2025 Defense IT Summit Recap

Defense Department Acting CIO Leslie Beavers will discuss key insights and challenges ahead for the agency and what this transition means for the future of defense technology strategy and leadership priorities.

Featured Speaker:

• Leslie Beavers, Acting CIO, DOD

The Defense Department’s communications technology is a conglomeration of different systems, vendors and structures. Senior directors from Verizon discuss the need for overall IT modernization, enhanced security, centralization of VoIP communications as well as emerging technologies like AI and benefits of managed services.

Featured Speakers:

• Lamont Copeland, Senior Director of Federal Solutions Architecture, Verizon
• David Rouse, Senior Director of Defense and National Security, Verizon

Federal leaders are looking toward zero-trust infrastructures and security solutions to better defend networks across the national security landscape. Defense officials provide methods and processes to create a zero-trust environment for better security. IT leaders will discuss how zero-trust architectures enforce access controls and continuous monitoring safeguards sensitive defense data.

Featured Speakers:

• Gurpreet Bhatia, Principal Director for Cybersecurity and Acting CISO, DOD
• Kynan Carver, Cybersecurity Lead, Defense Market, Maximus
• Louis Koplin, PEO Digital, Department of the Navy
• Monica Montgomery, Deputy CISO for Management and Strategy and Deputy Director, Cybersecurity Office, NGA

CJADC2 is the north star for the DOD’s digital modernization efforts, uniting all the service branches in air, land, sea, cyber and space toward a common goal of connected, multi-domain operations. Join us as federal leaders discuss the progress they’ve made in pursuit of the strategy and what comes next.

Featured Speakers:

• Justin Fanelli, Acting CTO and PEO Digital Technical Director, Department of the Navy
• Tommy Gardner, CTO, HP Federal
• Christopher Redding, Technical Director, PEO Services, DISA
• Shery Thomas, Enterprise Innovation Officer, Navy Installations Command

The Department of Defense faces a constant need to innovate and maintain technological superiority. However, many promising research projects languish in the “valley of death,” failing to secure the necessary funding and support to move beyond initial prototypes. Join our panel as it explores the critical challenges of transitioning promising research from the lab to practical military applications.

Featured Speakers:

• Joey Mathews, Superintendent, IT Division, Naval Research Laboratory
• Kedar Pavgi, Director, Commercial Strategy and Operations, DIU
• Kaitie Penry, Director, Emerging Technology & Innovation, Naval Postgraduate School

Fueled by advancements in technology like artificial intelligence and large language models, the rapidly evolving threat landscape demands a proactive approach from federal agencies. This panel will delve into how AI is reshaping strategies to safeguard critical infrastructure, warfighters and sensitive data.

Featured Speakers:

• Raj Dasgupta, Research Scientist, Naval Research Laboratory
• Joel Krooswyk, Federal CTO, GitLab
• Deepak Seth, Chief Engineer, Emerging Technologies Directorate, DISA

Defense leaders are managing, evaluating and assessing agencies’ IT resources to combat some of the most pressing national security challenges. Hear from experts on how they envision IT capabilities enabling missions while staying ahead of evolving threats.

Featured Speakers:

• Lam Nguyen, Chief Scientist, DOD Cyber Crime Center
• Louis Koplin, PEO Digital, Department of the Navy
• Collen Roller, Senior Data Scientist, Air Force Research Lab

Award Winners

Rising Star: Glenn Parham, Digital Service Expert, Defense Digital Service

Emerging Tech Innovator: Brig. Gen. Michael McGinley, Director, GigEagle Agile Talent Ecosystem, Air Force

Cyber Defender: Charles Wille, Deputy Director, Readiness and Security Inspections, JFHQ-DODIN

Digital Transformer: Beth Caswell, Director, Digital Transformation & IT Portfolio Management, Department of the Navy

Data Advocate: Jesus Caban, Chief Data Scientist, PEO, DHMS