Jackie Stennett (US Army Veteran)
DSS Co-Chair
Vice President and Board of Directors, AcademyWomen
Jackie Stennett is the Vice President and Board Member of AcademyWomen, a nonprofit leadership and professional development organization that bridges the gap of support by providing programs and resources that connect military women to networks of substance, impact and influence. As Vice President, Jackie assists in the design strategy and growth of all mission critical programs including a former 5x award-winning online mentoring program, networking events and career development opportunities that cultivate and leverage the leadership of military women to impact positive change locally, nationally and globally. Jackie served as a logistics officer in the United States Army and has a wide array of leadership and management experience within the corporate, government and nonprofit sectors. Currently, in addition to her role with AcademyWomen, Jackie advises organizations with socially responsible missions in designing effective strategies to improve individual and organizational performance. She serves as an Advisory Board Member for the Gender and Policy (GAP) Center at George Mason University's Schar School of Policy and Government; the Service Academies Global Summit (SAGS); and the Civil Service Board for a South Florida city. Jackie holds a BS in Chinese Studies from the United States Military Academy at West Point, and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
https://www.academywomen.org
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DSS Co-Chair
Vice President and Board of Directors, AcademyWomen
Alex Verhulst
DSS Co-Chair
Corporate Talent Acquisition Military Program Manager, Leidos
Alex Verhulst has over 15 years of Talent Acquisition experience within the government contracting industry. He currently serves as the Corporate Talent Acquisition Military Program Manager for Leidos' Military Veteran Program (Operation MVP). Operation MVP is Leidos’ official Military Veteran Program, with a mission to build veteran talent pipelines and increase Leidos' presence as a preferred employer for transitioning military candidates. By assisting transitioning service members in their job search, Operation MVP helps build Leidos' employer brand within the veteran community and increase their available qualified talent. Through this program, Leidos partners with military transition centers, military associations, and veteran organizations in an effort to identify and hire separating and retiring military veterans - who are recruited from all branches of the military, as well as the National Guard and Reserves. Leidos and the Operation MVP team participate in specific career development and networking events geared towards the veteran and military dependent / caregiver population - and are actively engaged in advertising and branding initiatives specific to military branches and installations. Previous to assuming responsibility for the military program, Alex served at Leidos as part of a talent identification and acquisition organization responsible for Military, University, and Diversity outreach, specializing in recruiting qualified professionals for customers across the Intelligence Community, Department of Defense, Homeland Security, Federal Law Enforcement, and Healthcare agencies.
https://www.leidos.com/operation-mvp
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DSS Co-Chair
Corporate Talent Acquisition Military Program Manager, Leidos
Suzy Streeter (Colonel, US Air Force Retired)
Host
Board of Directors, AcademyWomen
Suzy Streeter is a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel and a Founding Member of the AcademyWomen Board of Directors. Over her 28 years in the Air Force, Colonel Streeter was a Group Commander, Major Command and Numbered Air Force Director of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance; an Intelligence Plans and Exercises Division Chief at a sub-unified command; a Squadron Director of Operations; a Squadron Commander; as well as an Air Staff Program Element Monitor and Legislative Affairs Liaison. Colonel Streeter's deployments include Operation DECISIVE ENDEAVOR and Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Prior to retiring from the Air Force, she was instrumental in standing-up the US Space Force Intelligence, Reconnaissance, and Surveillance function. Colonel Streeter is a 1992 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and holds an MA in Pastoral Ministry.
https://www.academywomen.org
About Suzy Streeter (Colonel, US Air Force Retired)
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Host
Board of Directors, AcademyWomen
Leslie Fautsch, JD, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Introductory Remarks
Chief Human Resources Officer, Leidos
Leslie Fautsch serves as Chief Human Resources Officer at Leidos, bringing over 20 years of expertise as a distinguished HR executive and licensed employment attorney. Her leadership has been instrumental in developing and executing transformative human capital strategies, driving financial optimization initiatives, and fostering organizational growth.
Most recently, she led a comprehensive review of more than $1B in total rewards offerings to transform the employee experience. The holistic review resulted in multiple enterprise-wide enhancements to attract, retain, and engage the best talent while maintaining a competitive business position. Additionally, Leslie developed a future-focused human capital strategy that enhances the employee experience while enabling the talent and culture needed to drive future business growth.
Since 2011, Leslie has held several key leadership roles at Leidos, including Senior Vice President for HR Operations and Total Rewards, Vice President of HR Strategic Operations during a transformative growth phase, and Vice President of HR for corporate and enterprise functions. Before her time at Leidos, she held senior leadership roles in HR management, employee relations, and ethics at Northrop Grumman. Earlier in her career, she practiced as a labor and employment attorney.
Leslie is a cum laude graduate of the University of Notre Dame, where she earned a B.A. in Political Science, and she holds a J.D. from Marquette University Law School.
https://www.leidos.com/
About Leslie Fautsch, JD, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
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Introductory Remarks
Chief Human Resources Officer, Leidos
Nina Jain
Fireside Chat Moderator
Vice President of HR Systems and Analytics, Leidos
Nina Jain is the Vice President of HR Systems and Analytics at Leidos. She has over 20 years of experience in the technology and analytics areas, including external consulting and internal leadership roles dealing with strategy, application development, system implementation, and artificial intelligence / machine learning. Nina has worked with Fortune 500 companies worldwide and numerous public sector entities as part of her consulting experience, as well as internally within the manufacturing, utility, and aerospace industries.
https://www.leidos.com/
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Fireside Chat Moderator
Vice President of HR Systems and Analytics, Leidos
Elizabeth 'Liz' Chirico
Fireside Chat
Principal Director, Mission Analytics, DoD Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO)
Elizabeth “Liz” Chirico serves as the Principal Director of the Chief Artificial Intelligence Office’s (CDAO) Mission Analytics Directorate. The CDAO Mission Analytics Directorate helps teams across DoD access and translate data from across the Department into products and applications to make faster, better-informed decisions. Our teams partner with DoD Components to expand the scope of available information, raise data quality, reduce the time spent on data collection, advance analysis, and improve the timeliness of actionable insights.
Prior to joining the CDAO as Strategy and Operations Division Chief in July 2023, Liz led multiple acquisition reform efforts in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Procurement) and headed the Acquisition Innovation through Technology team delivering Army Acquisition’s first Robotic Process Automation (RPA) “bot” named DORA (Determination of Responsibility Assistant.) She also has 14 years of Army contracting experience and has served in a number of roles as a Senior Procurement Analyst and Contracting professional.
Liz holds an M.S. in Acquisition and Contract Management from the Florida Institute of Technology, and in January 2023 earned a Master of Studies in Law (M.S.L.) degree focusing on Government Procurement and Cybersecurity from the George Washington University Law school. She is Level III certified in Contracting and is a member of the Army Acquisition Corps. Liz is also a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society and National Contract Management Association (NCMA).
https://www.ai.mil/index.html
About Elizabeth 'Liz' Chirico
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Fireside Chat
Principal Director, Mission Analytics, DoD Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO)
Robert L. Gordon III (Colonel, US Army Retired)
Fireside Chat
Senior Strategic Leader for AI and Digital Innovation, DSS Inc.
Robert L. Gordon III is the Senior Strategic Leader for AI and Digital Innovation at Document Storage Systems, Inc. (DSS), a leading provider of health information technology (HIT) solutions for federal, private and public health care organizations. In this capacity, Rob advances DSS's efforts to harness and optimize AI and advanced technologies to help clients improve health care delivery and veteran outcomes.
Most recently Rob served as Chief Growth Officer of SBG Technology Solutions (SBG), a wholly owned subsidiary of DSS. Prior to his role with SBG, Rob held executive positions at high tech companies, including Chief Global Officer of Connected Living and Chief Strategy Officer of APX Labs. He is the former President of Be the Change, Inc.
Rob has extensive multi-sector senior management and leadership experience. In 2010 he was appointed in the Obama Administration as the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy, where he was responsible for defense-wide policy, program execution and oversight of the Defense Department’s worldwide community and family programs affecting over 4 million military active-duty service and family members, and 2 million retirees.
During his tenure at the Department of Defense (DoD), Rob spearheaded the creation of DoD’s Military Spouse Employment Partnership, an online and digital employment initiative that has grown to include more than 850 employment partners who have provided jobs to more than 340,000 military spouses since the program’s inception in 2011. For his Pentagon service, Rob was awarded the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service. Rob completed a 26-year career in the U.S. Army, retiring at the rank of Colonel after serving in command and staff positions as an artillery officer, aide-de-camp to General Colin Powell; National War College instructor and graduate; and former Academy professor and director of American Politics at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
Rob is a former White House Fellow under Presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton, serving as the Special Assistant to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and as the Director of Special Operations, Office of National Service, The White House. In 2017 he was the recipient of the Franklin Award by the National Conference on Citizenship. Rob earned his BS from the United States Military Academy at West Point, and an MPA from Princeton University.
About Robert L. Gordon III (Colonel, US Army Retired)
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Fireside Chat
Senior Strategic Leader for AI and Digital Innovation, DSS Inc.
Tifani O'Brien
Fireside Chat
Vice President and Director, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning Accelerator, Leidos
Tifani O’Brien is Vice President and Director of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) Accelerator for Leidos. In this role, she is responsible for developing and implementing all aspects of AI and ML strategy, including the evaluation of emerging technology and the selection and execution of investments in research and development. She leads a team of more than 70 AI and ML researchers and data scientists developing solutions for customers, partners, and the Leidos community of AI/ML practitioners.
Tifani has been leading R&D in AI, ML, and related technologies for more than 25 years. She has served as a principal investigator and program manager on programs for DARPA, IARPA, DTRA, and the Intelligence Community, addressing many of the nation’s toughest challenges. Tifani holds a Bachelor's in Computer Science from Rice University and a Master's in Computer Information Systems from Boston University.
https://www.leidos.com/
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Fireside Chat
Vice President and Director, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning Accelerator, Leidos
Joel 'Thor' Neeb (Lieutenant Colonel, US Air Force Retired)
Workshop Facilitator
Co-Founder, The Insight Age
Joel Neeb, co-founder of The Insight Age, is a transformative leader with a passion for preparing businesses for the AI era. His leadership skills have been honed through executive roles and commanding elite military teams. As VP of Execution and Transformation at VMware, Joel accelerated a cultural and operating model shift from enterprise software to SaaS (Software as a Service), helping achieve a $5B ARR (annual recurring revenue) goal ahead of schedule and doubling enterprise value.
Previously, as CEO of Afterburner, Joel led a team of over 100 former elite military professionals - helping Fortune 100 companies achieve their top initiatives, earning the Forbes Top 25 Small Businesses in America Award and two Inc 5000 CEO awards.
As an F-15 pilot, Joel escorted the U.S. President through the sky and flew missions to ensure the safety of the country after the attacks of 9/11. He was the tactical leader of 300 of the most senior combat pilots in the Air Force and oversaw the execution of a $150M/year flight program. Joel was named the Top Instructor Pilot at the Air Force Flight Training Headquarters and has flown thousands of missions teaching pilots from 25 countries around the world.
Joel is humbled to have had the incredible experiences that executive leadership within the military and corporate environment have afforded him, but he’s most proud of the following accomplishments. In 2010, Joel was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer and given a 15% chance to live. Instead of giving up, he decided to give back by starting a youth outreach program in San Antonio that has grown to help more than 15,000 at-risk kids. Their efforts have been featured on local and national media outlets, and in 2012, Joel was selected out of 62,000 people to receive the AETC National Public Service Award.
An avid competitor, Joel competed multiple times on American Ninja Warrior and completed the New Zealand Ironman Triathlon in 2015 to commemorate the five-year anniversary of his Stage IV cancer diagnosis and to raise awareness of the rare and deadly cancer that he battled.
He is the author of the best-selling book: 'The Survivor’s Obligation' and the soon to be released: 'The Insight Age: Moving from Overwhelming Information to Empowering Insights.’
Joel sits on the board of several national organizations and holds a BS in Industrial Engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy and an MBA from the University of Texas. He resides in Atlanta with his family.
https://theinsightage.com/
About Joel 'Thor' Neeb (Lieutenant Colonel, US Air Force Retired)
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Workshop Facilitator
Co-Founder, The Insight Age
Elisa Basnight, Esq. (US Army Veteran)
Panel Moderator
Supply Chain Executive | Board Director | STEM Innovator
Elisa Basnight is an accomplished transformational leader across Fortune 50 corporations, government entities, and nonprofits. Her background encompasses executive roles in Healthcare, Supply Chain, Workforce Innovation, as a two-time U.S. Senior Executive Service (SES) Presidential Appointee, and advising clients as a corporate and commercial attorney. She is a West Point graduate, Army Airborne qualified and a former Army Intelligence Officer with a JCS badge. Presently, Elisa serves as the Chief Executive of StrategyServ LLC focused on future workforce innovation solutions, such as creating employer workforce pipelines and career pathways for the next generations into STEM, supply chain, and the skilled trades in the AI era and beyond through Girls Action Network. Elisa has served as an adjunct lecturer, teaching a module on Leading Change at the Brookings Institute. She is a Life Member of the Council on Foreign Relations. She has authored and published op-eds and two (2) Law Review articles: Resolving Conflict in the 21st Century Global Workplace: The Role of ADR and Globalization, Governance; and Multinational Enterprise Responsibility: Codes of Conduct in the 21st Century, which have become a Lexis Litigation Essential (both Law Journal publications are penned as Elisa Westfield). She is a member of the Association of Supply Chain Management, National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), Women Corporate Directors (WCD) and The Links, Incorporated. Her current boards include Southeastern Freight Lines, University of Maryland Medical System, and Council on Foreign Relations (Term Member Subcommittee). Elisa holds a BS from the U.S. Military Academy - West Point, a JD from Rutgers Law School, an MPA from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, and an MA in International Relations and Affairs from Boston University - Brussels.
https://www.girlsactionnetwork.org/
About Elisa Basnight, Esq. (US Army Veteran)
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Panel Moderator
Supply Chain Executive | Board Director | STEM Innovator
Garry "Pink" Floyd (Colonel, US Air Force Retired)
Panel Member
Senior Staff, Tactical Intelligence Systems Group, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab
Garry “Pink” Floyd is a senior professional staff member assigned to
the Tactical Intelligence Systems Group at the Johns Hopkins
University Applied Physics Lab; a not-for-profit university affiliated
research center (UARC) that solves complex research, engineering,
and analytical problems that present critical challenges to our nation. Pink recently retired as a Colonel following 26 years of service in the United States Air Force. In his final assignment he served as the Director of the Department of the Air Force’s (DAF's) Artificial Intelligence Accelerator at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he led 17 Airmen and over 150 civilian personnel conducting fundamental artificial intelligence research in support of bringing cutting-edge technology back to DAF operations. Pink is a career Air Force intelligence officer and is a former Commander of 694th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Group at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea where he led 650 Airmen charged with conducting ISR operations to provide critical indications and warning to 7AF and US Forces Korea. Pink has served in a variety of roles at the squadron, major command, joint, and national intelligence agency levels. Notably, Pink served as an original member and Deputy Chief of the Algorithmic Warfare Cross-Functional Team (AWCFT), also known as Project MAVEN. The AWCFT was chartered by former Deputy Secretary of Defense Bob Work to accelerate the development and deployment of artificial intelligence capabilities across the Department of
Defense. Pink is a Georgia native and a 1998 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy. He completed intermediate developmental education in-residence as a Legislative Fellow working in the office of a United States Senator and is a graduate of the U.S. Army’s School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS). He is also a graduate of the Air Force’s Blue Horizons Program, where he received a Master of Science degree from Air University in Airpower Strategy and Technology Integration.
https://www.jhuapl.edu/
About Garry "Pink" Floyd (Colonel, US Air Force Retired)
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Panel Member
Senior Staff, Tactical Intelligence Systems Group, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab
Sania Khan
By the Numbers Overview and Panel Member
Chief Economist and Founder, Inflection Point Strategy
Sania Khan’s journey has been centered on intertwining economics and technology to shape a future where innovation enhances humanity. Today, this mission has evolved to focus on empowering individuals and organizations to thrive in an AI-driven world, ensuring that technological advancements deliver tangible benefits for all. Sania is dedicated to harnessing the opportunities AI offers while managing its risks responsibly. With a personal commitment to making the transformation of work a positive experience for all, Sania strives to align workforce needs with emerging technologies, fostering a future that is more inclusive, equitable, and productive. Sania is the Founder of Inflection Point Strategy—a boutique consulting firm that guides individuals and organizations through workforce transformation, from identifying the skills needed for the future to leveraging cutting-edge AI tools that empower them to excel in the workplace. In her former role as the Chief Economist and Head of Market Insights at Eightfold AI, Sania led pioneering research on how AI is reshaping the economy, transforming the labor market, and driving responsible AI adoption. Prior to joining Eightfold, Sania worked for nearly a decade as the Head of Product and Senior Economist for the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, where she oversaw the nation’s largest data collection program (QCEW), which gathers critical industry, employment, and wage data for U.S. businesses. Sania’s insights have influenced policymakers, governments, and business leaders, helping them navigate the complexities of the modern workforce. She is a monthly contributor to Inc. Magazine, where she covers the latest trends in the future of work, labor markets, human capital, and technology’s economic impact. Sania holds a BA in Economics from George Washington University and an MBA in Finance from Johns Hopkins University.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sania-khan1/
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By the Numbers Overview and Panel Member
Chief Economist and Founder, Inflection Point Strategy
Cara LaPointe, PhD
Panel Member
Director, Office of Strategic Assessment, U.S. Department of the Navy
Dr. Cara LaPointe is a futurist focusing on the intersection of technology, operations, policy, ethics and leadership. Passionate about tackling the complex challenge of harnessing innovation and dynamic global change for the benefit of society – both in national security and in social impact.
As Director of Strategic Assessment for the U.S. Department of the Navy, Dr. LaPointe leads a team conducting data-driven assessments and recommendations to help promote a balanced total force that stands ready to deter conflict while simultaneously protecting and advancing the global maritime interests of the Nation.
Previously, as a founding Co-Director of the Johns Hopkins Institute for Assured Autonomy, Dr. LaPointe led a team working to ensure that emerging technologies throughout society are safe, secure, ethical and trustworthy.
At Georgetown University, Dr. LaPointe teaches leaders of the future in the Science, Technology and International Affairs program of the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. She also previously served as a Senior Fellow within the Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation where she co-designed the “Blockchain Ethical Design Framework” to provide a tool for ensuring that blockchain applications create positive social impact.
During more than two decades in the United States Navy, Dr. LaPointe served as a Surface Warfare Officer and an Engineering Duty Officer, holding numerous roles in the areas of major defense acquisitions, ship design and production, naval force architecture design and analysis, shipbuilding industry analysis, robotics and autonomous systems, unmanned vehicle technology integration, and power and energy systems.
Dr. LaPointe serves as a frequent advisor and speaker on national security, social impact, autonomy, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and other emerging technology initiatives including at the United Nations, the United States Department of State, the World Bank, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, and the National Academy of Medicine.
Dr. LaPointe holds a BS in Ocean Engineering from the United States Naval Academy; a Master's in Philosophy in International Development Studies from the University of Oxford; an MS in Oceans Systems Management, and a PhD in Mechanical and Oceanographic Engineering from MIT.
https://www.navy.mil/
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Panel Member
Director, Office of Strategic Assessment, U.S. Department of the Navy
Eric Moore
Panel Member
Senior Vice President, Digital Modernization Chief Technology Officer, Leidos
Eric Moore serves as the digital modernization chief technology officer at Leidos. In this role, Eric drives digital modernization innovation across all Leidos markets by shaping and driving our portfolio of research investments to meet customers’ emerging needs, overseeing technical performance across a nearly $4B portfolio, and leading solutioning activity across priority captures.
Over an 18-year career with Leidos, Eric has supported the U.S. intelligence community, law enforcement agencies, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank, NATO, and defense agencies in addition to overseas customers during an assignment in the United Kingdom. In support of these customers, he has overseen the modernization of critical national security software and infrastructure systems and led IT operations and transformation for large and geographically diverse organizations.
Eric has led teams as large as 4,000 people and led portfolios with more than $850 million in annual revenue. He has also held multiple corporate roles, including chief of staff to the chairman and CEO of Leidos.
He holds dual Bachelor of Science degrees in electrical engineering and computer engineering from the University of Michigan, a Master of Science in computer science from Johns Hopkins University, and a Master of Science in technology management from the University of Pennsylvania. He holds active PMP and CISSP certifications.
https://www.leidos.com/
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Panel Member
Senior Vice President, Digital Modernization Chief Technology Officer, Leidos
Valerie Nelson, PhD
Panel Member
Founder & CEO, Training Keys LLC
Dr. Valerie Nelson, Applied Research Mathematician and Data Scientist, is the founder and CEO of Training Keys, LLC; Principal Software Engineer for Peterson Technologies, LLC; visiting Data Science lecturer for Howard University, and a finalist in the 2023 Women in AI Awards North America for her significant contributions as a leader in the areas of Data Science, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Cybersecurity, and Education and Training.
Dr. Nelson formerly served as Senior Data Architect and Strategist at E Cyber7 Technologies, LLC. Her 22-year career at NSA included positions as the Deputy Technical Director of the Cryptographic Solutions Office in the Cybersecurity Directorate, Department Head for the Mathematics, Cryptanalysis and Data Science curricula at the National Cryptologic School, Initiative Lead for NSA's Data Science Literacy Initiative, and Partnership Lead for the Intelligence Community's Augmenting Intelligence using Machines (AIM) effort.
Dr. Nelson is the first black female to graduate from NSA’s Applied Mathematics Program in 2004 and one of eight graduates of the Senior Technical Development Program's Class of 2020 where she focused on data analytics applications to education and training. She is a pioneer in the area of instructional escape rooms and has taught at George Washington University, Howard University, Morgan State University, and Prince George's Community College.
Dr. Nelson earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Mathematics from Morgan State University; Ph.D. in Mathematics from Howard University, and a Graduate Certificate in Data Science at the University of Maryland College Park.
https://www.thetrainingkeys.com
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Panel Member
Founder & CEO, Training Keys LLC
Alka Patel
Panel Member
Director, Technology Strategy Policy, Bureau of Cyberspace & Digital Policy, U.S. State Department
Alka Patel is a recognized leader working at the intersection of technology, business, and law, across private, academic, and government sectors. She currently serves as the Director of the Technology Strategy Policy office at the newly-created Cyberspace & Digital Policy Bureau at the U.S. Department of State leading a portfolio focused on secure and trustworthy critical infrastructure as well as data and digital policy, working at the intersection of national security, economic security and human rights.
Most recently she served as the Regional Vice President of Government and External Affairs for Comcast’s Keystone Region focused on bridging the digital divide in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio and Maryland through strategic partnerships with nonprofits, city, state, and business leaders to help bring connectivity to unserved communities.
Prior to Comcast, Alka was the inaugural Chief of Responsible AI for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC), the predecessor to the CDAO, where she led strategic creation, development, and implementation of an enterprise-wide Responsible AI program, providing key leadership and support to drive AI innovation, and advancing national and foreign policy for Responsible AI in defense (including NATO, UN, Partnership for Defense and other key entities).
Previously, Alka was the inaugural Executive Director of the Digital Transformation and Innovation Center at Carnegie Mellon University, sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Alka led the operational start-up of the $13M private industry-meets-academia initiative, as well as managing research projects in the field of AI, data analytics, and cybersecurity/privacy to solve everyday business problems.
Alka's previous private sector roles include Managing Director and Senior Counsel for The Bank of New York Mellon as well as Senior Intellectual Property Counsel while in private practice where she represented start-ups, universities, and Fortune 500 companies to protect and address their technology and intellectual property needs.
Alka has been recognized worldwide for her professional and personal contributions; has served on a number of boards and has held numerous leadership positions in professional organizations.
Alka holds a Juris Doctorate and Masters in Business Administration from Duquesne University and a Bachelor of Science in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh.
https://www.state.gov/bureaus-offices/deputy-secretary-of-state/bureau-of-cyberspace-and-digital-policy/
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Panel Member
Director, Technology Strategy Policy, Bureau of Cyberspace & Digital Policy, U.S. State Department