(This post has been updated; please scroll down for the latest.)

The Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) has announced plans for a daylong event this fall marking its 60th anniversary. The conference and exhibit — titled “A Force of Discovery: 60 Years of Air Force Basic Research” — will take place in Arlington, Virginia, on Friday, October 12th, and aims to “offer significant potential for enhanced collaboration and relationship building.”

According to AFOSR (following the jump):

As a vital component of the Air Force Research Laboratory, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) serves as the manager of the United States Air Force basic research program. To commemorate the 60th Anniversary of AFOSR, we will host a one-day event on Friday, 12 October 2012 in the Washington DC Metro Area.

 

The conference and exhibit will bring together senior Air Force and DoD S&T leadership, as well as academia, professional organizations and the industry research community to recap and emphasize the historical significance of Air Force basic research and how it has directly contributed to the foundation and continued preeminence of the world’s greatest Air Force…

 

Additionally, the one-day conference will offer significant potential for enhanced collaboration and relationship building, and provide speakers and attendees the opportunity to network and discuss how the Air Force and DoD will successfully address critical future challenges of Air Force S&T needs in today’s fiscal environment. AFOSR’s 60 years of success will provide a template for the future technological superiority of the United States Air Force.

AFOSR is asking folks to save the date, and expects to provide more details on the event website soon.

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Updated Wednesday, Aug. 1st at 4:10pm EDT: AFOSR released a statement this afternoon indefinitely postponing its 60th anniversary event:

Due to recently issued guidance regarding DoD conference policy, the October 12, 2012 AFOSR 60th Anniversary event has been postponed indefinitely. While this event would have provided an ideal opportunity to showcase AFOSR’s significant contributions, it is not the right time for this event, given the current fiscal environment. Throughout the coming year AFOSR looks forward to our continued mutual effort in building strong relationships among policy leaders, universities, associations, and government agencies who share a common interest in successful basic research for the Air Force.

 

Very Respectfully,

AFOSR 60th Anniversary Planning Committee

(Contributed by Erwin Gianchandani, CCC Director)