Government Acquisition Leaders Briefings & Panel Discussions

Panel 1: Navy Maritime Industrial Base Workforce Development

Topics for discussion include the status of the future submarine program, the differences between the Ohio and Columbia class submarines, considerations for cost and schedule, challenges with the industrial base, additive manufacturing in submarine construction, addressing corrosion and coatings, and the importance of submarine construction for national security.  This session will also cover national outreach programs, workforce retention and upskilling, and the urgency and agility in transitioning to advanced manufacturing

Panel 2: Cyber/Artificial Intelligence

As the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) strives to secure their IT systems, one of the newer buzzwords within the past few years is Zero Trust (ZT). Thrust into the spotlight as a response to industry trends, such as Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) and cloud-based assets, which are not bound by the security rules in a company’s perimeter, the concept of a Zero Trust Architecture has gained recognition even within the federal government. In 2020, NIST published their Special Publication 800-207 (Zero Trust Architecture) as a means to offer a standard definition and general deployment models. In 2023, CISA published version 2.0 of their Zero Trust Maturity Model, a guide to achieving Zero Trust for federal agencies (though applicable to everyone). These guides aside, Executive Order 14028 mandated that by the end of 2021 all federal agencies were to have a plan and begin working toward ZT. Working within a ZT environment, however, is not without hardships, especially for companies with a nominal cyber posture, and for personal users. Security fatigue is a major risk factor that must be managed if a ZT implementation is to succeed. Our panelists will discuss the benefits of a Zero Trust Architecture and offer suggestions for a smooth implementation.

Moderator:

Dr. Kevin Slonka is a Principal IT Security Consultant with Concurrent Technologies Corporation CTC) and an Associate Professor of Computer Science & Cyber Security at Saint Francis University.  Dr. Slonka has worked for various government contractors since 1999 and has taught at the collegiate level since 2007.  Specializing in the cyber security sector of the computer science field, he holds various industry certifications, among which are the Certified CMMC Assessor (CCA), Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP), and the EC-Council Certified Chief Information Security Officer (C|CISO).  Dr. Slonka’s passion is teaching the younger cyber workforce the deep computer science knowledge necessary in order to fully understand both the business and technical aspects of the field.

Panel 3:  Advanced Manufacturing Technologies

Advanced manufacturing technologies encompass cutting-edge innovations that significantly enhance production processes, integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and robotics to improve efficiency, precision, and automation. AI and ML algorithms optimize design, quality control, and predictive maintenance, enabling adaptive systems that learn and improve over time. Robotics, both autonomous and human-assisted, streamline assembly lines, increasing speed while maintaining high standards of accuracy. In the defense sector, these technologies are pivotal in developing manned and unmanned ground combat systems. Manned systems benefit from advanced manufacturing to enhance performance, safety, and mission readiness, while unmanned systems—such as autonomous drones and robotic vehicles—rely on AI and robotics to operate in complex, hostile environments, offering unparalleled strategic advantages. These advancements are revolutionizing not only manufacturing but also military capabilities, driving innovation in both commercial and defense industries.