Vice Admiral Phillip M. Balisle, USN assumed command of Naval Sea Systems Command on June 28, 2002. He heads a team of 46,000 men and women nationwide in four shipyards, the undersea and surface warfare centers, nine supervisors at major shipbuilding locations and the headquarters in Washington DC. Other significant assignments include duty as Maritime Intercept Force Coordinator, AAW Officer, and senior U.S. Representative to the Multinational Interception Force Task Group Commanders Council while assigned to Commander, Middle East Force during Operation Desert Shield, and AAW/ASUW/NGFS Officer for Commander, Naval Forces, U.S. Central Command during Operation Desert Storm. Admiral Balisle holds a Bachelor of Science in Physical Science and Master of Science in Management.

Dr. Hans Binnendijk is currently Roosevelt Chair at the National Defense University and Director of the Center for Technology and National Security Policy. From 1991-2001, Dr. Binnendijk was Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Defense Policy and Arms Control, National Security Council, and received the Distinguished Public Service Award. From 1994 -1999 Dr. Binnendijk was Director, Institute for National Strategic Studies, National Defense University, also receiving a Distinguished Service Award. Previous appointments include Principal Deputy Director, Policy Planning Staff, Department of State – 1993-1994, and Director, Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, Marshall B. Coyne Research Professor, Georgetown University – 1991-1993.

Major General Jan Fredrik Blom is Defence Attaché at the Norwegian Embassy in Washington D.C. In this capacity the General covers U.S. and Canadian defense issues of interest to Norway. The Defense Attaché also keeps the U.S. and Canadian defense authorities updated on Norwegian defense matters and policies. The office assists Norwegian military procurement agencies with materials and training procurement, amounting to approximately $2 billion annually.

Lisa Bronson was appointed to the positions of Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Technology Security Policy and Counter-Proliferation and Director, Defense Technology Security Administration on September 23^rd, 2001. Previously, she held the office of Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for European and NATO Affairs. On November 8, 2000 she received the "Distinguished Executive" Presidential Rank Award for her accomplishments during her public service career. From November 1996 until February 1999, she served as the Director of NATO Policy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

Dr. Bernard M. Brown is Head of the Business Development Sector for Extended Air Defense in MDBA. He has been working in Italy for many years, and prior to the formation of MBDA was in the AMS Missile Systems Division. He is a member of the Studies, Analysis and Simulation Panel of NATO’s Research & Technology Organization. He participated as national focal point in several NATO studies on Extended Air Defense & led a NATO study on defense against cruise missiles and UAVS.

Robert Bruce is the U.S. Defense Department's principal advisor and focal point for armaments cooperation programs, issues, and activities with allied and friendly nations in Europe, the former Warsaw Pact, and Canada. He frequently represents the Department in high level bilateral and multilateral meetings related to armaments cooperation, interoperability, and standardization, and advocates and facilitates armaments cooperation activities and processes. He is a retired Army officer, and once served as a Military Free Fall Test Parachutist.

Colonel D.T. (Dan) Bulpit, CD assumed his current appointment as the Defence Cooperation Attache, Canadian Defence Liaison Staff in Washington, DC on 14 June 1999. Earlier appointments include J4 Movements and Director of Transport and Movements 1996-1999; J4 Logistics 1994; HBase Technical Services Officer at CFB Baden-Soellingen Germany, where, in 1993, he was the Detachment Commander to finalize the base’s closure; 1990, Senior Staff Officer Logistics at HQ, Canadian Forces Europe in Lahr, Germany. Colonel Bulpit was the Distinguished Allied Graduate of the US Army Command and Staff Course at Ft. Leavenworth, KS in 1985. He was awarded a Master of Science degree in National Resource Strategy by the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, Washington, DC in June 1996.

Tom Burbage was named Executive Vice President and General Manager, Joint Strike Fighter, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company in November 2000. Prior to this assignment he had served in a series of senior management assignments including Vice President and General Manager, F-22 Program, President Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Systems Company in Marietta, Georgia, and most recently, as Executive Vice President, Customer Requirements for the new Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company. Mr. Burbage received a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy. He also has master’s degrees in aeronautical systems from the University of West Florida and business administration from UCLA.

Rear Admiral Jay M. Cohen became the 20^th Chief of Naval Research, commanding the Office of Naval Research (ONR), on June 7, 2000. RADM Cohen manages the science and technology programs of the Navy and Marine Corps from basic research through manufacturing technologies. In addition to his position as Chief of Naval Research, RADM Cohen also assumed the duties of Director, Test and Evaluation and Technology Requirements in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations, and Assistant Deputy Commandant (Science and Technology), Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. RADM Cohen’s previous positions include Director Navy Y2K Project Office in 1999, and Deputy Director for Operations, Joint Staff in 1997. He received a joint Ocean Engineering degree and MSc in Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture from MIT.

Thomas F. Darcy is Vice President, Defense and Security Systems, EADS North America. In addition, he serves on the Board of Directors of the Fairchild Control Corporation, the Board of Advisors to NATO’s Nations Manfred Woerner Circle on Political Military Decision Making, the Editorial Boards of Defense News and Wehr Technik. Prior to that he was with Northrop Grumman Corporation in Brussels, Belgium. He is the past President of the American Defense Industry Forum (ADIF), former US Government Representative to the NATO Industrial Advisory Group (NIAG) and served on the Board of Directors of the United States Trade and Investment Center (USTIC). Mr. Darcy has a BS and MS in Finance and Accounting and is a graduate of the US Defense Systems Management College.

Aaron B. Fuller III joined CSC in April 1998. Mr. Fuller is a Vice President and General Manager, leading CSC’s business unit focused on Warfighting and Information Dominance (WIDAN) in Air and Missile Defense (AMD) and Navy and Marine Corps programs in the Federal Sector – Defense Group. Major customers include the US Navy Aegis Weapons System Program, and the US Navy Naval Surface Warfare Center (prime contract), and the US Department of Defense Missile Defense Agency (MDA) (prime contracts); the Joint Theater Air and Missile Defense Organization (JTAMDO) in the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Organization and Defense Finance Service Center (prime contract). At BDM International (1991-1998) Mr. Fuller was senior Vice President and operating unit executive, leading a strategic defense operating unit.

Dirk J. Habig is Defense Cooperation Attache at the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Washington DC. Mr. Habig’s previous position was Chief Acquisition Support Division, Directorate Materiel Royal Netherlands Air Force, The Hague, The Netherlands. From 1994 to 1997 he was Chief Section Management Control/Chief Section Financial Control/Head Controller Division (acting). Mr. Habig was Deputy Director Procurement Division/Head Contracts Branch, Directorate Materiel Royal Netherlands Navy, The Hague, The Netherlands from 1987 until 1994. He attended the NATO Defense College in Rome, Italy from 1999 until 2000, and the IATA Learning Centre in Geneva, Switzerland in 1998. In 1984, Mr. Habig attended the Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management at Wright Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio.

Rear Admiral Charles Hamilton II is Deputy Program Executive Officer for Ships (PEO Ships). PEO Ships provides the Navy with a single, platform-focused organization responsible for the research, development, systems integration, construction, & lifecycle support of current & future surface combatant, amphibious & auxiliary ships to include: DD, FFG, DDG, CG, DD (X), LCS, MCM, MHC, LPD-17, LHD-8, LHA(R), Sealift Ships, CLF Ships, Special Mission Ships, Coast Guard Deepwater Support, Small Boats & Craft, Command Ships, & MSC vessels. The Admiral previously served as PEO for Surface Strike. RADM Hamilton holds a Bachelor of Science in Zoology (Duke University), Master of Arts in National Security Affairs (Naval Postgraduate School, 1981) & a Master of Science in National Security Strategy (National War College, 1994).

Walter P. Havenstein is President of Information & Electronic Warfare Systems, a major part of BAE SYSTEMS North America. With headquarters at Nashua, N.H., IEWS specializes in EW protection systems, information warfare, and mission electronics. A U.S. Naval Academy graduate, Havenstein served in the Marines and the Marine Corps Reserve until 2001. In his 20 years with the defense industry, he has served in program management, business development and executive positions with ITT, E-Systems, Raytheon and Lockheed Martin before joining BAE SYSTEMS in November 2000.

Van Hipp, Chairman - From 1986 to 1989, Van Hipp served as Chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party. In 1988, Hipp served as surrogate campaigner for Congressman Floyd Spence, as a member of the Presidential Electoral College, and as a speaker at the Republican National Convention where he introduced current Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich. In 1990, he was sworn in as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Reserve Forces and Mobilization). Following the “Tailhook Scandal,” Hipp was appointed as the Principal Deputy General Counsel of the Navy. Hipp is a veteran of the U.S. Army and served on active duty in both Operation Desert Storm and Operation Restore Democracy. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Wofford College and a Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law.

Captain Nunzio Iacomino, Italian Navy, is a graduate of the Italian Naval Academy, NATO Defense College and Italian Joint Military School. He also holds a degree in Strategic Maritime Science from the University of Pisa. In 1990, Captain Iacomino obtained his first appointment as Commanding Officer of an Ocean Minesweeper. From 1999 – 2000, in the rank of Commander, he was Commanding Officer of the Frigate “Lupo”. From 1994–99 he served on the Italian Navy General Staff and on the Italian Defense General Staff. During that time, soon after the signing of the Dayton Agreement, he was sent to Sarajevo as Chief of the Information Section of the forward HQ of the European Community Monitor Mission in the Balkans. Captain Iacomino has participated in most of the military missions abroad involving the Italian Navy.

Joel L. Johnson is Vice President, International, of the Aerospace Industries Association, which represents the major US aerospace manufacturers. Prior positions with the federal government include the Secretary of State/-Es Policy Planning Staff, Deputy Director of the Office of Trade Policy at Treasury, and Professional Staff Member for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Prof. Adrian Kendry was appointed as the Senior Defence Economist for NATO HQ in Brussels in August 2001. He is responsible for advising the Director, Economics Directorate, Political Affairs Division, on all economic and financial aspects of defense and security issues concerning NATO. These include analysis and recommendations on NATO Enlargement and the MAP process; Terrorism and organised crime; the economic and budgetary aspects of NATO-Russia co-operation; defence industry transformation, DCI and the transatlantic relationship. During the period August 1996-2000, Adrian held the Admiral William Crowe Chair in Defense Economics at the United States Naval Academy and also spent a quarter as a visiting professor at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey.

Vice Admiral Tim LaFleur is a native of Oak Park, Illinois. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1970 and later earned a Masters Degree from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif. Vice Admiral LaFleur has served in almost every type of surface ship, from Mine Sweepers and Destroyers to amphibious ships, including command of a Carrier Battle Group. He has served on both coasts including several stops in Washington, D.C. In May 2001, Vice Admiral LaFleur assumed command of Naval Surface Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet in San Diego, CA. In October 2001, the Navy realigned some of its senior commands and Vice Admiral LaFleur assumed the additional title of Commander, Naval Surface Forces.

Dr. J. David Martin is currently deputy for Strategic Relations in the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), Department of Defense,Pentagon, Washington, D.C. He is responsible for the international affairs aspect of the Missile Defense Agency, MDA's support for various arms control negotiations, and coordination with other DoD and government offices involved in BMD policy. Dr. Martin is the chairman (or cochairman) of numerous international committees and steering groups on the subject of theater missile defense cooperation (NATO, France, Germany, and Japan). Dr. Martin served from 1979 through 1984 as director of Nuclear Planning on the International Staff at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. He joined the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization, later named BMDO, in February 1985.

Richard E. Metrey is President of Maritime Technology Alliance. Prior to his retirement from government service in January 2001, he served as Director of the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division and as Technical Director of its predecessor organization, the David Taylor Research Center, for a total of 15 years. As Director/Technical Director, he was directly responsible for the business base and for the technical program of the organization. Prior to this, Mr. Metrey served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Surface Warfare. Mr. Metrey, with over 40 years of US Navy R&D experience, holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin and a Master of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from GWU, Washington, DC.

Richard J. Millies became the Deputy Director, Defense Security Cooperation Agency in September, 2001. Mr. Millies has extensive experience working international affairs issues, particularly those associated with technology transfer, weapons sales, and politico-military affairs. In 2000, Mr. Millies was selected as the first Director of Policy, Office of the Under Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs. He was responsible for Foreign Military Sales policy, Armaments Cooperation, Technology Transfer, and International Airman Programs such as attaches and exchange officers. Mr. Millies has completed the program for Senior Officials in National Security at Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government.

Vago Muradian is Editor of Defense News, a leading newsweekly covering the global defense and aerospace business from bureaus in twelve nations. Before joining Defense News, Mr. Muradian was founding Managing Editor of Defense Daily International and the business and international reporter for Defense Daily, where he covered the defense and aerospace industries, including Wall Street, mergers and acquisitions, profit and procurement guidelines, and acquisition as well as export control reform. He joined Defense Daily in 1996 from Air Force Times where he served as a general assignment reporter and covered military operations in Somalia, Zaire, Europe and Haiti. Before joining Air Force Times, Mr. Muradian was the land warfare reporter at Defense News. He started his career in 1992 as an associate editor with Inside the Army.

Brigadier General Jan PETRÁŠ, MD became Defense, Military and Air Attaché to the United States in February 2003. He is an expert in the NBC Defense. After September 11, 2001, he has been participating in the chemical and biological defense of the Czech Armed Forces. He has been an advisor of the Ministry of Health and Ministry of the Interior in that matter. On the 1^st of May 2000 Jan Petras, MD was appointed as the Surgeon General of the Czech Army. He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General on May 8, 2000. In 1994-1999 he was on several study trips in USA in the field of orthopedic traumatology and in Germany he studied laparoscope’s surgery and traumatology. During his surgical career he published more than twenty works and lectured in the Czech Republic and abroad, mostly in the field of traumatology.

Terry J. Pudas has served as the Deputy Director, Force Transformation since October 2001. He assists the Director in his role as advocate, focal point, and catalyst for Department of Defense transformation. He is a 1969 graduate of the University of Washington. In addition to his Bachelor of Science degree he holds a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College and a Master of Arts degree in Management from Webster University. Terry Pudas retired from the Navy in September, 2001 with over 32 years of service after serving as the Deputy and Executive Assistant to the President of the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.

Colonel Aubrey Vance Renfroe, USAF (Ret.), is President and CEO of the Minuteman Institute for National Defense Studies in Washington DC and of Renfroe Associates. He has been a Senior Associate in the George Washington University Eliot School Program on Transitions to Democracy. He is a Research Fellow at the GWU Graduate School of Education and Human Development and has been nationally recognized in outcomes assessment. Colonel Renfroe’s final military position (1994 to 1996) was as the first Director of International Affairs for the National Guard. Colonel Renfroe holds EdD-ABD, GWU (completion in 2003), MA, National Security Affairs, Naval War College (1991), MA, International Affairs, Salve Regina University (1985).

John Roos joined Armed Forces Journal in 1987 as International Editor, and became Editor in August 1992. Prior to joining AFJ, he served 21 years as an active-duty US Army soldier and officer. His military career included a one-year tour of duty in the Republic of Vietnam, five years as the chief of media relations for the US Army’s 130,000-member command in Europe, and three years as the Army Public Affairs representative on the U.S. European Command Counterterrorism Task Force. Mr. Roos holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from the University of Florida, and is a member of the US Army Infantry OCS Hall of Fame.

Stan Z. Soloway assumed the presidency of the Professional Services Council in January, 2001. PSC is the principal national trade association representing the professional and technical services industry. Prior to joining PSC, Mr. Soloway served nearly three years as the deputy undersecretary of defense (acquisition reform) and concurrently as director, Defense Reform Initiative. Before his appointment to DoD, Mr. Soloway was a public policy and public affairs consultant for nearly 20 years and a highly regarded expert in, and frequent lecturer on, acquisition, privatization and outsourcing issues. Mr. Soloway earned a degree in political science from Denison University in Ohio.

Rear Admiral (LH) Kevin B. Taylor joined the RAN in February 1972 as a seaman officer. He has had two commands; HMAS SNIPE (MHC) in 1981 and HMAS TOBRUK (LSH) from November 1992 until July 1994. He was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross in 1993 following HMAS TOBRUK’s service in Somalia supporting coalition Forces during Operation RESTORE HOPE. He was promoted to his present rank in Dec. 2002 and has since served as the Director General Maritime, Land and Weapons Industry Capability in the Australian Defence Materiel Organisation. Rear Admiral (LH) Taylor was on the staff of the Commander Minewarfare Command in Charleston SC April 1984 - July 1986. He wasthe Australian Defence Attache to Southern Europe (Italy, Turkey, Israel and Greece) from Dec. 1999 until November 2002.

Alfred G. Volkman joined the Office of the Secretary of Defense in January 1987. He has served as Director, Contract Policy and Administration; Deputy Director of Defense Procurement (Foreign Contracting) on the staff of the Director of Defense Procurement; Principal Director for Armaments Cooperation on the staff of the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Dual Use Technology Policy and International Programs; and Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Programs. Since June 1996 he has served as the Assistant Deputy Under Secretary (Armaments Cooperation) to the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (International and Commercial Programs). On January 2, 2000, Mr. Volkman’s title changed to Director, International Cooperation.

David Whiteree is Chairman of IDEEA, Inc., Chief Executive and founder of the ComDef series of exhibitions and symposia. IDEEA, Inc. is a full service international business development and marketing company established in Washington DC. Mr. Whiteree is founder/publisher of “Common Defense Forum”.

Quentin Whiteree has been President and Chief Operating Officer of IDEEA, Inc. since 1 January, 1999. Prior to this, he was Vice President of the company responsible for business focus, with an emphasis on emerging information and computer technologies. He joined IDEEA, Inc. in 1987 and has held a series of appointments within the company. He holds a joint BA honors degree in marketing from Strathclyde University, Scotland. Mr. Whiteree is a member of the National Press Club.

Congressman Addison (Joe) Graves Wilson was elected to the US House of Representatives in December, 2001. Since then, the Congressman has been appointed to the House Armed Services Committee and the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. Previously, Rep. Wilson served in the South Carolina State Senate from Lexington County, South Carolina for seventeen years with a perfect attendance record. He was a founding partner of the West Columbia firm of Kirkland, Wilson, Moore, Taylor & Thomas where he practiced for over 25 years. Joe previously served on the staff of Senator Strom Thurmond and Congressman Floyd Spence. The Congressman is currently a Colonel in the S. Carolina Army National Guard as a Staff Judge Advocate assigned to the 218^th Mechanized Infantry Brigade.