Speakers

As the Chief Data Officer for the Department of the Navy (DON), Mr. Sasala leads the Department’s efforts on data management, information resources management, data governance, and Naval data policies. Mr. Sasala is responsible for implementing the OPEN Government Data Act, training the Naval workforce on data and data analytics, and making high quality, timely data available to decision-makers and warfighters. He advises and assists the SECNAV and UNSECNAV in the execution of their statutory responsibilities, establishes data priorities for the DON in support of the National Defense Strategy, and drives change through the Business Operations Plan and Data Strategy Implementation Plan. Mr. Sasala leads data transformation for the Department and works closely with the Office of Secretary of Defense
(OSD) on DoD-wide data policies, tactics, and techniques to improve DON decision-making.

Mr. Sasala previously led data management activities in the business mission area at the Office of the Chief Management Officer (OCMO). In that capacity, he focused on optimizing business operations, streamlining defense business systems, and establishing enterprise-wide interoperability standards for Naval business systems.

Prior to joining the Department of the Navy, Mr. Sasala served as Director of Operations and Architecture for U.S. Army CIO/G-6 and the Chief Data Officer for the U.S. Army. He led data governance and analytics across the Army, was responsible for the implementation and migration to cloud computing solutions, and developed segment and systems architectures for the Army. Mr. Sasala was also the Chief Technology Officer for the Joint Service Provider and the U.S. Army Information Technology Agency (ITA) where he was responsible for the modernization of Pentagon information technology solutions.

Mr. Sasala began his career as a student trainee at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL). After graduating from the Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, he returned to NRL and pursued his Master of Science in Telecommunication and Computers. While serving at NRL, Mr. Sasala led a variety of mission critical projects including advance research and development in public key cryptography, software-defined agile cryptography and key management, and the modernization of strategic communication solutions for nuclear command and control systems.

After leaving NRL, Mr. Sasala joined the private sector where he supported a number of clients as a government consultant. His many roles include Chief Architect for the All-Source Analytics
Environment, Chief Architect and technical advisor for the Analytic Transformation (AT) program, and Program Manager for various initiatives within the defense and intelligence spaces. Additionally, Mr. Sasala spent almost two years developing cutting-edge data and training solutions at the Internet startup targeting the public educational market.

In 2014 Mr. Sasala received the Bold Award for Innovation, recognizing his creative problem-solving, technical acumen, ambition, and persistence. In 2015, Mr. Sasala was named a “Fed 100” honoring the top 100 contributors across Federal, state, and local governments.

Mr. Kenney is a Civilian Senior Executive serving a Chief Data Officer and Director Of Al for U.S. Special Operations Command. As a direct report to the Commander, his primary duty is to accelerate digital transformation for the entire Special Operations enterprise through collaborative efforts with industry, academia, the Department Of Defense, and Other government agencies. Mr. Kenney is a serial entrepreneur as both a Chief Executive Officer and Chief Technology Officer, with deep experience in start-ups and turnarounds. Over the past 20 years, he served on or led senior executive teams and corporate boards that have delivered nearly $3B in value to investors and shareholders through multiple exits via acquisition by private equity and Fortune 100 enterprises. Most recently, Mr. Kenney led companies and teams to develop advanced cloud computing applications that employ Al and machine learning techniques for systems that measure in the hundreds of millions of users worldwide. Mr. Kenney has over two decades of enlisted and officer experience in the Army Reserve and National Guard, including multiple combat deployments to Afghanistan and Africa as a Civil Affairs Officer. He has participated in several multi-national exercises and taught civil-military techniques globally to foreign partners as a part of NATO education programs. Mr. Kenney also serves as a technical advisor and board member within the Department Of Defense and industry focusing on developing cloud, data, and Al capabilities. Mr. Kenney holds a Master of Science in Computer Science with research on interactive intelligence from Georgia Tech and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame.

Glenn Jones serves as the Activity Command Information Officer (ACIO) and Information Technology Division Director at the Department of Navy, Naval Sea Systems Command Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) located in Dahlgren, Virginia. Jones has over 30 years of federal government service and has served as IT Manager at nine different federal agencies within the Departments of Agriculture and Homeland Security and the Department of Defense. This vast wealth of experience involved serving as IT Program Manager within the Department of Agriculture, managing delivery of IT services in disaster situations while working for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and as IT Customer Solutions Manager within the ultra-secure, highly critical “no-fail” mission of the United States Secret Service. As the current NSWCDD IT Director/ACIO, Jones delivers strategic vision, leadership, management and oversite of the entire NSWCDD IT ecosystem comprising highly complex research and development networks designed to deliver next-generation technology to the warfighter. Jones is committed to delivering cutting edge IT solutions designed to revolutionize the end-user IT experience.

Dave is an Acting Director in GAO’s Information Technology and Cybersecurity team. He oversees audits on the IT and cybersecurity workforce, critical infrastructure protection, and the IRS’s IT modernization efforts.

Dave joined GAO in July 2002. He has led numerous reviews of federal data center optimization and cloud computing, and was responsible for GAO’s work on the High-Risk area of Improving the Management of IT Acquisitions and Operations. Prior to joining GAO, Dave worked as a business consultant for several private sector firms (including PricewaterhouseCoopers), and served as a Surface Warfare Officer in the United States Navy.

Dave earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Arizona. Dave earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Vassar College.

William (Bill) E. Marion II leads Growth and Strategy in the Defense and Intelligence practice of Accenture Federal Services. In this role, Marion provides strategic insight and perspective on information technology (IT) innovation initiatives. He helps Accenture Federal Services’ clients develop and execute technology transformation and mission-support strategies that are designed to deter, deflect and defeat evolving threats. A seasoned executive with a track record of innovation, Marion helps bring new technologies that drive DoD and intelligence community transformation across mission operations, from cloud and mobile to artificial intelligence.

Prior to joining Accenture Federal Services, Marion served as U.S. Air Force deputy chief information officer (CIO). In this capacity, he oversaw the Air Force’s IT portfolio, including the investment strategy—from networks to cloud computing, enterprise policies, information resources management, IT innovation initiatives, information assurance and related matters. He led two business divisions (300 people) and supported 54,000 cyber personnel globally, with an operating budget valued at $17 billion. During his years with the Air Force, Marion held various headquarters, major command, center, group, and squadron assignments, often interacting with national intelligence agencies.

Marion has received numerous recognitions for his work in the last few years, including being named a Federal 100 winner twice, a FedScoop top 50 IT leader three times, and receiving the Air Force’s Exceptional Civilian Service medal, the highest civilian award granted.Marion holds a Bachelor of Arts degree, summa cum laude, in Mathematics from the University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio and a Master of Science degree, distinguished graduate, in Computer Information Systems from St. Mary’s University, San Antonio. In addition to several military trainings and courses, he was a Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School.

As Chief Operating Officer, Brig Gen (Ret.) Ian Dickinson oversees and leads the central operations and infrastructure of Bryce Space and Technology. Prior to joining Bryce, General Dickinson has served as a leader in cyberspace for military and government organizations for over 20 years. He has managed, maintained, and secured the cyberspace domain used by the Air Force, as well as trained warfighters to fight in and protect that domain. He served as Deputy CIO of the Joint Staff, ran regional communications for task forces in combat, and oversaw the creation of the first undergraduate cyber training curriculum for Air Force personnel. General Dickinson is a distinguished graduate of the US Air Force Academy and holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. He earned a Master’s in Computer Science from the University of Massachusetts and a Master of Public Policy degree from Harvard University.  He also serves as a volunteer EMT and Firefighter in Fairfax County, Virginia and serves on multiple technology and arts company Boards of Directors.

Mosa Emamjomeh is a Principal Solutions Engineer who helps Public Sector customers design and implement infrastructure solutions at CTG Federal.  With over 17 years of experience in the IT industry, Mosa has gained invaluable experience working with Federal Agencies on everything from designing and implementing hybrid cloud solutions, to briefing members of Congress on emerging technologies that help protect the nation's critical infrastructure.

Kirk is CTO for Americas and leads a team of Deputy CTOs in the Global Office of Strategy and Technology. He is responsible for developing GTM strategies, solution architectures and partner initiatives for the Chief Commercial Officer. His activities focus on secure and scalable data services for hybrid cloud or traditional IT environments. His current research explores applied use cases for Machine Learning and AI (ML/AI) for data management systems. He has deep technical knowledge of Public Sector Infrastructures especially within the DoD and the Intelligence communities. Prior to his role as America’s CTO, Kirk was a Technical Director in NetApp product operations division leading E series solutions and then NetApp flash portfolio with primary focus on Flash Accel.

Kirk holds BS and MS degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University.  He also instructs graduate courses on microprocessor design and HPC as an adjunct faculty member at the George Washington University Electrical and Computer Engineering department.

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George Jackson is Executive Producer at GovExec TV – the largest and most-influential media company in the public sector marketplace. He joined the company in 2020 to enhance the scale of their events and audience experiences. In 2021, George launched GovExec TV (streaming video content) and received the company’s Entrepreneurial Spirit Award, part of their first-annual Icon Awards.

George graduated from The Ohio State University in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in English. In 2006, he earned his master’s in broadcast journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park.

George spent the first five years of his journalism career at WJHL-TV in Johnson City Tenn. – beginning as an overnight producer for the station’s 6 a.m. broadcast. He advanced to lead on-air reporter for WJHL’s 11 p.m. newscast.

As a reporter, George examined the earnings of two non-profit hospital systems, felony charges filed against a local sheriff, predatory paving companies, a health benefits backlog for local veterans, and a series of cold-case murder investigations. He received an honorable mention for Best TV Reporter in the 2011 Tennessee AP Broadcast awards and won a Best Investigative Reporting award from Media General in 2010.

George joined DC’s ABC affiliate WJLA-TV in 2012 to produce Capital Insider, which won him an Emmy award. One year later, he developed and recorded the pilot episode of Government Matters – a program about the business of government. It debuted as a weekly show on Sunday, August 4th of 2013. George led Government Matters through September of 2020, expanded its reach to a daily worldwide audience, and produced its first feature-length documentary The Dawn of Generation AI.

George is from Toledo, Ohio. He lives with his wife, twin daughters, and a pair of rescue dogs in Northern Virginia.