2021 Tech Trends Conference Speakers

	Bob Kolasky Assistant Director, National Risk Management Center, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Bob Kolasky was selected to lead the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) National Risk Management Center (NRMC) in 2018, at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). As one of CISA’s Assistant Directors, he oversees the Center’s efforts to facilitate a strategic, cross-sector risk management approach to cyber and physical threats to critical infrastructure. The Center provides a central venue for government and industry to combine their knowledge and capabilities in a uniquely collaborative and forward-looking environment. Center activities support both operational and strategic unified risk management efforts. Read more.
	Bill R. Evanina Founder and CEO of the Evanina Group Former Director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center Office of the Director of National Intelligence Mr. Evanina was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on May 6, 2020 to be the first Senate-confirmed Director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC). Mr. Evanina served as the Director of NCSC since June 2, 2014. In this position, he was the head of Counterintelligence (CI) for the U.S. Government. Mr. Evanina was responsible for leading and supporting the CI and security activities of the US Intelligence Community, the U.S. Government, and U.S. private sector entities at risk from intelligence collection or attack by foreign adversaries. Under NCSC, he oversaw national-level pro- grams and activities such as the National Insider Threat Task Force; personnel security and back- ground investigations; information technology protection standards and compliance; CI cyber operations; supply chain risk management; threat awareness to sectors of the US critical infrastructure; national-level damage assessments from espionage or unauthorized disclosures, CI mission management, and national CI and security training programs.
	Michèle Flournoy Co-Founder and Managing Partner, WestExec Advisors, & former Co- Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) Michèle served as the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy from February 2009 to February 2012. She was the principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense in the formulation of national security and defense policy, oversight of military plans and operations, and in National Security Council deliberations. She led the development of the Department of Defense’s 2012 Strategic Guidance and represented the Department in dozens of foreign engagements, in the media and before Congress. Michèle served as the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy from February 2009 to February 2012. She was the principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense in the formulation of national security and defense policy, oversight of military plans and operations, and in National Security Council deliberations. She led the development of the Department of Defense’s 2012 Strategic Guidance and represented the Department in dozens of foreign engagements, in the media and before Congress.
	Gregory Allen Chief of Strategy and Communications, Department of Defense Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC) At the JAIC, Mr. Allen advises on development and implementation of the DoD AI Strategy and is responsible for the JAIC's industry and academic engagement, market research, legislative affairs, and public affairs efforts. Before joining the JAIC, Mr. Allen was an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) where he was the author or co-author of seven reports on AI and national security policy issues. Earlier, Mr. Allen served as Senior Manager of Market Strategy at Blue Origin, a commercial space launch services provider, and was a Senior Project Manager at Avascent, a strategy consulting firm. Mr. Allen holds Master of Public Policy and Master of Business Administration degrees from Harvard Kennedy School of Government and Harvard Business School.
	Jessica Clark Associate Director, Office of the Chief Procurement Officer (OCPO), Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Jessica Clark is an Associate Director and senior operations research analyst in the Acquisition Systems Branch (ASB) of the Office of the Chief Procurement Officer (OCPO) at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) where she leads the Data Team responsible for procurement analytics and benchmarking. Previously, Jessica was an operations research analyst for the DHS Joint Requirements Council (JRC) responsible for governing the Joint Requirements Integration Management System (JRIMS) process and supporting Components capability analysis and requirements development. Prior to that she worked in the private sector conducting military campaign modeling and simulation and served in the U.S. Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer.
	Michael Cole Federal Civilian Chief Technology Officer, GDIT Michael leads GDIT’s Federal Civilian solutions operations which focuses on delivering innovation and technology enabled solutions for their customers. Michael frequently interacts with both customer and industry partners to identify and align challenges with market solutions. His focus is on delivering value to GDIT’s Federal Civilian customers by providing future ready capabilities that meet the needs of the agency today and tomorrow.
	Stephanie Sanok Kostro Executive Vice President, Policy, PSC Stephanie Kostro is Executive Vice President for Policy at the Professional Services Council, where she leads a strong policy team that is committed to advocating for and supporting productive collaboration between the federal government and services industry. As a recognized executive, on-air commentator, and policy expert with more than 20 years of experience in the U.S. Government and industry, she brings a wealth of knowledge in federal procurement policy and acquisition regulations, government processes and programs, and public-private partnerships. Read more.
	Mark Montgomery Executive Director, Cyberspace Solarium Commission Mark Montgomery serves as the Executive Director of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission. He most recently served as Policy Director for the Senate Armed Services Committee under the leadership of Senator John S. McCain. In this position he coordinated policy efforts on national defense strategy, capabilities and requirements, defense policy and cyber issues. Mark served for 32 years in the U.S. Navy as a nuclear trained surface warfare officer, retiring as a Rear Admiral in 2017. Read more.
	Bob Sutor Chief Quantum Exponent, IBM Innovative leader and technologist with strong experience in quantum computing, AI, blockchain, analytics, data science, mobile apps and technologies, cloud, social media, open source, and industrial research. A strategic and operational executive with a demonstrated ability to transform his company and the IT industry around leading edge technologies. Read more.
	Raghav Vajjhala Chief Information and Chief Data Officer, Federal Trade Commission Senior executive with a history of successfully transforming organizations using technology, data, and risk management to advance business process innovation in the financial sector, law enforcement organizations, and intelligence community. Well versed in advancing emerging cybersecurity, privacy, and cloud management practices. Skilled in establishing and leading governance programs to achieve policy and mission goals with business and operational stakeholders.
	Kristen Verderame Vice President, Government Relations, NetApp Based in Washington DC, Kristen represents NetApp in front of Congress and Executive Branch agencies as well as government bodies around the world to support NetApp’s policy positions and enhance business development opportunities for the company. Kristen has spent over twenty years working in government relations and public affairs, and has extensive experience in cyber security, telecommunications and technology, and designing and running international lobbying campaigns and programs to support business objectives.
	Stephen Wallace Systems Innovation Scientist, Emerging Technologies (EM) Directorate, Defense Information Systems Agency Mr. Stephen Wallace is Systems Innovation Scientist for the Emerging Technologies (EM) Directorate at the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). Wallace focuses on delivering innovative processes, services, and capabilities across the agency. The EM Directorate develops, executes, prioritizes, and collaborates EM-based needs such as browser isolation, Software Defined Networking and Assured Identity. Previously, Mr. Wallace served as the Technical Director of DISA’s Development and Business Center. In this role, he worked on integrating commercial and government-owned technologies in support of the Agency’s emerging technologies, such as Software Defined Networking and Assured Identity. Wallace’s other former roles within DISA include Chief of Cyber Innovation and chief engineer for DoD Enterprise Email.
	Bryan Ware Former Assistant Director for Cybersecurity, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Bryan Ware is a highly regarded technology leader and innovator, having started companies, patented technologies, raised venture and private equity, and recently served as the Nation’s lead cybersecurity executive at CISA. Bryan is currently the President of Next5, a boutique technology company, ensuring US leadership in critical and emerging technologies including AI, quantum, space, bio, and more. He serves on the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Cybersecurity and as an advisor to technology companies and investors. Read more.