Defense IT Summit
The Defense IT Summit will bring together senior IT leaders to examine how emerging technologies and strategies are advancing mission readiness. Senior officials will highlight defense priorities in AI, acquisition, cybersecurity, risk management and more, with a focus on accelerating technology delivery.
Attendees will gain insight on evolving cyber defense strategies, while exploring how new models and modern IT practices are reshaping operational capabilities. Register to learn how the War Department is balancing innovation with risk, ensuring secure and agile systems to meet the demands of today’s national security environment.
Attendees may receive up to 4 continuing professional education (CPE) credits. For more information, please click here.

This conversation will provide a view of the legislative landscape and the technology priorities set by Congress shaping defense mission. Learn how congressional oversight, funding decisions and policy requirements are driving modernization in areas like AI, zero trust and acquisition at the Pentagon.
Speaker
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Moderator Amy Kluber Editor-in-Chief, GovCIO Media & Research
The Pentagon’s new plan to overhaul defense acquisition centers speed and impact to more quickly deploy and field essential military technology. Officials will discuss 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
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
The Pentagon is transforming systems and processes to modernize the department. Bill Dunlap, acting principal deputy for the War Department’s Office of the Chief Information Officer will discuss how he is prioritizing technology to equip warfighters and civilians.
Speakers
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Moderator Amy Kluber Editor-in-Chief, GovCIO Media & Research -
Bill Dunlap Acting Principal Deputy CIO, DOW
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, DON -
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 -
Bryan Thomas VP, US Public Sector, Pure Storage
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 -
Bill Dunlap Acting Principal Deputy CIO, DOW -
Keely Galloway Senior Advisor for Supply Chain, OSW, DOW -
Dave Raley Chief Digital Business Officer, Marine Corps Community Services -
Shery Thomas Enterprise IT Officer, Navy Installations Command -
Col. Scott Humr Deputy Director for Science & Technology, Joint Interagency Task Force 401 -
Michael Frank Deputy CTO, Department of the Navy -
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 -
Guy Kiyokawa VP, Account Manager, Dept of War Personnel & Readiness and Military Health System, Leidos -
Bryan Thomas VP, US Public Sector, Pure Storage -
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
Call for Speakers
We are looking for federal IT leaders to speak on a panel or present during lightning rounds. We are accepting proposals for this event from the community. If your proposal is accepted, a member of our team will reach out to you about speaking at the event.
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Pentagon Leaders Must Give ‘Top Cover’ for Risk-Taking, DOW Official Says
Bonnie Evangelista says acquisition reform will fail without leadership support that allows for experimentation without penalty.
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Congress Ends Shutdown, Locks in Billions for Federal IT Modernization
Trump signed a trillion-dollar funding package to avert a prolonged shutdown, backing federal IT modernization through September.
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New DOW Cyber Construct Aims for ‘Machine-Speed’ Defense
CSRMC embeds automation, telemetry and secure‑by‑design principles to outpace modern adversaries and unify risk posture.
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A New Era of Open-Source Geospatial Collaboration
Former NGA official Will Mortenson shares his journey from 27 years of government service to leading a global mapping revolution at the Overture Maps Foundation.
7m watch -
Preparing for CMMC Implementation
Panelists discuss what the move from self‑attestation to third‑party review means for contractors and how to build resilient, audit‑ready supply chains.
20m watch -
White House Pushes for Commercial Space Model to Power Lunar Expansion
Executive orders and agency reshuffling signal a shift toward commercial reactors, private space stations and a leaner NASA.
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Hegseth Unveils ‘Wartime Footing’ for Military AI in Strategy Document
Hegseth’s new directive looks to accelerate commercial AI integration and dismantle barriers to innovation.
5m read -
War Department Expands Pay Tools to Keep High‑Skill Civilians
New incentives authorize awards up to $25,000 as leaders push to counter private‑sector brain drain and strengthen the department’s workforce.