Brigadier General Frank Lozano

Program Executive Officer, Missiles and Space, US Army

Brigadier General Frank J. Lozano is the Program Executive Officer (PEO), Missiles and Space, Redstone Arsenal, AL. He is responsible for the development, production, fielding, sustainment, and international program aspects for assigned missile and space systems. BG Lozano assumed his current position August 2022.

BG Lozano assessed into the Army Acquisition Corps in 2001 and graduated with an MBA from the University of Texas at Arlington. He served with Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control in Grand Prairie, TX as part of the Training With Industry (TWI) program.

After completion of Command and General Staff College, BG Lozano was assigned as the Assistant Product Manager for Project Manager Soldier Weapons, PEO Soldier, followed by an assignment as an Ammunition and Demolition System Acquisition Manager for the Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and the Army Research Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM).

In 2008, BG Lozano was assigned as a Department of the Army System Coordinator (DASC) for Tactical Missile Systems and Ballistic Missile Defense Systems. BG Lozano was selected to be a Special Assistant for the Army’s Vice Chief of Staff, GEN. As the Special Assistant, he provided insight, advice, and counsel on Army acquisition programs crossing many different functional capability areas.

BG Lozano commanded the Product Management Office for Soldier Protective Equipment, PEO Soldier from 2011 until 2014. Afterwards, he was assigned to the Joint Staff, J-8 Capabilities and Acquisition Division. Upon graduation from the US Army War College, BG Lozano was assigned as the Project Manager for the Lower Tier Project Office, PEO Missiles and Space from 2017 until 2020, followed by an assignment as the Integrated Fires and Rapid Capability Office PM. From April 2021 to May 2022 BG Lozano served as the ASA(ALT) Chief of Staff.

BG Lozano’s operational and combat experience include deployments to Bosnia, Kuwait and Iraq. His awards and decorations include the Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, the NATO Service Medal, the Army Staff Identification Badge, and the Joint Staff Identification Badge. He is certified in Program Management; Contracting; System Research; Planning and Engineering; and System Test career fields.

BG Lozano is married to the former Anne E. Yesconis of Dallas, TX and has three children: Olivia, Jackson, and Nicholas.

Chief John Peart

Command and Control Systems Integrator, Joint Counter Small Unmanned Aircraft Office (JCO)

Chief Warrant Officer 5 Peart, born and raised in Springfield, Ohio entered the Army on July 13, 1995 at Fort Leonardwood, MO. He then graduated in January of 1996 from Advanced Individual Training as a 14J, Early warning Systems Operator. With his first duty station being with 1st Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, FT Hood, TX . In February of 2005, CW4 Peart graduated Warrant Officer Candidate School (WOCCS) and in July completed Warrant Officer Basic Course (WOBC) as 140A, Air and Missile Defense System Integrator, both as Honor graduate. With his first duty station as a Warrant Officer being 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Ft Hood, TX. He served in a variety of Army and Joint/Combined command and staff positions while stationed in FT Hood, Japan, Ft Bliss, and Shaw Airforce Base. His assignments lead to operational support to Operation Southern Watch, Operation Spartan Shield, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom. With the most recent being with III Corps in support of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve serving the CJ-36 Protection Air and Missile Defense System Integrator involving the integration and training of various small C-UAS capabilities. He is currently serving in the Headquarters Department of the Army G-3/5/7 Joint C-UAS Office (JCO), Requirements and Capabilities division.

CW5 Peart holds an Associate’s degree in General Studies from Central Texas College and Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management from Park University. His professional education being most recently a graduate of Warrant Officer Intermediate Level Education (WOILE) and Joint Interface Control Officer (JICO) School.

His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (3 OLC), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal (4 Stars), Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal (1 Star), Korean Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, and Army Basic Space Badge.

He is happily married to Amanda, his wife of more than 25 years. They are proud parents of three adult children, Jacob (28, Fort Walton, FL/USAF Veteran), Caleb (25, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC/USMC Veteran) and Shaena (24, San Antonio, TX/TAMU graduate).
 

Colonel Anthony Behrens

Senior Advisor, Air and Missile Defence Cross-Functional Team

Colonel Tony Behrens is assigned as the Senior Advisor to the U.S. Army Air & Missile Defense Cross Functional Team and serves as the senior operator in support of the Joint Program Executive Office for the Guam Defense System. A career Soldier, Colonel Behrens’ experience ranges from ground-based tactical air and missile defense in combat, to joint integration, and space-component applications. In 2016-17, COL Behrens created the vision for the Multi-Domain Task Force on behalf of the Chief of Staff of the Army. He’s influenced strategic and national Joint Fires and IAMD priorities, requirements, concepts, capability development and integration from various positions, including as the Army Capability Manager for Air and Missile Defense Commands; Director, Fires Capabilities Development and Integration, U.S. Army Futures Command; and most recently, Deputy Director, Joint Integrated Air & Missile Defense Organization (JIAMDO) on the Joint Staff where he developed the Joint IAMD Portfolio Priority List (JIPPL) and IAMD Capability Portfolio Management Review (CPMR), with many impacts on joint counter uncrewed aircraft systems approaches.

Colonel Curtis W. King

45th Air Defense Artillery Commandant, Chief of Air Defense Artillery, and Deputy Commander, Fires Centre of Excellence (FCOE) and Fort Sill, US Army Air Defense Artillery School

COL Curtis W. King assumed responsibility as the 45th Commandant of the U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery School, Chief of Air Defense Artillery, and Deputy Commanding General of the Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill, Oklahoma, on July 7, 2022. His prior assignment was the Director, DAMO-Fires HQDA G-3/5/7 at the Pentagon.
COL Curtis King comes from Central City, Kentucky. He graduated from the United Stated Military Academy in West Point with a Bachelor of Science degree and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United Stated Army in 1996. He also holds a Master of Science in Strategic Military Studies from the United States War College.
From 1997-1999, COL King served as a Platoon Leader and Battalion Fire Direction OIC in 1-7 Air Defense Artillery at Kaiserslautern, Germany, and Fort Bliss, TX. From 2000 to 2002, he served as the Brigade Assistant S-3, in 108th Air Defense Artillery, Commander Alpha Battery, 3rd BN 6th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, Commander, Delta Battery, 1st BN 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment, Fort Bliss, TX. In 2005 COL King served as the Missile Defense Planner, Joint Functional Component for Integrated Missile Defense at Peterson Air Force Base Colorado Springs CO. From 2007 to 2009 he served as the Battalion Operations Officer, 3rd BN 4 Air Defense Artillery Regiment, and Brigade Operations Officer, 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, Fort Bragg, NC.
In 2010 COL King was assigned as the Commander for Task Force Torkham, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st AASLT Division in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan. He also served as the Deputy Commander, 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, and as the Battalion Commander, 1st BN 7th Air Defense Battalion, Fort Bragg, NC from 2011-2013.
In 2015 he was assigned to the Joint Special Access Program Office Chief, Pentagon. In 2017 COL King took command of the 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, Fort Hood, TX. After relinquishing command, he served as Plans Director, FORSOM G3/5/7, Fort Bragg, NC.
COL King’s military education includes the Air Defense Artillery Basic and Captain’s Courses, Command and General Staff College, US Army War College, and Airborne School. His awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal; Legion of Merit with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters; Bronze Star; Meritorious Service Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters; Army Commendation Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters; and the Joint Service Achievement Medal.
COL King is married to the former Kimberly Wilcox, and they have 3 children.
 

Dr Craig Robin

Chief Executive Officer, EO Solutions

Dr. Craig A Robin is the Chief Executive Officer and owner of EO Solutions. Founded in 2022, EO Solutions is a physics and engineering company with technical and programmatic expertise in providing electro-optical technology solutions for multi-domain warfighting capability gaps.

Prior to starting EO Solutions, Dr. Robin was the Director of the Directed Energy Project Office within the Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO), Redstone Arsenal, Al. In that position, Dr. Robin was responsible for oversight and execution of research, development, prototyping, test, evaluation, procurement and fielding directed energy technologies and capabilities that address immediate, near-term, and mid-term threats, consistent with the Army’s modernization priorities.
Dr. Craig A. Robin was appointed as a Senior Scientific Professional (ST) in August 2017, and served as Senior Research Scientist (Directed Energy Applications), Technical Center, United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command/ Army Forces Strategic Command. In this role, Dr. Robin was responsible for the overview, execution, and coordination of programs in basic research, exploratory development, advanced development, and system integration in the technological and functional areas of directed energy weapons necessary to advance the pioneering development of revolutionary military systems and equipment.
Dr. Robin previously worked with Lockheed Martin Laser and Sensor Systems in Bothell, Washington as a Research Scientist from October of 2013 to August of 2017. Prior to that, Dr. Robin spent 10 years, from 2003 to 2013, as a Research Physicist and graduate student with the Air Force Research Laboratory in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Dr. Robin holds a Bachelor's degree in Physics from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon; a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, New Mexico; and a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of New Mexico.
Dr. Robin is a member of the Directed Energy Professional Society, the Optical Society of America, the International Society for Optics and Photonics, and the Association of the United States Army.
 

Dr Cristian Coman

Senior Scientist, NCI Agency, NATO

Dr Coman was born in Romania in 1972. He is educated as an Electronics and Electrical Engineer and received his engineer’s degree in 1996 from the Military Technical Academy, Bucharest, with a specialization in radio electronics for surface to air missiles. In 2006 he obtained a PhD degree from the Delft University of Technology, in The Netherlands with a thesis on sparse array antennas for radar and communication systems, and a second PhD degree (Cum Laude) from the Military Technical Academy, Bucharest with a thesis on short range radar tracking systems. He served in the Romanian Air Forces for 20 years.
He started his career as a researcher at the Military Equipment and Technologies Research Agency, in Bucharest. His research activities focused on air surveillance radars, tracking radars, as well as microwave and antenna systems.
In April 2006, Dr Coman started work at the NATO C3 Agency in The Hague where he led a variety of research and development projects in the areas of ground surveillance radars, evaluation of Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) trackers and supported the Multi-intelligence All-source Joint Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Coalition (MAJIIC) project.
In 2019, Dr Coman was appointed to establish and lead a Counter-Drone Alliance RDO [Research via Development to Operations] Team (CDART), which is the NATO’s expertise centre for counter-drone technology and operations and is being created within the Joint Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (JISR) Centre in The Hague.
 

Dr Daniel Guillette

Program Manager, HPEM Weapon System Transition, High Power Electromagnetics Division, US Air Force Research Laboratory

Daniel Guillette is an Electronics Engineer for the Air Force Research Laboratory's High Power Electromagnetics Division. He joined AFRL as a student in 2011 before becoming a full-time employee in 2014. He received his B.S. and M.S. In Electrical Engineering from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in 2012 and 2014, and his PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of New Mexico in 2022. Dr. Guillette has held a number of jobs in his 12 years at AFRL most notably as the THOR System Principal Investigator.

Dr Nicholas Maniscalco

Chief Engineer, High Point Aerotechnologies

Dr. Maniscalco is Chief Engineer at High Point Aerotechnologies. His experience in developing and integrating Counter UAS solutions for military and defense applications has helped establish execution strategy, technical program baseline architecture, concept of operations, and concept of employment to address the proliferation of cheap Unmanned Aerial Systems. Maniscalco has led various teams throughout design, integration, testing, and deployment of ruggedized CUAS systems for sustained operations in real-world environments. He received his B.S. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Group Captain Gary Darby

Head UK Joint C-UAS Office, UK Ministry of Defence

Group Captain Gary Darby joined the Royal Air Force in 1989 and has served globally, including on operations in Northern Ireland, Afghanistan and Iraq. Whilst a military policeman by background, Gary has held a number of senior appointments within both security and cyber targeting and was recently embedded with US CYBERCOM, Maryland for 2 years. Before taking up his current post as Head of the UK MoD’s Joint C-UAS Office in February 2022, Gary was the MoD’s Assistant Head for Strategic Campaigning Counter Russia.

Lieutenant Colonel Emory J. Hayes

CsUAS Branch Chief, Robotic Requirements Division, Maneuver-Capabilities Development and Integration Directorate (MCDID)

LTC Emory Hayes is Military Deputy of Robotics Requirements, Maneuver Capabilities Development Integration Directorate, Futures and Concepts Center, US Army Futures Command. He enlisted in the US Army in 1997, was commissioned into the Field Artillery in 2002, had combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, and just returned from the Republic of Korea.

Robotic Requirements develops and manages small unit robotics and artificial intelligence capabilities – to include small ground robots, small unmanned aircraft systems, counter small unmanned aircraft systems, integrated tactical sensors, artificial intelligence for small unit maneuver, and exoskeletons.
 

Lieutenant Colonel Eric Lewis

Assistant Project Manager, AMP-HEL, Directed Energy Project Office (DEPO), US Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO)

Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Eric D. Lewis has been assigned to the Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) since Spring 2022. He served as a Product Liaison to facilitate weapons coordination for critical weapon systems and support activities between the Army Mid-Range Capability Project Office (MRCPO) and the Navy Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO IWS) AEGIS Warfare Systems (AWS) Program Office, the PEO IWS Surface Ship Weapons Standard Missile (SM)-6 Program Office and the Navy Surface Warfare Centers. Eric now serves as Product Lead for the Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-sUAS) Army Multipurpose High Energy Laser (AMP-HEL) effort. LTC Lewis is slated to assume acquisitions command in CY2024 as Product Manager Engineering, Maintenance and Support Equipment (EMSE), PM Force Projections, PEO CS&CSS. LTC Lewis’ operational experience includes: Enlisted Field Artillery Cannon Crew Member, 114th FA Regiment, Mississippi National Guard; Combat Engineer Officer, 91st Engineer Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. He deployed support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)(2004 to 2005) where he served as a Bradley Platoon Leader and HHC Executive Officer. LTC Lewis served on four Army Reserve mobilizations (2009-2014) in support of OIF and OEF contingency operations. He served as an Observer Controller-Trainer Team Chief and Battalion Operations Officer in support of Counter-IED training operations under 1st Battalion, 395th Regiment at Fort Hood, TX. LTC Lewis as assigned to the 377th Theater Sustainment Command (TSC) at NAS JRB New Orleans in 2014 where he served as a Support Operations Logistics Planner and Chief of Current Operations. LTC Lewis was accessed into both the Army Acquisition Corps and Active Guard Reserve (AGR) programs in 2014. His key developmental acquisitions assignments began as Assistant Program Manager (APM) for Army Watercraft and Heavy Tactical Vehicles, Project Manager Transportation Systems, PEO CS & CSS (2016-2019). He gained broadening and key developmental experience as an APM for Light Utility Helicoptors, Utility Helicopters Project Office, PEO Aviation (2019-2001). LTC Lewis also served as a Project Lead for Targets and Countermeasures, Missile Defense Agency (2001-2002) before reporting to RCCTO. LTC Lewis’ awards and decorations include Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Achievement Medal (with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters), National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal (with 2 campaign stars), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Mobilization Device (4) & Silver Hour Glass), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon, Combat Action Badge and Army Aviation Association Saint Michael Award. LTC Lewis has been married to his wife, Erica for over 20 years and they have two daughters, Karadyn (Tuskegee University) and Alyna (Middle School). He enjoys family time and sports.

Lieutenant Colonel Rüdiger Rauch

Assistant Branch Chief, Strategy and Operations Directorate I 6, C-sUAS, Federal Ministry of Defense, Germany

Assistant Branch Chief Strategy and Operations Directorate I 6, C-sUAS, NATO Biometrics, Data Protection Military Intelligence, Federal Ministry of Defense, Germany
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 Jake LaGue

Counter UAS Branch Chief, Project Manager Maneuver Systems (PM MAS), JPEO Armaments & Ammunition

MAJ LaGue was born and raised in Jacksonville, FL. In 2008 he enlisted in the Army Reserves as a Combat Medic where he served until he earned a commissioned in 2011. He attended the University of North Florida where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice with a commission as an Armor officer. He served in the 101st Airborne Division, Ft Campbell, KY as a Plans Officer, Platoon Leader, and Troop Executive Officer from 2011 – 2015. This tour included one deployment to ORS. Upon completing the Maneuver Captain’s Career Course in 2016, MAJ LaGue attended and graduated from Ranger School and was then assigned to 1-64 AR, 1st ABCT, 3rd ID at Fort Stewart, GA from 2016 – 2018. During his time with 1-64 AR, MAJ LaGue served as a Plans Officer and Company Commander of B CO. This tour included one regionally aligned forces rotation to the Republic of South Korea. After Company Command, MAJ LaGue was assigned as an Observer / Controller / Trainer with Operations Group at the Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, LA where he was notified that he assessed into the Army Acquisition Corps. Upon assessing into Acquisitions, MAJ LaGue was selected to attend a pilot program through the Acquisition Center of Excellence and Defense Acquisition University where he received DAWIA Level III training in Program Management and Contracting, as well as Level II training in Test and Evaluation. Additionally, MAJ LaGue was selected to attend the University of Alabama – Huntsville in Huntsville, AL. He graduated with a Master’s degree of Business Administration with a concentration in Engineering Management in 2021. MAJ LaGue is currently serving in his first Acquisition assignment as Assistant Program Manager (APM) of Medium Caliber Ammunition at PM Maneuver Systems Ammunition (MAS), JPEO Armaments and Ammunition, Picatinny Arsenal, NJ. He is the program lead for the Army’s 30 x 113mm Multi-Mode Proximity Airburst, a programmable counter small UAS cartridge that retains self-defense capability against ground threats in support of the Maneuver Short Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) Increment 3 platform. He also serves as Medium Caliber’s liaison to all matters pertaining to counter UAS throughout the Department of Defense. He is a graduate of the Command and General Staff College, the Maneuver Captain Career Course, Armor Officer Basic Course, Cavalry Leader’s Course, Ranger School, and Air Assault School. His awards include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (2 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (2 OLC), Afghanistan Campaign Medal – with campaign star, NATO Medal, Air Assault Badge, Ranger Tab, German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge (Gold), and Order of St. George - Bronze. He is married to the former Samantha Warr from Jacksonville, FL, and they have a daughter named Emma (2014) and a son named Finn (2017).

Major Jason "Paddles" Dempsey

Counter UAS and GBAD Capabilities Integration Officer, Capabilities Development Directorate, Combat Development & Integration, US Marine Corps

Maj Dempsey commissioned in May 2005. He is a former CH-53E pilot and Air Support Control Officer. He served as the lead integrator at the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab for sUAS and CUAS from 2014-2017. Since 2020, he has been the Ground Based Air Defense and CUAS Capabilities Integration Officer at Capabilities Development Directorate. Maj Dempsey has deployed to Djibouti, Belize, Afghanistan, Ethiopia and on the USS Boxer as part of the 13th MEU. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Business from Longwood University and a Masters Degree in Business from Marshall University.

Major Michel K.C Koopman

C-UAS Program Manager, Royal Netherlands Air Force

The Major Michel Koopman has been an FP officer for twenty years, the first four years as an ground defense force platoon commander. Then followed different functions as an training officer for ground defense forces and basic military personnel, in the same area’s he then did two tours as a Captain.
After a short staff tour he became an FP officer within the Army staff of an GBAD unit. At the last post before his current task, as an C-UAS program manager, he was Squadron Commander of the 640 Sqn at Airbase Volkel. Throughout the years he has been deployed to Afghanistan, Kirgizstan, Kuwait, Mali and Jordan. He’s married with Sabine and has 1 daughter of 7 years (Senna) and 1 dog (Stacey) and lives in the southern part of Holland. (Brabant)
 

Mr Brad Reeves

Director Radar & C-UAS Business, Elbit Systems America

Brad is the Director Radar & C-UAS business for Elbit America. In this role he is responsible for starting a new P&L to roll out Elbit America’s new revolutionary tactical AESA radar - the MATR-X along with bringing Counter-UAS capability.

Brad joined Elbit America in 2020 as the Director C4I Business Segment Lead. In this role he led a P&L with a high-performing team of program managers, business development and capture managers and grew the business from $7M to $73M over 3.5 years. In addition, Brad leads Elbit America’s CJADC2 (Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control) campaign.

Brad completed a 24-year career as a Colonel in the US Air Force and commanded at all levels including O-6 command. He has significant joint experience built upon his unique distinction of serving as an operator in air, land, and sea services. He flew F-15E fighter aircraft for the Air Force, EA-6B electronic attack aircraft for the Navy, and served as a battlefield Airmen for the Army as a joint terminal attack controller. He deployed nine times including a one-year command along with a staff position as the Division ALO for the 101st Airborne Division in Afghanistan. Brad also has vast coalition experience that includes a tour as the Director for NATO’s Deployable Air Operations Center. In addition, he led the Air Force’s warfighting concepts development branch in the Pentagon.

Brad holds three master’s degrees: National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University, Strategic Studies from the Air Force’s SAASS, and MBA from Auburn University. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Texas A&M University.

Mr Brent Cotton

Director, C-UAS Program Management Office, Department of Homeland Security

Brent is an expert in the field of Homeland Security, with specialized experience in transportation security, red teaming, and countering uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS). Brent has served in number of homeland security focused leadership positions including his current role as the Director for Counter-Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) at the Department of Homeland Security Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans, under the Counterterrorism and Threat Prevention -Law Enforcement umbrella. Brent is responsible for the Department’s C-UAS policy, and implementation of the C-UAS authorities granted to DHS in the Preventing Emerging Threats Act of 2018.
Background: Mr. Cotton’s security career began during the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) rollout in 2002, when he began training the first federalized screeners and played an active role in developing and implementing checked baggage screening policy and protocols. After arriving at TSA headquarters in 2010, he joined the Operations Improvement Branch (OIB) where he created and refined procedures associated with rolling out new types of equipment. Identified as an unconventional thinker willing to challenge assumptions, Brent was recruited as a member of the Administrator’s Risk Based Security Team where he developed new and innovative approaches to transportation security. In this role Brent helped create and implement the TSA Precheck program which now has more than 10M voluntarily enrolled members.
Prior to moving to DHS HQ, Brent spent 5 years at TSA’s Office of Inspection where held several leadership positions including Deputy Assistant Administrator (DAA), Executive Advisor, and Branch Manager in the Special Operations Division (SOD) Red Team. Mr. Cotton’s diverse experience in transportation security, which includes training development, operations improvement, Risk Based Security, and Inspections, makes him uniquely qualified to discuss a wide range of issues affecting movement of people and commerce.
Education: Brent holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of West Florida College of Business, as well as a master’s degree in Security Studies from the Naval Post Graduate School.
Personal: Brent is married with one son, and lives in northern Virginia. Brent is an avid golfer, fisherman, and motorcyclist, as well as a Reserve Police Officer for the Metropolitan Police Department, proudly serving the 3rd District.
 

Mr Brian Fishpaugh

Deputy National Intelligence Manager for Aviation, National Intelligence Manager-Aviation (NIM-A), Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI)

Mr DJ Smith

Technical Surveillance Agent/Unmanned Aerial & CUAS Program Coordinator, Virginia State Police

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:
o He is the Unmanned Aerial Systems Program Coordinator for sUAS & Counter UAS operations for the Virginia State Police
o 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.
o 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).
o 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.
o 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.
o 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.
o 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.
o He is also licensed part 107 pilot and has been flying sUAS for over 13 years.
 

Mr Greg Fortier

Vice President, Aviation, Fires, & C5ISR Army Business Unit, SAIC

Greg Fortier is vice president of the Aviation, Fires & C5ISR business headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama – SAIC’s second largest location. In this role, he is responsible for leading over 2,000 employees within the Army Business Unit and is responsible for strategy, growth and program execution for the $1B operation. Fortier joined SAIC in 2021 following a twenty-six year career as an operational Army officer, experimental test pilot and acquisition project manager. As an Army Aviator, Fortier held a variety of command and staff positions, including two combat tours in both Afghanistan and Iraq. He has over fifteen years of experience in research, development, test, evaluation and major program acquisition. His final acquisition assignments included project manager, Chinook Helicopters and project manager, Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft. Fortier also commanded the United States Naval Test Pilot School and has accumulated 4,000 flight hours in thirty-nine different fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft. Fortier holds a Bachelor of Science in Operations Research from the United States Military Academy at West Point, a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering from the University of Central Florida, and a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the Eisenhower School. Greg currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce.

Mr Jeffrey Starr

Chief Marketing Officer, D-Fend Solutions Ltd.

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 Larry Satterfield

Director, International Sales, BlueHalo

Mr Lars Krogh Vammen

Head of Business Development Surveillance Systems, Weibel Scientific A/S

Lars Krogh Vammen has a 21-year Danish Army background. He has served in various operational branches including 11 years in the Danish army air defense, as well as ISTAR and HUMINT. Lars Vammen has served in the Danish Defence Acquisitions and Logistics Organization (DALO) in the Land Equipment Division as System Manager Mortars & Artillery. Lars Krogh Vammen’s military service includes three deployments to Afghanistan, where he e.g. has served with the US Marine Corps in Helmand. Lars Vammen is now Director of Business Development in Weibel Scientific with the responsibility for the global expansion of the entire Weibel portfolio. The role covers the full scope of business development activities with governments and non-governmental organizations, EU organizations as well as B2B relations with other large OMEs and primes. He is responsible for the full portfolio of Weibel products, with radars for IAMD as main priority – which covers the XENTA radar for SHORAD and C-UAS purposes as well as the long range tracking and discrimination radars for ballistic missile defense. In this context Lars has been a part of a number NATO Industrial Advisory Group studies as well as the recently concluded NIAG Industrial Interface Group to GBAD (NIIGBAD).

Mr Magnus Wallmark

EVP, Business Development and Sales, Fortem Technologies

Magnus Wallmark is the Executive Vice President of Worldwide Sales and Business Development at Fortem Technologies. Fortem, a Utah based company, develops military tested, leading Counter-UAS solutions. Magnus Wallmark has global executive industry leadership experience with more than twenty years of strategy, sales, and business development in more than 140 countries across several related technology sectors. This includes aerospace & defense, satellite, telecommunication and automotive for defense, government and commercial markets. Magnus has authored several books and articles on a variety of topics: national security, public safety, telecommunication, satellite communication, and computer science. He also holds several patents worldwide. He holds a master’s degree in Business Administration and a bachelor’s degree in Communications Science from the University of Gothenburg. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with family and outdoor activities.

Mr Marcel Verdonk

Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), Robin Radar Systems BV

As CCO, Marcel leads Sales, Marketing, Project Implementation and Services & Support at Robin Radar, and has been with the company for 2 years.
Robin Radar is a fast growing scale up, specializing in advanced Radar Systems for small object detection and tracking.
Prior to Robin Radar, Marcel worked for 24 years at Motorola Solutions Inc in various sales and strategy leadership roles, in Defence & Security markets across Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. He holds a Masters of Science in Industrial Engineering & Management from the University of Twente, Netherlands.
 

Mr Mario Behn

DEU VNC/Principal Scientist, Joint Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, NCI, NATO

Mario Behn is working at the NATO Communication and Information Agency (NCIA). He supports the Joint ISR Centre on Countering Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) and Navigational Warfare (NAVWAR) as a German Voluntary National Contribution (VNC). Immediately before, he was the German National Technical Expert (NATEX) for IAMD/AirC2. He is a graduate from the German Federal Civil Service Academy (Senior Track in Defence Technology and Procurement) and holds two Master degrees (Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, USA & Business Administration, Koblenz University of Applied Sciences, Germany).

Mr Mehdi Asghari

CEO, SilC Technologies, Inc.

Mehdi is a serial entrepreneur with a track record of success. He is currently CEO and co-founder of SiLC, his third Silicon Photonics start up focusing on advanced imaging solutions. His previous startups, Kotura and Bookham, both enabled successful exits.
Mehdi is one of the early pioneers of silicon photonics industry with over 25 years of commercialization experience in this space. Prior to that he spent 10 years in the III/V industry.
Mehdi holds an Electrical Engineering degree from Cambridge University, a Masters degree in Optoelectronics from Heriot-Watt University and a Ph.D in III/V Integrated Photonics from the University of Bath, all in the UK. He has authored and co-authored over 150 journal and conferenced publications and holds more than 50 active patents within the fields of silicon photonics and optoelectronics.

Mr Michael O'Hara

SHORAD/CUAS Mission Solutions and Strategy Sr. Manager, Northrop Grumman

Michael O’Hara is a Sr. Manger for Short Range Air Defense (SHORAD) and Counter – Uncrewed Aerial Systems (C-UAS) of the Combat Systems and Mission Readiness division at Northrop Grumman’s Defense Systems sector. In this role, he is a trusted customer collaborator and is responsible for leading growth, strategy, and mission solutions for the Integrated Defense Solutions operating unit’s SHORAD and C-UAS domestic and international pursuits with Northrop Grumman’s Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control (FAAD C2) system. IDS serves warfighters and global customers to deliver integrated air and missile defense capabilities, including elements ranging from facility protection and short-range air and missile defense. IDS also delivers integrated theatre air and missile defense systems and multi-domain mission command solutions.
Prior, as senior program manager at Northrop Grumman, O’Hara was responsible for overseeing all aspects of business, program performance, and growth for Northrop Grumman’s:

• Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) Engagement Operations Centers (EOC)
• Advanced Tactical Weapon Systems team with focus on kinetic interceptors, which included Northrop Grumman’s Accelerated Improved Intercept Initiative (AI3) Interceptor, Extended Area Protection & Survivability (EAPS) program, and Micro-Interceptor. These systems were designed to defeat Rockets, Artillery, and Mortars (RAM) and Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) and integrated with the FAAD C2 system.
• Ground Based Midcourse Defense Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) systemIn-Flight Interceptor Communications System (IFICS) Data Terminals (IDTs)

O’Hara joined Northrop Grumman in 1999 and held a number of positions of increasing responsibility with over 30 years of proven cross functional breadth and in-depth experience of complex defense and aerospace centric programs, captures, proposals, and engineering activities. Proven Program Management, Capture/Strategy Management, Engineering, and Leadership focused on full life-cycle product development in both hardware and software development with strong customer/executive management/team communication, coordination, and troubleshooting skills.
Before Northrop Grumman, O’Hara was signals intelligence (SIGINT) analyst in the U.S. Army and afterwards, a developer for the Army’s All Source Analysis System (ASAS) military intelligence system. He also worked at N.A.S.A. studying thrust vectoring in Langley’s wind tunnels.
O’Hara holds a master’s degree in Management/Information Systems from Florida Institute of Technology and a bachelor’s degree from Excelsior College, New York (University of the State of New York).

Mr Michael Torphy

Unit Chief, Surveillance and Emerging Technology Unit, FBI

Mr. Torphy has served over 19 years in the Federal Bureau of Investigation and currently oversees its UAS and Counter-UAS operational programs, among other initiatives. Prior to reporting to Redstone Arsenal in late 2021 to lead this new unit, he directed manned and unmanned aviation operations in the Los Angeles field office. In previous roles, he managed enterprise technology projects and led the FBI’s aviation security program in Washington, DC. Earlier in his career, he conducted national security and violent crime investigations in the New York and Portland field offices.

Mr Shaan Shaikh

Associate Director & Associate Fellow, Missile Defense Project, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)

Shaan Shaikh is an associate director and associate fellow with the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), where he focuses on missile proliferation, unmanned aerial systems, air defense, and nuclear weapons. He is also deputy editor of the CSIS website Missile Threat, an online clearinghouse for information and analysis on missile and missile defense systems. Prior to joining CSIS, he worked at the U.S. Department of Defense and The Syria Institute.

Mr Stephan Kraschansky

Managing Director, Aaronia AG

Stephan Kraschansky, the Managing Director of AARONIA Austria, a subsidiary of AARONIA AG Germany, has a global portfolio overseeing military, law enforcement, and critical infrastructure clients; At the age of 33, Mr. Kraschansky currently manages a Team of C-UAS experts in Austria. His professional journey and educational background are deeply rooted in his service as an Officer with the Austrian Armed Forces. Over the past 13 years, he has dedicated his career to the Austrian Armed Forces, specializing in the domains of cyber and electronic warfare. In his final three years of military service, he had the privilege of serving as the Chief Training Officer for Cyber and ICT security, contributing significantly to the development of officers and non-commissioned officers in this field. Mr. Kraschansky found immense satisfaction in teaching and conducting training sessions for military personnel. Furthermore, he assumed command of Austria's sole Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) Element. During his tenure, he successfully led more than a hundred C-UAS operations, which included safeguarding high-profile events like Austria's European Council Presidency and providing C-UAS support for Europe's largest air show, AIRPOWER. Among his civilian accomplishments, one of the most notable was the honor of safeguarding the G20 Summit together with Indonesian Special Police Forces.

Mr Tim Dodge

Policy and Regulation Division Manager, Federal Aviation Administration

Tim Dodge serves as the Division Manager (A) for the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Office of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Emerging Entrants Security, which is the FAA’s lead organization responsible for drone and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) security in U.S. airspace. Within this role, Mr. Dodge supports the Executive Director in leading FAA’s efforts to safely integrate detection and mitigation systems for drones and AAM operations in the National Airspace System (NAS) and supports UAS security-related rulemaking, research and development, policy formulation, education and outreach, and data management.
Prior to joining the Office of UAS & Emerging Entrants Security, Mr. Dodge served as the Deputy Director for the 371st Special Operations Combat Training Squadron assigned to Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field Florida. He was responsible for administrative oversight and operational execution of Special Operations training activities, to include Specialized Combat Field Skills, Intelligence Formal Training Unit and Unmanned Aerial Systems schoolhouse supporting United States Special Operations Command taskings abroad.
Mr. Dodge began his public service as an airman in the U.S. Air Force. Tim’s active-duty career was centered around providing safety and security within the aviation enterprise. His aviation experience portfolio extends to 49 countries. After retiring from active-duty service, he transitioned to Federal Civil Service where he continued to serve Air Force Special Operations Command within the positions of Chief of Training and Civilian Deputy Director. Mr. Dodge transitioned after 28 years from his service with the Department of Defense to the FAA’s office of UAS Security in October of 2022.
Tim graduated from Southern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science in Workforce Education and Development. Additionally, he received senior leadership development at the United States Air Force Air War College, and academic certificate in design from Stanford University. Tim holds an FAA Airframe and Powerplant Certificate, with experience on multiple airframes. He graduated the Defense Language Institute where he became fluent within the Thai language and culture.
Tim values spending time with his family as well as being an avid outdoorsman, who enjoys fishing, boating, photography and woodworking.

Mr Tom Adams

Senior Director of Business Development- Federal/Civilian/Defense Pursuits, High Point Aerotechnologies

Tom retired from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) after 20 years of service in October 2022. Tom’s last three years in the FBI were spent as a Supervisory Special Agent in the Counter-UAS Program. In this role, he led the evolution of the team, to include developing a training program, policies and procedures, and operational standards. He led numerous high-profile Counter-UAS missions throughout the U.S. at our nation’s highest profile sporting and cultural events, including the protection of our government’s highest-ranking officials and critical infrastructure.

Tom is currently the Chief Executive Officer of AeroVigilance, a Counter-UAS consulting company, and Co-Founder of C-UAS Hub, an online information “hub” for the Counter-UAS industry.

Tom earned a bachelor’s degree from Montana State University in Biomechanics, and a master’s degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Unmanned Systems.
 

Mr Tom Driscoll

CTO, Echodyne

Tom Driscoll is Co-founder and CTO of Echodyne. He leads Echodyne's world-class engineering team. Prior to Echodyne, Tom was Managing Director of the Metamaterials Commercialization Center at Intellectual Ventures, where he and a small team of scientists realized a metamaterials technology platform that has currently underwritten 4 start-up companies. Tom holds a B.S. in Physics from Harvey Mudd, a PhD in physics from UCSD, and an adjunct professor position at Duke University.

Mr William Beasley

Deputy Director, Unmanned Systems Technology, Emerging Technologies, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD R&E)

William Beasley, a retired career Department of Defense civilian and retired United States Army Signal Corps Colonel, serves as Deputy Director, Unmanned Systems Technology (UxST), Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Technology (OUSD(R&E)). He graduated from the United States Military Academy and holds advanced degrees from Long Island University (MBA), the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MS-Physics), and the Army War College (MS Strategic Studies).
In his current position, Mr. Beasley represents the Director, UxST, in multiple DoD-wide forums addressing current actions to develop capability to defeat or mitigate the threat posed by unmanned systems to DoD operations. He is a member of multiple counter small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-sUAS) working groups hosted by the Joint Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office (JCO), as well as the Office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Counter Uncrewed Systems (C-UxS) Community of Practice and OUSD(R&E) technology forums.
Previously, as a DoD civilian he acted as the agent for Combatant Commanders in responding to urgent needs of the Joint Warfighter. In this capacity, he served as the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) lead for multiple Joint Urgent and Emergent Operational Needs initiating and providing oversight for action to develop and rapidly deliver capability to counter small unmanned aircraft systems (C-sUAS). For C-sUAS capability required within the United States, he developed, with the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee, changes to the “Manual of Regulations for Federal Radiofrequency Spectrum Management” (Redbook) to enable the DoD to use electronic warfare capabilities to defeat small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS). Mr. Beasley advocated (through engagement with the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the military Services, and other OSD offices) establishment of a single organization within the Department of Defense to manage C-sUAS actions across the Department. These actions lead to the designation of the Army as the C-sUAS Executive Agent and the establishment of the JCO.
He has been actively involved, since its inception, with the Joint Staff’s Joint Capability Integration and Development System (JCIDS) as applies to force protection, weapon systems, battlefield awareness, battle management command and control systems, information assurance and information technology.
He has over 30 years experience in the military and with industry operating, managing, and developing military and cross federal agency information technology capabilities at all levels – tactical through national, in wartime, peacetime, disaster, and continuity of government roles.
He resides in Fairfax, Virginia, with his wife of 52 years, the former Elizabeth Iwanicki, from Bridgeport, Connecticut.

 

Mr Wojciech Drojecki

VP Sales, Advanced Protection Systems SA

Wojciech is currently affiliated with APS S.A. in the capacity of Vice President of Sales. He assumes responsibility for the contracting and deployment of SKYctrl C-UAV systems for Ministries of Defense (MoDs) in Poland, Ukraine, Rwanda, and the Middle East. Wojciech possesses a strong technical background as an IT engineer, specializing in machine learning and AI pattern recognition, acquired during his tenure at the Technical University of Gdansk, Poland. With over two decades of experience in the defense industry, he has successfully navigated the complexities of the Military (MIL) market, focusing on air defense and C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) domains.

Mrs Blakeley Williams

General Engineer, National Nuclear Security Administration, US Department of Energy

Blakeley Williams has been with the United States Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) as a General Engineer since 2021. She is responsible for a portfolio of $500M+ of over 200 Projects and Procurements for the Office of Defense Nuclear Security’s Security Planning and Technology program, including developing a future counter uncrewed aircraft system, portable intrusion detection systems, and command control and display equipment systems. Prior to her experience with NNSA, she worked as a Senior Engineer for the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority, focusing on special projects such as private LTE and rail vehicle-integrated data communication systems. She earned a Master of Science and bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from California State University, Los Angeles.
Mrs. Williams also has extensive experience in physical security, policy development, program management, database management, budget management, data analysis, technical reviews, and technology research, development, and engineering.
 

Ms Danielle McCormick

Head of C-sUAS, Edgesource Corporation

Danielle is currently serving as the Head of CUAS Programs at Edgesource Corporation. Here she conceived of and is shepherding a new method of DoD program office implementation, by partnering with government sponsors to overcome the “valley of death” for small programs, such as Windtalker and Dowding, as they are transitioning out of the RDT&E space. This new path will allow such programs to live on once the initial contracts conclude and ensure our warfighters have access to vital technologies. Danielle has a Master’s of Science from Texas State University, as well as a Master’s of Business Administration from Syracuse University. Prior to working with the military, Danielle was leading large scale operational excellence and corporate strategy teams for 15 years at civilian corporations such as Wayfair, Southwest Airlines and Gap, Inc.

Ms Julie Balduf

Deputy Chief, CUAS Division, US Air Forces Central (AFCENT/A3B)

Ms. Balduf is the Chief of the CUAS Base Defense Branch for AFCENT, working within the CENTCOM AOR to ensure our bases have the appropriate CUAS for their given threats. She and her team lead a bi-weekly TS CUAS/CLACM VTC that is always looking for more participation to help define the threat and determine the gaps in coverage and defeat capabilities. She works extensively with numerous outside agencies to ensure the entire community of interest is tied together on the same path. Prior to her current position, Ms. Balduf graduated from the Air Force Academy and was an Air Battle Manager, serving in Germany (NATO), Korea and CONUS. In addition, she finished her active duty time at Shaw, working for AFCENT in the Personnel Recovery Branch, Airfields and C2 Branch and as the Deputy Chief of Staff.

Reserve Captain Andrus Padar

Expert of Remote Sensing Research and Development Centre & Head of S2 Section, Estonian Academy of Security Sciences, Estonian Cyber Defence League

Squadron Leader Hugo Piers Morris

SO2 Counter-small Uncrewed Air Systems, Project 6 Lead, Joint Effects, Programmes Directorate, British Army HQ

Squadron Leader Morris joined the RAF Regiment in 2000. His first assignment was as a Flight Commander on 26 Squadron with operational deployments to Op RESINATE SOUTH in Kuwait and Op TELIC I in Iraq. In 2004, he was posted to RAF Honington as the Ground Defence Training Officer and Officer Commanding the Nuclear Accident Response Team. After a second Op TELIC tour commanding an Iraq Department of Border Enforcement Training Team, in September 2006 Morris was amongst the first Bowman Signals Officers and assigned to 3 Squadron. During 3 Squadron’s Op HERRICK deployment in southern Afghanistan, Morris concurrently commanded a Rifle Flight and Support Weapons Flight.

On return from Afghanistan Morris joined the Bowman Training and Advisory Group (Joint), responsible for converting 3 Commando Brigade and 16 Air Assault Brigade units to the Bowman communication system. This role required a four-month deployment embarked on HMS Ocean whilst on attachment to 40 Commando Royal Marines. Following an extended Op HERRICK (LANSBURY) Afghanistan tour with UK Special Forces and the Security and Intelligence Agencies at the end of his Bowman role, in January 2012 Morris was posted to the Joint Counter-Terror Training and Advisory Team as the Pakistan High-Threat Team Leader on Op MONOGRAM

Returning from two years in Pakistan in January 2014, Morris was posted to the Full Spectrum Coordination Cell in London, a joint Ministry of Defence and Security and Intelligence Agency body for whom he spent a year in the United States as Liaison Officer. Promoted to Squadron Leader in November 2015 whilst in the United States, Morris returned to the UK in January 2016 for his first OF3 tour as the Close Combat and C-UAS Capability Development staff officer at Air Command. In November 2018 he was assigned to the Defence Portfolio & Approval Secretariat as the Air Desk Officer, during which time Morris deployed for eight months with UK Special Forces on Op BLANCA in Afghanistan in a high-threat mentoring capacity. In October 2022 Morris returned to the CUAS world as SO2 C-sUAS in Army HQ Programmes Directorate, responsible for the delivery of Land GBAD Project 6.

Morris is married to Caroline, a consultant Transplant physician, and they have a son, Rufus, aged 7.

Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Intelligence Mathew Cooze

National cUAS Coordinator, U.S. Border Patrol

SBPA-I Mathew Cooze has been with the United States Border Patrol for the last ten plus years, with five of those being assigned to the Intelligence Unit as an Agent and subsequently a supervisor. For the past two years, SBPA-I Cooze has led the cUAS Team operating in South Texas. In addition to this, for almost the past year he has worked as the National cUAS Coordinator for the Border Patrol. SBPA-I Cooze is also part of a Customs and Border Protection Task Force that covers SEAR Events for the department. In this capacity, he has operated at the 2022 MLB World Series, 2022 Army/Navy Football Game, 2023 Boston Marathon, 2023 MLB All Star Game, 2023 MLB World Series and F1 Las Vegas.

Warrant Officer Haiko Jan Kroeze

Tactical Flight Officer / Coordinator UAS Operations, Royal Netherlands Military Police