Speakers

Mr. Howe, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Chief Information Officer and Deputy Director, Plans and Integration, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington D.C.

Mr. Howe provides policy, guidance and oversight for the development of plans and the design of future systems to ensure availability of personnel services for the Air Force and Space Force war fighters. He is responsible for developing strategies and policies related to the Talent Management (TM) domain IT infrastructure, including data centers, and common IT enterprise services available to all TM systems. His efforts directly affect over 100 IT systems providing capabilities to over 1M users, inside and outside the AF.

Prior to this assignment, he served as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Chief Cloud Architect, HQ Air Force A1X, Plans and Integration. In this role, he led implementation of technical and cloud solutions that delivered modern capabilities to Airmen and Guardians. His prior assignment was a strategic analyst, and acting CTO in the Headquarters Air Combat Command Communications and Information Directorate, ACC/A6T. As a technical expert, he provided strategic analysis encompassing all aspects of IT and Command and Control, including strategic oversight of all A6 requirements and initiatives.

Mr. Howe has held various MAJCOM headquarters, center, commercial, and active-duty assignments across a variety of functional areas including asset management, knowledge operations, IT acquisitions, storage networking, electronics maintenance, radar operations, and medical support. In these capacities, he has developed systems architectures in support of multimillion-dollar acquisitions as a Level 3 DAU-certified specialist, managed billion-dollar storage production facilities, developed numerous IT and CIO policies, and stood up a new IT facility, partnered with AF Research Laboratory.

Ms. Katharine Kelley, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Human Capital, U.S. Space Force.  She provides executive leadership and managerial direction for the Space Force in all functional areas of personnel management to include force structure analysis; personnel programs; civilian personnel; readiness; senior officer matters; quality force issues; equal opportunity; and family support for military and civilian personnel located at 175 locations worldwide in support of the service’s space launch, space surveillance, missile warning, and satellite command and control operations. 
 
Ms. Kelley earned a commission through the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Villanova University as a Logistics Officer for the 1st Infantry Division.  She transitioned to a civilian role within the Department of the Army working the most comprehensive base realignment and closure process in the department’s history, as well as managing logistics, enterprise infrastructure, and space management.  In 2016 Ms. Kelley assumed responsibilities as Superintendent at Arlington National Ceremony where she was responsible for rebuilding trust and confidence in the Army’s operation of the cemetery and setting the strategic direction for recapitalization, expansion and technology innovations.  Prior to her current position, Ms. Kelley served as the Chief Human Capital Officer for Army Futures Command.  There, she stood up the command’s headquarters in Austin, TX and served as the senior advisor on all aspects of human resources including the establishment of the Army’s first software focused training for soldiers and civilians.

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Wanda T. Jones-Heath, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Principal Cyber Advisor for the Department of the Air Force, comprised of the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force. As the Principal Cyber Advisor for the DAF, her duties include synchronizing, coordinating and overseeing the implementation of the DAF Cyber Strategy and advising the Secretary of the Air Force on all cyber programs. She is responsible for overseeing cyberspace recruitment; resourcing and training of cyber mission forces, as well as assessing their readiness; overseeing acquisition; advocate for cyber investments; cybersecurity supply chain risk management; security of information systems and weapon systems.
 

Prior to her current position, Ms. Jones-Heath served as the Chief Information Security Officer and advised the Chief Information Officer on cybersecurity policy, cybersecurity programs, and cyber force development. She leads a directorate comprised of military, civilian, and contractor personnel responsible for developing cybersecurity policy and strategy for over 5,000 Air Force information technology systems. She oversees risk management and cybersecurity accountability for information systems, weapon systems, and operational technology supporting military cyberspace operations. Her portfolio includes policy governing the defense industrial base, supply chain risk management, and cybersecurity capabilities. She has oversight for the Freedom of Information Act, Privacy Act laws, and cryptographic modernization supporting cyber operations.

Since entering civil service, Ms. Jones-Heath has held technical and leadership positions performing cyber operations and cybersecurity duties in communications units from the squadron to the wing level and she has served in headquarters units at the major command, agency, and Air Staff level. Her experience includes extensive joint and interagency work along with cross functional assignments with duties such as testing, assessments, lessons learned management, strategy development and other functions in organizations both within and outside of the communications field.

Ms. Jones-Heath graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1990 with a degree in Computer Science. She began her Civil Service career as a Palace Acquire Intern, Information Systems Specialist, in various functional areas. She moved to Headquarters Air Combat Command, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, in 1993. There, she held positions responsible for policy and guidance for security and network systems. Prior to arriving at the Headquarters Air Force staff, Ms. Jones-Heath was the Program Manager for Mobility with the Defense Information Systems Agency. Ms. Jones-Heath led the effort to establish a Department of Defense Mobile capability to include infrastructure.
 

Patricia St. George is a partner at KPMG, LLP with over 31 years of experience serving numerous high-profile clients across Commercial, Healthcare, Higher Education, and Federal/DoD industries. She currently serves as the lead account partner for the Department of the Air Force, which includes Space Force.  Patricia began her career splitting her time between financial audit and management consulting, eventually focusing full time on management consulting. She became a partner at KPMG in 2003.

She has spent the majority of her career managing, advising, and leading large-scale strategic transformation programs for various DoD and Government agencies through the successful orchestration of complex, multidisciplinary teams.

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