IDEEA, Inc.

Speakers

Jerry Agee is Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President of MBDA Inc.  In this role Jerry reports directly to the Board of Directors of MBDA Inc. and functionally to the Chief Executive Officer of MBDA, Antoine Bouvier.  With corporate offices located in Washington D.C. and Operations in Westlake Village, California, Jerry  heads a team of senior executives and leads the MBDA Group in the U.S. He is responsible for building U.S. Corporate, Military, Government and Industry relationships.  Jerry was formerly Corporate Vice President for Northrop Grumman Corporation. Prior to leaving Northrop Grumman Corporation he was the Corporate Vice President and member of Northrop Grumman Corporate Policy Council. Jerry served in the United States Navy for 21 years. He earned a bachelor’s degree in international affairs/history from Florida State University and completed postgraduate work at the University of Maryland and the University of North Florida.

Christopher C. Ames is Director, Business Development, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.  As Director of Business Development for General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), Chris Ames is responsible for promoting opportunities for the company’s fleet of proven, reliable, and cost-efective remotely piloted aircraft systems for military and commercial applications worldwide, along with integrated sensor equipment and software for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft platforms. Prior to joining the GA-ASI team in 2006, Mr. Ames served in the U.S. Navy, retiring as a Rear Admiral. Mr. Ames is a graduate of  the United States Naval Academy.  He also holds a Master's in Public Administration from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. 

Bruce C. Bade is Director, Pacific Armaments Cooperation in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology and Logistics). His Directorate supports the Under Secretary of Defense as the Department of Defense focal point for cooperation in defense equipment acquisition with nations in Asia, the Pacific, the Americas, Africa, and the Middle East.  Mr. Bade is a member of the Senior Executive Service and is retired from the US Navy, where he served in destroyers and amphibious ships. He has served in his present position since 1994 and in international defense equipment-related positions in the Pentagon since 1978.  He holds the Presidential Rank of Meritorious Executive and has earned degrees from the National War College, the University of Southern California, and the University of Wisconsin.

Katherine “KB” Bailey was selected as the Director of International Programs for Program Executive Officer, Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence and Space (PEO C4I & Space) and JPEO JTRS in December, 2005.  In November 2006, when the PEOs were restructured into two distinct organizations, Ms. Bailey’s focus became the JPEO JTRS. Ms. Bailey joined SPAWAR in 2002 after spending a year on assignment as the Deputy Program Manager for the Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) Program.  Prior to joining SPAWAR, Ms. Bailey was assigned to the NAVAIR Systems Command for 22 years. Ms. Bailey earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1983.  She received her Master of Science degree from Florida Institute of Technology in Contract Management in 1996.

Dr. Patrick BarAvi is Vice President for Business Development of Rafael USA, Inc. He received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the Technion, Israel Institute of Technology and has a Ph.D. from Rutgers University in NJ in Mechanical Engineering. His career in Rafael began in 1985 as a Research Engineer immediately following his graduation. Since then he has held positions in Rafael as a system engineer, project manager and business development.  In October 2000, Dr. BarAvi was appointed Director and the Head of the Sensing and Active Protection System Directorate. Dr. Bar-Avi has published a text book in Dynamics and about 20 papers in international scientific journals.  He is also the inventor of six patents.

Bill Beamish is currently the Director of Product Line Management for Falcon III Manpack Radios for the RF Communications Division of Harris Corporation.  In his capacity, he manages the AN/PRC-117G, RF-7800M, and Tactical BGAN wideband networking radio products.  Prior to assuming his current assignment, he was the HF Radio Product Manager for several years.  Mr. Beamish joined Harris in 1980 as an Electrical Design Engineer. Earlier in his career at Harris, he lead the Harris HF Automatic Link Establishment (ALE) and the Automated Data Communications teams.  During this period, he was a major contributor to the development of MIL and FED standards for HF radio automation.   He served as chairman of the HF Industry Association (HFIA) for four years in the early 90s.

The Hon. Jeffrey P. Bialos is Executive Director of the Program on Transatlantic Security and Industry at the Center for Transatlantic Relations at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies.  Mr. Bialos is also a partner in the national law firm of Sutherland Asbill, and Brennan and a senior advisor to JSA Partners.  Prior to his current activities, Mr. Bialos served in several senior U.S. government positions. Most recently, he was Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Industrial Affairs (Sept. 1999-Jan. 2001).  Mr. Bialos received his J.D. degree from the University of Chicago Law School, a Master's degree in Public Policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and an A.B. in history, magna cum laude, from Cornell University's College of Arts and Sciences.

Mark E. Brown is director of Raytheon Missile Systems’ (RMS) Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) Block 2 program, a position he has held since May 2009. Brown is responsible for all aspects of contract planning and execution, staffing, management and reporting. Brown began with RMS in 2001 as a senior manager for strategic planning, and was responsible for the capture of a $4 billion upgrade program for AMRAAM. Brown has held key positions in several departments within the U.S. Air Force, among them the Air-to-Air Joint Systems Program Office (JSPO); Joint Reconnaissance JSPO; the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base, Calif.; and the 10th Component Repair Squadron at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. Brown earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering at the Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio; and a bachelor’s degree in engineering at Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio.

Frank Cevasco is President of Cevasco International, LLC.  His firm provides advice to domestic and international aerospace and defense corporations about strategic positioning, defense acquisition programs, and strategic partnering.  His firm has also prepared studies for DoD and Washington think tanks regarding transatlantic security, cooperative RD&A programs, export control reform, and export sales reform.  Prior to entering the private sector he served as Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for International Development and Production Programs where he was principal resident advisor to several Under Secretaries of Defense (AT&L) regarding international program cooperation and international agreements.

James Churchill is currently the International C4I Integration Program Manager at the Program Executive Office Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (PEO C4I) in San Diego, CA.  He was selected for that position in April, 2007 after serving in an acting capacity beginning when the International C4I Integration Program Office (PMW-740) was established on Nov. 1, 2006.  In October of 2002, the Program Executive Office (C4I and Space) – later renamed PEO (C4I) – was created as a separate entity composed of the program offices that previously had been assigned to the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR).  Mr. Churchill was selected as the Director of Operations for the new organization. Mr. Churchill holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a Master of Science in Mathematics, both from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. 

Ruth A. David, PhD is President and Chief Executive Officer of Analytic Services Inc., a nonprofit corporation that operates the Homeland Security Institute, a federally funded research and development center sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security and ANSER, which supports national security missions.  Before assuming her current position in 1998, Dr. David was Deputy Director for Science and Technology at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).  Previously, she served in several leadership positions at Sandia National Laboratories, where she began her professional career in 1975.  She earned M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from Stanford University and was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering in 2002.

David L. DeVries assumed his current position as the Principal Director, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Information Management, Integration, and Technology) in May 2009. He is responsible for integrating DoD policies, guidance, and direction to create information advantage for DoD personnel and organizations, and DoD mission He retired from the U.S. Army after 29 years, having influenced the creation of enterprise information sharing and IT capabilities to the Army Leadership and Commands.  Mr. DeVries holds a Bachelor of Science from the United States Military Academy and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. He is also a graduate of the Army Senior Service College and served as a Corporate Fellow with IBM Business Consulting Services while serving with the Secretary of Defense Corporate Fellowship Program.

Peter J. Dougherty is a Senior Foreign Policy Advisor at the Defense Technology Security Administration (DTSA), Office of the Secretary of Defense (Policy). In this capacity, he oversees technology transfer and releasability policy for proposed munitions transfers and national disclosures.  Mr. Dougherty has served as a DoD policy delegate to the AUSMIN Defense Policy Talks and Defense Acquisition Committee; the U.S./UK Bilateral Defense Acquisition Committee; the U.S./Japan Systems and Technology Forum, the U.S./India Defense Policy Group and the U.S./Singapore Defense Cooperation Committee. Currently,  Mr. Dougherty’s portfolio includes Canada, United Kingdom and Germany.  Mr. Dougherty participated in the U.S.-UK and U.S.-Australia Defense Trade Cooperation Treaty negotiations from their onset as well as the current ratification process.  He is also a member of the Department of Defense's Export Control Reform initiative team.  In 2001, Mr. Dougherty retired from the U.S. Navy after 22 years of active duty as a Surface Warfare Officer.  Mr. Dougherty received his B.S. in Finance from Stonehill College and completed his Master's requirements in Strategic Studies at the Army Senior War College, Carlisle Barracks PA.

Captain George Galdorisi, USN (Ret.) is Director, Corporate Strategy Group at SPAWAR Systems Center Pacific where he helps direct the Center's efforts in strategic planning and corporate communications.  Prior to joining SSC Pacific, he completed a 30-year career as a naval aviator, culminating in 14 years of consecutive experience as executive officer, commanding officer, commodore, and chief of staff.  He is a 1970 graduate of the United States Naval Academy and holds a Masters Degree in Oceanography from the Naval Postgraduate School and a Masters Degree in International Relations from the University of San Diego.  He graduated from both the Naval War College's College of Command and Staff and the College of Naval Warfare, and received the Naval War College's Admiral John Hayward Award for Academic Achievement. Additionally, he is a graduate of MIT Sloan School's Program for Senior Executives.

Michael Garrety is the Defence Materiel Attaché at the Embassy of Australia.  This branch is the North American shopfront for materiel acquisition and support policy, Australian project offices, foreign military sales, commercial procurement, freight and Australian defense industry. Michael has had over 24 years with the Australian Department of Defence having joined as a public servant in 1985. Earlier positions include Director Business Management Unit at the Tactical Fighter SPO at RAAF Base Williamtown in New South Wales (2005). This role coordinated all business, financial and commercial support to the F/A-18 Hornet and Hawk-127 weapons systems, including the acquisition and sustainment programs. In November 2006 he was seconded into the Air Combat Transition Office (ACTO) team as the Business Manager for the Australian Super Hornet Project, a position he held until joining the Washington team.

Karen Garvey, a member of the Senior Executive Service, was appointed the Defense Security Cooperation Agency’s Principal Director for Security Cooperation Operations in July 2008.  As Principal Director, she is responsible for the execution of security cooperation programs in 213 countries.  Ms. Garvey is also responsible for the management of the DSCA Case Writing Division, the single office that writes all Foreign Military Sales cases, and the Security Assistance Office in Taiwan.  Prior to this appointment she served as DSCA’s Regional Deputy for Asia Pacific Region from June 1999, adding the Americas to her portfolio in 2005. 

Ron Genemans is the Defense Cooperation Attaché at the Embassy of The Netherlands. He assumed this position in July 2009. In his previous assignments Mr. Genemans served as a senior policy advisor to the Netherlands Minister of Defence. In earlier positions he worked at the Arms Export Control Department of the Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Netherlands Military Intelligence Service and the Royal Netherlands Air Force. In 2005 he worked as an industrial analyst for the Deputy Under Secretary of Defence for Industrial Policy at the US Department of Defense in Washington DC. Ron Genemans is the current Chairman of the Defense MOU Attachés Group (DMAG), a group of 21 countries with bilateral reciprocal defense procurement agreements with the US.

Walter P. Havenstein joined Science Applications International (SAIC) as Chief Executive Officer on September 21, 2009.  He is also a member of SAIC’s Board of Directors.  Prior to joining SAIC, Mr. Havenstein served as Chief Operating Officer and member of the Board of Directors for BAE Systems plc, a $34 billion global aerospace and defense company; and President & Chief Executive Officer of BAE Systems, Inc., the company’s wholly owned U.S. subsidiary, which employs 53,000, and generates annual sales in excess of $20 billion.  Mr. Havenstein received a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School.  He served on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1971 to 1983 specializing in tactical communications and systems acquisition management.

Tim Heely retired from the US Navy in 2008 as a Rear Admiral. He was a naval aviator flying A-7E and FA-18C. His last position with the Navy was Program Executive Officer, Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons from 2004-2008, where he oversaw 10 Program Offices responsible for all U.S. Navy and Marine Corps unmanned aviation vehicles and systems and Naval strike weapons (air, surface and subsurface launched).  He was the Navy's representative on Secretary of Defense Senior Steering Committee for Department of Defense's Unmanned Aviation programs. Upon his retirement, Tim became President of Cobham Analytic Solutions, a 1300 person business unit providing high end engineering services to US national defense and intelligence agencies.

David V. Jacobson, BSc, OMM, CD is Chief of Staff (Materiel Group), Department of National Defence, Canada. “Jake” attended Canada’s Collège Militaire Royale and Royal Military College, and was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, studying Theoretical Astrophysics 1975 to 1978. With the Navy until 1999, Jake served as naval representative to the United Kingdom and Ireland, and as the Commanding Officer of Canada’s Pacific Naval Dockyard.  Leaving the Navy, Jake joined Lockheed Martin in the UK as the Deputy Commercial Director and Program Officer Manager for the Royal Navy’s Merlin program, returning eventually to Canada to lead the Maritime Helicopter Program (MHP) team and serve as the Director of Advanced Programs.  Jake later joined General Dynamics Canada and served there in a series of appointments as Director Naval Programs, Director Air & Naval Advanced Programs and Director Air & Naval Strategy.

General Frank Kearney is the deputy commander of the United States Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.  Previously, he was the commanding general of Special Operations Command Central/Combined Forces Special Operations Component Command; assistant division commander (Maneuver) of the 24th Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas, and deployed forward as the deputy CFSOC commander and commander, Joint Inter-Agency Task Force-Former Regime Elements in Baghdad, Iraq; assigned as the J3 and subsequently as the deputy commander for Joint Special Operations Command. Kearney is a graduate of the United States Military Academy and has completed the Armor Officer's Advanced Course and the Army War College.

Commodore Monty Khanna is the Naval Attache, Embassy of India, Washington DC.  The Commodore’s sea tenures include ExO, INS Sindhuvijay and the commands of INS Sindhuvijay, INS Krishna and INS Gomati.  He has served ashore as Squadron Commander at the National Defence Academy, ExO INS Vajrabahu, NA to FOC-in-C (West), NA to VCNS and as a Director in the Directorate of Ship System Development.  Commodore Khanna is a graduate of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, the College of Naval Warfare, Karanja and the Naval  War College, Newport. He holds M.Phil (Def & Strategic Studies) M.Sc (Def & Strategic Studies), M.Sc (Nautical Sciences) and B.Sc (Def Studies).

Major General Tom Henry Knutsen is the Defense Attache at the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Washington D.C. Major General Knutsen was Commander Nor Defence Education Centre/Commandant Nor National Defence College from 2005 until 2006.  Prior to this, Major General Knutsen  was Head of the Crisis Management Section, Nor Ministry of Defence. From 2002-2003 MGen Knutsen was the Commander, RNoAF Air Warfare Center.  From 1991-94, he was Aide de Campe to HM King Harald V.  Major General Knutsen attended the Norwegian National Defence College, Crisis Management Course in 1998, the Norwegian National Defence College, Information Course in 1997, and USAF Air War College, Maxwell AFB 1995-96 where he was awarded Red River Valley Fighter Pilot’s Association Award for Outstanding Paper on Air Power. 

In October 2007, Lieutenant Colonel Evan G. LeBlanc, USMC, was the Operations Officer for Marine Medium Lift MV-22 Squadron 262 (VMM-263) when the unit deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Operating from Al Asad Airbase, the unit flew the full spectrum of assault support missions amassing more than 3,800 flight hours during its six-month combat deployment. Upon return from OIF in April 2008, LtCol LeBlanc transferred to Marine Air Group (MAG)-26/29 as Staff Liaison for the MV-22 "Osprey". While attached to the MAG, he assisted in the stand-up of the MV-22 Type/Model/Series (TMS) Team and helped manage the overall MV-22 transition process on the East Coast. In June 2009, LtCol LeBlanc was assigned to MAG-16 at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar outside San Diego in order to oversee the west coast Marine Squadron transition from CH-46 to MV-22 aircraft. His personal decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4 stars) and Air Medal ("4" Strike/Flight awards). Originally from Louisiana, he earned his Bachelor's degree in Architecture from Louisiana State University. He is married to the former Helen Young of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. They have two daughters.

General Robert Magnus, USMC (Ret.) is the former Deputy Commandant for Programs and Resources, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps.  General Magnus was commissioned in June 1969, after graduating from the University of Virginia with a B.A. (History).  In 1993, he received a M.S. (Business Administration) from Strayer College.  General Magnus' formal military education includes Naval Aviator Training, the U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College (1985), and the National War College (1989).  General Magnus reported to Headquarters Marine Corps in July 2000, when he was appointed as the Assistant Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies, and Operations (Quadrennial Defense Review). 

Dane A. Marolt is the Director of International Business Development for Northrop Grumman’s RQ-4 Global Hawk. He spent 22 years in the United States Air Force flying various models of the C-130 aircraft and participating in Operations Urgent Fury, Deep Freeze, Desert Shield and Northern Watch.  From 1996 to 1999, he was the Director of International Flight Operations at the Defense Contracts Management Agency, administering US Government flight operations at contractor facilities in Italy, Spain, Germany, Turkey, Singapore, Korea, Japan, Malaysia and New Zealand.  In 1999 he worked for the Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs (SAF/IA) where he was involved in the Global Hawk deployment to Australia in 2001. He retired from the United States Air Force in 2003 and has over 3,300 flight hours, a Masters Degree in Business Administration and multiple military awards.

Dr. Mark Maurice is Director of the International Office at the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) in Arlington, VA. Mark is also the Vice-President International for the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and is a member of their Board of Directors. From 1980 to 1993, Mark worked in the Air Vehicles Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, developing non-intrusive aero-diagnostics.  In 1993, he became the Chief of Aeronautical Engineering at the European Office of Aerospace Research and Development, in London, UK, and served as a scientific liaison between AFRL and those doing similar research in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Former Soviet Union.  In 1997, Mark returned to Air Vehicles Directorate for a two-year assignment as the Assistant to the Chief Scientist. Mark received his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Dayton, in 1992.

Richard J. Millies is Vice President, International Strategy & Business Development, BAE Systems. He was formerly Deputy Director, Defense Security Cooperation Agency.  Prior to this, he was Director of Policy, Office of the Under Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs.   Mr. Millies has extensive experience working international affairs issues, particularly those associated with technology transfer, weapons sales, and political-military affairs.  Much of his work experience was in the Department of the Air Force, but he has also worked for the Navy Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Office of Management and Budget.   He has a BA from Fordham University, MS in Foreign Service from Georgetown University, and MBA from Southern Illinois University.  Mr. Millies attended executive development programs at Harvard and M.I.T.  He served as an active duty Air Force officer and as a Reservist for over 20 years.

In April 2009, Mr. Mark J. Morrison accepted an assignment to the Office of the DNI (ODNI) as the Deputy Associate Director of National Intelligence (DADNI) for Intelligence Community Information Assurance (ICIA) under the ODNI/ Chief Information Officer (CIO).  ICIA provides information assurance (IA); compliance and validation support, including independent assessments of IC agency compliance with DNI, Department of Defense (DoD), and federal regulations; formulates and oversees improvements to information sharing with IC agencies and the U.S.’ closest allied partners; and provides command and control capabilities for the DNI in times of crisis.  From 2005 to 2009, Mr. Morrison served as Defense Intelligence Agency’s (DIA) Chief Infor­mation Assurance Officer (CIAO) within the Directorate for Informa­tion Management and CIO.  Mr. Morrison graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a B.A. in econometrics. 

Martin Neill, CPhys was appointed the Counsellor for Defence Acquisition and Technology (C/DAT) at the British Embassy Washington in August 2009. Prior to this Martin was in London as the Director for Science and Technology for Counter-Terrorism and Support to Operations for 2 years. Martin was also responsible for providing rapid S&T solutions directly to the frontline. Before this, Martin spent 4 years on exchange to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, US Department of Defense. During this time Martin lead the integration team for the 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review for which he was awarded the OSD medal for exceptional public service. He then went on to be the Special Advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics from Feb 2006 to July 2007. Mr. Neill started his career within the Ministry of Defence as a Physicist in 1993, conducting electro-optical research for the British Army.

In July 2008, Air Vice-Marshal Osley AM CSC took up his appointment as Head of Australian Defence Staff (Washington), and Australian Defence Attaché.  Air Vice-Marshal Osley deployed as Director of the Combined Air Operations Centre in the Middle East in the period November 2006 to March 2007.  In this position, he directed Coalition air operations over Iraq and Afghanistan.  He was appointed as Commander Air Combat Group in July 2007, where he led the RAAF’s fighter, strike and close air support ‘fast jet’ forces. AVM Osley holds a BSc (Physics), MA, MDef Stud, Grad Dip Mgt, Grad Dip Mil Av.  He is a Member of the Order of Australia and has also been awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross, both for his exceptional service to the Royal Australian Air Force throughout his career.

Dr. W. Stephen Piper worked 15 years in the U.S. Government’s Executive Branch including assignments as senior staff advisor for Japanese technology cooperation programs in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, where he negotiated the Detailed Arrangements for Transfers of Japanese Military Technologies to the United States; Coordinator, Aerospace Trade Policy, in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), where he led the negotiation of the 1979 GATT Agreement on Trade in Civil Aircraft; and Assistant Director for Transportation at the White House's Council on International Economic Policy.  He established Piper Pacific International in March 1989  to facilitate technology cooperation between Asia and the United States.  A frequent visitor to Seoul, Taipei, and Tokyo, he now travels about three months each year in Asia.  Dr. Piper holds a doctorate in mathematics from Stanford University.

Rafi Sela is President of AR Challenges, LTd. (Israel) & AR Challenges (USA), Inc. Mr. Sela is a former Co-Chairman of the US Airport Security Task force at HSIA – Homeland Security Industries Association (USA) & founder & former President of the ILHSIA – Israeli Homeland Security Industries Association. He currently manages teaming projects between Israeli Homeland Security companies and their counterparts in North America, India and SE Asia, and has extensive Defense and Security business development experience in North America and Europe for over 30 years. Mr. Sela served in the IDF for 20 years as a senior Ordnance Officer specializing in product development for the Special operations. (Including the design and manufacturing of the equipment for the Entebbe raid).  He is married with three children and four grandchildren.

Dr. Jennifer Stewart is the Director General, Washington DC Region of the Department of Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) and Counsellor for Defence Procurement at the Canadian Embassy in Washington. Dr. Stewart's office also supports the PWGSC International Cooperation Initiative, which facilitates knowledge and best practice sharing between Canada and the U.S. in the area of common services.  Dr. Stewart is the current Chairman of the Foreign Procurement Group, a network of 25 countries who participate in the US Security Assistance Program.  Dr. Stewart joined the Public Service in 1980. During her career, she has held various executive positions including Director, Human Resources Programs, PWGSC; Senior Program Advisor, Central Region, Department of Supply and Services (DSS); and Director of Evaluation, DSS.  Dr. Stewart has a Ph.D. in English and Philosophy from McGill University.

Dr. Sam J. Tangredi, is the Director of San Diego Operations for the planning-consulting firm Strategic Insight LTD.  A Captain, U.S. Navy retired from active duty, Tangredi's last military assignment was as the first Director of the Strategic Planning & Business Development Directorate (NIPO-03) of the Navy International Program Office, the Department of the Navy's security assistance and technology transfer organization, where he directed the prioritization of security cooperation with partner nations. His preceding assignment was as U.S. Defense and Naval Attaché to Greece. A surface warfare officer, he commanded USS HARPERS FERRY (LSD-49). He also served in the Pentagon as Special Assistant and Speechwriter to the Secretary of the Navy, and as Head of the Strategy and Concepts Branch in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. He earned a PhD in International Relations, and has published three books, the latest being a study of the 2010-2035 future security environment entitled “Futures of War”. 

George “Guy” Thomas is the Science & Technology Advisor for the National Office of Global Maritime Situational Awareness (OGMSA), chartered by the White House to lead the execution of a major part of the National Strategy for Maritime Security (NSMS).  He also co-chairs the National Maritime Awareness Technology sub-committee (NMATS). Guy has been part of the international Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) effort since its inception, writing the initial draft (November 2001)of what is now the National Concept of Operations for MDA. Retired from the Navy, he led intelligence collection teams on ships, planes and submarines involved in classified operations. He was the first person in the Navy awarded Air Force wings.  He also qualified for their Space badge and was among the first designated as a Navy space operations sub-specialist. He subsequently conducted military related research at the Naval War College and Johns Hopkins’ Applied Physics Lab. taking early retirement from there to take his current position.

Capt. Joe Vojvodich is the program manager responsible for the Coast Guard Acquisition Directorate's (Washington, District of Columbia) Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) projects. The five major C4ISR procurements administered by Capt. Vojvodich include: Rescue 21, Coast Guard Logistics Information Management System, Interagency Operations Centers, Nationwide Automatic Identification System and the C4ISR project. Prior to his current position, Capt. Vojvodich served as the C4ISR project manager for recapitalization efforts on aircraft, cutters and shore stations.   Capt. Vojvodich is an honor graduate of the Coast Guard Academy.  He also earned his Masters of Science degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University.

Barry Warburton is the Chief Executive of WEAF (West of England Aerospace Forum), one of the leading Trade Associations in the UK, representing some 30% of the UK’s Aerospace and Defence industry. In addition he oversees the SC21 projects (a business improvement programme and the Science Technology Engineering and Math’s intervention project in schools.  Prior to this Barry held a central role at EEF – where he was been both Commercial Services Director and Head of External Affairs for the South West, playing a crucial role in drawing together manufacturing companies and lobbying for change and new initiatives to assist South West manufacturers develop their processes, networks and businesses.  Barry has been engaged with the manufacturing sector for more than 12 years through supporting Inward Investment Companies by Supply Chain development with Devon and Cornwall Development International. He ran a £4.2 million Advanced Engineering Skills project and worked closely with manufacturing companies through the Regional Manufacturing Network.

David Whiteree is Chairman of IDEEA, Inc., a Virginia company founded in 1985.  He is Chief Executive and Founder of the ComDef series of exhibitions and symposia.  IDEEA, Inc. is a full service international business development and marketing company established in Washington DC.  Mr. Whiteree is founder/publisher of “Common Defense Quarterly”. 

Quentin Whiteree has been President and Chief Operating Officer of IDEEA, Inc. since 1 January, 1999.  Prior to this, he was Vice President of the company, responsible for business focus, with an emphasis on emerging information and computer technologies.  He joined IDEEA, Inc. in 1987 and has held a series of appointments within the company.  Mr. Whiteree is Managing Editor of Common Defense Quarterly, an international defense cooperation publication.  He holds a joint BA honors degree in marketing from Strathclyde University, Scotland and is a past President of its Wine Appreciation Society.  Mr. Whiteree is a member of the National Press Club.