Brigadier General (Ret.) Andrew Armacost

Andrew Armacost is the President of the University of North Dakota.
Armacost served more than 30 years on active duty and 20 years at the U.S. Air Force Academy, in the rank of Brigadier General as the chief academic officer. His additional service to the Air Force included assignments as the Chief Analyst at Air Force Space Command and as a program manager for systems supporting the intelligence community and the White House.
Armacost has earned recognition and numerous awards at the institutional, national, and international levels.
He and his wife, Kathy, are the parents of Ava and Audrey.
 

Colonel Brad “Verde” Green

Colonel Green graduated from San Diego State University in 1997 with a Bachelor’s Degree of Liberal Arts in Sociology, Geography and Naval Science. Commissioned in 1998 via the Platoon Leader’s Course, he completed The Basic School (TBS) the following year. After TBS, he attended both Air Support Control Officers Course and Low Altitude Air Defense (LAAD) Officers Course in 1999.

In September 1999 he reported to Marine Air Support Squadron 1 (MASS-1), qualifying in all positions in the Direct Air Support Center (DASC); while serving as a Platoon Commander, Air Support Liaison Team OIC, LNO, Air Contingency MAGTF (ACM) OIC, multiple CONUS and OCONUS deployments Det OIC and as Weapons and Tactics Training Program (WTTP) OIC. In 2000 he was promoted to First Lieutenant, then completed Winter Mountain Warfare Course at the Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, California in 2001.

In 2002 he was promoted to Captain and later that year reported to the 26 MEU (SOC) as the Marine Air Control Group (MACG) Detachment OIC. During the deployment he participated in Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF-1) with Joint Special Operations Task Force-North (JSOTF-N) in Mosul, Iraq and later as part of Joint Task Force Liberia. Upon returning from the MEU in 2003, he returned to MASS-1 to serve as the DASC Commander until June 2004.

From 2004-07 he served at Air Schools (C Co.), Marine Corps Communications and Electronics School (MCCES) in Twenty-nine Palms as the Air Support Training Section OIC and later as the C Co. Deputy Director, OpsO and XO. From 2005-07 he also led both the MCCES Bn and Marine Corps Base Shooting Teams as OIC and trained with 3d Battalion, 4th Marines Scout Snipers in long range marksmanship. In 2006, he graduated from the WTI Course.

In 2007 he attended the UAS Mission Commander (MC) Course and was assigned to the VMU-2 Nightowls; deploying twice to OIF as an MC for the RQ-2 Pioneer, RQ-7B Shadow and ScanEagle UASs. Promoted to Major in 2008, he served in VMU-2 as the Fleet NATOPS Evaluator, Squadron WTI, Operations Officer and Executive Officer.

Assigned to MAWTS-1 from 2010-13, he stood up the UAS Specialist billet in the Aviation Development, Tactics & Evaluation (ADT&E) Dept, served as the UAS Division Head and transitioned to the 7315 Unmanned Aircraft Commander (UAC) MOS on the Marine Corps' first 7315 officer MOS transition board. Major Green led the transition of the UAS Div from the C3 Dept to the TACAIR Dept, due evolving UAS fires integration and terminal guidance operations. He also attended and assessed the USAF’s MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Officers Course, which became the foundation for the Marine Corps’ 7315 MOS school training pipeline.

In 2013-14, Major Green attended the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, serving as the Class President and earning his Master’s Degree in Military Studies. Upon graduation, he reported to the Pentagon to serve in the Aviation Hallway as a UAS Requirements officer and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 2014. In 2015 he checked into Marine Aircraft Group-14, serving as the Department of Safety and Standardization OIC, then became VMU-2’s XO.

Lieutenant Colonel Green took command of VMU-2 in 2016. Under his charge, the Nightowls transitioned T/M/S from RQ-7B Shadow to RQ-21A Blackjack, deployed multiple RQ-21A dets to Operations ODYSSEY LIGHTNING in Sirte, Libya with the MEUs and to INHERANT RESOLVE in Mosul, Iraq with MARSOC ISO CJSOTF-OIR. VMU-2 earned the VMU Squadron of the Year for 2015 and 2016. The squadron completed the Army’s Cold Weather Operations Course (CWOC) at Ft. McCoy, Wisconsin and were the first VMU to deploy for training in Norway.

From 2018-19 he attended the Army War College, graduating with honors and earning his Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies. He reported to Headquarters, European Command, serving as the J35X Special Operations Branch (SOB) Chief from 2019-21. During his tenure, the SOB ran EUCOM’s SOF sensitive activities and operations and presidentially directed missions. He was promoted to Colonel in 2020.

As of August 2021, Colonel Green was assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps, Aviation as the UAS Branch Head.

Colonel Green accumulated over 1900 flight hours and is also a Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC). His personal awards include Joint and Meritorious Service Medals, Navy Commendation Medals, one with Combat “V,” a Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal and the Combat Action Ribbon, winner of the Holcomb Trophy Medal and multiple military and civilian shooting match medals and trophies.

Colonel Brian J. Neff

Colonel Brian Neff is the Permanent Professor and Head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the U.S. Air Force Academy. He instructs students in a variety of classroom and laboratory courses, and leads the department’s 25 faculty, staff, and researchers in the instruction of approximately 1,400 students per year. Additionally, Colonel Neff directs an active research program including the Academy Center for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Research and maintains state of the art lab and test facilities.
Colonel Neff entered the Air Force in 1999 through Air Force ROTC at the University of Pittsburgh. He has deployed in support of Iraqi Freedom, where he was the Detachment Commander for the Joint Air Battle Staff. Colonel Neff was previously a permanent party faculty member at the USAF Test Pilot School and continues to serve as adjunct faculty, where he leads the test community in modernizing Electro-Optic flight test techniques. Prior to his current position, Colonel Neff was a squadron commander for the 746th Test Squadron, where he led the developmental test efforts for DoD global positioning system upgrades.
Colonel Neff is an accomplished flight test engineer with 573 military flight hours in 35 unique aircraft types. Additionally, he has 292 combat flight hours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Colonel Joshua P. Higgins

COL Joshua P. Higgins is a native of Johnstown, Pennsylvania and was commissioned a second lieutenant in Aviation Branch in June 1995.

COL Higgins’ previous assignments include duty as a Platoon Leader for Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment; Executive Officer for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade; Rear Detachment Commander for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade; Assistant Operations Officer for 17th Aviation Brigade, Republic of Korea; Assistant Operations Officer for 10th Combat Aviation Brigade; Commander of Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment during OEF 4; Commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade; Aviation Branch Captains Assignment Officer, US Army Human Resources Command; Executive Officer and Operations Officer for 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment during OIF 09-11; Executive Officer for 25th Combat Aviation Brigade during OEF 12-13; Commander of 2-25th Aviation Regiment; Chief, Commanders Initiative Group, United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence. Chief, Operations and Integration Division, Army Aviation, HQDA G-3/5/7 (DAMO-AV), and 29th Commandant of the United States Military Academy Preparatory School at West Point, NY. Currently, COL Higgins is the Director of Aviation Capability Development and Integration Directorate for the Army Futures Command, Futures and Concepts Center at Fort Rucker, Alabama.

COL Higgins holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Management from the United States Military Academy at West Point, a Master of Science in Continuing and Adult Education from Kansas State University, and a Master of Science in National Security Strategy from the National War College. He is a graduate of the Aviation Officer Basic Course, the Initial Entry Rotary Wing Course, the Aviation Officer Advanced Course, the United States Army Command and General Staff College, and the National War College.

His military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf cluster, the Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Army Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terror Expeditionary and Service Medals, Korea Defense Service Medal, and NATO Medal. He has been awarded the Master Army Aviator Badge and Combat Action Badge.

COL Higgins is married to the former Allison Cummins. Their daughter, Olivia, attends graduate school at American University, and their son, Jack, attends Berklee College of Music.

Colonel Matthew L. Isaacson

COL Isaacson attended the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point. Upon completion of USMA in 1996, Matt Isaacson earned a BS degree in Mathematical Sciences and began his career as an Army Aviation officer. He initially served as an AH-64 Apache pilot, serving both at Weonju, South Korea and Fort Campbell, KY in multiple leadership roles including support platoon leader, flight platoon leader, and aviation maintenance company commander. As a pilot, he also served as an AH-64 mission pilot, unit trainer, and maintenance test pilot.
In 2003, he was accepted into the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne). He served within the 160th SOAR (Abn) from 2003 to 2010 in a variety of roles including company executive officer, aviation maintenance company commander (of two companies), and Regimental Aviation Maintenance Officer. He served both at Fort Campbell, KY and Joint Base Lewis/McChord, WA while assigned to the 160th SOAR (Abn). As a pilot, he also served as an A/MH-6 "Little Bird" and MH-47 "Chinook" pilot and maintenance test pilot.
In 2010, he attended the U.S. Air Force Air Command & Staff College (ACSC) at Maxwell Air Force Base, AL, earning a MS degree in Military Art & Science. Upon completion of ACSC, he was assigned to the U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command at Fort Bragg, NC to serve as the Command’s Aviation Maintenance Officer.
From 2015 to 2017, COL Isaacson served as the 209th Aviation Support Battalion (ASB) Commander at Wheeler Army Airfield Hawaii. While in Hawaii, he flew the CH-47F “Chinook.” The 209th ASB supported the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, consisting of an Armed Reconnaissance Squadron of AH-64D Apaches, an Assault Helicopter Battalion of UH-60M Black Hawks, and a General Support Aviation Battalion of HH-60M Medevac, UH-60L VIP support, and CH-47F Chinooks.
COL Isaacson has been stationed at Redstone Arsenal, AL since the summer of 2017. COL Isaacson served as the Chief of Staff for the AMCOM Logistics Center (ALC) for one year before moving to the Future Vertical Lift CFT in May of 2018 as the G3.
COL Isaacson deployed twelve times totaling over two years deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. COL Isaacson’s awards and decorations include the MSM (4OLC), Bronze Star Medal (2OLC), Air Medal (Numeral 2), Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (1OLC), Afghanistan Campaign Medal (1 campaign star), Iraqi Campaign Medal (3 campaign stars), the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Korean Defense Service Medal, and the following badges: Master Aviator, Airborne, and Air Assault.

Colonel Nathan P. Diller

Col Diller received his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2000. After simultaneous master’s degrees at Harvard and MIT, he attended Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training and flew F-16s for two Combat Air Force assignments, becoming an instructor pilot. He was selected for the French Test Pilot school and then completed his first test tour at Edwards AFB, supporting B-1, B-2, F-16, F-22 and F-35 flight test and instructing at the Test Pilot School. He served as an Executive Officer to the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board and as a Defense Advanced Research Project Agency Service Chiefs Fellow. Upon completing a program management tour at the Space and Missile Center, he took command of the 586th Flight Test Squadron, supervising classified flight test for joint, interagency and international clients.

Col Diller attended the Eisenhower School, completing the Senior Acquistion Course and was assigned as the Air and Space Branch Chief in the Joint Staff J8. He then became that Assistant Director of Aeronautics at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and served at the Office of the Secretary of Defense Strategic Capabilties Office and the Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office.

Col Diller is a member of the Acquisition Corps and is certified as a Level III Program Manager and Test professional. He is a senior pilot with over 2,700 hours in more than 50 aircraft.

Colonel Steven M. Beattie II

Colonel Steven M. Beattie II is the Commander, 49th Operations Group, Holloman AFB, NM. The group is comprised of the 6th Attack Squadron, 9th Attack Squadron, 16th Training Squadron, and 29th Attack Squadron at Holloman AFB, with the 491st Attack Squadron at Hancock Field ANGB in Syracuse, NY and the 492d Attack Squadron at March ARB in Riverside, CA. The 49th Operations Group is the lead MQ-9 Reaper Formal Training Unit building the backbone of combat airpower for our nation.

Colonel Beattie was commissioned in 1998 via the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of Missouri-Rolla. He earned his pilot wings in 2000 at Fort Rucker, Alabama and is now a command pilot with more than 3,800 hours flying formal training, special operations persistent attack and reconnaissance, and special airlift missions in the MQ-9 Reaper, MQ-1 Predator, and the UH-1 Huey respectively. He has participated in Operations Nobel Eagle, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and Nomad Shadow.

Prior to this assignment, Colonel Beattie served as the Chief, Special Programs Division, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Operations, Warfighter Support, Office of the
Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security where he oversaw advanced Remotely Piloted Aircraft development for Great Power Competition.

Commander Brian Conlan

CDR Brian X. Conlan is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and U.S. Air Force Air Command and Staff College, Joint Professional Military Education Program. He received his commission through Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, FL and was designated a Naval Aviator in 2006.

Operationally, CDR Conlan has deployed to CENTCOM, INDOPACOM, EUCOM, AFRICOM and SOUTHCOM AORs. He served as VP-10’s Pilot Training Officer and Assistant Operations Officer and as VP-45’s Tactics, Safety-NATOPS, Training and Maintenance Department Head while qualifying as Functional Check Flight Pilot, Instructor Pilot, Mission Commander, and Special Mission Aircraft Commander. Afloat, he served as Aide-de-Camp to Carrier Strike Group TEN aboard both the USS Truman and USS Eisenhower.

His shore tours include Commander, Task Force 67, Turkey and Levant Desk Officer, and Assistant Officer-in-Charge of Tactical Operations Center, NAS Sigonella; military advisor, US State Department; and as a member of the Vice Chairman’s, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Strategic Innovation Group.

CDR Conlan has more than 2,000 flight hours in multiple Air Force, Naval and civilian manned and unmanned aircraft and is entitled to wear the Air Medal (1st Strike/Flight Award) and other personal, unit and service awards.

Following service as Executive Officer from April 2020 until May of 2021, he now serves as the Commanding Officer of the US Navy’s first Unmanned Aviation Squadron, VUP-19, employing both the BAMS-D[Broad Area Maritime Surveillance Demonstrator] and MQ-4C Triton in multiple theatres.

Commander Chad Thompson

CDR Chad Thompson is the Coast Guard Office of Aviation Forces UAS Division Chief. In this role, he manages the Coast Guard’s long, medium and short-range UAS programs. His office focuses on all aspects of maritime unmanned air vehicles, managing current programs and steering future capability to meet Coast Guard mission needs throughout the maritime domain.

Previously, CDR Thompson served as an International Port Security Liaison Officer at Coast Guard Activities Europe in Schinnen, Netherlands where he conducted port security inspections and training throughout Africa, The Middle East and Europe. He has also served as an MH-65D helicopter instructor pilot with experience in search and rescue and drug interdiction.

CDR Thompson is a 2003 graduate of The U.S. Coast Guard Academy and a 2010 graduate of the National Graduate School of Quality Systems Management.
 

Dr Ashish Bagai

Ashish Bagai has a formal education in Aerospace Engineering with a specialization in rotary-wing aerodynamics from the University of Maryland and earned his Doctorate in 1995. Ashish has worked in industry, served as an academic mentor and advisor and most recently was a Program Manager for 5 years at the Tactical Technology Office at DARPA where he received a DoD Medal for Meritorious Public Service.

Ashish currently operates as an Independent Consultant Subject Matter Expert, supporting advanced technology R&D and program development efforts for several private clients and government offices in vertical flight and subsonic fixed wing concepts.

Dr. Randal W. Beard

Randal W. Beard received the B.S. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, in 1991, the M.S. degree in electrical engineering in 1993, the M.S. degree in mathematics in 1994, and the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering in 1995, all from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N.Y. Since 1996, he has been with the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, where he is currently a professor. In 1997 and 1998, he was a Summer Faculty Fellow at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA. In 2006-2007 he was a National Research Council Fellow at the Air Force Research Labs at Eglin Air Force Base, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, where he worked on vision-based guidance and control algorithms for micro air vehicles.

His primary research focus is autonomous systems, unmanned air vehicles, and multiple vehicle coordination and control. He is a fellow of the IEEE and of the AIAA. He is a former associate editor for the IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control, the Journal of Intelligent and Robotics Systems, and the IEEE Control Systems Magazine. In 1998 and 2004 he was voted the outstanding teacher in the BYU Electrical and Computer Engineering Department by graduating seniors, and in 2002 he received the Outstanding Professor award from the BYU Electrical and Computer Engineering Department. In 2004 he was awarded the BYU Young Scholar Award and in 2006 he was awarded the BYU Technology Transfer Award, and in 2009 he was awarded the Karl G. Maeser Research and Creative Arts Award for excellence in research, and in 2018 he was awarded the Karl G. Maeser Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Award, BYU’s top faculty award. He currently holds the Steven V. White University Professorship. His students have won numerous competitions and awards for their work on micro air vehicles.

Lieutenant Colonel Julien Letarte

LCol Julien Letarte was born in Ottawa, Ontario and grew up in Canada’s National Capital Region. He enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces in 1998 at age 16 and was awarded a Bachelor’s degree in Space Sciences from the Royal Military College (RMC) in Kingston.

After pilot training, Julien started flying the mighty CP140 Aurora. With two tours at 407 squadron on the Pacific Coast as well as an operational tour at 405 squadron and an instructional tour at 404 squadron on the Atlantic Coast, he participated in many exercises and operations worldwide. Some of these deployments include commanding Heron UAV missions over Afghanistan, flying the first operational CP140 mission over Iraq during operation Impact and patrolling the seas in support of NATO and coalition forces.

He graduated from the Joint Command and Staff Programme with a masters in Defence Studies and started working for the RCAF RPAS project as part of the Directorate of Air Requirements in Ottawa in 2020. Representing the Air Force, he manages requirements and prepares to integrate this new capability within the Canadian flight line.

Lieutenant Colonel Michael S. Chmielewski

Lt Col Michael S. Chmielewski is the Commander of the 556 Test and Evaluation Squadron (TES), Creech Air Force Base (AFB), Nev. The squadron conducts operational test on the MQ-9 Reaper weapons system. It supports higher headquarters test priorities, integratesemerging technology for Remotely Piloted Aircraft, and delivers and trains warfighters to the new capabilities and tactics.
 

Lt Col Chmielewski was commissioned from the United States Air Force Academy in 2004. He has 16 years of active duty service, is a graduate of the USAF Weapons Instructor Course, and has been assigned to bases in Japan, Texas, Ohio, Nevada, New Mexico, and Florida. Lt Col Chmielewski has been the MQ-9 Formal Training Unit chief instructor and the wing weapons officer at Holloman AFB, N.M. He was the operations MQ-9 subject matter expert for Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command (HQ AFSOC) and the HQ AFSOC Weapons and Tactics Branch Chief.

While deployed to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Lt Col Chmielewski was the deputy director of the Special Operations Liaison Element integrating the Special Operations Command Central SpecialForces with the 609 Air and Space Operations Center. He is a Command Pilot with more than 2,700 hours. Prior to his current position, Lt Col Chmielewski was the Director of Operations, 556 Test and Evaluation Squadron, Creech AFB, Nev.

Lieutenant Colonel Paul J. Calhoun

Lt Col Paul J. Calhoun is a program manager at the Defense Advanced Projects Research Agency (DARPA) focusing on distributed air operations and resilient energy networks. Prior to his position at DARPA, he researched disruptive technology applications for special operations at the Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy. He was the Commander of the 418th Flight Test Squadron leading a test force of over 340 military, civilian, and contractors responsible for developmental test and evaluation of global mobility aircraft and parachute systems. This includes upgrades to the C5, C-17, KC-10, and KC-135, developmental test of the Air Force’s newest aircraft the KC-46, and executing advanced airdrop test missions for Air Mobility Command, the Missile Defense Agency and NASA.

Lieutenant Colonel Calhoun was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. He received his commission from the United States Air Force Academy in 2002 where he was the top Academic graduate. He continued his education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) earning a Master’s Degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics. He attended pilot training at Columbus AFB, MS where he was the #1 pilot graduate for 2006 as the Annual Orville Wright Award nominee. He began his operational career as a C-17 pilot at Charleston AFB, SC. He deployed multiple times to the Middle East in support of operations ENDURING FREEDOM, IRAQI FREEDOM and NEW DAWN where he had over 1,100 combat hours and 48 combat airdrops. As a lead Special Operations Evaluator pilot he flew worldwide missions in direct support of unconventional tactics. After attending USAF Test Pilot School at Edwards AFB in 2012, he was the lead test pilot for the first air launched intermediate range ballistic missile launched to bolster Missile Defense Agency capabilities and provided developmental support for NASA’s new manned space capsule program. He led pioneering work in biometric sensors applications for measuring workload in flight test. Lt Col Calhoun is a command pilot with over 3,400 hours in the C-17, KC-46, T-38, F-16, F/A-18, and 30 other aircraft.

Lieutenant Colonel Tom Meagher

Lt Col Tom Meagher is the Chief of the AFWERX Prime Division. He leads the acceleration of emerging dual-use technology markets by leveraging government resources for rapid and affordable fielding for the Department of the Air Force.
Lt Col Meagher commissioned from the Air Force Academy in 2004. A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, he has held positions as an operational B-52 pilot, program manager, and test and evaluation pilot for multiple aircraft platforms. Recent assignments include commanding the 419th Flight Test Squadron for B-1, B-2, and B-52 developmental test and C-12 training operations, followed by graduation from the Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy.

Major General (Ret.) Lawrence Stutzriem

Maj Gen Larry "Stutz" Stutzriem, USAF (Ret.) is the Director of Research for the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.
BACKGROUND: He attained the rank of Major General in the U.S. Air Force while serving over 30 years as a fighter pilot, commander, and strategist. He’s flown F-4, F-16, and A-10 aircraft. Additionally, he flew T-37 and T-38 aircraft as both instructor and commander in the Air Force’s rapid-paced specialized undergraduate pilot training program. Mid-career he served as Professor of National Security Studies on the faculty of the National War College, the Nation’s most prestigious defense school located in Washington, DC, at Fort Lesley J. McNair. Following 9/11, General Stutzriem was on the leadership team that directed air operations in Afghanistan resulting in the surrender of the Taliban government in 90 days. He pioneered time-sensitive targeting in Afghanistan that led to current high-leverage targeting concepts. During nation-building operations in Iraq, he was assigned to the U.S. Department of State to reinvigorate the political-military interface. His final assignment was as Director of Strategy, Plans, and Policy for U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). There, he led a dynamic team that achieved historic breakthroughs in theatre security cooperation in the Western Hemisphere and the first Arctic defense strategy. He was a key leader in the modernization of the structure by which defense assets and personnel can be used to assist in missions normally carried out by civil authorities, such as responses to natural and man-made disasters. Before joining the Mitchell Institute, he worked as a consultant to a range of organizations from small business to NASA.
AREAS OF FOCUS: He’s a recognized expert in national security, aerospace power, and combat aircraft operations.
ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL TITLES: General Stutzriem has a BS in Civil Engineering from Arizona State University, an MS in Aviation Management from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University,
and a Masters of National Security Strategy from the National Defense University. Among his career achievements, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal during Operation Enduring Freedom and
received the State Department's top service award while acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs.

Mr Darshan Divakaran

Darshan “Dash” Divakaran is an aerospace intrapreneur and technology evangelist with expertise in unmanned aviation, aviation development, geospatial analysis, emerging
technologies, and program management. His areas of expertise in unmanned aviation also includes Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM), Counter-UAS (CUAS) and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM). He has led efforts to work with federal, state, public safety, industry, and academia to develop, integrate and manage national/statewide programs and initiatives. He has been recognized by Interdrone and Commercial UAV News as one of the top commercial drone visionaries.
Darshan works for AFWERX, the innovation arm of the Department of Air Force, as the Senior Manager for Strategic Innovation & Partnerships. In this role he leads efforts to promote
innovation and integration through joint operations, interagency, state, and academic partnerships. In addition, he supports the industry engagement, outreach, and educational
initiatives for AFWERX. He is also the government subject matter expert for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) and Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems
(sUAS) on the AFWERX Agility Prime program, a non-traditional program to accelerate the commercial market for advanced air mobility vehicles and create a robust domestic industry and supply chain to support their development and production.
Darshan holds a Masters in Geospatial Information Science and Technology from North Carolina State University and BS in Professional Aeronautics and Aviation Management from EmbryRiddle Aeronautical University. He is also an FAA certified commercial pilot with multi engine rating and holds a FAA part 107 remote pilot certificate.

Mr David M. Breede

Mr. David M. Breede is the Program Executive Officer (PEO) for Special Reconnaissance (SR) at the HQ US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), MacDill AFB, FL. He is responsible for synchronizing the development, testing, acquisition, and fielding of SOF-Peculiar systems for technical collection, intelligence support, and sensitive site exploitation. Mr. Breede directs a cross functional team of professionals to execute a portfolio of military intelligence systems acquisition and rapid capability insertion research and development programs.
 

Mr. Breede, a native of Stafford, Virginia, joined the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) at Dahlgren, VA as a Mechanical Engineer, Standard Missile Test and Instrumentation after graduating from Virginia Tech where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Science & Mechanics. After 10 years at NSWC, he moved on to the Test & Evaluation Directorate of the US Marine Corps’ Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle Program. For three years he served as a systems engineer supporting all phases of developmental and operational testing. At USSOCOM, he has served as an acquisition program manager for a Joint Capability Technology Demonstration and as the Director for the Integrated Strike Programs for PEO Fixed Wing. As director he was responsible for the execution of the AC-130J nextgeneration gunship ACAT II EMD Program; AC-130W ACAT III evolutionary acquisition program; and Precision Guided Munition commodity procurement program.
 

Mr. Breede is a career acquisition and engineering professional and a graduate of the National Defense University’s Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy.

Mr John "J.R." Reid

John “J.R.” Reid is Vice President for Strategic Development at General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. In this capacity, he develops business strategy and leads a team of business development professionals to promote the company’s full line of remotely piloted aircraft and sensor payloads to the Department of Defense and other U.S. Government customers. He is responsible for a business capture portfolio that includes the MQ-9 Reaper, MQ-1C Gray Eagle, Avenger UAS, Advanced Programs, Mission Payloads, and ISR services lines of business. He and his team are focused on providing customers with effective, reliable and affordable mission solutions.
Prior to joining GA-ASI in May 2013, Mr. Reid served in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a Colonel. During his military career, he commanded an operational flying squadron and completed staff tours as Division Chief, Headquarters, Air Force, and as Senior Military Assistant, Office of Net Assessment, Office of the Secretary of Defense. He holds ratings as a Command Pilot with over 4,200 hours in the C-130, C-17, T-38, and T-37, including 150 combat hours. His military decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, five Meritorious Service Medals, and three Air Medals.
Mr. Reid holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from EmbryRiddle Aeronautical University and two Master of Arts degrees in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, RI, and the U.S. Air War College in Montgomery, AL.

Mr Leo McCloskey

Mr Patrick C. O'Brien

Mr. Patrick C. O’Brien is the Deputy Director of Aviation Platforms Requirements Determination Directorate and the Supervisory Engineer for the Army Aviation Capabilities Development and Integration Directorate. He graduated from the United States Military Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering in June 1991 and the Georgia Institute of Technology with a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering in May 2001. At Georgia Tech, he was one of three Army Officers that led a team of engineers that won the 2000 NASA/American Helicopter Society design competition for proof of concept for a Martian Helicopter. He is a Master Army Aviator with operational assignments as Pilot in Command of the AH-1F C-Nite Cobra, AH-64A/C Apache, C-12 Huron, and C-182 Skylane. He was an Assistant Professor at the United States Military Academy teaching the Aerospace Engineering courses. He served as a Space Operations Officer (FA-40) as the Director of Ground Test Operations (HWIL) for Missile Defense Agency and Senior Missile Defense/Missile Warning Instructor at the National Security Space Institute.

Mr Tim Deaver

Tim Deaver will serve as VP of Strategic Solutions and U.S. Government Business Development and Sales in the Mynaric Washington D.C. area office and is responsible for creating and marketing customer solutions for Mynaric’s industry leading Laser Communication Terminals. Tim leads a team focused on Customer Success, from requirements capture, to solutions development, and customer delivery. He works closely with the Mynaric Sales team across critical Government and Commercial markets.
Prior to joining Mynaric, Tim worked for Airbus U.S. Space and Defense for 3 years leading their US Government focused small satellite capture and engineering efforts. Mr. Deaver also worked for SES and SES Government Solutions for over 10 years where he led the business and product development activities. Mr. Deaver led the SES GS team which won the USAF Space and Missile System Center (SMC) Pathfinder 1 contract for the purchase of near-end of life transponders, SMC’s Pathfinder 3 contract for prelaunched capacity on an SES satellite, the NASA Global-scale Observation of Limb and Disk (GOLD) hosted payload launched on SES-14 (built by Airbus Defense and Space) in 2018 and the FAA’s Wide-Area Augmentation System (WAAS) payload launched on SES-15 in 2017. Mr. Deaver also served as the program manager and
eventually the Program Executive for the Commercially Hosted Infra-Red Payload (CHIRP) program which was launched in September 2011 aboard the SES-2 spacecraft.
Prior to joining SES, Mr. Deaver served 22 years in the U.S. Air Force in various space operational, acquisition and policy positions. Tim holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Nebraska, a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Colorado and a Master’s Degree from Air University.

Mr Timothy Bean

Since April of 2016, Timothy Bean is chief executive officer of Fortem Technologies, bringing more than 25 years of global executive experience building deep tech products and systems to advance society, most recently at Fortem protecting critical venues, campuses and cities from AI-drive autonomous robotic drone attacks and creating safe air corridors to support emerging air mobility solutions around the globe. He is passionate to build businesses to forward the nation’s progress for a safer and more secure world.
Shortly after 9/11, Tim was a founding executive and VP of Engineering and later Chief Revenue Officer of a company that worked closely with law enforcement and allies of the USA to deliver signal intelligence solutions to find and stop terrorists.
Tim began his career as an engineer at Aspect Communications, where he was responsible for all software development for their flagship telecommunication products, generating over $500M in annual revenue for the product line.
Tim earned his B.S. in Design Engineering from BYU. A frequent speaker at international counter terror and airspace security events, Tim is an active member of AUVSI, The Security Industry Association, Airforce Association, and is a member of key airspace industry organizations including ACI. He serves on the Board of PJFL and Zapmoto. He has been widely quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Forbes, CNN and The Atlantic. Born and raised near Cleveland, Ohio, Tim is married with kids and remains a passionate Cleveland sports fan, where he’s been trying to convert his family to root for his hometown teams for more years than he’s willing to admit.

Wing Commander Frederick A. Wigglesworth

Wing Commander Fred Wigglesworth is a joint staff officer, commander and RPAS pilot with a fast-jet Air Defence and instructional background. He first served as a Tornado F3 pilot on 43(F) Sqn, RAF Leuchars, holding Northern Quick Reaction Alert before being posted to RAF Valley as a Qualified Flying Instructor. He concluded his tour as a Central Flying School instructor, enjoying the challenge of training a cadre of Algerian Air Force trainee instructors.

As both the Tornado F3 and the Hawk T1 neared the end of their service, Wigglesworth converted to the MQ-9 Reaper on 39 Sqn, Creech Air Force Base, Nevada. From there he conducted over 200 operational missions and 1200 hours on Ops HERRICK and SHADER, providing direct support to troops through ISTAR and air-to-ground strike. This period included an out-of-area tour in 2011, as SO2 Air for Regional Command (South West), Op HERRICK, Afghanistan. During this rewarding tour he was heavily involved in the development of the Afghan Air Force as well as the ongoing air operations of CF assets.

Wigglesworth returned to 39 Sqn as a Flt Cdr, concurrently studying for a BA (Hons) degree in Leadership and Management, before returning to the UK as a Career Manager to ~300 junior officer aircrew; this period was characterised by acute personnel shortages on Reaper Force, the preparation for Poseidon and transition to MFTS. An enjoyable year on the Advanced Command and Staff Course was followed by the demands of PJHQ J3 as the Middle East Operations Team Leader, SO1 Air and SO1 Maritime for all UK operations within the Middle East; this at a time of heightened US/Iran tension and tanker seizures in the Arabian Gulf, as well as the defeat of the Daesh Caliphate.

Currently in command of 39 Squadron, Wing Commander Wigglesworth is supported by his wife Claire, two teen-aged children and a newly acquired German Shorthaired Pointer puppy. His interests include golf, music,
photography and travel.

Wing Commander Jonathan McMullan

Wing Commander Jonathan McMullan joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1991 as an Airborne Electronics Analyst (AEA). He was posted to No. 10SQN where he spent the next seven years as an AEA on the P3C Orion, both as an acoustic warfare operator and an electronic warfare operator. Following this, he was posted to the Australian Joint Acoustic Analyst Centre (AJAAC) in Nowra as an analyst.
WGCDR McMullan then commissioned as a Navigator in 2001. Upon graduation from Officers’ Training School he received the annual Leadership Sword for the best Junior Officer of 2001. WGCDR McMullan then posted to the School of Air Navigation for training. He graduated with a Distinction average and the Dux award. WGCDR McMullan was then posted back to 10SQN in 2003 as a Navigator, Tactical Coordinator and finally Standards Officer on the AP-3C Orion. During this posting, WGCDR McMullan served four tours of the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO), flying in both
Iraq and Afghanistan.
WGCDR McMullan was then posted to the Air Combat Transition Office to support the introduction of the Australian Super Hornet. After 18 months he was selected to be the Detachment Commander
for the Heron Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) rotation in Kandahar, Afghanistan and led his team in Afghanistan from April through to September 2011. Upon return, WGCDR McMullan was posted to
Number 5 Flight as the Commanding Officer of the RPA Unit. He was subsequently awarded a Commendation for Distinguished Service in the 2012 Queens Honours List for leadership at war and
his meritorious Command of the RPA detachment in Afghanistan.
WGCDR McMullan returned to Kandahar for a further two commands of the Heron RPA team. During his last command, he was challenged with transitioning the Heron capability to be an ISR asset for the Unites States Army in Regional Command-South post the Australian withdrawal. He was awarded the US Bronze Star for meritorious leadership in a war zone and the seamless transition of
capability.
During his command, WGCDR McMullan and his team successfully built an Airworthiness case to gain clearance to fly the Heron RPA in civilian airspace, believed to be a world first for RPA
operations and the Royal Australian Air Force. At the completion of his command, WGCDR McMullan attended the Joint Services Command and Staff Course in the United Kingdom graduating with a Masters from Kings College London. Upon return to Australia he assumed command of Officers’ Training School in Sale, Victoria. At the completion of this command tour, WGCDR McMullan was posted to the Fleet Aviation Liaison Officer role in Fleet HQ at HMAS Kuttabul.
WGCDR McMullan is now the Detachment Commander for the MQ-9B Resident Project Team embedded within General Atomics Poway CA. Leveraging coalition partners and Defence Industry,
his team will ensure the MQ-9B is fit for purpose both domestically and in diverse deployed and operational roles to meet the security needs of the Australian Government.

Wing Commander Neil Hallett

Wing Commander Neil Hallett was born in Liverpool in 1981 and commissioned into the Royal Air Force in 2004 after completing a MA in Defence and Security Analysis at Lancaster University. He completed the Joint Air Intelligence Course in 2005. In 2006, Hallett deployed to Basra, Iraq in support of Op TELIC as the Joint Helicopter Force (Iraq) Intelligence Officer before becoming the lead Iraq desk analyst at the Air Warfare Centre, RAF Waddington. In 2007, Hallett then deployed in support of Op HERRICK (Afghanistan) as part of Number 7 RAF Force Protection Wing, providing intelligence support to the RAF Regiment, RAF Police and NATO partners in the protection of Kandahar Airfield.

In 2008, Hallett was assigned to the Electronic Reconnaissance Operational Support Squadron, providing bespoke intelligence support to 51 Sqn, which would see him routinely deploy in support of Ops HERRICK, GIGANTIC (Baltic) and JANED (Eastern Mediterranean). In 2011, he graduated the Qualified Weapons Instructor Course, Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) before deploying in support of Op ELLAMY (Libya) as Chief of Collections and Intelligence Requirements Management and subsequently Op ODYSSEY GUARD. Upon his return in early 2012, Hallett was appointed OC Air Electronic Surveillance Pillar, responsible for developing the ground processing and exploitation system for UK Rivet Joint and UK Reaper. This would be his first introduction to Remotely Piloted Air Systems.

Promoted to Squadron Leader in 2013, his first staff appointment included responsibility for the development of intelligence related capabilities to include future sensors and processing and exploitation technologies. This would begin the modernization of the RAF intelligence branch and trade and wider Defence, to meet the demands of future ISR capabilities. In 2015 Hallett deployed to provide intelligence support to the Senior British Military Advisor to CENTCOM before moving to Creech Air Force Base, Nevada to become Officer Commanding D Flight on 39 Sqn and a qualified Senior Mission Intelligence Coordinator. With more than 300 operational hours, Hallett provided intelligence and operational oversight for UK MQ-9 Reaper operations in support of Op SHADER (Iraq and Syria).

Elected to become the inaugural Exchange Officer within A2/6, HQ United States Air Force in the Pentagon, Washington DC, Hallett was appointed as the RQ-4 Global Hawk Branch Chief in 2018 and led a series of initiatives exploring the utility of ISR as a Service as well as the future role of expendable and attritable aircraft.

Promoted to Wing Commander in 2020, Hallett returned to the UK to become the Protector Programme Manager, his current role at HQ Air Command, RAF High Wycombe.