Nuclear Triad Symposium Speakers

Below are the 2026 Nuclear Triad Symposium speakers in order of appearance.

Dr. Robert Smith - Chancellor of LSU Shreveport

Dr. Robert T. Smith began his tenure as the 6th Chancellor of LSU in Shreveport in July 2023. Previously, he served as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at two institutions in Georgia, Valdosta State University and Armstrong State University. Dr. Smith is a passionate proponent for student success, especially among underserved populations and through expanding experiential learning.

Previously, Dr. Smith served Millersville University of Pennsylvania in a succession of roles, including Professor of Mathematics, Chair of the Department of Mathematics and Dean of Science and Mathematics. He began his career as Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Virginia Tech and also served as a researcher at the U.S. Army Ballistic Research Laboratory at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.

A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Dr. Smith earned M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Mathematics from the University of Delaware, as well as B.S. (Mathematics) and B.A. (German) degrees from Widener University. More recently, Dr. Smith earned a certificate from the Institute for Management and Leadership in Education at Harvard University. His research background is in mathematical problems arising in engineering and physics; he is also the co-author of ten Calculus textbooks, several of which have been translated into multiple languages and which are in use around the world.

Dr. Smith has been married for 36 years to Dr. Pam Vercellone-Smith, who teaches online graduate courses for Penn State. They are proud parents of two grown children. When he has spare time, Dr. Smith enjoys being outdoors, especially hiking and aspires to be a better golfer.

Tom Arceneaux - Mayor of Shreveport

Tom Arceneaux was elected as Shreveport's 57th mayor in December 2022 and started a four-year term in January 2023. He graduated from Captain Shreve High School in Shreveport and attended college at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, graduating with a bachelor's degree in business administration. He then attended LSU Law Center and has practiced law in Louisiana for more than forty years. From 1982 through 1990, he represented District "C" on the Shreveport City Council and served as the Council Chairman from 1986-1987. After his tenure with the City Council, he continued to be involved with public service in Shreveport by working with organizations such as United Way of Northwest Louisiana, NORWELA Council of the Boy Scouts of America, the Highland Restoration Association, Northwest Louisiana Legal Services, the Shreveport Little Theatre, Holy Angels Residential Facility, AMIKids, and the Rotary Club of Shreveport. He is an active advocate for the Highland neighborhood, where he calls home, and continues to encourage others to be a part of helping to improve communities throughout the area.

He is the proud father of three grown children and loves spending time with his seven grandchildren. With his wife Elizabeth, he enjoys traveling and learning about different places. Our mayor is a season ticketholder for the Shreveport Symphony and has served as guest conductor for a performance of the National Anthem. Mayor Arceneaux is learning to play golf and admits that it is a great way to get outside, exercise, and relax.

Lt Gen (ret) Robert J. Elder

Lieutenant General (USAF, Retired) Robert (Bob) Elder joined the George Mason University faculty as a research professor with the College of Engineering following his retirement from military service as the Commander of 8th Air Force and U.S. Strategic Command's Global Strike Component. He currently conducts research in the areas of command and control, resilient communications, strategic deterrence, global competition, and international actor decision-making. General Elder served as the Central Command Air Forces Deputy Commander for Operation Enduring Freedom, Air Operations Center Commander and Deputy Air Component Commander for Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Commandant of the Air War College. He was the first commander of Air Force Network Operations and led the development of the cyberspace mission for the Air Force. He received his Doctorate in Engineering from the University of Detroit. He lives in Shreveport with his wife Bess and remains active in the community as a member of the Louisiana Military Advisory Council, Shreveport-Bossier Military Affairs Committee, Eighth Air Force Consultation Committee, Collaboration Link Management Board, Louisiana Tech Engineering and Science Foundation Advisory Board, LSU Shreveport Strategic Alternatives Consortium, Shreveport-Bossier Committee of 100, and the Shreveport and Bossier Chambers of Commerce.

Mr. Peter Huessy is President of his own defense consulting firm, Geostrategic Analysis, founded in 1981, and through 2021, Director of Strategic Deterrent Studies at the Mitchell Institute on Aerospace Studies. He was the senior defense consultant at the National Defense University Foundation for 22 years. He was the National Security Fellow at the AFPC, and Senior Defense Consultant at the Air Force Association from 2011-2016. Mr. Huessy has served as an expert defense and national security analyst for over 50 years, helping his clients cover congressional activities, arms control group efforts, nuclear armed states actions, and US administration nuclear related policy, budgets, and strategies, while monitoring budget and policy developments on nuclear deterrence, ICBM modernization, nuclear arms control, and overall nuclear modernization. Mr. Peter Huessy is President of his own defense consulting firm, Geostrategic Analysis, founded in 1981. And since 2022, Senior Fellow at the National Institute for Deterrent Studies. He was also the senior defense consultant at the National Defense University Foundation for 22 years. And advised the office of the Secretary of the Air Force on nuclear modernization and deterrence from 1981-2017. He was the National Security Fellow at the AFPC, and Senior Defense Consultant at the Air Force Association from 2011-2016. Mr. Huessy has served as an expert defense and national security analyst for over 50 years, helping his clients cover congressional activities, arms control group efforts, nuclear armed states actions, and US administration nuclear related policy, budgets, and strategies, while monitoring budget and policy developments on nuclear deterrence, ICBM modernization, nuclear arms control, and overall nuclear modernization. During 1981-2025, he created and hosted 1500 nuclear deterrent seminars, featuring the top nuclear commanders and experts in the United States. He writes a weekly column for RealClearDefense and the Maven Warrior and regularly appears on CBS radio with John Batchelor's "Eye on the World". His "ICBM EAR" nuclear report is produced weekly.

Rick Fisher

Mr. Richard D. Fisher, Jr. is a Senior Fellow with the International Assessment and Strategy Center. In 2024 he joined the Advisory Board of the Free Press Foundation and in 2016 he joined the Advisory Board of the Global Taiwan Institute and is a columnist for the Taipei Times. He has previously worked with the Center for Security Policy, Jamestown Foundation China Brief, U.S. House of Representatives Republican Policy Committee led by Congressman Christopher Cox, and The Heritage Foundation. He is the author of China's Military Modernization, Building for Regional and Global Reach (Praeger, 2008, Stanford University Press, 2010, Taiwan Ministry of National Defense translation 2012) Since 1996 he has covered scores of international arms exhibits in Asia, the Middle East and Europe, has covered International Astronautical Congresses, and his articles have been published in the Jane's Intelligence Review, Jane's Defence Weekly, Aviation Week and Space Technology, Armed Forces Journal, Far Eastern Economic Review, Asian Wall Street Journal, Defense News, The Epoch Times and the The Washington Times. He has studied at Georgetown University and received a B.A. (Honors) in 1981 from Eisenhower College.

Gordon Chang

GORDON G. CHANG is the author of Plan Red: China's Project to Destroy America and The Coming Collapse of China. His other works include The Great U.S.-China Tech War and China Is Going to War.

Chang lived and worked in China and Hong Kong for almost two decades practicing law in Shanghai as Counsel to the American law firm Paul Weiss and in Hong Kong as Partner in the international law firm Baker & McKenzie.

He is a columnist at Newsweek and writes regularly for The Hill and other publications

Mr. Chang has given briefings at the National Intelligence Council, Central Intelligence Agency, State Department, and the Pentagon. Chang has appeared before the Senate Special Committee on Aging, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission.

He has also spoken before industry and investor groups including Bloomberg, Sanford Bernstein, Economic Club of New York, Royal Bank of Scotland, Credit Lyonnais Securities Asia, American Chamber of Commerce, Bank of America, Standard Chartered Bank, Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati, and the California Association of Public Retirement Systems.

He frequently appears on Fox News, Fox Business, Newsmax TV, and CNN.

He served two terms as a trustee of Cornell University.

Stephen Blank

STEPHEN BLANK is an internationally recognized expert on Russian foreign and defense policies and international relations across the former Soviet Union. He is also a leading expert on European and Asian security, including energy issues. Since 2020 he has been a Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute www.fpri.org. In 2020-21 he also was a Senior Expert for Russia at the U.S. Institute of Peace From 2013-2020 he was a Senior Fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council, www.afpc.org From 1989-2013 he was a Professor of Russian National Security Studies at the Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College in Pennsylvania. Dr. Blank has been Professor of National Security Affairs at the Strategic Studies Institute since 1989. In 1998-2001 he was Douglas MacArthur Professor of Research at the War College.

Dr. Blank has consulted for the CIA, major think tanks and foundations, chaired major international conferences in the USA and abroad In Florence, Prague, and London, and has been a commentator on foreign affairs in the media in the United States and abroad. He has also advised major corporations on investing in Russia and is a consultant for the Gerson Lehrmann Group. He has published over 1300 articles and monographs on Soviet/Russian, U.S., Asian, and European military and foreign policies, including publishing or editing 15 books, testified frequently before Congress on Russia, China, and Central Asia for business, government, and professional think tanks here and abroad on these issues. He has also appeared on CNN, BBC, Deutsche Welle, CNBC Asia, and is a regular guest on VOA.

Prior to his appointment at the Army War College in 1989 Dr. Blank was Associate Professor for Soviet Studies at the Center for Aerospace Doctrine, Research, and Education of Air University at Maxwell AFB. He also held the position of 1980-86: Assistant Professor of Russian History, University of Texas, San Antonio, 1980-86, and Visiting Assistant Professor of Russian history,

University of California, Riverside, 1979-80.

Dr. Blank's M.A. and Ph.D. are in Russian History from the University of Chicago. His B.A is in History from the University of Pennsylvania.

Tim Goeders - National Director for Logistics Resilience, Task Force on Homeland & National Security (Colorado)

Nick Diehl - Security Innovation and Technology, Littoral Dynamics

Nicholas Diehl is a leading expert in global security, technology, and risk analysis, currently serving as the Global Director of Security Innovation and Technologies at Littoral Dynamics. In this role, he advises clients worldwide on emerging threats, develops mitigation strategies for global security risks, and oversees the implementation of innovative solutions.

Teaching at Pennsylvania State University, Nicholas specializes in Security, Risk, and Analysis, where he has modernized key courses and guides students in intelligence gathering, risk assessment, and geopolitical threat analysis.

His background includes extensive work at Penn State as a Technical Project Manager, where he developed 5G-enabled solutions incorporating AI/ML, IoT, Cloud/Edge Computing, and XR technologies. He was also a Subject Matter Expert for Penn State, effectively bridging academic research with government and industry needs.

Nicholas is a sought-after speaker, with engagements including NATO's Defense Against Terrorism course and panel participation with the SAP 5G Council. His expertise in emerging technologies, cybersecurity, and risk management directly aligns with the critical themes of the 2025 Navy & Marine Corps Procurement Conference, making him a valuable contributor to discussions on defense acquisition and technology integration.

Dr. Plamen Doynov

Dr. Plamen Doynov is the Director of the Kansas City office of the Wireless Research Center with headquarters in North Carolina and a DARPA accelerator. Dr. Doynov is an SME in the areas of critical infrastructure resilience, electromagnetic defense, and developer of innovative solutions for countermeasures and mitigation techniques for intentional electromagnetic interference and high-altitude nuclear EMP. Plamen's doctoral pursuit in Computer Sciences and Electrical Engineering was completed at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where he is currently an Adjunct Professor. He has and continues to support collaborative projects (US Navy, US AF, DARPA, NASA, SOCOM, etc.). Plamen's work is based on diverse expertise and experience in engineering, computer sciences, and telecommunications, forging a unique perspective on interdisciplinary technological solutions from machine vision for long-range reconnaissance and biometrics, to hyperspectral forensic analysis, anomaly and target detection, directed energy UAS countermeasures and practical applications of AI/ML.

Plamen was born in Bulgaria, where he completed BS in Radio electronics and MS in Power electronics, followed by Graduate studies in Biophysics at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. As a Visiting Research Scholar at the Physics Department of the Catholic University of America in Washington DC, Plamen conducted research in interaction of electromagnetic fields with biosystems for the Walter Reed Research Institute and completed a MS in Electrical Engineering. At the Midwest Research Institute in Kansas City, and later in Tsukuba, Japan, he constructed facilities to conduct controlled studies on the effect of EM field oh humans. As a Principal Engineer at MRI Global (Kansas City), Plamen was key personnel in multiple CBRNE projects (chem-, bio-, radioactive, nuclear, and explosives). His work resulted in successfully executed projects and programs (US Army, DoE, DoD, Boeing, DITRA, etc.), publications and patents. He is also a judge for the R&D Magazine annual "Top 100 awards" and the Design Magazine annual LEAP Product of the Year Award.

Complementing formal education is a lifelong learning resulting in multiple professional certifications. He is a PMP and is continuously engaged in SBIRs, STTRs, the Foundation of Infrastructure Resilience, the Missouri Institute for Defense and Energy, microgrid and other working groups.

Maj Gen Ty Neuman - Commander 8AF and Joint Global Strike Operations Ctr

Maj Gen Ty W. Neuman is the Commander, Eighth Air Force, and Commander, Joint-Global Strike Operations Center, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. "The Mighty Eighth" is responsible for the service's bomber force and airborne nuclear command and control assets, encompassing approximately 24,000 Airmen across six installations, and proudly operating more than 150 E-4, B-1, B-2, B-52 and T-38 aircraft. The J-GSOC serves as the central command and control node for all operations within Air Force Global Strike Command, orchestrating warfighting and readiness activities for the Commander, Air Forces Strategic. Maj. Gen. Neuman commissioned at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, and completed Specialized Undergraduate Navigator training as a distinguished graduate. He graduated with honors from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, and is a graduate of the National War College as a Master of Business and National Security Strategy. Prior to his current assignment, Maj. Gen. Neuman served as the Director of Strategic Plans, Programs and Requirements at Air Force Global Strike Command. Maj. Gen. Neuman's notable staff assignments include the National Security Council, White House; the Joint Staff at U.S. Strategic Command, National Airborne Operations Center, Offutt AFB, Nebraska.; the National Military Command Center, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virgina.; and in the National Nuclear Security Administration, Department of Energy, Washington, D.C. His command assignments include the 28th Bomb Squadron, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas; 28th Bomb Wing vice wing commander, Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota; and 2nd Bomb Wing commander, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana. Maj. Gen. Neuman has deployed in support of Operations ALLIED FORCE, ENDURING FREEDOM, and IRAQI FREEDOM. He is a B-52 and B-1 Weapons Systems Officer with 3,188 flight hours in the B-1B, B-52H, E4B, T-43, T37 and T-39.

Col Greg Boschert - AFGSC Deputy A4

Colonel Gregory D. Boschert is currently the Military Deputy Director of Logistics and Engineering for Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. He is the principal advisor to the Director for all Organize, Train, and Equip logistics and engineering actions and resource allocation within the command. Additionally, he leads 350 staff members in nine divisions across three geographically separated locations supporting the nation's strategic deterrence and global strike missions. Colonel Boschert is also responsible for sustaining 225 B-1, B-2, B-52, E-4B, UH-1N, and MH-139 aircraft, 400 Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, 3,600 facilities and 3,500 vehicles, in addition to providing direction and oversight to 19,000 personnel in 40 specialties across nine wings and two Numbered Air Forces.

The colonel entered the Air Force in May 2000 from the United States Naval Academy. He completed logistics plans officer training in September, 2001, and has held multiple command, staff, center, and headquarters positions in the logistics readiness career field. Colonel Boschert has deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Northern Watch, in addition to assignments in Korea and Kuwait supporting current operations. Prior to his current position, the colonel was Commander of the 748th Supply Chain Management Group at Hill Air Force Base, Utah.

Colonel Boschert holds Masters degrees from Webster University and the National Defense University. He was also the first Logistics Readiness Officer to attend the National Defense University's Joint Advanced Warfighting School in Norfolk Naval Station, VA. Colonel Boschert is also a distinguished graduate of the Advanced Logistics Readiness Officer Course, a top 20% graduate from the Army's Command and General Staff College, and a top-third graduate from the Squadron Officer School. He is married to the former Tina Talbot, and they have two daughters, Victoria, 18, and Regan, 9.

Dr. Rodney L. Miller - Chief Architect, Strategic & Missile Defense Systems, LMCO

Jeff Braun - Senior Director, Emerging Markets, SPA

Mr. Braun currently serves as the Senior Director of the Office of Innovation at Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. In this role, he advises senior DoD leadership on the intersection of strategy, technology, and operational concepts; sets the vision for SPA's future capabilities and drives the Office towards that vision; devises, leads, and advises on high profile studies (recent examples are the Nuclear-armed Sea-Launched Cruise Missile (SLCM-N) Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) and the NC3 Next Tradespace Analysis (NNTSS)); and runs the nuclear weapons physics and effects curriculum for SPA.

Mr. Braun has worked in the realm of nuclear weapons for nearly fifteen years, where he held various technical, advisement, and leadership roles across Sandia National Labs (Albuquerque and Livermore), the Joint Staff J5, and at Systems Planning and Analysis. During his career, Mr. Braun has advised DoD senior leadership, to include the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, various Deputy Assistant Secretaries of Defense, and Service Leadership on the myriad of issues across the Nuclear Enterprise. He is a recognized thought leader on balancing deterrence need and the reality of weapons (nuclear and conventional) development and production, due to his experience ranging from nuclear weapon systems and component development at Sandia through his years as a Nuclear Weapons Council Action Officer.

Mr. Braun received his B.S. and M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Washington, with a focus in electromagnetic physics. He serves on the Executive Board ofDirectors for the National Defense Industrial Association's Integrated Precision Warfare division (NDIA/IPW) and as Working Group Co-Chair within the Military Operations Research Society (MORS).

Jerry McBrearty - Sector VP, B-2 and Air Combat Systems, NGC

Jerry McBrearty is the vice president and program manager, B-2 and Air Combat Systems, for Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems, a premier provider of military aircraft, autonomous systems, aerospace structures and next-generation solutions. In this role, he oversees all areas of the B-2 program, which includes the development, sustainment and modernization of the B-2 aircraft, as well as the F/A-18, F-5, T-38 and A-10 programs. McBrearty joined Northrop Grumman in 2008 and has held various roles with increasing levels of leadership throughout his career. He formerly served as the B-2 deputy program manager, supporting the strategy, planning and execution of the program.

McBrearty led the B-2 Development Operating Unit, where he was responsible for the execution of B-2 development programs including software development, hardware upgrades and agile integrated functional capability execution. Before joining the B-2 program, McBrearty served as the enterprise software director for the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent EMD program (now Sentinel), where he managed the proposal, strategy and process for the $1.6B EMD weapon system software and firmware development, including the program's Dev*Ops, agile and software certification activities. He was responsible for the software development integration across all software locations. McBrearty also led the PlatformOne transition strategy, successfully developing and scaling the software development environment for 2,000+ users.

McBrearty served as West Coast Systems Engineering department manager for Northrop Grumman's Mission Systems ground segment space programs. He was previously the Southern California Software and Digital Technologies department manager, with oversight of over 300 engineers, which supported eight business divisions, including radar technology, navigation products and cyber security applications. He was also the program manager of modernized embedded GPS products, and Assured Positioning, Navigation & Timing (APNT) applications, which included leadership and profit/loss management for a $100M classified program. In addition, McBrearty led development of the Mission Systems APNT strategy to support alignment of Northrop Grumman's products and long-term strategy to emerging business opportunities in the defense market. Finally, he led over $150MM of program scope as program manager and engineering manager across several operating units, including missile defense and aircraft platforms, and championed the use of new model-based engineering software processes to reduce costs and improve performance. McBrearty earned a Master of Business Administration from the Anderson School of Business at the University of California at Los Angeles; a master's degree in systems engineering from the University of Southern California; and a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering from the University of California, San Diego. He is a graduate of the Dale Carnegie program. Northrop Grumman is a leading global aerospace and defense technology company. Our pioneering solutions equip our customers with the capabilities they need to connect and protect the world, and push the boundaries of human exploration across the universe. Driven by a shared purpose to solve our customers' toughest problems, our employees define possible every day.

Jermaine Sailsman - Senior Cybersecurity Engineer, JRC Integrated Systems (Moderator)

Mr. Jermaine Sailsman currently serves as a Senior Cybersecurity Engineer supporting the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). In this role, he provides cybersecurity leadership and guidance across the GMD Ground Segment and its supporting communication networks, ensuring secure, resilient system development for mission-critical operations.

Jermaine brings over 20 years of experience spanning cybersecurity, systems engineering, test and evaluation, and program management across the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community. Prior to joining JRC, he served as Deputy Director of Cybersecurity for MDA's GMD program, where he oversaw cybersecurity execution for a $3 billion system and led efforts to implement enterprise-wide risk management frameworks across more than 50 mission-critical systems. His work included directing vulnerability remediation efforts, guiding acquisition strategy, and ensuring compliance across complex, multi-contract environments.

Jermaine is a retired U.S. Air Force officer whose career included leadership roles at the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), and Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center. His experience spans intelligence fusion systems, satellite mission control, and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test and evaluation, including direct support to Minuteman III test launch operations. Throughout his career, he has led large, cross-functional teams, managed multi-million-dollar programs, and delivered critical capabilities supporting national security objectives.

Jermaine holds a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology, a Master of Science in Astronautical Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology, and a Master of Business Administration from Wright State University. He is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and Project Management Professional (PMP), with additional certifications through the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) in Program Management, Engineering, and Test & Evaluation.

Lt Gen (Ret) James Kowalski - former Commander, AFGSC

Lt Gen (Ret) Tom Jones - former Deputy Commander, US Air Forces Europe

Lieutenant General Noel T (Tom) Jones (USAF Ret) retired from the Air Force in 2015 as the Vice Commander of US Air Forces in Europe and Africa. In that position he was responsible for the oversight of 24,000 members in seven operating bases in five European countries. During his three years as the USAF/AFAFRICA Vice Commander he participated in and often oversaw the USAF response to world events that included the attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, the Russian invasion of the Crimean Peninsula, the Ebola crisis in Africa and the European Infrastructure Consolidation effort to reduce military bases in Europe. He was charged with formulating the command's response to Congress's sequestration law that forced a 27% reduction in headquarters manning and reorganizations across the command; a daunting task that he accomplished while ensuring no interruption of mission capability.

Tom served more than 35 years on active duty. After retiring from the Air Force, he spent 2016 as the Interim Aviation Director for the City of San Antonio before returning to his family in north Louisiana, where he currently resides. He is the owner of Tom Jones Consulting, LLC,and provides expert advice to large and small defense industry companies. He recently completed 6 years as a Highly Qualified Expert-Senior Mentor (HQE-SM) for the US Air Force, one of only 12 retired USAF General Officers asked to do so.He is also a Commissioner on the John K. Kelley Grand Bayou Reservoir and a Commissioner of the Red River Parish 911 Communications Committee.

Tom entered active duty in 1980 as a graduate of the US Air Force Academy. He commanded at the squadron, group and twice at the wing level; one in combat during IRAQI FREEDOM, one in peacetime as a Brigadier General. Tom had distinctly unique assignments as a General Officer. As the commander at Luke AFB, he led the Air Force's largest Fighter Wing, overseeing a massive base and its infrastructure and providing F-16 training for the Air Force with over 200 aircraft and 20+ squadrons. He served for two years as the Deputy Director of the Central Security Service (military workforce for the National Security Agency (NSA)) where he marshaled the efforts of 16,000 military cryptologists and cyber professionals in support of national and service intelligence requirements and participated in the standup of US Cyber Command. He also served one year in Baghdad with the US Forces-Iraq as the Director of Plans and Assessments (J-5). In this role he directed planning to execute the Presidential order to drawdown all US forces from Iraq by the end of 2011 and led the assessment of all operations, combat and non-combat, to determine effectiveness in achieving the commander's stated objectives. This was the largest and most complex redeployment of US forces since WWII. He later served as the Director of Air Force Requirements at the Pentagon where he established policy for operational capabilities-based requirements and supported commands in developing and evaluating the requirements for modernization programs including fighters, bombers, mobility aircraft, space systems, command and control, munitions, and cyber requirements.

Tom has been married for 45 years to the former Deborah Kana of San Antonio TX. They have two children; Tommy (38 years old) and Danielle (37 years old) and three grandchildren.

Lt Gen (Ret) Tim Fay - Boeing

The Honorable Christopher T. Yeaw - Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, Deterrence, and Stability

Dr. Christopher T. Yeaw is the Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation at the U.S. Department of State. Dr. Yeaw leads U.S. efforts to prevent, impede and roll back the spread of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons, their delivery systems, destabilizing advanced conventional weapons, as well as related materials and technologies. His work also includes protecting and promoting U.S. technological leadership through export controls and expanding the peaceful uses of U.S. nuclear technology. At the same time, Dr. Yeaw leads the Bureau's focus on increasing global stability, reducing the risk of unintentional escalation and preventing conflict through our deterrence posture, by negotiating nuclear arms control agreements, and strengthening bans on chemical and biological weapons. Dr. Yeaw was most recently the Associate Executive Director at the National Strategic Research Institute (NSRI), U.S. Strategic Command's University Affiliated Research Center. Immediately prior to his appointment at NSRI, Dr. Yeaw was the National Nuclear Security Administration's Senior Policy Advisor for Defense Programs, having served as the Department of Energy's (DOE) lead official in the development and rollout of the 2018 Nuclear Posture Review. Formerly, he was the founder and director of the Center for Assurance, Deterrence, Escalation, and Nonproliferation Science & Education (CADENSE), a nuclear weapons think tank at the Louisiana Tech Research Institute. Immediately prior to establishing CADENSE, Dr. Yeaw served in an Air Force senior executive role as the first Chief Scientist of Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC), Barksdale Air Force Base, LA. Dr. Yeaw began his career in 1996 at the Naval Surface Warfare Center as a lead missile defense engineer following his graduation with a Ph.D. in nuclear engineering and engineering physics from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He served as a lead nuclear weapons technical intelligence officer with the Defense Intelligence Agency, then held a variety of assignments with the State Department. His tenure at the State Department culminated in serving as Principal Adviser for Nuclear Matters to the Assistant Secretary for Verification and Compliance, during which time he was a member of the first special diplomatic mission to Libya and led the initiation of the dismantlement of its covert nuclear weapons program. He then served as an acting Director and Chief Scientist of the Department of Energy's Office of Intelligence. Prior to his AFGSC's assignment, he was an Associate Professor and Director of the Mahan Scholars Research Program at the Naval War College in Newport, R.I. where he also founded the STRATCOM-sponsored Deterrence and Escalation Game and Review (DEGRE) nuclear war game series.

Brig Gen Bonetti - Director, Strategic Plans, Programs, and Requirements, AFGSC

Brig. Gen. Peter M. Bonetti serves as the Director, Strategic Plans, Programs, and Requirements, Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. As director he is responsible for strategic planning, establishing requirements, and program advocacy for the nation's bomber forces (B-1, B-2, and B-52); MH-139 and UH-1N helicopters; Survivable Mobile Command Centers (E-4C Survivable Airborne Operations Center Nuclear and E-4B National Airborne Operations Center Aircraft); and Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications systems. He is also responsible for the funding and requirements for the modernization and recapitalization of strategic nuclear forces, to include the B-21 Raider, a $463 billion portfolio.

Brig. Gen. Bonetti enlisted in the Air Force in 1988 and received his commission in 1995. Later that same year, he earned his Combat Mission Ready status in the Minuteman III weapon system. He has commanded the 90th Missile Wing at Francis E. Warren AFB, Wyoming, and the 10th Missile Squadron at Malmstrom AFB, Montana. He has also served at various key staff positions in Air Force Space Command, Air Force Global Strike Command, U.S. Africa Command, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, the U.S. Air Force Headquarters and the National Security Council. Prior to his current assignment, he was the Associate Director, Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia.

Kelly Lee - Director, Plans and Programs at Strategic Systems Programs (SSP)

Ms. Kelly Lee currently serves as the Director, Plans and Programs at Strategic Systems Programs (SSP). In this capacity, Ms. Lee provides executive leadership to SSP enterprise for the development and execution of the program plans and $4+ Billion annual budget for the Navy Strategic Weapons Systems and the joint Navy/Army Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) program. She serves as a Chief Operating Officer of the SSP Board of Directors. Ms. Lee leads the professionals acquiring strategic weapon systems and the operations of the strategic weapons processing facilities providing the nation with 70% of its deployed nuclear weapons as well as 100% of the United Kingdom's strategic deterrent capability. Ms. Lee's leadership fosters innovation in program planning for business operations for financial management, contracts, acquisition planning, cost estimate, legal counsel, information technology, facilities, human capital programs, and the Navy's treaty implementation and compliance program. Ms. Lee has been a member of the Senior Executive Service since May 2013, and has a total of 38 years of Federal Service.

Prior to her current assignment, Ms. Lee served as the Branch Head for TRIDENT (D5) Missile Systems responsible for design, development, production, technical services, operations, logistics and disposal of the D5 missile systems to include flight test instrumentation and special support equipment for United States and United Kingdom. Prior to her Missile branch head assignment, Ms. Lee served as an Assistant of Missile Production, Assembly and Operations of the Strategic Systems Programs. Her responsibilities included managing the operations of two Echelon 3 organizations, Strategic Weapons Facilities, Atlantic and Pacific, and providing Navy Strategic Missiles to the United States and United Kingdom.

Ms. Lee started her Navy career as an Engineer in Training at NAVSEA 05 where she gained Hull, Mechanical and Electrical (HM&E) systems experiences. Ms. Lee moved to SSP when she was selected to serve as the Strategic Weapons Facility Operations Engineer in 1990. Following that assignment, Ms. Lee was selected to head the Launcher Operations Engineering Section in 2000. Ms. Lee then became the Missile Branch Integration Manager at SSP in 2005. In addition to these assignments, Ms. Lee also served as a Special Assistant to SSP Technical Director supporting Director, SSP for Nuclear Weapon Senior Leaders Oversight Council in 2008. She was selected as the Program Manager responsible for the implementation of Navy Enterprise Resource Planning (Navy ERP) at SSP Headquarters and six Field Sites in 2009. After successful implementation of Navy ERP, she was selected to her first SES position as Assistant of Missile Production, Assembly and Operations in 2013.

Ms. Lee earned Bachelor's Degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and Master's Degree in Public Administrations from American University. Her awards include the Civilian Meritorious Service Award and Department of Navy Certificate of Excellence for Acquisition Reform. She is a member of the Acquisition Professional Community and is Level III certified in the Program Management and Systems Planning, Research, Development and Engineering (SPRDE) career fields.

John Correia - Executive Director, ICBM Modernization (AFGSC/A10)

Eric Wollerman - DoE Kansas City National Security Campus

Eric Wollerman is President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies (FM&T), which manages and operates the U.S. Department of Energy's Kansas City National Security Campus (KCNSC). With nearly 7,000 employees in Kansas City, Missouri, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, KCNSC provides national security through its diverse engineering, manufacturing and secure supply chain management activities. As Honeywell FM&T President & CEO, Eric is responsible for applying best-in-class commercial standards in managing operations and delivering outstanding mission results with a $1.8 billion annual operations budget. Since joining in April 2020, Eric has been leading KCNSC's strategies including delivering operational excellence in nuclear weapons and national security missions with a focus on quality, early design engagement and delivery requirements; embracing digital transformation tools and technologies to enhance our mission; strategic planning for KCNSC's infrastructure; supply base and workforce needs for today and the future; and unlocking the value of our people and processes. In addition to leading the Honeywell FM&T business, Eric supports community reinvestment with key focus areas in society, education and the environment. He has a strong partnership with the Grandview schools' STEMM and advanced manufacturing programs. He is a board member for the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, National Security Executive Council and Strategic Deterrence Coalition. Eric's Honeywell career began in 2005 within its Integrated Supply Chain. His driving improvements in supplier quality, implementation of lean manufacturing, success in managing operations and ability to forge strong customer relationships soon led to senior leadership roles within Honeywell Aerospace Technologies. He also ran operations for several manufacturing plants and most recently led global customer service operations within the Aerospace Technologies portfolio. His academic degrees include a Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering and a Master of Science in industrial and systems engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Eric has a Certificate of Aircraft Maintenance and Technology from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He also is a certified Lean Expert and an Eagle Scout.

Rob Gass - Strategic Development and Investment Manager, Boeing

Mike Beltrani - VP, Strategic Mission Systems, GDMS

Mike Beltrani joined General Dynamics Mission Systems in 2020 and is currently Vice President of the Strategic Mission Systems business area within the Maritime & Strategic Systems business: Strategic Systems provides strategic warfare systems solutions to the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force.

Mr. Beltrani oversees and manages the execution of multi-discipline design and production teams for the launch control system of submarine launched nuclear ballistic missiles. General Dynamics Mission Systems has integrated and modernized this system for more than 60 years. Mr. Beltrani's portfolio also includes weapon system security solutions, guidance, navigation and electronic systems production and repair, and high assurance communications. Similar work is performed for the United States Air Force Intercontinental Ballistic Missile strategic deterrent. Mr. Beltrani provides leadership for more than 1200 employees across a variety of programs., manufacturing, and field personal. Prior to this role, Mr. Beltrani lead Strategy and Business Development for the Strategic Mission Systems business area and was the Segment Director for Nuclear Weapon Security.

Prior to joining General Dynamics Mission Systems, Mr. Beltrani was Vice President of Business Development at L3Harris Reconnaissance Mission Systems Sector, responsible for the growth of the ISR business. Before joining L3Harris, Mike held Program Management and Business Development executive leadership roles at Telephonics and BAE Systems. Prior to joining industry, Mike served in the Air Force for seven years, with his last role in Program Management.

Mr. Beltrani received his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Assumption University and holds a Master of Business Administration from Western New England University. He received Project Management Institute's Program Management Professional (PMP) certification in 2005, was a graduate of BAE Systems LEAD program in 2006 and received Stanford University's Advanced Project Management Certificate in 2009.

He resides in Hamburg, New Jersey with his wife Julie and two daughters, Allison, 22 and Emily, 18.

Nikki Kodama - Sector VP, B-21 Production, NGC

Nicole "Nikki" Kodama is vice president and program manager of B-21 Production within the Strike division of the Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems sector, a premier provider of military aircraft, autonomous systems, aerospace structures and next-generation solutions. In this role, Kodama is responsible for the low-rate initial production program, including production schedules, cost commitments and supplier management. Previously, she was the vice president of the Aerospace Structures business unit, overseeing production for specialized composites, integrated subassemblies and discriminating technologies in support of commercial, defense and launch programs. Kodama also served as the B-2 Spirit vice president and program manager, responsible for all aspects of the B-2 program, including development, sustainment and modernization of the aircraft. Kodama has held various leadership roles in information technology, engineering, program management, capture, strategy, global supply chain and mission assurance since joining Northrop Grumman as a mechanical engineer in 2002. Her background is in military aircraft production and sustainment, specifically in fuel and hydraulic subsystems. Kodama is the executive co-sponsor for an enterprise-wide program, Women in Science and Engineering, which encourages women to pursue technical career paths. She is also the Aeronautics Systems sector executive sponsor for the Asian Pacific Professional Network employee resource group. Outside of work, she is active in the community and supports several nonprofit organizations, including the Japanese American community and STEM/STEAM education. Kodama graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and earned her master's in business administration from Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, Calif. Northrop Grumman is a leading global aerospace and defense technology company. Our pioneering solutions equip our customers with the capabilities they need to connect and protect the world, and push the boundaries of human exploration across the universe. Driven by a shared purpose to solve our customers' toughest problems, our employees define possible every day.

Lt Gen Jason Armagost - Deputy Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command and Air Forces Strategic-Air

Lt. Gen. Jason R. Armagost is the Deputy Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command, and Deputy Commander, Air Forces Strategic-Air, U.S. Strategic Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. AFGSC provides strategic deterrence, global strike capability and combat support to USSTRATCOM and other geographic combatant commands. The command is comprised of more than 36,400 professionals at two numbered air forces; 12 active duty, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve wings; and the Joint Global Strike Operations Center. Weapons systems assigned to AFGSC include all U.S. Air Force Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles and bomber aircraft, UH-1N and MH-139 helicopters, E-4B National Airborne Operations Center aircraft, and the U.S. Air Force NC3 weapon system.

Lt. Gen. Armagost graduated from the United States Air Force Academy and was commissioned in 1992. He has served in multiple operational and training assignments and logged more than 2,900 hours in the B-2A, F-16CJ, F- 16CG, B-1B, B-52H and T-38A. His notable educational and staff assignments include a fellowship at the Center for International Security and Cooperation at Stanford University, California, Chief of Nuclear Operations on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon, Director of Strategic Plans, Programs and Requirements at Air Force Global Strike Command, and Commander, Eighth Air Force and Joint Global Strike Operations Center, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana.

Lt. Gen. Armagost commanded the 13th Bomb Squadron at Whiteman AFB, Missouri, the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot AFB, North Dakota, and the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. His operational assignments supported contingency operations during operations Desert Strike, Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, Inherent Resolve, Freedom's Sentinel and Deliberate Resolve. He also served as the Deputy Commanding General for Security Assistance Group-Ukraine, where he led coordination of the DoD's historic security assistance support effort to the Ukrainian government. Further, he has flown numerous combat missions in the F-16CJ, B-2A, B-1B and B-52H.

Bradley Martin(USN, Ret) - RAND Senior Policy Researcher

Lt Gen Mark Pye - Deputy Dir, Critical Major Weapon Systems (CMWS)

Lt. Gen. Mark B. Pye is the Deputy Director, Critical Major Weapon Systems, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. In this role, he supports the direct reporting portfolio manager to the Deputy Secretary of War, who is responsible for weapon systems most critical to national security, including: Sentinel and Minuteman III, the F-47 Family of Systems, the B-21 Family of Systems, and Air Force One. With a total portfolio value approaching $250 billion.

Originally from Oklahoma, Lt. Gen. Pye entered the United States Air Force in 1994. His operational experience includes combat support missions in the KC-10 during Operations Desert Strike, Southern Watch, and Allied Force. Following selection into the B-2 program, Lt. Gen. Pye flew combat missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom, became a Weapons Officer, and later led the opening joint strike mission for Operation Odyssey Dawn in 2011. He is a Command Pilot with more than 3,600 flying hours, including operational test pilot time in the B-52 while serving as Vice Wing Commander, 53rd Wing, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Lt. Gen. Pye has commanded at the squadron and wing level, served as a National Defense Fellow at Stanford University, and led joint and service level strategy and operational design teams. He also served in acquisition as the Director of Global Power Programs, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia.

Prior to his current position, Lt. Gen. Pye was the Director of Programs, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia where he led a staff focused upon the development of the Air Force program across the Future Years Defense Program (FYDP).

Scott Hardiman - PAE NC3

Scott C. Hardiman, a member of the Senior Executive Service, is the Air Force Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Nuclear Command, Control and Communications and Director of the NC3 Integration Directorate, Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts. As the leader of one of AFNWC's execution directorates, he is responsible for integration of the Air Force's NC3 Weapon System and leads more than 400 Airmen, government civilians and support contractors. Additionally, he directs the acquisition execution of a $14 billion portfolio of Acquisition Categories, non-ACAT and sustainment programs. As the PAE for NC3, he reports directly to the Service Acquisition Executive and is the milestone decision authority for delegated ACAT II and all ACAT III programs in the NC3 portfolio.

Mr. Hardiman entered the Air Force in 1984 after graduating from the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, as a distinguished graduate with a regular commission. He began his military career as a Propulsion Systems Test Manager in the Propulsion System Program Office, Aeronautical Systems Division, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. During his 22-year military career, he served in program management, logistics and higher headquarters positions. Early in his career, he managed programs that included test and production of advanced jet engines for F-15 and F-16 fighter aircraft and advanced radar systems, communications and radar facilities for the U.S.-Canadian North Warning System. He performed duties in logistics at the former Sacramento Air Logistics Center, as a staff officer in the Program Executive Office for Airlift and Trainer Programs at the Pentagon, and as a Country Desk Officer and Branch Chief in the Secretary of the Air Force's International Affairs Directorate. In his final two military assignments, he served as the Deputy System Program Director for the F-117A Nighthawk stealth fighter program and then as the Materiel Squadron Commander for B-52H bomber modernization at Wright-Patterson AFB.

He began his civilian government service in 2006 as Deputy Director of the 851st Electronic Systems Group, Electronic Systems Center, Hanscom AFB, where he was responsible for a $5 billion program providing next-generation airborne sensor and battle management capabilities. He then served in several positions, including as a research fellow at RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, California; as the Deputy Director of Electronic Systems Center's Capabilities Integration Directorate; and as the Chief of the Space and Nuclear Networks Division. Prior to his current position, Hardiman was the Program Executive Officer for NC3 and Director of the NC3 Integration Directorate, Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, Hanscom AFB.

Dr. Don Snyder - RAND

Brig Gen (Ret) Jon Ellis - Technical Advisor

Jeff Bolton - Executive Producer

Gen S. L. Davis - Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) and Air Forces Strategic – Air (AFSTRAT)

Gen. Stephen L. Davis is Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) and Commander, Air Forces Strategic - Air, U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. AFGSC provides strategic deterrence, global strike capability, and combat support to USSTRATCOM and other geographic combatant commands. The command is comprised of more than 36,400 professionals at two numbered air forces; 12 active duty, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve wings; and the Joint Global Strike Operations Center. Weapons systems assigned to AFGSC include all U.S. Air Force Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM) and bomber aircraft, UH-1N and MH-139 helicopters, E-4B National Airborne Operations Center aircraft, and the U.S. Air Force NC3 weapon system.

Gen. Davis was commissioned in 1989 after graduating from Officer Training School. He has served in a variety of operational and staff assignments to include commanding a Minuteman III ICBM wing and the nation's only ICBM flight test squadron. His headquarters staff assignments include duty at Air Force Space Command, Air Staff, Department of the Air Force, U.S. Strategic Command, Joint Staff, and the National Nuclear Security Administration. Prior to his current position, Gen. Davis was The Inspector General for the Department of the Air Force, Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.