Georgia Southern to host inaugural Tactical and Occupational Performance Conference

The inaugural Tactical and Occupational Performance Conference (TOPCON), will bring military personnel, first responders, and human performance professionals to Savannah June 15-17 for a multi-day event focused on operational readiness.

Hosted by Georgia Southern’s Tactical & Occupational Performance (TOP) Institute, this conference will feature professional education, hands-on training and research focused on improving the health and performance of tactical athletes. Waters College of Health Professions Associate Professor and Director of TOP Institute Joseph Kardouni, Ph.D., DPT, who is overseeing the event, said the conference comes at a critical time.

“As we hear about world events in the news, we realize that first responders and military personnel can be called upon to perform their jobs under adverse conditions on a moment’s notice,” Kardouni said. “The military has been investing heavily over the past two decades in human performance programs, and that has only intensified in recent years.

“Many first response agencies have also begun to invest more in this area. That makes this a great time to show these tactical organizations how Georgia Southern can contribute to advancing science and practice in this space.”

This year’s conference combines two previously established events, the Peer Fitness Leader Summit and the Human Performance Optimization Conference, into one collaborative experience. Attendees include military personnel, law enforcement officers, firefighters, healthcare providers, researchers, academics and human performance specialists.

In addition to educational sessions, participants will have opportunities to share best practices and explore current trends in tactical fitness and resilience.

“TOPCON is one of those events that you do not want to miss,” said Savannah firefighter and Georgia Southern alumna Tyler Barrett. “The speaker, attendees and topics are some of the leading in the field of tactical and occupational performance. Networking allows different agencies from all over to connect and help each other grow in many ways. Georgia Southern does a great job at facilitating and hosting.”

Keynote speakers include Col. Ken Dwyer, a longtime U.S. Army Special Forces officer with nearly 30 years of leadership experience; Mark Abel, Ph.D., director of the First Responder Research Laboratory at the University of Kentucky; and retired Lt. Col. Steve DeLellis, who completed 16 combat deployments during his time in Army Special Operations Forces.

“The impact TOPCON has on local agencies and those visiting goes beyond what the presentations offer,” Barrett added. The information is invaluable along with the connections and relationships built over the course of the conference.”

TOPCON will be held at the DeSoto Hotel in downtown Savannah, marking the conference’s first year at the venue.

“Since tactical athletes, healthcare providers and human performance professionals work in high-pressure environments, hosting an event in a place like Savannah provides an opportunity for both professional development and personal enrichment,” Kardouni said.

For more information or to register, visit Georgia Southern’s TOPCON website.