CAPTAIN (Navy) Ret. Dariusz Wichniarek is a director of Business Development in Advanced
Protection Systems in Gdynia, Poland. He is a retired officer of the Naval Special Operations
Forces, former commander of the Naval Special Operations Unit “Formoza”. He graduated
from the Military Academy (Engineering) in Wroclaw, the University of Technology in Gdansk,
the Naval Academy in Gdynia, the Joint Special Operations University at Hurlburt Field (now
Tampa), the National Defense University in Washington, DC, and the Naval War College in
Newport, RI, USA.
CAPT Dariusz Wichniarek was appointed to numerous positions in the Polish Navy and
Special Operations Forces: a platoon leader in the Military Diving Center in Gdynia, a
commander of the Combat Diving Group, an underwater demolition and weaponry systems
officer, a senior specialist of the Naval Special Operations Department in the Navy HQ in
Gdynia. In 2007 he was appointed a head of the Operational Planning Department in the
newly created Polish Special Operations Forces Command HQ (POL SOFCOM). In 2009 he
became a commander of the Naval Special Operations Unit “Formoza” (NSOU). In the years
2013/2014, as the first Pole, he served on the chief of staff position in the newly created
NATO Special Operations Component Command in Afghanistan (NSOCC-A). From 2015 to
2018 he performed his duties as a director of the Strategy and Defense Planning Department
in the Ministry of the National Defense in Warsaw, Poland. After retirement in 2018 he has
held managerial positions in business, focusing on business development, protection and
defense concepts, and implementation of modern technologies in security systems of critical
infrastructure.
CAPT Dariusz Wichniarek completed numerous specialist courses in the country and abroad,
which include: combat diving course, underwater demolitions course, special warfare course,
parachute course, NATO Combined Joint Forces Special Operations Component Command
Staff Officer Course, NATO CJFSOCC Operational Planning Course, Security Stability Transition
and Reconstruction Course, Special Operations Combating Terrorism Course, NSOCC-A Staff
Course, ISAF SOF Predeployment Training.
His awards include: a gold medal "For Merit for National Defense," silver medal "Armed
Forces in the National Service ", "Star of Afghanistan", "Non-Article 5 NATO Medal", US
medal "The Legion of Merit ".

Dr. Bruno Oliveira Martins is a senior researcher at the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), where he coordinates the Security Research Group. He has previously been assistant professor / postdoc at the Universities of Aarhus and Malmö. At PRIO he conducts research on themes at the intersection of technological innovation, security practices, and societal change. In 2020-2022 Dr. Martins has provided input to EU regulatory initiatives in the field of drones and counter-drone technology. He is a member of the UN Global Network of Experts on the Protection of Vulnerable Targets against Terrorist Attacks.

Blake Stone is an Army Career Program (CP) 60 (Strategic Planning & Foreign Affairs) civilian employee assigned to the Joint Counter-sUAS Office (“JCO”), Strategy & Policy Division, at the Pentagon, Washington, DC. Blake’s policy responsibilities include: the homeland defense application of counter- small UAS (C-sUAS), the JCO’s coordination efforts with its interagency and intergovernmental partners, to include the JCO’s coordination with the National Security Council Staff, as well as the Strategy & Policy Division’s emerging technology policy portfolio.
Blake is also a Colonel in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps, currently serving as the Senior USAR Legal Advisor in the Office of the Judge Advocate General, National Security Law Division, also at the Pentagon. He previously served as Commander, 8th Legal Operations Detachment, headquartered in Independence, MO. Prior to assuming command, he served as Staff Judge Advocate for the 98th Training Division, Fort Benning, GA. He also served as Legal Advisor to the Army Operations Center and the Army’s Current and Contingency Operations Division, at the Pentagon, from 2015-2017.
His previous assignments include: Staff Judge Advocate, Medical Readiness & Training Command, Joint Base San Antonio (2012-2015); Military Assistant to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Training, Readiness & Mobilization), Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower & Reserve Affairs), the Pentagon (2008-2012), where he served as one of the principal authors of the Army Total Force Policy; Command Judge Advocate, 244th Theater Aviation Brigade, Fort Sheridan, IL (2007-2008); Team Leader, Legal Services Team, 91st Legal Support Organization, Fort Sheridan, IL (2006-2007); Executive Officer and subsequently Officer-in-Charge, Combined Review & Release Board, Task Force 134, Multi-National Force-Iraq, United States Embassy-Baghdad, (2006); Assistant Staff Judge Advocate (AGR), 84th Division (Institutional Training) and 84th US Army Reserve Readiness Training Command, Fort McCoy, WI (2004-2006); Trial Counsel (AGR), Headquarters, US Army Reserve Command, Fort McPherson, GA (2003-2004); Administrative Law Attorney and Legal Assistance Attorney, US Army Combined Arms Center, Fort Leavenworth, KS (2002-2003); Assistant S-3, Trial Counsel and Defense Counsel, 91st Legal Support Organization, Fort Sheridan, IL (1997-2002); Combat Engineer Platoon Leader, Illinois Army National Guard (1990-1993). He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant,
USAR, Corps of Engineers, in 1990 through the ROTC Early Commissioning Program at Marion Military Institute, Marion, AL.
Colonel Stone is a graduate of the Army War College, Naval War College (College of Naval Command & Staff) (with distinction); Air War College (Distance Learning), the Marine Corps Command & Staff College, the Air Command & Staff College, and the US Army Command & Staff College (ILE Common Core and Combined Arms & Services Staff School). He is also a 2021 graduate of the Syracuse University (Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs) National Security Management Course (Post-Senior Service College SES Development Course). Blake is also recent graduate of the Continuing Education for Senior Leaders course at the Army Management Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS, and the Executive Branch Artificial Intelligence Lab at the Woodrow Wilson Center, Washington, DC.
Mr. Stone is a Ph.D. student in the International Relations Program at Salve Regina University, Newport, RI. He holds a Master of Strategic Studies from the Army War College, Master of Arts in National Security & Strategic Studies (with distinction) from the Naval War College, Juris Doctor cum laude, Northern Illinois University, undergraduate degree from Eastern Illinois University and an Associate’s Degree from Marion Military Institute.
Blake previously served as an Adjunct Professor of National Security Decision Making, at the United States Naval War College, College of Distance Education, on the Adjunct Faculty of the US Army Command & General Staff College, and as an Adjunct Professor in the Graduate School of Security & Global Studies, American Military University. He also holds the Army’s 6Z (Army Strategist) Additional Skill Identifier and 3U (Expert National Security Law Practitioner) Professional Development Proficiency Code.
Blake was awarded the State Department’s Expeditionary Service Award for his civilian service as a Senior Governance Advisor on an embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team in Iraq from 2008-2010.
Blake and his wife Krine are both originally from the same small farm town in rural Southern Illinois. They currently reside on a small farm in Southern Maryland and have five children.

Mr. Brad Pasho is a Foreign Military Sales Analyst for Axient Corporation supporting the Integrated Fires and Rapid Capabilities Office. He assists the Government in international engagements and sales of the LIDS weapon system to security partners and allies.
Brad has been involved in CUAS development since 2016 and in addition to the LIDS system has partnered with several different agencies to bring cutting edge CUAS technology to the battlefield including kinetic and energy weapons.
Prior to his CUAS work, Brad served as an Army Acquisition Officer with roles in Air Defense Command and Control, and missile technology.
Brad has an Electrical Engineering degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Brandon Wales is the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) first Executive Director, serving as the senior career executive helping oversee execution of CISA operations. He is responsible for leading long-term strategy development, managing CISA-wide policy initiatives and ensuring effective operational collaboration across the Agency.
In February 2022, Wales was appointed as the lead for the Federal Government’s domestic preparedness and response related to the Russian-Ukraine crisis. In this capacity, Wales was responsible for establishing and leading an interagency Unified Coordination Group (UCG) to ensure unity of effort, building U.S. government-wide strategic objectives, identifying and resolving gaps in operations and interagency coordination, and coordinating with federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial officials, as well as representatives of private sector and non-governmental entities.
From November 2020 through July 2021, Wales was the Acting Director of CISA. In this capacity, he led CISA’s efforts to defend civilian networks, manage systemic risk to national critical functions, and work across both the public and private sectors to raise the security baseline of the Nation’s cyber and physical infrastructure. During his tenure as the acting Director, he led the agency’s response to the SolarWinds Orion Supply Chain Attacks, Microsoft Exchange vulnerabilities, the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack, Pulse Connect Secure vulnerabilities, and the Kaseya VSA supply chain ransomware attack, among many others, while completing the stand-up and reorganization of the Agency following the passage of the CISA Act of 2018, which established CISA as an independent agency.
From August 2017 to December 2019, Wales directly supported the Secretary of Homeland Security beginning as the Senior Counselor to the Secretary for Cyber and Resilience, Wales was responsible for advising on cybersecurity, emergency management, incident response and building a more resilient nation. Following that assignment, he served as the Deputy Chief of Staff (Acting), developing and advancing the Department’s strategic priorities. In June 2019, Wales assumed the role of Chief of Staff (Acting), assisting the Secretary in overseeing the Department, ensuring close coordination across its operational components and managing interagency relationships.
Wales’ experience within and understanding of the Department is both broad and deep. He served as the Director of the DHS Office of Cyber and Infrastructure Analysis (OCIA), which provided integrated analysis of cyber and physical risks to the Nation’s critical infrastructure.
From 2009 to 2014, Wales was the Director of the Homeland Infrastructure Threat and Risk Analysis Center (HITRAC), an all-hazards analytic resource for public and private sector partners covering the full array of risks facing the infrastructure community. In this capacity, he oversaw the Department’s advanced modeling, simulation, and analysis program, leading a team of researchers conducting ground-breaking and forward-leaning analysis of some of the Nation’s most complex infrastructure challenges.
Wales has been called upon to support a variety of Department-wide initiatives. When the Department began working on the first Quadrennial Homeland Security Review in 2009, Wales was asked to lead the review of the counterterrorism and cyber security mission areas. Following the 2013 release of Executive Order 13636, Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity, Wales led the effort to identify critical infrastructure at potential catastrophic risk from cybersecurity incidents.
Wales’ contributions have been recognized with an Exceptional Performance Award from the Director of National Intelligence, a DHS Secretary’s Award for Excellence, and two DHS Distinguished Service Medals, the Department’s highest civilian award.
Before joining the Department in 2005, Wales was the national security aide to United States Senator Jon Kyl and a Senior Associate at a Washington-based foreign policy and national security think-tank.
Wales received his Bachelor’s degree from George Washington University and his Master’s degree from The Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

Brent is an expert in the field of Homeland Security, with specialized experience in transportation security, red teaming, and countering uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS). Brent has served in number of homeland security focused leadership positions including his current role as the Director for Counter-Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) at the Department of Homeland Security Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans, under the Counterterrorism and Threat Prevention -Law Enforcement umbrella. Brent is responsible for the Department’s C-UAS policy, and implementation of the C-UAS authorities granted to DHS in the Preventing Emerging Threats Act of 2018.
Background: Mr. Cotton’s security career began during the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) rollout in 2002, when he began training the first federalized screeners and played an active role in developing and implementing checked baggage screening policy and protocols. After arriving at TSA headquarters in 2010, he joined the Operations Improvement Branch (OIB) where he created and refined procedures associated with rolling out new types of equipment. Identified as an unconventional thinker willing to challenge assumptions, Brent was recruited as a member of the Administrator’s Risk Based Security Team where he developed new and innovative approaches to transportation security. In this role Brent helped create and implement the TSA Precheck program which now has more than 10M voluntarily enrolled members.
Prior to moving to DHS HQ, Brent spent 5 years at TSA’s Office of Inspection where held several leadership positions including Deputy Assistant Administrator (DAA), Executive Advisor, and Branch Manager in the Special Operations Division (SOD) Red Team. Mr. Cotton’s diverse experience in transportation security, which includes training development, operations improvement, Risk Based Security, and Inspections, makes him uniquely qualified to discuss a wide range of issues affecting movement of people and commerce.
 

Colin T. Ross currently serves in the National Security Division (NSD) of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), where he focuses on developing and coordinating the federal government’s response to the threats of domestic terrorism, terrorist use of the Internet, and misuse of unmanned aircraft systems (drones), among other issues. He is the recipient of NSD’s Award for Excellence and the U.S. Intelligence Community’s award for serving on the best legal team of the year.
Prior to joining DOJ, he clerked for Judge Ronnie Abrams in the Southern District of New York and Judge Gregory Phillips on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.
His work on special prosecutors in the context of police shootings has been featured in the Harvard Journal on Legislation and The Washington Post.

Dan Hermansen has served in the Royal Danish Airforce until he started his Master studies in Wireless electronics and Radio Frequency (RF) circuit design. For the past 20 years he has been working with wireless applications and since 2013 when he founded MyDefence he has combined his technical knowledge with the defense industry and a purpose to save lives. He is an entrepreneur by heart and for 10 years he has worked with Counter Drone Technologies to protect against the growing threat from malicious use of drones.

Darshan “Dash” Divakaran is an aerospace intrapreneur and technology evangelist with expertise in unmanned aviation, aviation development, geospatial analysis, emerging technologies, and program management. His areas of expertise in unmanned aviation also includes Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM), Counter-UAS (CUAS) and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). He has led efforts to work with federal, state, public safety, industry, and academia to develop, integrate and manage national/statewide programs and initiatives. He has been recognized by Interdrone and Commercial UAV News as one of the top commercial drone visionaries.
Darshan works for AFWERX, the innovation arm of the Department of Air Force, as the Senior Manager for Strategic Innovation & Partnerships. In this role he leads efforts to promote innovation and integration through joint operations, interagency, state, and academic partnerships. In addition, he supports the industry engagement, outreach, and educational initiatives for AFWERX. He is also the government subject matter expert for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) and Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) on the AFWERX Agility Prime program, a non-traditional program to accelerate the commercial market for advanced air mobility vehicles and create a robust domestic industry and supply chain to support their development and production.
Darshan holds a Masters in Geospatial Information Science and Technology from North Carolina State University and BS in Professional Aeronautics and Aviation Management from EmbryRiddle Aeronautical University. He is also an FAA certified commercial pilot with multi engine rating and holds a FAA part 107 remote pilot certificate.

Education:
10/2021 – present: Master of Science in Systems Engineering, University of Bundeswehr (Munich)
10/2012 – 07/2016: Bachelor of Science in Mircotechnology and Nanostructure, University of Saarlan

Work Experience (Bundeswehr):
02/2023 – present: Executive officer for GBAD radar systems
07/2020 – present: Vice project manager for ASUL
03/2019 – 01/2023: Executive officer for C-UAS sensors
03/2018 – 03/2019: Education executive officer

Volunteering:
10/1996 – present: Volunteer Fire Brigade
 

DJ Smith is a Technical Surveillance Agent for the Virginia State Police and has worked in the area of Covert Technical/Tactical Surveillance for almost 30 years. Several areas of specialty are GPS Installs, Video-Audio Clarification, Technical Surveillance Counter Measures (TSCM), Title III Intercepts, Mesh-Node Camera Deployments, Technical/Tactical Lock Bypass & Safe Penetration including GSA locks & containers, Cellular Tracking and Geo-Locating, Covert Audio/Video deployments, sUAS & Counter UAS deployment operations to name a few.
In the area of sUAS and Counter UAS Operations:

• He is the Unmanned Aerial Systems Program Coordinator for sUAS & Counter UAS operations for the Virginia State Police
• He serves on the Virginia Safe and Secure Commonwealth Sub-Panel dealing with UAS/Counter UAS implementation and legislative issues for the Commonwealth of Virginia.
• Has served as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) on various technologies for the DHS office of Electronic Surveillance, Law Enforcement Technology Board (SPAWARS Atlantic & Saver program).
• As a representative of the Virginia State Police, he is a stakeholder on the Mid-Atlantic UAS Partnership group (Google Wing) at Virginia Tech for Commercial/Enterprise UAS deliveries.
• He has served on the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate First Responder Robotic Operational System Test (FFROST) assessment & evaluations of sUAS for Public Safety.
• He has presented and moderated discussions at: Semi-Annual Counter UAS Summit in Washington DC, AUVSI Xponential, Commercial UAV Expo, Center for Innovative Technology and various agencies across the US.
• He also provides technical advice to legislative groups in Washington, DC assisting in getting the legislative carve-outs for SLTT agencies to obtain sUAS mitigation technology.
• He is also licensed part 107 pilot and has been flying sUAS for over 13 years.

Mr. McArthur has served over 24 years with the U.S. Border Patrol and currently serves as a program manager and intelligence liaison with its Counter-UAS program. Prior to reporting to Summit Point, WV in the spring of 2022 to work with the C-UAS program, he held several leadership roles on the southern border and at U.S. Border Patrol Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Mr. McArthur earned a bachelor’s degree from Florida Atlantic University in Criminal Justice.

Major Grant Farnsworth is an Air Force Strategic Policy Fellow detailed
to The White House, Executive Office of the President, Office of Science
and Technology Policy (OSTP) in Washington, D.C. OSTP works to
maximize the benefits of science and technology to advance health,
prosperity, security, environmental quality, and justice for all Americans.
At OSTP, Major Farnsworth serves as a policy advisor on issues at the
intersection of artificial intelligence and transportation with a focus on
Advanced Air Mobility and autonomous ground vehicle policy.
Major Farnsworth received his commission in 2011 through the Air Force
Reserve Officer Training Corps and attended law school through the
Educational Delay Program. He has served as an Assistant Staff Judge
Advocate, Area Defense Counsel, and Senior/Circuit/Special Trial
Counsel. He is admitted to practice before the Court of Appeals of Maryland, the Supreme Court of New
Jersey, the Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed
Forces.

 Jeremy Davidson is a Systems Engineering Sr Manager managing SAIC's CUAS portfolio within the Fires, Aviation and Missile Defense business headquartered in Huntsville, Al-abama – SAIC’s second largest location. In this role, he isresponsible oversight, planning, development, and cross company collaboration on all CUAS programs and projects.
Davidson joined SAIC in 2015 following his graduation from University Alabama in Huntsville as an Electrical Engineer. During his 17 years at SAIC Davidson has become a Project Management Professional and has supported or lead many force protection and base defense efforts for DoD and non-DoD customers. He has over fifteen years of experi-ence in research, development, test, evaluation, and fielding of complex defense and protection systems.
His most recent assignments have been focused on being Chief Engineer on CUAS programs as well as base defense programs in support of the Army and Air Force. In these roles Davidson was responsible for designing and fielding solu-tions for use in OEF and OIF supporting strategic operations within the region.
Davidson holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville as well as a being a Project Management Insitute certified Project Management Professional.

Lars Krogh Vammen has a 21-year Danish Army background. He has served in various operational branches including 11 years in the Danish army air defense, as well as ISTAR and HUMINT. Lars Vammen has served in the Danish Defence Acquisitions and Logistics Organization (DALO) in the Land Equipment Division as System Manager Mortars & Artillery. Lars Krogh Vammen’s military service includes three deployments to Afghanistan, where he e.g. has served with the US Marine Corps in Helmand. Lars Vammen is now Director of Business Development in Weibel Scientific with the responsibility for the global expansion of the entire Weibel portfolio. The role covers the full scope of business development activities with governments and non-governmental organizations, EU organizations as well as B2B relations with other large OMEs and primes. He is responsible for the full portfolio of Weibel products, with radars for IAMD as main priority – which covers the XENTA radar for SHORAD and C-UAS purposes as well as the long range tracking and discrimination radars for ballistic missile defense. In this context Lars has been a part of a number NATO Industrial Advisory Group studies as well as the recently concluded NIAG Industrial Interface Group to GBAD (NIIGBAD).

Leo McCloskey is a senior executive with comprehensive experience across many business disciplines – marketing, field marketing, product marketing, product management, service design, service transition, strategic sales, business development, partnerships & alliances, service delivery processes, program management, project management, high-value long-term contract negotiations, solution design and delivery, customer relationship management. Recognized throughout career for strategic vision, innovation, operational excellence, and the ability to define, create and deliver large complex customer wins. He currently works as Vice President, Marketing at Echodyne, one of the leading radar companies in the UAS space, including at NPUASTS and also including a wide number of governmental and commercial entities. Echodyne are the radar people of the UAS industry.

Mr. Torphy has served over 19 years in the Federal Bureau of Investigation and currently oversees its UAS and Counter-UAS operational programs, among other initiatives. Prior to reporting to Redstone Arsenal in late 2021 to lead this new unit, he directed manned and unmanned aviation operations in the Los Angeles field office. In previous roles, he managed enterprise technology projects and led the FBI’s aviation security program in Washington, DC. Earlier in his career, he conducted national security and violent crime investigations in the New York and Portland field offices.

Paul started his journey through the world of UAS when his in-laws gave him a toy as a Christmas present, and that gift sparked an interest in fpv drone racing. In 2018, he became the world Champion of Drone Racing, and took those skills and knowledge to branch out into filmmaking with FPV Drones as well as understanding their capabilities for other commercial uses. Currently, Paul travels the world filming for features, commercials, and projects like the FiFA world cup, and sits as an advisory board member for Cyberlux.

Ryan Berry is the manager of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Security Division within FAA’s Office of Security and Hazardous Materials Safety (ASH). The UAS Security Division serves as the primary coordinator on agency actions, messaging, and requests relating to UAS security issues and collaborates with security partners and the private sector on a holistic approach to UAS security issues.

Prior to joining the FAA, Mr. Berry served as a Counter-UAS subject matter expert in the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense, Policy, Homeland Defense and Global Security; and is a veteran of the US Navy serving as a Naval Flight Officer in the EA-6B Prowler. Ryan holds a MA in International Security from George Mason University, a MBA from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and a Bachelors in History from Virginia Tech.
 

Shaan Shaikh is an associate director and associate fellow with the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), where he focuses on missile proliferation, unmanned aerial systems, air defense, and nuclear weapons. He is also deputy editor of the CSIS website Missile Threat, an online clearinghouse for information and analysis on missile and missile defense systems. Prior to joining CSIS, he worked at the U.S. Department of Defense and The Syria Institute.

 Steven A. Willoughby currently serves as the Director for Aviation and Surface Transportation Security for the White House’s National Security Council. Steve’s permanent position is with the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Counter-UAS Program Office, where he focuses on strategic planning for air domain awareness, threat discrimination, threat mitigation, and interagency threat information sharing. Steve also represented C-UAS and UAS policy interests with the DHS Joint Requirements Council and across numerous interagency workgroups. Prior to his role with DHS Headquarters, Steve worked for the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Office of Inspection, conducting red team vulnerability assessments across the transportation sector, and for TSA’s Office of Security Operations, supporting the National Explosives Detection Canine Team Program. Steve began his federal career as a Transportation Security Officer at Washington-Dulles International Airport after graduating from Florida Atlantic University with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science.

Tom retired from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) after 20 years of service in October 2022. Tom’s last three years in the FBI were spent as a Supervisory Special Agent in the Counter-UAS Program. In this role, he led the evolution of the team, to include developing a training program, policies and procedures, and operational standards. He led numerous high-profile Counter-UAS missions throughout the U.S. at our nation’s highest profile sporting and cultural events, including the protection of our government’s highest-ranking officials and critical infrastructure.

Tom is currently the Chief Executive Officer of AeroVigilance, a Counter-UAS consulting company, and Co-Founder of C-UAS Hub, an online information “hub” for the Counter-UAS industry.

Tom earned a bachelor’s degree from Montana State University in Biomechanics, and a master’s degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Unmanned Systems.
 

Mr. Swinford joined the Army to see the world and got stationed 30 minutes from home at Redstone Arsenal (RSA) in Huntsville, Alabama where he served as an enlisted soldier from 1991- 1995 as a HAWK Missile Repairman and Supply Specialist. After completing his bachelor's degree in education from Athens State University, Cody worked for the State of Tennessee. In 2001, he returned to the Army and began a civilian career as a DA Intern in the CP-11 (Comptroller) career field at RSA for the Aviation and Missile Command G-8. He has supported both PEO Aviation and PEO M&S for most of his 25 years of service.
After graduating as a DA intern, he supported the Aviation, Missile, Research and Development Command in the Center Support Directorate. In 2006, he joined PEO Aviation working for PM Aviation Systems for Aviation Mission Planning System and the Aviation Networks & Mission Planning Product Office. In 2009, Mr. Swinford joined PEO M&S for the Close Combat Weapon Systems Project Office in the Financial Management Division for both the Javelin and TOW Missile Systems. In 2015, he returned to PEO Aviation in PM Unmanned Aircraft Systems. In 2018, he completed developmental assignments at the Pentagon in HQDA ASAALT for the ASARC Secretariat as an Action Officer and DA Systems Coordinator (DASC) for PM Multi-National Aviation Special Project Office supporting Afghanistan Aviation. Returning to RSA, he worked for the Medium Altitude Endurance Product Office and was the temporary business lead with PM Cargo for Block II Modernization. In 2021, he was selected for the Leadership Excellence and Acquisition Development Program. Those assignments include PEO M&S APEO International, HQDA ASAALT as a DASC for Soldier and Maneuver Directorate. Mr. Swinford is currently supporting the Directed Energy Program Office at the Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office at RSA.
He is a 2017 graduate of the Army Management Staff College Civilian Education System Advanced Course. He completed the Army Comptroller Course and How the Army Runs. Furthermore, he completed requirements from DAU for Advanced Certification in Business, Cost Estimating, and Financial Management and Practitioner in Program Management. Additionally, he completed the DoD FM Level II Certification. Finally, he earned a Master of Science in Management/Acquisition & Contract Management from Florida Institute of Technology. He is a member of the Army Acquisition Corps and received the Army Achievement Medal.
He and his wife Debbi have been married for 23 years and reside in Fayetteville, Tennessee with their two sons, Sam and Will and their Cocker Spaniel, Lucy and their two Dachshunds, Teddy and Daisy.

William Beasley, a retired career Department of Defense civilian and retired United States Army Signal Corps Colonel, serves as Deputy Director, Unmanned Systems Technology (UxST), Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Technology (OUSD(R&E)). He graduated from the United States Military Academy and holds advanced degrees from Long Island University (MBA), the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MS-Physics), and the Army War College (MS Strategic Studies).
In his current position, Mr. Beasley represents the Director, UxST, in multiple DoD-wide forums addressing current actions to develop capability to defeat or mitigate the threat posed by unmanned systems to DoD operations. He is a member of multiple counter small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-sUAS) working groups hosted by the Joint Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office (JCO), as well as the Office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Counter Uncrewed Systems (C-UxS) Community of Practice and OUSD(R&E) technology forums.
Previously, as a DoD civilian he acted as the agent for Combatant Commanders in responding to urgent needs of the Joint Warfighter. In this capacity, he served as the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) lead for multiple Joint Urgent and Emergent Operational Needs initiating and providing oversight for action to develop and rapidly deliver capability to counter small unmanned aircraft systems (C-sUAS). For C-sUAS capability required within the United States, he developed, with the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee, changes to the “Manual of Regulations for Federal Radiofrequency Spectrum Management” (Redbook) to enable the DoD to use electronic warfare capabilities to defeat small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS). Mr. Beasley advocated (through engagement with the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the military Services, and other OSD offices) establishment of a single organization within the Department of Defense to manage C-sUAS actions across the Department. These actions lead to the designation of the Army as the C-sUAS Executive Agent and the establishment of the JCO.
He has been actively involved, since its inception, with the Joint Staff’s Joint Capability Integration and Development System (JCIDS) as applies to force protection, weapon systems, battlefield awareness, battle management command and control systems, information assurance and information technology.
He has over 30 years experience in the military and with industry operating, managing, and developing military and cross federal agency information technology capabilities at all levels – tactical through national, in wartime, peacetime, disaster, and continuity of government roles.
He resides in Fairfax, Virginia, with his wife of 52 years, the former Elizabeth Iwanicki, from Bridgeport, Connecticut.
 

Yoav Zaltzman is an accomplished executive with a long and successful track record in leading fast business growth globally in enterprise software and cyber defence.
He held senior executive positions both in startups and leading global corporations, serving as a division president at Amdocs (NASDAQ: DOX), SVP and President at NICE (Nasdaq: Nice), and as a General Manager at Applied Materials (Nasdaq: AMAT).

 
Danielle is currently serving as the Head of CUAS Programs at Edgesource Corporation. Here she conceived of and is shepherding a new method of DoD program office implementation, by partnering with government sponsors to overcome the “valley of death” for small programs, such as Windtalker and Dowding, as they are transitioning out of the RDT&E space. This new path allows for and ensures our warfighters have access to vital technologies once initial contracts for such programs have concluded.

Danielle has a Master of Science from Texas State University, as well as a Master of Business Administration from Syracuse University. Prior to working with the military, Danielle was leading large scale operational excellence and corporate strategy teams for 15 years at civilian corporations such as Wayfair, Southwest Airlines and Gap, Inc. She currently resides in San Antonio, TX with her husband, Marshel, and son, Jackson.
 

Karan Hofmann has been a Program Director at RTCA since November 2014. She guides Special Committees through consensus-driven process to develop minimum performance requirements, affecting aviation community concepts, requirements, standards and guidance materials. Karan is a retired Air Force Weather officer. She helped design and integrate multimillion dollar weather systems for both military and civil needs. In the private sector, she led R&D and transition of transportation, meteorology and logistics modeling & visualization capabilities. She is an instrument certified single engine private pilot with over 1,500 hours. She has MS in Aviation Management, BS in Meteorology and BS in Geology.

Anthony Cole has served with the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC) in the UK for over 17 years. Charged with the armed protective policing and security of the UKs fleet of civil nuclear sites; he has served across the UK and is currently the Operational Unit Commander of the UKs largest civil nuclear facility, Sellafield on England’s northwest coast.
Anthony has extensive experience in security vulnerability assessments on complex critical national infrastructure sites and developing, testing, and assuring integrated armed protective security solutions to counter a range of postulated threats. Anthony is the CNCs UAS and C-UAS strategic lead working with Counter Terrorism and security partners in the UK and abroad to bring new C-UAS capability into operations.
Anthony joined the CNC following undergraduate and postgraduate research degrees in clinical biochemistry. He is a current Strategic Firearms Commander, and a member of the security Institute.

With over twenty-five years’ experience in the Royal Air Force Regiment, Wing Commander Sam Wiseman is a specialist in Airfield Force Protection. He has completed a multitude of operational tours, including several whilst serving as part of the United Kingdom’s respective Very High Readiness Air Assault and Commando Brigades. Sam has commanded in all ranks held and is a graduate of the United Kingdom’s Advanced Staff and Command Course. His staff experience include postings to the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence and its Permanent Joint Headquarters. Sam is currently the Officer Commanding of Number 2 Force Protection Wing; the United Kingdom’s only dedicated Fixed Site Counter-Uncrewed Air System formation.

With over twenty-five years’ experience in the Royal Air Force Regiment, Wing Commander Sam Wiseman is a specialist in Airfield Force Protection. He has completed a multitude of operational tours, including several whilst serving as part of the United Kingdom’s respective Very High Readiness Air Assault and Commando Brigades. Sam has commanded in all ranks held and is a graduate of the United Kingdom’s Advanced Staff and Command Course. His staff experience include postings to the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence and its Permanent Joint Headquarters. Sam is currently the Officer Commanding of Number 2 Force Protection Wing; the United Kingdom’s only dedicated Fixed Site Counter-Uncrewed Air System formation.