MARCH 17-18, 2026 | SAN ANTONIO, TX

OPERATIONAL MEDICINE SYMPOSIUM

& TECHNOLOGY SHOWCASE


HENRY B. GONZALEZ CONVENTION CENTER

ABOUT OPMED

The 2026 Annual Operational Medicine Symposium (OpMed) & Technology Showcase is one of the largest and most influential military medical events in North America for senior medical officials, clinicians, government leaders, and solution providers. The 8th Annual Symposium will explore how the Military Health System is preparing for large scale combat operations by championing innovations in combat casualty care to strengthen Warfighter survivability and enhance the medical readiness of the Joint Force. 

EARLY CONFIRMED SPEAKERS INCLUDE

Maj Gen Sean Collins,
MD, USAF

Air National Guard Assistant to the Surgeon General and Director of Space Force Medical Operations, HQAF

Brig Gen Petter Iversen, MD

Surgeon General of the Norwegian Armed Forces; Chair, NATO Committee of the Chief of Military Medical Services

Sean Biggerstaff, PhD  Deputy Director, Research and Engineering Directorate,
DHA

COL Michael Tarpey,
MD, USA

Command Surgeon,
U.S. Special Operations Command

Command Sergeant Major Jan “Eddy” Miller, USA
Command Sergeant Major, Brooke Army Medical Center


 Chief Master Sergeant Marcus Washington, USAF
 Command Chief Master Sergeant,
59th MDW


Col Lidia Ilcus, MD, USAF
Command Surgeon, United States Space Command

CAPT Richard Gilliard
Jr, USN
Commanding Officer,
U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan



COL Benjamin Donham, MD, USA
Commander,
MEDDAC-AK


CAPT Travis Polk, MD, USN (Ret)
  Deputy Director, Center for Military Medical Research, University of Pittsburgh

Lt Col Adam Willis, MD, PhD, USAF 

Program Manager, Biotechnologies Office, DARPA

WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND

Defense Strategies Institute's 8th Annual Operational Medicine Symposium & Technology Showcase will bring together senior leaders across DoD, federal government, academia, and industry to explore how to optimize healthcare across all echelons of care, from point of injury to medical treatment facilities, whether on land, sea, air, or space.

 

To prepare for a shifting global security environment, the United States is prioritizing its ability to respond to large scale combat operations between peer or near peer adversaries that would result in mass casualties, denied evacuation routes, limited transportation options, and strained medical resources in urban or austere environments.  This year’s Operational Medicine Symposium will highlight how to sustain life at the point of injury with prolonged field care to ensure maximum survivability for warfighters and civilians.  Speakers will explore the role of AI and autonomous systems in improving life-saving care, medical evacuations, and re-supply capabilities in forward-deployed environments. Sessions will also touch on medical care for special operations forces, the future of aerospace medicine, medical intelligence, burn care and treatment, trauma readiness and outcomes as well as lessons learned from recent conflicts on the best ways to prepare for the future fight. 

 

Attendees at the 2026 Symposium will have the opportunity to hear from and engage with senior leaders across the community to learn how the Military Health System is evolving healthcare technologies and medical capabilities to prepare for large scale combat operations. Join 1,200 participants at this premier event to engage with top medical experts, practitioners, and clinicians from across the military medical community to strengthen Warfighter survivability and enhance the medical readiness of the Joint Force.

TOPICS OF DISCUSSION


  • Modernizing Military Medicine: Maximizing Readiness and Strengthening the Survivability of the Warfighter
  • Representing the Mission: Ensuring the Military Health System is Ready to Support Joint Force Operations Worldwide
  • Overcoming the Unique Medical Challenges Across the Indo-Pacific Theater
  • Delivering Prolonged, Versatile Medical Care in Harsh Conditions to Protect and Sustain the Elite Operator
  • Aerospace Medicine: Challenges for Today and Innovations for Tomorrow
  • Assessing Medical Threats to Military Forces with Robust Intelligence

2026 SPONSORS

DIAMOND SPONSOR:

PLATINUM SPONSORS:

WIFI SPONSOR: