Government Acquisition Leaders Briefings & Panel Discussions

Workforce Development Across the Defense Industrial Base

The accelerating demands on the U.S. defense industrial base—from the Navy’s Columbia and Ohio-class submarine program to aerospace and advanced weapons systems—have revealed critical gaps in workforce capacity, skills alignment, and supply chain resilience. This panel brings together leaders from across the Defense Industrial Base to discuss coordinated strategies for workforce development that meet both near-term production goals and long-term national security needs.

Panelists will explore workforce challenges and innovations across defense manufacturing sectors. The discussion will highlight successful models for talent acquisition, upskilling, and retention, including regional workforce initiatives like Pennsylvania’s talent pipeline project and enterprise-level efforts led by major defense contractors.  Whether maritime, aerospace, or emerging tech domains, panelists will offer actionable insights into how industry, education, and government can work together to build an agile, mission-ready workforce.

Panelists:

Pat McCann
HR Business Partner
Lockheed Martin

Pat McCann is the HR Business Partner at Lockheed Martin AeroParts, Inc., in Johnstown, PA, supporting over 460 employees. Since 2018, he has overseen all HR functions, including recruitment, labor relations, employee development, and compliance. Prior to Lockheed Martin, he held HR and labor relations leadership roles at U.S. Steel, AK Steel, PCI Energy Services (a Westinghouse company), Cove Forge Behavioral Health, and Westinghouse Electric. Pat holds an MBA, a BA in Organizational Management, and an associate’s degree in aviation management. and multiple HR certifications, including Professional in Human Resources (PHR). He serves on several advisory boards, workforce councils, and professional associations, contributing to regional economic and workforce development initiatives.

Crystal McFadden
Lead Network Coach
Pittsburgh Talent Pipeline

Serving manufacturing employers in western PA who support the Defense Industrial Base through lean based, best practice tools alongside a high performing team in order to grow and continually improve Talent, Acquisition & Retention efforts within our network and flag.

Josh Cramer
Associate Vice President – Workforce Development
Blue Forge Alliance

A seasoned leader with over 20 years of experience in education and workforce development, specializing in advanced manufacturing and STEM. He has practical experience as a certified and credentialed educator; as a national leader, he has driven recruitment campaigns, K-16 education, reskilling programs, and defense initiatives for civilians and military personnel. His engagement spans local, state, and federal governments, as well as small to large manufacturers, and he has worked in non-profits, academia, philanthropy, and government.

Moderator

Robert Kubler
Vice President, Readiness Division
Concurrent Technologies Corporation

Robert (Bob) W. Kubler is Vice President of the Readiness Division at Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC), responsible for the overall operation and growth of CTC’s advanced learning, readiness/continuity, and safety solutions. With over 39 years of experience, Bob specializes in organizational readiness, program implementation, and business growth. Bob has directed CTC’s Readiness Division, overseeing 120+ professionals, 100 subcontractors, and managing a $50M portfolio.

Before joining CTC, Bob served as Chief Policy Advisor in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel & Readiness, where he led strategic policy development for the DoD Readiness Reporting System. Bob also served as the Program Manager for the FEMA Readiness Reporting System and Senior Director for Readiness, Continuity, and Preparedness Programs. A retired U.S. Army officer, his 22-year career included key roles in Army Transformation, Chemical Doctrine development, and readiness training.  He holds a B.S. in Geology from Millersville University, an M.S. in Management Systems from Webster University, is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, a certified Project Management Professional and a certified Professional Continuity Practitioner .

Cybersecurity / Zero Trust

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.

Panelists:

Mr. Mark Soyka
Advisor Engineer
Concurrent Technologies Corporation https://www.ctc.com

Mark Soyka is an Advisor in Information Technology at Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC), where he leads the corporate Cybersecurity Strategic Vector. With over 16 years of experience at CTC, Mark has been instrumental in researching and developing advanced cybersecurity technologies, including post-quantum cryptography, defensive cyber operations, and AI/ML-based cyber solutions. He has extensive expertise in cloud architecture, DevSecOps, and Zero Trust virtual private networks. Mark’s notable achievements include leading the design and implementation of secure cloud-based systems and contributing to the development of cybersecurity policies for the Department of Defense and other government agencies. His work has significantly advanced the field of cybersecurity, establishing him as a thought leader in exploring disruptive technologies and their impacts on Zero Trust architectures.

Mr. Anthony Marguccio
Senior Application Solution Architect & Tech Fellow
Northrop Grumman https://www.northropgrumman.com/

Anthony Marguccio is a Senior Application Solution Architect & Tech Fellow within Northrop Grumman’s Chief Information and Digital Office.  He has over 25 years of experience in software development and nearly 20 years of experience developing enterprise software at Northrop Grumman.  Anthony has been the Apps Pillar co-lead on the Northrop Grumman Corporate Zero Trust team for the last three years where he has performed maturity assessments and developed strategic roadmaps to close critical gaps.  As a Tech Fellow at Northrop Grumman, Anthony has a proven track record of technology leadership, delivering strategic and innovative results and providing mentorship to junior engineers.  He holds a degree in Computer Engineering from Penn State and a Master’s degree in Engineering Management from Robert Morris.

Cliff Varnadoe
Director, US Federal Portfolio and Enterprise Sales, Sonicwall

Cliff Varnadoe is the Director of the US Enterprise and Federal portfolios for Sonicwall. He has over 25 years of experience within the Information technology field, with extensive expertise in closed Network security, Data Center design / implementation and network vulnerability assessment.  Cliff served for 20 years with the US Navy, during this time he spent most of his service within the Special Operations community where he was trained and deployed as a Nation State Attacker. Cliff has been with SonicWALL for 6 years where he currently designs and consults on sophisticated cyber security solutions within each branch of the Department of Defense as well as SonicWALL’s top 50 enterprise accounts.

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.

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.

Panelists

Jim Fisher
Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
NCDMM

John Polacek
COO
JWF Industries 

John Polacek is the Chief Operating Officer of JWF Defense Systems and JWF Industries. He joined JWF in 2007.JWF Industries designs, manufactures, and integrates metal centric products by growing with the right people, the right processes, the right markets, and the right customers. Capabilities include program management, engineering, laser services, welding, forming, machining, and coatings. JWF Industries and JWF Defense Systems has locations in Johnstown, PA; Baltimore, MD; Davisville, WV; and Edenton, NC. The company is dedicated to its employees, its communities, and its global customers in the energy, commercial, and defense industries.Prior to joining JWF, from 1989-2007, John was Vice President and General Manager of the Defense Solutions Group at BAE SYSTEMS – IT. His group provided world-wide product and services to the DoD and Intelligence Community.

Robin Lindgren
Vice President, Supply Chain Operations
Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace Inc.

Robin Lindgren is the Vice President of Supply Chain Operations at Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace, Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Kongsberg’s defense business. He brings over a decade of global experience in defense and aerospace supply chains, having previously served as Director of Supply Chain at TCOM and Senior Manager of Supply Chain at Saab, where he supported governments and corporations with solutions ranging from military defense to civil security.

Robin holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and Digital Media Studies from the University of Denver, where he was a member of the varsity Swimming and Diving Team, and a Master of Science in General Management from the Stockholm School of Economics.

Moderator

Tim Tibbits
VP Engineering & Advanced Manufacturing
Concurrent Technologies Corporation

Timothy S. Tibbits is Vice President of the Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing Division at Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC). In this role, he is responsible for the Division’s overall performance and management. The Division has ~$20 million in annual revenues and more than 70 engineers providing research and development, prototyping, and professional engineering services.Mr. Tibbits also served as Senior Director and then Executive Director of CTC’s Business Development and Strategy, where he was responsible for the overall coordination and management of the company’s business development operations, processes, tools, and corporate business development operations.Prior to joining CTC in 2008, Mr. Tibbits served more than 26 years in the United States Navy. Before his retirement, he was assigned to the United States Strategic Command as Washington Liaison Officer in the Pentagon. He was responsible for coordinating information and data exchange with various military and federal government agencies throughout the National Capital Region concerning strategic nuclear, full-spectrum global strike, space and information operations, operational space support, integrated missile defense, global C4ISR, Combating WMD, and strategic planning. He also served two tours on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations where he developed requirements for the P-3 and EP-3 aircraft as well as for their programmed replacement, the P-8 Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA).