deeper into specific topics and issues. More information about WEST speakers and panel presentations is available online.
About WEST Conference
Registration & Program Questions
Know Before You Go
Exhibit & Sponsor Information
Prepare to be Aware
Conferences present opportunities for America's adversaries to target U.S. government employees, academia, defense industry and other personnel to collect our critical information. Be a hard target! Use good OPSEC practices to protect yourself and your organization's mission.
Recommendations:
- Be aware of your surroundings when discussing sensitive unclassified critical information during the conference and after hours, in common/public areas (e.g. social gatherings, networking mixers, etc.).
- Be suspicious of strangers. Even though they sound like they belong at the conference, don't assume they are there for the same purpose as you.
- Use caution when sharing information with someone you don't know. Ask others to confirm a person's identity before sharing critical information about your organization's past, ongoing or future operations/activities/events. Protect your personal information, such as your room number and daily schedule. Don't give out your business cards freely, particularly when outside the United States. Remember, phishing is still the #1 adversary threat vector into your personal and government computers/devices/networks.
- If you use a laptop or other portable electronic device (personal or government-owned), use it cautiously. Disable the Bluetooth and WLAN/Wi-Fi connections when not in use, and if you use this type of connectivity, understand that you may expose personal and work-related critical information to an adversary. Be especially cautious when using unencrypted/unsecure WLAN/Wi-Fi hotspots.
BE SMART! BE SAFE! PRACTICE GOOD OPSEC!