2023 Defense Software Modernization Forum

2023 Defense Software Modernization Forum

June 7th, 2023 9:00am-11:00am EST   Virtual, ON24

Software has become foundational for weapons systems, warfighter capabilities, global defense power and ultimately — our nation’s ability to deliver a more lethal force. In order to achieve this, we have to be faster and more agile than our adversaries. The Department of Defense released its first ever software modernization strategy in February 2022, and Pentagon officials are now exploring options and finalizing plans for implementing the strategy.

According to a memo released by Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks, “The Department's adaptability increasingly relies on software and the ability to securely and rapidly deliver resilient software capability is a competitive advantage that will define future conflicts.” The new software strategy aims to transform software delivery time from “years to minutes” as the DOD works to outpace our adversaries in the future of warfare. 

The ExecutiveBiz 2023 Defense Software Modernization Forum takes a look at the progress the federal government has made in the past year, the challenges ahead and the opportunities we can harness as software modernization remains at the forefront of defense missions.

  • Ben Amaba
    Dr. Ben Amaba -
    Federal Business Development, Sonatype

    Dr. Ben Amaba holds a PhD. degree in Industrial & Systems Engineering, a M.B.A./M.S. degree in Engineering and Operations, and a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering. His expertise is in industrial, systems, and software engineering. Dr. Amaba is a Distinguished Fellow with the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers. He holds board positions at the University of Central Florida and National Society of Professional Engineers. He is a registered and licensed Professional Engineer in several states with International Registry; certified in Production, Operations, and Inventory Management by APICS ®; LEED® Accredited Professional (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design); and certified in Corporate Strategy by Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Dr. Amaba’s focus is in industrial & systems engineering, software engineering, artificial intelligence, and data sciences. Dr. Amaba holds a copyright for Process Activity Flow Framework®, framework for requirements, design, architecture, simulation, and application development techniques and other patents. Dr. Amaba is prominently featured in “Giving 2.0,” by Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen with Stanford Business School, which details contributions to bolster and promote STEM education and careers, and is an Alexis de Tocqueville Society/United Way Member, which recognizes local philanthropic leaders. Dr. Ben Amaba leads Federal Business Development for Sonatype, the Software Supply Chain Company.

  • Lauren Pavlik
    Lauren Pavlik -
    Chief, Data and Software Services, ECMA, U.S. Department of the Army

    Lauren Pavlik, Chief, Data and Software Services for the US Army, Enterprise Cloud Management Agency. Currently, Ms. Pavlik serves as the Chief for Data and Software Services within the Enterprise Cloud Management Agency under the Army CIO’s Office. In this position she supports the CReATE DevSecOps software environment for the Army, Cloud Cybersecurity modernization and automation, and cData efforts. Previously, Ms. Pavlik served as the Chief Information Officer for PEO Soldier. In this position she supported the workforce and the Soldier with cloud technologies, cybersecurity innovation and modernization, enterprise data management strategy and analytics, and network operations. She also served as the Lead CIO for ASA ALT’s CIO Council. Ms. Pavlik also held acquisition positions at PEO Enterprise Information Systems to include Deputy Technical Director for Army Leader Dashboard (now known as Army Vantage), Project Manager for the Enterprise Resource Planning Cloud Migration (GFEBS and AESIP), Deputy Knowledge Management Team Lead and Knowledge Management Specialist. Ms. Pavlik successfully led diverse teams to deliver enterprise process automations, data visualization capabilities, multiple cloud migrations to unclassified and classified environments and unified knowledge management in multiple areas. In 2012, Ms. Pavlik earned her Master's degree in Information Systems Management from Strayer University. She also earned a Bachelor’s degree in Communication from the Edward R. Murrow School of Communication at Washington State University. Ms. Pavlik is a graduate of the Department of the Army’s Emerging Enterprise Leader program at University of Alabama Huntsville. She is also a member of the U.S. Army Acquisition Core. Ms. Pavlik began her career in private industry producing national print, radio, and television campaigns for Fortune 500 companies, government agencies and non-profits with an average audience of 60 to 180 million.

  • Jachin Sakamoto
    Lt Col. Jachin Sakamoto -
    Agile Space Operations Software Branch Chief, AFRL/RVSX, U.S. Department of the Air Force

  • Jennifer Swanson
    Jennifer Swanson -
    Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, Data, Engineering & Software (DASA (DES)), U.S. Department of the Army

    Ms. Jennifer Swanson is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Data, Engineering & Software (DASA (DES)), Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology (ASA(ALT)). In this position, Ms. Swanson leads implementation of modern software practices including agile software development and DevSecOps, data centricity, and digital engineering across ASA(ALT). Since standing up DASA DES, she established a Unified Data Reference Architecture (UDRA) which will enable digital transformation by giving Program Managers and industry partners guidance on how to produce, share and consume data. She also co-led a Capability Portfolio Review securing senior leader endorsement to drive agile development and DevSecOps throughout the Army. And under her leadership, the Request for Proposal process is changing to require industry to deliver using modern software practices. Prior to joining ASA(ALT), Ms. Swanson served as the Director of the U.S. Army CommunicationsElectronics Command (CECOM) Software Engineering Center (SEC) headquartered in Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. As Director, she oversaw a global mission, running an organization of approximately 3,000 military, civilian and industry employees, with an annual budget in excess of $700 million. She provided state of the art software engineering products and services throughout the Army. CAREER CHRONOLOGY: • May 2022 - Present: Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Data, Engineering & Software DASA(DES) • Apr 2017 - May 2022: Director of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM) Software Engineering Center (SEC) • Jun 2009 - Apr 2017: Chief, Technical Management Division of PEO C3T’s former Project Manager, Tactical Radio Communications Systems (PM TRCS) COLLEGE: • MS, Software Engineering, Monmouth University, West Long Branch, NJ • BS, Industrial and Systems Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL CERTIFICATIONS: • Level III certified in Systems Engineering • Level III certified in Program Management AWARDS AND HONORS: • 2022 Presidential Rank Award, Department of the Army – Meritorious Executive (SES) • 2010 David Packard Excellence in Acquisition Award

  • Kevin Twibell
    Kevin Twibell -
    Chief Information Security Officer, DoD Platform One

  • Rob Vietmeyer
    Rob Vietmeyer -
    Chief Software Officer for DCIO Information Enterprise, U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)

    Mr. Rob Vietmeyer is the Department of Defense Chief Software Officer for the Deputy Chief Information Officer for Information Enterprise (DCIO(IE)). In this position, he is the principal advisor to the DoD CIO for the implementation and evolution of the Department’s Software Modernization Strategy. Mr. Vietmeyer will drive strategy implementation, establishing the foundation to deliver resilient software at speed and scale advocating for the latest software development approaches, cloud services, and process transformation. Through collaboration with other DoD Components, government, industry, and academia partners, he is responsible for advancing the Department’s adoption of DevSecOps practices, agile software development, and cloud native modernization. Prior to his current position, Mr. Vietmeyer served as the Director of Cloud and Software Modernization for the DCIO(IE), leading a diverse team to modernize the way DoD develops software. In that role and in partnership with DoD Components, he led the development of the Department’s DevSecOps guidance, OCONUS Cloud Strategy, cloud Infrastructure as Code (IaC) implementation, and the DoD Software Modernization Strategy and Implementation Plan. He established the DoD Software Modernization Senior Steering Group (SSG) to guide software modernization initiatives and the Department-wide DevSecOps Community of Practice, which brings together stakeholders and subject matter experts across DoD and industry to further modernization progress. He functioned as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) Tri-Chair for the DoD Software Modernization Action Officers Working Group (AOWG), the group responsible for leading implementation of guidance from DoD leadership and the SSG. Prior to joining the Office of the DoD CIO, Mr. Vietmeyer was a SME and lead for agile software development efforts at the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). He led delivery of the enterprise collaborative software development environment - Forge.mil and implementation of DISA’s initial cloud computing solutions. Under his leadership, Forge.mil grew to enable 27,000 DoD software developers working on over 1,000 development projects supporting DoD mission critical programs. Additionally, Mr. Vietmeyer led the definition and technical design of the Department’s Net-Centric Enterprise Services (NCES) program, served as Chief Engineer for the Global Combat Support System (GCSS), and Lead Engineer for the Global Command and Control System (GCCS). In his early career, he developed software for DoD command and control data integration, DISA’s acquisition career management systems, and data processing systems for mainframe and minicomputer infrastructure. Mr. Vietmeyer holds an M.S. in Information and Telecommunications Systems from Johns Hopkins University and a B.S. in Physics from Randolph Macon College. He has received numerous recognitions for his work including the Federal CIO Council Leadership Award, the American Council for Technology/Industry Advisory Council Excellence.gov Award, and the Federal 100. Born in the San Francisco Bay Area, Mr. Vietmeyer currently lives in Northern Virginia where he and his wife continue to support their three kids with two in college and one soon to be.

  • 9:00am - 9:05am EST

    Welcome & Opening Remarks

  • 9:05am - 9:45am EST

    Keynote Speaker: Rob Vietmeyer

  • 9:45am - 10:45am EST

    Panel: How Software Enables DODu2019s Cloud Vision

  • 10:45am - 11:00am EST

    Closing Comments

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