Tom Siebel

Executive Chairman Tom Siebel founded C3 AI in 2009. Serving as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman until September 2025, he guided C3 AI from its inception through a successful IPO and its rise as a global leader in Enterprise AI. Previously, he founded and led Siebel Systems, which grew to more than 8,000 employees in 32 countries, serving over 4,500 corporate customers with annual revenues exceeding $2 billion before merging with Oracle in 2006.

Mr. Siebel serves on the advisory boards of the engineering colleges at Stanford University, the University of Illinois, and the University of California, Berkeley. He earned a B.A. in History, an M.B.A., and an M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is also the author of Digital Transformation: Survive and Thrive in an Era of Mass Extinction.

Sessions

Replatforming Government for the AI Era

Stephen Ehikian

Stephen Ehikian is Chief Executive Officer of C3 AI. He is a seasoned technology executive in the enterprise software industry and public-sector leader. Mr. Ehikian successfully built and scaled RelateIQ and Airkit.ai — both acquired by Salesforce. RelateIQ underpins Salesforce Einstein, and Airkit.ai is now a core component of Salesforce Agentforce. He also served as President Trump’s appointee as Acting Administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration, spearheading historic reforms in federal procurement and technology modernization, pioneering AI adoption, and unlocking billions in taxpayer savings.

Mr. Ehikian received a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering and economics from Yale University, and an MBA from the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University.

Sessions

Replatforming Government for the AI Era

The Future of Defense and Government in the AI Era

Hon. Kevin McCarthy

The Honorable Kevin McCarthy has served on C3 AI’s advisory board since June 2024. From January to October 2023, he held the position of Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, where he led the legislative agenda and represented the Republican majority. First elected to Congress in 2006, Mr. McCarthy represented California’s 22nd congressional district, later the 23rd following redistricting. During his tenure, he held several senior leadership roles, including House Majority Leader from 2014 to 2019 and House Minority Leader from 2019 to 2023.

Throughout his career in public service, Mr. McCarthy has been an advocate for technology, innovation, and economic growth, with a focus on strengthening national security and advancing U.S. competitiveness. He holds a B.S. in Marketing and an M.B.A. from California State University, Bakersfield.

Sessions

Federal AI in Action

Greg Herweg

Greg Herweg is the Chief Technology Officer at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). He leads the Strategy and Advanced Projects Organization, guiding the Lab’s technology vision and ensuring alignment with its national security and scientific missions. Greg oversees a broad portfolio including artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and application modernization, driving innovation that enhances LLNL’s research and operational capabilities.

With over 35 years of experience in government, academia, and industry, Mr. Herweg brings a multidisciplinary approach to technology leadership. He holds advanced degrees from UC Berkeley, MIT, USC, and Texas A&M, and received the prestigious Lily L. Chang MICS Capstone Award. Greg is recognized for his strategic vision and technical expertise, and he is committed to mentoring the next generation of technology professionals in support of LLNL’s critical mission.

Sessions

Federal AI in Action

Diane J. Sabatino

Diane J. Sabatino is the Acting Executive Assistant Commissioner of the Office of Field Operations (OFO), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). She leads more than 32,900 employees with an annual operating budget of $7.5 billion, overseeing the facilitation of legitimate travel for over 410 million travelers and reviewing more than 29 million cargo containers annually. Previously, she served as Deputy Executive Assistant Commissioner of OFO, where she led CBP’s National Incident Command for Operation Allies Welcome, providing humanitarian relief for more than 84,000 people fleeing Afghanistan while maintaining U.S. safety and security.

Over her career, Mrs. Sabatino has held senior leadership roles across CBP, including Director of Field Operations for Miami and Tampa, and Port Director for the Port of Miami. She began her federal law enforcement career in 1998 as an Immigration Inspector at JFK International Airport. A native of New Jersey, she is a graduate of Fordham University and the Harvard Kennedy School’s Senior Executives in National and International Security Program.

Sessions

Federal AI in Action

Maj. Gen. Cedric George, (Ret.)

Maj. Gen. Cedric George (Ret.) is Vice President of Strategy and Growth at MetroStar, where he drives enterprise strategy and market expansion with a focus on strengthening the company’s position in the Air Force and defense sectors. With more than three decades of experience in logistics, digital transformation, and defense innovation, he is recognized as a strategic leader in aligning technology with mission readiness. Since joining MetroStar, he has led the Air Force account strategy, developing a go-to-market framework that established the company as a trusted industry partner in delivering mission-critical solutions. 

A retired U.S. Air Force Major General, Mr. George previously served as Director of Logistics, shaping logistics readiness, maintenance policy, and technology integration across air, space, cyber, and joint operations. He holds multiple advanced degrees, completed executive leadership programs at Harvard, UVA, and UNC, and has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the National Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

Sessions

Federal AI in Action

CMSgt Philip Newton

Chief Master Sergeant Philip Newton serves as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, where he supports 99 Air National Guard units across the enterprise. In this role, he forges strategic connections between Guard units and AFMC stakeholders to ensure warfighters have the resources, technologies, and sustainment capabilities needed to execute their missions. His leadership directly strengthens readiness, modernization, and operational integration by aligning Guard priorities with AFMC’s acquisition, logistics, and life-cycle management functions.

CMSgt Newton entered the Air Force through the Alaska Air National Guard in 2002 and began his career as a KC-135R Stratotanker maintainer. He went on to serve as Flight Chief, Squadron Senior Enlisted Leader, Maintenance Group Chief, and Air National Guard Weapon System Manager for the KC-135 fleet. Over his career, he has deployed in support of numerous operations, including Odyssey Dawn, Enduring Freedom, Freedom’s Sentinel, Iraqi Freedom, Noble Eagle, Vigilant Guard, and Pacific Angel.

Sessions

Accelerating Operational Superiority Through AI

Master Sergeant William Haskell

MSgt William Haskell is a senior technical program manager and innovation portfolio product manager at Detachment 5, 72nd Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Squadron, Chantilly, Virginia. He is responsible for directing a team of software developers within the Xcelerator Lab. He also leads various projects relating to artificial intelligence and machine learning with a number of industry partners. MSgt Haskell is responsible for the development and successful transition to production of multiple research and development projects to include the “Ask Francis” chatbot assistant.

MSgt Haskell grew up in Garrison, New York and entered the United States Air Force in November 2009, later transferring to the United States Space Force in May 2022. He completed Network Intelligence training in August 2010 and has served as a network intelligence analyst at three duty stations and five deployments. Prior to assuming his current position, he served as the Section Chief of the Intelligence Discovery Cell within the Mission Integration Directorate at NRO. MSgt Haskell is married to his wife, Taylor, and they have two children, Hudson and Hayden.

Sessions

Transforming Government Operations with Agentic AI

General (Ret.) John Hyten

General John Hyten (Ret.) served as the 11th Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, retiring in November 2021 after a distinguished 40-year career in the United States Air Force. In this role, Gen. Hyten served as the nation’s second highest ranking military officer, responsible for supporting and overseeing joint military requirements for nearly 1.5 million service members and their families across the U.S. Armed Forces.

Gen Hyten (Ret.) previously led Air Force Space Command from 2014 to 2016 and U.S. Strategic Command from 2016 to 2019. Among many other assignments, he was deployed to Southwest Asia as the Director of Space Forces for operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. He has received numerous awards and recognition including, the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster; the Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster; the Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster; the Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters; the Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters; and Commendation Medals from both Air Force and the Army.

He attended Harvard University on an Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps scholarship, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in engineering and applied sciences. He also holds his MBA from Auburn University at Montgomery and is a distinguished graduate from Squadron Officer School as well as Air Command and Staff College. He was also a National Defense Fellow at the University of Illinois. Most recently, General Hyten (Ret.) has joined as a Board Member of the Space Foundation, an Advisory Board Member of an enterprise AI software company C3 AI, and as Blue Origin’s Executive Director for its Club for the Future and as a Strategic Advisor to senior leadership. He has also been appointed to serve on the Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States, mandated by the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act, looking into the U.S.’s nuclear policies and strategic posture.

Sessions

Leading Defense Modernization with AI

Dr. Nikhil Krishnan

Dr. Nikhil Krishnan is the Chief Technology Officer, Data Science at C3 AI and is responsible for AI/machine learning and generative AI. Prior to C3 AI, Dr. Krishnan was an Associate Principal at McKinsey & Company, where he was a leader in McKinsey’s Advanced Industrials and Energy Practices. Dr. Krishnan was formerly an Assistant Professor at Columbia University. He also worked as a research scientist at Applied Materials, Inc.

Dr. Krishnan earned a bachelor’s degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, and MS and PhD degrees from the University of California at Berkeley in Mechanical Engineering.

Sessions

Transforming Government Operations with Agentic AI

Breakout: The Role of AI in Evolving National Intelligence Capabilities

Peter LaMontagne

Peter B. LaMontagne is Chief Executive Officer at SMX, responsible for the company’s strategic direction and accountable for the performance of the business. He has focused his career on the nexus of three critical subjects: national security challenges, technology solutions, and business imperatives, applying his expertise in cloud, data analytics, and cyber.

Mr. LaMontagne is also an accomplished private equity (PE) CEO, having successfully led three high-growth technology solutions platforms, expertly navigating each company through the full PE-sponsored lifecycle to high-return exits. He has been part of more than 20 M&A transactions, creating new value and capabilities for clients seeking innovation and agility. Peter’s previous positions included President and CEO at Quantum Spatial, Advisor at M33 Growth, CEO at Novetta, and President and CEO at Paradigm Solutions Corporation. Mr. LaMontagne also helps businesses thrive by serving in board and advisory roles.

Sessions

Accelerating Operational Superiority Through AI

Dan Hudson

Dan Hudson is a Senior Technology Director in HII’s Mission Technologies division, bringing more than 20 years of expertise in human factors and reliability engineering, data science and advanced analytics, model-based engineering, and digital transformation. His work spans diverse industries and domains, including national security and defense, cybersecurity and intelligence, engineered systems safety, risk management, and healthcare. He joined HII in 2022 after leading data science and AI initiatives in the private sector supporting the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Intelligence Community.

Mr. Hudson’s career began with over two decades of federal service. He served as an enlisted Marine, Navy diver, and submarine warfare officer before becoming a reliability engineer and risk analyst for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. He holds a B.S. in aerospace engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy, an M.S. in predictive analytics from the University of Maryland, and a Ph.D. in data science and decision intelligence from Johns Hopkins University.

Sessions

Accelerating Operational Superiority Through AI

Jason Payne

As the Chief Technology Officer and Government-Wide Acquisition Contract (GWAC) Leader for the U.S. Federal market at Microsoft, Jason Payne is responsible for creating and driving technology and solution strategies that enable digital transformation across the federal government in civilian, defense, and intelligence verticals within Microsoft and across partner ecosystems. Currently, Mr. Payne is focused on helping federal agencies leverage the power and potential of artificial intelligence to improve operations and efficiency, mission outcomes, and national security through technology strategy, adoption, and responsible use. He bridges technical innovation with acquisition execution to help agencies modernize securely and at scale.

Sessions

Accelerating Operational Superiority Through AI

Lieutenant General (Ret) Dennis Crall, U.S. Marine Corps

Lieutenant General Dennis Crall, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret) completed a distinguished military career that culminated in senior leadership roles advising the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Secretary of Defense, and Headquarters Marine Corps on cybersecurity, as well as command, control, communications, and computers. Specifically, he served as the Director of Command, Control, Communications, and Cyber (C4) for the Joint Staff; the Deputy Principal Cyber Advisor to the Secretary of Defense; the Senior Military Advisor of Cyber Policy to the DoD Undersecretary of Policy, and the Chief Information Officer for the Marine Corps.

He is a career aviation command and control officer and highly decorated combat veteran. Lieutenant General Crall has earned two Masters of Science from Air Command and Staff College and the National Defense University as well as a BS from the University of South Carolina. He has also completed the Harvard Kennedy School Cybersecurity Executive Program.

Sessions

Accelerating Operational Superiority Through AI

Dan Gelston

As President of C3 Federal Systems, Dan leads C3 AI’s mission to help government organizations deploy and operate large-scale AI, predictive analytics, and enterprise AI applications. He brings extensive leadership experience from across the defense and intelligence sectors, including his previous role as Group President of CAE’s Defense & Security business, where he oversaw a $2 billion training and simulation enterprise with more than 6,000 employees.

With over 25 years of experience in the U.S. military, Intelligence Community, and global defense industry, Dan began his career as a U.S. Army Military Intelligence Officer before joining the Intelligence Community as a counterterrorism targeting analyst. He holds a Master of Science in Strategic Intelligence from the National Intelligence University and a double-major bachelor’s degree in Economics and International Strategic Policy from Bucknell University, equipping him with a unique blend of operational, analytical, and strategic expertise.

Dr. Jordan Eccles

Dr. Jordan Eccles is a Presidential Innovation Fellow working with the Executive Office of the President–Council on Environmental Quality as Deputy Director for Innovation.  
In this role, Dr. Eccles brings best practices in digital strategy, AI and data analytics, and mission-driven outcomes to infrastructure planning and build-out.

He is a technology and data science professional with over a decade of experience working to transform processes and tools in the Department of Defense, most recently working with the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Operational Energy to develop approaches for maximizing combat capability by optimizing fuel use.

Dr. Eccles previously supported the Air Force Encroachment Management and Community Partnership programs, analyzing impacts of initiatives on mission operations at over forty installations and identifying options for energy resilience in coordination with community stakeholders. Prior to working with the Air Force, he helped found a startup working in credit card security and served as its Chief Technology Officer and worked as a postdoctoral associate and adjunct professor at Duke University, researching topics in the energy and environment space.

Dr. Eccles also served as a Surface Warfare Officer in the 
U.S. Navy and a high school science and math teacher in Raleigh, NC.

Sessions

Future Innovation in the DoD

Christian Brose

Christian Brose is President and Chief Strategy Officer at Anduril Industries, where he oversees corporate strategy, business development, government relations, communications, and international business. He is also a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution, a member of the Aspen Strategy Group, and author of The Kill Chain: Defending America in the Future of High-Tech Warfare. Since joining Anduril in 2018, he has played a central role in driving the company’s growth and advancing its mission to transform defense technology. 

Before Anduril, Mr. Brose served as staff director of the Senate Armed Services Committee, managing its staff and overseeing all Department of Defense programs, policies, and resources. From 2009 to 2014, he was senior policy adviser to Senator John McCain, supporting his work on multiple congressional committees. Earlier in his career, he served as policy adviser and chief speechwriter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and as a speechwriter for Secretary of State Colin Powell. He studied political science at Kenyon College and international economics at Johns Hopkins SAIS. 

Breakout Session

The Future of Defense and Government in the AI Era

Young Bang

Young J. Bang is an Operating Executive with The Carlyle Group, focused on the aerospace, defense, government, and technology sectors. Based in Washington, D.C., he brings over 25 years of leadership experience spanning military service, government, and industry. From 2022 to 2025, he served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics & Technology, advising Army leadership on acquisition strategy and capability modernization. Earlier, he held senior executive roles in large and mid-size companies, driving growth, M&A, and product innovation across defense, healthcare, telecom, and technology markets.

A former U.S. Army officer, Mr. Bang has deep expertise in emerging technologies, including quantum computing, artificial intelligence, cyber, extended reality, big data, and cloud solutions. His career includes leadership in product development, digital transformation, and strategy for clients spanning the Army, Navy, Air Force, Joint Commands, intelligence community, and federal agencies. A West Point graduate, he holds a B.S. in Leadership and Systems Engineering.

Sessions

The Future of Defense and Government in the AI Era

Brooke Weddle

Brooke Weddle is a senior partner in McKinsey’s People & Organizational Performance Practice, where she helps organizations around the world achieve sustained performance through transformation. She leads the firm’s global work on Organizational Design and Operating Model Transformation — the largest service line in the practice — and co-hosts the McKinsey Talks Talent podcast. Brooke also leads the Change Leaders Forum, an executive capability-building series on transformational change. Previously, she oversaw McKinsey’s portfolio of digital solutions, managing global delivery of proprietary analytics tools for performance and health transformations, and led the Culture and Change Management service line in North America.

With over 15 years of consulting experience, Brooke has advised clients across Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America. She is a frequent author and international speaker on organizational topics, with appearances on CBS News and in The Financial Times, The Washington Post, Le Monde, and Le Figaro. Brooke is a member of the Economic Club of DC and a former U.S. Fulbright Scholar in Peru.

Sessions

Enhancing Naval Fleet Readiness with AI-Powered Maritime Operations

Jay Stefany

Frederick “Jay” Stefany is a Senior Counselor at The Cohen Group, bringing over four decades of leadership in Navy acquisition and technology programs. He joined the firm in 2025 after serving as the Navy’s first leader of the Maritime Industrial Base Program, a role created by the Secretary of the Navy. Previously, he was Acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition, managing a $130 billion portfolio covering shipbuilding, aviation, space, weapons, and communications, along with $15 billion annually in Foreign Military Sales.

Earlier, Mr. Stefany served as Principal Civilian Deputy for RDA, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Ship Programs, and Executive Director for the Amphibious, Auxiliary, and Sealift Office. He began his career in naval engineering and shipbuilding program management with Naval Sea Systems Command. A Lehigh University and Florida Institute of Technology graduate, he is a recipient of multiple Navy awards for sustained acquisition excellence and civilian service.

Sessions

Enhancing Naval Fleet Readiness with AI-Powered Maritime Operations

Stephen Rodriguez

Stephen Rodriguez is the Founder of One Defense, a technology-enabled consulting firm that accelerates dual-use technology transition into the defense industrial base. He is also a Partner with DCVC, a multi-billion dollar deep-tech venture capital firm, where he leads dual-use technology investing.

Mr. Rodriguez began working in the national security sector in 2001. He subsequently was a senior leader at an artificial intelligence growth-stage company and a global defense corporation. Throughout his career, he has been in and out of government, including operational service in Colombia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Afghanistan.

Mr. Rodriguez serves as a Director, Observer or Advisor of fifteen venture-backed companies to include Applied Intuition, Adyton, Blue Water Autonomy, Chariot Defense, Firestorm, Kela Systems, Smack Technologies, Ursa Major Technologies, and ZeroMark. He is also a Commission Director at the Atlantic Council, Chairman of Blue Forge Alliance, and Chairman of Booz Allen Hamilton’s Defense Technology Board.

A Life Member at the Council on Foreign Relations, Mr. Rodriguez received his B.B.A from Texas A&M University and an M.A. from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. He is published in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Foreign Policy, WarOnTheRocks, and National Review.

Sessions

Enhancing Naval Fleet Readiness with AI-Powered Maritime Operations

Brian Fields

Brian Fields is Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of HII. Appointed in 2025, he leads efforts to leverage technology to improve shipbuilder efficiency. Mr. Fields began his career as an engineer on the Los Angeles-class submarine program and has held multiple senior leadership roles across the organization. These include vice president of Supply Chain Management, Integrated Planning and Production Control, Business Transformation and CIO, as well as vice president of manufacturing and program leadership for the Enterprise (CVN 80) and Doris Miller (CVN 81) aircraft carriers. He also directed the Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) Aircraft Carrier Construction Program.

Mr. Fields holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Auburn University and an MBA from the College of William and Mary. He serves on the boards of Habitat for Humanity, LEAD Virginia, and the Virginia Manufacturing Association, and is a member of the Alzheimer’s Association executive leadership team.

Sessions

Enhancing Naval Fleet Readiness with AI-Powered Maritime Operations

Don Hairston

Don Hairston is the General Manager of Austal USA Advanced Technologies, where he leads the company’s expanding research, development, and additive manufacturing portfolio, including critical work with the U.S. Navy’s Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence (AM CoE) and submarine industrial base. In this role, he oversees Austal’s R&D, digital transformation, and automation strategies, while advancing supplier readiness and innovation in naval shipbuilding through Austal’s partnership with ASTM International’s AM CoE. 

Mr. Hairston brings more than 20 years of executive experience across the defense sector, having previously served as Vice President and General Manager of the C5 Systems Division at L3Harris Technologies and in leadership roles at Textron, Cobham, and Northrop Grumman. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from Virginia Tech and completed the General Management Program at Harvard Business School, complementing his leadership with numerous advisory roles across the defense industry. 

Sessions

Enhancing Naval Fleet Readiness with AI-Powered Maritime Operations

Colonel JV Venable, USAF (Ret.)

Colonel (Ret.) JV Venable is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Fighter Weapons School and has over 4,500 hours of flight time, primarily in the F-16. In 1999, he was selected as the Command and Demonstration Leader of the US Air Force Thunderbirds. There he flew the number one aircraft and led a team of 130 of Airmen through two years of airshows in Europe, Canada and the US. for the 2000 and 2001 show seasons. Following War College, he was selected to lead the 379th Expeditionary Operations Group at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. With 16 squadrons, 1,100 airmen, and 95 different fighter, reconnaissance, airlift and air refueling aircraft, it was the largest combat operations group in the Air Force.

After retiring from the service, Colonel Venable cofounded an RDT&E company in Memphis Tennessee that developed explosives detection technologies for the United States Army. He is currently a Senior Resident Fellow for Airpower at The Mitchell Institute, is the author of the book “Breaking the Trust Barrier,” and is an active speaker and coach on building and leading high-performance teams.

Breakout Session

The AI-Powered Decision Advantage in Defense

Ben Hull

Ben Hull leads the Defense Readiness Reporting System (DRRS), Readiness Decision Impact Model (RDIM), and Readiness Analytics Visualization Environment (RAVEN) design and development teams. He brings decades of experience across the military, government, and industry in data analytics, software development, and sustainment. Previously, he served as Deputy Readiness Branch Head at Headquarters Marine Corps and will soon publish Ready or Not: The Military Readiness Paradox with Marine Corps University Press. A retired Marine Corps Reserve infantry officer, Mr. Hull’s 27-year career included service in Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. His military awards include two Bronze Stars, the Combat Action Ribbon, and the Secretary of Defense Meritorious Civilian Service Award.

Outside of his professional work, Mr. Hull has held leadership roles in the transportation industry and is an avid historian and game designer, with multiple titles published by GMT Games. He and his wife, Stacy, both University of Tennessee graduates, live in Stafford, Virginia, and enjoy time with their three children and two grandchildren. 

Breakout Session

The AI-Powered Decision Advantage in Defense

Jeff Jungemann

Jeff Jungemann is a retired United States Air Force Officer with operational tours in the A-10 and U-2 as well as the T-38 as an Instructor/Evaluator pilot. In addition, he served with the TACP assigned to the 1/75 Ranger Battalion and as the U-2 Functional Manager on the Air Staff. Since retiring from the U.S.A.F., he has held positions as a Human Factors Research Scientist with Aptima and Draper Laboratories, where he also worked as a program manager for advanced Position, Navigation, and Timing technologies. He is currently assigned to the 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron, supporting Combat Hammer, the U.S.A.F. air-to-ground weapon system evaluation program. 

His education includes a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas and a PhD in Human Factors from the University of South Dakota. He holds FAA ratings as an Air Transport Pilot, Certified Flight Instructor, and Remote Pilot. 

Breakout Session

The AI-Powered Decision Advantage in Defense

Jason Van Sice

Jason Van Sice is Group Vice President of C3 Federal Systems at C3 AI, where he leads Homeland Security and Federal Law Enforcement initiatives. He brings more than 25 years of experience growing technology companies and advising government agencies on mission-critical programs.

Previously, Mr. Van Sice was Vice President of NEC’s Advanced Recognition Systems Division, where he scaled an international aviation and government business supporting digital transformation of airline, airport, and security operations. He also held leadership roles at Vision-Box, IDEMIA, and Cross Match Technologies, advancing security technology programs across TSA, FBI, CBP, DHS, and other federal agencies. Earlier in his career, he was a management consultant at Arthur D. Little, Deloitte, and Booz Allen Hamilton.

Mr. Van Sice earned a B.A. in Economics from Hampden-Sydney College and is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).

Breakout Session

How AI Can Support Mission Requirements Across the DOJ & DHS

Michelle Zebrowski

In her role, Michelle Zebrowski serves as a principal advisor to the CBP Chief Technology Officer (CTO), driving CBP’s Enterprise Data Management program. She leads efforts across OIT and CBP to address the agency’s most complex and consequential information and data challenges. Her responsibilities include shaping CBP’s data culture, making enterprise data discoverable, accessible, and decision-enabling, and deriving insights from data to inform mission strategy and outcomes.

Ms. Zebrowski has more than 25 years of experience in information technology, including over 15 years with CBP. She began her CBP career on the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) program, later serving as Director of Development where she led agile teams to modernize legacy applications and support complex systems. Most recently, she served as Branch Chief of the Data Integration and Management Branch within the Office of Trade’s Trade Transformation Office. She holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Drexel University and also serves as President of the Board of Directors for two animal welfare organizations in Virginia and New Jersey.

Breakout Session

How AI Can Support Mission Requirements Across the DOJ & DHS

Sang Na

Sang Na is the Executive Vice President and Chief AI Officer at CATHEXIS, where he leads enterprise AI strategy and technology solutions. With over 30 years of experience in software delivery — including senior roles at Paradyme (acquired by CATHEXIS), Oracle, and SRA — he has helped shape and scale AI-powered solutions across industries. A longtime partner of C3 AI, Mr. Na works to advance AI adoption across public and private sectors.

Breakout Session

How AI Can Support Mission Requirements Across the DOJ & DHS

Brett McMillen

Brett McMillen is Group Vice President of Federal at C3 AI, where he leads adoption of Enterprise AI solutions across U.S. government agencies. He has more than 20 years of experience in public sector cloud computing and supply chain industries.

Prior to joining C3 AI, Mr. McMillen was FedCiv Leader at Scale AI and Vice President of Global Public Sector at Flexport, where he led public sector sales for global trade. He previously spent over 11 years at Amazon and AWS, where he built and scaled federal businesses generating more than $700 million in revenue and leading teams of more than 120 people. Mr. McMillen received a B.S. in Biology from Albright College.

Breakout Session

Accelerating Innovation with AI Across Federal Civilian Agencies

Rob Groat

Robert Groat is the EVP of Strategy and Technology, Commercial and SMX Elevate for SMX, bringing to his position more than 30 years of experience and strategy consulting skills in designing, developing, and delivering market-leading products and services, especially in financial services, healthcare, federal, and Department of Defense sectors.

He helps formulate SMX’s strategy and vision and ensures the company’s technology innovations are optimized to support the strategy and aligned with current and future client needs. He and his team identify innovative technologies that can help clients accelerate mission success and help SMX operate more efficiently and cost-effectively and determine whether to build or acquire the technology. Rob is also responsible for building strategic partnerships, evaluating potential acquisitions, and leveraging them to achieve synergy and value for clients and SMX.

Rob holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering from North Carolina State University, and several professional certifications across AWS, Google, and Microsoft Azure. He and his wife of 15 years and their two children enjoy sailing and fishing the waters around Solomons, MD.

Breakout Session

Accelerating Innovation with AI Across Federal Civilian Agencies

George Batsakis

As Chief Executive Officer of Groundswell, George Batsakis guides the company’s strategic vision and day-to-day operations, bringing more than 25 years of experience in large-scale government systems development. A U.S. Army veteran and seasoned business executive, he has deep expertise in lifecycle management across multiple agencies and technology platforms. George is dedicated to advancing Groundswell’s mission to drive transformational change in the federal sector.

Before joining Groundswell, George held leadership roles at Electronic Data Systems and Northrop Grumman, later heading the National Security Group at SRA International. He went on to serve as Chief Growth Officer at CSRA and led the Defense and Intelligence portfolio at Accenture. George was also a Partner and Executive at 1901 Group prior to becoming CEO of Groundswell. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Hillsdale College and a Master of Science in Business from Johns Hopkins University’s Carey School of Business. 

Breakout Session

Accelerating Innovation with AI Across Federal Civilian Agencies

Nick Mantalvanos

Nick Mantalvanos is Senior Director of Operations at C3 AI and a former U.S. Naval Officer with more than 25 years of leadership experience across the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community. He has led global organizations of more than 1,500 people, managed a $150 million operating budget, and developed growth strategies supporting more than $520 million in annual revenue.

Mr. Mantalvanos has extensive experience leading defense intelligence teams in Korea, Japan, and the United States. His career highlights include developing a $126 million airfield improvement plan delivering $12 million in annual savings and leading the safe evacuation of more than 7,000 Afghan civilians during the largest evacuation in history. A proven mentor and organizational leader, he has built high-performing teams across defense, intelligence, and special operations.

Mr. Mantalvanos holds a B.S. in Political Science from the U.S. Naval Academy, an M.S. in Global Leadership from the University of San Diego, and an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Breakout Session

The Role of AI in Evolving National Intelligence Capabilities

Terry Busch

Terry Busch is the Chief Information Officer at M42, a pioneering artificial intelligence company delivering scalable, next-generation solutions in hybrid analytics, non-monotonic reasoning, agentic systems, and quantum AI. He leads enterprise data architecture, platform unification, and the integration of advanced AI across defense, healthcare, finance, energy, and commercial sectors. With over 25 years in analytics and AI, Mr. Busch previously served as Chief Data Officer at AI Research Corporation, where he advanced foundational capabilities in AI, big data, and data science for U.S. defense and national security.

Before moving to industry, Mr. Busch was Chief Data Officer and Chief Technology Officer at the Defense Intelligence Agency, introducing groundbreaking AI applications like MARS, GOSSIP, and REDLINE to the intelligence community. His earlier roles at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and as a senior intelligence officer emphasized applying emerging technologies to mission challenges. He holds a Master’s in Geography from George Mason University and lives in Vienna, Virginia.

Breakout Session

The Role of AI in Evolving National Intelligence Capabilities