As Former Program Manager, Soldier Warrior, PEO Soldier, US Army COL (R) Hansen spent 26 years in the US Army in both the war fighting and acquisition fields. He held various command and staff positions in self-propelled, towed, and airborne artillery units and fire support elements. His research, development, and acquisition experience includes various assignments as a product, project, or program manager in electric guns, armored vehicles, and precision guided munitions. In his last 4 years of service as the Project Manager for Soldier Warrior, he was responsible for weapons, clothing, and equipment for aviation crewmen (Air Warrior), dismounted Soldiers (Land Warrior, Ground Soldier Ensemble), and vehicle crewmen (Mounted Soldier).

Brigadier General Christopher D. Schneider received his commission an Infantry Officer from the United States Military Academy in 1994. His tactical assignments include: Rifle and Reconnaissance Platoon Leader, Headquarters and Headquarters Company Executive Officer, and Battalion Assistant S-3, 1st Infantry Division; Assistant G-3 Training Officer for XVIII Airborne Corps; Airborne Rifle Company Commander and an Airborne Headquarters and Headquarters Company Commander in 3-325 A.I.R, 82d Airborne Division; and Ranger Assistant Operations Officer, 75th Ranger Regiment. He has multiple operational/combat deployments to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

Brigadier General Schneider entered the Acquisition Corp 2005 and served in numerous assignments to include: (LTC/COL) Assignment Officer in the Human Resources Command, Alexandria, Virginia; Product Manager for Soldier Maneuver Sensors in PEO Soldier; Branch Chief for the Acquisition Branch in the Human Resources Command; Military Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition; Project Manager for Soldier Sensors and Lasers and as the Assistant Program Executive Officer (APEO) for Futures and Integration in PEO Soldier. Project Manager for the Integrated Visual Augmentation System, a Rapid Prototyping initiative in PEO Solider. He recently served as the Deputy for Acquisition and Systems Management, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology).

Brigadier General Schneider’s military education includes the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Ranger School, Air Assault School, Bradley Leader Course, Scout Platoon Leader Course, Jumpmaster Course, Armor Officer Advanced Course, Combined Arms and Services Staff School, the Army Acquisition Basic Course, U.S. Army Command & General Staff College, and the National Defense University. Brigadier General Schneider has received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the United States Military Academy, a M.B.A. from Liberty University, and a M.S. in National Resourcing and Strategy from the Eisenhower School. His awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Joint Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Army Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Afghanistan Service Medal, Iraq Service Medal, Valorous Unit and Superior Unit Award, Senior Parachutist Badge, German Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab, Air Assault Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, and Combat Infantryman Badge.

Brigadier General Schneider is a native of Louisville, Kentucky, and is married to COL (Ret) Maria Schneider, an Army Acquisition Officer and native of Miami, Florida. They have three children: Michelle, Jacob, and Luke.

Colonel Monta, a native of Pennsylvania, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in May 1995. Upon graduation from The Basic School in February 1996, he proceeded to the Field Artillery Officers Basic Course at Fort Sill, OK.

Colonel Monta's operational tours included duty with 3rd Battalion 11th Marines as a Forward Observer and Motor Transport Officer, Battery Executive Officer, and S-3A for field operations and Battalion Adjutant. He attended the Security Supervisor Course then served as 3rd Platoon Commander for Marine Corps Security Forces Company, Strategic Weapons Facility Pacific, eventually serving as the Operations and Logistic Officer representing the Marine Corps to the Navy for procurement of Up-Armored HMMV’s. After completion of the Artillery Captains Course, Colonel Monta served as the Battalion Logistics Officer for 3rd Battalion 11th Marines, and was quickly selected to command Battery M, 3/11 supporting I MEF units for OIF.

Colonel Monta attended the Naval Postgraduate School where he earned a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering. His acquisition assignments include Project Officer for Product Group Information Systems and Infrastructure; Project Manager for Marine Corps Enterprise Information Technology Services; Program Manager for Total Force Information Technology Systems; and Product Manager Marine Corps Enterprise Services. He was selected to the Secretary of Defense Corporate Fellow Program, after which he returned to MARCORSYSCOM to serve as Deputy Program Manager Armor and Fire Support; Direct Report Program Manager Marine Corps Wargaming Capability; Portfolio Manager Supporting Establishment Systems; Marine Corps Deputy PEO Digital; Portfolio Manager Command Element Systems; and Chief of Staff.

Colonel Monta’s primary career field certification is DAIWA Level III in Program Management and a subsidiary Level I in Engineering. Personal awards include Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat V, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and Combat Action Ribbon.

Colonel Monta resides in Fredericksburg, Virginia with his wife Dru and their children.

Colonel Bradley Sams enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1992 as a Combat Engineer and received his commission from the USMC Officer Candidate’s Course in 1998. Upon completion of The Basic School (TBS), he became an Artillery Officer. He is a graduate of The Field Artillery Basic Officer’s Course, Amphibious Warfare School (non-resident), Expeditionary Warfare School (resident), USMC Command and Staff College Distance Education Program, U.S. Army War College Distance Education Program, and National Defense University’s Eisenhower School.
Assigned to 3rd Battalion, 10th Marines in 1999, Col Sams served as a Forward Observer to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines during their assignment with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit; a Battery Fire Direction Officer, Battery Executive Officer, and Assistant Battalion Operations Officer. While assigned to The Basic School (TBS) in Quantico, VA, Col Sams instructed student officers as a fire support instructor, Staff Platoon Commander, and the TBS Testing and Evaluation Officer. After resident Expeditionary Warfare School, Col Sams received orders to 1st Battalion, 12th Marines as the Headquarters Battery Commanding Officer, and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) as the Bravo Battery Commanding Officer and Fallujah Regional Detention Facility Officer in Charge (OIC). Upon return from Iraq, Col Sams assumed the duty of Assistant Battalion Liaison Officer before being assigned as the Al Anbar Detention Evaluation and Assessment Program OIC during the battalion’s second OIF deployment. After graduation from Naval Postgraduate School, Col Sams joined Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC) for duty as a Software Systems Analyst, Project Officer, and Integrated Product Team Lead before orders as a Professor of Systems Acquisition Management to Defense Acquisition University (DAU). After DAU, Col Sams returned to MCSC as the Program Manager for Fires. Col Sams graduated from the U.S. Army War College Distance Education Program in 2019, was additionally selected for resident Top Level School, and graduated the Eisenhower School in 2020. Col Sams’ next assignment was the Chief of Staff for the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (DASN) for Air/Ground Programs. In July 2022, Col Sams transferred back to MCSC and PEO Land Systems as the Deputy Program Manager for PM Ground Based Air Defense until November 2023 when he served briefly as the Joint Intermediate Force Capabilities Office Director. Since March 2024, Colonel Sams serves as the Program Manager Ground Weapons Systems at MCSC.

Colonel Sams holds an M.S. in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University’s Eisenhower School, a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, a M.S. in Information Technology Management from the Naval Postgraduate School, a M.S. in Education from Old Dominion University, and a B.A. in History from Western Michigan University. His personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star, the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars, and the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal.

Mr. Woodburn was commissioned in the United States Marine Corps in 1987 and graduated from The Basic School and the Infantry Officers Course in 1988. As an infantry officer, he held the billets of Rifle Platoon Commander, Heavy Machine Gun Platoon Commander, 81mm Mortar Platoon Commander, Company Commander, Battalion Logistics Officer, Battalion Operations Officer, and Battalion Executive Officer. He also served as the Deputy, Current Operations and Future Operations Officer at the Marine Expeditionary Force level. Mr. Woodburn’s combat deployments include OPERATION DESERT SHIELD/STORM and two tours to OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM.

Mr. Woodburn also served as a training company commander at the School of Infantry and commanding officer for a Marine Corps Recruiting Station. He is certified in Program Management from a tour at Marine Corps Systems Command and earned a Master’s Degree in Military Studies from the Marine Corps Command and Staff College in 2003. He completed his military career as a lieutenant colonel while serving as the Infantry Combat Equipment and Marine Expeditionary Rifle Squad Capabilities Integration Officer, Ground Combat Element – Fires and Maneuver, Capabilities Development Directorate at Quantico, VA.

Upon retirement in 2013, Mr. Woodburn joined the U.S. civil service and continues to work at the Capabilities Development Directorate. He worked initially as the requirements officer for Marine Corps small arms and combat optics and now supervises capabilities development for the infantry and reconnaissance communities as the Deputy for the Maneuver Branch.

COL Denomy began serving as the Director of Integration at U.S. Army Futures Command in June 2023. In this executive role, he is responsible for synchronizing the strategy, concepts, requirements and resources to create integrated solutions addressing critical prioritized capability gaps.

COL Troy Denomy was commissioned as an Infantry Officer in 1996 and was first assigned to 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Ft. Campbell, KY. In 2000, COL Denomy was assigned to 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division and served in various Brigade and Battalion staff
positions, then commanded C Company, 2nd Battalion (Mechanized), 5th Cavalry Regiment, which included a deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II.
In 2005, COL Denomy transitioned to the Army Acquisition Corps. His acquisition assignments include: Assistant Product Manager to the Joint Product Manager, Biological Detection Systems at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD; Department of the Army Systems Coordinator for Chemical and Biological Defense systems and for the PATRIOT system, the Missile Segment Enhancement Interceptor and the Medium Extended Air Defense System, Pentagon; Deputy Product Manager for the Tactical Application Group, Acquisition & Engineering Office, Mission Integration Directorate at the National Reconnaissance Office, Chantilly, VA; and Product Manager for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle in Program Executive Office, Ground Combat Systems in Warren, MI, Executive Officer to the Principal Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology).

COL Denomy assumed the position of PEO Soldier’s Project Manager Soldier Warrior in August 2018 and then integrated the role of Project Manager Integrated Visual Augmentation System as the organizations merged in December 2020.
COL Denomy holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wofford College, a Master of Science degree from George Washington University and a Masters in Security Studies from the US Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, PA. His operational experience includes one deployment to Bosnia-Herzegovina and one deployment to Iraq.
COL Denomy is married to the former Gina Kowulich of Elmira, New York. They have been married for 22 years. Troy and Gina have two children (Merrick (19) and Luke (15)). Merrick attends the University of Virginia and Luke attends Kettle Run High School.

/@ARMYFUTURES
armyfuturescommand

Joshua Smith served 30 years in the United States Marine Corps as an infantryman in both the enlisted and officer ranks. He recently retired as 2nd Marine Division Gunner (CWO5). Previous titles included Jungle Warfare Instructor, Drill Instructor, Foreign Weapons Instructor, Small Arms Instructor. Infantry Platoon Commander and Infantry Weapons Officer. Deployments include Operation Stabilize East Timor, Indonesia, OIF 5-7, 6-8, and 9-2, and OEF 10-1. He is now the Vice President of Autonomous Robotic Ground Training for Marathon Targets.

Colonel Bohannon is the Project Manager for Soldier Lethality, responsible for the development, production and deployment of small arms, optics, fire controls, non-standard weapons and remotely operated weapons stations for the U.S. Army and the Department of Defense (DoD). He has served in multiple command and staff positions supporting conventional, aviation and special operations forces with 4 combat deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq. His acquisition experience covers the full lifecycle spectrum from requirements development, research and prototyping, production, deployment, and demilitarization.

After successful troop command in the 4/6 Air Cavalry Squadron, he joined the Army Acquisition Corps and was assigned to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command’s Army Compartmented Element developing requirements at Fort Liberty, NC. He then served in the Program Executive Office (PEO) for Ammo as the Assistant Product Manager for Combat Munitions, responsible for shoulder launched munitions and hand grenades. While he was assigned to PEO Ammunition, he deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. After graduation from the Naval Postgraduate school, he was assigned to the Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Moore, GA where he led the Small Arms Branch responsible for individual and crew served small arms, optics, thermals and aiming lasers. He later served as the Lethality Branch Chief responsible for shoulder launched missiles, loitering munitions and mortars for dismounted forces.

Upon establishment of the Soldier Lethality Cross Functional Team (CFT) at Fort Moore, GA, he served as a capability developer and Chief of Staff. After which, he was centrally selected as the Product Manager for Crew Served Weapons at Picatinny Arsenal, NJ, responsible for sniper systems, machine guns, remotely operated weapons stations and non-standard weapons. While assigned to Picatinny Arsenal, he was tasked to establish the program management office for Next Generation Weapons where he was responsible for Next Generation Squad Weapons rifle, automatic rifle, a common caliber 6.8mm ammunition, and fire controls for the U.S. Army. His latest assignment was with Joint Program Executive Office Ammunition and Armaments (JPEO A&A) as the Project Director, Joint Services, responsible for modernizing the Government Owned Contractor Operated Army Ammo Plants, coordinating and integrating the DoD Single Manager for Conventional Ammo (SMCA) authority and executing all DoD conventional ammo demilitarization.

COL Bohannon continues to champion improved lethality and situational awareness for Soldiers in the Close Combat Forces. His unique experience writing requirements for SOCOM and conventional forces, in addition to his position on the Soldier Lethality CFT have given him a unique perspective and the ability to facilitate changes in the requirements generation and acquisition process. COL Bohannon is a graduate of the Marion Military Institute, holds a Bachelor of Science from Middle Tennessee State University, a Master of Business Administration from Naval Postgraduate School and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.

COL James A. (Tony) Lindh II was born in Billings, Montana and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. He attended Montana State University in 1995 and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Sciences in 1999.

COL Lindh was commissioned as a Chemical Officer through Reserve Officers’ Training Corps and attended the Officer Basic Course at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri in October 2000. He was released to the Quartermaster Branch in February 2001 after completing his branch detail to the Chemical Corps. COL Lindh served in the 3rd BCT (Greywolf), 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas from October 2000 until January 2006. During this time he was a Chemical Officer and Assistant Operations Officer for the 2-82 Field Artillery Battalion and then served as a Supply Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, Material Readiness Officer, Supply and Services Officer, and Support Operations Plans Officer for the 215th Brigade Support Battalion. COL Lindh deployed with the 1st Cavalry Division to Baghdad, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II from March 2004 to February 2005.

COL Lindh attended the Combined Logistics Captain’s Career Course at Fort Lee, Virginia en route to Fort Richardson, Alaska and the 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division. COL Lindh served as the Battalion S-4, Bravo Field Maintenance Company Commander, and Rear Detachment Commander for the 725th Brigade Support Battalion for deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

COL Lindh joined the Acquisition Corps in 2010 and completed his Master of Science in Project Management before serving as an Assistant Program Manager for Army Enterprise Systems Integration Program (PEO EIS) at Fort Belvoir, VA. He then served as a Department of the Army Systems Coordinator for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare, and Sensors (IEW&S) and the Executive Officer to the Deputy for Acquisition and Systems Management (DASM) in the Pentagon. COL Lindh commanded Product Manager Ground Sensors in PEO IEW&S located at Fort Belvoir. He was called back to the Pentagon to serve as the Executive Officer to the Principal Military Deputy (PMILDEP) to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology (ASA(ALT)) and most recently served as the Branch Chief for Acquisition Management Branch at Human Resources Command in Fort Knox, KY. COL Lindh is currently serving as the Project Manager Soldier Survivability in PEO Soldier.

COL Lindh’s military education includes Airborne School, Chemical Officer Basic Course, Supply and Services Officer Management Course, Combined Logistics Captain’s Career Course, Aerial Delivery Management Officer Course, Acquisition Basic Course, Command and General Staff College, The Program Manager’s Course at the Defense Acquisition University, and The Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy. His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), the National Defense Service Ribbon, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Overseas Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Meritorious Unit Citation, the Combat Action Badge, the Army Parachutist Badge, and the Army Parachute Rigger Badge.

COL Lindh is married to the former Christina Noel Adams of Poolesville, Maryland. They have two children, Penelope Helen, and James A. (Tripp) Lindh III.

Colonel Marcus J. Reynolds is Marine Corps Systems Command’s Program Manager for Training Systems, the executive agent assigned to manage acquisition and life-cycle support of ground training systems, devices, and training support services. His staff includes nearly 180 Marines, civilians and contractors located globally with expertise in program management, engineering, instructional systems design, procurement, contract management, logistics, procurement, and contract management to name a few. Colonel Reynolds served a year as an Executive Fellow at Microsoft Corporation and has deployed multiple times to the IndoPacific as well as in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Colonel Schreffler was born and raised in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the Virginia Military Institute with a degree in history and commissioned as a second lieutenant in May 1994. Following graduation from the Basic Officer Course and the Infantry Officer Course at Quantico, Virginia he reported to 2d Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California. As a lieutenant in 2/5 he served as a rifle platoon commander in Company E, S-3 liaison officer, mortar platoon commander, and assistant operations officer. He deployed twice with 2/5 when it served as the battalion landing team for 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and participated in unit training and exercises in Japan, Korea, and Australia.

In June 1998 Captain Schreffler reported to the Basic School for duty as the Weapons Platoon Commander, Combat Instructor Company. From September 1999 until July 2001 he served as an instructor at Infantry Officer Course. Following the tour at the Basic School he attended Amphibious Warfare School and graduated in May 2002.

Captain Schreffler reported to 3d Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division at Twentynine Palms, California in June 2002. He served as the commanding officer of Company L until May 2003 and led the company from Kuwait to Baghdad during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Next he became the operations officer of 3/7 and participated in stability operations in Karbala, Iraq from June until September 2003 and combat operations in Al Qa’im, Iraq from March until September 2004. He was promoted to major in April of 2004.

From April 2005 until June 2008 Major Schreffler returned to Quantico, Virginia to serve at the Expeditionary Warfare School as a faculty advisor, the Infantry Occupational Field Expansion Course program director, and the Curriculum Development section head. During this tour he completed the Command and Staff College distance education program. Following his assignment at Expeditionary Warfare School Major Schreffler attended the School of Advanced Warfighting, and graduated in June 2009 with the degree of Master of Operational Studies.

Major Schreffler reported to the War Plans Branch, G-5, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific at Camp Smith, Hawaii in July 2009. For the next fourteen months he managed the command’s operational planning for crisis and contingency response on the Korean peninsula. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in February 2010.

Lieutenant Colonel Schreffler returned to the 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California in September 2010. He commanded 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion from February 2011 until July 2012 and led the battalion during a deployment to Reg e Khan Neshin District, Helmand Province, Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. He concluded his tour as the Director of Division Schools before reporting to the U.S. Naval War College as a student. He graduated in November 2013 with the degree of Master of Strategic Studies.

From December 2013 until December 2016 Lieutenant Colonel Schreffler served as the J35 chief of future operations at the Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. During this tour he deployed twice, first as a joint task force director of operations and then as a joint task force commander. He was promoted to colonel in October 2016.

Colonel Schreffler assumed command of 5th Marine Regiment in March 2017. From April until December of 2018 he deployed in command of the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command. Colonel Schreffler relinquished command of 5th Marines in June 2019. From July 2019 until July 2021 he served as the assistant chief of staff, G-3, then chief of staff, I Marine Expeditionary Force. In August 2021 he became the director of Wargaming Division, Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory, Quantico, Virginia.

Commander Kellye Donovan is a native of Kansas City, Missouri. She earned her Doctorate of Pharmacy Practice from the University of Rhode Island, a Master of Healthcare Administration from Ashford University and a Doctor of Philosophy in Economics and Health Outcomes from University of Rhode Island. She completed her acute and critical care residency at Naval Medical Center San Diego and Scripps Mercy Hospital, San Diego, California. CDR Donovan is Board Certified in Acute Care and Clinical Pharmacotherapy. She serves as an Associate Professor at University of California San Diego-Skaggs School of Pharmacy and University of Rhode Island.

In her 17 years a Naval officer and clinician, her assignments have included: Naval Health Clinic New England, Newport, Rhode Island; Naval Medical Center San Diego, San Diego, California; NATO Role III, Multinational Medical Unit, Kandahar, Afghanistan; Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune, Camp Lejeune, NC; Operation Gotham-NYC, USNS COMFORT.

Currently, CDR Donovan serves at Marine Corps Systems Command as the first pharmacist assigned to the USMC. She works as the Asst. Team lead, Expeditionary Medical Systems Team and USMC Clinical and Pharmaceutical SME. In her current role she also serves as a Project Officer and Plans, Operations and Medical Intelligence (POMI) officer for USMC Health Services Support enterprise. She performs as the controlled substance, CBRN and pharmaceutical logistics specialist for the USMC and advises Navy Medicine Operational Medicine on parallel capability development and medical programs of record. She also serves as pharmaceutical and immunizations SME for the Medical Officer of the Marine Corps, US Fleet Forces Command and DHA Trauma Advisory Board. 

As Former Program Manager, Soldier Warrior, PEO Soldier, US Army COL (R) Hansen spent 26 years in the US Army in both the war fighting and acquisition fields. He held various command and staff positions in self-propelled, towed, and airborne artillery units and fire support elements. His research, development, and acquisition experience includes various assignments as a product, project, or program manager in electric guns, armored vehicles, and precision guided munitions. In his last 4 years of service as the Project Manager for Soldier Warrior, he was responsible for weapons, clothing, and equipment for aviation crewmen (Air Warrior), dismounted Soldiers (Land Warrior, Ground Soldier Ensemble), and vehicle crewmen (Mounted Soldier).

Colonel Bohannon is the Project Manager for Soldier Lethality, responsible for the development, production and deployment of small arms, optics, fire controls, non-standard weapons and remotely operated weapons stations for the U.S. Army and the Department of Defense (DoD). He has served in multiple command and staff positions supporting conventional, aviation and special operations forces with 4 combat deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq. His acquisition experience covers the full lifecycle spectrum from requirements development, research and prototyping, production, deployment, and demilitarization.

After successful troop command in the 4/6 Air Cavalry Squadron, he joined the Army Acquisition Corps and was assigned to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command’s Army Compartmented Element developing requirements at Fort Liberty, NC. He then served in the Program Executive Office (PEO) for Ammo as the Assistant Product Manager for Combat Munitions, responsible for shoulder launched munitions and hand grenades. While he was assigned to PEO Ammunition, he deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. After graduation from the Naval Postgraduate school, he was assigned to the Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Moore, GA where he led the Small Arms Branch responsible for individual and crew served small arms, optics, thermals and aiming lasers. He later served as the Lethality Branch Chief responsible for shoulder launched missiles, loitering munitions and mortars for dismounted forces.

Upon establishment of the Soldier Lethality Cross Functional Team (CFT) at Fort Moore, GA, he served as a capability developer and Chief of Staff. After which, he was centrally selected as the Product Manager for Crew Served Weapons at Picatinny Arsenal, NJ, responsible for sniper systems, machine guns, remotely operated weapons stations and non-standard weapons. While assigned to Picatinny Arsenal, he was tasked to establish the program management office for Next Generation Weapons where he was responsible for Next Generation Squad Weapons rifle, automatic rifle, a common caliber 6.8mm ammunition, and fire controls for the U.S. Army. His latest assignment was with Joint Program Executive Office Ammunition and Armaments (JPEO A&A) as the Project Director, Joint Services, responsible for modernizing the Government Owned Contractor Operated Army Ammo Plants, coordinating and integrating the DoD Single Manager for Conventional Ammo (SMCA) authority and executing all DoD conventional ammo demilitarization.

COL Bohannon continues to champion improved lethality and situational awareness for Soldiers in the Close Combat Forces. His unique experience writing requirements for SOCOM and conventional forces, in addition to his position on the Soldier Lethality CFT have given him a unique perspective and the ability to facilitate changes in the requirements generation and acquisition process. COL Bohannon is a graduate of the Marion Military Institute, holds a Bachelor of Science from Middle Tennessee State University, a Master of Business Administration from Naval Postgraduate School and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.

LtCol Young received her commission in the United States Marine Corps in 2002. Her operating force assignments include: Supply Officer (Okinawa/Afghanistan), Logistics Officer (Camp Fuji/Iraq), and Contracting Officer on various individual augment assignments with Security Force Advise and Assist Teams. She has deployed in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM and OPERATION INHERENT RESOLVE. Other supporting assignments include: Company Commander, 4th Recruit Training Battalion and Supply Officer, Headquarters and Service Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. Contracting and Acquisition Assignments include: Director of Contracting, 3D Marine Logistics Group; Operational Contract Support Director, Headquarters Marine Corps Installation and Logistics, LPS-4; Program Analyst, Program Manager Wargaming Capability; and Deputy Program Manager, Communication Systems. She is a resident graduate of the Army Combined Logistics Captains Career Course and the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Marine Corps University.
LtCol Young holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Hampton University (2002), a Master of Business Administration, Webster University (2008) and Master of Military Science from the Command and Staff College, Marine Corps University (2015). Her awards include: Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (4 Gold Stars in Lieu of Fifth award), and Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal.

LtCol Young assumed her present duties as the Program Manager for Wargaming Capability, Marine Corps Systems Command in April 2023.
 

Commander Kellye Donovan is a native of Kansas City, Missouri. She earned her Doctorate of Pharmacy Practice from the University of Rhode Island, a Master of Healthcare Administration from Ashford University and a Doctor of Philosophy in Economics and Health Outcomes from University of Rhode Island. She completed her acute and critical care residency at Naval Medical Center San Diego and Scripps Mercy Hospital, San Diego, California. CDR Donovan is Board Certified in Acute Care and Clinical Pharmacotherapy. She serves as an Associate Professor at University of California San Diego-Skaggs School of Pharmacy and University of Rhode Island.

In her 17 years a Naval officer and clinician, her assignments have included: Naval Health Clinic New England, Newport, Rhode Island; Naval Medical Center San Diego, San Diego, California; NATO Role III, Multinational Medical Unit, Kandahar, Afghanistan; Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune, Camp Lejeune, NC; Operation Gotham-NYC, USNS COMFORT.

Currently, CDR Donovan serves at Marine Corps Systems Command as the first pharmacist assigned to the USMC. She works as the Asst. Team lead, Expeditionary Medical Systems Team and USMC Clinical and Pharmaceutical SME. In her current role she also serves as a Project Officer and Plans, Operations and Medical Intelligence (POMI) officer for USMC Health Services Support enterprise. She performs as the controlled substance, CBRN and pharmaceutical logistics specialist for the USMC and advises Navy Medicine Operational Medicine on parallel capability development and medical programs of record. She also serves as pharmaceutical and immunizations SME for the Medical Officer of the Marine Corps, US Fleet Forces Command and DHA Trauma Advisory Board. 

As Former Program Manager, Soldier Warrior, PEO Soldier, US Army COL (R) Hansen spent 26 years in the US Army in both the war fighting and acquisition fields. He held various command and staff positions in self-propelled, towed, and airborne artillery units and fire support elements. His research, development, and acquisition experience includes various assignments as a product, project, or program manager in electric guns, armored vehicles, and precision guided munitions. In his last 4 years of service as the Project Manager for Soldier Warrior, he was responsible for weapons, clothing, and equipment for aviation crewmen (Air Warrior), dismounted Soldiers (Land Warrior, Ground Soldier Ensemble), and vehicle crewmen (Mounted Soldier).

As Former Program Manager, Soldier Warrior, PEO Soldier, US Army COL (R) Hansen spent 26 years in the US Army in both the war fighting and acquisition fields. He held various command and staff positions in self-propelled, towed, and airborne artillery units and fire support elements. His research, development, and acquisition experience includes various assignments as a product, project, or program manager in electric guns, armored vehicles, and precision guided munitions. In his last 4 years of service as the Project Manager for Soldier Warrior, he was responsible for weapons, clothing, and equipment for aviation crewmen (Air Warrior), dismounted Soldiers (Land Warrior, Ground Soldier Ensemble), and vehicle crewmen (Mounted Soldier).

COL Shaun S. Conlin received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering (Aeronautical) and commissioned as an Infantry officer from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in June 2002.

COL Conlin’s first assignment was as Platoon Leader and Company Executive Officer in 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment as part of the Army’s first Stryker Brigade Combat Team where he deployed in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM from 2003 to 2004. During his second deployment to Iraq in late 2006 to early 2008, he served as an assistant operations officer and fusion cell chief and lethal targeting officer for 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division in Baghdad. From February 2008 to June 2010, he served as a Rifle Company Commander in 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment which included a deployment to the Pech River Valley, Kunar Province for OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM. COL Conlin returned to Afghanistan in 2013, this time to Kandahar, as the Squadron Operations Officer for 2d Squadron, 2d Cavalry Regiment. COL Conlin most recently commanded 2nd Battalion, 11th Infantry Regiment – the Infantry Basic Officer Leader Course at the U.S. Army Infantry School from 2019 to 2021.

COL Conlin’s broadening assignments included Recovery Team Leader and Southeast Asia Plans Officer, Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii where he planned and conducted recovery missions for the nation’s Missing In Action. He served as the Chief of Personnel Readiness, J1, United States Forces-Korea and then later as the Aide de Camp to the Commanding General, 8th United States Army. COL Conlin also served on the Army Staff, first as the Brigade Combat Teams Organizational Integrator in the G-3/5/7 Force Management Directorate and later as the Executive Officer to the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff G-3/5/7 and Assistant Executive Officer to the Deputy Chief of Staff G-3/5/7.

COL Conlin holds a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College and a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. His military education includes the Infantry Officer Basic Course, the Infantry Captains Career Course, Airborne School, and Ranger School.

His awards include the Bronze Star Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Achievement Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Expert Infantryman’s Badge, the Army Staff Identification Badge, the Parachutist Badge, and Ranger Tab.

COL Conlin is married to the former Beth Markham from Rathdrum, Idaho and they have a great rescue dog, Sadie.

LTC Wilson began serving as British Army D Futures Ground Manoeuvre LNO in February 2023 and is based out of Ft Moore, GA. In this role, he is responsible for synchronizing British and US Army cooperation across Ground Manoeuvre (Infantry & Armour) in both modernization and futures. His diverse portfolio ranges across everything from dismounted soldier lethality up to future armoured vehicle programmes and includes areas such as sUAS, HMT, experimentation, and future IBCT/ABCT structures.

LTC Ian Wilson is a native of Livingston, Scotland, and graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 2005. He commissioned into the Royal Scots as an Infantry Officer. Prior to commissioning, he saw 4 years enlisted service in the UK Armour Branch as a Challenger 2 MBT crewman. He has over 20 years military experience in a variety of Command and Leadership roles, both Light and Mechanized Infantry, including command roles from Plt to BN level, and has served in Recon, S2, and S3 roles. He has extensive operational experience including multiple deployments to Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Latterly he has branched out into staff, training and defence engagement roles. Some of his recent assignments include: J5 Plans at JFC Norfolk; COS ANA Advisor Group, Kabul; SGL on the UK ICSC (ILE equivalent); and mobilization as COS of the Army Covid Response Team in Scotland during the pandemic in 2021.

Wilson attended Intermediate Command and Staff Course at the British Defence Academy in 2012 and was awarded the Fuller Prize for the best Defence Studies paper. He holds master’s degrees in War Studies from King’s College London and in Applied Security Strategy from Exeter University. He has been published by the Centre for Historical Analysis and Conflict Research and in various Defence Journals.

He has been married to Rachel for 19 years and they have three children – Benjamin (17), Miriam (14) and Duncan (12).
 

Etienne joined the Department of National Defence in 2020 as the Lead Engineer for TAK development and the End User Interface for the Integrated Soldier System Project. He was promoted to Deputy Project Manager in September 2022 and has been serving as Acting Project Manager since June 2023. He led, supervised, and supported ISSP Cycle 3 plugin development, procurements strategy, sustainment strategy, systems trials, and military exercises to test the concept of employment of the new Integrated Soldier System Suite .
Before joining the Canadian National Defence, Etienne spent over 15 years in the telecommunications industry. His expertise includes fixed, wireless and mobile communication systems, national network deployment, Project Management and business process improvement.
 

Col Dr. Peter Hofer is Head of the Institute of Advanced Officer Training at Theresian Military Academy being one of the hubs of life-long learning for all active and reserve officers in Austria. He is also head of the IRON NIKE research and development group with a focus on the requirements of a Digital Headquarters and urban operations.
Infantry man by trade, Peter has served as platoon and company leader, held various staff appointments, and commanded an infantry battalion. He was deployed on operational tours in Kosovo and Tchad.
 

Robb Wilcox is the US Army DEVCOM Soldier Center’s Chief Research Officer. In this role, he is the principal scientific/technical advisor and primary authority for basic and applied research programs at the Soldier Center. He evaluates the quality of research programs and promotes new areas of S&T pursuit based on determined gaps in the research portfolio. He also identifies research opportunities and analyzes advancements in a broad variety of scientific fields to advise on their impact for Soldier programs and objectives. He recommends new initiatives and adjustments in basic and applied research programs to meet current and future Soldier capability needs. He is also an Army lead for the DoD Biotech and Human Systems Commun. of Interest.

In his Previous role, Dr. Robb Wilcox was the DEVCOM SC’s S&T Lead for Human Systems Performance. In this role, he contributed to the important Soldier Center efforts in Human Systems Performance by shaping the strategy, research activities and relationships across a breadth of RDT&E efforts. He was previously the Director of the Soldier Performance Optimization Directorate at the DEVCOM SC and was responsible for 120 soldier performance team leaders, scientists, engineers, and specialists developing new capabilities through research and development to improve soldier performance.
His expertise covers a breadth of science and engineering of soldier systems, covering the fields of biotechnology, human sciences and engineering, material science, sensing, AI, M&S and advanced electronic- to name a few.
Prior to positions at the Soldier Center, Dr. Wilcox was the Chief Scientist of the U.S. Army Research Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) – Atlantic. In this role he served as the principal technical expert in the UK, Europe, the Middle East, the Former Soviet Republics as well as Africa for the Army. He advised RDECOM on international S&T collaboration opportunities relevant to US Army research interests and leveraged international S&T into US programs.

Prior to his appointment in 2012 as Chief Scientist, RDECOM-ATL, Dr. Wilcox was Associate Director at the Office of Naval Research Global (ONRG) where he was responsible for discovering and fostering S&T partnerships with international researchers, industry, and government organizations with members of the U.S. Naval Research Enterprise. His areas of expertise included many domains of basic and applied S&T to support Expeditionary and Irregular warfare s of the US Marine Corps. Prior to becoming Associate Director at ONRG, Dr. Wilcox was the lead Science Advisor to the CNO Strategic Studies Group, where he led revolutionary warfighting concept development with a 30-year futurist perspective.

After 10 years of service in the US Coast Guard as an officer and engineer, Dr. Wilcox joined The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL) where he applied engineering, scientific knowledge and military operational experience to R&D projects in defense, space, and homeland security domains. Dr. Wilcox is a risk and reliability modeling expert contributing to system safety, security and performance optimization with many applications including the spacecraft design for JHU/APL’s mission to Pluto and performance assessment of systems. Dr. Wilcox also served as supervisor and supported establishment of the first Human Systems Integration Section at JHU/APL. While at JHU/APL, he also served as an instructor for the Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering.
Dr. Wilcox is an Honors graduate in Engineering from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. He received
two MS degrees in Engineering from M.I.T. He also received a Ph.D. in Engineering from the University of Maryland with research focus on human/systems performance in modeling & simulation. Dr. Wilcox is a licensed Professional Engineer and an alumni of the Harvard Senior Executives Fellows Program. Dr. Wilcox currently lives in Holliston, MA with his wife Maryann and has a daughter Mackenzie at University in the UK.

Major Matti Finnilä is the project manager for Small Arms Family 2030-, Night Combat Capability 2025- and Soldier Equipment-projects of the Dismounted Soldier Program in the Finnish Army. He is also the chief instructor of the Sniper Center of Excellence. Major Finnilä has 20 years' experience of both light and mechanized infantry including two deployments to Afghanistan.

As Former Program Manager, Soldier Warrior, PEO Soldier, US Army COL (R) Hansen spent 26 years in the US Army in both the war fighting and acquisition fields. He held various command and staff positions in self-propelled, towed, and airborne artillery units and fire support elements. His research, development, and acquisition experience includes various assignments as a product, project, or program manager in electric guns, armored vehicles, and precision guided munitions. In his last 4 years of service as the Project Manager for Soldier Warrior, he was responsible for weapons, clothing, and equipment for aviation crewmen (Air Warrior), dismounted Soldiers (Land Warrior, Ground Soldier Ensemble), and vehicle crewmen (Mounted Soldier).

Major Matti Finnilä is the project manager for Small Arms Family 2030-, Night Combat Capability 2025- and Soldier Equipment-projects of the Dismounted Soldier Program in the Finnish Army. He is also the chief instructor of the Sniper Center of Excellence. Major Finnilä has 20 years' experience of both light and mechanized infantry including two deployments to Afghanistan.

Robb Wilcox is the US Army DEVCOM Soldier Center’s Chief Research Officer. In this role, he is the principal scientific/technical advisor and primary authority for basic and applied research programs at the Soldier Center. He evaluates the quality of research programs and promotes new areas of S&T pursuit based on determined gaps in the research portfolio. He also identifies research opportunities and analyzes advancements in a broad variety of scientific fields to advise on their impact for Soldier programs and objectives. He recommends new initiatives and adjustments in basic and applied research programs to meet current and future Soldier capability needs. He is also an Army lead for the DoD Biotech and Human Systems Commun. of Interest.

In his Previous role, Dr. Robb Wilcox was the DEVCOM SC’s S&T Lead for Human Systems Performance. In this role, he contributed to the important Soldier Center efforts in Human Systems Performance by shaping the strategy, research activities and relationships across a breadth of RDT&E efforts. He was previously the Director of the Soldier Performance Optimization Directorate at the DEVCOM SC and was responsible for 120 soldier performance team leaders, scientists, engineers, and specialists developing new capabilities through research and development to improve soldier performance.
His expertise covers a breadth of science and engineering of soldier systems, covering the fields of biotechnology, human sciences and engineering, material science, sensing, AI, M&S and advanced electronic- to name a few.
Prior to positions at the Soldier Center, Dr. Wilcox was the Chief Scientist of the U.S. Army Research Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) – Atlantic. In this role he served as the principal technical expert in the UK, Europe, the Middle East, the Former Soviet Republics as well as Africa for the Army. He advised RDECOM on international S&T collaboration opportunities relevant to US Army research interests and leveraged international S&T into US programs.

Prior to his appointment in 2012 as Chief Scientist, RDECOM-ATL, Dr. Wilcox was Associate Director at the Office of Naval Research Global (ONRG) where he was responsible for discovering and fostering S&T partnerships with international researchers, industry, and government organizations with members of the U.S. Naval Research Enterprise. His areas of expertise included many domains of basic and applied S&T to support Expeditionary and Irregular warfare s of the US Marine Corps. Prior to becoming Associate Director at ONRG, Dr. Wilcox was the lead Science Advisor to the CNO Strategic Studies Group, where he led revolutionary warfighting concept development with a 30-year futurist perspective.

After 10 years of service in the US Coast Guard as an officer and engineer, Dr. Wilcox joined The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL) where he applied engineering, scientific knowledge and military operational experience to R&D projects in defense, space, and homeland security domains. Dr. Wilcox is a risk and reliability modeling expert contributing to system safety, security and performance optimization with many applications including the spacecraft design for JHU/APL’s mission to Pluto and performance assessment of systems. Dr. Wilcox also served as supervisor and supported establishment of the first Human Systems Integration Section at JHU/APL. While at JHU/APL, he also served as an instructor for the Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering.
Dr. Wilcox is an Honors graduate in Engineering from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. He received
two MS degrees in Engineering from M.I.T. He also received a Ph.D. in Engineering from the University of Maryland with research focus on human/systems performance in modeling & simulation. Dr. Wilcox is a licensed Professional Engineer and an alumni of the Harvard Senior Executives Fellows Program. Dr. Wilcox currently lives in Holliston, MA with his wife Maryann and has a daughter Mackenzie at University in the UK.

Bharat Patel currently serves as the product lead for Project Linchpin, an effort he spearheaded in July 2022. Project Linchpin is the Army’s first program of record that will deliver Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) capabilities at scale by creating a collaborative and competitive ecosystem of industry and government partners to deliver trusted AI/ML capabilities. Project Linchpin is a collaboration between Program Executive Officer Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors (PEO IEW&S), Army Futures Command’s AI Integration Center (AI2C), Army Research Labs (ARL), C5ISR Center, and Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) / Chief Data and AI Office (CDAO).

As Former Program Manager, Soldier Warrior, PEO Soldier, US Army COL (R) Hansen spent 26 years in the US Army in both the war fighting and acquisition fields. He held various command and staff positions in self-propelled, towed, and airborne artillery units and fire support elements. His research, development, and acquisition experience includes various assignments as a product, project, or program manager in electric guns, armored vehicles, and precision guided munitions. In his last 4 years of service as the Project Manager for Soldier Warrior, he was responsible for weapons, clothing, and equipment for aviation crewmen (Air Warrior), dismounted Soldiers (Land Warrior, Ground Soldier Ensemble), and vehicle crewmen (Mounted Soldier).