3rd Annual AF IT Modernization and Transformation Forum
Watch Recording

3rd Annual AF IT Modernization and Transformation Forum

Recorded on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 8:00am-10:00am EST   Virtual, ON24

The U.S. Air Force is building up its “digital backbone,” and accelerating its IT modernization initiatives. Today, the service branch is prioritizing cloud adoption, IT portfolio management, cybersecurity, core IT, mission-enabling services, data, artificial intelligence and more as it works to maintain air superiority and shifts its focus to a new era of peer and near-peer competition.

The Air Force is also focusing on implementing a zero trust architecture that will enable the service to protect critical data across multiple classification levels. 

GovCon Wire’s 3rd Annual AF IT Modernization and Transformation Forum will feature prominent IT and technology leaders from the Air Force and industry who will convene to examine the challenges, opportunities, strategies and priorities influencing the future of Air Force IT. 

  • Maj. Gen. (Ret) Darryl Burke
    Maj. Gen. (Ret) Darryl Burke -
    Senior Vice President, Air Force Client Executive, CACI

    Mr. Darryl Burke joined CACI in December 2019 as Senior Vice President and Air Force Client Executive, where he is responsible for providing strategic advice in support of CACI’s enterprise and mission expertise and technology offerings to the Air Force. CACI has supported the Air Force’s mission for nearly 50 years with expertise and technology in areas ranging from space operations and cyber security to protect critical systems, to command, control, computers, communications, cyber intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C5ISR) capabilities designed to assist operators and decision makers, and many more. Prior to joining CACI, Darryl served as Vice President, Global Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Programs, at Viasat Inc., where he was responsible for producing innovative satellite communications products and services for US Government and Department of Defense senior leaders. Darryl served over 34 years in the United States Air Force, culminating his career as the Commander, Air Force District of Washington responsible for organizing, training and equipping combat forces for aerospace expeditionary forces, homeland operations, civil support, national special security and ceremonial events. In addition, he provided major-command level support for more than 60,000 military and civilian personnel assigned worldwide. He has commanded at the squadron, wing, and above wing level. His Flag Officer tours included Vice Commander, 12th Air Force, Commander, 82nd Training Wing, Deputy Commander, Joint Forces Component Command -- Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, Deputy Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency for Collection Management and Commander, Air Force District of Washington. Darryl also served in the role of Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force. He retired 1 October 2017. Darryl is a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, with a Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Studies and a Master’s degree in Aeronautical Science. He holds a Master of Science degree in National Security Strategy from the National War College and attended executive senior education at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs and the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School. Darryl served as a Board member for Paradigm Convergence Technologies.

  • Barry Duplantis
    Barry Duplantis -
    Chief Operating Officer, RAD Augmentation Devices

  • Jim Huso
    Jim Huso -
    Enterprise Architect, CACI

    James Huso is an Enterprise Architect for CACI International Inc, an international provider of expertise and technology serving enterprise and mission defense, intelligence, and federal civilian government customers. In this role, Mr. Huso supports the development and coordination of offerings that are modernizing and enabling government agency operations. He’s responsible for information technology infrastructure modernization, operations, and sustainment; the design, development, and sustainment of enterprise applications; and the delivery of business process services. Mr. Huso joined CACI in 2021 after a 24-year career in the United States Air Force, leading Airmen and executing operations at the installation, major command, and headquarters levels. He served as the Enterprise Services Portfolio Manager, Office of the Air Force CIO, where he managed a $1.6B Enterprise IT Services portfolio providing a common set of voice and video productivity and collaborative services to both the Air and Space Forces. He also led the design and implementation of the Enterprise Information Technology as a Service (EITaaS) Network as a Service line of effort, transforming how the Air Force acquires and operates network systems in order to better enable its war-fighting mission.

  • Lauren Knausenberger
    Lauren Knausenberger -
    EVP Chief Innovation Officer, SAIC

    Lauren Knausenberger is Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer of SAIC, a premier Fortune 500® technology integrator driving our nation’s technology transformation, with annual revenues of $7.4 billion and approximately 24,000 employees. SAIC provides engineering, digital, artificial-intelligence and mission solutions across the defense, space, civilian and intelligence markets. In her dual-responsibility role, Knausenberger leads innovation strategy across the company’s solutions and services portfolio and ensures that SAIC’s transformation capabilities are mission-relevant, agile and aligned with the needs of customers. Prior to joining SAIC in October 2023, Knausenberger was the chief information officer of the U.S. Department of the Air Force, where she was responsible for three directorates for enterprise information technology, data and artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity, respectively, supporting 20,000 cyber operations and support personnel around the globe. Knausenberger provided oversight of the Air Force's IT investment strategy, from networks to cloud computing, enterprise policies, data management, digital transformation, information resources management, innovation initiatives, information assurance and related matters. Prior to joining the Air Force, Knausenberger was an entrepreneur and investor helping to grow companies involved with U.S. national security. Before that, she held positions of increasing responsibility at American Management Systems and CACI. Knausenberger earned her Bachelor of Science in decision and information sciences from the University of Maryland and a Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

  • Col Jennifer Krolikowski-Stamer
    Col Jennifer Krolikowski-Stamer -
    Director, Chief Information Office (CIO) for Space Systems Command, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Space Systems Command

    Colonel Jennifer Krolikowski is the Director, Chief Information Office (CIO) for Space Systems Command, Los Angeles Air Force Base. Col Krolikowski graduated from the University of Dayton in 1996 with a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering and commissioned from ROTC that same year. She has led at the Materiel Leader and Senior Materiel Leader levels and has served in a variety of acquisition and flight test positions. As lead engineer for various operational B-52 Stratofortress flight tests, she accumulated 50-plus flight hours and earned her Nonrated Aircrew Officer Wings. Colonel Krolikowski has served in staff assignments at Headquarters United States Air Force, the Joint Staff, and Office of the Secretary of Defense. Prior to her current assignment, she served as the Senior Materiel Leader for Space Command and Control (C2). She transitioned to the United States Space Force in July 2021. Col Jennifer Krolikowski is mother to Logan Benjamin and Seth Andrew Krolikowski and is married to Andrew Stamer.

  • Joe Staier
    Joe Staier -
    Chief Engineer, Enterprise IT and Cyber Infrastructure Division, U.S. Air Force

    Joseph Staier is the Chief Engineer for the Enterprise IT and Cyber Infrastructure division within the Air Force’s Command Control, Communications Intelligence and Networks Program Executive Office, a 900+ member division that spans 4 geographic locations and is the program management office for 150+ cyber and IT projects supporting the Air Force as well as Joint and Coalition operations worldwide. Mr. Staier graduated from the Coast Guard Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and retired in 2014 as a Captain. Mr. Staier comes from a military family with his grandfather, father, brother and sister all having served. He currently lives outside Boston with his wife Katie.

  • Justin Stolpman
    Justin Stolpman -
    Zero Trust Chief Architect, U.S. Department of the Air Force

    Mr. Justin Stolpman is a Department of the Air Force (DAF) civil servant currently dual-hatted as the Chief Architect for the DAF Zero Trust program led by Air Combat Command (ACC), Directorate of Cyberspace and Information Dominance (A6), and as the Chief of Plans for the Endpoint Management Center of Excellence within the 16th Air Force. After graduating from the University of Colorado Boulder with a Bachelors degree in 2017 and working within the IT Industry for the Fortune 50, Mr. Stolpman began his Air Force Civilian Service career embedded within cyber operations as a Senior Network Management Engineer within the 561st Network Operations Squadron (NOS). Demonstrating an ability to drive change and accelerate the delivery of capabilities that benefit the Warfighter, Mr. Stolpman was quickly promoted to the Deputy Flight Commander of Cyberspace Operations within the 561st NOS and garnered the attention of Air Combat Command where he was assigned the role of Chief Architect under the Zero Trust Task Force (ZTTF). Strategically positioned, his dual-hat assignment enables the alignment of operational requirements with DAF strategy and vision, all within the substantial DAF Zero Trust transformational effort. As Chief Architect, he now helps lead the Zero Trust cyber security paradigm shift within the DAF as numerous Air Force networks transition towards a Zero Trust Framework while maintaining alignment with DoD guidance. Mr. Stolpman's efforts, through DAF industry partner engagements, are intended to ensure that the DAF is keeping an eye on the horizon for future advanced capabilities ensuring the Department’s ability to Fly, Fight and Win - airpower anytime, anywhere.

  • David Weber
    David Weber -
    Director, Business Development, DAF & CCMD, CACI

    Currently the Director of Business Development responsible for the USAF, USSF, and CCMDs portfolios within CACI. Prior to joining CACI Dave was with Lockheed Martin where he was part of the International Business Development team focused on Airborne ISR and Command & Control portfolios. At Northrop Grumman he led the Training & Readiness business development group. Dave was enlisted in the USAF within Civil Engineering.

  • 8:00am - 8:05am EST

    Welcome and Introductions

  • 8:05am - 8:45am EST

    Keynote Fireside Chat: Lauren Knausenberger and Maj Gen (Ret.) Darryl Burke (Moderator)

  • 8:45am - 9:45am EST

    IT Modernization with Zero Trust in mind Panel: Barry Duplantis, Jim Huso, Col Jennifer Krolikowski-Stamer, Joseph Staier, Justin Stolpman and David Weber (Moderator)

  • 9:45am - 10:00am EST

    Closing Comments

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