Top Federal Leaders to be Honored at GovCIO Media & Research’s Defense IT Summit

January 6, 2025

Fairfax, Va. – GovCIO Media & Research, a leading federal technology media company, announced the finalists for the annual Defense IT Summit Flywheel Awards – an awards program established to recognize the accomplishments of federal and defense leaders transforming national security technology. Winners will be announced February 27 at the Defense IT Summit in Arlington, Virginia. 

“We’re thrilled to recognize the accomplishments and dedication of these federal defense leaders who are making a monumental impact transforming national security technology,” said Michael Hoffman, president, GovCIO Media & Research.   

The Defense IT Summit Flywheel Award Finalists include:     

Rising Star: A newcomer to national security IT who demonstrates a commitment to building innovative solutions that address national security problems. 

• Matthew Quinn, Joint Operational Edge Product Owner, Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), J9 Hosting and Compute 

• Glenn Parham, Digital Service Expert, Defense Digital Service 

• Taylor Wells, Senior Technical Advisor to the Director, DISA 

Emerging Tech Innovator: This awardee harnesses new and emerging tools that adapt with expertise, changing the national security environment and moving it into the future. 

• Col. Robert Bailey, Acquisition Portfolio Director, Marine Corps 

• Brig. Gen. Michael McGinley, Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, Air Force Life Cyber Management Center 

• Margaret Palmieri, Deputy Chief Digital and AI Officer, Chief Data and Analytics Officer, Department of Defense (DOD) 

Cyber Defender: A leader raising the digital defenses amid innumerable threats. Risk management, zero trust and cyber hygiene are top of mind for this awardee as they secure the perimeter of systems. 

• Les Call, Director of Zero Trust Portfolio Management Office, DOD 

• David Voelker, Zero Trust Implementation Lead, Department of the Navy (DON) 

• Charles Wille, Deputy Director, Readiness and Security Inspections, Joint Force Headquarters, DOD Information Network 

Digital Transformer: This awardee is committed to improving data interoperability between services and demonstrates a passion for modernizing the data landscape. 

• Beth Caswell, Director of Digital Transformation & IT Portfolio Management, DON 

• Robert Franzen, Deputy Customer Experience Officer, DOD 

• Joseph Pack, Digital Engineering Lead, Naval Sea Systems Command 

Data Advocate: This leader moves data globally at scale and uses technology to connect sensors across the services with AI. 

• Jesus Caban, Chief Data Scientist, Program Executive Office, Defense Healthcare Management Systems 

• Earl Armstrong, Principal Technical Advisor for the Naval Operational Energy Office, DON 

• Michael Chappell, Chief Information Officer, Program Executive Office Enterprise, Department of the Army 

Visit GovCIO Media & Research’s Defense IT Summit event page to view the full agenda, speaker lineup and register for this must-attend annual event. Tickets are going fast. Register today.  

About GovCIO Media & Research      

GovCIO Media & Research, an independent media company, is the leading industry solutions resource providing analysis and insights on federal IT innovation. Our team uses an omnichannel approach to keep you informed on today’s most pressing issues. Video interviews, podcasts, events, articles and special reports keep federal IT decision-makers aware of technology’s impact on government.      

Visit https://govciomedia.com/ for more information.      

Media Contact       

Emyly Hall       

Sr. Communications & Marketing Specialist      

[email protected]