Defense IT Summit

Defense IT Summit

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Arlington, VA

We’re bringing together federal and industry leaders at the Defense IT Summit to discuss how IT modernization programs are restructuring the defense landscape.

Hear senior leadership’s priorities and get a jump start on the shifting needs around artificial intelligence, JADC2, data innovation, and workforce development. Join us for the insights on tomorrow’s blueprint for the future of national security. 

Date
February 9, 2024
Time
8:00 AM - 1:30 PM
Where
Hilton Arlington National Landing | 2399 Richmond Hwy, Arlington, VA 22202

 
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Agenda

 
8:00 - 9:00 am
Breakfast, Networking and Headshot Station
9:00 - 9:20 am
Fireside Chat
9:20 - 9:55 am
Panel: Software Development Advancements

With more attention and resources put into software factories, the Defense Department is prioritizing keeping up with the fast pace of technology development in new ways. Hear how federal leaders are using DevSecOps and Agile development processes to modernize IT systems and infrastructure that are supporting new defense weapons systems and programs.

Charlie Bahk
Charlie Bahk
Software Factory Director, Marine Corps
Rob Vietmeyer
Rob Vietmeyer
Chief Software Officer, DOD
Dave Lago
Dave Lago
Product Manager, Vulcan, DISA Hosting and Compute Center
9:55 - 10:10 am
Networking Break
10:10 - 10:45 am
Panel: Cloud Security

The Defense Department’s major cloud contract vehicle, JWCC, is ushering in a new age of cloud modernization. Cloud leaders are touting its benefits in the partnerships it is creating in the intelligence community to bring cloud in at all levels — leading also to more efficient approaches in cybersecurity. This panel will discuss how the services are strategizing this new opportunity to bring security at the forefront of cloud migration.

Don Yeske
Don Yeske
Director, National Security Cyber Division, DHS
10:50 - 11:25 am
Panel: JADC2 and Multi-Domain Operations

As the military services work more toward multi-domain operations, DOD is seeking to connect its multitude of networks and data points to ensure seamless command and control on the battlefield. Hear about the tech developments the services are working on toward these concepts and what they mean for the ongoing pursuit to connect all domains across air, land, sea, cyber and space.

11:30 am - 12:05 pm
Lightning Rounds: What’s Next in the AI and Machine Learning Wave

Language models and artificial intelligence tools have potential to transform how technology teams work. Learn about how these leaders view new technologies that will transform defense operations and how they see these breakthroughs impacting the future of national security.

Jaime Fitzgibbon
Jaime Fitzgibbon
AI/ML Program Manager, Defense Innovation Unit
Alexis Bonnell
Alexis Bonnell
CIO, Air Force Research Laboratory
12:05 - 12:55 pm
Lunch & Keynote Fireside Chat
Leslie Beavers
Leslie Beavers
Principal Deputy CIO, DOD
1:00 - 1:25 pm
Flywheel Awards Presentation

We'll present the Flywheel Awards to recognize leaders and their work in federal government.
The flywheel — a critical component in a machine to increase its momentum — is also a critical symbol representing our goal to keep federal IT decision-makers informed on technology's impact on government. This momentum is what fuels the constant need for transformers to innovate around the defense systems, infrastructure and tools that are keeping our nation safe. Categories and winners to be announced.

1:25 - 1:30 pm
Closing Remarks

Featuring

 

Lt. Col. Charlie Bahk is the inaugural Director of the U.S. Marine Corps Software Factory (MCSWF), a pilot effort to create a world-class Marine-led software development capability. Charlie also serves as the Deputy Commandant for Information, Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps (USMC). In these capacities, he enables USMC modernization efforts by leveraging emerging technologies to support commanders at the speed of operations, increasing lethality and readiness. Previously, Charlie served as the Occupational Field Manager for Communications, the second-largest community in the Marine Corps. He is a combat veteran with multiple overseas deployments and received a Bronze Star for wartime service. A native of San Antonio, Texas, Charlie received a Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering Systems degree from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

Software Factory Director, Marine Corps

Ms. Leslie A. Beavers is a career member of the Senior Executive Service and the DoD Principal Deputy CIO. In this capacity, she will assist the CIO in advising the Secretary of Defense on Information Management / Information Technology (IT) and Information Assurance, as well as non-intelligence space systems; critical satellite communications, navigation, and timing programs; spectrum; and telecommunications matters. Ms. Beavers will also lead engagement with the Defense Agencies and Field Activities CIOs and drive strategic resource planning across the IT and cybersecurity domains.

Prior to joining the CIO, Ms. Beavers served as the Director of Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Enterprise Capabilities (ISREC). In this capacity she led OUSD(I&S)’s Defense Intelligence Digital Transformation Campaign Plan, known as Project Herald.Ms. Beavers began her DoD career as an Intelligence Officer in the United States Air Force, where she continues to serve as a Reserve Brigadier General with the Joint Staff J2. Her assignments included:  16th Air Force, San Antonio, TX; Pacific Air Forces, Hickam, HI; Distributed Common Ground System 2, Beale AFB, CA; and 4th Air Force, March ARB, CA.She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the U.S. Air Force Academy and a MBA in Finance with Honors from South University. Ms. Beavers is a certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, a Distinguished Graduate of the Air Force’s Signals Intelligence program, and the recipient of numerous DoD and professional awards including the Defense Superior Service and Legion of Merit.

 

Principal Deputy CIO, DOD
Alexis Bonnell
Alexis Bonnell
CIO, Air Force Research Laboratory

Ms. Fitzgibbon serves as a Program Manager for the Defense Innovation Unit's (DIU) Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) portfolio. She runs AI-centered prototypes of commercially proven solutions with the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Intelligence Community (IC) mission users to accelerate emerging technology adoption for operational needs. Ms. Fitzgibbon also serves as DIU's Liaison Officer at the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA).

Prior to joining DIU, Ms. Fitzgibbon's experience spanned leadership roles across senior product management, program management, and customer success as well as technology scouting across Silicon Valley, DC and Europe. She has coached start-ups on product-market fit, go-to-market strategy, pricing models and product scaling within the US (commercial and government deployments). In addition to Ms. Fitzgibbon's private sector experience, she served as a Deputy Director within the Bureau for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) at the Department of State, African policy lead within the United States Senate and a High School French Teacher. She holds both a Master’s of Public Policy and a Bachelor of Arts in French Education.

AI/ML Program Manager, Defense Innovation Unit

Dave Lago is the Product Manager for Vulcan, an offering from the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Hosting and Compute Center (HaCC), which provides DevSecOps and agile tools to support automation and software modernization initiatives.
Prior to this role, Mr. Lago created and launched the DoD Cloud Infrastructure as Code (IaC), cloud templates that help mission owners deploy cloud infrastructure by leveraging pre-configured, pre-authorized baselines, significantly reducing the time and resources typically required for cloud deployments. As Product Manager for DoD Cloud IaC, Mr. Lago helped more than 25 DoD organizations rapidly adopt commercial cloud.

Formerly, Mr. Lago served as a civilian in the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) leading cloud and DevOps initiatives. Mr. Lago
 also has thirteen years of experience as a contractor for Booz Allen Hamilton, BAE, and other consulting firms supporting various defense customers on mission system deployments, cybersecurity, IT strategy, and enterprise architecture.

Mr. Lago holds a Master of Science degree from Johns Hopkins University in Systems Engineering and a Bachelor of Arts from James Madison University with a major in Computer Information Systems.

Product Manager, Vulcan, DISA Hosting and Compute Center

Mr. Rob Vietmeyer is the Department of Defense Chief Software Officer for the Deputy Chief Information Officer for Information Enterprise (DCIO(IE)). In this position, he is the principal advisor to the DoD CIO for the implementation and evolution of the Department’s Software Modernization Strategy. Mr. Vietmeyer will drive strategy implementation, establishing the foundation to deliver resilient software at speed and scale advocating for the latest software development approaches, cloud services, and process transformation. Through collaboration with other DoD Components, government, industry, and academia partners, he is responsible for advancing the Department’s adoption of DevSecOps practices, agile software development, and cloud native modernization.

Chief Software Officer, DOD
Don Yeske
Don Yeske
Director, National Security Cyber Division, DHS