Modernization Workshop 2025 - Speakers
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Speakers

Dr. Amy Henninger

Director, Innovation & Technology Strategy, Science and Technology Directorate

DHS

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Dr. Amy Henninger

Director, Innovation & Technology Strategy, Science and Technology Directorate

DHS

Dr. Amy Henninger serves as Senior Advisor for Advanced Computing (AC) in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) S&T Technology Centers, providing research and development expertise, strategic vision, and leadership to programs and policy makers in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Computational Methods and Algorithms, Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, Modeling and Simulation (M&S), and Quantum Information Science.

Prior to joining DHS, Dr. Henninger’s work traversed the private/public defense sector space. In the public sector, she has served in several special term appointment technology leadership positions in the DoD and IC that, cumulatively, span the RDT&E space.

­- Interagency personnel appointment to the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, leading digital engineering and standards portfolio for systems engineering.

-­ Highly Qualified Expert (HQE) Army M&S Executive, providing vision, leadership, and oversight for a $10B M&S portfolio; and advising the Army’s Senior Analyst on studies supporting operational requirements analyses.

-­ Defense Intelligence Senior Leader Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Senior Advisor, leading the development of the Agency’s Digital Transformation Strategy.

-­ HQE Senior Advisor for Software and Cybersecurity, serving as the Pentagon’s final technical authority in the assessment of software and cybersecurity T&E on major DoD programs for the Director, Operational T&E. She has over 200 hours training with NSA Cyber Red Teams.

In the private sector, she served at a federally funded research and development center, leading a variety of strategic technology initiatives including the development of a software assurance primer promulgated by CISA and NSA as recommended reading. Dr. Henninger’s other private sector experience includes founding a P&L center of Soar Technology, Inc., a tech startup focused on third-wave context-informed AI solutions that grew out of the AI Laboratory at the University of Michigan. Over her tenure, Dr. Henninger led research teams sponsored by DARPA and other Defense agencies, growing the office by 400%. Her private sector experience also includes co-leading the development of a distributed virtual training system used to train over 1.5M soldiers.

Dr. Henninger earned a PhD in Computer Engineering with emphasis and dissertation work in AI. She has taught undergraduate classes in computer science and graduate classes in AI, authored over 80 publications, and received multiple awards for her work.

David Hinchman

Director, Information Technology and Cybersecurity

GAO

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David Hinchman

Director, Information Technology and Cybersecurity

GAO

Dave Hinchman oversees the U.S. Government Accountability Office’s government-wide reviews of cloud computing security, critical infrastructure cybersecurity, the federal cyber workforce, and IRS IT modernization. He previously led GAO’s body of work on federal data center optimization and cloud computing implementation. Prior to joining GAO in 2002, Dave worked for several private sector firms, including PricewaterhouseCoopers, and served as a Surface Warfare Officer in the United States Navy. Dave has a master’s degree in business administration from the Eller School of Management at the University of Arizona, and a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Vassar College in New York. 

Jeff Marron

IT Specialist

NIST

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Jeff Marron

IT Specialist

NIST

Jeff Marron is an IT Specialist at NIST. He supports several NIST efforts, such as cybersecurity for the Internet of Things (IoT), cybersecurity for health care, and outreach to small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) regarding cybersecurity.  He previously supported the NIST Cybersecurity Framework project. Prior to joining NIST, Jeff spent over 10 years working in IT Security within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  Among other things, his work included security engineering and integration work at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In the more distant past, Jeff was an elementary school teacher of English as a Second Language in Maryland schools. 

Andrew Phelps

Director of Sales for the Mid Market Public Sector

Samsara

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Andrew Phelps

Director of Sales for the Mid Market Public Sector

Samsara

Andrew Phelps is the Director of Sales for the Mid Market Public Sector at Samsara, where he leverages over two decades of experience to empower cities and schools with innovative safety solutions. His deep understanding of the unique challenges within the public sector drives his passion for helping communities create safer environments.

Dr. Radha Iyengar Plumb

Former CDAO

DoD

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Dr. Radha Iyengar Plumb

Former CDAO

DoD

The Honorable Radha Iyengar Plumb, Ph.D. is a technology and national security leader with extensive experience at the highest levels of government, industry, and academia. 

Dr. Plumb is currently a Senior Fellow at the Wharton Accountable AI Lab and Distinguished Visiting Fellow, Perry World House at the University of Pennsylvania. In these roles, she brings her technology and Pentagon expertise together with University of Pennsylvania’s academic expertise to address global policy challenges, fostering international engagement, interdisciplinary research, and critical dialogue to develop innovative policy solutions and prepare students for global leadership. 

In her most recent position at the Pentagon, Dr. Plumb served as the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer (CDAO) at the Department of Defense (DoD), where she led AI, data, and analytics adoption efforts, driving innovative strategies to scale digital technology across the Pentagon. 

Previously, Dr. Plumb served as Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (A&S), the second-highest official overseeing procurement, logistics, maintenance, and industrial base policy. She was also Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, serving as her lead advisor on the reform of the Defense Innovation Unit, the Replicator initiative, and Deputy’s Management Action Group (DMAG), the principal forum for civilian and military leaders to address major budgetary, management, strategy, and policy issues. 

During the Obama Administration, Dr. Plumb held senior roles at the National Security Council and the Department of Energy, shaping critical national security and technology policies. 

In the private sector, Dr. Plumb was Director of Research & Insights for Trust & Safety at Google and Global Head of Policy Analysis at Facebook, where she led data-driven initiatives to enhance security, reliability, and transparency. Earlier in her career, she was a senior economist at the RAND Corporation and an assistant professor at the London School of Economics. 

Dr. Plumb holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Princeton University and a B.S. from MIT. Her career reflects a deep commitment to leveraging data, technology, and policy to drive national security and innovation.

Jeff Reser

Enterprise eLxr Specialist

Wind River

Jeff Reser

Enterprise eLxr Specialist

Wind River

Travis Rosiek

Public Sector CTO

Rubrik

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Travis Rosiek

Public Sector CTO

Rubrik

Travis Rosiek is a highly accomplished cyber security executive with more than 20 years in the industry. He has built and grown cybersecurity companies and led large cybersecurity programs within the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). His experience spans driving innovation as a cybersecurity leader for global organizations and CISOs to corporate executive building products and services. His impact has helped lead to successful IPOs (FireEye) and acquisitions (BluVector by Comcast). As a Cyber Leader in the U.S. DoD, he has been awarded the Annual Individual Award for Defending the DoD’s Networks. 

Travis currently serves as the Public Sector CTO at Rubrik helping organizations become more cyber and data resilient. Prior to Rubrik, Travis held several leadership roles including the Chief Technology and Strategy Officer at BluVector, CTO at Tychon, Federal CTO at FireEye, a Principal at Intel Security/McAfee and Leader at the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). He earned a Certificate from GWU in Executive Leadership and graduated from West Virginia University with Honors while earning multiple Engineering Degrees. He also was one of the first of ten students from across the nation to be awarded a scholarship from the DoD/NSA’s in cybersecurity. His pioneering mindset has helped him better secure our nation and commercial critical infrastructure.  

Additionally, Travis is an invited speaker, author (blogs, journals, books) and has also served on the NSTAC, ICIT Fellow, and multiple advisory boards.

Vinay Singh

Former CAIO

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

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Vinay Singh

Former CAIO

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Mr. Vinay Vijay Singh is passionate about people, process and project management. He describes himself as a deal architect. His experience and network have enabled him to solve complex global challenges with speed and precision, with a keen eye on holistic customer experience. He has been in numerous leadership roles in the public and private sectors for over 25 years, spanning accounting, finance, international trade & investment, operations, strategy & technology. He is a Certified Public Accountant. Mr. Singh is the Chief Executive OƯicer of Velocity Group Solutions, LLC based in Pennsylvania, USA.


The Velocity Group focuses on Transformation & Leadership, Ai & Data, and Trade & Investment. He provides advisory services to several local and global organizations, public and private – including Chief Strategy OƯicer, Technuf, LLC; Managing Director, Primus Partners, USA. Most recently, he served at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as a Presidential Appointee, U.S. Senate confirmed, as the HUD CFO and Chief Artificial Intelligence OƯicer, at the Assistant Secretary level.


Prior to this he was a Partner and Chief Operating OƯicer for KPMG in India where he led many teams focused on Infrastructure, Government and Healthcare. His work in trade and investment also enabled him to help KPMG globally as the Lead Partner advising the World Bank Group and other IFI’s -International Finance Institutions.


As a President Obama appointee, Deputy Assistant Secretary, International Trade Administration (Commerce), Mr. Singh led interagency eƯorts for infrastructure and smart cities with Foreign Governments, the Private Sector, and Financial Institutions, unlocking opportunities and executing deals. He was also instrumental in supporting the agency with its Foreign Direct Investment eƯorts through his work at SelectUSA.


His domain experience developed while working in a variety of roles and industries. He has transformed organizations leveraging knowledge from Accounting & Finance, Ai & Data, Mergers & Acquisitions, Operations & Strategy and Organizational Restructuring. The critical thread across these roles is People, Process and Project Management. Leadership is enabling the right culture for people to pursue their passions. It is only then you can focus on – Doing the right thing, the right way, getting them done well and getting the benefits.


Mr. Singh is also passionate about communities. He has lived in many countries but acknowledges his time in the small town of Dover, Pennsylvania as his most treasured. Small towns are what make America great. Communities that are connected enable economic prosperity for all. He was born in Bangalore, India and has lived and traveled extensively across Africa, Europe, North America, South and Southeast Asia. He is a graduate of York College of Pennsylvania with an MBA from Widener University in Pennsylvania.

Jennifer Tejada

CEO and Chairperson

PagerDuty

Jennifer Tejada

CEO and Chairperson

PagerDuty

Torsten Volk

Principal Analyst – App Modernization

Enterprise Strategy Group

Torsten Volk

Principal Analyst – App Modernization

Enterprise Strategy Group

Host

Edward Graham

Staff Reporter

Nextgov/FCW

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Host

Edward Graham

Staff Reporter

Nextgov/FCW

Edward Graham is a technology reporter for Nextgov/FCW, where he reports on national security technologies and policies, the Department of Veterans Affairs and election security issues. He received his master’s degree in Journalism and Public Affairs from American University in 2016.

Moderator

George Jackson

Executive Producer & Host

GovExec TV

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Moderator

George Jackson

Executive Producer & Host

GovExec TV

George Jackson is Vice President of events at GovExec – the largest and most-influential media company in the public sector marketplace. George joined GovExec in October of 2020 to enhance the scale of their events and audience experiences.

He graduated from The Ohio State University in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in English. In 2006, he earned his master’s in broadcast journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park.

George spent the first five years of his journalism career at WJHL-TV in Johnson City Tenn. – beginning as an overnight producer for the station’s 6 a.m. broadcast. He advanced to lead on-air reporter for WJHL’s 11 p.m. newscast.

As a reporter, George examined the earnings of two non-profit hospital systems, felony charges filed against a local sheriff, predatory paving companies, a health benefits backlog for local veterans, and a series of cold-case murder investigations. He received an honorable mention for Best TV Reporter in the 2011 Tennessee AP Broadcast awards and won a Best Investigative Reporting award from Media General in 2010.

George joined DC’s ABC affiliate WJLA-TV in 2012 to produce Capital Insider, which won him an Emmy award. One year later, he developed and recorded the pilot episode of Government Matters – a program about the business of government. It debuted as a weekly show on Sunday, August 4th of 2013. George led Government Matters through September of 2020, expanded its reach to a daily worldwide audience, and produced its first feature-length documentary “The Dawn of Generation AI.”

George is from Toledo, Ohio. He lives with his wife, twin daughters, and a pair of rescue dogs in Northern Virginia.

Moderator

Leo King

Senior Manager, Account Strategy

GovExec

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Moderator

Leo King

Senior Manager, Account Strategy

GovExec

Leo King is a Senior Manager, Account Strategy at GovExec. He leads the post-sale process for GovExec’s client campaigns and uses his market knowledge to help build campaign plans that will best deliver against a client’s objectives.

Leo previously interviewed local government officials and wrote case studies showcasing project successes at the city and county level with The Atlas (part of the GovExec portfolio). He is interested in discussing today’s hot topics like AI, cybersecurity, and data management, but is also drawn to conversations about workforce and process improvement.