Join Us: Ventura Defense Industry Forum's Annual Strategic Alliance Initiative – April 7-8, 2026 in Oxnard

Mark your calendars! The Ventura Defense Industry Forum (VDIF) is excited to announce our Annual Strategic Alliance Initiative, taking place April 7-8, 2026 at the beautiful Oxnard Performing Arts Building. This two-day event represents one of the most important opportunities of the year for defense professionals, government representatives, and industry leaders throughout Ventura County and beyond.

Whether you're a seasoned defense contractor, a small business owner exploring government opportunities, or a government official looking to strengthen industry partnerships, this event is designed with you in mind. We're bringing together the best minds in defense to foster collaboration, share insights, and build the strategic alliances that drive innovation in our industry.

Event Details: Everything You Need to Know

When: April 7-8, 2026 Time: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM both days Location: Oxnard Performing Arts Building Address: 800 Hobson Way, Oxnard, CA 93030

The Oxnard Performing Arts Building provides the perfect venue for our gathering, offering modern facilities, ample networking spaces, and convenient access for attendees throughout the region. With plenty of parking and easy freeway access, we've chosen a location that makes participation as simple as possible for busy professionals.

What Makes This Event Special

The Annual Strategic Alliance Initiative isn't just another industry conference: it's a purposeful gathering designed to create real, lasting connections between the public and private sectors. Since VDIF's founding in 2019, we've been committed to bridging the gap between Ventura's dynamic defense industry and the government agencies that serve our nation's security interests.

Our forum brings together representatives from key organizations including:

• Naval Surface Warfare Center Port Hueneme Division

• Naval Air Systems Command

• Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division

• Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center

• Regional prime contractors and small businesses

• Technology innovators and research institutions

This unique mix creates opportunities you simply won't find anywhere else. Where else can you have a coffee break conversation with a Navy program manager, attend a panel discussion led by industry executives, and discover potential partnership opportunities: all in the same day?

A Rich Program Designed for Results

Over our two days together, you'll experience a carefully curated program that balances information sharing, relationship building, and practical networking opportunities. Here's what we have planned:

Day One: Foundation Building

Monday kicks off with welcome remarks and keynote presentations from senior officials representing both government and industry perspectives. These aren't just ceremonial speeches: they're substantive discussions about current priorities, emerging opportunities, and the strategic landscape facing our defense community.

Following the morning sessions, we'll dive into focused panel discussions covering critical topics like emerging technologies, partnership best practices, and regulatory updates that affect how we do business together. Each panel is designed to be interactive, with plenty of time for Q&A and discussion.

Day Two: Action and Partnership

Tuesday shifts our focus toward actionable outcomes. We'll feature breakout sessions tailored to specific industry sectors and government programs, allowing for more targeted discussions and relationship building. This is where the real magic happens: those one-on-one conversations that turn into long-term partnerships.

Our vendor exhibition area will be active both days, showcasing the innovative capabilities and solutions available throughout our regional defense ecosystem. This isn't a sales floor: it's a collaboration space where government representatives can discover new capabilities and industry partners can understand evolving mission requirements.

Who Should Attend?

This event is designed for anyone involved in or interested in the defense industry within Ventura County and the broader Southern California region. We especially encourage participation from:

Government Representatives: Program managers, contracting officers, technical specialists, and acquisition professionals looking to understand industry capabilities and build effective partnerships.

Industry Professionals: Business development managers, engineers, program managers, and executives from both large primes and small businesses seeking to expand their government relationships and market understanding.

Small Business Owners: Entrepreneurs and business leaders exploring opportunities in the defense sector, particularly those interested in understanding how to break into defense contracting.

Technology Innovators: Companies developing cutting-edge solutions in areas like AI, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, and other technologies relevant to defense applications.

Support Organizations: Representatives from SCORE, SBDC, and other organizations that assist businesses in government contracting.

The Power of Regional Collaboration

What makes VDIF special is our focus on regional collaboration. Ventura County hosts some of the most innovative defense organizations in the country, yet many potential partners never connect simply because they don't know each other exists. Our Annual Strategic Alliance Initiative solves that problem by creating a concentrated opportunity for discovery and relationship building.

The success stories from our previous forums speak for themselves. We've seen small businesses land their first prime contracts, government agencies discover innovative solutions to persistent challenges, and large contractors find specialized subcontractors who enhance their capabilities. These aren't just networking wins: they're outcomes that strengthen our entire defense industrial base.

Building Strong Partnerships

At its core, this event is about building strong partnerships between government and industry. The defense challenges facing our nation are complex and evolving rapidly, requiring the kind of collaboration that can only happen when trust and understanding exist between sectors.

Our structured networking opportunities include facilitated introductions, topic-specific roundtables, and informal gathering spaces designed to encourage conversation. We've learned that the best partnerships often begin with casual conversations over coffee or lunch, so we've built plenty of those moments into our schedule.

Registration and Next Steps

Registration is now open, and we encourage early sign-up to secure your spot and help us plan for the right mix of attendees. Visit our event details page for complete registration information and pricing details.

We're also actively seeking sponsors and exhibitors who want to showcase their capabilities to this targeted audience of government and industry professionals. Sponsorship opportunities include everything from morning coffee service to private meeting rooms, providing multiple ways to engage with attendees.

For questions about attendance, sponsorship, or any other aspect of the Annual Strategic Alliance Initiative, don't hesitate to reach out through our main website or check our FAQs for additional information.

Looking Forward Together

The Ventura Defense Industry Forum's Annual Strategic Alliance Initiative represents more than just a two-day event: it's an investment in the future of our regional defense community. By bringing together the best minds from government and industry, we're building the relationships and understanding that will drive innovation and success for years to come.

Whether you're looking to expand your business, solve challenging technical problems, or simply understand the current landscape better, this event offers something valuable. We look forward to seeing you in Oxnard on April 7-8, 2026, and to the partnerships and innovations that will emerge from our time together.

The future of defense depends on collaboration, and collaboration starts with conversation. Join us for what promises to be our most impactful Annual Strategic Alliance Initiative yet.