2021 TechTrends Conference Agenda

Welcome and Opening Remarks
12:30 p.m.
Stephanie Kostro, Executive Vice President of Policy, PSC

Opening Keynote
12:40 p.m.
In today’s system of systems world, cybersecurity can no longer be treated as a “too-hard-to-measure” problem. For the nation’s critical infrastructure, underpinned by a dependent web of hardware, software, services, and other connected componentry, the consequences of a cyber incident is very real. Reducing cyber risk is imperative for the national security and economic resilience. Join CISA Assistant Director Bob Kolasky as he discusses the agency’s risk-based approach to national cybersecurity.

Speaker:
 Bob Kolasky, Assistant Director, National Risk Management Center, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)

Break
1:10 p.m.

Panel 1: Modernizing Federal IT Services In Partnership With the Private Sector
1:20 p.m.
As emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, quantum computing and migration to the cloud, are gaining practical applications in the services that federal contractors can provide the public sector, federal agencies must adapt contract requirements government-wide and utilize procurement approaches that allow them to leverage these new technologies faster in order to sustain and innovate their services in a competing cyber and technology environment.

This panel will highlight what emerging technologies federal agencies need from the private sector, where they are putting their time and resources in, where they are going in the next 2 to 3 years, and where the federal contracting community fits in. This panel will also showcase how rapid acquisition approaches can guide in that process and the impacts that those new contracting approaches will have on agency culture.

Panelists:
 Gregory Allen, Chief of Strategy and Communications, Department of Defense Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC)
 Jessica Clark, Acquisition Systems Team, Office of the Chief Procurement Officer, Department of Homeland Security
 Dr. Robert S. Sutor, Chief Quantum Exponent, IBM
 Sam Mulopulos, Director, Senate Artificial Intelligence Caucus (Invited)
 Moderator: Kristen Verderame, Vice President, Government Relations, NetApp

Break
2:10 p.m.

Keynote: U.S. Information Supply Chain Security
2:20 p.m.
Mr. Evanina will cover the scope and extent of supply chain threats, ransomware, and the Internet of Things (IOT) in today’s fast paced business environment. Additionally, Mr. Evanina will discuss the complexity of securing your systems and data as more employees are working from home. Is your company prepared for a breech or crisis? Mr. Evanina provides strategic risk mitigation efforts for decision makers to enhance their companies posture to effectively protect their business, and their brand.

Speaker:
 Bill Evanina, Evanina Group, LLC

Break
3:10 p.m.

Panel 2: Realizing a Federal Technology Strategy In a Post COVID-19 Vaccine Environment
3:20 p.m.
Over the course of a year, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated federal IT modernization, particularly in how the federal workforce operates securely in a virtual environment. Now, as vaccines become readily available, the federal government will need to adapt to a “new normal” work environment, shifting its resources and priorities to enable its civilian and contracting workforces to access government systems remotely. As momentum shifts from a pandemic environment to a post-pandemic environment, how will federal agencies utilize funding sources, such as the Technology Modernization Fund (TMF) and other congressional IT legislation, to support these new priorities, particularly as they pertain to securing the federal IT network? (Consider how the federal government can use TMF funding to support a new, long-term hybrid working environment that supports and strengthens the workforce’s security and their ability to adapt to Zero Trust and Trusted Internet Connections (TIC) standards.) What does the “new normal” work environment look like and how well can the federal government strategically adapt to the needs of the federal workforce?

This panel will highlight what the federal government and the private sector are doing now for the future, how federal agencies are addressing tomorrow’s needs today, and where the federal contracting community fits into this overall strategy.

Panelists:
 Raghav Vajjhala, Chief Information and Chief Data Officer, Federal Trade Commission
 Mark Montgomery, Executive Director, Cyberspace Solarium Commission
 Bryan Ware, former Assistant Director for Cybersecurity, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
 Stephen Wallace, Systems Innovation Scientist, Emerging Technologies (EM) Directorate, Defense Information Systems Agency
 Moderator: Michael Cole, Federal Civilian VP & CTO, GDIT

Break
4:10 p.m.

Closing Keynote/Armchair Chat
4:20 p.m.
How can the U.S. can maintain its technological edge over a rising China and revisionist Russia? How do investments in AI and other emerging technologies, STEM education, and domestic infrastructure projects support U.S. goals in a post-COVID environment? Get these answers and more from Michèle Flournoy, a former DoD leader who was the principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense in the formulation of national security and defense policy. She will participate in an armchair chat with PSC’s Senior Vice President for Policy, Stephanie Kostro.

Speakers:

 Michèle Flournoy, Chair, CNAS Board
 Stephanie Sanok Kostro, Executive Vice President, Policy

12:15 p.m.

Wrap-up & Summary
4:45 p.m.