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Recorded on Wednesday, November 17, 2021 9:00am-10:45am EST ON24
The Defense Intelligence Agency has recognized its need for a dramatic information technology transformation. The Agency recently announced its modernization and digitalization goals and began working on numerous initiatives to improve and update its legacy IT systems. Additionally, the Agency is working to roll out new cutting-edge IT systems to increase mission and operational efficacy.
During GovConWire’s DIA: IT Modernization Forum, leading federal and industry leaders will discuss the strategy behind the DIA’s IT transformation, along with modernization objectives and innovative digital technologies.
Doug Cossa, Chief Information Officer of the Defense Intelligence Agency, will serve as keynote speaker. In his keynote address, Cossa will discuss the Agency’s IT modernization goals, priorities, and priorities and how private industry can help.
Join GovConWire Events on November 17th to learn about the opportunities in the DIA’s IT modernization endeavors and initiatives.
Mr. Douglas Cossa was appointed as the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) in July 2021. As the CIO, Mr. Cossa leads a global organization of more than 4,000 staff and $1 billion in resources, providing the complete spectrum of Information Technology (IT) services to the Agency and broader Intelligence Community (IC). He is also charged with overseeing the Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System—the federal government’s Top Secret intelligence network. Prior to this position, Mr. Cossa served for three years as DIA’s Deputy CIO after previously serving as the Deputy Director of the Mission Integration Division (MID) in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). Mr. Cossa was promoted to the Senior Executive Service in 2015. As the Deputy Director of MID, Mr. Cossa led the integration of collection, analysis, and IT capabilities to satisfy intelligence priorities. He served as the Senior Executive charged with overseeing the development of analytic tradecraft for data science, developing an interagency strategy to establish a new National Vetting Center and providing technical and programmatic oversight of mission-critical capabilities under the IC’s Information Technology Enterprise. He also co-chaired the IT modernization board for the President’s Daily Brief overseeing the integration of new capabilities for joint analytic production. Prior to serving as the Deputy Director of MID, Mr. Cossa served as the Chief of the Priorities and Assessments Group (PAG) in the ODNI where he led the President’s Intelligence Priorities, the National Intelligence Priorities Framework, and reforms to sensitive intelligence collection defined by Presidential Policy Directive-28 following unauthorized disclosures. Mr. Cossa also served as Chairman of the Board of Governors for the Library of National Intelligence to enhance intelligence discoverability and sharing. Prior to this assignment, Mr. Cossa managed the Planning phase of the Intelligence Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Evaluation process within ODNI’s Policy & Strategy directorate. He also led the needs analysis function for major system acquisitions within the Systems and Resource Analysis directorate. Before joining the ODNI, Mr. Cossa worked at the Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) where he was the senior program manager for the National Media Exploitation Center's overseas operations. He led staff deployed to support document and media exploitation operations in Qatar, Iraq, and Afghanistan, primarily involving cellular exploitation, computer forensics, document exploitation, and linguistics. While at SAIC, he also served as the program manager for systems engineering and technical assistance contracts at the ODNI. Mr. Cossa started at SAIC as a database administrator, software developer, and systems architect supporting the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. Mr. Cossa holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Information Systems from James Madison University and a Master's degree in Systems Engineering from the Johns Hopkins University. He and his wife have two daughters and reside in Leesburg, Virginia.
Mr. Ian A. Fowlie was appointed to the Defense Intelligence Senior Executive Service in September 2019 as the Chief, Enterprise IT Engineering in the DIA Chief Information Office. He is responsible for the designing, building and testing of enterprise applications, data, network, and end user services solutions for the Defense Intelligence Enterprise (DIE), Intelligence Community (IC), and International Partners. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Fowlie served as the Chief, CIO’s Digital Journey advising the DIA Chief Information Officer on strategic direction to meet future needs. Specifically, he focused on identifying and adopting best practices to enable the Agency’s digital transformation and shift to a data-centric enterprise. Previously, as the Deputy Chief, CIO Business Operations, Mr. Fowlie was responsible for the day-to-day oversight of CIO’s Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE), acquisition, and business intelligence capabilities and services supporting over 230,00 National and Defense Intelligence customers worldwide. Earlier, Mr. Fowlie served as the Chief, Enterprise Program and Project Management, where he oversaw the full lifecycle for mission and business applications. In his 1st DIA assignment, Mr. Fowlie served as the Chief, Data Integration and Management, overseeing Department of Defense Intelligence Information System (DoDIIS) data solutions and enterprise services that leverage and enhance the adoption of IC & DoD cloud architectures. Before joining DIA in 2015, Mr. Fowlie served as part of the Naval Intelligence community for 20 years. As the Director, Joint Production Office at the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI), Mr. Fowlie led the complete transformation of ONI’s entire production and dissemination enterprise, moving ONI to a dynamic, knowledge model. Prior to this assignment, Mr. Fowlie served in the Office of the Chief Information Officer, where he directed a variety of intelligence and corporate business programs. Previously, Mr. Fowlie was the Operations Officer for the Collections Directorate, overseeing key functions ranging from technical collections to collection requirements to maritime sensors. Before his transition to civilian service in 2002, Mr. Fowlie also held a variety of assignments as a Naval Intelligence Officer. His tours of duty ranged from Carrier Air Wing NINE to the Joint Intelligence Center Pacific to ONI, where he served in various positions to include Collection Manager and International Programs.He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Government and Computer Applications from the University of Notre Dame and a Masters of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College. Mr. Fowlie is a recipient of the Navy’s Superior Civilian Service Medal (2015).
Mr. Craig E. Kaucher, a Defense Intelligence Senior Level, serves as the Director for Cyber and Operations under the DCSA Program Executive Officer, and has been in that role since October 2019. Prior to that in 2019 he served on detail to the Director, National Background Investigations Bureau (NBIB), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), as the Acting Deputy Assistant Director of the IT Management Office (ITMO), with a focus on sustainment and stabilization of current operations, while preparing for the transfer of the NBIB mission, and ultimately the legacy background investigations systems, to DCSA. Upon his initial arrival with the agency, Mr. Kaucher first assumed the position of Chief Information Officer (CIO), Defense Security Service (DSS) in March 2015. As CIO he was responsible for the technological infrastructure, key information technology support services, cyber security, and day-today administration government personnel plus support contractors in execution of the DSS mission. Prior to joining DSS, Mr. Kaucher served from June 2009 to March 2015 as the first Chief Information and Technology Officer for the Defense Media Activity (DMA), where his focus areas and priorities were to improve the standardization and effectiveness of the technology architecture across DMA, improve and create more efficient technology acquisition practices, and to strengthen the information security posture of the organization. From June 2004 to June 2009, he served as the Director for Information Sharing and Knowledge Management, and first CIO in the Office of Intelligence and Analysis, Department of Homeland Security. He was the founding government employee of this Division and of the CIO function in this organization. In his tenure with DHS, he developed or contributed to many significant programs and initiatives, to include the Department’s Information Sharing Program, the Joint Program Management Office for National Security Systems, and the Department’s cyber security program for National Security Systems. He also initiated a strategic program management office for Intelligence Enterprise Solutions to modernize data management, analytic tools, and production and dissemination capabilities for the DHS intelligence enterprise and their state, local, tribal, intelligence community, and other federal partners. Mr. Kaucher is a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, and his final assignment was as the Professor of Information Operations in the Information Operations and Technology Department, Information Resources Management College, National Defense University, where he taught in the NSA/DHS certified Information Assurance certificate program, the DOD CIO certificate program, and the Advanced Management Program, as well as elective courses for the National War College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces (ICAF). He began his military career in 1983 as an Army Signal Corps officer and has served in a variety of assignments from the tactical to the strategic level. Mr. Kaucher became an Information Systems Management officer in 1994 and was assigned to the Directorate for Intelligence J2, Joint Staff, where he became a fully qualified joint staff officer, while also performing as a software development project manager. His earlier assignments include many leadership positions, with responsibility for the operation of both tactical and strategic information systems supporting global military operations. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Temple University, and a Master of Science degree in Software Eneering Administration from Central Michigan University. He also holds the Department of Defense Chief Information Officer Certificate and the Information Systems Security Professional Certificate from National Defense University. Mr. Kaucher has also completed post graduate studies in Information Systems, focusing on information assurance, at Nova Southeastern University. He has given numerous presentations at major conferences, served as a subject matter expert and advisor to several national-level activities, and written for peer-reviewed publications.
James Long is the Director, GEOINT Services, National Geospatial Intelligence Agency. He is responsible for leading NGA’s enterprise efforts to implement modern software development practices, policies and technologies to enable more efficient delivery of the Agency’s geospatial content, analytic capabilities, and location based services to IC, DoD and U.S. Government customers. James is a former Air Force Officer and has over 20 years of experience in engineering, operations, project and program management. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace engineering from the University of Oklahoma and a Masters Degree in Engineering Management from the George Washington University.
Lew Messing is a Vice President for the National Intelligence Community within SAIC’s National Security & Space Sector. In this role he is responsible for supporting Intelligence Community customers including the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). Lew Messing has been with SAIC and predecessor companies for over 18 years, serving in a variety of leadership roles supporting clients including the US Navy, ODNI, DIA, and NGA. Lew has provided technical support to Milestone decisions for Major Systems Acquisitions including the Navy’s Zumwalt Class Destroyer and provided expertise to DIA, ODNI, and NGA in the development of future capabilities in areas including data science, digital engineering, Open Source Analysis, Cyber Threat Intelligence, Special Communications, Cybersecurity, and MASINT Collection. Lew is on the Board of Advisors for George Mason University’s Volgenau School of Engineering Data Analytics Program, Lew Messing earned a Master of Science degree in Data Analytics Engineering from George Mason University’s Volgenau School of Engineering in 2017 and a MBA from the University of California - Irvine, Merage School of Business in 2003. Lew also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Financial Management from Clemson University, a Graduate Certificate in Procurement and Contracts Management from the University of Virginia, Darden School of Business, and is a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP). SAIC is a premier technology integrator
Vernon Saunders is the senior vice president of SAIC’s National Intelligence Community business unit. In this role, he is responsible for all non-space Intelligence Community agency programs. Saunders is a seasoned and solutions-oriented executive with more than 25 years’ experience translating complex and divergent enterprise needs and available technological resources into innovative, high-impact business solutions. His proven success in shaping strategies, building and leading global high-performance teams, and executing technology initiatives deliver immediate results and sustainable gains. A recognized change agent, he excels in diverse environments, including Fortune 100 and government organizations. Before joining SAIC in October 2021, Saunders held a senior leadership position with Huntington Ingalls Industries leading the data & mission IT business unit. Prior to that, he led the National Security Solutions business unit at Jacobs where he served as vice & general manager for 5 years. Saunders holds a B.S. in Electronics from Norfolk State University and an MBA from Averett University. In addition, he is certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP) from the Project Management Institute (PMI) and holds a Masters Certificate in Federal Government Contracting from Villanova University. He has also served with the United States Air Force.
9:00am - 9:05am EST
Opening Remarks
9:05am - 9:40am EST
Keynote Address
9:40am - 10:40am EST
Panel Discussion
10:40am - 10:45am EST
Closing Remarks
