Captain Kasper Wiese Korshoj

Captain Kasper Wiese Korshøj, in an Army officer with a background in the intelligence branch. In the Army intelligence regiment, Kasper worked in different roles, planning and executing training for soldiers and non-commissioned officers. He had a tour to Iraq as a HUMINT operator in 2015. After 5 years in the intelligence regiment Kasper was transferred to the Army NCO School, and was officer in charge of the Army Staff Sergeants Training Course. After 2 years of service at the Army NCO School, Kasper traveled to Greenland, and worked for the Joint Arctic Command (JACO) in Nuuk, as the operations officer in charge of satellite surveillance around Greenland and in the Atlantic. The last year Kasper has been working in the Danish Defense Acquisition and Logistics Organization (DALO), as Assistant branch chief of the Danish Defense UAS/CUAS branch, and is acting chair of the NORDEFCO CUAS Working group.

Captain Rens Govaers

Captain Rens Govaers joined the Belgian Armed Forces in 2010 as student at the Belgian Royal Military Academy where he graduated in 2015 with a master’s degree in Social and Military Sciences. After his graduation, he was assigned to the Belgian Airforce as a Force Protection officer. From 2016 to 2021, Captain Govaers was one of the responsible officers for the Airbase Security of Kleine-Brogel Airbase. Since his assignment to the Directorate General Material Resources in 2021, he is one of the members of the C-UAS Project Team which is tasked with the acquisition of C-UAS equipment.

Colonel (Retd) Dave Shank

David E. Shank is a U.S. Army veteran with over 30-years of leadership experience, having commanded at the General Officer level. He commanded Soldiers at every echelon from Platoon to Army Air and Missile Defense Command in garrison and combat. As his final assignment, David served as the U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Commandant responsible for doctrine, organization, training, and leader development. He is a recognized expert in the U.S., European, and Middle Eastern Air and Missile Defense communities. He is an expert in strategic level planning, leader development, team building, program and supply chain management. David possesses extensive global operations experience with over 35 nations in complex and dynamic environments. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from the University of North Florida, a Master of Science Degree in Military Studies from the U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and a Master of Science Degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army Senior Service College. David has participated in numerous conferences and symposiums worldwide on air and missile defense related topics. He currently serves as the senior ground force advisor and defense analyst for Advanced Strategic Insight, Inc, and is a member of Citadel Analytics (UK) Ltd Advisory Board.

Colonel Scott Anderson

Scott Anderson is an Army Acquisition Officer, who currently serves as the Project Manager Unmanned Aircraft Systems, PEO Aviation, Redstone Arsenal Alabama.
As an Acquisition Officer, most significantly he served as a Contingency Contracting Officer XVIII Airborne Corps, Assistant Project Manager PEO SOLDIER, Product Manager Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems PEO Aviation, and Joint Director, Operational Integration Office/Senior Army Acquisition Official National Reconnaissance Office.
COL Anderson holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from East Tennessee State University, a Master of Business Administration from The Naval Postgraduate School, and a Master of Strategic Studies The United States Army War College. He is level III certified in Program Management and level II certified in Contracting.
His awards and decorations include: the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with five oak leaf clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Kosovo Campaign Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the NATO Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster, and the German Armed Forces Efficiency Badge (bronze). Colonel Anderson also wears the Expert Infantryman’s badge, the Parachutist badge, the Air Assault badge and the US Army Space Badge.

Dr Michael Zatman

Dr. Michael Zatman has served as the Principal Director for Fully Networked Command, Control and Communications in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering sinceJanuary 2019. In that capacity Michael is responsible for leading the Nation's vision and strategy for networking, command, control and communications to support and enhance the Department’s warfighting capability.
During his career Michael has provided both organizational and technical leadership to the creation, development and fielding of new technologies, the solving of complicated technical problems and the optimization of multi-faceted system and platform concepts. He is a nationally recognized expert in communications, radar, sensor and electronic warfare systems with an extensive knowledge and
understanding of ground, sea, air and space based communications, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems.
Prior to joining the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Michael was a fellow at SAZE Technologies from 2012 to 2018. From 2007 to 2012 Michael was Technical Director of QinetiQ North America's Technology Solutions Group, where he was responsible for technical innovation and competency across a wide range of C4ISR, maritime and transportation projects. Additionally, he was the principal investigator for several new Navy, DARPA, IARPA and Air Force programs. Michael came to QinetiQ North America from DARPA where he spent four years as a Program Manager running programs and studies involving space, airborne and ground-based platforms, radar, communications, signal/electronic/communications intercept, optical sensors, multi-functional structures and quantum theory. Earlier in his career Michael worked at the MIT Lincoln Laboratory where he led multiorganizational & multi-disciplinary teams to design future surface radar, airborne radar and communications systems, developed signal processing algorithms and performed system engineering analysis for Air Force, Navy and MDA radar and communications systems.
Michael has authored many technical publications, book chapters and patents. Michael received his PhD and BEng (Hons – 1st Class) degrees from the University of Leeds and was awarded the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service in 2007.

Dr. Claudio Palestini

Claudio Palestini is working in the Emerging Security Challenges Division in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). He deals with capability and technological development in a number of fields, including countering drones and other asymmetric threats. Before joining NATO, he has worked in European Union institutions, dealing with the satellite navigation programme Galileo and the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) deployment. He holds a PhD in telecommunication engineering from University of Bologna (Italy).

Lieutenant Colonel Adam M. Miller

Lieutenant Colonel Miller is the Program Manager for the Army’s Directed Energy, Counter-small Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-sUAS) Office, part of the Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO). His office is responsible for developing, integrating, testing, and fielding a low-cost palletized prototype laser weapon system capable of detecting and defeating groups 1 and 2 UAS threats. He previously served as the Executive Officer to the Director of the RCCTO.

He graduated from Ohio University in 2001, receiving his commission in the Air Defense Artillery. His initial assignment was in the 3rd Battalion, 62d Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Mountain Division (Light), Fort Drum, NY where he served as platoon leader and deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

In 2004, Lieutenant Colonel Miller was assigned to 5th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 2d Infantry Division, Republic of South Korea (later Fort Lewis, WA) where he served as assistant operations officer and battalion logistics officer. In 2007, he assumed command of Foxtrot Company, 3d Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment, Fort Jackson, SC.

His follow-on assignments include: Program Integrator for Bradley Fighting Vehicle and Paladin Integrated Management System, Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) BAE Systems, York, PA; Program Manager at United States Forces Command-Afghanistan (USFOR-A), DCMA-Afghanistan; Chief of Programs, DCMA New Cumberland, New Cumberland Army Depot, PA; Assistant Product Manager for PATRIOT Advanced Capability Three (PAC-3), Huntsville, AL; Assistant Product Manager for Integrated Air & Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) Modernization, Huntsville, AL; Department of the Army System Coordinator for Counter-Rocket, Artillery, & Mortar (C-RAM), Pentagon; Special Assistant to the Director of the Army Staff, Executive Communication and Control, Office of the Army Chief of Staff, Pentagon; and Product Manager, Integrated Fires Mission Command Software, Huntsville, AL.

Lieutenant Colonel Miller holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Clemson University. He is also a graduate of the US Army War College, Carlisle, PA. Other education includes the Air Defense Artillery Officer Basic Course, Short Range Air Defense Officer Course, Marine Corps Expeditionary Warfare School, Command and General Staff College, and multiple Army Acquisition courses.

His awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and Army Achievement Medal. He wears the Army Parachutist Badge and Army Staff Identification Badge.

Lieutenant Colonel Manfred Stangl

Military CV
1994 Airforce Basic Training in Bayreuth
1994 72 . Officercourse at Airforce Officerschool in Fürstenfeld-bruck
from 07/1995 LS Operator PATRIOT with FlaRakGrp 26 in Husum
from 10/1995 Mechanical Engineering – Specialization Weapon Technology at the University of the Armed Forces in Munich
from 09/1999 Tactical Control Officer with 4./ FlaRakGrp 26 in Husum
from 01/2002 Chief Recce with 4./ FlaRakGrp 26 in Husum
from 01/2003 Tactical Director PATRIOT with FlaRakGrp 26 in Husum
from 10/2004 Procurement Support Officer for SAMOC in Ulm
from 10/2006 General/Admiral Staff Course at Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr in Hamburg
from 10/2008 Desk Officer for Operations Research at Zentrum für Transformation der Bundeswehr in Ottobrunn
from 10/2010 Squadron Commander 2./ FlaRakGrp 22 in Penzing
from 07/2012 Desk Officer Missions at Stab InspL III 3 in Berlin
from 10/2012 Desk Officer within the Liason Element of the Airforce Headquarters to the Joint Operations Command in Schwielowsee
from 07/2015 Desk Officer MALI/MINUSMA at BMVg SE II 4 in Berlin
from 10/2018 Desk Officer GBAD, all Arms Air Defence and C-sUAS at Airforce Headquarters

Lieutenant Colonel Rudiger Rauch

Lieutenant Colonel Rudiger Rauch was born on May 08th 1968 in Harderberg near Osnabrueck Lower Saxonia.

1988 Airforce Basic Training Essen-Kupferdreh
1992 67. Officercourse Airforce Officerschool Fuerstenfeldbruck
1994 Electronic Warfare Officer Course Airforce Technical School Lechfeld
1994 - 2000 Electronic Warfare Officer (Duty Officer COMINT, Platoonleader)
Signal Sector D, Berlin-Gatow
2000 - 2002 Electronic Warfare Officer, Desk Officer
German Airforce Command A3Va, Cologne
2002 - 2003 Electronic Warfare Officer, Desk Officer
Strategic Reconnaissance Command, Directorate Future Development, Equipment Department, Rheinbach
2003 - 2006 Sector Commander
3./COMINT Bn 911, Stadum
2006 - 2009 Teaching Staff Officer Airforce
Strategic Reconnaissance School, Flensburg
2009 - 2012 J3 and Deputy Commander
COMINT Bn 911, Stadum
2012 - 2013 Deputy Commander and J3
Signal Analysis Center 91, Flensburg
2013 - 2014 Group Leader 4 Technical Analysis and Head of COMINT Department
Bundeswehr SIGINT Technical Analysis Center (BwSTAC), Hof
05/2014 – 07/2018 Assistant Branch Chief for the authorised representative FMOD within the Paliamentary Inquiry Council, SME SIGINT
FMOD Berlin
08/2018 – 10/2018 Assistant Branch Chief Strategy and Operations Directorate II 4, EUTM MLI
FMOD Berlin
11/2018 – 07/2019 Assistant Branch Chief Strategy and Operations Directorate I 1, C-sUAS, NATO Biometrics, Data Protection Military Intelligence FMOD, Berlin
07/2019 –
today Assistant Branch Chief Strategy and Operations Directorate I 6, C-sUAS, NATO Biometrics, Data Protection Military Intelligence
FMOD, Berlin

Major General Walter T. Rugen

Major General Walter Rugen was born and raised in Onalaska, Wisconsin, and was commissioned through the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY in 1989.

His first assignment was as an aviation platoon leader, Camp Page, Republic of Korea. In 1992, he was assigned to 9-101st Aviation Battalion (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he served in a variety of positions and commanded B/9-101st. MG Rugen was then assigned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), where he served as an MH-60K platoon leader and company operations officer in D/1-160 SOAR (A). From 2000-2002, he commanded D/160th SOAR (A) at Roosevelt Roads Naval Air Station, Puerto Rico and flew extensively in Central/South America and the Caribbean. In 2003, he transitioned to become the battalion operations officer for 3rd Battalion 160th SOAR (A) at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia, where he deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

In 2005 he was assigned as a strategic plans officer in the J5 at the United States Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. In 2007, MG Rugen commanded 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operation Aviation Regiment and again deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan. From 2009-2011, MG Rugen was assigned to the Army Staff in the aviation directorate at the Pentagon, where worked on multiple strategic issues affecting Army Aviation. In 2011, he was designated an Army Fellow and served at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC. From 2012-2014, he commanded the 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade in the Republic of Korea. He then transitioned back to the Pentagon where he became the Chief Army Aviation Force Development Division in the Army G8 from 2014- 2016. From 2016-2017, he served as the Director of Materiel in HQDA G8 before serving as the 7th Infantry Division Deputy Commanding General - Support at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington from 2017-2018. Currently, MG Rugen is the Director of U.S. Army Futures Command’s Future Vertical Lift Cross Functional Team, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.

MG Rugen’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal with numeral 4, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal with bronze star, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (w/ 3 service stars), Iraq Campaign Medal (w/ 4 service stars), the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, the Korean Defense Service Medal, the Combat Action Badge, the Master Aviator Badge, the Parachutist Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the Army Staff Badge and Dominican Republic Parachutist Badge.

MG Rugen is married to the former Ms. Leigh Anne Boling and they have three wonderful children, Victoria, Jacob and Wesley.

Major Morten Hvalsøe-Dybdahl

Major Morten Hvalsøe-Dybdahl, air force officer with a background in the army. Morten has been working for the Danish forces for the last 14 years. 10 years as an army operational logistics officer stationed in Kuwait, Iraq and Lithuania. The last 4 years Morten has been working within acquisition, as chief and deputy chief of the Danish Defence UAS/CUAS branch.
Over the course of the last 4 years Morten has built the UAS/C-UAS branch from scratch, centralized and structured the specialist manpower and build drone programs of all size drones. Denmark will in a few years be operating Unmanned Aircraft Systems in all sizes.
Mortens philosophy when it comes to drone and counter drone technology is simple; that there is not silver bullet.
 

Mr Adam Robertson

Mr Bill Haraka

Bill Haraka, graduated from the Technical University of Delft in the Netherlands and holds more than 20 years of business experience in the high-tech fields of Telecommunication, Defence & Security (EW, C6ISR, SIGINT, RADAR/SAR), Cyber Security and Aerospace (Small Satellites, TT&C and EGSE).

Bill is considered subject matter expert by the EW/C6ISR and C-UAS industry, Airport Operators worldwide, Ministry of Defense organisations and is security advisor to Dutch government parliament members on counter uas/drone, legislation and protection of Netherlands critical infrastructures.
Bill is passionate about bringing smart people together, utilizing technical innovation to make the world safer place for all people.

Mr David Hazen

David Hazen is a native of Grand Manan Is., New Brunswick. He grew up in various rural communities, graduating from Sussex High School in 1977. After High School, he moved to Halifax where he attended the University of King’s College, graduating with a B. Sc. in Physics in 1980, and the Technical University of Nova Scotia (now part of Dalhousie University), graduating with a B. Eng. with Distinction in Electrical Engineering in 1983.

Following graduation, he joined Dalhousie University as part of the research staff in the Oceanography Dept. During his fifteen year tenure at Dalhousie, he was involved in a number of research projects ranging from boundary layer fluid dynamics, to sediment transport off beaches, to tracking fish larvae on the Scotian Shelf to diurnal mixing in the surface layer of the equatorial Pacific. In 1998, he left Dalhousie to join Brooke Ocean Technology, a small consulting company with whom he had worked on a part-time basis for a number of years.

In 1999, David joined DRDC Atlantic (then DREA) working on the Towed Integrated Active Passive Sonar (TIAPS) project. On completion of that project, he was promoted to Head of the Technology Demonstration section, which was responsible for the delivery of a series of naval and Arctic Technology Demonstration projects. While in the Section Head role, he completed an assignment as the Director of Science and Technology Maritime and a deployment as the Science Advisor to the Commander CTF-150.

In 2011 he took up the role of Deputy Director General, DRDC Atlantic and, following institutional reorganization in 2013, became the Centre Director. In 2013-14 he attended the National Security Program at the Canadian Forces College in the course which he was awarded an MPA with the thesis topic “International Governance Gaps in Arctic Regions.”

In 2015 he was assigned the role of Director of S&T for Joint Force Development (DSTJFD) at NDHQ in Ottawa. Following another institutional reorganization in 2020, he was appointed Director of S&T for Combat in the Virtual and Physical Environment (DSTCVPE) with responsibility for programs in Soldier Systems, CBRNE, Counter Autonomous Systems, Tactical ISR, Special Effects, Cyber and Influence Operations.

He is the recipient of the Southwest Asia Service Medal (SWASM) and a number of DRDC awards.

When not immersed in technology, David enjoys hiking, skiing, camping, sailing and cycling. He and his wife reside in Stittsville, ON and they have one son.

Mr DJ Smith

DJ Smith is a Technical Surveillance Agent for the Virginia State Police and has worked in the area of Covert Technical/Tactical Surveillance for almost 30 years. Several areas of specialty are GPS Installs, Video-Audio Clarification, Technical Surveillance Counter Measures (TSCM), Title III Intercepts, Mesh-Node Camera Deployments, Technical/Tactical Lock Bypass & Safe Penetration including GSA locks & containers, Cellular Tracking and Geo-Locating, Covert Audio/Video deployments, sUAS & Counter UAS deployment operations to name a few.
In the area of sUAS and Counter UAS Operations:

• He is the Unmanned Aerial Systems Program Coordinator for sUAS & Counter UAS operations for the Virginia State Police
• He serves on the Virginia Safe and Secure Commonwealth Sub-Panel dealing with UAS/Counter UAS implementation and legislative issues for the Commonwealth of Virginia.
• Has served as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) on various technologies for the DHS office of Electronic Surveillance, Law Enforcement Technology Board (SPAWARS Atlantic & Saver program).
• As a representative of the Virginia State Police, he is a stakeholder on the Mid-Atlantic UAS Partnership group (Google Wing) at Virginia Tech for Commercial/Enterprise UAS deliveries.
• He has served on the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate First Responder Robotic Operational System Test (FFROST) assessment & evaluations of sUAS for Public Safety.
• He has presented and moderated discussions at: Semi-Annual Counter UAS Summit in Washington DC, AUVSI Xponential, Commercial UAV Expo, Center for Innovative Technology and various agencies across the US.
• He also provides technical advice to legislative groups in Washington, DC assisting in getting the legislative carve-outs for SLTT agencies to obtain sUAS mitigation technology.
• He is also licensed part 107 pilot and has been flying sUAS for over 13 years.

Mr Don Kelley

Mr. Kelley received his Navy commission in 1984 upon graduating from the University of Utah NROTC with a Bachelor’s of Science in Political Science. He served in the United States Navy  from 1984 – 1996, serving onboard Destroyers and Cruisers in 7th and 3rd Fleet. He attended the Naval Post-Graduate School 1989-1991, earning a Master of Science in Information Systems.
He continued his Navy career in the NAVAL Reserves retiring in 2007, with the rank of Commander.
Between 1996 and 2001, Mr. Kelley worked in private industry at Hughes Aircraft Company, OSEC as a Senior System Engineer and at EG&G as the Program Manager of the Radar Support Contract for PMS 465 Navy Radar Programs.
In 2001 Mr. Kelley left industry and joined NAVSEA, PEO IWS 6 as the CEC Surface Integration Manager, responsible for the integration of CEC with AEGIS and SSDS Navy Ships. In 2004 he was the PEO IWS point of contact to the Single Integrated Air Picture (SIAP) program. In 2006 he was promoted to the Director of Strategic Planning for PEO IWS 6 and was responsible for the Track
Management, Display and Navigation systems strategic plans. In 2007 he received the Civilian Meritorious Medal for his efforts within IWS 6.
Mr. Kelley reported to MARCORSYSCOM in 2007 as the Team Lead and acting Deputy Program Manager for USMC CREW. He was responsible for the procurement, fielding and sustainment
of USMC CREW systems in support of the Marines in OIF and OEF. In 2009 Mr. Kelley was selected as the Product Director for the CAC2S Phase II, responsible for the acquisition, development and
procurement of CAC2S Phase 2 software and hardware. In 2012, he received his second Civilian Meritorious Medal for his efforts during the CAC2S Phase 2 Demonstration Contract and the CAC2S
Phase 2 Engineering, Manufacturing and Development Contract source selection. In Sep 2012 Mr. Kelley was selected as the Deputy Program Manager AC2SN, responsible for the development,
procurement and sustainment of CAC2S, CTN, MACCS Sustainment and TBMCS programs. In Dec 2016 Mr. Kelley received his third Civilian Meritorious Medal for leadership and institutionalizing
Better Buying Power within AC2SN.
In Jan 2016, Mr. Kelley was hand selected to be the Chief of Staff for the Program Executive Officer, Land Systems (PEO LS). As Chief of Staff, he provided support to the six program offices which developed, fielded and sustained the light, medium and heavy tactical vehicles, amphibious assault vehicles, and the TPS-80 Radar systems, the M777 towed artillery and the CAC2S, TBMCS and
CTN systems. In Aug 2018, Mr. Kelley was choosen to stand up the Ground Based Air Defense (GBAD) Program Office with the mission of rapidly developing and deploying the Marine Air Defense
Integrated System (MADIS) to meet the Counter – Air (Rotary Wing/Fixed Wing) and Counter –Unmanned Aerial Systems threat faced by our Marines. Additionally, he is responsible for maintaining
legacy AMANPADS/stinger systems and the development of the Counter – Cruise Missile, Medium Range Intercept Capability that integrates the CAC2S, TPS-80 and Israeli Iron Dome
Components/Tamir Missile. Within his portfolio of programs he currently manages a budget of approximately $1.8B across the Future Years Defense Program.

Mr Eric Fournier

 Mr. Fournier is presently the Director General Innovation for the Assistant Deputy Minister (Science & Technology). He is a Scientific Advisor to the Department of National Defence and to the Canadian Armed Forces. His role is to ensure that the Canadian Armed Forces/Department of National Defence (CAF/DND) have access to the most cutting-edge solutions for their challenges from Canadian Innovators.

Eric began his career with Defence Research & Development Canada (DRDC) as a Defence Scientist in the Flight Mechanics Group of the Precision Weapons Section at the Valcartier laboratory in August 1992. He spent most of his scientific career in that establishment, where he held a number of positions in the Weapons field of study. He also spent one year at the United Kingdom DERA Fort Halstead laboratory as an exchange scientist in the late ninety’s.

In May 2006, he was appointed Director, Science & Technology Air, in Ottawa, where he managed the Air Force S&T Program portfolio. As part of his duties, he also served as National Representative on the Aerospace Systems group (AER) in The Technical Cooperation Program. From September 2008 to July 2009, he moved to the Canadian Forces College in Toronto where he completed the National Security Program 1 (NSP-1).

Upon his return to Ottawa, he was appointed Director of Defence Research and Development Canada’s Centre for Operational Research and Analysis (CORA), and was responsible for the delivery of a Science and Technology program in the areas of operational research, strategic analysis, and scientific and technical intelligence.

In 2014, Mr. Fournier took up the position of Defence R&D Counsellor at CDLS (London) where he was responsible for liaison in defence Science and Technology between Canada and the United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Denmark.

Upon returning to Canada in July 2017, he was appointed DG Innovation, and also selected to develop and lead the implementation of the Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) initiative.

Mr Jack Overell

Mr Jamie Woodsend

Jamie Woodsend joined the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) following an extensive career in the British Army. Joining Dstl in early 2020 he has worked on Counter Uncrewed Air Systems in a variety of guises, from industry-developed sensor and capability solutions through to the analysis of currently deployed complete systems.

Jamie worked directly on the UK’s iteration of Contested Urban Environment (CUE) 21 (under the auspices of The Technical Cooperation Program (TTCP)), enabling CUAS sensors to interact with a Command and Control System via SAPIENT. This architecture provided a common standard to pass information from sensor detection to a fused track to distributed users.

Most recently, Jamie supported the United Kingdom’s effort at NATO’s Technical Interoperability Exercise (TIE 21) in the Netherlands. It was here that the UK-developed SAPIENT architecture was championed as the principal candidate for a CUAS standard across the Coalition.

Mr Jeffrey Starr

Jeffrey Starr is the Chief Marketing Officer at D-Fend Solutions. He brings a track record of generating revenue and building market leadership through visionary business strategies, inspired marketing and insightful direction for rapid and sustained growth. Fast growing companies in the information, security, compliance and risk management sectors – including AlgoSec, Cellebrite, Verisk 3E, Magic Software Enterprises and Amdocs – have employed Jeffrey in CMO and executive roles. Jeffrey also served as General Partner at Mission Ventures VC fund and as an Analyst at Booz Allen. He graduated magna cum laude with a BA from Columbia University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Mr Jonathan Wilt

Mr. Jonathan A. Wilt currently serves as the Division Director for the Combat Integration and
Identification Systems (CI&IDS) Division at Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) Webster Outlying Field (WOLF). As Division Director, Mr. Wilt oversees all program management, contract actions, product development, and engineering services for multiple Department of Defense (DoD) Identification Friend or Foe (IFF), Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS), Air Traffic Control (ATC) installation, and combat suite products and services. The Division utilizes multi-sponsor appropriated funding across a variety of Integrated Product Teams (IPTs). Mr. Wilt supervises approximately 75 civil servants and directs the activities of 300+ contractor personnel across multiple technical and support disciplines. Mr. Wilt has 25 years of civilian experience and a combined total of 28 years supporting CI&IDS and its preceding organizations.
In 1993, Mr. Wilt graduated from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Electrical Engineering. He began his career later that year as a junior engineer for Tracor, Inc. supporting what was then the Identification Systems Division at the Naval Electronic Systems Engineering Activity (NESEA), Codes 2113 and 2114. Working at Webster Field, Mr. Wilt supported the first article qualification testing, fielding, and technical publication development for the Radar Test Set AN/UPM-155 in support of a variety of Navy, Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard platforms.
In June 1996, Mr. Wilt transitioned to civilian service as an Electronics Engineer for the Mark XII Systems Branch. He continued to perform engineering work on IFF test sets and became the Engineering Project Lead as the organization shifted from NISE East to NAWCAD.

In 2003, Mr. Wilt became the NAWCAD 4.5.9.4 Project Lead for the IFF Transponder Set AN/APX-118(V). He provided technical subject matter expertise and leadership to PMA-209 and PMA-213 to help test, qualify, and field the latest generation of transponders on a large number of disparate U.S. Navy platforms including fixed wing aircraft, rotary wing aircraft, unmanned aircraft and all current classes of ships and submarines. During this time Mr. Wilt helped lead the transition of IFF from 1960s era Mode 4 to the modernized cryptographic capabilities of Mode 5. He oversaw the upgrade of the AN/APX-118(V) transponders to the Mode 5-capable Transponder Set AN/APX-123(V) and led a team of engineers, technicians, and logisticians that saw the Mode 5 program progress through Milestone B and C decisions and Initial Operational Condition (IOC).
In 2010, Mr. Wilt became the Branch Head for the Transponder and Interrogator Engineering Branch in CI&IDS. As Branch Head, Mr. Wilt oversaw project management, contract actions, product development and engineering services for multiple DoD IFF products and services. The branch utilized multi-sponsor appropriated funding across a variety of IPTs. Mr. Wilt supervised approximately 12 civil servants and directed the activities of 50+ contractor personnel across multiple technical and support disciplines.
Mr. Wilt is DAWIA Level III certified in Engineering. He is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

Mr Ken Looney

Mr. Ken Looney is the Product Director for the United States Army’s Aerostat Program within the Project Manager Terrestrial Sensors (PM TS) and Program Office Executive Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors (PEO IEW&S) located at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. Mr. Looney is a seasoned acquisition professional with significant test and evaluation, and program management experience. He joined M TS following graduation from the U.S. Army War College in 2015. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Looney deployed to Afghanistan for 18 months as the Senior Civilian for PM TS. In this role, he provided acquisition guidance and counsel to senior leadership, as well as oversight for the PM TS OCONUS mission. Prior to deploying to Afghanistan, Mr. Looney served as the technical director of the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command’s (ATEC) U.S. Army Joint Test Element from June 2011 to July 2014. At ATEC, he provided technical oversight and guidance on all ATEC resources and activities that supported the Office of the Secretary of Defense Joint Test and Evaluation Program. He also served as the lead test manager for the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected and Route Clearance Vehicle Survivability programs with the U.S. Army Developmental Test Command from August 2009 to June 2011. In 2002, Mr. Looney entered civil service at the U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center. During the first seven years of his career, he was responsible for the testing of combat vehicles, and held various positions, including test officer and branch chief. Mr. Looney began his professional career in the automotive industry as a design and development engineer in 1996 with Chrysler Corporation in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Mr. Looney was born in El Paso, Texas. He earned bachelors and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from West Virginia University in 1993 and 1995, respectively, and a master’s degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College in 2015. Mr. Looney is Defense Acquisition University Level 3 certified in Test and Evaluation, Engineering, and Program Management. He has been awarded the Army Superior Civilian Service Award, multiple Commander’s Awards for Civilian Service, the Secretary of Defense Medal War for the Global War on Terrorism, and the NATO Medal for Service in relation to the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan.

Mr Paul Taylor

Paul Taylor joined Enterprise Control Systems in 2012 and as a key member of the management team has led the Business Development and Sales across both the specialist datalink and countermeasures product portfolios. During this period ECS became the first company to purpose-design a specialist countermeasure capability to defeat the emerging drone threat. Paul’s prior experience includes 21 years military service as a Royal Signals officer in the British Army during which he gained extensive experience in the requirements specification and procurement of specialist counter terrorist technical capabilities. A brief period of technical consulting in the City of London, financial services security and communications sector was followed with 11 years at Harris Corporation where he became Head of UK Operations. At ECS Paul has contributed extensively to shaping the collaborative working environment with multiple stakeholders to deliver world-leading C-UAS solutions for demanding international users.

Mr Peter Savage

Peter Savage joined TCI in 1978 and as a key member of both the Engineering and Management teams, and is a lead Application Engineer across TCI’s Geolocation and signal intercept and collection product lines. During this period, TCI became the Industry leader for multiple initiatives that are now industry standard capabilities (first to create dedicated DSP-based instrument for ITU Regulatory Agency compliance measurement, first to provide commercially available hybrid AOA/TDOA geolocation systems, etc.). TCI has provided RF drone detection systems to various Government Agencies since 2017, all of which are still in active use today.

Mr Richard Engelholm

- Army officer (infantry and long range reconnaissance)
- Deployed to Kosovo (2002) and Helmand/Afghanistan (2006 & 2010).
- Last military post: Strategic HR advisor to the Danish Chief of Defence.
- Personal assistant to the prime minister of Denmark.
- Since March 1st 2021: Business Development Manager with Weibel Scientific.
- Reserve officer posting: Deputy chief of staff with The Queens Royal Guards.
 

Mr Rob Balloch

Rob has decades of both industry and naval military service experience in underwater defense and securitytechnology. As Head of Global Sales for QinetiQ Maritime from 2001 – 2004, he built the team behind the Cerberus Sonar system. As a Board Director at Sonardyne, Rob led the investment into Wavefront and MARSS, building the security division. Rob joined MARSS in 2013 to lead global sales. Rob has been a pivotal point in MARSS for their evolution of end to end CUAS advancements and systems to help combat emerging unmanned threats globally.

Mr Scott Straka

Scott Straka is the Director of Product Management at Echodyne. A seasoned engineering management professional, Scott has with extensive experience directing new product developments in high-volume commercial, military, and medical markets. Prior to joining Echodyne, Scott was an Associate Vice President for Device Development Engineering at Clarisonic, part of the L’Oreal Group, where he led the development of products for the personal care and health industry. Prior to that, he led engineering teams in the development of head-mounted displays, laser targeting and non-lethal dazzling systems for various military end users. Scott holds an engineering MS from Duke University and an engineering BS from The Johns Hopkins University.

Mr Steven Willoughby

Steve serves as the Deputy Director of the Department of Homeland Security’s C-UAS Program Management Office within the Office of Strategy, Policy & Plans (PLCY), Counterterrorism & Threat Prevention Division (CTTP). His focus areas include strategic planning for Air Domain Awareness, Threat Discrimination, Threat Mitigation, and Interagency Threat Information Sharing. Steve also serves as one of DHS’s C-UAS liaisons to the White House National Security Council, represents program interests with the DHS Joint Requirements Council, and participates in Congressional Briefings and Interagency Working Groups to advance C-UAS policy. He focuses his efforts on the safe and secure integration of UA systems into the U.S. National Airspace system and continual improvement of capabilities available to Federal, state, and local law enforcement entities as they strive to protect the homeland from unintentional hazards and nefarious activity.

Ms Daniela Hildenbrand

Daniela Hildenbrand is Team Lead and Product Manager for Counter-UAS Systems at ESG DEFENCE + PUBLIC SECURITY in the Unmanned Systems Department. With an academic background (LL.M.) and previous experience in international affairs, diplomacy and international law focusing on intelligence, unmanned aerial reconnaissance and Shared Situation Awareness, her objective is the harmonisation of enhanced perspectives for the constructive use of UAS with a significant reduction of their misuse for criminal and terroristic purposes.

Ms Sarah J. Parker

Sarah Parker serves as the Air and Missile Defense (AMD) Capability Area Lead (CAL) for the Technology Development Directorate (TDD) of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Aviation and Missile Center (AvMC). The AMD Capability Area Lead serves as the primary representative for AMD Science and Technology (S&T) activities for all of DEVCOM and the primary representative for AvMC to the AMD Cross Functional Team, PEO Missiles and Space and various Program Offices.
Ms. Parker has served numerous assignments that provided oversight, guidance and direction for a variety of technology development initiatives for the U.S. Army. Her expertise is in infrared sensor and seeker development and system integration. She recently led a radar seeker development and system integration as chief engineer for a seeker-based missile program. She has also led several initiatives within the AvMC to investigate swarming missile and counter swarm UAS technologies.
As the DEVCOM AvMC AMD CAL, Ms. Parker sets the strategic direction for AvMC AMD S&T, leads the DEVCOM C-UAS Community of Practice, and oversees the AMD portfolio of missile interceptor, air defense radar and fire control technology developments in support of AMD modernization priorities.
She completed both her Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and her Master of Science degree in Systems Engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH). Ms. Parker has accomplished Level III certification in Systems Planning, Research, Development, and Engineering (SPRDE) and is an Army Acquisition Corp member. She resides in Huntsville, Alabama with her husband, Tony and three children, Andrew, Olivia and Levi.
 

Ms. Nicole Thomas

Ms. Thomas is a senior civilian who has worked at several organizational levels across the Army. She leverages her 10 years of resource management and strategist experience to help senior leaders make resource-informed decisions. Ms. Thomas is currently the Division Chief for Strategy and Policy in the Joint C-sUAS office and responsible for intelligence, C-sUAS related gaming/exercises, and coordinating with interagency partners and international allies/partners to improve information sharing and interoperability. Prior to her assignment in the JCO, she was a Senior Strategist on the Army G-3/5/7 staff where she worked on a range of issues including overseas posture, pre-positioned stock, and global force management.

Ms. Thomas is a co-author of an article on the recent conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, “What the United States Military Can Learn from the Nagorno-Karabakh War”. She received her graduate degree from the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, PA.

Wing Commander Robert J. Wilson

Wing Commander Rob Wilson started officer training in the RAF during August 1994 after completing a Mechanical Engineering Degree from the University of Liverpool. Originally joining as a potential navigator, he re-branched to the RAF Regiment in 1997. He also trained as an RAF Mountain Rescue specialist and served full time with Stafford Mountain Rescue Team in 1996.
After professional training at RAF Honington Wilson served on SD814 Squadron providing surety of the airborne nuclear capability at RAF Marham followed by a tour with 3 Squadron RAF Regiment on Operation BANNER in Northern Island carrying out Internal Security duties. Returning to the UK Mainland in August 1999 he was trained in Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) and served a short period with 16 Squadron RAF Regiment before completing the Qualified Weapon Instructor (Surface to Air Weapons) course at the Joint Rapier Training Unit (JRTU). Subsequent tours were GBAD based with a stint as Training Officer on 2623 RAuxAF Regiment Squadron, Operations Officer for the Resident Rapier Squadron on the Falkland Islands followed by an instructional tour at the JRTU before being selected to run the GBAD Operational Evaluation Unit in December 2003 at RAF Waddington. In January 2006 Wilson was seconded to the United Nations (UN) and served as a Divisional operations officer with the UM Mission in Liberia, known as Op SEQUESTER II to UK MOD. Of note he wrote the operational plan and coordinated the ground element for the UN detention of former Liberia President Charles Taylor and his handing over to the UN Special Court for Sierra Leone. Returning to the UK in mid-2006 he took a staff role at RAF High Wycombe working for the Air
Principal Security Advisor where he spent a year compiling AP3085 The RAF Manual of Security Risk Management.
Promotion to squadron leader followed in 2006 and after completing a tour in No 2 Group Headquarters developing Force Protection capability Wilson was selected for command and took post as Chief of Staff on No 1 RAF Force Protection Wing. The Wing deployed to Afghanistan in 2010 on Op HERRICK 13/14 where Wilson became the Executive Officer of the Camp Bastion Force Protection Wing. After command he was posted to 92(R) Squadron in the Air Warfare Centre (AWC) at RAF Waddington. During his time, he was part of the team that planned and executed the Air Security Plan for Op OLYMPICS and was the desk officer responsible for the initial development and deployment of the first C-sUAS capability in UK Defence.
Command of the Force Protection element of 906 Expeditionary Air Wing in the United Arab Emirates as part of Op KIPION followed and then a tour in Joint Warfare at Northwood covering Counter Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear. In 2018 he moved to the role of Force Protection Desk Officer in Manning at Air Command from which he was promoted to wing commander and completed Advanced Command and Staff Course 22. Wilson then moved to Air Capability at RAF High Wycombe returning to the development of C-sUAS role he had previously filled at the AWC.