Speakers: All

Bob Barclay

The Honorable Kari A. Bingen

The Honorable Kari A. Bingen was nominated by President Trump as the Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence (PDUSD(I)) and unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate in May 2017. 

As the PDUSD(I), Ms. Bingen is the deputy to the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence (USD(I)), the Honorable Joseph D. Kernan, who is the principal intelligence, counterintelligence and security advisor to the Secretary of Defense (SecDef), and the SecDef’s principal representative to the Intelligence Community. The USD(I) is also dual-hatted as the Director of Defense Intelligence in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and reports to the DNI in that capacity. The USD(I) exercises authority, direction, and control on behalf of the SecDef over the National Security Agency/Central Security Service, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the National Reconnaissance Office, and the Defense Security Service. The USD(I) establishes policy and priorities; and oversees the Defense Intelligence Enterprise, consisting of more than 110,000 component employees, and an annual budget of over $54B. This includes the Military Intelligence Program, the Defense portion of the National Intelligence Program and the Battlespace Awareness portfolio.

From 2013 to 2017, Ms. Bingen served as the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) Policy Director. Beginning in 2006, Ms. Bingen served in support of the Strategic Forces subcommittee of the HASC where she advised members conducting oversight of military intelligence programs, military space operations, missile defense, and the nuclear security enterprise of the DoD and Department of Energy.

Prior to entering government, Ms. Bingen was employed with SRA International’s Adroit C4ISR Center as a space systems analyst. She also served as a senior space policy analyst at the Aerospace Corporation’s Center for Space Policy and Strategy. 

She is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics and a 2002 NRO Technology Fellow.

Maj. Gen. Stephen T. Denker, USAF

Major General Stephen T. Denker is the Deputy Director, National Reconnaissance Office (DDNRO), Chantilly, Virginia. His responsibilities include assisting the Director and Principal Deputy Director in managing the strategic and tactical operations of the NRO. Also, as the Commander, Air Force Element, he manages all Air Force personnel and resources assigned to the NRO and serves as the senior adviser to the DNRO on all military matters. Prior to his current assignment, he was the Director of Integrated Air, Space, Cyberspace and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Operations, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.

General Denker entered the Air Force in 1986 after graduating from the University of Minnesota and receiving a commission as a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program. He began his career as a spacecraft engineer at Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, followed by acquisition assignments with the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization, now known as the Missile Defense Agency, and the Special Programs organization at the Pentagon. General Denker’s operations experience includes developmental test and evaluation activities and specialized operations on a variety of space and ground systems. He has commanded at the squadron, group, and wing level and has served as executive officer, deputy division chief on the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition) staff and served as the Commandant, Air Command and Staff College and Vice Commander, Spaatz Center for Officer Education, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Alabama.

Among the many awards and decorations received by General Denker during his Air Force career are the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, and Joint Service Commendation Medal. He is also the recipient of the NRO Medal of Distinguished Service.

General Denker is a graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Ft. McNair, Washington, D.C., and hold a Master of Science degree in Systems Management from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, and a Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Dr. Lawrence K. Gershwin

Dr. Gershwin received a B.S. in physics from the California Institute of Technology in 1963 and a Ph.D. in physics from the University of California, Berkeley in 1969.

After serving as a postdoctoral associate at Columbia and Stanford Universities from 1969 to 1972, he joined the Institute for Defense Analyses, where he worked on several studies for the Department of Defense on advanced technology systems for conventional and nuclear warfare. He was with the Rand Corporation from 1975 to 1979, performing studies for the Department of Defense on land warfare systems, strategic conflict analysis, and Soviet strategic force operations. He was in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Program Analyses and Evaluation, from 1979 to 1981, with responsibilities in strategic force analysis, arms control, and net assessments.

Dr. Gershwin served as National Intelligence Officer for Strategic Programs from October 1981 to June 1994, supporting the Director of Central Intelligence. He chaired the preparation of National Intelligence Estimates and other Intelligence Community products, with responsibilities for strategic forces, proliferation, nuclear weapons security, strategic arms control monitoring, and space. He led the preparation of the annual assessment of Soviet strategic forces, the NIE 1 1-3/8 series, and the preparation ofNIEs on our capability to monitor the INF, START and nuclear testing treaties. He regularly conducted briefings for senior policymakers, military officials, and Congressional audiences.

He has served as National Intelligence Officer for Science and Technology since June 1994 preparing Intelligence Community products in many foreign science and technology areas. In October 2010, he was appointed as the National Intelligence Manager for Science and Technology, in addition to his duties as NIO/S&T. In 2014, Dr. Gershwin's title changed from NIM/NIO for S&T to NIM/NIO for Space and Technical Intelligence (S&TI).

He is currently responsible for analytic production, collection efforts, and the status and health of IC efforts in the following areas:

• Space and Counterspace Issues
• Global Science and Technology Developments
• Foreign Denial and Deception
• Underground Facilities
• Unconventional Current and Future Technical Collection Capabilities

While serving as National Intelligence Officer, he has received the awards of Distinguished Officer and Meritorious Officer in the Senior Intelligence Service. In 1989 he received the Distinguished Intelligence Medal, and in 1996 he received the National Intelligence Medal of Achievement. In October 2010 he received the AFCEA Charlie Allen Award for Intelligence Service. In 2013 he received the Meritorious Presidential Rank Award.

The Honorable Jeffrey Harris

Jeffrey K. Harris has contributed to US national security in both government and industry where he has fostered new technologies, programs and capabilities that have contributed significantly to US national security capabilities.  He currently consults with industry and the US Government. 

He is retired from Lockheed Martin, where he was a corporate officer and served as President of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space and President of Lockheed Martin Special Programs.  Also, he was President of Space Imaging, the first company to commercially provide high-resolution satellite imagery and information.

Before entering the private sector, Mr. Harris served in senior national leadership positions, including Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space; Director, National Reconnaissance Office, and Associate Executive Director of the Intelligence Community.

Mr. Harris has received numerous awards, most notably the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal, the CIA Distinguished Service Medal, the NRO Medal for Distinguished Service, the US Geospatial Intelligence Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award, NDIA’s Peter B. Teets space industry achievement award and the James V. Hartinger Award for military space achievement. 

He is a member of the Commander STRATCOM Strategic Advisory Group, the United States Energy Security Council, the Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts Board and is the Chairman of the Open Geospatial Consortium, and the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation. He is a Vice Chairman at Rochester Institute of Technology.  He serves on a number of corporate boards.

Mr. Harris holds a bachelor’s degree in Photographic Science and Instrumentation from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Russell Hudgins

Mr. Hudgins is the Senior Intelligence Advisor to the Space Security and Defense Program (SSDP), at the Reston, VA office.  Mr. Hudgins leads the development of foundational and operational intelligence support plans for all SSDP activities. He provides input and feedback to Air Force Space Command and the National Reconnaissance Office on matter related to space intelligence capabilities and requirements supporting national security space interests. He works with partners across the IC, the unified and combatant commands, and HQ USAF staff to inform intelligence issue and resourcing priorities to enhance SSDP activities, as well as representing SSDP at executive level fora, meetings, and seminars related to space protection strategy, policy, and funding.

Prior to his current assignment, Mr. Hudgins spent over twelve years at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, where he served in several analytic and liaison positions, and most recently as the Senior GEOINT Officer for space analysis.  During this time, he also served as a subcommittee chair on the NIC Weapon and Space Systems Intelligence Committee, in which he led and coordinated interagency collaboration on key issues of national-level interest. 

Mr. Hudgins holds of Bachelor of Arts degree in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia, and a Master of Science in Strategic Intelligence degree from the National Defense Intelligence College (now the National Intelligence University). He lives in northern Virginia with his wife, Elle, and a son, RJ.

Chris Inglis

Mr. Inglis currently serves as a distinguished visiting professor of cyber studies at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.  He retired from the Department of Defense in January 2014 following over 41 years of federal service, including 28 years at NSA and seven and a half years as its senior civilian and Deputy Director. As the NSA Deputy Director, Mr. Inglis acted as the Agency's chief operating officer, responsible for guiding and directing strategies, operations and policy.  His NSA service included three years as the United States Special Liaison to the United Kingdom, numerous operational tours leading Signals Intelligence organizations, and a one year posting as a visiting professor of computer science at the United States Military Academy (West Point).  

Mr. Inglis currently serves as a member of several combatant command and intelligence community advisory panels. He also serves as a Director on three public boards (FedEx, Huntington Bank, and KeyW) and numerous private advisory panels,

Mr. Inglis’ military career includes over 30 years of service in the US Air Force -- nine years on active duty and twenty-one years in the Air National Guard -- from which he retired as a Brigadier General in 2006. He holds the rating of Command Pilot and commanded units at the squadron, group, and joint force headquarters levels.

Mr. Inglis holds advanced degrees in engineering and computer science from Columbia University, Johns Hopkins University, and the George Washington University. He is a Distinguished Eagle Scout (2009) and a graduate of the Kellogg Business School executive development program, the USAF Air War College, Air Command and Staff College, and Squadron Officers' School. 

The Honorable Steven J. Isakowitz

Dr. Scott C. Kordella

Scott Kordella is a systems engineer specializing in Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance systems engineering with over 35 years of experience in radio frequency system design and operations.  In his current role, he leads MITRE’s space activities to develop and implement strategies that improve US and its allies’ space-based capabilities.  He has led several DoD/IC-wide studies in sensing, served as Chief Systems Engineer for DoD major system acquisitions, and as a researcher.

Currently, he leads MITRE’s support to the National Reconnaissance Office and to the Principal Department of Defence Space Advisor Staff.  In addition, he is developing new space studies with the FAA/ Office of Commercial Space in Civil Space Traffic Management, and with the Australia Defence Force to help Australia develop its future Space strategy and capability.

He holds a B.S. in physics from the University of Maryland, an M.S.E.E. (electrophysics) and Doctor of Science (electrophysics) from George Washington University.  He is a Registererd Professional Engineer in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and a Senior Member of the I.E.E.E..

John Monahan

John Monahan is the President of RT Logic and Senior Vice President of Kratos Technology & Training Satellite Products and Federal Solutions. Mr. Monahan, with RT Logic since 2006, has spent 30+ years in the Space Industry developing, integrating, deploying, and operating systems in support of Government and Commercial customers. He directly supported NASA, AFSPC, Intelligence Community (NRO/NSA), Space Control Community, among others during his first 20 years with the Air Force in roles that included Space Shuttle Flight Controller, MILSATCOM Operator and Engineer, and Program Manager for numerous DoD, Civil, and Intelligence Community missions. Mr. Monahan leads RT Logic, a growing company of over 250 people, dedicated to providing support to 90% of government satellites with over 6500 ground system solutions deployed to both government and commercial customers. In his role as SVP, KTTS Satellite Products and Federal Solutions, he oversees 450 employees at 9 locations. Mr. Monahan received his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Villanova University and Master of Business Administration from the University of Houston. 

Anthony J. Moraco

Tony Moraco is chief executive officer of SAIC, a position he has held since 2013.

Moraco joined SAIC in 2006 and served in numerous leadership positions prior to his appointment as CEO. He has vast experience leading businesses serving Department of Defense, federal and civilian agencies and the intelligence community, including U.S. Air Force space missions, the National Reconnaissance Office, and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.

Before joining SAIC, Moraco was with the Boeing Co. from 2000 to 2006. There, he served as deputy general manager of mission systems in the Space & Intelligence Systems organization, as well as the director of Homeland Security Technology Integration. In these roles, he led a wide array of programs focused on space ground segments, geospatial technology, and homeland security solutions.

Moraco began his career at Autometric, Inc. in 1984 and served in multiple positions, including senior vice president for Corporate Development with management authority of corporate departments. He also developed geospatial production and imagery exploitation solutions. From 1992-1993, Moraco was a program manager at TASC for a National Geospatial Intelligence Agency contract for enhanced digital mapping solutions.

He serves as a board member for the Northern Virginia Technology Council and the Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA) and is past chairman of the Defense Industry Initiative on Business Ethics and Conduct Steering Committee, former board member of Operation Homefront, and has served on engineering advisory boards at Virginia Tech.

Moraco earned a master’s degree in geodetic sciences and a bachelor’s degree in civil and environmental engineering (CEE) from Virginia Tech and was inducted into the CEE Academy of Distinguished Alumni in 2014.

Janet Nickloy

Colleen Oresky

Colleen Oresky is senior vice president of Strategy Management and Business Development for SAIC. 

In this role, she leads continued development and execution of the enterprise-wide growth strategy and oversees enterprise-wide sales activities to promote alignment, collaboration and innovation across the organization for efficient delivery and maximize win rates.

Prior to assuming this role in 2018, Oresky was an SAIC General Manager and Chief Technology Officer and led teams supporting the Defense Intelligence Agency, National Geospatial Agency, National Reconnaissance Office, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Open Source Center, Air Force, FBI, Combatant Commands and Agencies, and Office of Under Secretary Defense Intelligence. In these roles, she supported all aspects of technology evaluation and systems engineering, strategy development and execution, business development, performance excellence, and leadership development.

These teams provided a wide range of services and solutions including analysis, cyber, digital Media, operations, and services; technical expertise to various science and technology offices; systems engineering and development of next generation analyst support tools; records management, training; and security and program management support. 

Oresky supported customers across the Intelligence Community and Department of Defense where she designed, developed, and deployed systems worldwide; designed the classification tool as the first designed, developed, and deployed systems worldwide; designed the classification tool as the first agency wide service; and researched topics in artificial intelligence, data fusion and visualization, identity management and biometrics, social network analysis. 

Prior to joining SAIC in 1992, Oresky worked as a software engineer developing tools for use at a satellite ground station, airborne platform ground station and by image analysts interpreting satellite images.

She graduated with her bachelor’s degree in Engineering from University of Michigan and a master’s degree in Engineering Management from The George Washington University. She completed the Wharton Executive Education, Certificate of Professional Development from the University of Pennsylvania. She is a certified Project Management Professional.

Oresky participates in local Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) initiatives and Intelligence & National Security Alliance (INSA) activities.

Justin Poole

Mr. Poole is the seventh Deputy Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). As deputy director of NGA, he assists the director in leading the agency and managing the day to day operations of NGA and the National System for Geospatial-Intelligence.  He became the deputy director on Aug. 10, 2017, after more than 26 years of service with NGA and its predecessor organizations.  

Mr. Poole previously served concurrently as NGA’s Content Portfolio Manager and the Director of Source, responsible for creating, collecting, and brokering authoritative GEOINT content and services to support national security priorities.

Justin began his career as a cartographer and geospatial analyst with the Defense Mapping Agency, one of NGA’s predecessor organizations, in 1991.  He held several tradecraft and system architecture developmental positions before moving into analytic and technical management positions. 

Mr. Poole joined the Senior Executive Service in 2002 and has successively served as the Deputy Director for Mission Management, National Counterterrorism Center, his first Joint Duty Assignment (JDA); Deputy Program Manager for the NSG, NGA; Associate Deputy Director of IMINT, National Reconnaissance Office, his second JDA; and Director, Xperience Directorate, NGA.

Mr. Poole holds a Bachelor of Science degree in geography (cartography) from the University of Maryland and is a graduate of the Senior Managers Program at the Harvard Kennedy School.  He is a recipient of numerous awards and citations including the Meritorious Presidential Rank award, Superior Civilian Service Medal and NGA’s Challenger Award.

Brig. Gen. Aaron M. Prupas, USAF

Brig. Gen. Aaron Prupas is the Director of Warfighting Operations Support to the Deputy Chief of Staff, ISR, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon. He is the functional lead for current warfighting manned and unmanned Air Force ISR capabilities, implements ISR policy and guidance, provides functional expertise on ISR capabilities and oversees the operational planning, allocation, integration and employment of current warfighting Air Force ISR assets.

General Prupas entered the Air Force in 1990 after commissioning from the U.S. Air Force Academy. He is a career intelligence officer and weapons instructor. He has served in a variety of Air Force, Joint, and OSD positions and has commanded at the squadron, group and wing levels.

His combat deployments include support to Operation Southern Watch, Operation Allied Force, Operation Enduring Freedom, and most recently served as the Deputy Director of Intelligence, U.S. Forces Afghanistan and Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff of Intelligence (DCOS Intelligence) to NATO Headquarters Resolute Support (Headquarters RS) in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Adrienne Ramsay

Ms. Ramsay's background allows her to help clients anticipate, understand, and navigate the policy, budget, and regulatory actions across the federal government while protecting their interests and creating opportunities.

Prior to joining Baker Donelson, Ms. Ramsay was a Professional Staff Member on the House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. Her portfolio on the Defense Subcommittee included Department of Defense and Intelligence Community Space and Cyber programs, Special Operations Command (SOCOM), the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the National Security Agency (NSA), and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). She also provided oversight to the Navy and Marine Corps Operation and Maintenance accounts, including funding for training; steaming and flying hours; and depot maintenance for ships, aircraft and vehicles, and the Department of Defense Working Capital Funds, which included purchases of fuel and other services for the Services. Ms. Ramsay continues to maintain active United States Government security clearances at the Top Secret/Special Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) level.

As a result of her work on the Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Defense, Ms. Ramsay has an excellent working relationship with Professional Staff, as well as with Members of the Appropriations Committees of the House and Senate. Ms. Ramsay's work involved consultation, coordination, and negotiation with Members and Staff of the majority and minority Staff of the Defense and Intelligence Authorization Committees of both the House and Senate. These relationships allow her to achieve her clients' legislative goals through strong, bipartisan advocacy.

Preceding her time on the Appropriations Committee, Ms. Ramsay provided technical and budgetary analysis on Department of Defense (DOD) Space and Information Technology programs, Missile Defense Agency (MDA) programs, and NASA future exploration programs as a member of the Professional Staff on the House Armed Services Committee, a budget analyst at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and as a programs analyst at the Congressional Budget Office. While at OMB, she led the National Security Division's recommendations for the President's Management Agenda, formulated budget recommendations for the 2005 and 2006 President's Budget submissions, and worked closely with the National Security Council (NSC) and Office of Science Technology and Policy (OSTP) on missile defense and national security space policy issues.

In 2004, Ms. Ramsay worked in Senator Patty Murray's office as a Brookings Institution Fellow serving as the Legislative Assistant for Defense and Homeland Security issues. Prior to that role, her career was comprised of architecting a range of large scale defense and intelligence systems and engineering the associated acquisition programs. She worked on classified and commercial satellite acquisitions as a systems engineer responsible for satellite-ground interfaces and developments of end-to-end architecture designs and costs. Ms. Ramsay led the engineering team that defined the requirements, architecture, and concept of operations for a hyper-spectral satellite demonstration. She led the team responsible for systems engineering associated with the National Ballistic Missile Defense architecture and led the site studies for placement and requirements for the radars and other sensors for the 'defense of the homeland' ballistic missile defense mission.

Maj. Gen. Robert D. Rego, USAF (Ret.)

Robert D. Rego is the Strategic Missions Advisor to the Commander, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. In this role he assists the Commander in operationalizing the Space Joint Operating Area and supports the on-going execution of the nuclear, space, cyber and electronic warfare missions providing depth of experience and critical insight to innovatively and agilely deliver cross-domain integration for issues affecting Command capabilities. Mr. Rego is a highly qualified expert and will serve in this position for two years.

Mr. Rego served a 31-year active duty and reserve career, retiring as a major general in 2017. He entered the Air Force in 1985 as a graduate of the Reserve Officer Training Corps program and held assignments as a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile crewmember, duty in special projects at Headquarters, U.S. Space Command, as the Air Force Research Laboratory liaison to the U.S. Army Big Crow Program Office, in numerous assignments at Headquarters, Air Force Space Command, and as the Air Force Global Strike Command Director of Communications and Vice Commander. Prior to his current assignment, he was the Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, U.S. Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. 

John Schierling

As Director of Advanced Programs at Lockheed Martin Space, Mr. Schierling leads the development and integration of disruptive, multi-domain, end-to-end solutions for military, intelligence, and commercial missions.  He previously served as the Engineering Director for LM’s Space Ground Solutions (SGS) business, and as a Program Manager and Chief Architect for LM’s Systems Integration (SI) business, developing solutions for NSA, NRO, NGA, DHS, and DoD programs.  Prior to joining Lockheed Martin, Mr. Schierling served in the United States Navy at the NRO, SPAWAR, aboard ships, and in submarines, including service during the First and Second Gulf Conflicts.  He holds both a BSE and MSE in Electrical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.  

Gen. William L. Shelton, USAF (Ret.)

General Shelton retired as Commander, Air Force Space Command, in September 2014. During his career, he commanded space operations units at every level and held staff positions in a wide range of Air Force and Department of Defense organizations. In his final assignment, he led a team of over 40,000 at Air Force Space Command to provide space and cyberspace operational forces as well as acquisition of space systems. In this role, he was responsible for a budget of over $10 billion. During his career, General Shelton was a Space Shuttle controller for the first 18 missions, commander of Global Positioning System operations during the initial deployment of the constellation, and commander of the largest ballistic missile wing. He also commanded all Department of Defense space operations during internationally significant events such as the Chinese anti-satellite test and the North Korean Taepo Dong launch. He served as the CIO of the Air Force and the director of the Air Force headquarters staff during one of the most turbulent periods in the Air Force’s history. General Shelton earned a bachelor of science degree in astronautical engineering from the United States Air Force Academy, a master of science degree in astronautical engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology, and a master of science degree in national security studies from the National War College. 

Dr. John Stopher

Dr. John P. Stopher is the Director, Principal Department of Defense Space Advisor Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. In this role, he is responsible for integrating and overseeing all national security space capabilities and activities, in coordination with the intelligence community, and providing support to the Secretary of Defense on space portfolio decisions. 

Dr. Stopher's career began in 1988 with Eastman Kodak in Rochester, New York, where he worked as a systems engineer on advanced imaging systems, including optics and image processing in the Hawkeye facility. Dr. Stopher worked in industry for several years as a senior engineer, then joined the U.S. House of Representatives staff in August 1998. As a professional staff member for the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Subcommittee on Technical and Tactical Intelligence, he focused on authorization and oversight of technical programs in the intelligence community. Prior to leaving Capitol Hill, he served as the Budget Director for the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence from January 2003 to January 2007, where he was responsible for the preparation and presentation of the annual Intelligence Authorization Bill for all U.S. intelligence activities.  

Most recently, Dr. Stopher was the president of 377 Omega, Inc., a consulting services company focused on national security, space and intelligence community technology and policy requirements. 

Gary Testut

Gary Testut leads a team supporting critical intelligence missions within the national customer community. He is responsible for strategy, customer engagement, program execution and personnel development in his business area.

Testut returned to Ball Aerospace in August 2017 after spending the previous five years working for BAE Systems as vice president, Government Relations. Prior to that, he worked at Ball in Washington, D.C. as the director for defense and space programs.

Gary is a veteran United States Air Force officer who served 20 years as a program manager, staff officer, and legislative liaison in the space career field, retiring as a Lt Colonel.

Gary remains active in the national space community as a board member and past president of the National Space Club and Foundation as well as vice chairman of the National Defense Industrial Association Space Division.

Testut holds a master’s degree in Engineering Management from Western New England College and a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts.

Maj. Gen. David D. Thompson

Maj. Gen. David D. Thompson is currently serving as Special Assistant Headquarters, Air Force Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. He assists the commander in organizing, training, equipping, and maintaining mission-ready space and cyberspace forces and providing missile warning, positioning, navigation and timing, communications and cyber capabilities for North American Aerospace Defense Command, U.S. Strategic Command and the other functional and geographic combatant commands. The command oversees Air Force network operations; manages a global network of satellite command and control, communications, missile warning and space launch facilities; and is responsible for space system development and acquisition. The command comprises approximately 38,000 space and cyberspace professionals assigned to 134 locations worldwide.  General Thompson also directs and coordinates the activities of the headquarters staff.

General Thompson was commissioned in 1985 as a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. He is a career space officer with assignments in operations, acquisition, research and development, and academia. He has commanded operational space units at the squadron, group and wing levels. The general is also an Olmsted Scholar, graduate of the Senior Acquisition Course and Level III-certified Program Manager. Prior to his Special Assistant assignment, General Thompson was Vice Commander, Air Force Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. 

Peter Trainer

Pete Trainer is the Vice President and Operations Manager for Air Force Operations of Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC).  His responsibilities encompass business development, profit and loss, and the strategic direction of a $210M per annum business unit of 400 national security professionals at over 18 locations worldwide.  The key areas of expertise of the operation include Space Operations, Enterprise IT, Airborne ISR, intelligence, force protection, cyber, training and logistics.  Formerly, he led Scitor’s Defense Services Sector, which served major DoD, Unified Commands, Army and Air Force clients, as well as the National Services Sector, which supported the National Security Agency, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. 

Pete served in a variety of space and intelligence assignments during his 30 years of service in the Air Force on active duty and in the Reserve.  He began his career as a Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) Satellite System Controller at Offutt AFB, NE.  He later served as the Chief of Satellite Operations at the DMSP System Program Office, Los Angeles, AFB, CA.  After a tour as a Commander of the Space Surveillance Center and Deputy Space Control Director at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, he became Chief of the Space Surveillance Section at the former US Space Command.  Transitioning to the reserve, Mr. Trainer served as a Joint Tactical Operations Officer as well as part of the cadre (Crew Commander) that stood up the nation’s Joint Blue Force Situational Awareness Mission Management Center in response to the events of September 11, 2001.  From 2004 to 2009, he served on the USAF’s Legislative Liaison staff in Washington, DC, advocating for military space, intelligence, and missile program to Congress.  He culminated his career in the rank of Colonel as the Senior Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) to the Director, National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).  In this capacity, he was a member of the Senior Board of the NRO and led a Reserve Force of 60 IMA’s.

In 2010, he was appointed by the Governor of Virginia as a trustee of the Commonwealth’s Veterans Services Foundation where he served as the 1^st Vice Chairman.  He is also a Past President of the National Space Club.  Currently, he is the Vice Chairman of the Advisory Board of The Citadel’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Space Foundation.   Pete is a Life Member several professional groups including the Air Force Association, the Military Officers Association of America and the Reserve Officers Association.  His significant military and intelligence honors include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and the NRO Silver Medal for Distinguished Service. 

Pete graduated from the Citadel in 1982 earning a Bachelor of Science degree in biology.  He has done master’s degree work at Central Michigan University and is a graduate of the Air War College. 

SAIC is a premier technology integrator providing full life cycle services and solutions in the technical, engineering, intelligence, and enterprise information technology markets. SAIC is Redefining Ingenuity through its deep customer and domain knowledge to enable the delivery of systems engineering and integration offerings for large, complex projects. SAIC’s approximately 15,000 employees are driven by integrity and mission focus to serve customers in the U.S. federal government. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, SAIC has annual revenues of approximately $4.3 billion. For more information, visit saic.com.

Greg Vogle

Greg Vogle is a Principal with the McChrystal Group Leadership Institute, where he focuses on expanding the firm’s offerings, leveraging both military and government leadership experience to forge leaders and build the teams of tomorrow.

Greg is a career paramilitary officer who recently retired from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) after holding positions of increasing scope and responsibility, including senior executive positions in charge of global clandestine operations. His special skills include leadership of joint CIA, Intelligence Community (IC) and Department of Defense (DoD) programs and missions. He also collaborated within and across the CIA, the IC and all branches of the U.S. military. Prior to serving in the CIA, Mr. Vogle spent five years in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1981 to 1986.

Greg earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Government from The Citadel in Charleston, SC.

Damon Wells

Mr. Damon R. Wells is the Director of the Office of Policy and Strategy for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) in Chantilly, Virginia.  In this capacity he is responsible for assisting the NRO Director in shaping and implementing policies and strategies relating to overhead reconnaissance, both within the NRO and in the broader U.S. Government (USG) and international space policy communities.

Prior to joining the NRO in 2012, he was Assistant Director for Space and Aeronautics in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) in the Executive Office of the President (EOP).  In that role he developed and coordinated Administration space policies across the civil, commercial, and national security space sectors, thereby advancing key policy initiatives such as the 2010 U.S. National Space Policy and current U.S space exploration strategies.  Before moving to the White House in 2005, he was Director for Technology Policy with the U.S. Department of State’s (DOS) Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, where he led bilateral negotiations on market access for commercial satellite services, oversaw several foreign policy initiatives concerning the U.S. Global Positioning System, and supported Administration space policy development efforts.  Prior to DOS he was a senior policy analyst for the Office of Commercial Space Transportation in the Department of Transportation, where he conducted launch and satellite market forecasting activities, participated in White House space policy initiatives, and was a lead analyst for the USG’s commercial launch trade negotiations with China, Russia, and Ukraine.  Before that he worked in fighter aircraft design with LTV Aerospace and Defense, specializing in analysis of aircraft loads and flying qualities using advanced flight simulation capabilities. 

Mr. Wells earned an M.S. degree in Technology and Policy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1991 and a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Oklahoma in 1984.