Andrew was selected by General Anthony Cotton, Commander of Strat-Comm, to be commissioned as a United States Air Force Officer under the Senior Leadership Enlisted Commissioning Program. He is currently working towards a Master Certificate of Management Excellence from Harvard Business School. Previously based at the Pentagon, Master Sergeant Andrew Caprio was the Innovation Strategist for the Chief of Staff of the Air Force Strategic Studies Group. He served as one of the first Senior Enlisted advisors on the Vice Chief of Staff’s Innovation team, Morpheus.
Anthony Di Stasio currently serves as the Director of the Manufacturing, Capability Expansion, and Investment Prioritization Directorate (MCEIP) at the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment (OUSD A&S). MCEIP prioritizes and invests in industrial development and production critical for protecting national security.
Benjamin McMartin, Esq. CPCM is Managing Partner of the Public Spend Forum and Senior Fellow at the George Mason University Baroni Center for Government Contracting. Ben is a nationally-recognized expert, speaker, and author in Federal procurement and non-traditional acquisition methodologies, who spent more than a decade developing some of the most unique procurement solutions for the Department of Defense. Ben previously served as Chief of the Acquisition Management Office for the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command – Ground Vehicle Systems Center, and prior to that, as a Procuring Contracting and Agreements Officer for the US Army Contracting Command – Warren.
Resilinc CEO Bindiya Vakil is credited with bringing supply chain risk management into the mainstream. Vakil has helped transform the way that global organizations approach supply chain visibility and risk; driving them to shift from reactively addressing catastrophic supply chain events to putting preventative solutions in place through monitoring, mapping, and planning. She is a founding member of the Global Supply Chain Resiliency Council and a member of the Advisory Board of MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics.
After completing a 20-year Navy career that included four submarine assignments, including command of a fast attack submarine, as well as a variety of shore assignments focused on training and education, Chris Van Metre joined the Advanced Technology Institute (ATI). Chris began as a project manager, and soon transitioned into a Business Development role, responsible for growing ATI’s market reach and business portfolio. In April 2012, he became ATI’s third President and CEO. In this role, he oversees the strategic direction of ATI, which has grown to a $1.5 Billion collaboration management services company.
Ms. Adele Ratcliff is currently the Director of Innovation Capability & Modernization within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy (OASD(IBP)). During her tenure in OSD, she has focused on building strong interagency partnerships to address broad transition of manufacturing issues such as manufacturing readiness and the Advanced Manufacturing Enterprise. Her current position uses the broad authorities of the Industrial Base Analysis & Sustainment (IBAS) program element to enable a modern Industrial Base that integrates traditional and emerging sectors to be able to respond at will to National Security Requirements. Previously, as the Director of the DOD Manufacturing Technology (ManTech) Program, Ms. Ratcliff led the effort in establishing the DOD’s national Manufacturing Innovation Institutes (MIIs).
Mr. Dan Sheridan joined the Department of Navy Office of Small Business Programs staff in June of 2022 in a new “Entrepreneur of Staff” role created by OSBP Director Mr. Jimmy Smith.
Dr. Ray Dick is founder and Executive Director of the Global Learning Accelerator (GLA), a 501(c)3 nonprofit, connecting students and communities to workforce and economic opportunities. In his work with GLA, Dr. Dick co-founded Project MFGTM– National Workforce Program, which uses live-action advanced manufacturing competitions as a catalyst to engage communities around their trade workforce pipeline and associated economic opportunity, and Project AccelerUs®, a technology enabled digital challenge program for middle and high school students.
Mr. James Crean is the President and CTO of Crean Inc. He is an aerospace innovator with a passion for driving the implementation of smart factory technologies & methods in the United States. He spent the first half of his career at Hughes Space & Communications and Boeing where as a systems engineer he and a small team developed the first DirecTV satellite system, as well as other novel mobile communication systems for commercial companies as well as to support vital US government missions. He put this wide-ranging experience to use in developing leading edge large-scale deployable antenna systems for satellite applications, performing launch simulation vibration and acoustics testing of full-up satellite systems, and systems engineering the world’s most advanced global weather satellite systems. His diverse background also includes developing key aspects of the company’s enterprise-wide asset tracking system application as well as a variety of engineering analysis applications. He stood up the Supplier Program Manager role for Boeing satellite propulsion group, working with suppliers to qualify their systems and deliver faster and cheaper. He was a program manager for the NASA Tracking & Data Relay Satellite System, was deputy business unit leader, and formed the company’s Lean Six Sigma group.
Mr. Will Grannis is the founder and managing director of Google Cloud’s Office of the CTO (OCTO). In this role, Grannis leads a team of senior technology experts and former enterprise CTOs, who guide some of Google Cloud’s largest and most strategic customers on their journey to the cloud and collaboratively innovate on new and disruptive technologies. He previously designed and launched Google Public Sector, focused on helping federal, state, and local governments accelerate their digital transformation, serving as founding CEO. Prior to joining Google Cloud, Grannis was the chief technology officer and senior vice president of engineering at L3 Technologies, a multi-billion dollar business and Fortune 250 public company, where he was responsible for product strategy and execution. He has a passion for developing leaders and technologies that make the impossible possible.
Josh Cramer is the Director of Supply Chain Solutions at BlueVoyant Government Solutions, a subsidiary of BlueVoyant. He is responsible for enabling the organization’s growth across the US government public sector and allies to include better supply chain transparency, continuous risk monitoring for both operational and cyber risks in suppliers, and risk mitigation in supply chains.
Will is founder and CEO of Wilder Systems. He has spent the past ten years leading teams to engineer and deploy robotic systems for aircraft manufacturing and maintenance. Wilder Systems works closely with USAF end users to adapt dual use manufactiring robots to defense maintenance use cases. The WS team is excited to launch a TACFI project in April in partnership with Global Strike Command.
Alex Gorsuch is the Co-founder and CTO of Ascent Integrated Tech. They utilize helmet-mounted sensors and commercial off-the-shelf wearables to display a Command and Control Common Operational Picture of first responders and warfighters’ health and location while mapping the battlespace. The team has received 2 Direct-to-Phase 2 contracts with the 96th Test Wing and $2.6M in pre-orders from municipal fire departments. In a prior life, he taught Army Research Lab’s Mission: Transition program, the National Security Innovation Network’s Foundry and Hacking for Defense programs, and the National Science Foundation’s I-Corps program. Additionally, he established the Federal and State Technology Center for the state of Illinois, a center of excellence for SBIR/STTR funding and government contracting.
Josh Marcuse is the Director of Strategic Initiatives for Google Public Sector. Previously, he served as the executive director of the Defense Innovation Board, a group focused on bringing organizational and technological innovation and the business practices of Silicon Valley to the Department of Defense. Josh worked in various roles in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and also at the Center for Strategic & International Studies, Booz Allen Hamilton, and the Council on Foreign Relations.
Erringer Helbling serves as the Vice President, Federal at Altana Technologies. Altana empowers governments, logistics providers, and enterprises with a living map of the global supply chain. Erringer’s career has focused on bridging the civilian and military divide through technology and communities — spanning government service, commercial startups, research institutions, and nonprofits. Previously, she worked with HawkEye 360 to launch a first-to-market technology and scale their solutions to support their global customer portfolio.
Mr. Justin Fanelli is the Technical Director of Program Executive Office Digital & Enterprise Services (PEO Digital). He is chartered to provide strategic technical leadership for the rapid transformation of enterprise IT infrastructure within the Department of Navy. His portfolios include Cloud and Platforms, Cyber and Operations, Digital Workplace/Productivity, Infrastructure, End User Services, and several others. Mr. Fanelli also serves as Chief Architect of Defense Medical Intelligence Data as a Naval Information Warfare Center senior leader and Advisor to ARPA-H, the moonshot startup within HHS. Previous leadership assignments included Command and Control, Intel Community, DARPA, Manpower Personnel Training Education, and Comms.
Dr. Natasha Bajema has held long-term assignments at the National Defense University, in the U.S. Office of the Secretary of Defense, and at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. She’s currently Director of the Converging Risks Lab at the Council on Strategic Risks.
Scott holds a BBA-Marketing from the University of Texas-Austin, as well as an MBA-Finance and MA-Int’l Mgmt from the University of Texas-Dallas. Scott has over 25 years of financial experience in the high-tech, manufacturing, and cleantech sectors. Prior to Carbonfree, Scott was the CFO at Fluence Bioengineering, a leading manufacturer of LED lighting fixtures for the horticulture industry. At Fluence Scott oversaw the company’s financial hypergrowth, along with the successful sale to a multinational German lighting company. Scott has significant prior experience in IPOs, M&A transactions, and fundraising of various types, including equity, debt, and government grants.
Trish Martinelli is a proud Army veteran, a senior advisor to the DoD Office of Small Business Program, and the Executive Director of the Defense Entrepreneurs Forum. An innovator at heart, Trish has been part of some of the leading Departmental organizations like the Joint IED Defeat Organization (JIEDDO), NSIN, and now OSBP.
Mr. Christopher Zember is an experienced corporate executive, government executive, and thought leader. He envisioned and guided the establishment of several innovative organizations and programs that are thriving today, including the DOD’s National Security Innovation Network and Hacking for Defense. Known by the moniker “Z,” he is a sought after advisor to those seeking to inject innovation into a stale status quo. Z currently serves as a senior fellow with the US Army Research Lab, focused on scaling emerging technologies in order to grow a more robust and resilient domestic industrial base. He previously served as an executive and business leader at Alion Science and Technology (acquired by Huntington Ingalls Industries), an advanced science and engineering company with 80 years of experience applying cutting edge science and technology to solve complex problems. Z also recently served on the International Security Council of the World Economic Forum. His prior positions include work in Defense research and engineering, national security policy, Defense planning, and intelligence analysis, with posts both inside and outside government, in the U.S. and abroad. He lives in Dayton, Ohio with his wife Pamela; with their five children, four dogs, and three cats, they are always happy to host friends and acquaintances, celebrating the beauty of life and enjoying the unique value of every individual being.
Ms. Halimah Najieb-Locke currently serves as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Resilience at the U.S. Department of Defense. In this role, Ms. Najieb-Locke is responsible for assessing the health of the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) and recommending key policies, investments and actions designed to strengthen the capacity and resilience of the DIB. She is also responsible for advising on actions to safeguard the DIB from potential adverse actions domestically, as well as foreign interventions.
Mark Flood is a program manager in DARPA’s Information Innovation Office (I2O). His research interests include computational finance, financial intelligence, and financial system resilience. Flood joined DARPA from the University of Maryland, College Park, where he remains a senior research scholar at the Center for Financial Policy. Previously, he was a research principal with the Office of Financial Research (OFR), U.S. Department of the Treasury. Before that, he taught finance at universities in the U.S. and Canada, and worked as a financial economist on issues of regulatory policy and risk management at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the Office of Thrift Supervision, the Federal Housing Finance Board, and the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Flood holds a doctorate in finance from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and bachelor’s degrees in finance, German, and economics from Indiana University, Bloomington. He has roughly 50 technical publications on a range of topics, including financial stability, organizational complexity, securities market microstructure, deposit insurance, and computational representations of financial contracts.
Mr. Mike Canales is the Director of Supply Chain Resilience at General Motors.
Anthony “Tony” Lugo, Colonel, United States Army (Retired), served over 28 years as a field artillery officer with multiple assignments in the United States and overseas to include Germany, Italy, Hawaii and Afghanistan. Currently, Tony serves as the Director, Government Solutions for Picogrid. Tony previously commanded an Army Infantry brigade, served as the operations officer for I Corps and Joint Base Lewis-McChord and served as Chief of Staff for the Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Most recently he completed a two-year tour as the principal advisor to the Commander of Army Forces Command, which oversees the readiness and integration of most of the Army’s Active, Guard, and Reserve combat forces. Through Tony’s unique background serving in support of two-to-four-star level commands, he is uniquely qualified to help organizations solve complex problems and streamline processes to ensure mission, intent and goals are achieved.
Ms. Sha-chelle Manning currently serves as the Chief of Commercial Strategy for DARPA, DOD’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency with a +$3.8B annual budget for technology investments with leading researchers for national and economic security. Manning is a co-founder of 1920 Group, a women-led investment, transaction, and growth firm for social impact; and co-founder of Lithos, a critical material extraction company. Prior, Manning was an executive for two leading US public energy companies, Pioneer Natural Resources (NYSE: PXD) and Cimarex NYSE: CTRA), who led technology, innovation, and LP/venture investments that advanced the US as a “global energy powerhouse” and pioneered the industry for backing many climate tech companies.
John Stibal is an Austin-based tech investor and the co-managing director of 
Dr. Bryson Reynolds is the acting Associate Director for Small Business Risk and Analytics in the Department of Defense Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP). Dr. Reynolds serves as the office’s lead for matters related to Foreign Ownership, Control, and Influence. Prior to joining OSBP, Dr. Reynolds worked in neuroscience research at the University of Virginia and Vanderbilt University, focused primarily on neuroimaging and the biomechanics of head impact.
Tom Marlow is a Managing Director at Dark Wolf Solutions and leads its Cybersecurity Practice. He possesses over 19 years of leadership, cybersecurity, and management consulting experience. At Dark Wolf, Tom oversees a portfolio of cybersecurity capabilities that include penetration testing, cybersecurity consulting, and DevSecOps projects for DoD and commercial customers. Dark Wolf is a technology focused small business with Cybersecurity, DevSecOps, Software Development, and Digital Transformation capabilities.
Matthew Arnow is the Head of Public Sector Solutions at Tidelift. He previously worked with global enterprises in the mobile technology and security space for 17 years. At Tidelift, Matthew’s team oversees engagements with federal agencies including the Department of Air Force, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, DARPA, USGS, and many others. Tidelift provides a proactive approach to improving the security, maintenance, and resilience of open-source software. Tidelift partners directly with the actual open source maintainers and pay them on a continuous basis to validate that their projects meet emerging standards such as NIST SSFD, improve the data quality Software Bills of Material (SBOM), ensure maintenance issues are addressed in a timely manner and many other attributes that address cyber Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM) challenges.
Arun Sankaran is the CEO of BlueVoyant Government Solutions, an independent subsidiary of BlueVoyant, a global cybersecurity company whose mission it is to proactively defend organizations against advanced cybersecurity threats. Arun co-founded 202 Group, a Washington, DC-based startup with an industrial base and supply chain analytic platform. After three years of strong client growth in the defense and aerospace sectors, Arun led the successful acquisition of 202 Group by BlueVoyant, in October 2021.As CEO of BlueVoyant Government Solutions, Arun continues to build innovative, data-driven supply chain risk management, and cybersecurity solutions for governments. Arun has more than two decades of experience in technology, management, and strategy consulting in the U.S. federal government market.
Taylor Miller is the Director of Technical Delivery at BlueVoyant Government Solutions, an independent subsidiary of BlueVoyant, Inc. focused on data-driven supply chain risk management for governments. Taylor has worked as a data scientist and research analyst in the U.S. federal government market for nearly a decade, and currently builds AI-driven solutions to monitor and assess supply chain risk for major defense acquisition programs at scale. A Texas native, Taylor graduated from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Public Policy.Join the Pentagon’s Industrial Base Policy Office to explore the challenges and opportunities for U.S. industry to compete globally, and learn about the unique resources and over $1.5 billion in funding focused on rebuilding a robust and resilient domestic industrial base. Hear about special programs tailored to help startups rapidly achieve scale, address supply chain vulnerabilities, and deliver sustainable production to support U.S. national security and economic prosperity. Learn from Government innovators, industry experts, and startup founders as they share experiences and insights about how government and industry can collaborate to scale and sustain a domestic dual-use industrial base.
Ensuring National Security and Economic Prosperity
March 11, 2023 / 2:00 – 2:30pm
Location: Capital Factory (701 Brazos St)
Room: Voltron w/simulcast to Captain America
In his role performing the duties of Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, Mr. Paul Cramer plays a crucial role in shaping the Department of Defense’s (DOD) policies and strategies for strengthening the nation’s industrial base, in addition to providing oversight for Defense acquisition and the acquisition workforce, contract administration, and logistics, among other key areas. In this keynote address, Cramer will discuss the challenges facing the defense industrial base, including supply chain vulnerabilities, workforce development, and emerging technologies, and outline the DOD’s initiatives to address these challenges. Cramer will also emphasize the need for public-private partnerships and collaboration across industry sectors, government agencies, and academia to achieve a resilient and self-sufficient industrial base. This keynote address is a must-attend for policymakers, business leaders, and individuals interested in the defense industry and national security.
Building a Resilient Domestic Industrial Base
March 11, 2023 / 2:30 – 3:45pm
Location: Capital Factory (701 Brazos St)
Room: Voltron w/simulcast to Captain America
The panel discussion will provide insights for policymakers, industry leaders, and the public on how to build a strong and resilient domestic industrial base. Panelists in government, manufacturing, economic development, and tech leaders will highlight the importance of collaboration and share details about programs delivering over $1.5 billion in funding focused on scaling and sustaining the U.S. industrial base. Don’t miss this panel if you want to know more about how to access these resources.
Moderator
Panelists
Tech Startup Warriors: Innovating for National Security
March 11, 2023 / 4:15 – 5:30pm
Location: Capital Factory (701 Brazos St)
Room: Voltron w/simulcast to Captain America
Innovation and technology are key drivers of national security, and tech startups are at the forefront of this effort. However, breaking into the Defense market can be a daunting task for tech startups without the necessary resources or connections. This panel discussion will explore the strategies and programs that the Department of Defense (DOD) has implemented to create meaningful opportunities for tech startups to become trusted and active members of the dual-use industrial base. Expert panelists will share their experiences and insights into the DOD’s efforts to support startups, highlight specific programs and opportunities, and how to make connections. This panel is a must-attend for tech entrepreneurs, investors, and individuals interested in the intersection of technology and national security.
Moderator
Panelists
Partner & Pour: Happy Hour with Government & Industry Collaboration – Sponsored by ATI
March 11, 2023 / 5:30 – 6:30pm
Location: Capital Factory (701 Brazos St)
Room: Voltron and Captain America
Come and unwind from the first day of SXSW with handcrafted cocktails, delicious appetizers, and the chance to forge new connections! Connect with innovators and senior thought leaders from government and industry; and meet the team from ATI, the leading organization working to connect startups and small businesses with opportunities in national security.
Risky Business: Surviving Supply Chain Chaos
March 12, 2023 / 10:15 – 11:30am
Location: Capital Factory (701 Brazos St)
Room: Captain America
The recent disruptions experienced across the defense and commercial industries have exposed significant vulnerabilities in our supply chains. In response, both the government and private sector are taking a fresh look at their supply chain risk management strategies to better understand and address these risks. Panelists will share examples of successful strategies and lessons learned from recent disruptions, highlighting best practices that can be applied across industries. Topics of discussion will include the use of technology, data analytics, supplier diversification, and collaboration between industry and startups.
Moderator
Panelists
Cracking the Code: Navigating the Defense Market as a Startup
March 12, 2023 / 12:30pm – 1:45pm
Location: Capital Factory (701 Brazos St)
Room: Captain America
The Department of Defense (DOD) has been actively seeking to engage more new industrial base partners, especially startups, but many tech companies still struggle to know where to start. Panelists including experienced entrepreneurs, investors, and government officials, will share their perspectives on the current state of the defense market, the key players and stakeholders, and the strategies and programs available for tech companies looking to break into the market. Attendees will leave with a better understanding of the opportunities and challenges of working with the DOD and the strategies for successfully navigating this complex market.
Moderator
Panelists
Expanding Horizons: The Growing Role of Startups in International Security, from Ukraine to the Global Stage
March 12, 2023 / 1:45pm – 3:00pm
Location: Capital Factory (701 Brazos St)
Room: Captain America
Recent events in Ukraine have underscored the growing role of commercial companies in making strategic impacts on international security, without any government direction or funding. This panel will explore the evolving relationship between industry and security, with a focus on how commercial companies and startups are influencing global security challenges. Drawing on real-world examples and lessons learned, panelists will discuss the implications of industry involvement in security, the potential benefits and risks, and how the Department of Defense (DOD) can best engage with industry to promote global security.
Moderator
Panelists
From Garage to Government: How Startups Can Scale and Join the Domestic Industrial Base
March 12, 2023 / 3:30pm – 4:45pm
Location: Capital Factory (701 Brazos St)
Room: Captain America
Startups are a critical component of our economy and national security, but they face significant challenges in scaling their business and production capacity. This panel brings together experts to offer practical insights on how startups can maximize their chances for success and quickly transition to becoming trusted members of the domestic industrial base. Join us to learn about best practices, strategies, and programs designed to help startups scale and thrive in the shortest possible timelines.
Stellar Partnerships: A Happy Hour with Millennium Space Systems & ATI
March 12, 2023 / 4:45 – 6:45pm
Location: Capital Factory (701 Brazos St)
Room: Captain America
Join us for an exciting evening of networking and collaboration with leaders in defense and space innovation! Millennium Space Systems, a leading provider of affordable prototype and constellation solutions, the creator of cutting-edge missile warning technology to advance national security space missions, and ATI, the forefront of connecting startups and entrepreneurs with the Department of Defense to improve our nation’s defense capabilities.