As the General Chair of RAMS® 2026, it is my honor to welcome you to the 72^nd Annual Reliability and Maintainability Symposium. This year’s event will be held January 19–22, 2026 at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Miramar Beach, Florida (note: one week earlier than our traditional schedule). RAMS® is proudly sponsored by eight professional societies and is organized entirely by a dedicated team of volunteer professionals from those societies. Together, we have worked tirelessly to create a symposium that offers a comprehensive, enriching experience across the full spectrum of reliability, availability, maintainability, and safety disciplines. I extend a warm welcome to RAMS® 2026 and invite you to join us for this exceptional experience.

RAMS® has long been a gathering point for top-tier experts in R&M, drawing participants from government, industry, and academia. You will find attendees and contributors from diverse sectors – including defense, automotive, aerospace, medical devices, and more – all coming together to share knowledge and advance the state of the art. The symposium serves as a nexus for collaboration, fostering dialogue between practitioners, researchers, and leaders, and providing ample opportunities for networking with fellow professionals. It is one of the most effective ways to educate yourself and your colleagues, with content that caters to everyone from newcomers to seasoned experts in the field. More…

Rachelle Putnam serves as the Vice President, Chief Information Officer for General Dynamics Land Systems, responsible for Information Technology and Cyber Security.

As CIO, Rachelle sets the strategic direction for IT and Cyber Security, drives innovation through the deployment of new technologies, and optimizes technology operations while ensuring data is safely protected. Rachelle is responsible for the adoption of Artificial Intelligence across all sectors of the business, transforming business practices into modern ways of working.  more

Joel Hilchey is an author, keynote speaker, and nationally recognized Fun-at-Work Expert who helps leaders build cultures where people genuinely want to stay. With a background that blends leadership development, workplace psychology, and humor, Joel is known for delivering high-energy, insight-packed presentations that are as entertaining as they are practical. more