View Gallery

Gallery contains 1 image

×

Photo 1 of 1

GROUP-IDJuly-9-2025

Attendees stand for a group photo during the Joint Industry Forum at Patch Barracks, July 9, in Stuttgart, Germany. U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command co-hosted the event.

Download image

Copy text

Photo by: U.S. European Command Public Affairs 

STUTTGART, Germany (July 9, 2025)– U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command partnered to host a Joint Industry Forum at Patch Barracks today. The event featured a series of briefings and a vendor showcase that brought together mission partners and industry to advance operational readiness. 

 Briefing sessions were focused on EUCOM and AFRICOM’s critical capability needs, outlining technology requirements to close operational gaps. The event represented a way to connect industry innovation to the needs of real-world operations, said Ms. Sally Pfenning, director of EUCOM’s Requirements and Resource Integration Directorate.

 "In today’s rapidly changing technological landscape, the speed at which we can identify, develop, and deploy new capabilities is critical. We can no longer afford to rely on traditional acquisition processes that take years to deliver results,” Pfenning said. 

 As a co-sponsor of the forum, AFRICOM’s Director of Resources and Assessments Mr. Paul Landauer emphasized the strategic importance of pursuing engagement with emerging industry capabilities. “Innovation is critical to the strength and lethality of our forces, and it is a key way we can promote peace through strength here in the European and African theaters," Landauer said.

 The Joint Industry Forum continues tomorrow, with exhibitors featured at Kelley Barracks, home of USAFRICOM.