Speakers

Dr. Damian Kostiuk is the Deputy Chief Data Officer for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). He oversees teams implementing enterprise-wide data management and analytics programs focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, data standards, quality, governance, business intelligence, and advanced analytics. He aims to create a data-driven culture through collaborative partnerships, increased data literacy and strategic data management using innovation technology solutions. In his prior capacity, Damian was the Data Science Lead with USCIS’s Office of Information Technology where he investigated and promoted advances in machine learning and data quality

Scott Beliveau currently serves as co-Lead Product Owner of the USPTO’s Enterprise Data and Analytics product, Director of Enterprise Data Architecture, and Chief of Enterprise Advanced Analytics in the Information Technology Transformation Office (ITTO) at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).  In these roles, Mr. Beliveau manages one of the world’s largest data collections comprising over 200 years of innovation.  Capitalizing on this data collection, he spearheads public-private partnerships that empower entrepreneurs to capitalize on their imagination, oversees the development and operational use of AI/ML at the USPTO and leads the delivery of new data products helping innovators secure their intellectual property rights.  Mr. Beliveau received his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Brown University and his Masters of Business Administration from the University of Rhode Island.  He lives in Alexandria Virginia, with his wife Rachel, his son Sam, and his loyal greyhound Fiona.

Mr. Berkholtz is the Senior Manager for Technology Lifecycle Services in the Office of Enterprise Technology Solutions, Information Technology Category (ITC), Federal Acquisition Service (FAS). The Federal Acquisition Service provides buying platforms and acquisition services to Federal, DoD, State and Local governments for a broad range of items from office supplies to motor vehicles to information technology and telecommunications products and services. 

In his current role, Mike coordinates ITC’s emerging technology research and analysis projects, directing and guiding efforts to educate the ITC employees and leadership as well as agency customers on new and emerging technologies.  

Mr. Berkholtz has more than 20 years of experience in strategic planning, financial and program management. In addition to his service at GSA, Mr. Berkholtz supported major technology development programs at the Missile Defense Agency and served in several budget and strategic planning roles at MDA, GSA and the US Small Business Administration. He led design and implementation for agency, department and government wide human resources, financial and contract systems. In addition, he has led large organizational changes and managed a large matrixed workforce across multiple locations and programs. Mr. Berkholtz also served in roles at the Office of Management and Budget, the US Senate Budget Committee and in private industry. 

Mr. Berkholtz is a certified Project Management Professional and earned a Certificate of Project Management from The George Washington University. He is a graduate of OPM’s Federal Executive Institute. Mr. Berkholtz holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Alabama and a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of the South in Sewanee, TN.

Jeff Klugman is the Director of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) portfolio at the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). He leads a team of military officers, commercial entrepreneurs, and technical experts to field and scale leading-edge, commercial AI solutions that help solve high-impact defense challenges.

Jeff brings over 30 years experience as a Silicon Valley executive to his work at DIU. For 16 years, Jeff was a senior executive (Executive Vice President of Products and Revenue) at TiVo, a public company that transformed the TV user experience. TiVo was the first device to combine linear TV with internet video and audio from Netflix, Amazon, YouTube, Hulu, Pandora, and Spotify (including search, discovery, and collaborative filtering-based recommendations across all content sources). Jeff was a member of TiVo’s corporate development team. This team assessed over 20 M&A candidates, then negotiated with and acquired three companies. In 2006, Jeff received an Emmy for Technology & Engineering. 

From 1992-1999, Jeff was an executive at Quantum Corporation, a leader in the computer storage industry. While there, he founded and was Vice President of the Consumer Electronics Business Unit. This was the storage industry’s first ever focus on consumer electronics products and led to widespread use of mass storage devices in consumer devices such as DVRs and portable audio players

Mr. Taybron serves as the Director of the Innovation Division within the Office of Information Technology Category (ITC) with the General Services Administration’s (GSA) Federal Acquisition Service (FAS). As an organization within FAS, ITC provides access to a wide range of commercial and custom IT products, services, and solutions. 

David joined GSA in 2013 as a Senior Contracting Officer.  He managed, directed, and coordinated procurement activities for the pre award and post award actions within GSA's Strategic Solutions Division. He is currently serving as the Director of ITC’s Innovation Division, supporting the Federal acquisition workforce, Federal Agency partners, Federal Supplier Community, and Presidential and OMB initiatives all to make innovative and emerging technology, services, and solutions available on GSA’s acquisition vehicles.  David has over 30 years of contracting and acquisition experience specifically with IT Hardware, Software, and Professional Services. 

David is a graduate of Hampton University, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing/Business Administration.  He also has held a Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) Level III since February 2004.

Nicole Willis is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO), for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Inspector General (OIG), Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO). Currently, she leads the Zero Trust Roadmap, Multi-cloud Strategy, IT Portfolio Management, and IT Governance efforts for HHS OIG. Under Nicole’s leadership, she has unified the strategic, operational needs, and Enterprise Architecture practices to enable business transformation and enhance product delivery. Her work moves OIG towards a modernized application portfolio that leverages emerging technology.

Before joining HHS OIG, Nicole was the Deputy Chief Enterprise Architect for the Department of Homeland IT portfolio. Nicole was honored to win a Federal 100 award in 2017 for her leadership in Information Technology. She holds a Master’s in Information Technology, holds several IT management certifications and received her Bachelor of Business Administration from Fordham.

Derek Thurston is an Associate Principal Architect at Red Hat and has been working with Open Source since the mid '90's.  Derek started with SGI and HP/UX systems for a variety of commercial and government customers and quickly realized that Linux is the way to go. Since then, he has spent over 25 years helping his customers find the right tools and technologies, keeping in mind their specific security requirements

Steve Heibein is the Public Sector Artificial Intelligence Chief Technologist for Hewlett Packard Enterprise.  Before HPE, Steve served as CIO, CTO, or Technology VP for 20 years at several tech and media companies.  In these roles, he oversaw AI, machine learning, and data analytics projects in satellite imagery, cybersecurity, life science, energy forecasting, fraud prevention, natural language processing, and identity theft.

Steve advises organizations on using and deploying AI solutions and regularly presents at artificial intelligence and high-performance computing events. 

Robert Matney serves as Director of Public Sector Partnerships at Primer, a leading AI-ML technology company focused on practical defense applications. Primer delivers mission-ready
AI to the analysts, operators and commanders who protect national security. Robert has led
various software companies and initiatives since 2000. He has expertise in detecting information
operations and disinformation analysis. Robert serves on the board of directors for Fusebox, a
global hybrid arts organization and festival headquartered in Austin, Texas, where he lives with
his unfeasibly clever spouse and two spoiled dogs.

Chris Riotta is a staff writer at FCW covering government procurement and technology policy. Chris joined FCW after covering U.S. politics for three years at The Independent. He earned his master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, where he served as 2021 class president.

Heidi Egusquiza is a specialist in GWAC, IDIQ, and BPA capture, contract management, and business development for more than 20 years. Heidi’s client base has included nearly all Federal Civilian agencies, the U.S. Air Force, and the Department of Defense. Ms. Egusquiza is an active representative with ACT-IAC and Shared Services Leadership Coalition initiating solutions for today’s automation, security, and workforce challenges in support of the government’s Shared Services Initiatives.