Kurt Steege is the Chief Technology Officer at Thundercat Technology, is a Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned Small Business that delivers technology services and solutions to the Public and Private Sectors.  At Thundercat he is responsible for leading initiatives around Artificial Intelligence and High-Performance Computing as well as DevSecOps.   Kurt is also responsible for driving technology value for our clients through research and product selection on leading-edge and emerging technologies, participate in discussions with our clients and the public, and support our teams in tailoring solutions to our clients’ needs in support of their respective missions.
Prior to joining Thundercat, Kurt was the Chief Information Officer of MacAndrews and Forbes Inc., a diverse global holding company, based in New York City.  During his time there he led a complete IT transformation and brought the company a modern standardized infrastructure upon which the business can depend.  In the government space, Kurt served as the Chief Enterprise Architect at the FBI.   Under Kurt’s leadership at the FBI the EAPO created roadmaps for IT Transformation, strategic direction for Shared Services, Mobility, Storage, and User Experience.  Over the rest of his 30+ year career in Information Technology, Kurt has held roles within private industries for technology, financials, and education to help drive value and efficiency into small, medium and large organizations.

Robert Linger leads the Digital Modernization Sector Information Advantage Practice, where he focuses on addressing customer mission and enterprise challenges related to the proliferation of data. He leverages artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automation-based solutions, combined with best-of-breed commercial products, to deliver impactful results. The practice empowers customers to gain actionable insights and build trust in tier data more efficiently.

Linger has been with Leidos for over five years, working as a Data Scientist, Machine Learning Engineer, and AI Software Architect across various Sectors. During this time, he established strategic partnerships between Leidos and commercial product vendors, strengthening Leidos’ market differentiation in Generative AI-assisted Software Development. 

Before joining Leidos, Linger built a diverse background in leadership, business, and technology. He began his career serving in the United States Marine Corps as an Infantry Marine during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Following his military service, he became an entrepreneur, founding and leading a federal contracting company. This experience paved the way for his roles as Vice President and Chief Information Officer (CIO) at an institution of higher education, as well as positions specializing in cybersecurity.
Linger holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Ohio State University and a Master of Science in Business Data Analytics from West Virginia University.

Tom is the President and Founder of the Advanced Technology Academic Research Center (ATARC), an organization that provides a collaborative forum for government, academia and industry to resolve emerging technology challenges. ATARC also introduces innovative technology from academic research labs to the Federal government and private industry. In June of 2023 the industry association assets of ATARC were sold to the GovExec Media Group.

He also is the CEO and founder of Alethia Labs, a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to accelerate the adoption of technology by helping the government collaborate within itself, and other constituencies such as Academia and Industry.

Tom is a two-time recipient of the Federal 100 Awards, a prestigious honor that recognizes government and industry leaders who played pivotal roles in Federal IT.