26 - 30 April 2026
National Harbor, Maryland, US

Defense + Security courses

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Presenter gestures toward a flip chart showing hand-drawn diagrams and equations during an in-person technical course.

Register and save before prices increase 10 April | Live instruction in National Harbor

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Created and taught by experts, SPIE courses are designed to expand your professional knowledge and skills. Topics include electro-optical imaging systems, multispectral and hyperspectral imaging, head-mounted displays, miniature camera technology, infrared sensing, and more.

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SPIE courses are designed to expand your knowledge and skills. Take what you learn in class and apply it directly to your work.

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Advance your skills; build your capabilities

There are many reasons to take a course:

  • Quickly increase your knowledge about hot topics
  • Strengthen the capabilities of your team
  • Get valuable insights from experts with years of experience
  • Learn valuable skills to help solve the challenges you face
  • Network with peers facing the same challenges
  • Earn shareable digital badges and certificates

An in-person course at an SPIE event

2026 Defense + Security NEW Courses


This course will provide a foundational overview of beam control and propagation for high energy laser (HEL) systems. The course will cover the following topics: optics fundamentals, error budgets, classical controls, optical train components, and adaptive optics.

This course will cover the fundamental principles and technologies related to steering and beam control in High Power Microwave (HPM) systems. This course is a teaching-level introduction for those who seek a foundational overview in HPM antenna design, beam steering and microwave propagation.  Scientists and engineers, as well as technical managers will benefit from the topics covered.

This course presents an integrated system description of multispectral and hyperspectral imaging that includes discussion of a variety of multispectral and hyperspectral architectures and designs in use today with figures of merit that describe system performance based on detailed design characteristics including algorithms for retrieving quantitative information products from raw imagery. Anyone interested in learning more about photon-to-insight multispectral and hyperspectral imaging systems and how they are revolutionizing defense, environmental monitoring and manufacturing will benefit from this course.

This course offers a comprehensive overview of chalcogenide glass and its use as an optical material in thermal imaging and other infrared applications. Participants will learn how to design with these materials, understand their unique advantages, and evaluate the trade-offs compared to other common infrared optical materials.

SPIE Member discounts


  • SPIE Members receive 15% off
  • SPIE Student Members receive 35% off

Register for courses before the Early Bird registration deadline (10 April 2026) and receive an additional 15% discount on top of all applicable Membership savings.

Not an SPIE Member? Purchase Membership with your registration and receive your discount right away.

FAQs


• Check in at the Registration Desk to get your badge and verify any courses for which you are signed up.

• Go to the Course Desk.*

• Have your badge scanned and get your course materials and the classroom location.**

* The Course Desk is usually in the same location as the Registration Desk. If you can't find it, ask the volunteer who checked you in — they will know!

** Your course materials serve as your ticket to enter the classroom. Do not go to the classroom without picking up your course materials first. As such, be sure to do this step at least 30 minutes before your first course starts to ensure you get to the classroom on time.

Course registrations include a printed copy of the course materials. Some courses may include textbooks. Check the course descriptions for more information.

Yes, most people collect materials for multiple courses at the same time.

Printed course notes are available for pick-up at the Course Materials Desk during onsite registration hours. We do not ship course notes after the conference concludes. If you are unable to attend the course and collect your materials in person, please contact courses@spie.org for assistance.

Classroom locations are provided onsite when you collect your course materials. Locations vary and courses may be held in a different location than the conferences.

We recommend coming to the Course Desk at least 30 minutes before the start of the course to give yourself time to collect your materials and walk to your classroom.

As a courtesy to the instructor and other attendees, please arrive to the classroom at least five minutes prior to, but no later, than the posted start time.

Course materials can be picked up any time before the scheduled date and time of your course, but it is a good idea to pick them up at least 30 minutes prior. Remember, you will not be allowed access to your classroom without them.

Yes, you may register onsite for courses that still have open seats. However, we recommend registering for courses early to ensure you get a seat in your preferred courss as they do fill up. Please note: courses without sufficient registration three weeks prior to the event are subject to cancellation.

No, there are no waitlists for courses. Be sure to register early to secure a seat in your preferred course.

Sometimes, a course instructor becomes unavailable and needs to cancel their course. Or, if there is an insufficient number of registrations three weeks prior to the conference, SPIE reserves the right to cancel a course.

In either event, you will be contacted by SPIE staff via email.

You may transfer your registration to a different course or ask for a refund before registration fees increase.

If you deregister, you will receive a full refund for the course (less a $75 USD service charge) if the request is made before this date.

PLEASE NOTE: All transfer requests and registration fees will be forfeited after this date.

No, the in-person courses will not be recorded. You must take the course onsite at the specified time.

No, there is no option to attend an in-person course virtually. The course is also not recorded so registrants will not receive a recording after the event. You must take the course onsite at the specified time.

SPIE has a broad portfolio of online courses. These courses are versions of our live courses, taught by the same experts, but accessible at a time and place that work for you. But not all of our courses at conferences are available in this format.

To see the current list of online offerings and to get more information, visit SPIE Online Courses.

Yes, SPIE provides digital badges and certificates to participants who attend in-person courses at events. Certificates will be sent via email to attendees approximately six weeks after the conference has ended.

To receive these digital credentials you must:

  • Be present for the entire course
  • Fill out the course evaluation
  • Provide your contact information
  • Drop the completed evaluation form in the Course Evaluation Box in the classroom or at the Course Desk

More information about digital credentials can be found at SPIE Badges and Certificates.

If you have more questions about courses, please contact courses@spie.org for assistance.