Building the Future AI Infrastructure

Dorothy Aronson is NSF’s Chief Information Officer (CIO). She is the principal advisor to the agency’s Director and other senior management on all matters involving information technology (IT). Ms. Aronson oversees policy and governance for the efficient, effective use of IT resources to accomplish the Foundation’s mission.

Alexis Bonnell is the Chief Information Officer and Director of the Digital Capabilities Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory, the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. She is responsible to develop and execute the AFRL Information Technology strategy, leading the strategic development of highly advanced next generation technologies and platforms for AFRL. Her focus includes catalyzing the discovery, development, and integration of warfighting technologies for air, space, and cyberspace forces via digital capabilities, IT infrastructure and technological innovation across the lab’s operations and culture.

She was one of the first employees of the Internet Trade Association, contributing to the early development and growth of the digital landscape. She has served in challenging environments, including warzones with the United Nations to support over $1B of critical DOD operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and many other operational theaters. She has contributed to dual-use technology and innovation culture across the DOD Innovation community including: AFWERX, AFRL, Kessel Run, NavalX, Marine Innovation Unit, Army Futures Command, DIU, Army Software Factory, DARPA and more. Prior to her current position, she was the Emerging Technology Evangelist at Google, driving the use of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, cyber security/zero trust, API First, Big Data, Cloud Computing, and others to drive efficiency and innovation within government organizations, including tackling digital transformation in defense, healthcare, education, COVID response, natural disasters, supply chain, system/process modernization, hybrid workforce and more.

Bonnell co-founded the Global Development Lab, the premier innovation lab of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), leveraging Global Allied Nation partnerships in Science, Technology, and Innovation, reviewing over 25,000 game changing innovations and technologies, funding 1,200 of them. She served as USAID’s Chief Innovation Officer, receiving the first 10/10 for innovation in the Results For America Rankings. She was named in the Fed 100 in 2020. She also assisted with major platform and technology transitions, drove hybrid work adoption, countering malign nation initiatives and global cyber security programming.

Kumar Garg is the President, Renaissance Philanthropy and Former Senior Advisor to the Deputy Director at the OSTP.

General Timothy D. Haugh is 4th Commander, U.S. Cyber Command and 19th Director, National Security Agency/Chief, Central Security Service at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland.

General Haugh has commanded at the squadron, group, wing, numbered air force, and joint levels. He’s served on staffs at major command, agency and combatant command headquarters. His notable tours include Deputy Commander of Joint Task Force Ares, Commander of Cyber National Mission Force, Commander of Sixteenth Air Force, and Deputy Commander of U.S. Cyber Command.

Ted W. Lieu represents California’s 36th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. Ted is serving in his sixth term in Congress and sits on the House Judiciary Committee and Foreign Affairs Committee. He was elected by his colleagues to serve as Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus, making him the highest ranking Asian American to have ever served in House Leadership. Ted is a veteran, having served on active duty and then in the Reserves for the Air Force. He retired in 2021 with the rank of Colonel.

In the 118th Congress, Ted was the Co-Chair of the House’s Bipartisan Taskforce on Artificial Intelligence. Prior to becoming Caucus Vice Chair, Ted served as Co-Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee in the 116th and 117th Congresses. In that role, Ted helped to shape messaging around key Democratic priorities. In his first term in Congress, Ted was elected Freshman Class President by his colleagues.

As a legislator, Ted has established himself as a leader on artificial intelligence; the environment; cybersecurity; civil liberties; foreign affairs and veterans. Time Magazine recognized Ted as one of the 100 Most Influential People in AI. He has spoken at a variety of AI conferences, including at Harvard and Cornell.

He is also an outspoken proponent of more effective government oversight and adherence to the rule of law. Following the Jan. 6 insurrection, Ted co-authored the Article of Impeachment advanced by the House and subsequently served as an Impeachment Manager for the second Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump.

In addition to government reforms, Congressman Lieu is a champion of measures to reduce the harms of climate change. The first bill Ted introduced after coming to Congress was the Climate Solutions Act, which aims to make California’s ground-breaking renewable energy goals and climate emissions reduction targets a national model. Ted is also a founder and co-Chair of the California Coastal Caucus, which advocates for issues that impact California’s coastal communities.

As one of four Members of Congress with a computer science degree, Ted is frequently sought out for his insights on technology and innovation matters including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and innovation as well as the creative economy. He has introduced legislation to improve cyber security in consumer products; create a national AI Commission; prioritize consumer safety in technologically-advanced cars; and ensure law enforcement and tech companies protect consumer privacy.

Ted has been a leader in Congress against ethnic and racial profiling, including discrimination against the LGBTQ community and hate toward the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. He serves as Whip of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Vice Chair of the LGBTQ Equality Caucus, and Co-Chair of the Cloud Computing Caucus.

Prior to being elected to Congress in 2014, Ted served as a California State Senator from 2011 to 2014, and before that, as a State Assemblyman from 2005 to 2010. Ted’s legislative accomplishments included authoring landmark legislation regulating the subprime mortgage industry; a first-in-the-nation ban on gay conversion therapy for children; and a first-in-the-nation ban on the use of tanning beds for minors. Ted fought for California state tax reform that saved small businesses from millions in retroactive taxes, and tax incentives for film and TV production. Ted also co-authored California’s landmark Global Warming Solutions Act and co-authored the law banning state pension funds from investing in Iran’s nuclear and energy industries.

Ted started his elected service as a Member of the Torrance City Council in 2002. Prior to serving on the Council, Ted was a Torrance Environmental Quality Commissioner.

Looking for a better life and opportunity, Ted and his family immigrated to the United States when he was three years old. Settling in Cleveland, Ohio, Ted’s parents sold gifts and jewelry at flea markets to make ends meet. They were eventually able to operate six gift stores, where Ted and his younger brother worked as teenagers. With the support of hard-working parents and a country that provided limitless opportunity, Ted would go on to attend Stanford for his undergraduate degrees in Computer Science and Political Science, and then Georgetown University, where he received his law degree magna cum laude after serving as Editor-in-Chief of the law review. Ted also received four American Jurisprudence Awards.

Recognizing the great opportunities America had given to his family, Ted wanted to serve his country to preserve the American Dream. He joined the United States Air Force, where he served in the JAG corps. After serving on active duty for four years, Ted joined the Air Force Reserve before retiring from the Air Force in 2021. Ted received numerous medals for his outstanding military service, including the Air Force Humanitarian Service Medal and multiple Meritorious Service Medals.

Ted’s wife, Betty, is a member of the Torrance Board of Education; a member of California’s Commission on Special Education; and a former California Deputy Attorney General. They live in Torrance and have two sons, Brennan and Austin.

Mr. Stephen Wallace has served as Chief Technology Officer at the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) since October, 2021.

Prior to that, Mr. Wallace served as Systems Innovation Scientist for the Emerging Technologies (EM) Directorate. 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.

Prior to joining DISA, Mr. Wallace was an employee of Computer Sciences Corporation as a government contractor. During this time he worked to build a variety of enterprise class collaboration, identity management, and authentication systems for the Federal Government.

Wallace holds a Master of Science degree in Cyber Security, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Telecommunications, both from Capitol College. He holds a CISSP certification, and is a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School Senior Executive Program.

Mara Winn is Deputy Director for the Preparedness, Policy and Risk Analysis Division, Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response, at the DOE.

Bill Wright is the Global Head of Government Affairs, Elastic and Former Senior Operations Officer, Office of the Director of National Intelligence and now leads government affairs at Elastic.