Speakers

Lieutenant General Christopher Donahue commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Infantry Branch in 1992 from the United States Military Academy at West Point. Major General Donahue served as a platoon leader in Korea, Fort Polk, Louisiana and the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning, Georgia. Following promotion to captain, he served as a rifle company commander in 5th Battalion, 87th Infantry in Camp Kobbe, Panama. He then served as an assistant operations officer, rifle and headquarters company commander in 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. Lieutenant General Donahue subsequently moved to Washington, D.C. and served as Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Following his time at the Pentagon, he served as assistant operations officer, squadron operations officer, squadron executive officer, troop commander, selection and training detachment commander, operations officer, squadron  commander, and deputy brigade commander (support) within US Army Special Operations  Command (USASOC) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. After attending Harvard University as a US  Army War College Fellow, he returned to Fort Bragg and commanded a brigade within  USASOC. He was then assigned as the Director of Operations for the US Joint Special  Operations Command (JSOC). He then served as the deputy commanding general (maneuver)  of the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, CO where he deployed in support of Operation  Atlantic Resolve.  

Lieutenant General Donahue then served as the Infantry School Commandant and Director of  the Soldier Lethality Cross Functional Team at Fort Benning, GA. He then served as the Deputy  Director for Special Operations and Counter-Terrorism, J-3, for the Joint Staff in Washington,  D.C. He served as the Commander, Special Operations Joint Task Force-Afghanistan, and  Commander, NATO Special Operations Component and US Joint Special Operations in support  of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. He then went on to serve as the Commander of the 82nd Airborne Division and deployed to both the CENTCOM and EUCOM AoR with the IRF in  support of contingency operations. He most recently took command of the 18th Airborne Corps  while forward deployed in Wiesbaden, Germany in support of contingency operations in the  EUCOM AoR.  

He has deployed 19 times in support of operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, North Africa, and  Eastern Europe. His military education includes the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Naval War  College, and the US Army War College Fellowship at Harvard University. 

Lieutenant General Donahue’s awards and decorations include: Defense Superior Service  Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal (two with “V” device, four Oak Leaf Clusters),  Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Clusters), Joint  Service Commendation Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Commendation Medal (with two  Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Achievement Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman  Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Military Freefall Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and  Ranger Tab. 

LTG Donahue is married to Devon Donahue and they have five children: Alanna, Amir, Zachary,  Haley, and Joseph.

MG Norris is native of Richmond, Virginia. He received his commission in the Army Signal Corps through the Army Officer Candidate School at Ft. Benning, GA in 1991 and has commanded at company to brigade level. He began his career as a platoon leader in C Company, 304th Signal Battalion, Camp Colburn, Korea. He then served as Signal Officer, G6-1st Corps Support Command, Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, Commander, 301st Signal Company, Ft. Pickett, Virginia, Telecommunications Officer, G6-63rd Regional Support Command, Los Alamitos, California, Plans Officer- 8th US Army G6/311th Signal Command Forward, Yongsan, Korea, Signal Officer-Stryker Brigade Coordination Cell and G3 Information Management Officer-I (U.S.) Corps, both at Ft. Lewis, Washington, and as Commandant-High Tech Regional Training Site, Sacramento, California. 

From 2008-2010, he held various key positions in Hawaii as Chief of Current Operations for the 311th Signal Command, S3-30th Signal Battalion and S3-516th Signal Brigade. During this period, he was deployed as Chief, Current Operations for the 335th Signal Command Forward at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. BG Norris then served as the G6 for the 311th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) in Los Angeles, California. He was later selected in 2012 to command the 4th Joint Communications Squadron (Airborne)-Joint Communications Support Element, MacDill AFB in Tampa, Florida. He then joined the Joint Staff J6 (Pentagon) as the Nuclear Command and Control Communications Branch Chief. In 2015, he was selected to command US Army Garrison Fort Hunter Liggett, California prior to his return to Hawaii in in 2017 to serve as the Deputy Commander, 311th Signal Command (Theater) at Ft. Shafter. Two years later he was promoted to Brigadier General to serve as the Commanding General, 311th Sig Cmd and served in that role from 2019-2022. In August 2022 BG Norris moved to HQDA, Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) to serves as the Director for Cybersecurity and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). BG Norris is a Joint Qualified Officer and holds the Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) and Project Management Professional (PMP) certifications. He has served 26 continuous years in active duty status as both an Active Component (AC), Active Guard Reserve (AGR), and Troop Program Unit (TPU) officer. 

BG Norris graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism in 1990. He earned a master’s degree in Applied Linguistics from Old Dominion University in 1997. He is a graduate of the Army Signal Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Combined Arms and Services Staff School, Command and General Staff College, the Force Management Course, the Joint C4 Planner’s Course, Advanced Joint Professional Military Education (JPME II), and the U.S. Army War College with a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies. His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit (w/ 2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (w/ Oak Leaf Cluster), the Meritorious Service Medal (w/ Silver Oak Leaf Cluster), the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal and the Army Parachute badge. 

BG Norris is married to Jin-Young Norris from Seoul, Korea (for 28 years). They have three daughters- Sara (21), Anna (19) and Lois (16) and all currently live in Atlanta (Buford), Georgia. BG Norris is an avid sports fan and an active triathlete.

Jock Padgett serves as the Chief Technology Officer for XVIII Airborne Corps, where he previously held the role of Chief Data Officer. Jock has a robust background as a Business Analytics and Information Technology Executive with over 19 years of experience building and leading innovation and operations teams to drive organizational efficiencies and improve profit and reduce losses. He is an expert in strategy development and execution for data and digital technologies. With a proven record of effective team building and portfolio delivery for large organizations, Jock has led efforts across the Department of Defense increasing human performance, improving unique data collection, data use, and data governance. In his role supporting the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, and in the Ukrainian assistance effort, Jock leveraged his immense network and relied on his technical skillset to secure funding for nearly 100 million USD to accelerate technological development to increase workflow and increase operational effectiveness. Jock demonstrated his ability to team with senior executives across the enterprise and external partners to deliver value across numerous initiatives. Jock holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Networks and Security and Business Administration from the University of Maryland Global Campus, and a master’s degree in Computer Information Systems from Boston University.

Bryan Thomas is the Managing Director for Google’s Public Sector Division focused on Defense, Veterans and Military Healthcare. His organization is focused on developing a strategy to bring Google’s technology and innovation to help Federal customers with their digital transformation journey. Bryan and his team partner with Government to co-create methods to deliver government innovation for employees, partners and citizens – ultimately delivering digital government.

Previous to GPS Bryan served as executive vice president of Public Sector at World Wide Technology (WWT) for 22 years. In this role, he was responsible for WWT’s federal, state, and local government and education organizations.

Bryan developed and maintained relationships with customers, key vendors, prime integrators, and vertical partners. He focused on providing clarity, direction, accountability, and education to WWT’s go-to-market organization.

 Bryan has received multiple awards and recognition throughout the years. In June 2021, FedScoop honored Bryan as one of the Best Bosses in Federal IT, with an emphasis on celebrating the decision-makers and champions of federal technology who rose to the occasion to lead their organizations in light of the continuing challenges of the COVID-19 crisis. In addition, Bryan was recognized with a FedScoop 50 Award for Industry Leadership in 2019 and 2022 for his successful work driving change as a valued partner to both the public and private sector, and proven commitment to helping the federal government work smarter and lower costs to make it more efficient and effective. 

Bryan actively serves on the Board of Directors for the United Service Organizations (USO) of Metropolitan Washington-Baltimore, the largest chapter chartered by the USO, with a strong tradition of service in the National Capital Region. He also serves on the Advisory Board for the Children’s Science Center in Northern Virginia.

Bryan is a graduate of Missouri State University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems. 

Kevin Baron is the founding executive editor of Defense One. Baron has lived in Washington for 20 years, covering international affairs, the military, the Pentagon, Congress, and politics for Foreign Policy, National Journal, Stars and Stripes, and the Boston Globe, where he ran investigative projects for five years at the Washington bureau. He is a frequent on-air contributor and previously was national security/military analyst at NBC News & MSNBC. Baron cut his muckraking teeth at the Center for Public Integrity and he is twice a Polk Award winner and former vice president of the Pentagon Press Association. He earned his M.A. in media and public affairs from George Washington University, his B.A. in international studies from the University of Richmond, and studied in Paris. Raised in Florida, Baron now lives in Northern Virginia.

In her current role as VP of Business Development at Defense One, Laurie Diamond works closely with defense and national security thought leaders. In doing so she assists with conveying their messaging and innovative solutions to top leaders and communities in the defense space. Prior to Defense One, she has 28+ years of experience serving in leadership and management roles in marketing, DoD business development, proposal and capture management, market research and networking. She has excelled in senior leadership positions at The Washington Post, Congressional Quarterly, Clear Channel, Alion Science and Technology and several technology solutions-based companies supporting federal and defense contracts.

Patrick Tucker is technology editor for Defense One. He’s also the author of The Naked Future: What Happens in a World That Anticipates Your Every Move? (Current, 2014). Previously, Tucker was deputy editor for The Futurist for nine years. Tucker has written about emerging technology in Slate, The Sun, MIT Technology Review, Wilson Quarterly, The American Legion Magazine, BBC News Magazine, Utne Reader, and elsewhere.

Congressman Joe Courtney was elected in 2006 to represent the Second Congressional District of Connecticut in the House of Representatives. He serves on the House Armed Services Committee, and House Education and Labor Committee.

Congressman Courtney is the Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces. According to a review by House Historians Office, Courtney is the first known member from Connecticut to lead a naval oversight panel in the House of Representatives since 1873, when Stephen W. Kellogg of Waterbury served as Chair of the Committee on Expenditures in the Navy Department in the 42nd Congress (1871-1873). Prior to that, Samuel Ingham, a two-term Congressman with connections to Hebron, Jewett City (Griswold) and Essex, served as chair of the Committee on Navy Affairs in the 25th Congress (1837-1839).

In addition, he co-chairs the bipartisan Congressional Shipbuilding Caucus along with Rep. Rob Wittman of Virginia. As a member of the House Education and Labor Committee, he serves on the Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions subcommittee, as well as the Higher Education and Workforce Training subcommittee.

As a senior member of the Armed Services Committee, Congressman Courtney has worked to strengthen our nation’s defense by leading the call for increased submarine production. When Courtney arrived in Congress, Electric Boat was facing significant workforce reductions, and, for the first time in 50 years, was not actively designing the next generation of submarine. Because of funding secured by Courtney through his committee work, the men and women of Electric Boat have been building two submarines per year since 2011. In addition, Courtney has secured critical resources for new design and engineering work on the replacement for the OHIO-class submarine, which has added thousands of jobs in southeastern Connecticut. This design and engineering work prompted Electric Boat to expand into the former Pfizer building in New London to accommodate its growing workforce.

Additionally, Congressman Courtney secured over $100 million federal funding outside the President’s budget for SUBASE New London. This investment will ensure that New England’s largest military installation will have an enduring mission for years to come. In recognition of his work, Courtney was awarded “The Distinguished Public Service Award” from Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, the highest civilian honor the Navy confers.

Since his swearing-in, Congressman Courtney has distinguished himself as a tireless advocate for both our nation’s veterans and our men and women in uniform. He successfully fought to expand the Montgomery GI Bill for post-9/11 veterans and their families, and led the fight to extend TRICARE benefits to dependents under age 26. Congressman Courtney also fought and won support for an 18-unit supportive housing facility for homeless and at-risk veterans in Jewett City. He also partnered with Senator John McCain to introduce the Post-9/11 Troops to Teachers Enhancement Act to help members of the military transition into the teaching profession. In recognition of his efforts on behalf of veterans, Congressman Courtney has been awarded the Connecticut National Guard’s highest honor, the Meritorious Service Award. He has also earned recognition from veterans organizations, including the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, which named him Legislator of the Year in 2009.

Having served as a member of the House Agriculture Committee, Congressman Courtney is a vocal proponent for nearly 2,500 farmers across eastern Connecticut. Courtney is the founding co-chairman of the Congressional Dairy Farmers Caucus, and has worked tirelessly to protect family farms from foreclosure and fix the flawed milk pricing system.

Dedicated to preserving our green space and protecting the environment, Courtney introduced and won passage of a law that designated the Eightmile River in Connecticut as a part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Thanks to his efforts, this pristine and scenic watershed will be preserved for generations to come.

Before serving in the House of Representatives, Joe Courtney represented the citizens of Vernon in the Connecticut General Assembly from 1987 to 1994. During this tenure, then state-Rep. Courtney served as House Chairman for both the Public Health and Human Services Committees.

Courtney was recognized in a legislative poll in 1994 by Connecticut Magazine for his bipartisan efforts, and named the “Most Conscientious” and the “Democrat Most Admired by Republicans.” Since he came to Congress, Courtney has received numerous awards from several national organizations including the National Patient Advocate Foundation’s 2010 Healthcare Hero award, The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers’ Legislator of the Year Award, and the American Farm Bureau’s Friend of the Farm Bureau award.

Congressman Courtney is a 1975 graduate of Tufts University in Boston. He earned a law degree from the University of Connecticut School of Law in 1978. He lives in Vernon with his wife, Audrey Courtney, and their two children, Robert and Elizabeth.

VADM Kelly Aeschbach assumed command of Naval Information Forces (NAVIFOR) in May 2021. NAVIFOR is the Type Commander for all Naval Information Warfare Forces.

VADM Aeschbach previously served as the Commander, Office of Naval Intelligence and Director, National Maritime Intelligence-Integration Office. Her other Flag Officer assignments include Director of Intelligence, U.S. Strategic Command, in Omaha, Nebraska and Deputy Director of Intelligence at Headquarters, Resolute Support, Afghanistan. From 2013 to 2015, she was Commanding Officer for Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Atlantic in Norfolk, Virginia.

Her operational assignments include Patrol Squadron (VP) 6 with deployments to Adak, Alaska and Okinawa, Japan and Amphibious Squadron 1, where she deployed to the Western Pacific and the Arabian Gulf. She also served with Carrier Strike Group NINE and took part in Operation Enduring Freedom.

VADM Aeschbach’s ashore assignments include Joint Intelligence Center Pacific in Aiea, Hawaii; Tactical Training Group Pacific in San Diego, California; Naval Personnel Command in Millington, Tennessee; U.S. Naval Forces Europe in London; U.S. Special Operations Command in Tampa, Florida; as a Military Fellow at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence in McLean, Virginia; the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations Staff at the Pentagon; and Naval Information Forces in Suffolk, Virginia.

VADM Aeschbach is a 1990 graduate of George Washington University. She received her commission through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps and was designated as a Naval Intelligence Officer. She holds a Master of Business Administration from San Diego State University.

Bryan Clark is a senior fellow and Director of the Center for Defense Concepts and Technology at Hudson Institute. He leads studies there in naval operations and fleet architecture, electronic warfare, autonomous systems, military competitions, 5G telecommunications, and command and control. 

Before joining Hudson Institute, Bryan was a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA), where he led studies for the DoD Office of Net Assessment, Office of the Secretary of Defense, and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency on new technologies and the future of warfare. Prior to joining CSBA, he was special assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations and director of his Commander’s Action Group, where he led development of Navy strategy and implemented new initiatives in electromagnetic spectrum operations, undersea warfare, expeditionary operations, and personnel and readiness management. During his 25-year Navy career, Bryan was an enlisted and officer submariner, serving in afloat and ashore submarine operational and training assignments including tours as chief engineer of two nuclear submarines and operations officer at the Navy’s nuclear power training unit. He has a Master of Science degree in national security studies from the U.S. National War College, a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and philosophy from the University of Idaho and conducted graduate research in chemistry at the University of Washington.

Lauren C. Williams is senior editor for Defense One. She previously covered defense technology and cybersecurity for FCW and Defense Systems. Before then, Williams has reported on several issues, including internet culture, national security, health care, politics and crime for various publications. She has a master’s in journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park and a bachelor’s in dietetics from the University of Delaware.

Bradley Peniston is deputy editor of Defense One. A national security journalist for a quarter-century, he helped launch Military.com, served as managing editor of Defense News, and was editor of Armed Forces Journal. His books include No Higher Honor: Saving the USS Samuel B. Roberts in the Persian Gulf (Naval Institute Press, 2006), which has been featured in the Chief of Naval Operations’ Professional Reading Program.

General David H. Berger assumed the duties of Commandant of the Marine Corps on July 11, 2019.

A native of Woodbine, Maryland, General Berger graduated from Tulane University and was commissioned in 1981. He commanded at every level – including a Reconnaissance Company; 3d Battalion, 8th Marines in Haiti during Operation SECURE TOMORROW; Regimental Combat Team 8 in Fallujah, Iraq during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.

As a General Officer, he commanded 1st Marine Division (Forward) in Afghanistan during Operation ENDURING FREEDOM; I Marine Expeditionary Force; U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific/Fleet Marine Forces Pacific; and Marine Corps Combat Development Command.

General Berger’s staff and joint assignments include serving as Assistant Division Commander of 2d Marine Division; policy planner in the Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate, J-5; Chief of Staff for Kosovo Force (KFOR) Headquarters in Pristina, Kosovo; and Director of Operations in Plans, Policies, and Operations, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps; Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration.

General Berger’s formal military education includes the U.S. Army Infantry Officer Advanced Course, U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and U.S. Marine Corps School of Advanced Warfighting. He holds multiple advanced degrees including a Master of International Public Policy from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.

Brigadier General Joseph R. Clearfield was born in Bethesda, Maryland. He graduated from Union College in Schenectady, New York, with a Bachelor of Arts in history and was commissioned in 1993.

BGen Clearfield’s past assignments include: Platoon Commander and Executive Officer, Company F, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines during Operation Uphold/ Restore Democracy in Haiti and Operation Assured Response in Liberia attached to the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable); Commanding Officer, Company I, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines attached to 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) during Operation Enduring Freedom and Regimental Combat Team 1 during Operation Iraqi Freedom; Operations Officer, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines during Operation Iraqi Freedom II including Operation Vigilant Resolve in Fallujah, Iraq; Commanding Officer, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit where he served as Mission Commander for recapture of the M/V Magellan Star. Commanding Officer 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit during their WESTPAC 17-2 deployment.

His staff assignments include: Operations Officer and Executive Officer, Recruiting Station Baltimore, Maryland; Head Coach, Naval Academy Sprint Football Team in addition to instructing midshipmen in combatives and ethics; Current Operations Group Section Head, Plans, Policies, and Operations, Headquarters Marine Corps; Military assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian Pacific Security Affairs in OSD-Policy; Operations Officer, Command Element 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade in Bahrain; Chief of Staff, Marine Forces Cyber Command.

He is a graduate of Command & Staff College, Amphibious Warfare School, Airborne School (Honor Graduate), Naval Senior Officers Legal Course, and the Recruiting Management Course. He also earned a Master’s of Science in Resource Strategy at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces (Distinguished Graduate), a Master’s of Science from Duquesne University in Organizational Leadership, and is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program (AMP).

Jennifer Hlad is news editor at Defense One. Hlad was a Stars and Stripes reporter at the Pentagon in 2012 and 2013 before traveling with her Marine Corps husband to posts in Manama and Okinawa, all the while working a mix of assignments with Stripes, the Daily Beast, Military Times, and as a senior editor for Air Force Magazine and AFA publications. She is a graduate of the University of Georgia, and holds a master’s degree in journalism from the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland.

Caitlin M. Kenney is staff reporter at Defense One, where she writes about the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. She has covered the U.S. military for several years across the country, previously as a Pentagon reporter for Stars and Stripes. She’s a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr. is the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. As Chief, he serves as the senior uniformed Air Force officer responsible for the organization, training and equipping of 689,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian forces serving in the United States and overseas. As a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the general and other service chiefs function as military advisers to the Secretary of Defense, National Security Council and the President.

Gen. Brown was commissioned in 1984 as a distinguished graduate of the ROTC program at Texas Tech University. He has served in a variety of positions at the squadron and wing levels, including an assignment to the U.S. Air Force Weapons School as an F-16 Fighting Falcon Instructor. His notable staff tours include Aide- de-Camp to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force; Director, Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff Executive Action Group; and Deputy Commander, U.S. Central Command. He also served as a National Defense Fellow at the Institute for Defense Analyses, Alexandria, Virginia.

Gen. Brown has commanded a fighter squadron, the U.S. Air Force Weapons School, two fighter wings and U.S. Air Forces Central Command. Prior to serving as the Air Force Chief of Staff, Gen. Brown was the commander of Pacific Air Forces, Air Component Commander for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

Gen. Brown is a command pilot with more than 3,000 flying hours, including 130 combat hours.

Lt. Gen. Randall Reed is Deputy Commander, Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. The command serves as the U.S. Transportation Command air component with a fleet of nearly 1,100 aircraft operating from more than 100 locations worldwide to project, maneuver, and sustain the Joint Force, allies, and partners. Subordinate commands include 18th Air Force, the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center, the 618th Air Operations Center, 17 wings and two groups. Approximately 107,000 active-duty, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve Airmen and civilians provide global command and control, inter-theater and intra-theater airlift, air refueling, aeromedical evacuation, and air mobility support, as well as presidential and senior leader air transport in support of national interests.

Lt. Gen. Reed graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1989. He commanded a numbered air force, wing, two expeditionary operations groups, and a flying training squadron. Additionally, he held a variety of joint, headquarters, and base-level positions including assignments in strategic airlift, special operations air refueling, and joint logistics spanning Operation Desert Storm to Operation Allies Refuge. He also served as the Senior Defense Official and Defense Attaché, Ankara, Turkey. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army Light Fighter Air Assault School and is a command pilot with more than 3,500 hours in the C-141B, KC-135R/T, B-1B, RC-135V/W, E-8C, C-130, C-5A, and C-5M aircraft.

Brig. Gen. Kenyon K. Bell is the Director of Logistics and Engineering, Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. As director, he leads more than 350 professionals across nine divisions. He is responsible for integrating strategy, policy, resources, performance management and human capital development in support of the more than 12,800 maintenance, munitions, supply, transportation and civil engineering personnel who serve throughout the command. A4 is responsible for integration, advocacy and oversight of the nation’s largest nuclear weapon storage facility, its Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles and Nuclear Command, Control, and Communication weapons systems, B-1, B-2 and B-52 bombers, while also performing lead command functions for the Air Force’s UH-1N helicopter fleet, the E-4B National Airborne Operations Center aircraft. Brig. Gen. Bell provides combatant commanders with combat-ready forces and equipment to conduct the strategic nuclear deterrence and global strike operations.

Brig. Gen. Bell was born in Columbia, South Carolina, and received his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1995. He has commanded units stateside and overseas at the squadron, group and wing levels. Brig. Gen. Bell has served in multiple staff positions, including assignments at Headquarters Air Force and The Chairman’s Joint Staff, as well as Aide de Camp to the Commander, U.S. Forces Japan and 5th Air Force. Prior to his current assignment, he served as the Commander, 82nd Training Wing and Installation Commander at Sheppard AFB, Texas.

Patrick Tucker is technology editor for Defense One. He’s also the author of The Naked Future: What Happens in a World That Anticipates Your Every Move? (Current, 2014). Previously, Tucker was deputy editor for The Futurist for nine years. Tucker has written about emerging technology in Slate, The Sun, MIT Technology Review, Wilson Quarterly, The American Legion Magazine, BBC News Magazine, Utne Reader, and elsewhere.

Liz Martin currently leads the global US Department of Defense business at Amazon Web Services (AWS).
Previously, Liz led the global US Army, US Air Force, US Space Force, and Combatant Commands business within AWS Worldwide Public Sector, including Federally Funded Research Data Centers (FFRDCs) and University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs).

Prior to joining AWS, Liz served as the Business Unit Executive of International Business Machines (IBM) for software-based cloud solutions for the U.S. Federal government. Also at IBM, Liz was the Business Unit Executive responsible for the IBM Software business for the US Department of Defense, Defense Healthcare, and select U.S. Federal Civilian Agencies.

Liz earned her B.S. in Commerce from the University of Virginia with concentrations in
Management Information Systems and Marketing.

Experienced Publisher with a demonstrated history of working in the publishing industry. Strong media and communication professional skilled in Integrated Marketing, Strategic Partnerships, Marketing, Business Development, and Marketing Strategy. Recognized by Folio’s Women in Media as 2018 Corporate Champion.

Gen. B. Chance Saltzman is the Chief of Space Operations, United States Space Force. As Chief, he serves as the senior uniformed Space Force officer responsible for the organization, training and equipping of all organic and assigned space forces serving in the United States and overseas.  As members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Chief of Space Operations and other service chiefs function as military advisers to the Secretary of Defense, National Security Council, and the President.

Gen. Saltzman is a graduate of Boston University and was commissioned in 1991.  He has operational experience with missile and space systems, as a Minuteman III launch officer, and as a satellite operator for the National Reconnaissance Office.  He also served as the first Chief of Combat Plans for the Joint Space Operations Center, and later, as Chief of Combat Operations.

Gen. Saltzman has commanded at the squadron, group, and wing levels including the 614th Space Operations Squadron and 1st Space Control Squadron at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California; the 460th Operations Group at Buckley AFB, Colorado; and the Aerospace Data Facility Colorado, Aurora, Colorado.  Before serving in his current assignment, Gen. Saltzman was the Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Operations, Cyber, and Nuclear, United States Space Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.

Lt. Gen. DeAnna M. Burt is the Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Operations, Cyber, and Nuclear, United States Space Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. As the Chief Operations Officer, Lt. Gen. Burt has overall responsibility for Operations, Sustainment, Cyber, and Nuclear Operations of the United States Space Force.

Lt. Gen. Burt was commissioned in 1991 as a distinguished graduate of the Air Force ROTC program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Her career has included numerous satellite operations and staff positions in Air Force Space Command and U.S. European Command. The general has commanded the 2nd Space Operations Squadron, the 460th Operations Group, and the 50th Space Wing. She is a graduate and former instructor of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School, and a graduate of the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies. Prior to her current assignment, Lt. Gen. Burt was the Commander, Combined Forces Space Component Command, U.S. Space Command, and Vice Commander, Space Operations Command, U.S. Space Force.

Zach Block joined Lumen Technologies in 2022 as a specialist in Cybersecurity, Cloud, and Emerging Technologies. Zach led the DISA module, including the DISA Internet Service Provider & Security Services (ISPSS) contract and the stand up of the DoD O365 Integrated Phone System (DIPS) contract. Following these successes, Zach was promoted to Director of the DOD Specialized Sales Security Team, where he is building a security-first practice that compliments Lumen’s core network services. He appreciates the opportunity to work with Black Lotus Labs, Lumen’s threat and research operations arm, to provide a unique window into the threat landscape as a global ISP. Zach is a Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP), and actively engages with his network and industry to stay up to date on solutions that enable, not hinder, the cyber warfighter to perform the mission. 

Before his role with Lumen, Zach worked at Deloitte for over eight (8) years serving Federal clients, the most recent being the U.S. Army. Zach’s first engagement with the Army was as the Deputy Project Manager for the Cyberspace Analytics program, directly supporting Army Cyber Command’s (ARCYBER) Big Data Platform (BDP) Gabriel Nimbus (GN). In this role, Zach worked with a team of engineers, developers, and testers utilizing Agile methodology to build applications and analytics that could be deployed on the BDP for use by the cyber operator. Further into his role, Zach coordinated the Hackathon at West Point in September 2020. This event was open to 50 West Point cadets, or ACYBER operators, with the purpose of driving development and adoption of the BDP. 

After supporting the Cyberspace Analytics engagement, Zach transitioned support to the newly appointed Army CIO to deliver the Army Digital Transformation Strategy (ADTS). Specifically, he developed the Operational Technology (OT) Cybersecurity Strategy, a nested strategy within ADTS. As a follow on to OT Cybersecurity Strategy, Zach supported the establishment of the Army Control Systems Governance Office (CSGO. Zach took on the role of SME in Cybersecurity, Cloud and Emerging Technology. 

Prior to his role supporting the Army, Zach helped build Deloitte’s Cyber Reconnaissance Market Offering, which started as a pilot within the Department of Veteran’s Affairs. He most enjoyed traveling to medical locations, benefit offices, and VA data centers to build relationships and trust with VA stakeholders and ultimately demonstrate impact generated from the new managed solution. Before VA, Zach supported the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) by performing security assessments on their financial systems, including the widely known FDA User Fee Database. 

Zach graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Management Information Systems (MIS) from the University at Buffalo, SUNY in 2013. After obtaining his degree, Zach moved to DC and has lived there since. He enjoys running on the National Mall, exploring the Virginia and Maryland regions, and spending time in Delaware Beach with his mini poodle. 

Jim Westdorp is the Chief Technical Officer for CGSI where he drives the creation of class leading network solutions for our Government customers using Ciena’s portfolio of packet optical products and services. Prior to this position, Mr. Westdorp was the product line manager for our Government & Utility enterprises where he was responsible for requirements definition, market analysis, and technical sales. Mr. Westdorp also spent time leading global marketing programs associated with our Government business and had over a decade of experience as a product and engineering management professional at Ciena where he oversaw the metro and long haul wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) transmission equipment business. Mr. Westdorp was a charter member of Ciena Government Solutions (CGSI) when the business first formed in 2004 and has 30 years of leadership experience in product line management and product development with a specialty in optical, digital, and RF communications systems. 

Before joining Ciena in 1998, Mr. Westdorp was a product manager and systems engineer at AlliedSignal for navigation and satcom systems serving the DoD community. He has two patents in the DWDM systems arena. 

Mr. Westdorp received Masters Degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Johns Hopkins University and an undergraduate Engineering Degree with a concentration in business from Clarkson University.

Jennifer Hlad is news editor at Defense One. Hlad was a Stars and Stripes reporter at the Pentagon in 2012 and 2013 before traveling with her Marine Corps husband to posts in Manama and Okinawa, all the while working a mix of assignments with Stripes, the Daily Beast, Military Times, and as a senior editor for Air Force Magazine and AFA publications. She is a graduate of the University of Georgia, and holds a master’s degree in journalism from the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland.

Bradley Peniston is deputy editor of Defense One. A national security journalist for a quarter-century, he helped launch Military.com, served as managing editor of Defense News, and was editor of Armed Forces Journal. His books include No Higher Honor: Saving the USS Samuel B. Roberts in the Persian Gulf (Naval Institute Press, 2006), which has been featured in the Chief of Naval Operations’ Professional Reading Program.

General Mark A. Milley is the 20th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the nation’s highest-ranking military officer, and the principal military advisor to the President, Secretary of Defense, and National Security Council.

Before becoming Chairman on October 1, 2019, General Milley served as the 39th Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army.

A native of Massachusetts, General Milley graduated from Princeton University in 1980, where he received his commission from Army ROTC.

General Milley has held command and staff positions in eight divisions and Special Forces throughout the last 42 years, including command of the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry, 2nd Infantry Division; the 2nd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division; Deputy Commanding General, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault); Commanding General, 10th Mountain Division; Commanding General, III Corps; and Commanding General, U.S. Army Forces Command.

While serving as the Commanding General, III Corps, General Milley deployed as the Commanding General, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command and Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Forces Afghanistan. General Milley’s joint assignments also include the Joint Staff operations directorate and as a Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense.

General Milley’s operational deployments include the Multi-National Force and Observers, Sinai, Egypt; Operation Just Cause, Panama; Operation Uphold Democracy, Haiti; Operation Joint Endeavor, Bosnia-Herzegovina; Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq; and three tours during Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan. He also deployed to Somalia and Colombia.

In addition to his bachelor’s degree in political science from Princeton University, General Milley has a master’s degree in international relations from Columbia University and one from the U.S. Naval War College in national security and strategic studies. He is also a graduate of the MIT Seminar XXI National Security Studies Program.

General Milley and his wife, Hollyanne, have been married for more than 36 years and have two children.

Kevin Baron is the founding executive editor of Defense One. Baron has lived in Washington for 20 years, covering international affairs, the military, the Pentagon, Congress, and politics for Foreign Policy, National Journal, Stars and Stripes, and the Boston Globe, where he ran investigative projects for five years at the Washington bureau. He is a frequent on-air contributor and previously was national security/military analyst at NBC News & MSNBC. Baron cut his muckraking teeth at the Center for Public Integrity and he is twice a Polk Award winner and former vice president of the Pentagon Press Association. He earned his M.A. in media and public affairs from George Washington University, his B.A. in international studies from the University of Richmond, and studied in Paris. Raised in Florida, Baron now lives in Northern Virginia.