Workshop Descriptions
Brand Mastery: Ignite Your Influence
Kim Bode, Owner, 8ThirtyFour Integrated Communications
"I don't know how to put this, but I'm kind of a big deal." - Ron Burgundy
Learn how to build and sustain a powerful personal brand that positions you as a respected leader in the defense industry. Effectively communicate your unique value, strengthen your online presence, and unlock opportunities for growth and success. Don't miss this awesome and highly entertaining session that will empower you to take charge of your brand and amplify your voice.
Maintaining Trust in a Crisis
Helio Fred Garcia, President, Logos Consulting Group
Whether an organization emerges from a crisis with trust, reputation, and competitive position intact is not a function of the severity of the crisis event, but rather of the timeliness and quality of the response. This workshop will focus on the drivers of trust, and the importance of having the right decision criteria to make smart choices quickly. We will cover the decision criteria for what to do and say, and for when to do and say it, so that we protect trust, reputation, and competitive position. We will also cover a technique for restoring trust when it has been lost.
Detecting and Pre-bunking Disinformation
Helio Fred Garcia, President, Logos Consulting Group
Disinformation kills. Both people and democracy. As the French philosopher Voltaire warned, those who can make people believe absurdities can also make people commit atrocities. This workshop will focus on the patterns of disinformation and strategies to prevent audiences from believing disinformation. This requires de-bunking the disinformation before it takes hold, a process called pre-bunking.
You, Discovered: Resumes Revealing the Best YouTM
Gretchen Larsen Idsinga
Make no mistake – your resume is an advertising document and the product it is selling is YOU! Resumes speak for you when you aren’t in the room to speak for yourself. Are you successfully delivering your intended message? Effective resumes create a forward-looking, integrated portrait of you as an individual, far more than just a job history or list of key words. Understand the nuance of how to place yourself at the forefront of your own “advertising” in a manner that highlights the totality of who you are, not just the various section headings on the document.
Attendees may wish to bring a copy of their resume in order to review for themselves in real-time the points and techniques discussed during the workshop, and to be able to ask questions with the level of specificity that can be practically applied.
Life as a Staffer
Jamie Jones Miller, CEO and Regional Dean, Arlington, VA campus, Northeastern University
Laura McAleer, Associate Vice President, Federal and Washington Relations, University of Notre Dame
Dr. Arun Seraphin, Executive Director, Emerging Technologies Institute, National Defense Industrial Association
Congressional staffers are sometimes mysterious figures who play an outsized role in development and oversight of US government programs, policies, and budgets. A staffer position gives an individual ability to support elected officials in Congress, interact with high level government and industry leaders, have access to huge amounts of data and information, and use of a “toolset” that can make significant changes in the national security landscape. Join former staffers as they discuss their career paths and experiences and offer insight and advice to attendees interested in serving on the Hill or learning how to maximize their engagements with Congress.
Defense 101: Macroeconomic Variables Impacting Defense Spending
Feodora Kurtz, Senior Associate, Renaissance Strategic Advisors
Understanding “how the money works” is a critical foundation for individuals in the national security sector. Join Feodora as she demystifies how consumer inflation, interest rates, and national debt levels play into Congress’ appropriations calculus. She will also discuss how election cycles, geopolitical environments, and conflicts impact defense spending, and how sanctions can drive increased costs for the defense industry and exacerbate pressures on supply chains.
Building Trust through Communication
Dr. Laura Lindenfeld, Executive Director of the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University
Join Dr. Laura Lindenfeld, Executive Director of the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University to hone your communication skills. Participants will learn to pay close attention to verbal and non-verbal communication and develop ways to adapt to those signals with spontaneity and authenticity. Dr. Lindenfeld will teach various communication strategies that are adaptable to different situations. These strategies, combined with practice and peer feedback, allow participants to set realistic communication goals and inspire audiences to think, feel, or act in new ways. Through these methodologies, participants will build trust and create honest engagement.
Effective Leadership: Thinking up, down and sideways
Dr. Laura Lindenfeld, Executive Director of the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University
Join Dr. Laura Lindenfeld, Executive Director of the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University to hone leadership communication skills. Participants will learn to build empathy, listen across organizational roles, manage conflict and provide feedback to others. Dr. Lindenfeld will engage improvisational strategies adaptable to different situations. These strategies allow leaders to set realistic communication goals and inspire open and impactful communications throughout their organizations. Through these methodologies, participants will build trust and foster open and honest engagement.
Mastering Military Transition
Sarah Maples, Owner & CEO, Sarah Maples, LLC
Transitioning from military to civilian life can be an overwhelming experience. This workshop will provide a framework for approaching your military transition and building a successful post-military life. We’ll cover common challenges and myths encountered when leaving the service, including those specific to military women, and tips and resources for designing a tailored military transition plan.
AI Unleashed: Navigating the Generative Frontier in Defense
Michael Monroe, Senior Associate, Booz Allen Hamilton
Kelly Lozoya, Associate, Booz Allen Hamilton
Join Michael and Kelly as they discuss how to unlock the transformative potential of generative AI in the defense sector. This small group workshop will explore the evolution of neural networks, large language models, and cutting-edge applications that are reshaping missions today. Attendees will gain insights into the current state of generative AI, exciting use cases, and keys to successful AI implementation within the Department of Defense.
Tech 101: Hypersonics
Dr. Mark Lewis, President & CEO, Purdue Research Center
Dr. Arun Seraphin, Executive Director, Emerging Technologies Institute, National Defense Industrial Association
What is hypersonic flight, and what makes this technology interesting to the Pentagon and the militaries of our peer competitors? This presentation will offer an entry-level overview the science and technology of hypersonics, including the basic physics of high-speed flight, technology challenges and opportunities, as well as an assessment of current state-of-the-art. Dr. Lewis will also provide brief history of hypersonic research and development in the field by surveying past and current programs. The presentation will conclude with a discussion of the next steps required to deliver hypersonic capabilities into the hands of our warfighters.
Empowering Progress and Responsiveness: Leading the Charge in Digital Modernization
Sandra Lopez, Technology Advisor, Leidos
Sue Yu, Senior Solutions Architect, Leidos
This digital modernization-themed session will explore cutting-edge advancements in trusted mission AI, full-spectrum cyber solutions, and multi-cloud innovations – discussing how industry can drive the future of defense technology with speed, security, and agility. Attendees will gain insights into the integration of AI in mission-critical applications, comprehensive cybersecurity strategies, and the power of leveraging multi-cloud environments for enhanced operational efficiency, and resilience. Join us to discuss the next wave of digital transformation for a more connected and responsive defense industry.
Operationalizing Data
Hayley van Stappen, Enterprise Lead, Palantir
Across echelons of the Department of Defense, data is the backbone of day to day operations, driving innovation and strategic advantage. This workshop will focus on what it means to move beyond data analytics towards integrating data into the central nervous system of an organization, enabling decisions at tactical and strategic levels and achieving outcomes. We’ll cover common data challenges across the DoD, how to chart the path from legacy systems to modern capabilities, the importance of interoperability, and ways to lay the foundation for an AI-ready organization with real world examples and demonstrations from Palantir’s work in the field.