IEEE Autotestcon is set to convene November 2-5 at the Gaylord National Convention Center in National Harbor, MD. The conference theme is “Increased Mission Effectiveness through Advanced Test & Support Technology.”

Organizers have announced two keynote speakers. John Johns, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Maintenance), will speak Tuesday November 3 during an 8 to 10:30 a.m. session, and Dr. James Truchard, president and CEO of National Instruments, will speak during a Wednesday morning 8 to 10:30 a.m. session.

Johns provides oversight, policy, and guidance on the DoD $80 billion weapons system maintenance program. In past assignments, he has served the Army and Navy in technology development, engineering, program management, and logistics positions. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace engineering from Penn State University and a Master of Science degree in aeronautics and astronautics from Purdue. He is also a graduate of the National Security Management Program, National Defense University.

Dr. Truchard cofounded NI in 1976. Named an Innovation Agent by Fast Company, he has focused on enabling engineers and scientists to solve the world’s grand engineering challenges.

Dr. Truchard has been elected to the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering and has been elected an IEEE Fellow. He holds a doctorate in electrical engineering and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in physics from the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to cofounding NI, Dr. Truchard served as the managing director of the acoustical measurements division at the UT Applied Research Laboratories.

For more on this year’s event visit http://autotestcon.com/

For a review of news from last year’s event, called Autotest and held September 15-18, 2014, in St. Louis, see these articles:

• Virtual keynote praises Autotest technology
• From bits and bytes to airframe cracks
• Extended service life poses test challenges
• Autotest sees MIL/aero product and technology highlights
• Pickering Interfaces Announces New Switching Modules
• Aeroflex boosts 7700 microwave test system to 26.5 GHz
• Teradyne Spectrum HS test system unveiled at Autotest
• PXI Express remote controller offers PCIe Gen 2 x8 link
• Autotest 2014 exhibits to open Tuesday in St. Louis
• Firms to highlight switching and boundary-scan products at Autotest
• Leveraging military and commercial test technology
• Vendors build on Autotest momentum
• Emphasizing switching and support
• Capitol Hill offers hope for MIL/aero industry