DIRECTED ENERGY PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY Directed Energy Systems Symposium 17-20 November 2025 Monterey, CA     Overview   Symposium Contacts Short Courses Attendee Info Location & Hotel Local Weather Registration & Fees Companions Security Presenter Info Submissions Release Forms Exhibitor Info Exhibit Hosting Opportunities Hospitality Suites   Call for Papers Contributions were solicited for papers, presentations, and posters that support a system level view of Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) at all distribution levels for a U.S. only audience. Those that provide a mission level perspective of DEW, helping to provide context to the warfighters, were considered as well. Additionally, submissions from a DEW sub-system, or technology perspective which are focused on transition to operational capability were considered. Please contact devona@deps.org for any questions. Topics of interest include but are not limited to:         Select the checkbox next to a topic to learn more. High Energy Laser (HEL) Systems  High Energy Laser (HEL) Systems-also referred to as Laser Directed Energy Weapons (LDEWs)-are advancing rapidly from concept to deployment, with recent demonstrations and reported operational use highlighting their strategic importance. HEL systems provide speed-of-light engagement and scalable effects across multiple domains: Air: Missile defense, aircraft protection, and counter-UAS missions Ground: Short-range air defense (SHORAD), counter-UAS, and counter-rocket, artillery, and mortar (C-RAM) Maritime: Naval platforms countering UAVs, small boats, and progressing toward anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM) defense Papers are sought that address: Current and planned HEL programs, including system status and upcoming tests Platform and subsystem integration progress, issues, and risk reduction Land, air, and sea-based HEL deployment updates Demonstrations and testing results, including system performance and CONOPS HEL systems ranging from 1-10 kW to 100 kW+ New and emerging HEL missions, including space and strategic applications Integration with Command and Control (C2) networks HEL Non-Lethal Weapons Non-lethal HEL technologies provide reversible, scalable effects for missions requiring graduated responses and minimal collateral damage. Applications include: Sensor Dazzling: Disrupting enemy optics or targeting systems Electro-Optical Interference: Temporary degradation of surveillance or communications Platform Neutralization: Non-destructive disabling of assets Papers are requested on: Non-lethal HEL system concepts and demonstrations Operational scenarios for escalation control and deterrence Integration challenges and effectiveness in joint and coalition operations Safety, policy, and legal considerations for non-lethal HEL use HEL Components - Lasers, Combiners, Beam Control The foundation of HEL capability lies in its key components: high-power lasers, beam combiners, and beam control technologies. These subsystems drive performance in power scaling, beam quality, and precision engagement.Topics of interest include: Advances in laser technology (fiber lasers, diode-pumped, solid-state systems) Spectral and coherent beam combining techniques for power scaling Line-of-sight stabilization, target tracking, and tilt compensation Adaptive optics and atmospheric compensation for beam control Thermal management, power efficiency, and size/weight optimization Subsystem integration challenges and solutions across air, land, and maritime platforms High Power Microwave (HPM) Programs and Systems The HPM Programs and Systems sessions will focus on HPM Program and System status. Papers are being sought that: Update the community on the progress of an HPM Program, including recent test and experimentation and future plans Describe platform and subsystem integration progress, issues, and risk reduction Provide details for land, air and sea-based HPM deployment status Provide overviews on the development and capabilities for an HPM System Highlight relevant DE weapon system demonstrations with emphasis on system performance, Concept of Operations (CONOPS), and integration with Command and Control (C2) networks and other sensors HPM Systems Effects and Lethality The HPM Effects and Lethality session seeks presentations describing: Empirical characterization of targets for current and next generation HPM systems Development and validation of predictive models for targets of current and next generation HPM systems Analysis and optimization of waveforms for emerging HPM systems Methods for field characterization of HPM systems (range setups, field sensors, bore sighting, etc.) Collection, compilation, standardization, and dissemination of HPM effects data DEW System Modeling and Wargaming High Energy Laser (HEL) and High-Power Microwave (HPM) directed energy technologies represent a transformative advancement in military operations across air, land, sea, and space domains. Wargaming, modeling, simulation, and analysis of directed energy weapon systems at the engagement, mission, and campaign levels must be employed to inform novel Concepts of Operations (CONOPS), Concepts of Employment (CONEMPs), Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs), weaponeering, and Command and Control (C2) capabilities. This session will focus on systems and systems-of-systems efforts using state-of-the-art modeling, virtual simulation with humans in- and on-the-loop, and live wargaming activities supporting the transition of directed energy weapons to the warfighter across all the service branches. CDEW Technologies The CDEW Technologies session will include classified and unclassified sessions focused on identifying, assessing, and countering threats posed by LWS, pulsed laser, and short pulse HPM (including high power microwaves) on and off the battlefield. This track presents a singular opportunity at the Symposium for defense industry representatives, military officers and operators, information analysts, academia, and government officials to enter into collaborative discussions. Conference paper submissions for the C-DEW track may address research, development, testing, or evaluation of various forms of countermeasures to threats posed by Directed Energy Weapons. Papers are being sought that address: Shielding, absorptive, and reflective techniques, including narrow and/or broadband highly reflective materials, metamaterials, structures, or coatings Methods and procedures for assessing or thresholding hardening technologies and countermeasures to DEW, including standards (non-destructive or destructive) Measurement of coatings, structures, and materials Personnel protection from DEW effects (Open or Classified) including eye protection, low power lasers (e.g. pointers) against personnel, sensory overload (auditory or nervous system), and laser safety (covering environment/health/safety (EHS) factors) Mitigating the effects of high power LWS (cw), pulsed laser, or short pulse HPM on targeting functionality and systems Electronics hardening (devices, components, or subsystems) Detection, identification, assessment, and geolocation of DEW threats and weapons (Open or Classified, Foreign and Domestic) C-DEW system or subsystem concepts, modifications, and technical solutions Tactical evasion (flight path, sensing) Software compensation, error sensing, or error correction DEW Bio-effects The directed energy weapon bioeffects session for this year's Systems Symposium will focus on the development of personnel risk assessment data and approaches for directed energy weapon employment. The session will address topics enabling the employment of systems, improving the understanding of collateral hazards, how risks are communicated, and answering policy-related questions. The scope of the session includes the following topics: Parameterization of directed energy weapon bioeffects through experimentation to inform probability of injury Computational and experimental dosimetry techniques Approaches for quantifying risk to personnel in a context familiar to the operational community Mapping bioeffect outcomes to mission impact, and how directed energy weapon bioeffects may map into a vulnerability assessment process, including model-based systems engineering for failure analysis Modeling, simulation, and analysis tools (physics-level through mission-level) available for the quantification of risk and collateral effects Radiometric models which provide predictive dosimetry to exposed personnel The transition from deterministic occupational exposure standards to probabilistic risk assessments Laboratory and range data for verification and validation of modeling and simulation tools Navigating the approval processes for testing and employment Unclassified papers and presentations are sought at Distribution A, C and D levels. DEW System Manufacturability, Readiness and Sustainment As prototypical DEW systems move into the hands of the warfighter out in the real world, reliability issues arise. In order to have a successful Program of Record in the future the Industrial Base needs the ability to manufacture at scale while maintaining readiness and sustainment metrics. The objective of these sessions will be to explore: Realized reliability issues and appropriate mitigations Industrial Base efforts to enable production at scale The readiness drivers for DEW systems Sustainment activities both in the field and at depot Contributions consistent with these purposes are solicited, especially in the topic areas listed below: Production facility studies and plans Maximize open architecture implementation Defining line replaceable units (LRUs) Maximize field repairable elements System degradation considerations during transportation and storage Component level reliability studies DE Systems for Non-Weapon Applications - Power Beaming, Sensing, Communications Directed Energy can be used for more than just destructive applications! In fact, 99.9% of the time, you are not using your DE system as a weapon, so finding other applications to provide utility to the warfighter is critical in speeding adoption and increasing demand signal. This session is positioned as a forum to socialize and discuss these novel applications for DE. Talks are being solicited for any non-weapon use of DE systems, but particularly in the following areas: Power Beaming Communications Active and Passive Sensing AI for DE (Artificial Intelligence for Directed Energy) Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are emerging technologies and processes that are proving beneficial in numerous fields across defense and commercial applications. There is potential to apply these processes in support of HEL engagements. The goal of the AI and Machine Learning session(s) is to explore AI and ML as applied to the HEL engagement. Presentations and posters are solicited to increase the understanding of the DE community on the capabilities and limitations of AI and ML. Particular interest in AI and ML applied to target detection, identification, aim point selection, and engagement to include Battle Damage Assessment (BDA). Airborne DE Systems Laser weapons are being developed to play a critical role in 21st century warfare as a defense against rising drone warfare and large threat missile salvos. Laser weapons will complement existing defensive kinetic weapon capabilities. Rapid advancement in laser weapon maturation is underway for ground-based, vehicle-based, shipboard, and airborne integration-each platform implementation offers enhanced defensive capabilities. Lessons learned from studies, demonstrations, and experimentation have shown that airborne laser weapons provide significant performance gains, offering tactical advantages of height, moveability, and maneuverability, and the favorable beam propagation advantages of the higher altitude atmospheric conditions. This track will provide the DE community with an opportunity to present concepts, studies, technology solutions, theories, modeling and simulation, test and experimentation, and mission engineering analysis on, and related to, airborne lasers. DE Technology for Space Applications Contributions are being sought for DE Technology for Space Applications focus area, whose purpose is: Introduce the Space Mission to the DE community for awareness and education. Cross-germinating air, maritime, and ground missions with the Space mission could reveal synergistic DE technology solutions. Many DE systems are being tested in the field. The military laser testing community follows DoDI 3100.11 (Management of Laser Illumination of Objects in Space). Understanding the importance of the policy, and when, and how the policy is enforced is of great value to the laser testing community. Reveal how DE technology is currently being used for Space applications. Submission Instructions Important Dates for Presenters      Week of 13-17 October Authors notified of acceptance   31 October ALL presentations and release forms due   18-20 November DE Systems Symposium     30 November Technical Papers due with release forms Important dates for presenters are listed here. Expand the catagory below to see instructions on submitting presentations, release forms, posters, as well as marking and distribution statements. *Note: It is the responsibility of the lead author to obtain all approvals and releases for submitted abstracts, presentations, and papers. All submitted materials including unclassified presentations must be appropriately marked for security classification as well as identification of any distribution restrictions. Additionally, please identify the presenter (if different from the lead author) and up-to-date contact information. Submitting Abstracts The abstract deadline has passed. Late abstracts or oral presentation will only be accepted if previously arranged with the topic area or Symposium chair. Other post-deadline abstracts, if accepted, will be assigned to the poster session only. Additional questions about abstracts may be directed to Devona Valdez at devona@deps.org.This includes subject matter questions which will be elevated to the technical committee as needed. Authors will be notified of acceptance of their paper for presentation the week of 13 October. Please contact webmaster@deps.org with any technical issues regarding abstract submission. Note: While an automated email is sent confirming receipt of your abstract, some military domains may block delivery of such an email. If you do not receive email confirmation, you may check this online listing of submitted abstracts which may provide insight into the technical program. This listing is dynamically generated based on abstracts received at the time the page is displayed and author permissions (granted when submitted). If the title of your abstract, or the assigned Abstract ID, is contained in this listing, it has been received by DEPS. Submitting Unclassified Presentations and Papers For organizational purposes, please label your presentation file name using your LAST NAME and your ASSIGNED ABSTRACT NUMBER. For example: Smith_24-Systems-XXX. Unclassified, public release (Distribution A) presentations and papers that are less than 5MB in size must be sent electronically to Devona Valdez at devona@deps.org. CUI Distribution C and D presentations and papers that are less than 5MB in size must be password protected and sent in an encrypted email to Devona Valdez at devona@deps.org. Note that password must be emailed separately, and emails must be encrypted. CUI Distribution C and D presentations and papers (or those over 5MB): Users with .mil email addresses and CACs holders should use DoD SAFE https://safe.apps.mil/ and drop off files for Devona at devona@deps.org. Using DoD Safe is preferable; however, if you need to send a CD, please mail it to: DEPS Graphics 7770 Jefferson St. NE Suite 440 Albuquerque, NM 87109 Unclassified / CUI presentations and papers must be received by 31 October 2025. *NOTE: No presentations will be accepted for upload onsite. Any updates made to presentations after the submission deadline must be submitted digitally to Devona at devona@deps.org or otherwise arranged. Submitting Classified Presentations For organizational purposes, please label your presentation file name using your LAST NAME and your ASSIGNED ABSTRACT NUMBER. For example: Smith_24-Systems-XXX. Classified presentations can either be sent via SIPR dropped into an IntelDocs folder we've setup or mailed via US Postal Service registered mail or via FedEx to the address / contact below. All submissions, whether mailed or sent via SIPR, must be identified as being for the DEPS Systems Symposium, with dates 17-20 November noted. If you plan to SIPR your classified presentation, please send to STBL@nps.edu. Note: Classified submissions sent via SIPR should NOT be password protected. If you plan to drop your classified presentation into the IntelDocs folder, please follow these instructions. 1. Email Chris Berhe (Symposium Chair) on SIPR at Christopher.Behre@navy.smil.mil. Chris's "Out of Office" reply will give full instructions. 2. Name your file as specified above (e.g., "Lastname_24-Systems-xxx" where xxx is your assigned abstract number), and DO NOT password protect the file. 3. Follow the link given in Chris's "Out of Office" email reply. If you have not registered yet, you will need to do so. 4. Look for your session (there is a folder for each classified session) to drop your presentation.   If you plan to mail your presentation, please follow instructions below: be sure and use the correct address depending on the mail option you are using. Outer envelope: Naval Postgraduate School Attention: Document Control, Code 00M 1411 Cunningham Rd, Room B13 Monterey, CA 93943-5015 Inner Envelope Naval Postgraduate School Attention: Sonia Hayes, Code 00M 1411 Cunningham Rd, Room B13 Monterey, CA 93943-5015 When sending Fed-X, please mail at least 7 days prior to the appropriate due date to ensure on time delivery. When sending via USPS, please mail at least 14 days prior to due date to ensure on-time delivery. All Classified presentations must be received by 31 October. Please be sure and mail classified submissions in sufficient time to ensure delivery by the advertised due date. Technical Paper Submissions Authors are encouraged to submit papers as well as presentations. Submitted papers may, upon author approval, be forwarded for consideration by editors of the Journal of Directed Energy, a peer-reviewed publication. Papers are due on or before 30 November and should be submitted in either Microsoft Word format, which is preferred, or Adobe Acrobat format (pdf file). Specific format instructions can be found on the following link: Journal Author Instructions with the following exceptions: no page limit, single space paragraphs, double space between paragraphs and integrated figures and tables. Include full information (including address, phone, fax, and email) for corresponding author. It is the authors' responsibility to ensure that the paper has not been published, nor under consideration, elsewhere. Posters Some abstracts have been assigned to the poster session scheduled for Tuesday evening during the exhibitor reception. In addition, those making oral presentations may opt to also make a poster presentations. Please contact the chairperson of your assigned session as they are populating the poster session now. There will be BOTH an Unclassified, Open/Distribution A poster session as well as a CUI/Limited Distribution poster session during the exhibitor reception this year. Each poster will be allotted 3 ft. by 6 ft. of usable space, and push pins will be provided. DEPS does not have the ability to print posters onsite, so please plan accordingly. Either traditional posters or printed slides will be accepted. A large single-poster style template, originally created by the AFRL, is provided to presenters here in PDF format, with the PowerPoint file available for download here. (Note: if, rather than automatically initiating a download, the link attempts to display in your browser, use your mouse to right-click on the link and select "Save Link As" to download the pptx file to your computer.) Important note: Posters require release forms (see below) and must be assigned the appropriate authorized Distribution Statement as well as with the pertinent security markings in order to be posted. Posters do not need to be submitted ahead of time. Bring them with you onsite. If you wish to publish the poster in the proceedings, please submit a digital version to Devona by the end of the event. Release Forms Release forms are required for all papers and presentations (oral or poster) submitted to the 2025 DE Systems Symposium. These PDF release forms can be completed electronically with a digital signature, or printed for signature and submission. It is the responsibility of the lead author to obtain all approvals and releases for submitted presentations and papers. Submission instructions are provided on the form itself. Note that poster papers are considered presentations and the presentation release form should be used in those cases. Release forms, as well as questions, should be submitted to devona@deps.org. Presentation Release Form      Paper Release Form Security Markings and Distribution Statements Security Markings Classified materials must be marked In Accordance With DoD 5200.1-R, Sections 5.2, 5.3 and 5.4, and Executive Orders 12958 and 13526 "Classified National Security Information." All classified presentations must include the classified by or derived from information, as well as the "declassify on" date. CUI materials must be marked in accordance with DoD Instruction 5200.48, "Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)," issued in March 2020. This marking guide can be used as an example. Distribution Distribution statements of technical documents must be identified in accordance with DoD Directive 5230.24, dated 23 AUG 2012, Enclosure 4 (page 14). Only presentations and papers with distribution statements A, C, and D will be presented. All presentations must have an authorized distribution statement on the first page. Presentations containing Distribution Statements B and E will not be presented at the DE Systems Symposium. All papers must have an authorized distribution statement on the first page. Papers can be Distribution A, C, or D only. Distribution Statements B, E and F will not be accepted. Copyright © Directed Energy Professional Society   DHTML/JavaScript Menus by OpenCube   DEPS Policies and Terms of Use Last updated: 20 October 2025