Defense IT Summit
The Defense IT Summit brought together senior IT leaders to examine how emerging technologies and strategies are advancing mission readiness. Senior officials explore defense priorities in AI, acquisition, cybersecurity, risk management and more, with a focus on accelerating technology delivery.
The event highlighted the evolution of cyber defense strategies and how modern IT approaches were reshaping operational effectiveness. Attendees learned how the War Department managed risk while advancing innovation to support national security demands.
Attendees may receive up to 4 continuing professional education (CPE) credits. For more information, please click here.

The Department of the Navy’s Innovation Adoption Kit is accelerating the evaluation, acquisition and scaling of emerging technologies across the enterprise. CTO Justin Fanelli will discuss how the IAK prioritizes outcomes over obstacles and helps the service and its partners move faster, modernize smarter and deliver mission-ready capabilities at speed.
Speakers
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Moderator Sarah Sybert Managing Editor, GovCIO Media & Research -
Justin Fanelli CTO, Department of the Navy
The Pentagon’s plan to overhaul defense acquisition centers speed and impact to more quickly deploy and field essential military technology. DOW Senior Advisor for Supply Chain Keely Galloway will discussed the structural changes to the new strategy, including streamlining requirements and reforming the protest process.
Speakers
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Moderator Ross Gianfortune Senior Staff Writer, GovCIO Media & Research -
Keely Galloway Senior Advisor for Supply Chain, OSW, DOW
AI is reshaping national security to safeguard critical infrastructure, train warfighters and systems, and deploy tech more quickly. Officials will address the critical implementation challenges the DOW faces in moving AI from pilot projects and labs to operational capability at the speed required for decision advantage. Experts will explore AI uses cases, the rise of agentic systems and other strategies to bring emerging technology into the national security ecosystem.
Speakers
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Moderator Henry Kenyon Senior Staff Writer, GovCIO Media & Research -
Maj. Christopher Clark AI Lead, Deputy Commandant for Information, Service Data Office, Marine Corps -
Srini Iyer Health & Services Chief Technology Officer, SVP, Leidos -
Guy Kiyokawa VP, Account Manager, Dept of War Personnel & Readiness and Military Health System, Leidos -
Jaques Reifman Senior Research Scientist, Medical Research and Development Command, DHA
With a federal mandate to implement zero-trust architectures by fiscal 2027, the DOW has made significant strides across services to advance its cyber posture. Defense IT leaders will break down the policies and implementation progress that are boosting cyber resiliency and protecting defense networks.
Speakers
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Moderator Silvia Oakland Staff Writer, GovCIO Media & Research -
Marlin McFate Public Sector CTO/CISO, Cohesity -
Dave Raley Chief Digital Business Officer, Marine Corps Community Services -
Shery Thomas Enterprise IT Officer, Navy Installations Command -
Chris Wallace Chief of Cybersecurity, PEO DHMS
War Department officials are reevaluating and modernizing IT resources to strengthen mission execution against rapidly advancing national security threats. Officials will break down how agencies are driving progress in wireless connectivity, cloud adoption, CMMC compliance, research and development, DevSecOps integration and enterprise risk-management approaches to stay ahead of adversaries.
Speakers
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Moderator Laura Mannweiler Staff Writer, GovCIO Media & Research -
Stephen Gordon Strategic Accounts Director for DOD, Red Hat -
Col. Scott Humr Deputy Director for Science & Technology, Joint Interagency Task Force 401 -
John Repici Director, Vulnerability Disclosure Program, DC3
We’ll announce our next batch of Flywheel Award winners, recognizing distinguished leaders and their work in federal government.
The flywheel — a critical component in a machine to increase its momentum — is also a critical symbol representing our goal to keep federal IT decision-makers informed on technology’s impact on government. This momentum is what fuels the constant need for transformers to innovate around the defense systems, infrastructure and tools that are keeping our nation safe.
Categories include: Rising Star, Emerging Tech Innovator, Cyber Defender, Digital Transformer and Data Advocate.
Finalists
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Rising Star Caelan Barranta Program Manager, System Delta 89 Spectrum Warfare Rapid Acquisitions Branch, Space Force -
Rising Star David Jin Deputy Director, AI Rapid Capabilities Cell, DOW -
Rising Star Jessica Stillman Program Manager, xTech Program, Army -
Emerging Tech Innovator Justin Fanelli CTO, Department of the Navy -
Emerging Tech Innovator Mark Gorak Principal Director to Deputy CIO for Resources and Analysis, DOW -
Emerging Tech Innovator Barry Whittington Technical Advisor, AFRL -
Cyber Defender Carol Assi Cybersecurity Chief Operations Officer, OCIO, DOW -
Cyber Defender Henry Houle COSMOS Information Systems Manager, Navy -
Cyber Defender Brig. Gen. Reid Novotny CAIO, U.S. Cyber Command -
Digital Transformer Vice Adm. Seiko Okano Principal Military Deputy Assistant Secretary for RD&A, Navy -
Digital Transformer Brig. Gen. Matt Ross Director, Joint Interagency Task Force 401, Army -
Digital Transformer Cmdr. Jonathan White Cloud and Data Branch Chief, Coast Guard -
Data Advocate Lt. Gen. David Isaacson Director for C4/Cyber and CIO, J6, Joint Chiefs of Staff -
Data Advocate Col. Arlon Smith Director, Project Dynamis, Marine Corps -
Data Advocate Stuart Wagner CDAO, Navy
The Pentagon is accelerating data modernization to enable mission leaders to access and act on information faster. This panel will examine how the military services are connecting disparate networks, improving data quality, enabling interoperability, and leveraging AI and analytics to transform decision-making across defense operations.
Speakers
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Moderator Ross Gianfortune Senior Staff Writer GovCIO Media & Research -
Michael Frank Deputy CTO, Department of the Navy -
Lt. Col. Benjamin Pimentel Assured C2 Lead, Project Dynamis, Marine Corps -
Bryan Thomas VP, US Public Sector, Everpure
Pentagon science and technology leader Jake Glassman discusses how the department is reorganizing around new critical technology priority areas that prioritize speed and efficiency. He highlights how artificial intelligence is paving the way for changing how the department operationalizes technology.
Speakers
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Moderator Sarah Sybert Managing Editor, GovCIO Media & Research -
Jacob Glassman Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Science and Technology Foundations, DOW
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Jacob Glassman Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Science and Technology Foundations, DOW -
Justin Fanelli CTO, Department of the Navy -
Michael Frank Deputy CTO, Department of the Navy -
Chris Wallace Chief of Cybersecurity, PEO DHMS -
Dave Raley Chief Digital Business Officer, Marine Corps Community Services -
Keely Galloway Senior Advisor for Supply Chain, OSW, DOW -
John Repici Director, Vulnerability Disclosure Program, DC3 -
Col. Scott Humr Deputy Director for Science & Technology, Joint Interagency Task Force 401 -
Maj. Christopher Clark AI Lead, Deputy Commandant for Information, Service Data Office, Marine Corps -
Jaques Reifman Senior Research Scientist, Medical Research and Development Command, DHA -
Shery Thomas Enterprise IT Officer, Navy Installations Command -
Lt. Col. Benjamin Pimentel Assured C2 Lead, Project Dynamis, Marine Corps -
Guy Kiyokawa VP, Account Manager, Dept of War Personnel & Readiness and Military Health System, Leidos -
Bryan Thomas VP, US Public Sector, Everpure -
Marlin McFate Public Sector CTO/CISO, Cohesity -
Stephen Gordon Strategic Accounts Director for DOD, Red Hat -
Srini Iyer Health & Services Chief Technology Officer, SVP, Leidos
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Pentagon taps Musk to Co-Lead Future Warfare Initiative
War Secretary Pete Hegseth appointed Elon Musk, Newt Gingrich and Palmer Luckey to shape future warfare technology under Project Meridian.
2m read -
Air Force Pushes Open Architectures Across Fighter Fleet
Brig. Gen. Timothy Helfrich said open compute could help the service share software and mission capabilities across its existing fighters.
3m read -
Military Researchers Address Hurdles for Quantum Technology
Pentagon researchers are advancing quantum technologies while addressing standards, funding and supply chain hurdles.
3m read -
VA Modernization Forum: Progress in Motion
Join VA leadership, the teams driving that progress, Veteran Service Organizations, and Congressional partners for a morning that looks back at what's been achieved, and a clear view of where the work is headed next.
National Press Club, The Holeman Lounge | 529 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. -
DOW Turns to Training, Access to Drive GenAI.mil Adoption
With nearly 2 million users of the platform, DOW is using training and access to AI models to build familiarity with the tech.
2m read -
Space Force Charts Shift to Warfighting Force for 2040
Officials outlined how new missions, resilient satellites, maneuver and AI are shaping the service’s future force.
3m read -
DOW CIO Says There is 'Work to Do’ on CMMC
Kirsten Davies said CMMC's ongoing suspension will address challenges like cyber resilience and compliance barriers for the defense industrial base.
2m read -
Agencies Need to Quantum-Proof Their Software, Not Just Their Data
Technology officials are urging agencies to get started now in protecting their data and their applications from potential quantum decryption.
2m read
