Speakers

Ms. Katherine “Katie” Arrington is performing the duties of the Department of Defense Chief Information Officer.  In this capacity, she serves as the primary advisor to the Secretary of Defense for information management/Information Technology (IT); information assurance, as well as non-intelligence space systems; critical satellite communications, navigation, and timing programs; spectrum; and telecommunications.

Prior to assuming this role, she served as the Deputy CIO for Cybersecurity (DCIO(CS)). In this role she provided expert policy, technical, program, and defense-wide oversight support to the DoD CIO on all cybersecurity matters. She was responsible for leading the DoD-wide cybersecurity program, partnering with industry to improve cybersecurity and information sharing and represented the Secretary and DoD CIO in international discussions and negotiates on cybersecurity topics in both bilateral and multi-lateral (alliance and coalition) channels. 

Before assuming her position as DCIO(CS), Ms. Arrington was the Senior Vice President of External Affairs at Exiger, where she mobilized issues of universal consensus, including supply chain visibility, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and national security. She also ran for election to the U.S. House of Representatives for South Carolina's 1st Congressional District in 2022.

A leading expert in policy and technology with extensive experience building relationships and coalitions across the public, private and nonprofit sectors, Ms. Arrington was the first DoD CISO for the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (OUSD(A&S)). She served as the central hub and integrator within OUSD(A&S) to align acquisition and sustainment cyber strategy and efforts to enhance cyber security within the Defense Industrial Base. She led the White House COVID-19 Supply Chain Task Force for Acceleration as well as the team that created the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC).

Prior to her role as CISO for OUSD(A&S), Ms. Arrington had an extensive career as a legislator and senior cyber executive in private industry. She was a 2018 candidate for the US House of Representatives for South Carolina and served for two terms as a South Carolina State Representative. She has extensive experience in cyber strategy, policy, enablement, and implementation across a wide range of business sectors and governmental levels. She has over 15 years of cyber experience acquired through positions at Booz Allen Hamilton, Centuria Corporation, and Dispersive Networks. These positions have given her a unique experience of supporting and working with the government at large, small, and non-traditional contracting firms.

Leigh Palmer joined Google in 2022 as Vice President of Technology Strategy & Delivery for Google’s fast-growing Google Public Sector business.  In this role, she is responsible for delivering mission critical technology to public sector customers.  Leigh also is responsible for the global managed services of Google’s Distributed Cloud Hosted product.

Prior to joining Google Cloud, Leigh served in executive leadership roles at BAE Systems, CSRA and, most recently, at General Dynamics Information Technology. During her time in these roles, Leigh led teams delivering complex digital transformation programs for the Federal Government focusing on the Department of Defense, Homeland Security, and Intelligence Community.  Leigh has a passion for executing business objectives by building high performing teams. She was recognized in 2021 by WashingtonExec as one of the Top 25 DOD Execs to Watch and by Virginia Business’ Women in Leadership Awards. 

Leigh is on the Board of Directors for the Intelligence and National Security Alliance, and the AFCEA International Executive Committee.

Leigh earned her undergraduate degree at Virginia Tech, and a Masters degree from the University of Pennsylvania. She resides in Dunn Loring, VA with her husband and two children.

Lee is a hands-on technical executive who loves building AI systems and high-performing teams. He has extensive experience applying machine learning to a variety of DoD problems ranging from sensor processing to autonomous platform control. Prior to founding Primordial Labs, Lee was a technical leader at Lockheed Martin where he served as Director and Chief AI Architect for the Applied AI organization. Before that, he spent the better part of a decade at the Skunk Works.

As a Principal Investor at Shield Capital, David Rothzeid is responsible for identifying and evaluating high-potential startups at the nexus of commercial innovation and national security. With over $350 million in assets under management, Shield Capital partners with visionary founders to scale transformative technologies. David sits on multiple boards and leverages his expertise to help portfolio companies navigate the complexities of federal procurement and access key government markets.

Before joining Shield, David spent thirteen years in the United States Air Force, where he held various assignments in Space Command, Air Force Materiel Command, Special Operations Command, the Defense Innovation Unit, and the Pentagon, separating at the rank of Major. He continues to serve in the Air Force Reserves at the Pentagon. David resides in Washington, D.C. with his wife, Lauren, and their Pit bull, Bentley.