Speakers

  • Lt. Gen. Christopher C. Bogdan is the Program Executive Officer for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office in Arlington, Va. The F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office is the Department of Defense’s agency responsible for developing and acquiring the F-35A/B/C, the next-generation strike aircraft weapon system for the Navy, Air Force, Marines, and many allied nations. He is a command pilot and experimental test pilot with more than 3,200 flying hours in more than 35 aircraft types. He has commanded at the squadron and group levels, and served as the executive officer to the Commander, Electronic Systems Center, and to the Commander, Air Force Materiel Command. The General holds a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering from the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. He holds a Master of Science degree in engineering management, with distinction, California State University, and, in 2000 was a distinguished graduate with a Master of Science degree in national resource strategy, Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. 
  • James Jay Carafano is a leading expert in national security, defense affairs, and homeland security at The Heritage Foundation. Before assuming responsibility for Heritage’s entire defense and foreign policy team in December 2012, Carafano had served as deputy director of the Davis Institute as well as director of its Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies since 2009. Before becoming a policy expert, he served 25 years in the Army.  A graduate of West Point, Carafano also has a master’s degree and a doctorate from Georgetown University and a master’s degree in strategy from the U.S. Army War College.
  • Ann Cataldo currently serves as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Defense Exports and Cooperation. In this capacity, she is the U.S. Army principal responsible for the Army’s Security Cooperation programs. This includes all matters involving security assistance, export policies and oversight, direct commercial sales of Army defense articles and international cooperative research, development and acquisition. These programs directly involve over 2000 Army civilian and military personnel and exceed $10B annually in sales and cooperative efforts with over 100 foreign countries. Ms. Cataldo also serves as the designated U.S. Army Senior National Representative on all bi- and multi-lateral armaments cooperation for a with the Army’s international partners.
  • Rob Eason was appointed the Counsellor for Defence Acquisition and Technology (C/DAT) at the British Embassy Washington in August 2012. This new position combines the posts of both Counsellor Defence Equipment and Counsellor Defence Science and Technology. Previously he was Programme Director Technology Exploitation within Dstl, which was a broad ranging role across both the Defence Science and Technology community and the DE&S Acquisition community with the overall objective of maximising exploitation of science and technology.  Rob has 26 years experience in the Ministry of Defence. He began his career at the RAF Institute of Aviation Medicine in Farnborough in 1987. 
  • Dan Fankhauser is the Counsellor Defence Materiel at the Embassy of Australia in Washington DC. Prior to his current appointment, Dan was the Chief of Staff to the Minister for Defence Materiel, the Hon. Jason Clare MP. Dan has also served as Chief of Staff to the former Chief Executive Officer of the Defence Materiel Organisation, Dr Stephen Gumley (Australia’s National Armaments Director). Dan’s experience as a staffer to senior Ministers in successive Governments also included his tenure as Defence Capability & Industry Adviser to former Minister for Defence the Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon MP during the development and release of Australia’s 2009 Defence White Paper, and as military Aide-de-Camp to former Minister for Defence the Hon. Dr Brendan Nelson in 2007. Dan served for more than 10 years as an Officer in the Royal Australian Navy. Dan is a graduate of the Australian Defence Force Academy, holds a Bachelor of Arts (Politics) and has recently completed a Master of Management Studies (Governance) through the University of New South Wales.
  • Maj.Gen. Giovanni FANTUZZI graduated first of his class - “Distinguished Graduate” -  with an Aeronautical Engineering Degree “cum laude” and was awarded with the “Honour’ Sword” (s.c. “Sciabola d’Onore”).  In 2004 he was assigned to the MOD - National Armament Directorate as Chief of the Aeronautical Programs Office where he was also the Italian “JSF Program” Manager. He got promoted to Brigadier General in January 2006 and from 2007 to September 2009 he was posted to the Air Force Logistic Command in Rome as Chief of Staff.  In September 2009 to May 2012 he was assigned at the Air Staff as Chief of the Plans & Policy Division (A3-A5). In August 2012 he got his present assignment at the Italian Embassy in Washington DC as the Defense and Defense Cooperation Attaché.  Major General FANTUZZI has a Master Degree in Political Science, attended the Senior International Defence Management Course and flew over 4.000 hours on 55 different aircraft.
  • William C. Greenwalt is a visiting fellow at the Marilyn Ware Center for Security Studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where he is working on defense and aerospace acquisition issues and industrial base policy. Greenwalt has broad-ranging experience in the field and has served in senior positions at the Pentagon, in Congress, and in the defense industry. As deputy under secretary of defense for industrial policy, he advised the under secretary of defense for acquisition, technology, and logistics on all matters relating to the defense industrial base. In Congress, Greenwalt served as deputy director for the Surveys and Investigations staff of the House Appropriations Committee, as well as a professional staff member for the Senate Armed Services and Senate Governmental Affairs Committees. Greenwalt has also worked for Lockheed Martin as director of federal acquisition policy. Immediately before joining AEI, Greenwalt was vice president of acquisition policy at the Aerospace Industries Association.
  • Kenneth B. Handelman, a member of the Senior Executive Service, was appointed to the position of Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Defense Trade Controls in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs on October 8, 2013. In his current position, Mr. Handelman manages the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) and provides overall policy guidance regarding the transfer of defense technologies to other countries through commercial defense trade, and serves as one of the key links between the State and Defense Departments in this issue area. From May 1995 – October 2013, Mr. Handelman served in a variety of senior positions in the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, most recently as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Global Strategic Affairs. Mr. Handelman holds Bachelor of Arts and Master of International Affairs degrees from Columbia University, New York, New York. He also holds a Juris Doctor from the Washington College of Law at American University.
  • Todd Harrison is the Senior Fellow for Defense Budget Studies at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments.  Mr. Harrison joined CSBA in 2009 from Booz Allen Hamilton, where he supported clients across the Department of Defense, assessing challenges to modernization initiatives and evaluating the performance of acquisition programs. He previously worked in the aerospace industry developing advanced space systems and technologies and served as a Captain in the US Air Force Reserves. Mr. Harrison combines his budgetary, programmatic and engineering experience with a strong background in systems analysis to lead the budget program for CSBA.  Since joining CSBA, Mr. Harrison has authored a number of publications, including Estimating Funding for Afghanistan, Analysis of the FY 2010 Defense Budget Request, and Impact of the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan on the US Military’s Plans, Programs, and Budgets. He is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics.
  • Craig C. Healy was appointed as the Director, Federal Export Enforcement Coordination Center (E2C2) on September 12, 2011.  Mr. Healy also serves as the Deputy Assistant Director for the ICE Counter-Proliferation Investigations program. In 2003, Mr. Healy was selected as the Assistant ICE Attaché Toronto. He was subsequently promoted to serve as the ICE Attaché Ottawa with oversight of U.S. Mission Canada’s largest investigative presence, consisting of ICE offices in Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. In 2010, Mr. Healy returned to ICE Headquarters to serve in the Office of the Director as the Homeland Security Investigations Liaison to the Deputy Director, as well as the Senior Advisor to the HIS Executive Associate Director. Mr. Healy is a member of the Senior Executive Service, holds a Bachelor of Science degree from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, and has completed a Master of Science degree in economic crime management from Utica College, New York. Mr. Healy began his federal government service in the United States Marine Corps in 1983.
  • The Hon. Frank Kendall is Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (AT&L), and was confirmed by the Senate in May 2012. He is the leader of the Department of Defense’s efforts to increase the Department’s buying power and improve the performance of the defense acquisition enterprise.  Prior to this appointment, from March 2010 – May 2012, he served as the Principal Deputy Under Secretary and also as the Acting Under Secretary. Mr. Kendall has over 40 years of experience in engineering, management, defense acquisition, and national security affairs in private industry, government, and the military.  Mr. Kendall is a Distinguished Graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and he holds a Master’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering from California Institute of Technology, a Master of Business Administration degree from the C.W. Post Center of Long Island University, and a Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University Law Center.
  • Gibson LeBoeuf is Vice President, Washington Relations, Raytheon International, where he serves as the focal point overseeing Raytheon International Business Development.  In this role, he acts as the senior lead interface with senior officials of the Department of Defense, State, Commerce, and Congress. Mr. LeBoeuf is a former member of the Senior Executive Service (SES), where he served in the Department of the Navy for 34 years with his last assignment as the Executive Director of Navy International Programs before joining Raytheon Company in February 2004.
  • Maj.Gen. Lawrence M. Martin, Jr., USAF  is the Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force, International Affairs, Office of the Under Secretary of the Air Force, Washington D.C. International Affairs is responsible for formulating and integrating Air Force policy with respect to political-military relationships, security assistance, technology and information disclosure issues, military exchanges, and attaché affairs in support of U.S. government objectives. Major General Martin is a distinguished graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, the U.S. Air Force Squadron Officer School, and the U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College and graduated from the U.S. Air War College with highest academic distinction.  
  • Beth M. McCormick, a member of the Senior Executive Service, was appointed as the Director for the Defense Technology Security Administration on October 1, 2013.  In her current capacity, she is responsible for developing and implementing DoD technology security policies for international transfer of defense-related goods, services, and technologies.  She manages a staff of 220 including policy analysts, engineers, and licensing officers. Prior to this, Ms. McCormick was Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Defense Trade and Regional Security in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, managing  two organizations; the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls; and the Office of Regional Security and Arms Transfers. Ms. McCormick received her B.A. from Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania in Political Science, Russian and Soviet Area Studies in 1981. She received her M.A. in Security Policy Studies from George Washington University in 1983.
  • Vago Muradian is the editor of Defense News, the world's top defense news weekly with correspondents in 16 countries. He also hosts a weekly Defense News TV program. Before joining Defense News in 2002, he was the managing editor of Defense Daily International and the business and international reporter for Defense Daily, a newsletter covering the defense and aerospace industry. Muradian joined Defense Daily from Air Force Times, the leading independent U.S. publication covering the U.S. Air Force. He covered global operations, including in Europe, Haiti, Somalia and Zaire. Before covering the Air Force, he served as Defense News' land warfare reporter. Muradian started his career at Inside the Army.
  • Brian Nilsson joined the National Security Council’s Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate in September 2008, on detail from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security.  He has the NSC export control portfolio, both dual-use and munitions, and defense trade issues.  He is responsible for the Administration’s export control reform review for the National Security Council and National Economic Council. At Commerce he was the Chairman of the Operating Committee (OC) for Export Policy, a type of administrative judge, hearing cases involving proposed exports or re-exports of dual-use items that require an export license. Mr. Nilsson is an historian by training.  He holds bachelor degrees in history and French from Clemson University in South Carolina, and a Master’s in Business Administration with an emphasis in international management from the Thunderbird Graduate School of International Management in Arizona. 
  • Mary D. Petryszyn is sector vice president, International, at Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems (AS), a premier provider of manned and unmanned aircraft, space systems and advanced technologies critical to our nation’s security. In this role, Petryszyn is responsible for building AS’ international business by developing, expanding and growing AS business, programs and products worldwide.  Most recently, Petryszyn served as the Strategic Growth and Integration executive for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems (IDS). Petryszyn graduated from Clarkson University with a bachelor’s degree in electrical and computer engineering.  She received her master’s degree in computer engineering from Syracuse University. She has completed advanced management programs, including the Executive Business Leadership Program at the University of Chicago and Indiana University’s Executive Marketing Program.
  • Frank Ruggiero is the Senior Vice President, Government Relations for BAE Systems, Inc. He is responsible for all legislative affairs and government relations associated with BAE Systems, Inc. and its businesses, which collectively employs approximately 35,400 employees in the United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, and South Africa and generated 2013 revenues of $11.8 billion. Before joining BAE Systems Inc., Frank was the U.S. Senior Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan from July 2010 to June 2012. Frank holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Ohio State University and a master’s in international affairs from American University, and is a doctoral candidate in U.S. foreign policy at the University of Virginia.
  • Charles (Chuck) S. Scaperotto is Senior Director for International Operations and Policy at Boeing’s Government Operations in Washington D.C.  He is responsible for interfacing with U.S. government and Foreign Embassies in support of Boeing’s Defense, Space and Security international sales worldwide.  A retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, Scaperotto served in numerous overseas and stateside operational Fighter Pilot assignments as an F-4E, F-15C/D, and C-12 aircraft commander and instructor pilot and served with the German Air Force as an F-4F Exchange Pilot.  In January 2005, Scaperotto was recalled to active duty as a Colonel to serve as the United States Defense and Air Attaché to Kosovo, the United States Defense Representative, the European Command Representative, and the Chief, Office of Defense Cooperation in Kosovo.  He reverted back to retired status in January 2006.  Scaperotto serves as Chairman for the American League for Exports and Security Assistance (ALESA) and holds an M.A. from Webster University and a B.S. (Cum Laude) from St. Joseph’s University. 
  • Betsy Schmid is Vice President of National Security and Acquisition Policy for the Aerospace Industries Association.  While she is a leading expert on the defense budget, her responsibilities include an array of other national defense issues, including: the defense acquisition system; the defense industrial base; the aerospace and defense workforce and AIA’s premier aerospace STEM program – Team America Rocketry Challenge; and National Aerospace Standards. Prior to joining AIA, she served for 12 years on the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, including most recently as the Staff Director.  Betsy has a Master’s degree in National Security Studies from Georgetown University and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science/International Relations from West Chester University, Pennsylvania.
  • Alan R. Shaffer Serves as the Principal Deputy, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering.  In this position, Mr. Shaffer is responsible for formulating, planning, and reviewing the DoD Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) programs, plans, strategy, priorities, and execution of the DoD RDT&E budget.  Prior to entering the federal government, Mr. Shaffer served a 24-year United States Air Force career with assignments in weather, intelligence, science and technology management, acquisition oversight, and programming. Mr. Shaffer earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics from the University of Vermont in 1976.  He earned a second Bachelor of Science in Meteorology from the University of Utah, a Master of Science in Meteorology from the Naval Postgraduate School, and a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the industrial College of the Armed Forces.
  • Rear Adm. "Jim" Shannon graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with the Class of 1981. In August 2013, he assumed duty as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for International Programs/Director, Navy International Programs. Between December 2011 and July 2013, he served as Deputy Commander (Surface Warfare), Naval Sea Systems Command, SEA-21, overseeing programs associated with all non-nuclear in-service surface ship maintenance and modernization. Shannon has significant experience ashore on the following staffs: Surface Warfare Officers School, the Joint Staff (J6), and the Navy Secretariat. Education beyond the Naval Academy includes a Master of Science degree (Communication Systems Management) from the Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, Calif., and a Master of Arts degree from the College of Naval Warfare, Newport, R.I. 
  • Tim Sneek is Defense Cooperation Attache at the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Washington D.C. Mr. Sneek represents the Netherlands Armed Forces and Defense Materiel Organization in the field of defense materiel cooperation between the United States and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. He is also Chairman of the Defense MOU Attache Group (22 nations). Mr. Sneek is a Member of the Team of Principals, deputy to the Netherlands Defense Attache. He was previously Deputy Head, Department of international & legal policy affairs, Directorate of Legal Affairs, Netherlands Ministry of Defence. Mr. Sneek’s education includes Syracuse University - Maxwell School, US Defense Institute for Security Assistance Management (DISAM), Netherlands Defence College, De Baak, Noordwijk, EIPA / Clingendael, Graduate Institute for International Studies, Geneva, Switzerland, Emory University School of Law, Universiteit Utrecht, UWC Lester B Pearson College Canada.
  • Brig. Gen. Kenneth E. Todorov, USAF is Deputy Director, Missile Defense Agency, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Prior to this, Brigadier General Todorov was Director, Joint Integrated Air and Missile Defense Organization(JIAMDO),J-8,JointStaff.  General Todorov graduated from Siena College in New York in 1985 and was commissioned through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He is a command pilot with more than 3,800 flight hours. Brigadier General Todorov holds a Bachelor’s Degree in History and Russian Studies, Siena College, Loudonville, N.Y.(1985), a Master of Business Administration degree, National University, San Diego, CA (1993), a Master’s Degree in national Security and Strategic studies, College of Naval Command and Staff, Naval War College, Newport, R.I (1998), and a Master’s degree in strategic studies, academic distinction, Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
  • Brigadier General (Ret.) Chris Tucker is Vice President, International Business Development for Exelis Inc., a diversified, top-tier global aerospace, defense and information solutions company. He assumed this role in September 2012. Tucker joined Exelis in January 2012 as Vice President, International Government Relations after 32 years of distinguished service in the US Army. In his current role, Tucker is responsible for the planning and execution of Exelis international business development strategy and works closely with Exelis Divisions to identify, analyze and pursue potential opportunities in emerging markets. He also oversees the activities of the Corporate Regional Representatives (CRRs), Exelis International field offices, and manages the international marketing and sales representative (IMR) process.  Tucker holds a bachelor’s of science degree in Business Administration from The Citadel, Military College of South Carolina and two master’s degrees in Military Operational Art and Science from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the School of Advanced Military Studies.
  • Matthew Warren is the Director, International Armaments Cooperation in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology and Logistics). His Directorate is the Department of Defense focal point for cooperation in defense equipment acquisition with nations worldwide. He has served in international defense equipment-related positions in the Pentagon since September 2000. After graduating from the University of Dayton in 1984 (B.S. in Business Management and Marketing), he was commissioned as a Field Artillery Second Lieutenant in the US Army. During his assignment as Battery Commander, his unit was deployed to Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. A member of the Senior Executive Service since April 2013, Matt also holds a Masters of Science degree in Materiel Acquisition Management from Florida Institute of Technology (1995).
  • David Whiteree is Chairman of IDEEA, Inc., a Virginia company founded in 1985.  He is 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 Quarterly”. 
  • 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.  Mr. Whiteree is Managing Editor of Common Defense Quarterly, an international defense cooperation publication.  He holds a joint BA honors degree in marketing from Strathclyde University, Scotland and is a past President of its Wine Appreciation Society.  Mr. Whiteree is a member of the National Press Club; Secretary of the Royal Aeronautical Society, Washington, DC Branch and a Director of the British American Business Association.
  • Kevin J. Wolf was sworn in as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration on February 19, 2010.  The Assistant Secretary assists and advises the Under Secretary on the development of policies pertaining to Export Administration issues. The Assistant Secretary also provides overall direction to and management of the national security, nonproliferation, foreign policy, national defense, and strategic industrial resource functions delegated to BIS. In addition, the Assistant Secretary directs the Office of Strategic Industries and Economic Security (SIES), the Office of Nonproliferation and Treaty Compliance (NPTC), the Office of National Security and Technology Transfer Controls (NSTTC), the Office of Exporter Services (OExS), and the Office of Technology Evaluation (OTE). Mr. Wolf has a B.A. degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia, a M.A. from the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, and a J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School.
  • Martin Zablocki was appointed the new president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) by The Hon. Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade on 22 April, 2014. The appointment is for five years. Mr. Zablocki, of Ottawa, Ontario, joined CCC in November 2007 as vice-president of strategy and organizational development, and was appointed executive vice-president and chief operating officer in April 2012. Prior to joining CCC, he was director general of Industry Canada’s Sector Strategies and Infrastructure Programs Branch. Mr. Zablocki has also worked for Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Canada Revenue Agency.
  • Jennifer Zakriski is the Deputy Director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA). As the Director’s principal assistant, she provides leadership, management, and oversight for the implementation of a diverse portfolio of security cooperation and partner capacity building programs including Foreign Military Sales (FMS), Foreign Military Financing (FMF), International Military Education and Training (IMET), End Use Monitoring (EUM), Humanitarian Assistance, Disaster Relief, and Mine Action.
  • Nancy Ziuzin Schlegel was named Vice President, Washington International Business Development, and Deputy, Lockheed Martin Corporate International Business Development on 1 January 2013. In this position she leads the Corporation’s interactions with the US Government and Embassies in Washington in support of corporate and business area international programs and partnerships, and oversees the corporation’s international trade and compliance function. Previously, as Director and Acting Vice President for Global Security Policy in Lockheed’s Washington Operations, Ms. Ziuzin Schlegel directed the corporation’s liaison with Congress and the Executive Branch on priority international programs, defense cooperation, export and trade policy.  Originally from Seattle, Washington, Nancy received her B.A. in Political Science from the University of Washington in 1983, and studied at Occidental College, 1979-1981.
All Speakers have been invited. The organizers reserve the right to change the program based on speaker availability and world events.