Governor Spencer Cox

Governor of Utah

Spencer Cox is the current 18th Governor of Utah, having assumed office in 2021. He is a member of the Republican Party and previously served as the state's Lieutenant Governor from 2013 to 2021. Before his statewide roles, Cox was involved in local politics in Fairview, Utah, serving on the city council and as mayor, as well as a Sanpete County Commissioner. He was born on July 11, 1975.

Nikki Haley

Walter P. Stern Chair at the Hudson Institute; U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (2017-2019); Governor of South Carolina (2011-2017)

In 2010, at age 38, Nikki R. Haley was elected the 116th governor of South Carolina. She was the youngest governor in the country and first minority female governor in America. She is the only female governor in South Carolina history.
During Governor Haley’s tenure, South Carolina was a national leader in economic development. Known as the “Beast of the Southeast,” the state’s unemployment rate hit a 15-year low, it saw over $20 billion in new capital investment, and her administration announced new jobs in every county in the state.
In 2013, her husband Michael, a combat veteran, deployed to Afghanistan making her the first governor in U.S. history to have their spouse deployed.
The people of South Carolina decisively reelected Haley in 2014. Two years later, Time Magazine named her one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World.
In 2016, at age 45, President Donald Trump nominated Haley as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. In that role, she served as a member of the President’s Cabinet and on the National Security Council.
As ambassador, she ensured the American people saw value for their investment, defended U.S. interests, kept our country safe, and championed human rights. For her work at the UN, Forbes named her one of the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women.
After serving in the Trump administration, she founded Stand For America and Stand For America PAC.
At age 51, Haley ran as a Republican candidate for president while her husband was deployed to Africa.
In 2024, she outlasted thirteen other candidates and became the first Republican woman to win a presidential primary. She continues to fight for limited government, fiscal responsibility, and a strong foreign policy that keeps America safe, has the backs of our allies, and holds our enemies to account.
She currently serves as the Walter P. Stern Chair of the Hudson Institute and as the Vice Chair of Edelman Public and Government Affairs where she advises CEOs and boards on successful business strategies.
Haley is married to Major Michael Haley and has two children.
She is a two-time New York Times bestselling author for With All Due Respect and If You Want Something Done.

Delian Asparouhov

Co-founder & President, Varda Space

Delian is a Partner at Founders Fund and President and Co-Founder of Varda Space Industries. Varda is pushing the bounds of innovation in the orbital economy by manufacturing pharmaceuticals and advanced materials that can’t be made as effectively on Earth, revolutionizing biopharma production and enabling cutting-edge microgravity research. He also co-created the Hill & Valley Forum, which brings together leaders from Washington and Silicon Valley to strengthen collaboration on technology and national security.

Andy Yakulis

CEO & Co-Founder, Vector

Andy Yakulis spent 18 Years as an Army Officer, Special Operations Operational Commander, and Defense Tech Innovator and is now the CEO and Co-founder of Vector.
His military career spanned both leading tactical combat operations and serving at the nexus of defense technology, innovation, and investing - working to bring advanced technology into the DoD and incentivizing private capital to invest in technology that supports U.S. National Security.
He was a Sloan Fellow at Stanford Graduate School of Business where he has a Master of Science in Management. While at Stanford, Andy focused his studies on technology innovation, venture capital and entrepreneurship. Andy was also selected as one of the initial national security innovation fellows at Stanford University’s Gordian Knot Center for National Security and has mentored startups at Harvard Business School. With his fellow Stanford classmates, Andy also co-founded the health technology start-up, Medeloop.ai.
Andy also holds a Master of Arts in Defense and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. While there, he was selected for a highly competitive volunteer program where he served as the U.S. Army’s sole ambassador to 72 foreign military officers from over 50 different countries.
Andy graduated from the United States Military Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Geospatial Information Science, where he was on the Dean’s list in the second half of college. While at West Point, he also played Division I lacrosse and was a four-year varsity letterman.

Peyton Manning

Two-time super bowl champion, five-time NFL MVP & Member of the pro football Hall of Fame

Legendary quarterback Peyton Manning, the NFL's only five-time Most Valuable Player and a 14-time Pro Bowl selection, has earned his place among the greatest quarterbacks in league history as one of the leaders in nearly every statistical passing category. A first-ballot Hall of Fame selection, Manning was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2021. During the 2015/2016 season, Manning led the Denver Broncos to a 24-10 win over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50, making him the first starting quarterback in NFL history to win a Super Bowl with two different teams.
Manning entered the NFL in 1998 with the Indianapolis Colts as the first overall draft pick. When he retired in 2016, Manning held numerous records, including the most career touchdown passes in league history, in addition to ranking first all-time in completions and passing yards. Named a first-team All-Pro selection by the Associated Press on seven occasions, no quarterback in NFL history had more playoff appearances or 300-yard passing games than Manning when he retired. In 2013, Manning was named Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated. In his first year with the Broncos in 2012—and after missing the entire 2011 campaign with a neck injury—Manning finished as the Associated Press NFL Comeback Player of the Year and runner-up for the league's MVP.
During his first 14 NFL seasons with the Colts, Manning set club records in nearly every career passing category. He led the franchise to its first World Championship in 36 years during the 2006 season, earning MVP honors in the Colts' 29-17 win over the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI. In 2017, the Colts honored Manning by retiring his number 18 at Lucas Oil Stadium. In early 2020, Manning was named to the NFL's 100 All-Time Team, one of only 10 quarterbacks to earn a spot on this iconic list.
During his time at the University of Tennessee, Manning epitomized the term "student-athlete." He claimed 43 records at the school, conference, and national levels while graduating with Phi Beta Kappa honors. He led Tennessee to an SEC Championship as a senior in 1997 and earned consensus All-America honors. Following his senior season, Manning was honored with the Sullivan Award for the nation’s top amateur athlete based on character, leadership, athletic ability, and the ideals of amateurism. In 2005, the Volunteers retired his number 16, and in 2017, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Manning was named to ESPN's College Football 150: College Football's 150 Greatest Players list announced in January 2020. Manning endows the Peyton Manning Scholarship at the University of Tennessee – Knoxville, awarding four-year scholarships to four incoming freshmen each year. To date, there have been 45 scholarships.
Manning attended Isidore Newman High School in New Orleans, where he was named Gatorade Circle of Champions National Player of the Year and Columbus (Ohio) Touchdown Club National Offensive Player of the Year as a senior. A native of New Orleans, he was named the No. 1 greatest athlete to hail from the state of Louisiana by The Times-Picayune and was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2019. Manning was also inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame (2019) and the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame (2018). He has also received numerous awards for his philanthropic work off the field and was honored as the recipient of the Byron "Whizzer" White Humanitarian Award and the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year in 2005, the Bart Starr Award in 2015, and the Lincoln Medal in 2017.
Manning is a longtime supporter of The Pat Summitt Foundation, a non-profit with a mission to find a cure for Alzheimer's. In 2012, Manning joined The Pat Summitt Foundation Advisory Board and co-chairs several fundraising events throughout the year. He also sits on the American Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet—lending a hand during disaster relief. He and his wife, Ashley, established the PeyBack Foundation in 1999 to promote the future success of disadvantaged youth by assisting programs that provide leadership and growth opportunities for children at risk. Since its inception, the PeyBack Foundation has provided millions of dollars through its grants and programs. In 2020, through the PeyBack Foundation, Manning endowed a total of nine scholarships at three HBCU schools in Tennessee and five in Louisiana. Manning is a champion for the Peyton Manning Children's Hospital at St. Vincent (Indiana), serving as an ambassador, advocate, and fundraiser. Peyton and Ashley co-chair the signature fundraising event for the hospital each spring, which raises money to expand and enhance departments and services offered.
At the end of 2020, Manning founded Omaha Productions, an entertainment company that produces unscripted and scripted programming as well as documentaries, digital programming, branded content, and podcasts. Omaha focuses on developing content that will unify and uplift. In partnership with ESPN, Omaha launched Monday Night Football with Peyton & Eli. The Monday Night Football simulcast airing on ESPN2 and ESPN Plus produced a Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Live Series. Manning also won the 2023 Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Personality/Event Analyst for his work on the broadcast. Omaha has since produced alternative telecasts for college football, golf, and the UFC. In 2019, Manning debuted as the host and executive producer of Peyton’s Places on ESPN Plus. Omaha's first project was the expansion of the Places franchise, with Manning serving as executive producer of the series as it spread into other verticals including college football, fight sports, baseball, basketball, tennis, hockey, and soccer. Additionally, the company has series at A+E Networks, NBCUniversal, HISTORY, and Netflix, including Netflix's upcoming Quarterback, a high-level access documentary series tracking NFL quarterbacks throughout a season. Manning balances these projects while continuing his iconic commercial partnerships, many of which are produced by Omaha, and pursuing various other business relationships.
Manning's father, Archie, was an All-American at the University of Mississippi in 1969 and 1970 and had a 14-year playing career in the NFL with New Orleans (1971-82), Houston (1982-83), and Minnesota (1983-84). His brother, Eli, also attended Ole Miss and was named the MVP of Super Bowls XLII and XLVI with the New York Giants. Manning and his family reside in Colorado.

Alan Estevez

Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security

From 1981 to 2002, Estevez served in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the United States Department of the Army, and the Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command.
During the Obama administration, Estevez served in the United States Department of Defense as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Logistics and Materiel Readiness and principal deputy under secretary of defense (acquisition, technology & logistics). He subsequently joined Deloitte as a national security and logistics consultant.
In July 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Estevez to serve as Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on March 31 and sworn in on April 19, 2022.

W. Travis Whitworth

VP, Intelligence Center, Strider technologies

W. Travis Whitworth serves as Strider’s Vice President of Intelligence Center where he manages production of intelligence analysis designed to surface nation-state risks at the nexus of economic and strategic competition. As a member of Strider’s Global Intelligence Unit, Travis also leads client engagements and projects that are particularly sensitive or complex.
Prior to joining Strider in 2022, Travis had a
distinguished 23-year career at the Central Intelligence Agency where he was a leading expert in East Asia security issues. He led numerous analytic units and served multiple tours in CIA Stations in East and Southeast Asia.
Prior to joining CIA, Travis served as a US Marine with multiple deployments to East and Southwest Asia. Travis holds a BA in Geography from The George Washington University and a MA in National Security and Strategic Studies from the US Naval War College.

Brad Wilson

Board Chair of 47g and CEO of Salt Lake City-Utah 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Games

A highly respected business leader and elected official, Utah native Brad Wilson served in the state legislature beginning in 2011 and was elected speaker in 2019. He left his legislative role in 2023 and was named CEO of Salt Lake City-Utah 2034 in February 2025. With a degree in business from Utah’s Weber State University, he started his career in finance but moved into a successful real estate development and home building career. In the legislature, he focused on the business strength of Utah, as well as championing efforts to protect Utah’s natural infrastructure by preserving the Great Salt Lake. He and wife Jeni have raised three children, spending family time exploring Utah’s mountains.

Michael Huerta

Former FAA Administrator; President, MPH Consulting

Where others might see thorny, intractable problems, I see opportunity: to dig into the details, bring stakeholders together, and find common ground. Whether I was overseeing the modernization of the U.S. air traffic control system, figuring out how to manage the transportation demands of the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, or building consensus around the future of the Port of San Francisco, I’ve found innovative ways to assess and manage risk, balance competing interests, and create tangible solutions that improve people’s lives.

The highlight of my career came in 2013 when President Barack Obama asked me to lead the Federal Aviation Administration. I was responsible for maintaining the safety and efficiency of the largest aerospace system in the world while managing a $16.3 billion budget and more than 47,000 public servants nationwide. During my tenure, the FAA redefined its regulatory relationship with the aviation industry to reach new safety heights, laid the groundwork for integrating new entrants like unmanned aircraft and commercial space operators, and completed key NextGen air traffic modernization milestones.

In my current role as a transportation, technology, and aerospace consultant, I use my decades of experience in the public and private sectors to help my clients see the big picture—not only about where industry is today, but where it will be in the future. I’m also a proud board member at Delta Air Lines and Verra Mobility.

A first-generation college graduate whose parents always prioritized school, I’m passionate about education and always looking for opportunities to give back to today’s students.

A.C. Charania

Advisor, Balerion Space Ventures

Visionary technology executive and strategist with over 20 years of leadership in the intersection of aerospace innovation, advanced product development, business creation, and government engagement. Currently Senior Vice President of Space Business Development at Zeno Power and also an advisor at Balerion Space Ventures. Previously served as NASA Chief Technologist, advising agency leadership on strategic R&D. Recent work at NASA included AI/autonomy, quantum, nuclear, and imagery. Proven track record delivering on disruptive innovations in commercial spaceflight, lunar exploration, planetary defense, aviation autonomy, and launch vehicle/hypersonic programs. Expert in technology strategy, program capture, federal engagement, and building partnerships across the public-private ecosystem with successful capture of more than a billion dollars of government and commercial contracts. Prior roles at NASA, Reliable Robotics, Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic, and SpaceWorks Enterprises. Advanced degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Author of dozens of technical papers and presented to more than two hundred different global audiences.

Nate Walkingshaw

CEO & Founder, Torus

Nate Walkingshaw is an accomplished entrepreneur and leader in the local passenger transportation and energy sectors, currently serving as the CEO and Founder of Torus. With a robust background in agile methodologies, business development, and product management, he has successfully led multiple organizations to growth and innovation. Nate's career includes notable positions such as Chief Experience Officer at Pluralsight and Board Member roles at various organizations, showcasing his commitment to mentorship and strategic leadership. He is recognized for his contributions to technology and product design, having invented significant medical devices that have transformed emergency medical services. Nate's passion for social impact and innovation drives his professional endeavors and community involvement. He has received numerous accolades, including being named one of Utah's '40 Under 40' and a 'Top 100 Product Leader'. His diverse expertise spans from engineering to marketing, making him a versatile leader in his field.

Greg Levesque

CEO & Co-Founder, Strider

Greg Levesque is the CEO and Co-Founder of Strider, charting and executing the company’s strategic vision. As a leading expert on economic statecraft, Greg has testified before the U.S. – China Security and Economic Review Commission and has worked actively with U.S. and European Governments and Fortune 500 companies to identify, assess, and respond to the risks of nation-state sponsored commercial activity. Greg has worked with the National Security Council, Department of Defense, and U.S. Trade Representative’s Office on issues of economic statecraft grand strategy and countering of foreign interference in commercial activity.
Prior to founding Strider, Greg co-founded Pointe Bello, a strategic intelligence firm. He also previously led the China Services team at Crumpton Group and served as Business Advisory Manager at the U.S.-China Business Council.
Greg holds a M.A. in Security Studies from Georgetown University and a B.S. in Economics from Utah State University. He is fluent in Mandarin Chinese.

Lauren Barnes

President, Broadband Communications System, L3Harris Technologies

Lauren Barnes is President of the Broadband Communications Systems (BCS) for the Communication Systems (CS) segment of L3Harris Technologies.
Barnes is responsible for the leadership and management of all aspects of the BCS business. With over 65 years in the Utah Capital, BCS has been developing cutting-edge technologies critical to the US national security and the defense of its allies. BCS provides secure, high-data rate, wideband, real-time communication systems for surveillance and reconnaissance. Communication Systems covers a broad portfolio, including tactical and airborne radios, battle management systems, night vision technology and professional and public safety networks and products.
Previously, Barnes was the Vice President of Program Management for CS Segment. In this role, Barnes was responsible for leading the CS Program Management function with a focus on standardization of metrics, implementation of modernized program management toolsets and adopting best practices.
Before joining L3Harris, Barnes held several roles at The Boeing Company of increasing responsibility. Her last role was St. Louis 777X Program Manager where she led design, development and production for the composite wing.
Other notable roles at Boeing include the T-7 Deputy Program Manager, Defense Logistics Services Program Manager, Chief of Staff for Government Operations in Washington, D.C., and Global Strike Strategy Manager.
Barnes has a Master of Business Administration from Washington University in St. Louis and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Tiffin University.

Dave Cavossa

President, Commercial Space Federation

Mr. Cavossa is a long-time space and satellite industry executive working at the intersection of commercial space, government affairs, and government services. Cavossa also was bitten by the entrepreneurial bug in 2015 and started his own tech startup in the golf industry which he built, funded and sold recently to a competitor before moving back into Space industry.
Dave likes to think he has seen the space industry from every perspective – government employee, sales and business development executive, operations manager, P&L owner, startup founder, consultant, and now 2 x time trade association leader. At the Satellite Industry Association (SIA) he served for 6 years as Executive Director and Chair of the Board. He also served in various executive roles with multiple satellite/defense contractors including Harris Corporation, CapRock Government Solutions, and Arrowhead Global Solutions. Mr. Cavossa also began his career in 2001 at NASA Headquarters in D.C. working in the Legislative Affairs and International Relations offices.
Mr. Cavossa was a Space Policy Fellow and holds a Master’s Degree in Science, Technology, and Public Policy from The George Washington University Space Policy Institute. David also obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Physics, Astronomy, and Political Science from Wheaton College, in Massachusetts.

Aaron Starks

Chief executive officer & President, 47G

Aaron Starks, CEO and President of 47G – Utah Aerospace & Defense, leads efforts to foster collaboration among industry stakeholders, academic institutions, and community organizations. Committed to realizing 47G's vision of creating Utah's premier aerospace and defense ecosystem, Starks focuses on developing the next generation of industry leaders and facilitating access to capital for innovators.
A native of Huntsville, Utah, Starks is a first-generation college graduate, holding a degree in Economics and Political Science from the University of Utah. He furthered his education at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business, earning an MBA in international business and strategy.
Previously, Starks played a pivotal role in FranklinCovey's global expansion, contributing to the company's growth across 23 countries in Asia. During his tenure, he established the Asia Headquarters for the education division in Tokyo, Japan, where he resided with his family for three years. Passionate about education, Starks co-founded the "I am a Leader Foundation" in Japan and the U.S., dedicated to supporting schools, teachers, and students in leadership and character development. Committed to civic engagement, he serves on the United States Global Leadership Coalition's Utah Advisory Committee.
In 2020, Starks brought his extensive experience to World Trade Center Utah, where he and his team engaged with nearly 100 companies, providing strategic guidance for global market opportunities, diversified distribution channels, and supplier identification.
Today, he resides in South Jordan, Utah, with his lovely wife and three children.

Chris Metts

Vice president, aerospace and innovation, 47G

Chris Metts is the Vice President for Aerospace and Innovation, which includes Project Alta, 47G's advanced air mobility (AAM) initiative. His career has included 35+ years of progressively responsible leadership both in government and industry, resulting in incredible success throughout the FAA and the global aviation community. This includes time as a transportation Attaché at US Embassies in Japan, China and Singapore, with regional responsibilities. He distinguished himself in Senior Executive Service at the FAA where he served as Chief Acquisitions Officer, VP of the ATO's PMO and as VP of US Air Traffic’s En Route and Oceanic Services. In industry, he served as a corporate global VP at L3Harris and partner level executive at Deloitte, partnering with NASA to write the concept of operations document for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). He also served on the ATCA board. Chris is a distinguished graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and is fluent in Japanese.

Dr. John (Tony) Jamison

Chief Technology Officer, VIRNETX

Dr. John (Tony) Jamison is the Chief Technology Officer at VirnetX, INC., a cybersecurity zero-trust software company headquartered in Zephyr Cove, Nevada. Prior to joining VirnetX, Tony was the CTO at an AI/ML start-up company, OmniTeq, LLC, which focused on providing predictive analytics for commercial and government verticals, including bioinformatics, power and energy optimization, and smart cities. Before OmniTeq, Tony was a Technical Director at BAE Systems, INC. in the FastLabs R&D directorate, where he was responsible for managing and integrating AI/ML into tactical space programs of record for DARPA and AFRL.
Tony is also a former Naval Intelligence officer having retired from the DIA in 2017 assigned to the DIA and the CJCS J26 Defense Collection Management directorate at the Pentagon as a Branch Chief for Collections, Analysis, and Special Projects. Prior to DIA, Tony was the senior intelligence officer and Director of Flight Operations Group at the NRO in AS&T where he was the mission manager for four non-operational R&D national security space assets, the program manager for the first small satellite constellation Wolf Pack, and key integrator for automated, AI/ML problem centric orchestrated collection efforts across the IC and DOD on the highly visible program called SENTIENT. Dr. Jamison also served as the Deputy Intelligence Officer N2A at Expeditionary Strike Group Five in Manama, Bahrain; at the Chief of Naval Operations – Intelligence Plot at the Pentagon; at USSTRATCOM’s Center for Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction, as the lead intelligence officer for the Middle East and Levant; and at several other tactical and operational Navy and joint commands both as an officer and enlisted.
Throughout his career, Tony has had extensive all-domain technical and operational experience working with the ODNI, USDI, CIA Directorate of Science and Technology, NGA, ONI, NSA, NASIC, MSIC, NGIC, UFAC, and several defense research labs. Tony is the recipient of multiple ODNI awards and intelligence community awards, including the CIA John A. McCone Award for achievements in operations and science and technology, two Defense Meritorious Service Medals, one Joint Service Commendation Medal, four Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, seven Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and numerous other campaign medals and decorations. Tony holds a doctorate from American Military University in Strategic Intelligence, a Master’s degree in National Security Studies, and a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. Tony’s dissertation topic was Agent-Based Modeling Methodology: A Predictive Analytical Strategy for Augmenting Strategic Intelligence Forecasts. Tony is married to his wife Elena and resides in the Texas Hill Country outside of Austin.

Eric Hutchins

Executive director, JPMorgan chase

Co-creator of the Cyber Kill Chain® and pioneer of Intelligence-Driven Defense®
Eric M. Hutchins is an internationally recognized leader in countering cyber and online threat operations and the co-creator of the Cyber Kill Chain®, the industry standard methodology for intrusion analysis. His work transformed how governments and Fortune 100 companies detect, analyze, and disrupt sophisticated adversaries.
Hutchins is an Executive Director of Cybersecurity Operations at JPMorgan Chase, where he blends hands-on investigation with executive-level direction to drive the firm’s response to its most complex cyber and fraud incidents. Previously, at Meta, Hutchins detected and disrupted covert influence operations conducted by military and commercial actors across Russia, Brazil, Myanmar, and China.
For nearly two decades at Lockheed Martin, Hutchins pioneered the Intelligence-Driven Defense® tradecraft and was lead author of the seminal paper “Intelligence-Driven Computer Network Defense”, one of the most-cited works in cybersecurity. As a founding member and Chief Intelligence Analyst of LM-CIRT, he led discovery of new intrusion sets, identified actively-exploited 0-day vulnerabilities, and built public-private partnerships that became models for modern operational collaboration. Hutchins was the youngest employee ever promoted to highest engineering rank of Lockheed Martin Fellow.

Jennifer Santos

Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer, Draper

Jen Santos is Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at Draper. She was appointed to her current role in 2023. She also served as a commissioner on the Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution Commission and an adjunct professor at Defense Acquisition University.
With more than 28 years of national leadership experience, Jen has served as a tri-sector leader across the executive branch, legislative branch and industry. In those areas she demonstrated a keen understanding of the policy, finance, regulatory, technology and business aspects of military department acquisition, research and engineering organizations.
She was promoted to her current role, with responsibilities that include developing market and technology strategies in support of Draper’s Corporate Strategy; leading the corporate investment strategies for internal research and development, company campuses, and capital expenditure; and leading all high-level customer outreach across the national security ecosystem.
Jen joined Draper in 2021 as Principal Director for Strategic Initiatives in the National Security and Space Program Office. Before that, she served as a Naval Research and Development Investment Executive for the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition, and as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for industrial policy.
Previously, Jen was Vice President for the Air Force and Department of Defense innovation at Cypress International, a consulting firm. She also was a professional staff member on the Senate Appropriations Committee for Defense and held finance and acquisitions roles in the Department of the Air Force.
Jen holds an MBA from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and a B.S. in mathematics from Wheeling Jesuit University. She also was appointed to serve on the Commission on Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution Commission established under a provision in the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act.

Kelley McGrath

ISC Deputy Director, BAE Systems Inc.

Kelley McGrath has been with BAE Systems since November 2014, and currently serves as the Integrated Support Contract (ISC) Deputy Director. The ISC Contract is a multi-billion dollar, 1600-person contract providing the Air Force with program management, acquisition, engineering, scientific research, financial, and administrative support to execute integrated life cycle acquisitions and sustainment of the nation's current and next-generation Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) inventory.
In this role, Kelley leverages her extensive experience in business development, program management, and engineering to drive success in this critical contract.

Jon Gruen

Chief executive officer, Fortem

Jon Gruen is the CEO and Executive Chairman of Fortem Technologies, a deep tech company that provides Artificial Intelligence enabled airspace awareness and counter drone solutions to defense, law enforcement, and commercial customers.
Previously, Jon was a corporate business development and strategy lead for Lockheed Martin where he won over $10B in program value. After which, he co-founded a defense innovation management and operations firm which scaled start-up companies to over $1.5B in combined revenue in just three years.
Prior to joining Lockheed Martin, Mr. Gruen was a Navy SEAL Officer where he served in increasing leadership positions in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan). He is currently a Navy Reserve Captain and has commanded Unmanned Air Systems and Technology Innovation Units.
Jon received his Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Naval Academy and received his Master of Business Administration from the Haas School of Business, University of California – Berkeley.

Jonathan Freedman

President & CEO, World Trade CENter UTAH

Jonathan Freedman is the president and CEO of World Trade Center Utah, where he helps Utah companies grow through international trade and investment. He is a seasoned entrepreneur and international business leader with over 30 years of experience.
Prior to joining WTC Utah, Freedman co-founded and grew Downeast, a clothing and furniture retail chain, to 64 locations with 1,100 employees. He has also served as honorary consul of Ukraine in Utah since 2008, leading the effort to support the Ukrainian community in Utah and foster economic development between Ukraine and Utah. In September 2023, he was awarded the Order of Merit by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the highest honor given to a non-Ukrainian citizen.
Freedman also serves on public and private boards and commissions, including the state of Utah's Unified Economic Opportunity Commission, USTR Intergovernmental Policy Advisory Committee, the Economic Development Corporation of Utah, and the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce.
He is a passionate advocate for international trade and investment and believes that global engagement is essential for economic growth and prosperity. He is also committed to building bridges between cultures and promoting understanding and cooperation between people from all over the world.

Kris Griffith

PREsident, American Pacific Corporation

Dr. Kris Griffith is President of American Pacific Corporation (AMPAC), a leading supplier of specialty chemicals for the aerospace and defense industries. With more than two decades at AMPAC, he has been instrumental in the company’s growth, innovation, and strategic expansion.
Kris earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology and an MBA from the Dixie L. Leavitt School of Business at Southern Utah University. Since joining AMPAC in 2001, he has advanced through a range of leadership roles — from Senior Scientist and Director of Analytical Laboratories & Product Development to Vice President of Contracts — building expertise that bridges science, operations, and business strategy.
As President, Kris works closely with customers, partners, and stakeholders to guide AMPAC through a period of major investment and capacity growth. His leadership is defined by advancing technological capabilities, strengthening strategic partnerships, and ensuring AMPAC continues to meet the evolving needs of aerospace and defense programs worldwide.

Troy Thompson

Chief OPERATING officer, Big-d Construction

Troy S. Thompson began his construction career here in SLC in 1978. Since then, he has spent more than 35 years in the construction and development industry, earning the respect of his owners and colleagues. His many duties from those humble beginnings have included construction carpenter, superintendent, project manager, project director, commercial vice president, senior vice president of operations, executive vice president, and president of a major development company.
Thompson’s education in Construction Management started at Utah Technical College and finished at Arizona State University. Whether researching solutions to maximize value for a specific client, or lecturing to college students and industrial trade organizations, Troy believes in sharing his knowledge with those working in our industry, and those striving to have a successful career. He is persistent and methodical while prosecuting all facets pertaining to construction operations, design oversight and the preconstruction phase.
Thompson will continue to use his unique qualifications to provide executive oversight for day-to-day business operations and strive to help employees advance their careers, create “work-life balance” and to be an integral part of growing the business that he loves. His dedication to the industry, and personal resume of managing more than three billion dollars of commercial building projects, makes him a valuable member of our team.

Brett Wallace

Managing Director, Global Head of Cybersecurity Operations, JPMorganChase

JPMorgan Chase & Co. is a leading global financial services firm with assets of $2.4 trillion and operations in more than 60 countries. With a history dating back over 200 years, the firm serves millions of consumers, small businesses and many of the world’s most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients. The firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers, small business and commercial banking, financial transaction processing, asset management, and private equity.

Neil Tiwari

Managing Director, Ventures, Magnetar

Neil Tiwari is a Managing Director at Magnetar Ventures, where he invests in early- to growth-stage companies in the AI, technology, and infrastructure sectors. Prior to joining Magnetar, Neil was a Managing Director at dRx Capital for Novartis, leading technology investments in the life sciences space. He began his career as a product development engineer, where he oversaw the development and launch of 10 medical devices and software products, earning inventorship on 13 patents.

Brett Loubert

Principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP, Space Practice Leader

Brett Loubert is a Principal with Deloitte Consulting LLP and leads Deloitte’s U.S. Space practice. With over 20 years of experience spanning national security and commercial space, he has guided multiple US-based and global organizations on Space commercialization, Earth observation, and next-generation infrastructure. Brett also oversees Deloitte’s Space innovation portfolio, which includes Deloitte-1, the firm’s first satellite, and Silent Shield, an on-orbit cyber defense payload.
Prior to Deloitte, Brett was as an engineer and project manager for space systems at a large Defense contractor. Brett holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and a Master of Business Administration, both from the from the University of Maryland.

Jen Easterly

Former Director of the Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency

Jen Easterly is a globally acclaimed cybersecurity and national security leader, with deep expertise on cyber threats, emerging technologies, and organizational resilience. She most recently served as the Senate-confirmed Director of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)—America’s premiere cyber defense agency. As the Director of CISA, she led the nation’s efforts to protect critical infrastructure from cyber and physical threats, transforming the agency into a $3 billion operation with over 10,000 employees and contract personnel.
A combat veteran, cybersecurity pioneer, and former Wall Street technology executive, Jen brings decades of leadership experience at the intersection of technology, security, and risk. Before CISA, she served as Head of Firm Resilience at Morgan Stanley, where she built and led the company’s Cybersecurity Fusion Center, charged with protecting the Firm from cyber threats.
Her public service spans more than three decades, including multiple combat deployments in the U.S. Army, where she played a pivotal role in the creation of U.S. Cyber Command and commanded the Army’s first cyber battalion. She served twice at the White House, including as Special Assistant to President Obama and Senior Director for Counterterrorism and earlier as Senior Policy Advisor to National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice. She also served as the Deputy for Counterterrorism at the National Security Agency (NSA) and as a senior leader in Tailored Access Operations, NSA’s elite hacking team.
A distinguished graduate of West Point and Rhodes Scholar, Jen is a two-time recipient of the Bronze Star as well as numerous awards, including the 2024 George C. Marshall Award in Ethical Leadership, the 2023 Champion of Internet Freedom Award, the 2022 Admiral Grace Hopper Award, and the 2018 James W. Foley American Hostage Freedom Award. A member of the Council on Foreign Relations, Jen is the recipient of the Aspen Institute Finance Leaders Fellowship, the New America Foundation Senior International Security Fellowship, and the Director, National Security Agency Fellowship.
A sought-after keynote speaker, Jen has provided dozens of presentations at events around the world and made numerous appearances on television and radio on topics including technology and emerging threats, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, national security, and organizational leadership and design. Beyond her professional achievements, Jen is a proud mom, mental health advocate, Rubik’s Cube enthusiast, and aspiring electric guitarist.

Dan Sennott

Partner and Co-Lead of National Security & Defense Industry Group, Holland & Knight

Dan Sennott is an attorney in Holland & Knight's Washington, D.C., office, where he co-leads the firm's National Security & Defense Industry Group. In addition, he is a co-leader of the Public Policy & Regulation Group's National Security and Defense Team. Mr. Sennott has substantial experience with defense issues, having held senior leadership positions in both the U.S. military and the federal government, including most recently serving as the minority staff director for the House Armed Services Committee.
Mr. Sennott focuses his practice on representing clients in an array of public policy, government oversight and regulatory issues, particularly those related to the defense industry. He handles a variety of matters related to acquisition policy, emerging technology, satellite and space technology, and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). In doing so, he regularly appears before the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), each of the U.S. armed forces (Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force and Coast Guard), as well as the congressional defense committees.
Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Mr. Sennott served as the minority staff director for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Armed Services (HASC), where he was responsible for the development, negotiation and passage of the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that authorizes the annual defense budget and establishes policy for the DoD. Prior to that position, he served as the minority general counsel for the committee, providing legal advice on all aspects of national security and congressional process. He began his time with the committee as a counsel and staff lead for the Military Personnel subcommittee, where he was responsible for a wide range of issues, including the Military Health System (MHS), military housing, education, and military pay and benefits.
Previously, Mr. Sennott served in the U.S. Army for more than two decades as an armor officer and a judge advocate. During his military career, Mr. Sennott served as a prosecutor, law professor, legislative liaison and the chief of military personnel law for the U.S. Army. He provided counsel on federal claims, government contracts, fiscal law, complex investigations and administrative law. His combat deployments included 14 months in Baghdad, Iraq, with the 1st Armored Division and 12 months in southern Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne Division. His military decorations and awards include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star and the Meritorious Service Medal.

Taylor Stoker

Co-Founder & Head of Business Development, Ultion Technologies

Taylor Stoker is the cofounder and Head of Business Development at Ultion Technologies, a U.S. manufacturer of advanced Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery cells, packs, and systems. Raised in Las Vegas, Taylor grew up immersed in the battery industry, building on the legacy of his father, Johnnie Stoker—an early pioneer of LFP technology whose designs and processes remain foundational to the field. From his earliest experience on production lines to leading strategy, Taylor brings a lifelong perspective on the technical and strategic challenges of scaling secure, American-made energy storage.
At Ultion, he is helping build one of the only vertically integrated battery platforms in the United States, delivering solutions that range from high-performance cells to fully integrated energy systems. These innovations support mission critical applications in defense, aerospace, and next-gen energy storage systems, strengthening America’s leadership in energy independence. Prior to Ultion, Taylor led GTM strategy at Athelas, a Silicon Valley biotech startup that scaled into a multibillion-dollar enterprise. Today, he combines startup execution with deep domain expertise in batteries to advance U.S. energy resilience and security.

Wayne Aston

CEO, Invictus Sovereign

Wayne M. Aston is the Founder and Fund Manager of Invictus Sovereign, where he is redefining the future of private power generation and large-scale real estate development. With a career spanning nearly three decades, Wayne has established himself as a dynamic force in entrepreneurship, real estate, and energy infrastructure. A proud father of five, Wayne’s leadership journey began with distinguished service in the US Marine Corps Infantry Reserves as a Heavy Machine Gunner (MOS 0331), followed by five years in the Utah Army National Guard Reserves as a Fire Direction Control Specialist for the 145th Field Artillery Battalion. He was honorably discharged in 2005, carrying forward the discipline and teamwork that would define his business ventures. Wayne’s entrepreneurial path started in 1996, launching a series of successful businesses and real estate projects. His portfolio includes numerous residential communities and self-storage developments, but his hallmark achievement is the Sage Creek at Moab luxury condominium resort in Moab, Utah. Under Wayne’s vision and management, Sage Creek became Southern Utah’s highest-grossing resort by revenue per key, reaching a $114 million valuation in 2021. Before founding Invictus Sovereign in 2022, Wayne also established American Spec Industries and is the founding member and developer of Valley Forge. Drawing on his formal education in Architecture and Business from the University of Utah, Wayne has thrived through some of the most volatile market cycles in recent history, consistently delivering high-value, master-planned projects. Wayne’s latest venture, Valley Forge Impact Parks, represents the next generation of utility-scale power generation. These innovative developments feature a unique mix of natural gas plants, geothermal cogeneration, utility-scale long-duration energy storage (LDES), and plans for early adoption of nuclear SMR technology. Connected by smart microgrids and AI-driven power management, Valley Forge Impact Parks also include co-located data centers and advanced industrial campuses. With sites underway in Utah and Wyoming, and eight more locations selected across the US, Valley Forge is poised to transform the nation’s energy and industrial landscape. Wayne enjoys Podcasting, in his first endeavor he co-hosted Aston Incorporated with his oldest sone Dallin, focused on real estate investing and entrepreneurship for newcomers. In his current and ongoing commitment he hosts the Frontier Line with co-host and business partner Dave Murray, where they shed light on the energy and infrastructure markets globally, keeping a finger on the pulse of the rapidly expanding landscape. Central to Wayne’s philosophy is the power of team building. Invictus Sovereign’s legacy is built on the caliber and collective expertise of its partners, including global leaders such as Gensler, Fluor Corporation, Schneider Electric, Westinghouse, ABZ Inc, Big D Construction, Killpatrick Tonwsend, Traverse Thorpe Alberga, Kirton McConkie, Holland & Hart and many others. Wayne’s mission, embodied by Invictus Sovereign, is to lead the private power sector as a true Grid Resilience Partner to Utah, Wyoming, and beyond—creating high-paying career paths and abundant opportunities for personal and professional growth for all who join his journey.

Tim Neilsen

Branch Head – Civil Spacecraft Missions & Technologies, Space Dynamics Laboratory

Tim Neilsen is a Utah native and attended Utah State University (USU) where he completed degrees in electrical and computer engineering with an emphasis in the development of space systems. He has over 25 years of experience in space systems engineering, space weather instruments, spacecraft technologies, deep space telecommunications, and program management.
Tim has led teams in a wide range of defense and space science and technology missions as part of USU's Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) where he is currently the Head of SDL's Civil Spacecraft Missions and Technologies Branch. He lives in Cache Valley with his wife and four children.

Mary Dhillon

Strategy Manager, Fervo Energy

Mary Dhillon is the Strategy Manager at Fervo Energy. She holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Texas A&M University. She spent 4 years as a downstream chemicals process engineer in the Oil and Gas industry before joining Fervo. While at Fervo, she has led technical and business line integration with frontier emerging climate technologies. Her group helps support building out new innovative capabilities within the organization including AI, R&D, and frontier market development as well as helping support cross functional strategic initiatives such as tariff exposure, Inflation Reduction Act tax credit compliance, and traditional strategic goal setting. She is based in Houston, TX.

Jonathan Bench

Shareholder, Kirton Mcconkie

Jonathan Bench is an international business attorney who advises clients on cross-border transactions, mergers and acquisitions, emerging technologies, and global supply chain strategies. Fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese, he works extensively across Asia, Latin America, and the U.S., with a focus on AI and blockchain innovation. A frequent global speaker and published author, Jonathan brings a business-first mindset to legal strategy, shaped by his own entrepreneurial experience.

Rick Sanford

CEO, Complete Aerospace Solutions Inc.

Rick is a transformational leader with proven expertise in solution development, market creation, and operational excellence, consistently delivering double-digit revenue growth for multinational organizations. His strategic capabilities encompass requirements analysis, business case development, and creative problem-solving, while orchestrating cross-functional teams, processes, and technologies to maximize ROI and exceed performance targets. Recognized as an industry authority in Space, Cybersecurity, and Networking sectors, Rick brings extensive international leadership experience spanning North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East.

Dylan Welsh

President, Summit Line Construction, Inc and Regional President, Quanta Services Inc

Dylan Welsh is responsible for overseeing the strategic growth, safety, operations, employee development and engagement, financial performance, and business relationships at Summit Line Construction and its operating groups. With over 17 years of experience in the utility and renewable energy sectors, he brings a wealth of expertise in both engineering and construction business management. He is dedicated to fostering long-term company growth and stability, ensuring that daily operations align with the organization’s broader strategic vision.
Before joining Summit, Dylan held multiple senior executive roles at PAR Electrical Contractors, LLC, and Longfellow Drilling, a division of PAR Electrical Contractors, LLC. Throughout his career, he has led contractors in delivering some of the nation’s most complex and large-scale electrical utility transmission line, substation, and renewable energy projects.
Dylan holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Missouri – Columbia and a Master of Business Administration from Ohio University. He is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and an active member of the NECA Western Line Constructors Chapter. He resides in Heber City, Utah, with his wife and two children.

Isaiah Taylor

CEO & Founder, Valar Atomics

Isaiah Taylor is the founder and CEO of Valar Atomics, an advanced-nuclear company developing high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs) using TRISO fuel, helium coolant, and graphite moderation to deliver reliable, inherently safe, low-cost heat for clean fuels and abundant power.
Under his leadership, the team built its full-scale non-nuclear thermal prototype, Ward Zero, in ten months; signed a first-of-its-kind Coordinated Research Project with the Philippines Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI); and, with Utah’s San Rafael Energy Lab (USREL), broke ground on its first test reactor. Valar was also selected to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Nuclear Reactor Pilot Program, which targets nuclear criticality for multiple advanced designs by July 4, 2026.
Inspired by his grandfather’s work on the Manhattan Project, he founded Valar to bring high-temperature nuclear gigasites online—and by 26 has assembled one of the largest concentrations of HTGR engineering talent in the world.

Drew Watson

Founder, CTO, Swarmbotics AI

Drew Watson is the Co-Founder and CTO of Swarmbotics AI, where he leads the development of attritable, networked tactical robot swarms ("ANTS"), including ground-based robotic platforms like the FireAnt UGV. Watson previously led software development on NASA's Valkyrie humanoid robot program at the Johnson Space Center, following roles within NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and a long tenure at the Central Intelligence Agency targeting al-Qa'ida senior leadership. Watson launched Swarmbotics AI in Jan 2024 following a product role at Embark self-driving trucks. Watson holds C.S. and autonomous systems degrees from the Naval Postgraduate School and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Bobby Gallagher

CEO, CTO, Founder, Deployable Energy

Bobby is a serial deep tech energy entrepreneur, inventor, former offshore oilfield engineer, and former military officer building the next wave of deployable fission power.
He is the Founder, CEO & CTO of Deployable Energy, now emerging from stealth with the Unity Nuclear Battery—a 1 MW, factory-built, plug-and-play microreactor that is transportable in a 20-ft ISO container. Using standard light-water reactor fuel and materials, Unity targets fossil fuel beating cost and performance, scales from 1 to thousands of megawatts, and offers >5 year refueling intervals to deliver resilient, emissions-free power for data centers, mining, oil & gas, remote communities, maritime operations, and dual-use missions.
Deployable Energy is Bobby’s second hard-tech venture. He previously founded Kinetic Pressure Control, scaled it into a global leader in pressure-control safety, which achieved a nine-figure exit—advancing technologies aimed at preventing disasters like Deepwater Horizon.
Named on 10+ patents and experienced across five continents, Bobby bridges end users, regulators, investors, and engineers to turn new tech into fieldable capability. Based in Houston, he’s a father of three who enjoys BJJ and time in the water or mountains.

Gregg Robison

CEo, RAM Aviation

Gregg Robison is the CEO of RAM Aviation, Space & Defense, a company based in southern Utah that designs and manufactures propulsion valves for spacecraft, satellites, space stations, and rockets, as well as fuel and hydraulic valves for military and commercial aircraft.
Previously, Gregg held several leadership roles, including VP & GM of ITT Aerospace Controls, VP of Operations for Crane Aerospace, and Director of Operations at Parker Aerospace. A native of southern Utah, Gregg earned his Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Utah and an MBA from Marquette University in Wisconsin.
Inspired by aviation and space from an early age, Gregg aspired to be involved in both fields. He is excited to support and lead the team at RAM, where they continue to build upon their existing legacy, driving advancements with new platforms and products in the aviation and space industries.

Blain Newton

Chief Information Officer at BETA Technologies

Blain Newton is the Chief Information Officer at BETA Technologies. Since joining BETA six years ago, Blain has served in numerous roles, doing whatever is necessary to help build the company. He now serves as CIO where he is focused on expanding BETA’s data and digital product capabilities. Whether it’s building a self-aware factory, enabling advanced digital engineering, or providing predictive maintenance insights to customers, BETA sees data and digital products as core to the future of electric air mobility. Blain brings extensive experience, having previously held executive leadership posts at several high-growth, global healthcare technology companies including HIMSS Analytics, CapSite and Allscripts. In these roles, he oversaw multiple global product launches, opened new operations on 4 continents, and led multiple M&A transactions valued collectively at more than $1bn. Blain holds his degree in Business and Accounting from SUNY Geneseo and has been a long-time fan of aviation, having grown up around the 174th [Attack Wing] in Syracuse, NY. When he’s not at work, Blain is an avid fly fisherman and enjoys spending time in the mountains with his wife as they chase their young kids around.

Mike Mahoney

Executive Director, Space & Defense, TeAgue

Mike leads Teague’s Space and Defense teams, where he brings a human-centered perspective to the most complex challenges in aerospace. His work sits at the intersection of technology, innovation, and human behavior—helping organizations imagine and design the systems that will shape exploration, mobility, and work in mission environments.
At Teague, Mike has directed programs spanning air, space, and defense, including designing next-generation mission habitats for NASA and partnering with commercial space station providers to define how humans will live and work in orbit. Increasingly, his focus is on how connectivity—through satellite communications, networks, and human-machine interfaces—enables resilience, collaboration, and innovation in space and defense operations.

Ihssane Mounir

Sr. Vice President, Global Supply Chain & Fabrication, Boeing Commercial Airplanes

Ihssane Mounir is senior vice president of Global Supply Chain and Fabrication for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Appointed to this position in December 2022, Mounir is responsible for Boeing’s commercial supply chain strategies, deliverables and requirements across all airplane programs to enable increasing stability and predictability in Boeing’s supply chain and factories. In addition, he leads Boeing’s Fabrication division, including the engineering and manufacturing of millions of aerospace parts at sites in the U.S., Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom. Previously, Mounir served as the senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing. Appointed to this position in 2016, Mounir led sales and marketing of commercial airplanes and related services to airlines and leasing customers around the world. He led efforts to support airline partners throughout the challenges of the COVID pandemic, and as airlines adjusted business strategies to successfully prepare for passenger traffic recovery and return to profitability. During his career, Mounir has held senior leadership positions across Boeing’s Commercial Sales and Marketing organization. He served as vice president of Sales and Marketing for Northeast Asia, including China, Japan and Korea and vice president of Sales and Marketing Operations. Mounir joined Boeing as an aerodynamics engineer in 1997. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in aerospace engineering from Wichita State University. Mounir serves on the National Advisory Board of Wichita State University, the Advisory Board of Wichita State’s School of Engineering, and the Executive Council for Greater Seattle Partners. He is married with four children.

David Graff

Co-founder & COO, RADICL

David Graff is a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, defense industry executive, and entrepreneur dedicated to advancing U.S. national security. He began his career as an F-15C fighter pilot, accumulating over 2,500 flight hours, including 200 combat hours in operations around the globe. As an instructor at the U.S. Air Force Weapons School, Dave was recognized as the top instructor among the Air Force’s most elite pilots. He later commanded the 19th Fighter Squadron, where his unit earned the prestigious Raytheon Trophy as the top air-superiority squadron in the Air Force. Dave also served as Military Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force and went on to command the largest F-22 Fighter Wing, leading 4,500 personnel and 64 aircraft. After retiring, Dave founded Code Black Alert, a technology company that developed a threat-intelligence platform enabling real-time engagement and coordination during active-shooter incidents. He later joined Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works, leading strategy and customer engagement for the Air Force and Navy’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) programs and the F-22. Today, Dave is Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of RADICL, a cybersecurity company protecting America’s critical infrastructure and Defense Industrial Base from nation-state cyber threats through its AI-powered virtual Security Operations Center (vSOC) and compliance automation platform. Dave is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering and holds a master’s in National Security Strategy from the National War College.

Douglas Hurley

Senior Director, Strategy and Business Development, Northrop grumman space systems

Douglas Hurley joined Propulsion Systems in August 2021 as the senior director of Strategy and Business Development.
Doug was selected as a NASA astronaut in 2000, and piloted space shuttle mission STS-127 in July 2009 and STS-135 in July 2011, the final flight of the shuttle program. In 2020, he launched into space for the third time as spacecraft commander of the SpaceX Demo-2 mission, the first crewed spaceflight of the SpaceX Crew Dragon and first crewed spaceflight from American soil since STS-135. He spent a total of 93 days in space.
While with NASA, Doug was assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office, which included Kennedy Operations Support as a “Cape Crusader,” where he was the lead Astronaut Support Personnel for shuttle missions STS‐107 and STS‐121. He worked Shuttle Landing and Rollout, served on the Columbia Reconstruction Team at Kennedy Space Center and served in the Exploration branch in support of the selection of the Orion Multi‐Purpose Crew Vehicle. He also served as the NASA Director of Operations at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia.
Before joining NASA, Doug was a fighter pilot and test pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps, and the first Marine to fly the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet. He served on many overseas deployments and had over 24 years of service, achieving the rank of Colonel.
Doug graduated magna cum laude with honors from Tulane University, earning his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 1988. He was also a distinguished graduate from both Tulane's Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps program and from USMC Officer Candidates School, and a recipient of many service awards including the Defense Superior Service Medal and the Legion of Merit.
In January 2023, Doug was awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor for his bravery in commanding the first NASA Commercial Crew mission to the International Space Station.
Northrop Grumman is a technology company, focused on global security and human discovery. Our pioneering solutions equip our customers with capabilities they need to connect, advance, and protect the U.S. and its allies. Driven by a shared purpose to solve our customers’ toughest problems, our 95,000 employees define possible every day.

Emy Lesofski

Director, Utah Office of Energy Development

Emy Lesofski was appointed as director of the Utah Office of Energy Development in October 2023. She also serves as energy advisor to Gov. Cox. Emy brings extensive experience in federal appropriations and natural resources and environment policy.

Prerna Jain

Chief Commercial Officer, Chevron/ACES Delta

Prerna Jain, Commercial Lead and CCO of ACES Delta, as a decade and half of international experience in business development and asset commercialization, focusing on origination, deal structuring and contract negotiations in oil & gas, renewable fuels, CCUS and clean hydrogen sectors, in the US, Asia, Africa and South America.
Prerna co-led the transaction for Chevron to acquire majority interest in ACES and in her current role, she is leading the development opportunities for ACES assets.
Prior to Chevron, Prerna worked with McKinsey & Company as a consultant and has an MBA from the University of Chicago and MS Data Science from Texas A&M.

Patrick Reedy

Head of Hardware Products, TOrus

Patrick Reedy leads the mechanical and electrical engineering teams at Torus, where he oversees product development of the company's innovative modular power plants, which includes inertia-based hybrid energy systems that combine the power of mechanical flywheels with the duration of batteries, equipped with enterprise-grade security and software management. Torus technology helps utilities, data centers, and industrial and commercial customers strengthen the grid, integrate renewables, and meet rising energy demand. TIME magazine named the Torus Spin one of the Best Inventions of 2024, and the company won a 2025 R&D 100 Award for innovation.
Working closely with production and manufacturing teams, Patrick is driving the company's efforts to scale production while bridging the gap between product development teams and end customers. He champions Torus's guiding principle of "Customer Breaks the Tie," ensuring engineering decisions are driven by real-world customer needs and tangible value delivery.
Prior to joining Torus two and a half years ago, Patrick spent 13 years working with industrial manufacturers across the country, optimizing their systems and reducing energy costs. He began his career at Toyota, where he honed his approach to lean manufacturing and product development. A lifelong tinkerer who grew up rebuilding cars and working in his grandfather's hardware store, Patrick holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Montana State University.

David Murray

Chief Business Officer/Chief Marketing Officer, Invictus sovereign

David guides Invictus Sovereign’s vision, strategy, execution, and partnerships—aligning people, capital, and purpose to build the next generation of energy and infrastructure. He leads the firm’s long-range initiatives and institutional collaborations, forging alignment between global energy companies, top advisors, academic research partners, and state and local leadership. His work centers on uniting private capital with public purpose—turning shared vision into large-scale, buildable outcomes across power generation, transmission, and community infrastructure. Earlier in his career, David helped lead KUTV (CBS O&O) to Utah’s #1-rated news station before going on to build and lead ventures across tax strategy, marketing, tokenized real estate, AI, and energy. With more than 30 years in marketing, strategy, operations, investor relations, and management, he’s guided companies at the forefront of innovation, infrastructure, and capital—translating vision into measurable impact. Outside the boardroom, David co-hosts The Frontier Line with Wayne Aston—a podcast exploring the intersection of energy, infrastructure, technology, and industry, featuring conversations with leaders shaping the next frontier of American innovation.

Wayne Austad

CTO, National & Homeland Security, Idaho National Laboratory

Wayne has worked at INL for 33 years building and executing impactful national security programs. As CTO for National & Homeland Security Directorate’s $600M/yr BV he:
1) Provides leadership and strategy for cooperative R&D, infrastructure, and institutional partnerships or consortiums needed to launch new initiatives that address national challenges;
2) Acts as Chief R&D Officer for Manufacturing USA’s CyManII to create economically viable and pervasive cybersecurity in manufacturing automation and supply chain;
3) Leads INL’s discretionary research in Critical Function Assurance to formalize and scale the science and practice of Cyber-Informed Engineering.
Wayne has been member of several DOE, university, and large NSF review panels over the years, and is currently advising efforts by national consortiums to establish domestic leadership in key semiconductor technologies and the nation’s energy supply chain. This includes the creation of Semiconductor Manufacturing and Advanced Research with Twins (SMART) Manufacturing USA Institute and the implementation of CyManII’s secure defensible architecture and cyber-physical passports for assurance and provenance across critical manufacturing sectors.
Previously, Wayne led efforts to build INL’s Cybercore Integration Center and create an enduring cybersecurity innovation hub for the nation's critical control systems. Cybercore tackles the grand challenges in control systems security through collaborative, interdisciplinary teaming and cooperation between federal agencies, national labs, and academic institutions. He led a senior technical group that developed new methods for analysis of targeted cyber threats, provided technical context for mitigation priorities, and created new paradigms for information sharing between industry infrastructure owners, threat analysis teams, and government leaders. Wayne also served as the Director of INL’s Special Programs Division, which developed special technology and analysis for defense and intelligence agencies in advanced materials, trace detection, nuclear nonproliferation, electronic warfare modeling, information operations, and wireless communications systems.
Wayne was the founding program manager for wireless communications R&D at INL, coordinating multi-government agency efforts to create the industry-scale Wireless Test Bed to evaluate interoperability, performance, and security of new technologies within INL’s Critical Infrastructure Test Range Complex. As a past group lead for INL’s cybersecurity R&D organization, he was technical consultant to DHS’s Control Systems Security Test Center and the DOE’s SCADA Test Bed; and led several discretionary research projects to systematically assess vulnerabilities in power SCADA systems and design innovative protective solutions. Wayne started his INL career in Artificial Intelligence & Simulation, working on hybrid neural network / expert systems, machine health monitoring, and 3D simulation environments for real-time robotic control. He holds M.S. and B.S. degrees in Electrical & Computer Engineering.

L.R. Fox

Founder and CEO, WhiteFox Defense Technologies, Inc.

Fox is a Forbes 30 Under 30 proven entrepreneur known for building breakthrough ventures in highly regulated sectors. He launched his first company, WhiteFox Defense, while in foster care, and went on to found NEXT Global Capital, a family office backing high-impact startups and nonprofits. Fox’s portfolio includes a hospital, a bank co-owned with Dr. Bernice King and Ashley Bell, and a pipeline of medical innovations through NEXT Life Sciences, including Plan A ™, a long-acting, reversible male birth control. He also founded the Oasis Academy, a boarding school for gifted and resilient orphans.

Daryan (D) Dehghanpisheh

Director, AI Security, Palo alto networks

Daryan (D) Dehghanpisheh is a technology executive with nearly fifteen years of experience in artificial intelligence and security, currently serving as the Go-to-Market Leader for AI Security in North America at Palo Alto Networks. He previously co-founded and served as President of Protect AI, the category-defining leader in AI and ML security acquired by Palo Alto Networks in 2025. Known for bridging deep technical insight with commercial strategy, D has helped shape how enterprises secure and scale AI systems, driving innovation and trust across industries at the intersection of advanced AI and cybersecurity.

Joel Ferry

Executive director, Utah Department of Natural Resources

Appointed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox in June 2022, Joel Ferry serves as the executive director of the Utah Department of Natural Resources (DNR), overseeing approximately 2,500 employees across nine divisions and two offices. These include Forestry, Fire and State Lands; Law Enforcement; Oil, Gas and Mining; State Parks; Outdoor Recreation; the Utah Geological Survey; Water Resources; Water Rights; Wildlife Resources; the Office of Energy Development; and the Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office. The Office of the Great Salt Lake Commissioner and the Colorado River Authority of Utah also coordinate closely with the department.
A fifth-generation farmer from Corinne, Ferry brings a deep passion for water policy, land conservation, and agriculture to his leadership at DNR. He continues to operate his family’s farm, ranch, feedlot, and hunting properties. Ferry’s background includes experience in banking with Zions Bank and extensive public service. He has served as a state legislator, chairman of the Box Elder County Republican Party, and held roles with several conservation and agricultural organizations, including the Box Elder Farm Bureau, Delta Waterfowl, and the Friends of the Bear River Bird Refuge. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and finance from Utah State University.

Dmytro Kushneruk

Consul general of ukraine

Dmytro Kushneruk serves as the Consul General of Ukraine in San Francisco, representing Ukraine across the U.S. West Coast. In his diplomatic role, he focuses on advancing U.S.–Ukraine cooperation in innovations and defense tech. Mr. Kushneruk has over 19 years of experience in international relations and economic diplomacy, fostering partnerships between government, industry, and the tech sector. He is a strong advocate for Ukraine’s defense innovation ecosystem and its integration into global security and technology networks.

Shawn Marchant

Tax Principal, Tanner LLC

Shawn Marchant is a tax principal at Tanner LLC and leader of its Energy Incentives practice. For nearly 30 years he has been advising clients regarding federal and state tax credits and incentives. His clients span a broad array of industries and companies ranging from startups to Fortune 50 corporations. Shawn spent 16 years with two of the Big Four, most recently with Ernst & Young in Atlanta. He began his career in Deloitte’s national R&D tax credit group based in Los Angeles and spent two years in its accounting methods and periods national practice group in Washington, DC. A frequent speaker on the R&D credit, Shawn is an attorney licensed in California. He received a JD from BYU J. Reuben Clark Law School and an LLM in Tax from Georgetown University Law School.

Last Year’s Speakers

Sector Leaders Driving Innovation