A highly accomplished Information Technology and Cybersecurity leader with over 25 years of experience, Oralondo L. Hicks currently serves as the Chief of the Zero Trust Program Management Office Cyber Architecture, Engineering, and Deployment at the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) at, Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Alabama.

Oralondo’ s career reflects a deep commitment to safeguarding critical national assets. Prior to joining MDA, he held key leadership roles within the Department of Defense and various Federal agencies, including Command Authorizing Official-Designated Representative (AO-DR), Program ISSM, Command Cyber Integration Director, Command ISSM & ISSO, SETA Team Lead, TASK Program Manager, Command Cyber Security SME, Information Assurance Manager, and System IA Team Lead. Additionally, Oralondo served 9.5 years in the United States Air Force specializing in Information Assurance, Network Detection, and IT instruction.

At MDA, Oralondo leads a team of cyber professionals responsible for the strategic planning, engineering, and deployment of critical cybersecurity initiatives. This includes spearheading the Agency's Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) implementation, ensuring alignment with DoD and MDA mandates and timelines. As the Chief of the Zero Trust PfMO, Oralondo plays a critical role in outlining priorities, managing inter-agency reporting, and collaborating with the DoD/DISA Zero Trust Program Management Office for external funding and resourcing.

Oralondo’ s responsibilities extend to leading the Comply to Connect (C2C) project, a key component of the ZTA rollout, and partnering with Agency Directors and Program Managers to deploy essential cybersecurity tools such as Machine Learning/Artificial Intelligence, SIEM/SOAR, DLP and Tanium. Furthermore, Oralondo oversees the deployment of MDA's communications infrastructure in support of real-world missions, ensuring secure and reliable connectivity for critical operations.

Oralondo’ s educational background includes a Master of Information Technology (MIT) with concentrations in Program Management and Internet Security, as well as a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Network Administration from American Intercontinental University. He maintains a comprehensive suite of industry certifications, including ISACA-CISA, ISACA-CISM, SANS-GSLC, FITSP-M, CCSK-CSA, Network+, Security+, CCNA, CCND, ACSA, and ITIL.

Oralondo is also a College/High School Football and Baseball referee and umpire participating in numerous collegiate Division 1 & 2 postseason series and bowl games.  He is a member of the American Athletic Conference (AAC), Conference USA (C-USA), and Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC).

Lisa Hirschler is the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) Chief Data and Analytics Officer (CDAO) and Director of Business Transformation. She is responsible for the command wide data and information strategy, governance, control, policy development and effective data exploitation. In addition, she is responsible for AMCOM’s Digital Transformation and Knowledge Management strategies and implementation.

Prior to her current position Hirschler served as the AMCOM advanced manufacturing lead. In this position, she spearheaded efforts to institutionalize the aviation advanced manufacturing parts qualification process. This process led to the development of the AMCOM command policy for advanced manufacturing and the establishment of policies regarding the use and airworthiness qualification of advanced manufactured aircraft and missile parts, components and support products.

In addition, Hirschler served as the AMCOM Logistics Center (ALC) Chief of the Program Management Support Division. In this role, she managed subject matter experts and senior logisticians, providing reimbursable support across 18 program offices in aviation and missile maintenance analysis and planning. Hirschler also managed the AMCOM Army Working Capital Fund (AWCF) Investment Program Team. The AWCF investment program receives 2.5% of actual AMCOM sales to invest in obsolescence projects. In 2019, the annual budget exceeded $80 million.
Hirschler also served as the Associate Program Manager for the Common Missile Warning System and Future Missile Warning System. In this role, she successfully developed, monitored and managed programs valued in excess of $300 million, ensuring required missile warning systems were fielded and sustained to maintain threat overmatch.

Hirschler has more than 25 years of leadership, logistics and financial experience in both the U.S. Army and industry. Throughout her career, she has personally provided acquisition analysis and sustainment strategies for more than 20 programs across the aviation and missile enterprises, as well as special operations.

Hirschler holds a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, a Master of Science in Logistics from the Florida Institute of Technology and graduate certificates in supply chain and additive manufacturing. She also received her Level III training and certification in Lifecycle Logistics from the Defense Acquisition University.

An educator for over two decades, Mr. Chris Jenks currently serves as President of the Alabama Leaders in Educational Technology (ALET) and Director of Technology for the Tuscaloosa (Alabama) City Schools. ALET works to promote the positive impact of technology in education by preparing technology leaders and advocating for support. In Tuscaloosa, Chris leads a technology team supporting district stakeholders’ technical and instructional needs. He spearheads the district’s technology initiatives where the district seeks to transform the educational culture to prepare each and every student to be college and/or career ready.  He has worked to standardize a baseline of district-provided technology services and equipment while fostering innovation and increasing efficiencies. Chris enjoyed the six years he spent as a middle school teacher where he continually integrated technology to facilitate student learning and growth. A Sylacauga, AL native, Chris and his wife Anna have two children and are longtime Tuscaloosa residents.

Joseph “Joe” Parker serves as a Cybersecurity Advisor (CSA) with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), based in Huntsville, AL.  
As a CSA, Mr. Parker provides cybersecurity assistance to critical infrastructure owners and operators within both private and public sectors throughout North Alabama.  Mr. Parker has 31 years of service with the Federal Government; 29 with the Department of Defense in both active duty and civilian roles as a Counterintelligence Special Agent with the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) and the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA).  Mr. Parker has also served as a Task Force member with the FBI Cyber Division’s Threat Analytics and Collaboration Unit (TACU) for many years and continues this relationship representing CISA. Mr. Parker is the DoD recipient of the 2022 Intelligence Community National CI and Security Profession Award: Countering Technical and Cyber Threats.

Chris Piehota serves as a subject matter expert, consultant, and board member for a variety of organizations, where he delivers strategic guidance and advisory regarding national security matters, cyber operations, security practices, risk mitigation, leadership concepts, business development, and organizational improvement approaches. Chris offers experiential insights from his extensive career of overseeing and conducting complex investigations, intelligence collection programs, and technical operations. Over the course of his career, Chris served as a key leader and organizational development proponent who developed a number of impactful strategic interagency action plans; formulated focused performance metrics for sustained enterprise program execution; advanced key leadership programs; and contributed to process improvement and change management campaigns that influenced multi-level government operations since September 11, 2001. Chris was an active participant in National Security Council deliberating for the formulation, execution, and administration of national counterterrorism policies and practices for watchlisting, screening, and global surveillance with international law enforcement, intelligence, and diplomatic partners. 

Chris is a former U.S. Government Senior Executive Service official who retired from the Federal Bureau of Investigation after 25 years of experience as a recognized leader who led complex national security investigations, international security programs, and covert operational technology platforms. As a Director of National Intelligence-recognized Senior Intelligence Officer, Piehota received a 2017 Presidential Rank Award in recognition of superior executive performance, operational achievement, and managerial effectiveness. 

Prior to retiring from government service, Chris served as the Chief Executive for FBI Science and Technology Programs where he provided strategic leadership for enterprise operational technology programs, forensic laboratory operations, and criminal justice information technology systems. Leading up to this role, Chris previously served as the Director of the United States Government’s 24-hour, global Terrorist Screening Center and, previously, was the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Buffalo, New York, Field Office. Throughout the rest of his earlier FBI career, Chris worked in program areas regarding counterterrorism, counterintelligence, technical programs, physical and information security, weapons of mass destruction, and intelligence collection. 

Chris is an accomplished international public speaker and has provided speeches, presentations, and commentary for audiences of all types. He has been featured in various media interviews and has provided Congressional testimonies, as well as executive briefings for the National Security Council, INTERPOL, numerous foreign diplomatic parties, private sector organizations, and FBI Academy audiences. 

Before joining the FBI, Chris worked in the NASA Space Shuttle program as a Metrology Scientist and Laboratory Supervisor. He is a U.S. Air Force military veteran and possesses a Ph.D. in Human Performance Technology; a master’s degree in Human Resources, Training, and Development; and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
 

Dr. Steve F. Pierce was promoted to senior level and assigned as the chief technology officer, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command in March 2014.

Dr. Pierce graduated from the United States Military Academy with a Bachelor of Science and was commissioned in the field artillery. His initial assignment was with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C., serving in various staff and command positions.  Subsequent tours included battery command in V Corps Artillery in Germany, Fire Support coordinator and battalion command in the 7th Infantry Division, and Operations Research/Systems Analysis team leader at the Directorate of Combat Developments, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he headed up the Fire Support Trendline Analysis for the chief of staff of the Army. He was assigned as a professor and course director in the Department of Systems Engineering, West Point, New York. Dr. Pierce was then command-selected to be the director of Strategic Policy and Plans and special assistant to the superintendent.

Upon military retirement, Dr. Pierce joined a defense corporation as a military analyst and program manager. Later, he entered government civil service as a senior analyst in the Space and Missile Defense Future Warfare Center before being promoted to division chief. He led key Army and joint studies to include three operational missile defense studies for combatant commanders and a homeland defense study. In his previous position as director of the Decision Support Directorate, USASMDC’s Future Warfare Center, Dr. Pierce led a directorate that included the Studies and Analysis Division, Models and Simulations Division, the Information and Computational Engineering Division, and the Cyberspace Support Branch, 2008-2014.

Dr. Pierce earned a master’s degree in industrial engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology, a Master of Business Administration in finance from Long Island University, and a doctorate in industrial and systems engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He is also a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College and the Defense Acquisition University Senior Service College. His academic recognition includes Phi Kappa Phi National Academic Honor Society, Alpha Pi Mu Engineering Honor Society and Delta Mu Delta National Business Honor Society. Dr. Pierce was selected as a National Who’s Who Teacher of the Year for his work as a volunteer teacher of algebra and calculus in a private high school.

Dr. Pierce’s military decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), the Army Commendation Medal (two awards), and the Army Achievement Medal (two awards). He has also earned the Master Parachutist Badge and Ranger Tab.

In 2005, Dr. Pierce was selected by the Association of the United States Army as the Department of the Army Civilian of the Year – Redstone Huntsville Chapter. He is also a member of the Army Acquisition Corps and is Level III certified in program management and systems planning, research, development and engineering.

Dr. Pierce and his wife have seven children and twelve grandchildren.

Steve Rush is the Director of the Missile and Space Intelligence Center within the Defense Intelligence Agency. In this role Steve leads a diverse team of intelligence professionals to include engineers and scientists to provide greater understanding of foreign weapons systems. As part of this role, Steve oversees development of tools to include AI/ML solutions to enhance scientific assessments and analytic production and is driving infrastructure and information technology modernization to position the center for 2030 and beyond. Steve is a retired U.S. Army intelligence professional and Russian linguist having served in a variety of senior executive assignments over the past 10 plus years to include DIA’s Chief Financial Officer, DIA’s Director of Facilities and Services, and DIA’s Deputy Director of Human Resources. Steve’s diverse career includes service in Germany, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Russia, Ireland, Afghanistan and numerous locations in the United States.

Chief Experience Officer, Dept of Air Force, increased User Sat with Information Technology from 5pts underwater to 2X more Satisfied than Dissatisfied from 2019 to 2023.

Previously served as Partner/VP in Isobar, a top 10 global digital agency from its inception through exit, 2000-2018. Focused on digital product strategy & design. Founded and led practices in healthcare and federal. Served multiple major brands and federal agencies, including Pitney Bowes, Healthways, Scott & White Health Plan, Southwestern Health Resources, FBI, Census Bureau, US Army, US Air Force and more.

Also served as Manager in Deloitte’s CRM practice area from 1994 to 2000 and focused on
contact center optimization at clients including SunTrust (now Truist), BellSouth, Prudential, US Cellular and more.
 

Sean Applegate serves as Chief Technology Officer for Swish, where he leads innovation strategy, solutions, and services.  Sean is passionate about delivering life cycle services to ensure clients realize maximum value for technology investments.  Prior to joining Swish, Sean spent nine years with Riverbed Technology helping large enterprises understand, optimize and control performance of global IT architectures. He filled several technical leadership roles at Riverbed, including Senior Director of the Portfolio Solutions Group and Public Sector Technology Strategist.  Before Riverbed, Sean worked with several OEMs doing business in the Public Sector. He has also worked as a technology consultant and served as an active-duty United States Marine.

Christopher Martirano is a distinguished Federal Account Manager with 14 years in the computer software industry, specializing in the Department of Defense (DoD) and the commercial sector.
In his current role at Rubrik, Christopher is focused on enhancing the cybersecurity posture of federal agencies amid the growing threat of cybercrime. Leveraging his extensive experience, he provides tailored data protection solutions to meet the unique challenges of the federal sector.

Before his professional career, Christopher excelled as a multi-sport athlete, playing Division 1 (FCS) football at the University of Dayton. This experience instilled in him leadership skills, discipline, and a team-oriented  mindset that have significantly contributed to his professional success.
 

Marlin McFate serves as Public Sector Chief Technology Officer and Chief Information Security Officer for Cohesity, bringing more than 20+ years of engineering, leadership and technology experience leading long-term technical initiatives. In his role as Public Sector CTO/CISO, he explores emerging technologies, and recommends strategies, through research and collaboration with business and technology leaders across the company and public sector organizations. He is the strategic and supportive voice for customers, partners and team members, ensures successful secure solution delivery and advises on the direction of Cohesity’s research and development of its ML/AI powered data security and management solutions. An engaged leader, marlin is an Army veteran and an experienced technologist focused on mission success.

Kyle Pomering is a seasoned Security Architect at Check Point Software Technologies, where he leverages over a decade of experience in cybersecurity to design and implement robust security solutions for enterprise clients. His expertise spans network security, cloud security, and threat prevention, with a particular focus on hybrid data center environments.
Before joining Check Point, Kyle held roles such as Network Engineer at CoxHealth, where he utilized Check Point’s Quantum Cyber Security platform to enhance operational efficiency and policy deployment speed. His technical proficiency includes deep knowledge of AWS, Azure, and GCP platforms, as well as container and serverless architectures.
Kyle is a recognized thought leader in the cybersecurity community, frequently contributing to discussions on cloud security strategies, DevSecOps, and risk management. He holds certifications such as CCSE, underscoring his commitment to professional development and industry best practices.
At Check Point, Kyle plays a pivotal role in guiding clients through the complexities of modern security challenges, helping them build resilient infrastructures that are both secure and scalable.
 

Bill Roberts is the Federal Chief Technology Officer at Riverbed, where he advises government clients on optimizing their IT investments. A dedicated customer advocate, he works closely with Riverbed’s product, sales, and engineering teams to deliver tailored solutions that meet evolving mission requirements. He has over 20 years of IT expertise supporting public and private sector organizations spanning networking, integration, automation, and service management.
 

As Chief Revenue Officer for Swish, Rick brings 25+ years of leadership experience in sales, services, hardware, software and application solutions.  He is exceptionally skilled at leading technology and sales professionals, customer relationship building, sales strategy development, business growth and execution.  Prior to Swish, Rick held leadership positions at Mercury Systems, Riverbed, Cisco and Worldwide Technologies.  Prior to entering the tech sector, Rick served as a Chief Army Warrant Officer.  He is a graduate of Colorado Technical University with a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Management and he holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Florida.

Elad is a seasoned tech entrepreneur with a wealth of experience spanning both corporate giants and innovative startups. He recently embarked on an exciting journey by founding Lasso Security, a startup dedicated to revolutionizing LLM Security.

In 2020 Elad's entrepreneurial journey achieved a significant milestone by successfully selling his previous startup Segasec to the leading cybersecurity corporation Mimecast. Following the acquisition, Elad assumed the role of VP of Brand Protection, where he focused on safeguarding organizations against the ever-evolving threat of phishing attacks aimed at their customers.

As a true serial entrepreneur, Elad's passion for technology and innovation is beyond building and scaling his ventures, he is also deeply committed to paying it forward. Elad actively invests in and mentors early-stage startups, offering invaluable guidance and support to help them flourish into thriving companies to continue to shape the future of digital security and inspire the next generation of tech leaders.