Featured Speakers

Vijay D'Souza is a Director in GAO’s Information Technology and Cybersecurity team where he oversees multiple teams evaluating federal IT and cybersecurity issues. His current focus areas include DOD business systems, financial audit IT support, and leading practices in cloud computing. Vijay has led multiple audit and evaluations in cybersecurity, data analytics, and emerging technologies. Vijay joined GAO in 2001. Vijay earned an MBA from the University of California-Berkeley and a BS in engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Dr. Lynda C. Davis was sworn in as the Chief Veterans Experience Officer at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on January 20, 2025. In this capacity, she will again provide executive leadership of a high-performing and collaborative team to apply the proven capabilities of Customer Experience (CX) data, tools, technology, and engagement across the Department to accountably improve the lives of Veterans and their families, caregivers, survivors and to earn their trust.

Dr. Davis previously served as the Chief Veteran Experience Officer in President Donald Trump’s Administration. During her prior tenure, the VEO team led the VA’s hardwiring of the Customer Experience (CX) framework, implemented Department-wide VSignals surveys for real-time customer feedback, launched the White House VA Hotline, and published the CX Cookbook, which has become a whole-of-government model for government application of CX.

Before her VA service, she was the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy (MCFP). At the Department of Defense, she also led the interagency initiative that improved case/care management for wounded, ill, and injured and transitioning service members in response to the Commission on Care for America’s Returning Wounded Warriors. This effort resulted in sustainable initiatives like the Recovery Care Programs and the National Resource Directory. Dr. Davis also addressed recruitment, retention, and retirement for sailors and marines as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Military Personnel Policy (DASN MPP) at the Department of the Navy.

Dr. Davis was the Executive Vice President of the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) and the Executive Director of the Military and Veteran Caregiver Network (MVCN) in the non-profit sector. In the private sector, she was the CEO of a service-disabled veteran-owned small business focused on national security, education, employment, and health care.

Dr. Davis served as an Army Signal Corps officer and is a former clinician at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center. She held faculty positions within the Departments of Psychiatry and Public Administration at the University of Southern California, where she earned a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and a Master of Public Administration after receiving her Master of Arts in Community Clinical Psychology.  She has served on  the advisory board of the Student Veterans of America, the Veterans Advisory Council on Rehabilitation (VACOR), the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, the Virginia Wounded Warrior Program, the National Council for Adoption and numerous other Military and Veteran Service Organizations in support of the community she is honored to be part of and serve. Dr. Davis also served as the Vice-Chair for the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Military Service (DACOWITS).

Mr. John Hale is IT professional with over 30 years of experience in the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community. He currently serves as the Chief of the Product Management and Development Office at the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) out of Ft. Meade, Maryland. He is responsible for developing the strategic and functional approach to cloud and hosting development and managing the agency's cloud-based solutions for the Department of Defense.

Key programs in his portfolio include the Joint Warfighter Cloud Contract (JWCC), the DoD’s private cloud solution “Stratus”, cloud hosting solutions such as “Containers as a Service” (CaaS) and the virtual data center in a cloud solution known as “Olympus”, and more.

A graduate of The University of Maryland, University College. Mr. Hale served in the United States Air Force prior to beginning his civil service career in the office of the Director of National Intelligence. In 2009 Mr. Hale moved to the Defense Information Systems Agency within the Department of Defense and has served roles such as Chief Engineer, Chief of Enterprise Applications, and Chief of Strategic Communications prior to serving in his current role as the agency's unofficial “Cloud Evangelist”.

Natalie Evans Harris is the State Chief Data Officer (CDO) for the State of Maryland, leading the Office of Enterprise Data​ (OED).​ Harris brings over 20 years of experience leading data initiatives and organizations; she is a trusted leader with experience designing, developing, and delivering solutions that have advanced responsible data usage across the public sector. As the State CDO, Harris leads the creation and implementation of a strategic data architecture and oversees data services for Maryland’s Executive Branch agencies.

Harris joins DoIT after serving as the Founding Executive Director (ED) at the Black Wealth Data Center, where she led data and product teams to create and implement a comprehensive data platform that helps the public and policymakers better understand and address racial wealth disparities in America. Additionally, Harris is reinforced by various technical and leadership experiences, including when she served as A senior policy advisor to President Barack Obama’s and President Joe Biden’s administrations, where she provided guidance and technical expertise.

"I am thrilled to have this opportunity to harness the power of data to innovate, streamline, and increase efficiencies across Maryland's government. As a 20-year resident, I love demonstrating the critical role of data in shaping our future and empowering individuals and organizations to make informed decisions in pursuit of data-driven excellence."

Brian Kimberly is a public sector technology executive and Deputy CIO for Loudoun County Government, leading enterprise modernization, digital transformation, and operational strategy in one of the fastest growing local governments in the United States. Based in Loudoun County, a global hub for digital infrastructure and data centers, he focuses on building scalable, resilient systems across IT operations, cybersecurity, ERP, and enterprise platforms to improve government services and support evolving community needs, with a particular interest in how AI and emerging technologies can help shape smarter, more connected government.

Stephanie Kostro became President of the Professional Services Council (PSC) on June 11, 2025, where she guides PSC’s strategic direction, advocacy, and member engagement efforts across growing federal industry priorities.

Previously, she served as Executive Vice President for Policy, leading PSC's policy team in its
commitment to advocating for and supporting productive collaboration between the federal
government and services industry. As a recognized executive, on-air commentator, and policy
expert with more than 20 years of experience in the U.S. Government and industry, she brings a
wealth of knowledge in federal procurement policy and acquisition regulations, government
processes and programs, and public-private partnerships.

Prior to joining PSC in 2021, Kostro was a Principal at a government relations and consulting
firm where she developed and implemented policy, funding, and business development
strategies for a global client base. She worked extensively with civilian, defense, diplomatic, and
intelligence officials, as well as with federal departments’ oversight committees in Congress.
From 2010-2015, she was a senior fellow and director of the Homeland Security and
Counterterrorism Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a prominent
national security think tank. Kostro served as a State Department contractor at U.S. Embassy
Baghdad for one year, and from 2005-2008, she was a senior professional staff member and
policy director on the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee. At the Pentagon
from 1998-2005, she worked in a variety of offices within the Office of the Secretary of
Defense, on the Joint Staff, and in embassies and missions overseas.

Kostro holds a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy
School of Government and a bachelor’s degree in communication from Cornell University. She
lives in Alexandria, Virginia with her husband, Rich, and their two daughters. In her free time,
she enjoys hiking, gardening, and – when conditions allow – travel.

Thomas Meiron serves as the Assistant Commissioner of the Office of Centralized Acquisition Services (OCAS) within the Federal Acquisition Service (FAS), General Services Administration (GSA). In this role, he leads a growing team of over 350 acquisition professionals, spearheading the implementation of OCAS in alignment with Executive Order 14240 and OMB Memo M-25-31—initiatives focused on consolidating federal procurement to eliminate waste, drive cost savings, and improve efficiency across government. OCAS’s mission is to centralize the acquisition of common goods and services governmentwide, delivering measurable value for taxpayer dollars and enhanced service for federal agencies.

Thomas also serves as Executive Director and Senior Executive for the FAS 2.0 enterprise-wide reorganization, leading the transformation of FAS into five portfolios. He collaborates closely with internal and external stakeholders to modernize federal procurement through automation, alignment, and innovation. Under his leadership, FAS 2.0 strengthens centralized buying, streamlines acquisition processes, and enhances FAS’s ability to adapt to agencies' evolving needs—supporting national priorities such as security, economic resilience, and public protection.

Previously, Thomas Meiron served as Acting Assistant Commissioner for the Office of Customer and Stakeholder Engagement, leading a team of 250 employees and overseeing more than $50 billion in business volume through customer outreach, research, stakeholder engagement, and national account strategy to drive mission value and cost efficiency. Prior to that, he was the Executive Director of the Office of Account Management, where he led a team of 150 in developing enterprise-wide account management strategy, directing the Sales Engagement Process, and managing customer account planning to help deliver over $90B in products, services, and solutions that enable federal agencies to achieve their missions.

In 2023, Thomas served as Director of the Framing FAS for the Future (“F4”) Program, successfully realigning 1,200 employees into a centralized, customer-centric structure within a year. He built coalitions, worked with senior officials in GSA, and coordinated with external partners to minimize the impact of the realignment. The reorganization was successfully executed with minimal impact to agency operations and customer support.

Thomas served as Regional Commissioner for the Southeast Sunbelt Region of the U.S. General Services Administration December 2018 through 2023, where he led 160 employees providing supplies and services to federal and military customers across 4 offices: Personal Property, Assisted Acquisition Services, Customer and Stakeholder Engagement and Direct Client Support Division, representing more than $1.8 billion in revenue.

Previously, Thomas served as the Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the FAS Office of Enterprise Strategy Management. In this role, he coordinated the strategic and business planning, performance management and strategic communication activities. By working in tandem with the Office of the Commissioner and the FAS Leadership Council, he led the office to identify, evaluate and capitalize on strategic business opportunities.

With 18 years of overseas experience, Thomas supported U.S. military and diplomatic operations in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, as well as in Japan and Korea, fostering partnerships and enhancing GSA support in deployed and garrison environments.
Thomas holds a Bachelor’s degree in Russian Area Studies from Illinois State University and is proficient in, German, Russian, and French.

Renesha Miles, Chief Equity Officer for Charles County Government, is a
transformational leader and change agent dedicated to cultivating respect for diversity,
encouraging equitable access and opportunity, and promoting inclusion for everyone. She holds a master’s degree in communication and leadership studies from Gonzaga University and a
bachelor’s degree in English – language, writing, and rhetoric from North Carolina State
University. She is a graduate of the College of Southern Maryland with an associate degree in
communication. Ms. Miles is a life long learner committed to professional development. She is a
graduate of the Maryland Equity and Inclusion Leadership Program facilitated by the University
of Maryland at Baltimore’s Schaefer Center for Public Policy and Maryland Commission for
Civil Rights. She graduated from the National Association of Counties Professional
Development Academy and Charles County Government Leadership Academy. She is a Class of 2024 Leadership Southern Maryland Executive Leadership Program alumni. She is a member of the Leadership Maryland 2025 Emerging Leader Program. She is also a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., actively embodying her organization’s motto of “Greater Service, Greater Progress” through facilitating community initiatives and programs to enhance outcomes for all. Renesha Miles has worked in public service for 15 years and is committed to amplifying the voices of our community, advocating, making connections, and educating to help bridge gaps and break down barriers.

Barbara C. Morton assumed her current duties in July 2016 as Deputy Chief Veterans Experience Officer, Veterans Experience Office (VEO), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In this role Barbara co-leads VEO, the Secretary’s customer experience (CX) insight engine supporting and enabling the Department in providing the highest quality experiences in the delivery of care, benefits and memorial services to Service members, Veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors. Barbara is responsible for building a lasting CX capability at VA and sharing best practices across sister Federal Agencies, including The Customer Experience Cookbook, which serves as a CX practitioner’s guide to stand up and mature customer experience capabilities in government. She is a recipient of the 2022 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Award for Management Excellence, 2021 Service to the Citizen Award for Government Executive of the Year, 2019 Service to the Citizen Award and the 2019 Gears of Government President’s Award for her role in transforming VA’s capabilities to provide Veterans with an excellent customer experience.

Barbara joined VA in 2006 as a Staff Attorney at the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board). She served the Board in a variety of other capacities to include Special Counsel to the Appellate Group, Special Assistant to the Vice Chairman, Executive Assistant to the Chairman, and Executive Director for the Office of Management, Planning and Analysis. While at the Board, Barbara stood up and led the Board’s Appeals Modernization OIT efforts, which included securing industry technologists from United States Digital Service to develop and launch new appeals platforms.

A native of Massachusetts, Barbara attended Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY, earning a degree in psychology and philosophy. After receiving her J.D. from Suffolk University Law School, Barbara completed two clerkships in the New England area and thereafter pursued an LL.M. in constitutional law at Georgetown Law. She has published a variety of law review articles, including two pieces relating to posttraumatic stress disorder.

Webster Mulbah is a seasoned professional in data engineering, management and analysis, currently serving as the Chief Data Officer and Data Team Lead at the Baltimore City Department of Transportation. Previous experience includes a role as a Data Fellow at the Mayor’s Office of Performance & Innovation and a Business Intelligence Analyst/Data Analyst at Money Map Press, where responsibilities involved building data architecture, managing reporting projects, creating real-time dashboards, and ensuring data integrity. 

Matheus Passos is the Chief Architect and Acting Office of the Secretary Chief Technology Officer for the United States Department of Commerce (DOC), an executive department that aims to create the conditions for economic growth and opportunity for all communities. In this role, Matheus leads the department’s enterprise architecture program, providing guidance and standards to the agency’s $2.8B annual IT portfolio. Serving as the chairperson to the Department of Commerce Enterprise Architecture Council and working with the DOC Chief Technology Officer, executives from Commerce bureaus and operating units, and industry enterprise architects, Matheus’ personal passion is to increase technological agility, interoperability, and cost efficiency in the federal government.

Prior to joining the Department of Commerce Office of the CIO, Matheus served in a variety of leadership roles at the United States Census Bureau in the fields of technology strategy and execution, accruing 17 years of experience in IT capital planning and investment management, project and program management, strategic planning, process and performance improvement, budget formulation and execution, federal statutory compliance, and government-wide policy development and advocacy.

Matheus holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Information Systems from Stevenson University and a Juris Doctor degree from The Catholic University of America, where his research focused on efficient and ethical government contracting. A strong believer in lifelong learning, Matheus holds a variety of professional accreditations and certificates, including the Project Management Institute’s Project Management Professional, Technology Business Management Council’s Certified Technology Business Management Executive, Federal Acquisition Institute’s Contracting Officer Representative, and George Washington School of Business’ Certified Project Manager.

A United States Marine Corps veteran, Matheus lives in Arlington, Virginia, with his dog Obelix. When he is not working or advocating for the advancement of efficient, effective, and transparent technology in the federal government, Matheus likes to travel in search of new coffee shops, visit art galleries, and play weekly local kickball, where he is often reminded not to quit his day job.

Erik Peterson is the Product Owner for StateChat, the Department of State's enterprise AI chatbot, and Implementation Lead for the Department's Technology Modernization Fund (TMF) grant. He led StateChat's development and deployment while overseeing a TMF portfolio through which Department teams delivered the first SBU-safe API connection to generative AI models, enterprise-grade AI testing infrastructure, AI hiring initiatives, and applied AI policy—collectively advancing the Department's AI capabilities. He previously served as the Department's Acting Chief Data Scientist and in roles at Embassies in Cotonou, Benin and Santiago, Chile. Erik has an MBA with an emphasis in business intelligence and bachelor's degree in biology. 

With over 15 years of experience at the U.S. Department of Transportation, currently serving as Acting Chief Product and Technology Officer, this professional brings expertise in executive management, product development, and leadership to drive impactful technology solutions. He previously served as Acting Chief Technology Officer at the Federal Highway Administration, where he collaborated on strategic initiatives to enhance systems and operations. Committed to advancing the organization's mission, he empowers teams to deliver innovative technology programs that align with transportation goals. His leadership fosters collaboration and progress, ensuring sustainable and effective solutions.

John Boerstler brings over 20 years of experience spanning technology, user experience, and senior government leadership. Most recently, he led a government and commercial public affairs practice at Ipsos, a global market research firm. Previously, John served as Chief Experience Officer at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, where he led enterprise customer acquisition and experience strategies, enrolling millions of veterans into critical benefits and healthcare programs. His career also includes helping establish Ukraine’s Ministry of Veterans Affairs, leading Combined Arms to design technology for underserved communities, and serving in leadership roles across local government, nonprofits, and the U.S. Marine Corps.

Founder of govSlackers, a service-as-a-software company helping federal agencies turn Slack into a mission-critical work management system. Art specializes in enterprise collaboration design, agile workflow automation, and change management. He is trusted by federal leaders to bring clarity, speed, and scale to complex digital transformation efforts.

Emilee Lehenbauer is a leader in experience management and public sector innovation at Qualtrics, where she partners with government and mission-driven organizations to transform how they serve their communities. She leads the Qualtrics Federal team in working with government agencies to translate customer and employee feedback into actionable strategies that drive trust, engagement, and measurable impact. 

Prior to her work at Qualtrics, Emilee led corporate fundraising and development for the United Services Organizations, supporting members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families during active duty service – from enlistment to transition back to civilian life. Emilee also spent three years living and working in Korea as a Fulbright Scholar, an experience that deepened her commitment to cross-cultural collaboration and human-centered problem solving. She brings a unique perspective on the intersection of technology, research, and public impact, helping organizations build more responsive and effective experiences for the people they serve.

Chris O’Rourke is an Account Executive at Zoom for Government, focused on helping federal agencies modernize collaboration and enhance citizen engagement. Drawing on more than 16 years in public education—including roles as a teacher and school administrator, with six years as a principal—Christopher brings a deep understanding of how government organizations communicate, operate, and serve their communities.

After transitioning into technology during the early internet era, Christopher has built a consistent track record of exceeding sales goals in roles at AWS and Zoom, delivering secure, mission-driven collaboration solutions tailored to the public sector.

Christopher focuses on modernizing government-to-citizen engagement by helping agencies replace legacy systems with secure, accessible digital collaboration—improving communication, increasing transparency, and driving more efficient, citizen-centric service delivery.

Jeff Scofield is a Director of Solution Engineering at Salesforce leading a team focusing on Government Communications, Outreach, and Engagement solutions. In this role, Jeff and his team work across all public sector at Salesforce including State, Local, Federal, and Higher Education customers to recommend and craft communication solutions to meet public sector needs.

Chris Stern is a Sr. Solutions Engineer at Nintex, where he helps enterprise organizations design and deliver innovative low-code solutions to solve complex business challenges. He brings a strong background in pre-sales engineering, with deep experience building proof-of-concepts, leading hands-on workshops, and collaborating with both technical teams and executive stakeholders. He is passionate about problem-solving, collaboration, and enabling teams to unlock the full potential of technology. 

Mary Poth is Senior Manager of Integrated Marketing at GovExec, where she leads content strategy, audience engagement, and demand generation initiatives across the company's portfolio of public sector media, research, data, and events brands. An MFA graduate and accomplished storyteller, she specializes in translating complex government and technology topics into compelling content and integrated marketing campaigns. Her work spans GovExec, Defense One, Government Executive, Nextgov/FCW, Washington Technology, Route Fifty, GovExec Intelligence, Professional Development Academy, GovTribe, Forecast International, ATARC, and Federal Business Council, helping connect government and industry through content, events, and thought leadership.