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Tune In Thursday, June 4 at 2pm EDT
Department leaders are navigating a critical shift in how trust is established and enforced across the enterprise. Initiatives like Comply-to-Connect (C2C) are bolstering identity verification, device visibility, and access control, accelerating the Department of War’s (DoW) transition to a Zero Trust architecture. Concurrently, artificial intelligence is transforming decision-making, risk identification, and mission execution. By integrating AI into cybersecurity operations, teams can enhance threat detection, streamline investigations, and automate responses, effectively managing complexity with greater speed and precision.
Despite these advancements, many public sector organizations still face a "cyber confidence gap"—characterized by limited visibility, resource constraints, and difficulties in interpreting actionable data. Compounded by a persistent workforce shortage, there is an urgent need for mission-ready talent, particularly veterans who possess experience in high-stakes, dynamic environments. The current opportunity lies in understanding these intersections: specifically, how AI can evolve C2C from a static compliance framework into a system of continuous, intelligent trust enforcement.
In this webcast, defense and technology leaders will explore the practical, mission-driven applications of AI across the DoW, with a focus on cybersecurity operations, workforce readiness, and organizational resilience. Speakers will discuss how initiatives like C2C are evolving from rigid access control policies into dynamic systems for managing trust across users, devices, and environments. The panel will examine how AI facilitates real-time decision-making—from detecting anomalous behavior to automating responses and mitigating alert fatigue.
Participants will explore strategies to bridge the cyber confidence gap by:
- Improving visibility
- Integrating cross-system data
- Leveraging AI-enabled tools for proactive threat intelligence
Finally, the discussion will address strengthening the cyber workforce—highlighting the vital role of veterans—and shifting from "best practices" to "best fit" strategies that tailor AI and automation to specific mission needs while maintaining rigorous security, governance, and accountability.
Speakers
Mick Baccio
Global Security Advisor
Splunk
Mick Baccio
Global Security Advisor
Splunk
Mick Baccio is a globally recognized security strategist with a career spanning offensive operations, threat intelligence, and national-level incident response. He currently advises organizations around the world through his role at Splunk. helping security leaders improve operations through data-informed approaches. Mick was the first Chief Information Security Officer for a U.S. presidential campaign (2020) and previously served in the Obama White House as the Chief of the Threat Intelligence Branch. Mick's work blends deep technical knowledge with a strong belief in team culture and institutional learning - bringing a unique perspective to the intersection of human and machine decision-making in security operations.
In his spare time, Mick is the THRUNT®️ Corp President, IANS Faculty, and a KC7 Foundation board member.
Chris Pymm
Deputy for Portfolio Acquisition Executive (PAE) Cyber Directorate
Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) - Ft. Meade
Chris Pymm
Deputy for Portfolio Acquisition Executive (PAE) Cyber Directorate
Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) - Ft. Meade
Chris Pymm is the Deputy for Portfolio Acquisition Executive (PAE) Cyber Directorate at the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) at Fort Meade, MD. In this role, he oversees the PAE Cyber's mission to provide, operate, and assure Cyber Defense, Zero Trust, information sharing capabilities, and a globally accessible enterprise information infrastructure in direct support of joint warfighters, National level leaders, and other mission and coalition partners across the full spectrum of operations.
Prior to this position, Chris served as the Portfolio Manager (PM) for the Zero Trust Program, including DISA's implementation of Zero Trust Network Access, Thunderdome. He simultaneously held the position of Division Chief (DC) for ID7 within the PEO Cyber Directorate. As the Thunderdome Portfolio Manager, he managed the budgetary, programmatic, and capability decisions for this critical portfolio, driving Zero Trust initiatives across the Department of Defense (DOD).
Chris joined the Cyber Directorate in January 2023 as PM/DC, managing the portfolio of Zero Trust enabling technologies, including Thunderdome. This included personnel management, budgetary oversight, strategic roadmap development, and DOD-wide integration efforts. Zero Trust represents a premier service offering designed to protect critical mission systems across the globe. His previous leadership roles include providing executive-level support to both the Deputy Director for the Enterprise Integration and Innovation Center (EIIC) and the Deputy Director of Emerging Technology, where he gained extensive experience in personnel management, finance, programmatic decision-making, and innovation at both the DISA and DOD levels. Prior to those roles, Chris managed multiple divisions within DISA's Cyber Directorate.
Recognized for his leadership potential, Chris was competitively selected by DISA to attend the Eisenhower School, National Defense University (NDU), completing the program in June 2018. His earlier DISA assignments involved managing multiple branches over six years, encompassing the agency's full scope of operations, including Cyber Situational Awareness, Service Delivery, Operations, and UNIX system Administration.
Before joining DISA in 2010, Chris served as the program manager for a $75 million+ Information Technology (IT) support contract at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, providing comprehensive IT services to 25,000 personnel, covering desktop, server, application, and Information Security support.
From 1993 to 2003, Chris honorably served in the United States Air Force (USAF), supporting critical weapon systems such as the Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) computer system and providing cryptographic support for the early warning radar system in Iceland.
Chris possesses over 30 years of Information Technology management experience in emerging technologies, including Big Data, Analytics, and Identity Management. He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Maryland University College in 2004 and a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from NDU in 2018.