Speakers

Mike Fortune serves as Vice President of the Maritime Engineering, Technology and Sustainment Business Unit at Serco, where he leads ship design, systems integration, program management, acquisition, systems engineering, production oversight, maintenance, and full ship lifecycle services.

His organization supports mission‑critical maritime programs for the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, international navies, and commercial customers, delivering technical depth and operational excellence across complex surface combatant and maritime systems.

Mike joined Serco in 2019 through the acquisition of Alion’s Naval Services Business Unit, bringing extensive experience from leadership roles supporting U.S. Navy surface combatant programs. Previously, he served as Operations Manager for Alion’s Surface Combatants Operation, coordinating daily operations across multiple shipyard and Navy Yard locations while supporting design, acquisition, production, and testing efforts. Earlier in his career, Mike worked as a marine engineer at JJMA, holding roles in systems integration, systems engineering, cost engineering, and production oversight across multiple ship classes. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Technology from Clemson University.

Tom is a dedicated defense analyst with a background in security and International Relations. He earned both his bachelor's and master’s degrees from the University of St. Andrews in Fife, Scotland, specializing in Middle Eastern politics and counterterrorism. Tom began his career as an editor and analyst for Military Periscope, focusing on naval vessels, before transitioning to his current role as an FI Industry Analyst. His expertise includes warships, undersea warfare, and the global naval industry.

A regular contributor to the Defense & Security Monitor, Tom also manages FI’s In Our Sights weekly newsletter. His professional interests include geopolitical and maritime security, energy, and developments in the naval-industrial complex.

Erik Grant is the vice president for C-UxS Strategic Growth for CACI International Inc, a Fortune 500™ company with more than 27,000 employees committed to expanding the limits of national security. CACI delivers industry leading C-UxS technologies and expertise to address the increasing threat to national security posed by unmanned systems. 

In this role, Grant leads cross-functional teams to develop business growth and capture strategies, maintain technology roadmaps, and execute customer engagements with senior Government leaders. Grant is regularly called upon to brief Government leaders, including Congressional committees and senior Pentagon officials on CACI’s C-UxS technologies. 

Prior to this role, Grant served as the vice president for the Counter-C5ISR Solutions Division for four years. He led a team of more than 250 program managers, engineers, and technologists developing sophisticated systems to detect and defend against unmanned system threats across ground, sea, air, and space. Under Grant’s leadership, the Counter-C5ISR and Wireless teams developed CACI’s next generation SkyValor system, going from initial concept to operational deployment of the prototype system in under 12 months. Grant’s team also developed the next generation Remote Modular Terminal system for the Space Rapid Capabilities Office, achieving initial operational capability of the first system 12 months after award.

Grant joined CACI in 2020 as chief engineer of the Advanced Solutions Group, providing technical oversight across the operating group and leading the development of innovative solutions to complex customer challenges. He was promoted to vice president in 2021 and assumed responsibility for expanding the C-UxS Solutions Division. 

Prior to CACI, Grant spent 16 years at Raytheon Technologies in various senior business and engineering leadership roles supporting complex technology development programs. As a Raytheon Engineering Fellow, he served in chief engineer and technical director roles.  He has over 30 years of experience in the defense industry, including 20 years supporting various ground breaking Intelligence Community efforts.

MGrant earned his BS degree with Honors in Aerospace Engineering and his ME degree in Engineering Science from the Pennsylvania State University.

Anna Miskelley has cultivated a deep interest in global security, emerging technologies, and military systems throughout her academic and professional career. She is currently a Defense Industry Analyst with Forecast International. 

Before joining Forecast International, Anna was a research fellow at the Center for Security, Innovation, and New Technology, where she researched the impact of artificial intelligence on U.S. nuclear command and control systems. Proficient in Mandarin Chinese, Anna has published research on topics including strategic stability, internal Chinese politics, and artificial intelligence.