Fairbanks hosts fourth Arctic Defense Forum [Video]

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) – Fairbanks hosted a gathering of stakeholders on August 26 through the 28, to discuss military issues in Alaska and across the U.S.

According to Founder and Lead Organizer Brittany Smart, the event is “intended to provide an opportunity for defense, community, and military leaders to come together to talk about shared issues, identify some opportunities, and create some ideas and projects and programs that move us all forward together.”

“Having these conversations and telling our story is critically important,” Smart added.

Largely taking place at the Westmark Fairbanks Hotel and Conference Center, the theme of this year’s Alaska Defense Forum is “Operation Innovation: Building Collaboration for the Future.”

Lisa Slaba, Senior Project Manager for Military Affairs at the Fairbanks Economic Development Corporation, said, “We’ve had the Air Force, the Army, the Navy, the Marines, the Coast Guard. We’ve had the gamut.”

From tours at installations and …