Speakers

James “Guideaux” Crocker has over 25 years of professional experience in cybersecurity and is a seasoned innovator and leader in the field of DevSecOps within the Department of Defense (DoD). He currently serves as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for the Department of Air Force's (DAF) enterprise cloud program named Cloud One, ICAM, and DAF Data Fabric. As the CTO, he is responsible for overseeing a $3B portfolio of programs that maintains 125 applications supporting 700K users across the DAF.

Before joining the Air Force, Guideaux worked for IBM as a network and infrastructure engineer maintaining the backbones for companies such as Texaco, USPS, Gap Inc, and Walmart Inc. In November 1999, he joined the Air Force as a software developer. During his first assignment, he played a crucial role in designing and programming munitions, providing countermeasures, and contributing to IR/RF analysis that proved vital in early combat efforts in Afghanistan. In 2005, he embarked on his second and most notable assignment, living/working across northern-most disparate INDO-PACOM locations as an Intel Systems Developer and Crypto specialist for the National Security Agency (NSA).

Following his tenure at the NSA, he served as the Enterprise Information System Security Manager and Communications System Lead for ACC. There, he successfully completed five Enterprise Enclave Authority to Operate (ATO) certifications across three classifications, modernized the second-largest specialized data center in the Air Force, built and maintained secure facilities and networks for the Air Force and other government agencies, collaborated with the FBI and other government entities to enhance security in a multi-state region, and led software development for DoD’s sole mission planning capability.

In his most recent accomplishments, he was one of the original creators of the DoD Software (SW) factories. As the founder of the BESPIN SW factory, he established the first digital services environment for mobile, web, and cloud-native development across DAF enterprise systems. Additionally, he established Digital University as the premier cyber training capability in the DoD, accommodating over 120K students every year. His unique approach to improving efficiencies allowed him to revamp SW factory acquisitions and technical approaches, resulting in the lowest cost per Airmen while maintaining the highest customer satisfaction in the DAF.

Mr. John Hale is IT professional with over 30 years of experience in the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community. He currently serves as the Chief of the Product Management and Development Office at the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) out of Ft. Meade, Maryland. He is responsible for developing the strategic and functional approach to cloud and hosting development and managing the agency's cloud-based solutions for the Department of Defense. Key programs in his portfolio include the Joint Warfighter Cloud Contract (JWCC), the DoD’s private cloud solution “Stratus”, cloud hosting solutions such as “Containers as a Service” (CaaS) and the virtual data center in a cloud solution known as “Olympus”, and more.

A graduate of The University of Maryland, University College. Mr. Hale served in the United States Air Force prior to beginning his civil service career in the office of the Director of National Intelligence. In 2009 Mr. Hale moved to the Defense Information Systems Agency within the Department of Defense and has served roles such as Chief Engineer, Chief of Enterprise Applications, and Chief of Strategic Communications prior to serving in his current role as the agency's unofficial “Cloud Evangelist”.

Danielle Metz serves as the Chief Policy Officer for Second Front Systems. She spearheads engagement efforts to advocate for new policies that enhance the deployment of software applications critical to national security missions. Previously, Danielle was a member of the Senior Executive Service and served as the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) Chief Information Officer (CIO). In this role, she led the strategic modernization of the OSD IT enterprise to ensure the highest levels of DoD leadership had access to a modern, digital user experience to execute their mission. 

Prior to this role, Danielle served as the Deputy DoD CIO for the Information Enterprise where she provided oversight, policy guidance, and digital expertise for DoD enterprise infrastructure initiatives driving toward the objectives of digital modernization and setting the conditions for the Department to access delivery of quality software securely and timely. 

In her previous experience, Danielle served as a policy advisor to the Office of Science and Technology Policy under the Executive Office of the President leading implementation of IT modernization efforts across the Federal government. 

As a senior manager and IT specialist with the Defense Information Systems Agency, Ms. Metz spearheaded initiatives to improve DoD’s ability to protect and defend the network. 

Danielle holds a Masters in Economics from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Georgia. In addition to her numerous awards, she was awarded the DefenseScoop 50 award for Defense Leadership in 2023, received a FedScoop 50 Award in both 2021 and 2022, and was an FCW Federal 100 awardee in 2016, 2020 and 2025.

Dr. Cyril “Mark” Taylor is a seasoned IT executive and former U.S. Army Officer with over 25 years of experience in enterprise digital transformation. As the Chief Innovation Officer at Sage Creek USA, he drives initiatives to modernize and optimize enterprise architecture, enhance IT service management, improve governance, and elevate service delivery for customers. His key focus areas include multi-cloud strategy, data and AI integration, and human capital development.

Previously, Mark served as the Chief Technical Officer for the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM/J6), where he led the development of global hybrid and multi-cloud, data-centric enabled architectures, and established roadmaps for AI integration. He collaborated with industry leaders, academia, and government agencies to incubate innovative technologies and ensured robust cybersecurity measures. His prior roles at Microsoft, EMC, GDIT, and SMS involved supporting service delivery, architecture design, and sales.

Mark holds a Doctor of Engineering in Engineering Management and a Master of Science in Information Systems Technology from George Washington University, along with a Bachelor of Arts in History from the Virginia Military Institute. He actively contributes to the community as a board member of Warriors Ethos, advocating for veterans transitioning from service, and participates in the American Society of Engineering Management to advance the discipline of engineering management. His extensive background across enterprise technologies, military and civilian government service, vendor and contractor experience, and a strong educational foundation offers a comprehensive perspective on the evolving technology landscape.

Richard Breakiron is Commvault’s Senior Director for Strategic Initiatives and Executive programs, Americas Federal Sector. He works with key industry associations and Federal government leaders focusing on strategic solutions for delivering actionable insight within a globally integrated data management capability. His deep experience in senior Cybersecurity positions in the DoD allow him to holistically present Commvault’s Cyber Readiness strategy incorporating AI and machine learning. Richard strong speaking skills allows him to weave in firsthand use cases of government security compliance and personnel challenges and their continual struggle to modernize their legacy technology.  Richard’s significant accomplishments within the DoD result from his lifetime mentor’s description of having a catalytic effect in leading change.  His portfolio of career IT and Leadership experience includes the developing, deploying, and operating significant network and IT program efforts across the Army and the DoD ranging from the Alternate National Military Command Center, Associate Professor at the USMA, to the Pentagon, where he managed the IT synchronization of the largest BRAC in US history over $3 billion IT spend of the total $15 billion program; building the partnership with Army, AF, DoD CIO, and DISA that led to the Joint Regional Security Stack (JRSS) and Multi-Protocol Label Switch (MPLS).  This last program totally set the stage for modernizing the DoD’s approach to an Enterprise approach to network security and putting in the foundation for Software Defined Networks and Zero Trust architecture.  Mr. Breakiron is known for his charismatic approach to forging strong partnerships, coalitions and building trust across the DoD and Federal and State government and maintains that characteristic now with industry. Mr. Breakiron’s broad experience positioned him spearhead the successful attainment of FedRAMP High Authorized for Commvault Cloud for Government SaaS solution.

Before assuming his senior executive position at Commvault, Mr. Breakiron was VP, Public Sector, root9B, an advanced Cyber security company delivering unique and focused Cyber solutions to the DoD, US Cyber Command and the intelligence agencies. Prior to that Richard served as the Senior Director, Cyber Solutions for ViON Corporation, prior to being promoted to General Manager and board member during the standup of Ascolta, LLC, a data analytics subsidiary of ViON.  While in federal government he served as the JRSS Program Manager at DISA, the Chief Integration Officer and Director Strategic Initiatives Group, managing the integration of Army-wide IT strategy and network modernization efforts, to include strategic messaging to the Army and Congress on IT reform and modernization on behalf of the CIO/G6 in the Pentagon.

Bradley Peniston is executive editor of Defense One. A national security journalist for a quarter-century, he helped launch Military.com, served as managing editor of Defense News, and was editor of Armed Forces Journal. His books include No Higher Honor: Saving the USS Samuel B. Roberts in the Persian Gulf (Naval Institute Press, 2006), which has been recommended by the Navy's Professional Reading Program and the U.S. Coast Guard's doctrine guide.

A respected thought leader in the Federal IT community, Tom Suder is Founder and President of the Advanced Technology Academic Research Center (ATARC).

Tom is a two-time winner of a Federal 100 Award, a prestigious honor that recognizes government and industry leaders who played pivotal roles in Federal IT and made a made a difference in the way technology transformed the government.

He is the co-author of over 25 White Papers that were jointly published by MITRE and ATARC following collaboration sessions during the ATARC Federal IT Summit Series. Topics of these educational symposiums include Mobile Technology, Cloud & Data Center, Data & Analytics, DevOps, Cybersecurity, Health IT, Network Transformation and the Internet of Things.

Tom is also the Founder & President of Apcerto, a mobile DevSecOps company, and he serves on a variety of technology advisory boards, including the Professional Science Master’s Advisory Board, which is a part of the Telecommunications Management graduate program at the University of Maryland University College (UMUC).