ICE-PPR 2026 Defense Communications Research Workshop

On behalf of the Situational Awareness Working Group (SAWG) Chair, Randy “Church” Kee, we are pleased to invite you to the ICE-PPR Arctic Defense Communications Research Workshop, June 1–3, 2026, at the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) in Hanover, New Hampshire, USA. This invitation is intended for the recipient, kindly reply to nominate additional participants.

Interest and activity across the Arctic region continue to accelerate, and communications remain central to mission assurance, safety, and coalition interoperability. This in-person workshop brings together experts from across the ICE‑PPR community to establish a common picture of Arctic communications, prioritize the highest‑impact gaps, and commit to focused collaborative efforts that advance coalition research and interoperability. Anticipated outcomes include:

• Coalition priorities that sequence near‑term research and planning
• Candidate Collaborative Activity Proposal (CAP) ideas
• Aligned steps to strengthen interoperability and communications security
• A coordination cadence with defined checkpoints and points of contact
• Expanded networking across the ICE-PPR community

To support these outcomes, the workshop will include keynote discussions, expert exchanges, small‑group working sessions to refine priorities, and ample opportunity for networking and relationship building.

Workshop topics will include:

• RF/HF communications including the impact of atmospherics to RF Communications (encompassing how high latitude physics & resilience impacts RF comms)
• Underseas Communications (encompassing acoustic comms, quantum, and UxS applications)
• Topics of broad interest nominated by participants during registration

Also included will be an optional guided tour of CRREL’s facilities that provides insight into the cold‑region research environment underpinning U.S. and partner‑nation activities.

Registration and Request for Information (RFI):

To ensure ICE-PPR leadership has visibility into workshop participants, please confirm you have approval (there is not an official process, just request for coordination) from your National Principal (To Line) to attend.

Once you’ve confirmed participation with your National Principal, complete the registration and RFI form using the provided link by April 10,2026 Your feedback will help us with planning and shaping an agenda informed by your inputs.

Once registered, you can expect to receive:

• Calendar invitations for workshop pre-briefs and the session out-brief, including SAWG Communications topic introductions, a preparation session, and a post-session follow up to review key findings.
• Tues, April 21 – Strategic Scene Setting: Background information on ICEPPR, SAWG, CRREL, TCS, etc., light logistics (getting to CRREL)
• Tues, May 5 – Introductory Technical Briefs (as needed)
• Tues, May 19 – Mandatory Workshop Pre-brief: Review RFI data, agenda, more detailed logistics, etc.
• Tues, July 7 or 14 – Workshop out brief: Share what came out from workshop (high level), such as new topics, ideas, groups, etc.
• Schedule updates as agenda details are finalized, including session flow and key engagements.
• A Welcome Guide that provides administrative details for travel, lodging, security, and onsite coordination.

Conference Landing Fee:

A conference landing fee will be required to cover lunches and refreshments provided during the workshop. Additional details will be included in the Welcome Guide.

For International Travelers:

International travelers should have received the proper request for visit authorization forms from their multinational working group leads. The timeline for CRREL campus access is 45–60 days.

• Official foreign visitors need to send their Request for Visit Authorization (RVA) through their chain of command to be routed and approved by Dept. of Army G-2 FDO.
• Unofficial foreign visitors can send their information to Bill Rowell: william.e.rowell@usace.army.mil, (603) 646-4981

For More Information:

• A Prospectus is attached with additional context to help frame the workshop’s purpose and focus areas.
• For questions or support, please contact our workshop point of contact:
  Matthew Schell: matthew.schell.6@us.af.mil. You can also expect to receive ongoing communication from Angie Keaton: angie.keaton@forgefwd.com and other members of the Forge Forward team (Cc).

Should any points require clarification as you prepare, our team is available to assist. We look forward to your engagement and to a productive workshop in June.