John Gustavo Blair is the Vice President, Business Investment at Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA). He previously served as the Director of National Business Investment at the FCEDA.
Originally from the Washington, DC area, Mr. Blair has been at the FCEDA since 2017 and handles the relationship with emerging tech companies in sectors ranging from artificial intelligence and blockchain to drones and autonomous vehicles. John serves as the President of the Volunteer Fairfax Board of Director and represents the FCEDA in its memberships at the international organizations, Chamber of Digital Commerce, a leading blockchain association and at the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI). John has completed the Leadership Fairfax program.
As an MBA student at George Mason University, John collaborated with his classmates to revive the MBA Student Association. As President, John created a succession plan for the organization to continue after his graduation. As a new alumnus of GMU, he became President of the GMU School of Management Alumni Chapter in 2005, serving until 2007. In this two-year period, John recruited a new board, which created committees and conceived and delivered a vision of an annual signature event called the “Annual Business Celebration”, which continues to be a regular event now in its 17th year. The Board under John’s leadership was able to energize the alumni chapter and increase event attendance by 500%.
John Gustavo Blair is the Vice President, Business Investment at Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA). He previously served as the Director of National Business Investment at the FCEDA.
Originally from the Washington, DC area, Mr. Blair has been at the FCEDA since 2017 and handles the relationship with emerging tech companies in sectors ranging from artificial intelligence and blockchain to drones and autonomous vehicles. John serves as the President of the Volunteer Fairfax Board of Director and represents the FCEDA in its memberships at the international organizations, Chamber of Digital Commerce, a leading blockchain association and at the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI). John has completed the Leadership Fairfax program.
As an MBA student at George Mason University, John collaborated with his classmates to revive the MBA Student Association. As President, John created a succession plan for the organization to continue after his graduation. As a new alumnus of GMU, he became President of the GMU School of Management Alumni Chapter in 2005, serving until 2007. In this two-year period, John recruited a new board, which created committees and conceived and delivered a vision of an annual signature event called the “Annual Business Celebration”, which continues to be a regular event now in its 17th year. The Board under John’s leadership was able to energize the alumni chapter and increase event attendance by 500%.
Mark W. Grobmyer is an attorney with substantial investment
banking and international law experience. He is Chairman of the
Global Solutions Institute which matches global problems with
technology and other solutions and then seeks to accelerate the
deployment of the solutions at scale globally. He also serves on a
Blue Ribbon Climate Panel related to the UN Foundation and as
Managing Director of the P80 Group Foundation. He has also served as Chairman of the World Leaders Symposium Committee.
The Committee was developed as a part of the Center for the Study
of the Presidency and Congress Millennium Project, which he
chaired. He has also served as a lecturer and speaker for many
programs and seminars presented in the several countries. Mark
also serves as Chairman of the Global Technology Deployment
Initiative and as has been for many years a Senior Advisor to SEAF, the NASA Launch Initiative, the International Center for Sustainable Development, the American Society of Association Executives, the International Sister Cities Conference, the Congressional Award Foundation and Chief Executive Magazine, the "Club Journal" of Fortune 1000 CEOs.
Mark W. Grobmyer is an attorney with substantial investment
banking and international law experience. He is Chairman of the
Global Solutions Institute which matches global problems with
technology and other solutions and then seeks to accelerate the
deployment of the solutions at scale globally. He also serves on a
Blue Ribbon Climate Panel related to the UN Foundation and as
Managing Director of the P80 Group Foundation. He has also served as Chairman of the World Leaders Symposium Committee.
The Committee was developed as a part of the Center for the Study
of the Presidency and Congress Millennium Project, which he
chaired. He has also served as a lecturer and speaker for many
programs and seminars presented in the several countries. Mark
also serves as Chairman of the Global Technology Deployment
Initiative and as has been for many years a Senior Advisor to SEAF, the NASA Launch Initiative, the International Center for Sustainable Development, the American Society of Association Executives, the International Sister Cities Conference, the Congressional Award Foundation and Chief Executive Magazine, the "Club Journal" of Fortune 1000 CEOs.
Jeffrey Hausfeld, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.S., has served on the national board and committees of specialty medical societies since he began his practice in Otolaryngology/Facial Plastic Surgery in 1982. He is an Associate Clinical Professor of Surgery at George Washington University School of Health Sciences and an alumnus of the Yale University School of Medicine. Dr. Hausfeld is widely published in the medical literature, is the pioneer of innovative laser surgery techniques, is the author of a lay oriented medical book on snoring and sleep apnea, and has appeared on numerous local and national television and radio shows as a medical expert.
He has also served as a health care consultant, spokesperson, and executive coach for multi-national pharmaceutical companies, health care firms, as well as the U.S. military. Dr. Hausfeld stepped down from his clinical duties after receiving a Masters in Business Administration from Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Hausfeld is presently developing assisted living facilities specializing in Alzheimer's and dementia care.
He serves as a consultant to several healthcare/life science startups in diagnostics, devices, biotech and Health IT. He also serves on the Investment Advisory Board of the Center for Innovation Technology's Life Science Gap Fund. The fund supports promising healthcare and life sciences ventures in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Dr. Hausfeld is the Chairman and Founder of the Society of Physician Entrepreneurs (www.sopenet.org ), a global network focused on educating healthcare and life science professionals in Bioentrepreneurship and Innovation.
Dr. Hausfeld is orchestrating the Series B Financing of BioFactura (www.biofactura.com) and acted as the lead investor in this round. He will serve as Chairman of the Board of BioFactura as well as their Chief Medical Officer as the company develops its Biosimilar platform as well as its novel Bio-defense therapeutics.
Jeffrey Hausfeld, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.S., has served on the national board and committees of specialty medical societies since he began his practice in Otolaryngology/Facial Plastic Surgery in 1982. He is an Associate Clinical Professor of Surgery at George Washington University School of Health Sciences and an alumnus of the Yale University School of Medicine. Dr. Hausfeld is widely published in the medical literature, is the pioneer of innovative laser surgery techniques, is the author of a lay oriented medical book on snoring and sleep apnea, and has appeared on numerous local and national television and radio shows as a medical expert.
He has also served as a health care consultant, spokesperson, and executive coach for multi-national pharmaceutical companies, health care firms, as well as the U.S. military. Dr. Hausfeld stepped down from his clinical duties after receiving a Masters in Business Administration from Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Hausfeld is presently developing assisted living facilities specializing in Alzheimer's and dementia care.
He serves as a consultant to several healthcare/life science startups in diagnostics, devices, biotech and Health IT. He also serves on the Investment Advisory Board of the Center for Innovation Technology's Life Science Gap Fund. The fund supports promising healthcare and life sciences ventures in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Dr. Hausfeld is the Chairman and Founder of the Society of Physician Entrepreneurs (www.sopenet.org ), a global network focused on educating healthcare and life science professionals in Bioentrepreneurship and Innovation.
Dr. Hausfeld is orchestrating the Series B Financing of BioFactura (www.biofactura.com) and acted as the lead investor in this round. He will serve as Chairman of the Board of BioFactura as well as their Chief Medical Officer as the company develops its Biosimilar platform as well as its novel Bio-defense therapeutics.
Tammy Hettinger is the Executive Director of the Fulbright Association, where she leads a national network of over 140,000 U.S. Fulbright alumni and 54 chapters committed to advancing global understanding and collaboration. A changemaker dedicated to building strategic partnerships and driving mission-driven impact, Tammy brings more than 20 years of leadership experience across the nonprofit sector.
Prior to joining the Fulbright Association, Tammy served as Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships and Development at NAFSA: Association of International Educators, where she launched new global engagement strategies, expanded corporate partnerships, and increased sponsorship revenue.
Tammy Hettinger is the Executive Director of the Fulbright Association, where she leads a national network of over 140,000 U.S. Fulbright alumni and 54 chapters committed to advancing global understanding and collaboration. A changemaker dedicated to building strategic partnerships and driving mission-driven impact, Tammy brings more than 20 years of leadership experience across the nonprofit sector.
Prior to joining the Fulbright Association, Tammy served as Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships and Development at NAFSA: Association of International Educators, where she launched new global engagement strategies, expanded corporate partnerships, and increased sponsorship revenue.
TEDx Talk: Becoming CEO of Your Career
&
Session Panelist: AI and the Future of Work
Nicole McNamara has one of the more varied resumes in big tech: hospitality, gaming, non-profit leadership, entrepreneur, Salesforce Innovation and now AI at Google. That range isn't a
collection of unrelated jobs, it's the reason she's good at what she does. Every industry teaches you to read a room differently, and Nicole has learned to translate between rooms that don't naturally speak the same language, whether that's a casino floor, a non-profit board, or a Fortune 500 executive team staring down a seismic technology shift.
As the first woman to lead Salesforce's Global Innovation Consulting team, Nicole sat across the table from executives who knew their industries were changing under them and needed someone willing to tell them the truth to keep shareholders satisfied and customers showing up.
Today, she leads AI go-to-market strategy for Power and Energy at Google. She hosts "Who Moved My Career?!", a podcast on career reinvention that ranks in the top 10% globally, where she's interviewed more than 50 authors, academics, and executives about the moments that changed their trajectories. That same voice has landed her on television as a commentator on
AI and the future of work, and in 2026 she was named a Chamber ALX 40 Over 40 honoree for that work's impact locally and nationally. Nicole speaks and facilitates on transformation, AI readiness, and what she calls "Enterprise of One": the idea that every professional now has to run their career like a business, whether they signed up for it or not.
TEDx Talk: Becoming CEO of Your Career
&
Session Panelist: AI and the Future of Work
Nicole McNamara has one of the more varied resumes in big tech: hospitality, gaming, non-profit leadership, entrepreneur, Salesforce Innovation and now AI at Google. That range isn't a
collection of unrelated jobs, it's the reason she's good at what she does. Every industry teaches you to read a room differently, and Nicole has learned to translate between rooms that don't naturally speak the same language, whether that's a casino floor, a non-profit board, or a Fortune 500 executive team staring down a seismic technology shift.
As the first woman to lead Salesforce's Global Innovation Consulting team, Nicole sat across the table from executives who knew their industries were changing under them and needed someone willing to tell them the truth to keep shareholders satisfied and customers showing up.
Today, she leads AI go-to-market strategy for Power and Energy at Google. She hosts "Who Moved My Career?!", a podcast on career reinvention that ranks in the top 10% globally, where she's interviewed more than 50 authors, academics, and executives about the moments that changed their trajectories. That same voice has landed her on television as a commentator on
AI and the future of work, and in 2026 she was named a Chamber ALX 40 Over 40 honoree for that work's impact locally and nationally. Nicole speaks and facilitates on transformation, AI readiness, and what she calls "Enterprise of One": the idea that every professional now has to run their career like a business, whether they signed up for it or not.
Mr. Tien Wong is a tech investor, entrepreneur, and CEO. He is Chairman & CEO of Opus8, Inc., a private investment and advisory firm investing in exceptional life science and tech enabled services companies, as well as specializing in raising capital for promising tech companies and alternative investment fund managers.
He is Founder of CONNECTpreneur, a global community of 25,000+ founders, investors, CEOs, and business leaders. CONNECTpreneur organizes the world’s largest monthly virtual investor pitch events as well as in-person Forums.
Mr. Wong is also a Venture Partner in IronGate Capital Advisors, a VC and Fund of Funds manager investing in dual use technologies; Investment Advisory Board member of Virginia Venture Partners; and Chairman of Lumious, an ed tech company which provides learning & development services to Fortune 500 customers.
Mr. Wong was appointed by Governor Martin O'Malley to the 9-person Maryland Venture Fund Authority which oversees $84 million in VC allocations; he serves on the Boards of Directors of the Austin Venture Association, Association for Enterprise Growth (Chair), Frederick Innovative Technology Corp., Inc. (FITCI), and Junior Achievement, as well as on the Council of Advisors for the Washington Institute for Business, Government, & Society and the Entrepreneurship Advisory Council of The Universities at Shady Grove. He is a Mentor at the Mach37 Cybersecurity Accelerator and Conscious Venture Labs.
Mr. Wong has been named by Washingtonian magazine as a “Tech Titan” for the last 7 years (’17 – ‘23). He is a frequent guest lecturer on entrepreneurship, leadership, venture capital, and private equity at the University of Maryland and Georgetown University where he is an Entrepreneur in Residence. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College.
A recognized international expert in CRM, direct marketing, and BPO, Mr. Wong has presented at dozens of conferences around the world. He has also provided industry commentary on the ABC, Fox, NBC, CNBC, Maryland Public Television, and China’s CCTV networks, as well as for Time Magazine, The Washington Post, Inc. Magazine, and Success Magazine.
Mr. Tien Wong is a tech investor, entrepreneur, and CEO. He is Chairman & CEO of Opus8, Inc., a private investment and advisory firm investing in exceptional life science and tech enabled services companies, as well as specializing in raising capital for promising tech companies and alternative investment fund managers.
He is Founder of CONNECTpreneur, a global community of 25,000+ founders, investors, CEOs, and business leaders. CONNECTpreneur organizes the world’s largest monthly virtual investor pitch events as well as in-person Forums.
Mr. Wong is also a Venture Partner in IronGate Capital Advisors, a VC and Fund of Funds manager investing in dual use technologies; Investment Advisory Board member of Virginia Venture Partners; and Chairman of Lumious, an ed tech company which provides learning & development services to Fortune 500 customers.
Mr. Wong was appointed by Governor Martin O'Malley to the 9-person Maryland Venture Fund Authority which oversees $84 million in VC allocations; he serves on the Boards of Directors of the Austin Venture Association, Association for Enterprise Growth (Chair), Frederick Innovative Technology Corp., Inc. (FITCI), and Junior Achievement, as well as on the Council of Advisors for the Washington Institute for Business, Government, & Society and the Entrepreneurship Advisory Council of The Universities at Shady Grove. He is a Mentor at the Mach37 Cybersecurity Accelerator and Conscious Venture Labs.
Mr. Wong has been named by Washingtonian magazine as a “Tech Titan” for the last 7 years (’17 – ‘23). He is a frequent guest lecturer on entrepreneurship, leadership, venture capital, and private equity at the University of Maryland and Georgetown University where he is an Entrepreneur in Residence. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College.
A recognized international expert in CRM, direct marketing, and BPO, Mr. Wong has presented at dozens of conferences around the world. He has also provided industry commentary on the ABC, Fox, NBC, CNBC, Maryland Public Television, and China’s CCTV networks, as well as for Time Magazine, The Washington Post, Inc. Magazine, and Success Magazine.
Dr. Timothy A. Akers, M.S., Ph.D., is a distinguished researcher and executive leader at the nexus of public health, epidemiological criminology, and quantum literacy. He serves as Chief Research Officer and Associate Provost for Academic Research at California State University, San Bernardino, and as Chief Executive Officer of the National Quantum Literacy Network (NQLN), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Across a career spanning academia, government, and the military, Dr. Akers has demystified quantum technologies by developing, along with his team, the first e-learning platform and micro-credential certification in quantum literacy education.
At the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), he served as a senior scientist and developed a cutting-edge HIV/AIDS biomedical and behavioral classification taxonomy. He is the originator of the emerging theory and discipline of Epidemiological Criminology and has authored two seminal books in the field. A former U.S. Air Force Security Police officer specializing in nuclear weapons security, Dr. Akers has conducted groundbreaking interdisciplinary research supported by the NSF, NIH, DHS, and other sponsors.
In 2020, he was appointed by the White House and the U.S. Department of Energy to a three-year term on the National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee (NQIAC); he has also served as vice chair at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, focusing on the responsible conduct of research. Recognized internationally, he has published more than 268 scholarly works and received prestigious awards across the military, CDC, academia, and industry. An autodidactic innovator, Dr. Akers is the inventor on two patents in biomedical technologies for rapid clinical assessments using AI, as well as a cystic fibrosis vest that applies therapeutic wave frequencies to address respiratory congestion.
Dr. Timothy A. Akers, M.S., Ph.D., is a distinguished researcher and executive leader at the nexus of public health, epidemiological criminology, and quantum literacy. He serves as Chief Research Officer and Associate Provost for Academic Research at California State University, San Bernardino, and as Chief Executive Officer of the National Quantum Literacy Network (NQLN), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Across a career spanning academia, government, and the military, Dr. Akers has demystified quantum technologies by developing, along with his team, the first e-learning platform and micro-credential certification in quantum literacy education.
At the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), he served as a senior scientist and developed a cutting-edge HIV/AIDS biomedical and behavioral classification taxonomy. He is the originator of the emerging theory and discipline of Epidemiological Criminology and has authored two seminal books in the field. A former U.S. Air Force Security Police officer specializing in nuclear weapons security, Dr. Akers has conducted groundbreaking interdisciplinary research supported by the NSF, NIH, DHS, and other sponsors.
In 2020, he was appointed by the White House and the U.S. Department of Energy to a three-year term on the National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee (NQIAC); he has also served as vice chair at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, focusing on the responsible conduct of research. Recognized internationally, he has published more than 268 scholarly works and received prestigious awards across the military, CDC, academia, and industry. An autodidactic innovator, Dr. Akers is the inventor on two patents in biomedical technologies for rapid clinical assessments using AI, as well as a cystic fibrosis vest that applies therapeutic wave frequencies to address respiratory congestion.
Session Moderator: Food as Medicine – Food Safety
Brian Barnett is President of The Barnett Company, Inc., an advisory firm that equips leadership teams to sharpen vision and strategy, improve operations, launch new products and ventures and accelerate sales and profit growth. Over 30+ years in 42 countries Brian and his colleagues have led and advised organizations in agriculture, food, adjacent science-driven sectors, venture capital, IT and oil and gas services. Known for a collaborative, execution-focused approach that delivers measurable outcomes —The Barnett Company, Inc. brings C-suite rigor with extensive operational and cross-cultural experience. Brian received his MBA from Harvard Business School and his Bachelor of Science from Cornell University - College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Session Moderator: Food as Medicine – Food Safety
Brian Barnett is President of The Barnett Company, Inc., an advisory firm that equips leadership teams to sharpen vision and strategy, improve operations, launch new products and ventures and accelerate sales and profit growth. Over 30+ years in 42 countries Brian and his colleagues have led and advised organizations in agriculture, food, adjacent science-driven sectors, venture capital, IT and oil and gas services. Known for a collaborative, execution-focused approach that delivers measurable outcomes —The Barnett Company, Inc. brings C-suite rigor with extensive operational and cross-cultural experience. Brian received his MBA from Harvard Business School and his Bachelor of Science from Cornell University - College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Session Panelist: Food as Medicine – Food Safety
Kenneth Barton has spent over 25 years in technology-sector in business development and senior management positions, specializing in growing new companies from concept to commercialization. He has initiated agreements and joint venture relationships with ministry-level organizations worldwide and grown start-up companies to over eight figures in enterprise value. His partnerships and business relationships include Symantec Corporation, USPS, the Universal Postal Union (a U.N. organization), the USDA, US Army and other international government agencies. Mr. Barton has also secured domestic communication services contracts through multinational corporations and Federal agencies including the GAO (General Accountability Office), the USPS, AT&T, Sprint, Qwest, Accenture, and other system integrators and defense contractors. Mr. Barton sits on several nonprofit boards. He has a B.S. in Economics from the University of Maryland and holds a J.D.
Session Panelist: Food as Medicine – Food Safety
Kenneth Barton has spent over 25 years in technology-sector in business development and senior management positions, specializing in growing new companies from concept to commercialization. He has initiated agreements and joint venture relationships with ministry-level organizations worldwide and grown start-up companies to over eight figures in enterprise value. His partnerships and business relationships include Symantec Corporation, USPS, the Universal Postal Union (a U.N. organization), the USDA, US Army and other international government agencies. Mr. Barton has also secured domestic communication services contracts through multinational corporations and Federal agencies including the GAO (General Accountability Office), the USPS, AT&T, Sprint, Qwest, Accenture, and other system integrators and defense contractors. Mr. Barton sits on several nonprofit boards. He has a B.S. in Economics from the University of Maryland and holds a J.D.
Session Panelist: Startup Showcase
John P. Brown is CEO and co-founder of Poncho, a Virginia-based technology company developing AI-enabled decision tools to improve service member financial readiness and human performance.
He has more than 20 years of experience in enterprise software serving defense and commercial customers, with a focus on supply chain risk management, cybersecurity, and human capital management.
A former Marine Corps artillery officer and exited founder, John holds an A.B. in American History from Harvard University, a Master in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He is also a Life Member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Session Panelist: Startup Showcase
John P. Brown is CEO and co-founder of Poncho, a Virginia-based technology company developing AI-enabled decision tools to improve service member financial readiness and human performance.
He has more than 20 years of experience in enterprise software serving defense and commercial customers, with a focus on supply chain risk management, cybersecurity, and human capital management.
A former Marine Corps artillery officer and exited founder, John holds an A.B. in American History from Harvard University, a Master in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He is also a Life Member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Session Panelist: AI’s Impact on Cybersecurity
Jonathan Edwards is the Director of Cybersecurity and Technology Services at Crest Security Assurance (Crest), providing cybersecurity and technology services to the Department of War (DoW), federal civilian agencies and financial services customers. Crest managing 24x7x365 security operations centers, enterprise architecture, risk management and CIO/CISO advisory services for their clients. He has 15+ years of experience working in information technology and cybersecurity across several organizations as a cybersecurity business owner and technical director leading publicly traded companies.
Prior to joining Crest Security Assurance, Jonathan was the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for Verbosity, a healthcare technology firm providing free COVID testing services to over 1 million people in partnership with Mount Sinai Health Systems.
Jonathan was also a Senior Director for Cybersecurity Programs at Jacobs Engineering and Technology, leading the organization’s largest cybersecurity portfolio. He was critical in the growth of the Cyber Business Unit, helping lead the integration and transition of the Blue Canopy Group, LLC acquisition into the Jacobs organization. Jonathan worked at Blue Canopy as a Senior Director in Cybersecurity for nearly 10 years, growing their Financial Services portfolio into the largest segment of the business. He also managed the operations, training, and execution of Blue Canopy's Cloud Security and FedRAMP Third Party Assessment Organization (3PAO) Program. His areas of expertise are Amazon Web Services (AWS), security operations, FedRAMP and cloud security, enterprise architecture and design, continuous diagnostics and mitigation (CDM), enterprise IT risk management, security governance, and vulnerability management.
Lastly, he is a native Washingtonian and graduate of Georgetown University, where he was a member of the Georgetown varsity football team, as well as a graduate of Saint Albans School For Boys, in Northwest Washington DC.
Session Panelist: AI’s Impact on Cybersecurity
Jonathan Edwards is the Director of Cybersecurity and Technology Services at Crest Security Assurance (Crest), providing cybersecurity and technology services to the Department of War (DoW), federal civilian agencies and financial services customers. Crest managing 24x7x365 security operations centers, enterprise architecture, risk management and CIO/CISO advisory services for their clients. He has 15+ years of experience working in information technology and cybersecurity across several organizations as a cybersecurity business owner and technical director leading publicly traded companies.
Prior to joining Crest Security Assurance, Jonathan was the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for Verbosity, a healthcare technology firm providing free COVID testing services to over 1 million people in partnership with Mount Sinai Health Systems.
Jonathan was also a Senior Director for Cybersecurity Programs at Jacobs Engineering and Technology, leading the organization’s largest cybersecurity portfolio. He was critical in the growth of the Cyber Business Unit, helping lead the integration and transition of the Blue Canopy Group, LLC acquisition into the Jacobs organization. Jonathan worked at Blue Canopy as a Senior Director in Cybersecurity for nearly 10 years, growing their Financial Services portfolio into the largest segment of the business. He also managed the operations, training, and execution of Blue Canopy's Cloud Security and FedRAMP Third Party Assessment Organization (3PAO) Program. His areas of expertise are Amazon Web Services (AWS), security operations, FedRAMP and cloud security, enterprise architecture and design, continuous diagnostics and mitigation (CDM), enterprise IT risk management, security governance, and vulnerability management.
Lastly, he is a native Washingtonian and graduate of Georgetown University, where he was a member of the Georgetown varsity football team, as well as a graduate of Saint Albans School For Boys, in Northwest Washington DC.
Session Panelist: AI and the Future of Work
E. Francisco López, JD, MPA has over 25 years of experience as a thought-leader with a winning blend of subject matter expertise that includes Infrastructure, Funding, AI Energy, Legal Compliance, and Community Ecosystems. A former political appointee, he led strategies to provide and secure government funding and to ensure federal and state compliance. He also develops dashboards that align with key federal and state projection for future planning. A few highlights include:
- Managing Partner, Funding and Government Advising
- Economic-development Strategy
- Federal/state Government
Programs and Funding
- Public-private Partnerships
- Community Engagement and Stakeholder Management
- Energy/data-center Development Strategy
- Site Selection and Development
- Community Benefit Agreements
- Workforce-development Strategy
- Grant/federal Funding Strategy
- Project Financing and Capital-stack Development
- AI Marketing and Development Strategy
Mr. Lopez is a US Army veteran that served in Operation Desert Storm. He also graduated from Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations, and Brooks School of Public Policy, the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard, and Howard University School of Law.
Session Panelist: AI and the Future of Work
E. Francisco López, JD, MPA has over 25 years of experience as a thought-leader with a winning blend of subject matter expertise that includes Infrastructure, Funding, AI Energy, Legal Compliance, and Community Ecosystems. A former political appointee, he led strategies to provide and secure government funding and to ensure federal and state compliance. He also develops dashboards that align with key federal and state projection for future planning. A few highlights include:
- Managing Partner, Funding and Government Advising
- Economic-development Strategy
- Federal/state Government
Programs and Funding
- Public-private Partnerships
- Community Engagement and Stakeholder Management
- Energy/data-center Development Strategy
- Site Selection and Development
- Community Benefit Agreements
- Workforce-development Strategy
- Grant/federal Funding Strategy
- Project Financing and Capital-stack Development
- AI Marketing and Development Strategy
Mr. Lopez is a US Army veteran that served in Operation Desert Storm. He also graduated from Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations, and Brooks School of Public Policy, the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard, and Howard University School of Law.
Session Panelist: AI’s Impact on Cybersecurity
Dr. Safa Gurleyen, is the Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Orbyntis, an AI security company focused on securing autonomous and agentic AI systems. With more than 20 years of experience across enterprise technology, cybersecurity, systems architecture, and artificial intelligence, he focuses on the emerging security and governance challenges created as AI systems move from generating information to independently making decisions and taking actions.
At Orbyntis, Safa leads the technology strategy behind a portfolio designed to help enterprises continuously test, govern, and protect autonomous AI systems. This includes AgentShield, Orbyntis’ adversarial testing and red-teaming platform for AI agents, along with capabilities for evidence preservation, governance, deployment controls, and runtime protection.
His experience spans enterprise and regulated environments, including work involving healthcare, defense, government, and large-scale enterprise systems. He has also contributed to AI and cybersecurity initiatives across the United States, Europe, Türkiye, the Middle East, and Africa.
Safa holds an Integrated PhD in Information Management & Data Science, and a bachelor’s degree in Business and Systems Engineering. His current work centers on a fundamental question for the next generation of enterprise AI: How can organizations trust autonomous systems with the authority to act?
Session Panelist: AI’s Impact on Cybersecurity
Dr. Safa Gurleyen, is the Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Orbyntis, an AI security company focused on securing autonomous and agentic AI systems. With more than 20 years of experience across enterprise technology, cybersecurity, systems architecture, and artificial intelligence, he focuses on the emerging security and governance challenges created as AI systems move from generating information to independently making decisions and taking actions.
At Orbyntis, Safa leads the technology strategy behind a portfolio designed to help enterprises continuously test, govern, and protect autonomous AI systems. This includes AgentShield, Orbyntis’ adversarial testing and red-teaming platform for AI agents, along with capabilities for evidence preservation, governance, deployment controls, and runtime protection.
His experience spans enterprise and regulated environments, including work involving healthcare, defense, government, and large-scale enterprise systems. He has also contributed to AI and cybersecurity initiatives across the United States, Europe, Türkiye, the Middle East, and Africa.
Safa holds an Integrated PhD in Information Management & Data Science, and a bachelor’s degree in Business and Systems Engineering. His current work centers on a fundamental question for the next generation of enterprise AI: How can organizations trust autonomous systems with the authority to act?
Session Panelist: AI and the Future of Work
Ryan Paul Kim is currently part of Cuebench, which builds reinforcement learning environments for scientific discovery and inference, with a focus on reasoning and performance engineering. Cuebench was accepted into Y Combinator, receiving $500,000 in funding and $2 million in AI credits, along with access to experienced mentors and technical resources.
Ryan is also the founder of STEM4All, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to computers, educational resources, and STEM opportunities for underserved students. Through this work, he has also helped support the creation of Laos Sansouk School, an elementary school in Laos.
His interest in innovation has also led him to participate in programs including the UPenn Jerome Fisher Summer Institute in Management & Technology, where his team developed a Braille E-reader Pad, and LaunchX at UC Berkeley, where he developed a smart cushion for individuals experiencing back pain. Ryan is studying business with a strong interest in the intersection of technology and social impact. He is passionate about building technology-driven solutions that address real-world needs and create lasting impact.
Session Panelist: AI and the Future of Work
Ryan Paul Kim is currently part of Cuebench, which builds reinforcement learning environments for scientific discovery and inference, with a focus on reasoning and performance engineering. Cuebench was accepted into Y Combinator, receiving $500,000 in funding and $2 million in AI credits, along with access to experienced mentors and technical resources.
Ryan is also the founder of STEM4All, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to computers, educational resources, and STEM opportunities for underserved students. Through this work, he has also helped support the creation of Laos Sansouk School, an elementary school in Laos.
His interest in innovation has also led him to participate in programs including the UPenn Jerome Fisher Summer Institute in Management & Technology, where his team developed a Braille E-reader Pad, and LaunchX at UC Berkeley, where he developed a smart cushion for individuals experiencing back pain. Ryan is studying business with a strong interest in the intersection of technology and social impact. He is passionate about building technology-driven solutions that address real-world needs and create lasting impact.
Session Panelist: Food as Medicine – Food Safety
Nora Kemmerer is a Metabolic Health Coach at Ovadia Heart Health and a registered cardiac sonographer with 16 years of experience. Her clinical background spans advanced echocardiography, cardiovascular procedures, research-qualified imaging, and team leadership. She also serves as the Weston A Price Foundation chapter leader for the Washington DC area. Drawing on her experience seeing heart disease firsthand, Nora helps people improve their metabolic health and prevent heart disease by translating health guidance into realistic, sustainable daily habits.
Session Panelist: Food as Medicine – Food Safety
Nora Kemmerer is a Metabolic Health Coach at Ovadia Heart Health and a registered cardiac sonographer with 16 years of experience. Her clinical background spans advanced echocardiography, cardiovascular procedures, research-qualified imaging, and team leadership. She also serves as the Weston A Price Foundation chapter leader for the Washington DC area. Drawing on her experience seeing heart disease firsthand, Nora helps people improve their metabolic health and prevent heart disease by translating health guidance into realistic, sustainable daily habits.
Session Panelist: AI and the Future of Work
Israel Kloss is a data-driven growth strategist and the founder of Findable Consulting, BlueChimp, and InsiderChimp. He specializes in applying artificial intelligence and data science to revenue growth, combining experience across SaaS, manufacturing, and analytics consulting to build predictive models, connect fragmented data, and turn behavioral insights into scalable business strategies.
Through Findable Consulting, Israel helps organizations modernize revenue operations, improve pipeline visibility, and align marketing, sales, and operations around measurable growth. He has doubled revenue-forecasting accuracy, generated hundreds of thousands of dollars in new business through behavioral sales strategies, and increased annual revenue using AI-agent teams and multi-MCP orchestration.
Israel also transforms his expertise into practical technology. BlueChimp uses buying-intent signals and relationship intelligence to help revenue teams identify qualified prospects and create warmer paths into target accounts. InsiderChimp applies similar intelligence to the job market, helping professionals uncover companies demonstrating early hiring signals—even before positions are publicly posted.
Session Panelist: AI and the Future of Work
Israel Kloss is a data-driven growth strategist and the founder of Findable Consulting, BlueChimp, and InsiderChimp. He specializes in applying artificial intelligence and data science to revenue growth, combining experience across SaaS, manufacturing, and analytics consulting to build predictive models, connect fragmented data, and turn behavioral insights into scalable business strategies.
Through Findable Consulting, Israel helps organizations modernize revenue operations, improve pipeline visibility, and align marketing, sales, and operations around measurable growth. He has doubled revenue-forecasting accuracy, generated hundreds of thousands of dollars in new business through behavioral sales strategies, and increased annual revenue using AI-agent teams and multi-MCP orchestration.
Israel also transforms his expertise into practical technology. BlueChimp uses buying-intent signals and relationship intelligence to help revenue teams identify qualified prospects and create warmer paths into target accounts. InsiderChimp applies similar intelligence to the job market, helping professionals uncover companies demonstrating early hiring signals—even before positions are publicly posted.
Session Panelist: The Future of Healthcare
Dr. McCaffrey completed his M.S. and Ph.D. at Purdue University in Neurobiology and joined the faculty at Weill/Cornell Medical School where he founded their genomic medicine program. He moved to The George Washington University where he was a Co-Founder of The Catherine Birch McCormick Genomics Center and has served on the Board of The Cheney/GW Heart and Vascular Institute. He teaches both medical and graduate students in courses related to molecular medicine and the genetic basis of diseases.
Dr. McCaffrey’s research is focused on the molecular mechanisms of disease. Using RNA sequencing of whole blood, his team has identified unique patterns associated with coronary artery disease. This RNA biomarker panel may have diagnostic utility and helps to understand the underlying immune changes associated with cardiovascular diseases.
Recently, his lab used genomic methods to identify biomarkers of the host immune response to infections. The RNA biomarkers are sensitive indicators of neutrophil activation, and readily detect bacterial, biofilm, and viral infections. The test, called TruNAV, is currently in a multicenter FDA clearance trial to validate the test as an aid in the diagnosis of abdominal pain, which are frequently caused by difficult-to-diagnose biofilm infections.
Session Panelist: The Future of Healthcare
Dr. McCaffrey completed his M.S. and Ph.D. at Purdue University in Neurobiology and joined the faculty at Weill/Cornell Medical School where he founded their genomic medicine program. He moved to The George Washington University where he was a Co-Founder of The Catherine Birch McCormick Genomics Center and has served on the Board of The Cheney/GW Heart and Vascular Institute. He teaches both medical and graduate students in courses related to molecular medicine and the genetic basis of diseases.
Dr. McCaffrey’s research is focused on the molecular mechanisms of disease. Using RNA sequencing of whole blood, his team has identified unique patterns associated with coronary artery disease. This RNA biomarker panel may have diagnostic utility and helps to understand the underlying immune changes associated with cardiovascular diseases.
Recently, his lab used genomic methods to identify biomarkers of the host immune response to infections. The RNA biomarkers are sensitive indicators of neutrophil activation, and readily detect bacterial, biofilm, and viral infections. The test, called TruNAV, is currently in a multicenter FDA clearance trial to validate the test as an aid in the diagnosis of abdominal pain, which are frequently caused by difficult-to-diagnose biofilm infections.
Nate Moulton leads government affairs for IQM Quantum Computers in North America, promoting policy solutions to accelerate quantum computing deployment and to grow regional innovation ecosystems. He also leads IQM’s engagement in the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C), the Quantum Industry Coalition (QIC), and the Partnership for U.S. Leadership in Supercomputing, AI, and Quantum (PULS AIQ).
Most recently, Nate worked as the Quantum and Photonics Industry Specialist in the Department of Commerce, where he contributed industry insights to interagency
policymaking processes, including for Executive Order 14413: Ushering in the Next Frontier of Quantum Innovation.
Before diving into quantum, Nate primarily worked in trade policy and government affairs in both the public and private sectors, including in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). Nate studied trade and digital policy at Georgetown University, where he earned his MA and BS in the School of Foreign Service.
Nate Moulton leads government affairs for IQM Quantum Computers in North America, promoting policy solutions to accelerate quantum computing deployment and to grow regional innovation ecosystems. He also leads IQM’s engagement in the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C), the Quantum Industry Coalition (QIC), and the Partnership for U.S. Leadership in Supercomputing, AI, and Quantum (PULS AIQ).
Most recently, Nate worked as the Quantum and Photonics Industry Specialist in the Department of Commerce, where he contributed industry insights to interagency
policymaking processes, including for Executive Order 14413: Ushering in the Next Frontier of Quantum Innovation.
Before diving into quantum, Nate primarily worked in trade policy and government affairs in both the public and private sectors, including in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). Nate studied trade and digital policy at Georgetown University, where he earned his MA and BS in the School of Foreign Service.
Suresh Nair is an accomplished technology leader and entrepreneur with over two
decades of experience in IT solutions, program management, and emerging technology strategy. As the President & CEO of Ina Solutions Inc., he has been at the forefront of driving innovation in digital transformation, quantum computing, and AI-driven solutions.
With a Master’s in Information Technology Management and a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering, Suresh brings a unique blend of technical expertise and business acumen. His leadership extends beyond Ina Solutions, as he serves on the External Advisory Board for the Monark Quantum Foundry (NSF funded) and as a Board Member of the National Quantum Literacy Network (NSF Funded), contributing to workforce development in quantum technologies.
Suresh led his team to win a prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) award in Quantum Machine Learning, further solidifying his role as a pioneer in advancing quantum applications. His recent research, Quantum Readiness in Healthcare and Public Health: Building a Quantum Literate Workforce, underscores his commitment to preparing industries for the quantum era.
Suresh Nair is an accomplished technology leader and entrepreneur with over two
decades of experience in IT solutions, program management, and emerging technology strategy. As the President & CEO of Ina Solutions Inc., he has been at the forefront of driving innovation in digital transformation, quantum computing, and AI-driven solutions.
With a Master’s in Information Technology Management and a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering, Suresh brings a unique blend of technical expertise and business acumen. His leadership extends beyond Ina Solutions, as he serves on the External Advisory Board for the Monark Quantum Foundry (NSF funded) and as a Board Member of the National Quantum Literacy Network (NSF Funded), contributing to workforce development in quantum technologies.
Suresh led his team to win a prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) award in Quantum Machine Learning, further solidifying his role as a pioneer in advancing quantum applications. His recent research, Quantum Readiness in Healthcare and Public Health: Building a Quantum Literate Workforce, underscores his commitment to preparing industries for the quantum era.
Session Moderator: AI and the Future of Work
Nuala O’Connor is a pioneering leader, lawyer, and public policy expert working at the intersection of law and technology. For more than three decades, she has been at the forefront of technological
innovation, advising on the responsible use of data and emerging technologies in high-stakes security environments. Her experience spans senior leadership roles in the U.S. government, multinational
corporations, and the nonprofit sector, where she brings a civil liberties and human dignity lens to
technology policy and data innovation.
Nuala has held pivotal leadership positions in government and the nonprofit sector. As the first Chief
Privacy Officer of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), she helped establish the
department’s technology and data protection frameworks in the aftermath of 9/11. Her work set essential guardrails to protect individual rights while advancing the agency’s mission during a period of unprecedented technological disruption and national security challenges. In the nonprofit sector, as President and CEO of the Center for Democracy and Technology, she helped reshape public discourse on digital civil liberties, laying the foundation for ethical technology practices that strengthen free enterprise and support effective governance in a thriving democracy.
In the private sector, Nuala has championed digital ethics at the cutting edge of innovation. As Senior Vice President and Chief Counsel at Walmart, she founded and led the company’s Digital Citizenship organization. She guided one of the world’s largest companies in the responsible deployment of AI,
cybersecurity, biometrics, data privacy, and digital transformation initiatives. By leading enterprise-wide efforts on the ethical use of emerging technologies, digital identity programs, and data governance, she advanced a global strategy that accelerated innovation while reinforcing corporate responsibility and human dignity. Nuala has also held senior leadership roles at Amazon, General Electric, and the internet advertising company DoubleClick, advancing human rights at the technological frontier.
Nuala frequently provides legal and policy commentary in national and international media. She has
appeared on major broadcast outlets including NPR, CNN, MSNBC, and the BBC, and has been quoted in or interviewed by The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg,
and Politico. She has testified numerous times before the U.S. Congress, as well as before the European Commission and the European Parliament. Her essays and policy analyses have appeared in leading
publications and platforms focused on technology innovation and societal impact, civil liberties, data
privacy, and digital governance.
Nuala holds an A.B. from Princeton University, an M.Ed. from the Harvard Graduate School of
Education, and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.
Session Moderator: AI and the Future of Work
Nuala O’Connor is a pioneering leader, lawyer, and public policy expert working at the intersection of law and technology. For more than three decades, she has been at the forefront of technological
innovation, advising on the responsible use of data and emerging technologies in high-stakes security environments. Her experience spans senior leadership roles in the U.S. government, multinational
corporations, and the nonprofit sector, where she brings a civil liberties and human dignity lens to
technology policy and data innovation.
Nuala has held pivotal leadership positions in government and the nonprofit sector. As the first Chief
Privacy Officer of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), she helped establish the
department’s technology and data protection frameworks in the aftermath of 9/11. Her work set essential guardrails to protect individual rights while advancing the agency’s mission during a period of unprecedented technological disruption and national security challenges. In the nonprofit sector, as President and CEO of the Center for Democracy and Technology, she helped reshape public discourse on digital civil liberties, laying the foundation for ethical technology practices that strengthen free enterprise and support effective governance in a thriving democracy.
In the private sector, Nuala has championed digital ethics at the cutting edge of innovation. As Senior Vice President and Chief Counsel at Walmart, she founded and led the company’s Digital Citizenship organization. She guided one of the world’s largest companies in the responsible deployment of AI,
cybersecurity, biometrics, data privacy, and digital transformation initiatives. By leading enterprise-wide efforts on the ethical use of emerging technologies, digital identity programs, and data governance, she advanced a global strategy that accelerated innovation while reinforcing corporate responsibility and human dignity. Nuala has also held senior leadership roles at Amazon, General Electric, and the internet advertising company DoubleClick, advancing human rights at the technological frontier.
Nuala frequently provides legal and policy commentary in national and international media. She has
appeared on major broadcast outlets including NPR, CNN, MSNBC, and the BBC, and has been quoted in or interviewed by The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg,
and Politico. She has testified numerous times before the U.S. Congress, as well as before the European Commission and the European Parliament. Her essays and policy analyses have appeared in leading
publications and platforms focused on technology innovation and societal impact, civil liberties, data
privacy, and digital governance.
Nuala holds an A.B. from Princeton University, an M.Ed. from the Harvard Graduate School of
Education, and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.
Session Panelist: AI's Impact on Healthcare
Dr. Chung Hyuk Park is a Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science at the George Washington University. As the director of the Assistive Robotics and Tele-Medicine (ART-Med) Lab, his current research interests are: 1) Multimodal human-robot interaction (HRI) and robotic assistance for individuals with disabilities or special needs, 2) Robotic learning and humanized intelligence, 3) Tele-medical robotic assistance and AI-based reasoning for medical perception and decision-making, 4) Trustworthiness in Embodied AI, and 5) Physical AI and Neuro-Sybolic Learning. He is a recipient of an NSF CAREER grant and carried out a National Robotics Initiative (NRI) NIH R01 project as the lead-PI.
Session Panelist: AI's Impact on Healthcare
Dr. Chung Hyuk Park is a Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science at the George Washington University. As the director of the Assistive Robotics and Tele-Medicine (ART-Med) Lab, his current research interests are: 1) Multimodal human-robot interaction (HRI) and robotic assistance for individuals with disabilities or special needs, 2) Robotic learning and humanized intelligence, 3) Tele-medical robotic assistance and AI-based reasoning for medical perception and decision-making, 4) Trustworthiness in Embodied AI, and 5) Physical AI and Neuro-Sybolic Learning. He is a recipient of an NSF CAREER grant and carried out a National Robotics Initiative (NRI) NIH R01 project as the lead-PI.
Session Panelist: The Future of Healthcare
Dr. Shashank J. Patel is an immunologist, gene-engineer, and biotech entrepreneur with more
than 15 years of leadership experience spanning academia, government, and global biopharma. He is the Founder and CEO of Monocacy Therapeutics Inc., an AI-native immunotherapy company pioneering first-in-class small molecules and engineered biologics to overcome resistance to immune checkpoint therapy and expand access to transformative cancer treatments.
Dr. Patel has built and led discovery and translational research engines that consistently deliver first-in-class INDs, integrating functional genomics, single-cell multi-omics, CRISPR screening, computational biology, and in vivo pharmacology into scalable drug development platforms.
Prior to founding Monocacy, he held executive leadership roles at Georgiamune, Immunai, NextCure Inc., and Boehringer Ingelheim, where he advanced bispecific antibodies, immunocytokines, T cell engagers, oncolytic viruses, and small molecule checkpoint inhibitors from discovery through IND and early clinical development.
Earlier in his career at the National Cancer Institute, working with Drs. Nicholas Restifo and Steven Rosenberg, Dr. Patel co-led seminal CRISPR-based discoveries that shaped next- generation T cell therapies and checkpoint biology, publishing in leading journals including Nature, Cancer Cell, Cell, and Science. He is an inventor on multiple patents spanning small
molecules, biologics, and adoptive cell therapies.
A recipient of the 2023 Top 25 Healthcare Technology Leaders of Washington, DC, Dr. Patel combines deep scientific rigor with strategic vision. He holds a Ph.D. from the NIH-Georgetown partnership (Summa Cum Laude), an MSc in Pharmacology from the University of Oxford, and executive training from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Patel is committed to building durable, patient-centric immunotherapies while mentoring
the next generation of scientific leaders and advancing equitable access to innovation in medicine.
Session Panelist: The Future of Healthcare
Dr. Shashank J. Patel is an immunologist, gene-engineer, and biotech entrepreneur with more
than 15 years of leadership experience spanning academia, government, and global biopharma. He is the Founder and CEO of Monocacy Therapeutics Inc., an AI-native immunotherapy company pioneering first-in-class small molecules and engineered biologics to overcome resistance to immune checkpoint therapy and expand access to transformative cancer treatments.
Dr. Patel has built and led discovery and translational research engines that consistently deliver first-in-class INDs, integrating functional genomics, single-cell multi-omics, CRISPR screening, computational biology, and in vivo pharmacology into scalable drug development platforms.
Prior to founding Monocacy, he held executive leadership roles at Georgiamune, Immunai, NextCure Inc., and Boehringer Ingelheim, where he advanced bispecific antibodies, immunocytokines, T cell engagers, oncolytic viruses, and small molecule checkpoint inhibitors from discovery through IND and early clinical development.
Earlier in his career at the National Cancer Institute, working with Drs. Nicholas Restifo and Steven Rosenberg, Dr. Patel co-led seminal CRISPR-based discoveries that shaped next- generation T cell therapies and checkpoint biology, publishing in leading journals including Nature, Cancer Cell, Cell, and Science. He is an inventor on multiple patents spanning small
molecules, biologics, and adoptive cell therapies.
A recipient of the 2023 Top 25 Healthcare Technology Leaders of Washington, DC, Dr. Patel combines deep scientific rigor with strategic vision. He holds a Ph.D. from the NIH-Georgetown partnership (Summa Cum Laude), an MSc in Pharmacology from the University of Oxford, and executive training from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Patel is committed to building durable, patient-centric immunotherapies while mentoring
the next generation of scientific leaders and advancing equitable access to innovation in medicine.
Session Moderator: AI’s Impact on Cybersecurity
Josh Rosenthal is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Prowler Open Source Cloud Security, the world's most popular open-source cloud security platform -- 14k GitHub stars, 46M downloads. He is a proven GTM and Customer Success leader in SaaS, Cybersecurity, and AI with two successful exits. Previously, Josh was the founder of CloudSploit, an early leader in the open-source cloud security space and a competitor to Prowler, which he successfully built, scaled, and exited through community-led marketing and customer-success-led growth, all built on a foundation of automation and operations research.
Josh holds an MBA and an M.S. in Operations Research from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, where he actively serves on the MSIS & AI Advisory Council. An expert in both the technical and strategic dimensions of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, he has spoken on AI security for the European Union Innovation Center in Athens.
Session Moderator: AI’s Impact on Cybersecurity
Josh Rosenthal is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Prowler Open Source Cloud Security, the world's most popular open-source cloud security platform -- 14k GitHub stars, 46M downloads. He is a proven GTM and Customer Success leader in SaaS, Cybersecurity, and AI with two successful exits. Previously, Josh was the founder of CloudSploit, an early leader in the open-source cloud security space and a competitor to Prowler, which he successfully built, scaled, and exited through community-led marketing and customer-success-led growth, all built on a foundation of automation and operations research.
Josh holds an MBA and an M.S. in Operations Research from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, where he actively serves on the MSIS & AI Advisory Council. An expert in both the technical and strategic dimensions of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, he has spoken on AI security for the European Union Innovation Center in Athens.
Ruwan Salgado is Principal of Strat8gy International, LLC, an international management consultancy, and was a Partner at Sino America Investment Partners, a venture seeking to assist Chinese companies with investing in the United States. He has expertise in business development, project management, operations, financial management and analysis, and strategic planning. As a management consultant in and outside of the U.S., Ruwan has worked with senior government officials and corporate executives in a wide range of industries including oil, mining, healthcare, finance/capital markets, education and agribusiness. He has served in general management, strategic planning, business development, operations and finance roles with both for-profit and non-profit organizations. Early in his career, he gained experience in venture capital at Calvert Ventures, which established the first socially responsible venture capital fund, helping to manage its portfolio companies and identify and assess new investment opportunities. More recently, Ruwan served as the Executive Director of World Links, an internationally award winning (e.g., from the World Economic Forum etc.) and innovative spin-off from The World Bank that focused on leveraging information and communications technology to improve global education. While at World Links, he spoke on educational technology at international conferences in Africa, Asia and the U.S.A. Ruwan served for over a decade as the President of the University of Chicago Booth School’s alumni club in the Washington, D.C. area and was co-founder and co-Chair of its Entrepreneurs’ Advisory Group, which provided monthly pro bono advise to Washington, DC area entrepreneurs. He serves on the White Flint Implementation Advisory Committee tasked to advise Montgomery County, Maryland’s Planning Board on the implementation of the County’s multi-billion dollar White Flint Sector Plan. Ruwan has an M.B.A. in Finance and Marketing from the University of Chicago and an M.Phil. in Economics from Oxford University. He received both a B.A. in Economics and a B.S. in Engineering from Swarthmore College.
Ruwan Salgado is Principal of Strat8gy International, LLC, an international management consultancy, and was a Partner at Sino America Investment Partners, a venture seeking to assist Chinese companies with investing in the United States. He has expertise in business development, project management, operations, financial management and analysis, and strategic planning. As a management consultant in and outside of the U.S., Ruwan has worked with senior government officials and corporate executives in a wide range of industries including oil, mining, healthcare, finance/capital markets, education and agribusiness. He has served in general management, strategic planning, business development, operations and finance roles with both for-profit and non-profit organizations. Early in his career, he gained experience in venture capital at Calvert Ventures, which established the first socially responsible venture capital fund, helping to manage its portfolio companies and identify and assess new investment opportunities. More recently, Ruwan served as the Executive Director of World Links, an internationally award winning (e.g., from the World Economic Forum etc.) and innovative spin-off from The World Bank that focused on leveraging information and communications technology to improve global education. While at World Links, he spoke on educational technology at international conferences in Africa, Asia and the U.S.A. Ruwan served for over a decade as the President of the University of Chicago Booth School’s alumni club in the Washington, D.C. area and was co-founder and co-Chair of its Entrepreneurs’ Advisory Group, which provided monthly pro bono advise to Washington, DC area entrepreneurs. He serves on the White Flint Implementation Advisory Committee tasked to advise Montgomery County, Maryland’s Planning Board on the implementation of the County’s multi-billion dollar White Flint Sector Plan. Ruwan has an M.B.A. in Finance and Marketing from the University of Chicago and an M.Phil. in Economics from Oxford University. He received both a B.A. in Economics and a B.S. in Engineering from Swarthmore College.
Alan is the Summit Chair and President of the Wharton Club of Washington, DC. His dedication to the School and the Club resulted in his becoming a recipient of the Club’s Joseph Wharton Award and Wharton’s Distinguished Alumni Service Award. During his tenure, the Club has had 15 successful conferences, including the five Innovation Summits that have stimulated, connected and empowered a diverse group of innovators and entrepreneurs within and well beyond the Wharton alumni network.
An accomplished business attorney with the highest rating, “a v,” from Martindale-Hubbell, Alan’s career has been split between private practice (now in business and general practice) and public service. He received a Distinguished Service Award for his decade of service as a Senior Trial Attorney at the Federal Trade Commission after two years at the Justice Department. Alan earned a J.D. from Harvard Law School following his undergraduate work at the Wharton School.
Alan is the Summit Chair and President of the Wharton Club of Washington, DC. His dedication to the School and the Club resulted in his becoming a recipient of the Club’s Joseph Wharton Award and Wharton’s Distinguished Alumni Service Award. During his tenure, the Club has had 15 successful conferences, including the five Innovation Summits that have stimulated, connected and empowered a diverse group of innovators and entrepreneurs within and well beyond the Wharton alumni network.
An accomplished business attorney with the highest rating, “a v,” from Martindale-Hubbell, Alan’s career has been split between private practice (now in business and general practice) and public service. He received a Distinguished Service Award for his decade of service as a Senior Trial Attorney at the Federal Trade Commission after two years at the Justice Department. Alan earned a J.D. from Harvard Law School following his undergraduate work at the Wharton School.
Session Panelist: AI and the Future of Work
Emma is an executive leader with a 30-year career working globally in the technology, government contracting, and legal industries – including for companies such as Capgemini, Business Objects and SAP. As a serial entrepreneur, she has co-founded and successfully scaled businesses organically and through strategic acquisition delivering double-digit returns to early investors.
Emma has led high value creation teams in complex, cross-cultural environments where clarity, resilience, and trust are essential for building sustainable partnerships and leadership programs that prioritize both results and human flourishing. She stewards innovation and emerging technology – including AI, as tools to serve people, not replace them.
Emma is a graduate of Jesus College, University of Cambridge.
Session Panelist: AI and the Future of Work
Emma is an executive leader with a 30-year career working globally in the technology, government contracting, and legal industries – including for companies such as Capgemini, Business Objects and SAP. As a serial entrepreneur, she has co-founded and successfully scaled businesses organically and through strategic acquisition delivering double-digit returns to early investors.
Emma has led high value creation teams in complex, cross-cultural environments where clarity, resilience, and trust are essential for building sustainable partnerships and leadership programs that prioritize both results and human flourishing. She stewards innovation and emerging technology – including AI, as tools to serve people, not replace them.
Emma is a graduate of Jesus College, University of Cambridge.
Session Panelist: Does AI Need Guardrails?
Dr. John R. Unger II helps institutions build artificial intelligence that is not only powerful, but responsible, reliable, and worthy of public trust. A Rhodes Scholar (Oxford, PPE), he is Adjunct Professor in West Virginia University’s Statler College, where he is helping establish an AI Center of Excellence and teaches Responsible and Reliable AI and Cybersecurity Ethics. A former White House Senior Advisor working on AI ethics and a former West Virginia State Senate Majority Leader, his work returns to one question: not only what our technologies can do, but what kind of people we are becoming as we build them. His conviction is that inventing a better future depends less on the machines we design than on the wisdom, dignity, and moral vision we bring to building them.
Session Panelist: Does AI Need Guardrails?
Dr. John R. Unger II helps institutions build artificial intelligence that is not only powerful, but responsible, reliable, and worthy of public trust. A Rhodes Scholar (Oxford, PPE), he is Adjunct Professor in West Virginia University’s Statler College, where he is helping establish an AI Center of Excellence and teaches Responsible and Reliable AI and Cybersecurity Ethics. A former White House Senior Advisor working on AI ethics and a former West Virginia State Senate Majority Leader, his work returns to one question: not only what our technologies can do, but what kind of people we are becoming as we build them. His conviction is that inventing a better future depends less on the machines we design than on the wisdom, dignity, and moral vision we bring to building them.
Session Panelist: AI's Impact on Healthcare
Dr. Vijay Walia is a Sr. Director, Regulatory Affairs at Quest Diagnostics leading regulatory strategy for oncology and software-based devices.
Dr. Walia is an expert in US FDA negotiations, Breakthrough Designations, PMA, DeNovo, 510(k), pre-submissions, Design Controls, AI-based devices, and Software & Cybersecurity for IVDs and Medical Devices. With over 20 plus years of experience in medical device industry, Dr. Walia has an in-depth knowledge of regulations, product development, registrations, and the lifecycle of medical device development with knowledge of FDA review and approval pathways.
Previously, he served at OHT7, CDRH, FDA where he was a lead reviewer of IVDs, SaMD, AI-based tools for cancer biomarkers and Companion Diagnostics. Dr. Walia graduated from prestigious FDA Commissioner’s Fellowship program, Class of 2016, and was involved in the testing and launch of FDA’s precisionFDA initiative. In the past, Dr. Walia served Thermo Fisher Scientific as Global Product Manager and at the NIH working on melanomas and rare genetic diseases.
Dr. Walia completed his PhD from School of Medicine Southern Illinois University in Pharmacology, MBA from the University of Arkansas, and Executive General Management Program from Harvard Business School. He lives in Frederick, Maryland and enjoys spending time with his family, loves theater, and mentoring school and college students.
Session Panelist: AI's Impact on Healthcare
Dr. Vijay Walia is a Sr. Director, Regulatory Affairs at Quest Diagnostics leading regulatory strategy for oncology and software-based devices.
Dr. Walia is an expert in US FDA negotiations, Breakthrough Designations, PMA, DeNovo, 510(k), pre-submissions, Design Controls, AI-based devices, and Software & Cybersecurity for IVDs and Medical Devices. With over 20 plus years of experience in medical device industry, Dr. Walia has an in-depth knowledge of regulations, product development, registrations, and the lifecycle of medical device development with knowledge of FDA review and approval pathways.
Previously, he served at OHT7, CDRH, FDA where he was a lead reviewer of IVDs, SaMD, AI-based tools for cancer biomarkers and Companion Diagnostics. Dr. Walia graduated from prestigious FDA Commissioner’s Fellowship program, Class of 2016, and was involved in the testing and launch of FDA’s precisionFDA initiative. In the past, Dr. Walia served Thermo Fisher Scientific as Global Product Manager and at the NIH working on melanomas and rare genetic diseases.
Dr. Walia completed his PhD from School of Medicine Southern Illinois University in Pharmacology, MBA from the University of Arkansas, and Executive General Management Program from Harvard Business School. He lives in Frederick, Maryland and enjoys spending time with his family, loves theater, and mentoring school and college students.
Session Panelist: AI’s Impact on Cybersecurity
Andrew is a principal in the RSM LLP technology risk advisory services practice. With close to 20 years of consulting experience within the information security and data governance field, Andrew has a unique combination of technical and business related skills which allow him to perform in multiple roles. The bulk of his security/privacy experience has been consulting within the public sector field leading a myriad of engagements including tactical penetration testing and red teaming engagements to large statewide NIST cyber security efforts and strategic roadmap development.
As the security and privacy risk public sector lead, Andrew’s responsibilities range anywhere from overseeing large government engagements to providing thought leadership, talent development, and other business growth activities.
Outside of work, Andrew is the co-lead for the DC OWASP chapter and has held the responsibility of
helping to organize large information security conferences such as OWASP’s annual U.S. flagship conference, AppSec USA. Andrew has had the privilege of speaking at national industry conferences
such as Maryland Association of Counties (MACo), ISACA, Defcon, OWASP AppSec, and Rochester
Security Summit to name a few. He has also worked with security researchers on pentesting tool
development and has author credits on a well-known red teaming offensive security book. Finally, he keeps his skills sharp by taking industry leading training.
Andrew has served within a subject matter expert role and strategic advisor to state and local government entities. He has worked directly with State CISOs to oversee the delivery of large statewide security
engagements including NIST CSF assessments and penetration testing. He has led strategic program development efforts in the areas of enterprise vulnerability and identify and access management, led the development of information security programs as a virtual CISO for small and medium sized business andmanaged a practice that included a team of over 50 security professionals spread across the United States and around the globe.
Andrew’s position requires him to annually participate in continuing professional education for an average of 40 hours or more.
Session Panelist: AI’s Impact on Cybersecurity
Andrew is a principal in the RSM LLP technology risk advisory services practice. With close to 20 years of consulting experience within the information security and data governance field, Andrew has a unique combination of technical and business related skills which allow him to perform in multiple roles. The bulk of his security/privacy experience has been consulting within the public sector field leading a myriad of engagements including tactical penetration testing and red teaming engagements to large statewide NIST cyber security efforts and strategic roadmap development.
As the security and privacy risk public sector lead, Andrew’s responsibilities range anywhere from overseeing large government engagements to providing thought leadership, talent development, and other business growth activities.
Outside of work, Andrew is the co-lead for the DC OWASP chapter and has held the responsibility of
helping to organize large information security conferences such as OWASP’s annual U.S. flagship conference, AppSec USA. Andrew has had the privilege of speaking at national industry conferences
such as Maryland Association of Counties (MACo), ISACA, Defcon, OWASP AppSec, and Rochester
Security Summit to name a few. He has also worked with security researchers on pentesting tool
development and has author credits on a well-known red teaming offensive security book. Finally, he keeps his skills sharp by taking industry leading training.
Andrew has served within a subject matter expert role and strategic advisor to state and local government entities. He has worked directly with State CISOs to oversee the delivery of large statewide security
engagements including NIST CSF assessments and penetration testing. He has led strategic program development efforts in the areas of enterprise vulnerability and identify and access management, led the development of information security programs as a virtual CISO for small and medium sized business andmanaged a practice that included a team of over 50 security professionals spread across the United States and around the globe.
Andrew’s position requires him to annually participate in continuing professional education for an average of 40 hours or more.
Session Panelist: The Future of Healthcare
Dr. David Wessel is an anesthesiologist in Washington, District of Columbia and is the former Chief Medical Officer of Children's National Hospital.
In 2007, Dr. Wessel joined Children’s National to enhance the care of newborns across specialty services by expanding programs and research, with a focus on critically ill newborns with heart disease.
Dr. Wessel received the American Heart Association’s Outstanding Research in Pediatric Cardiology Award in
He received his medical degree from Yale School of Medicine, has degrees from Oxford University and Harvard University, plus has been in practice for more than 40 years.
Session Panelist: The Future of Healthcare
Dr. David Wessel is an anesthesiologist in Washington, District of Columbia and is the former Chief Medical Officer of Children's National Hospital.
In 2007, Dr. Wessel joined Children’s National to enhance the care of newborns across specialty services by expanding programs and research, with a focus on critically ill newborns with heart disease.
Dr. Wessel received the American Heart Association’s Outstanding Research in Pediatric Cardiology Award in
He received his medical degree from Yale School of Medicine, has degrees from Oxford University and Harvard University, plus has been in practice for more than 40 years.
Session Panelist: Food as Medicine – Food Safety
Gwyn Whittaker is a senior executive leader with a broad base of experience over 40 years instituting transformative change to enterprise environments in the Intelligence Community with high performance technologies as competitive assets.
She founded the educational restaurant, the GreenFare Organic Café in 2015, and the non-profit,
GreenFare Health and Wellness, a 501c3 in 2019, both focused on enabling health through lifestyle
changes with a successful 21 Day Kickstart program, attended by thousands of senior leaders,
community members, and medical professionals, many of whom reversed chronic illnesses.
With her inspiration of the documentary Forks Over Knives, she has in turn supported the making of documentaries as an Executive Producer in The Game Changers (Amazon Prime) and Eating Our Way to Extinction, as Co-Producer (and featured in) Diet Fiction. She has a BS in Electrical Engineering, certified in Plant Based Nutrition through Cornell, is a Food For Life Instructor with the Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), and classes in the MS Nutrition Studies program at American University.
Ms Whittaker started and ran the Fairfax Veg Fest for 5 years and is an 8-year Certified Master Gardener. She serves on ten Boards, both in the technology arena as well as in health, environment, and animal welfare arenas, with five in senior leadership positions. She has been teaching lifestyle medicine classes for over ten years at GreenFare as well as to AARP, AFT, Google, Amazon Web Services, and a monthly class to senior acquisition students at the Defense Acquisition University.
Session Panelist: Food as Medicine – Food Safety
Gwyn Whittaker is a senior executive leader with a broad base of experience over 40 years instituting transformative change to enterprise environments in the Intelligence Community with high performance technologies as competitive assets.
She founded the educational restaurant, the GreenFare Organic Café in 2015, and the non-profit,
GreenFare Health and Wellness, a 501c3 in 2019, both focused on enabling health through lifestyle
changes with a successful 21 Day Kickstart program, attended by thousands of senior leaders,
community members, and medical professionals, many of whom reversed chronic illnesses.
With her inspiration of the documentary Forks Over Knives, she has in turn supported the making of documentaries as an Executive Producer in The Game Changers (Amazon Prime) and Eating Our Way to Extinction, as Co-Producer (and featured in) Diet Fiction. She has a BS in Electrical Engineering, certified in Plant Based Nutrition through Cornell, is a Food For Life Instructor with the Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), and classes in the MS Nutrition Studies program at American University.
Ms Whittaker started and ran the Fairfax Veg Fest for 5 years and is an 8-year Certified Master Gardener. She serves on ten Boards, both in the technology arena as well as in health, environment, and animal welfare arenas, with five in senior leadership positions. She has been teaching lifestyle medicine classes for over ten years at GreenFare as well as to AARP, AFT, Google, Amazon Web Services, and a monthly class to senior acquisition students at the Defense Acquisition University.
Session Panelist: Food as Medicine – Food Safety
Dr. Jeff Williams had a long career in academic microbiology and infectious diseases, retiring after 27 years from his position as Professor of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at Michigan State University to found a biotechnology start-up, HaloSource Inc, in Seattle, WA in 1998. Retiring, again, in 2014, he has remained active as technical advisor to several companies in the PNW region, specializing in the areas of antimicrobial chemistry and disinfection. Author of over 200 scientific papers and textbook chapters , he served four years as a member of the Board of Counselors to the US-NIH Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and has been a frequent consultant to the World Health Organisation of the UN in Geneva, Switzerland. Jeff was elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in 1996, and served as retained consultant to first Merck Inc. (1980-82), then Pharmacia (now Pfizer Inc.) (1983-1999) on therapeutic drug discovery and development. He has a long standing interest in tropical infectious diseases, starting with his appointment as staff scientist for WHO in Argentina 1968-71, and for 15 years directed a collaborative NIH-funded Program Project on Infectious Diseases in Sudan. He holds degrees in Veterinary Science (B.V.Sc., University of Bristol, UK, 1964), and Pathobiology (Ph.D, University of Pennsylvania, 1968), where he was a Fulbright Scholar (1964-68).
Session Panelist: Food as Medicine – Food Safety
Dr. Jeff Williams had a long career in academic microbiology and infectious diseases, retiring after 27 years from his position as Professor of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at Michigan State University to found a biotechnology start-up, HaloSource Inc, in Seattle, WA in 1998. Retiring, again, in 2014, he has remained active as technical advisor to several companies in the PNW region, specializing in the areas of antimicrobial chemistry and disinfection. Author of over 200 scientific papers and textbook chapters , he served four years as a member of the Board of Counselors to the US-NIH Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and has been a frequent consultant to the World Health Organisation of the UN in Geneva, Switzerland. Jeff was elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in 1996, and served as retained consultant to first Merck Inc. (1980-82), then Pharmacia (now Pfizer Inc.) (1983-1999) on therapeutic drug discovery and development. He has a long standing interest in tropical infectious diseases, starting with his appointment as staff scientist for WHO in Argentina 1968-71, and for 15 years directed a collaborative NIH-funded Program Project on Infectious Diseases in Sudan. He holds degrees in Veterinary Science (B.V.Sc., University of Bristol, UK, 1964), and Pathobiology (Ph.D, University of Pennsylvania, 1968), where he was a Fulbright Scholar (1964-68).
Session Panelist: Food as Medicine – Food Safety
Kelleen Zubick is the Managing Director of Health Systems work at Share Our Strength, a national organization focused on ending childhood hunger and poverty. She oversees strategic partnerships aimed at enabling health systems to tackle food and nutrition insecurity for children and families, emphasizing policy levers and systems approaches to increasing access to nutrition programs, including SNAP and WIC and Food Is Medicine. Current initiatives include the Medicaid Food Security Network, School Based Health Centers as Nutrition Hubs, and Benefits Integration in Care Coordination. Since joining Share Our Strength in 2014, Kelleen has also served as the Colorado Director for Cooking Matters, an evidence-based nutrition education program. Passionate about integrated solutions for nutrition security, she has contributed to policy forums such as the Convergence Center for Policy Resolution to Advance Social Determinants of Health, the Root Cause Coalition’s Food Security working group, and Colorado’s gubernatorial Food Systems Advisory Council.
Session Panelist: Food as Medicine – Food Safety
Kelleen Zubick is the Managing Director of Health Systems work at Share Our Strength, a national organization focused on ending childhood hunger and poverty. She oversees strategic partnerships aimed at enabling health systems to tackle food and nutrition insecurity for children and families, emphasizing policy levers and systems approaches to increasing access to nutrition programs, including SNAP and WIC and Food Is Medicine. Current initiatives include the Medicaid Food Security Network, School Based Health Centers as Nutrition Hubs, and Benefits Integration in Care Coordination. Since joining Share Our Strength in 2014, Kelleen has also served as the Colorado Director for Cooking Matters, an evidence-based nutrition education program. Passionate about integrated solutions for nutrition security, she has contributed to policy forums such as the Convergence Center for Policy Resolution to Advance Social Determinants of Health, the Root Cause Coalition’s Food Security working group, and Colorado’s gubernatorial Food Systems Advisory Council.