Paul is a defense tech founder and entrepreneur. He is a weapon school graduate and instructor fighter pilot. He flew combat missions off aircraft carriers in the F-18 including tours over Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria. He also flew F-22 in the Hawaii Air National Guard. He was the Officer in Charge of Homeland Defense for the Hawaii and Guam Air Defense Region in support of Operation Noble Eagle. Since leaving the jet, he has spent the last 2 years architecting, building and delivering capabilities for weapon systems throughout the IndoPacific theater.

John is a former Green Beret, Infantry Officer, and combat veteran who has spent more than 15 years in the defense acquisition and technology community, supporting organizations like the Army G3 and DARPA. John is co-owner and President of TAC, the government contractor that built AcqBot.com (ACK-Bot), the leading AI-powered platform for acquisition and contracting automation, in partnership with AFRL, CDAO and other government stakeholders. John also co-founded the start-up UseRogue.com, one of the first and still most capable industry bid and proposal AI and automation platforms, which he successfully exited in 2024.

Bryon Kroger is the Founder and CEO of Rise8, spearheading initiatives to deliver software solutions 25x faster than traditional methods. A former US Air Force targeteer with firsthand experience of the devastating impact inadequate software has on mission success, Bryon co-founded Kessel Run, the DOD’s first software factory, where he served as COO leading acquisitions, development, and operations for the enterprise-scale software lab that defined DOD DevOps. While there, he pioneered the first continuous Authority to Operate (cATO). Frustrated with the lack of industry partners capable of leading defense digital transformation, Bryon founded Rise8 to fill that gap. Today he is the leading expert on cATO and the bureaucracy hacking necessary to continuously deliver valuable software users love.

Rachel Kuhr Conn, CEO and founder of Productable, empowers organizations to create World-Class Innovation Operations. With experience spanning over 20 major corporations (including ExxonMobil, Nissan, Eli Lilly, Caterpillar and Samsung) and a proven track record of bringing more than 70 products to market, Rachel’s approach accelerates innovation from idea to impact. She previously managed startup portfolios for Mark Cuban Companies, and her academic research specialized in predictive analytics for innovation success, further deepening her expertise in driving effective innovation outcomes.

I have had the unique privilege of serving as a Director in Medicine, an Executive in the United States (US) Department of Defense (DoD) Science; Technology (ST), FVEY S&T Lead, advisor in US Defense industry, and a CEO in Australia’s Defence industry. I bring over 20 years of experience delivering guidance and cutting-edge solutions in the medical, research, industry, Government and International arenas. I have built strong national and international networks across the sciences, policy, finance, investment, trade, diplomacy, Defens/ce, medicine, academia, and other sectors based upon mutual respect and trust. My ability to partner, influence, and secure resources in technical, business, academic, and political arenas has been critical to both my and my team’s successes. Since moving to Australia, I have actively forged partnerships and collaborations across industry, academia, and Government to tackle shared AUS, UK, and US needs. And forge partnerships to transition good ideas out of Universities and small businesses into the hands of end-users. I founded an independent company and am actively standing-up multi-nation Communities of Practice with industry, Gov, and academic supporters. I provide coordination, governance, and a forcing function for “coalitions of the willing” to drive tangible results for US, Australian, and UK Defens/ce.

Rachel Sipperley is an entrepreneur, coach, and founder of Rent My Wardrobe, a peer-to-peer clothing rental platform she launched in 2016. After leading the company to its acquisition by Wardrobe in 2020, Rachel transitioned to a life of greater balance and mindfulness. Now based in the Pacific, she specializes in strategic business and personal development coaching, helping individuals achieve alignment between their professional goals and personal well-being. Passionate about empowering entrepreneurs, she also created The Female Founder Podcast to provide tangible tips for entrepreneurs to turn their dreams into reality. 

"Harry Toor is a strategic growth and technology leader with extensive experience driving AI, cybersecurity, and emerging technology initiatives across defense, government, and venture-backed startups. With a proven track record of securing over $1B in contract wins, Harry specializes in aligning cutting-edge technologies with mission needs, building high-impact teams, and shaping policy discussions with U.S. and international agencies. His career spans leadership roles at the Linux Foundation’s OpenSSF, Rebellion Defense, Accenture, Booz Allen Hamilton, and SAIC. He is now the Director of Growth, Mission & Tactical Software at Accelint, where he focuses on delivering AI-enabled mission software that enhances warfighter readiness and operational agility.

Victor began his innovation career in 2020 when he took over management of a fledgling USAFA Spark cell and helped foster it into a thriving Innovation ecosystem. In 2022 he graduated USAFA as a distinguished graduate with a bachelors in Operations Research. Two years later he graduated the Air Force Institute of Technology where he studied dual masters in Data Science and Operations Research. He now works at PACAF HQ as the chief AI officer where he manages existing AI contracts and brings new AI capabilities to scale in theater. 

John Emilio Vargas (callsign "Vegas") currently serves as a Microsoft Federal Sr. Account Director. In this role he leads USAF enterprise-wide engagement on endeavors intended to enhance/enable ACC, AMC, PACAF, USAFE, AFCENT, and Global Strike operations. Focus areas include the development of the Advanced Battle Management System, enablement of Agile Combat Operations, Modeling/Simulation transformation, and creating the Flight Line of the Future. Prior to joining Microsoft, John served as an Officer and Fighter Pilot in the United States Air Force. He served in a number of duty locations, both state-side and oversees, including Kunsan Air Base Republic of Korea and Aviano Air Base Italy. He was a 2003 graduate from the United States Air Force Weapons School and later served as a Weapons School Instructor and the Air Force's Forward Air Controller (Airborne) Subject Matter Expert. As the 77th Fighter Squadron Commander he led his airmen through 20,000 combat hours and nearly 1,000 weapons deliveries in a two-year period earning recognition as the Air Combat Command Air Superiority Squadron of the Year and the 9th Air Force Information Operations Squadron of the Year for 2011.

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Ms. Hunt serves as a Distinguished Technical Fellow at MetroStar Systems in the Defense Business Unit, where she supports technical delivery across MetroStar’s defense customers. As a 2021 Forbes 30 under 30 winner in the Enterprise IT category, Hannah previously served as the Chief Product and Innovation Officer at the Army Software Factory and previously served as Chief of Staff for the U.S. Air Force Software Factory Kessel Run. At the Army Software Factory, Hannah led the development and delivery of a cohesive suite of products “by soldiers, for soldiers” and evangelized agile acquisitions and DevSecOps in the Army.

Dr. Jimmy “Rev” Jones is a retired USAF Test Pilot and combat veteran having employed as a Wild Weasel flying Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) missions in Operation Iraqi Freedom.  He has flown F-16s as a Test Pilot and operationally in Germany, South Korea, and at Edwards Air Force Base, California, and has more than 2,000 hours flying in over 30 types of aircraft.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois, a masters and doctorate degree in electrical engineering from Arizona State University, as well as a second master’s in flight test engineering from the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School.

Dr. “Rev” Jones was the USAF’s Chief of Advanced Countermeasures for three years while at Head Quarters Air Force’s Special Program leading advanced integration efforts.  He was a DARPA Program Manager for five years within the Strategic Technology Office working on Information Theory-based electronic warfare, human-on-the-loop automated and resilient Air Operation Center battle management, automated cooperative counterpart aircraft and manned-unmanned teaming algorithms, learning transfer of AI, and the System of Systems Integration Technology and Experimentation (SoSITE) program creating secure-by-design emergent capability from fielded systems by developing and deploying the STITCHES integration toolchain and platform.  “Rev” is the DAF STITCHES PM and leads the STITCHES Warfighter Application Team (SWAT), Integration Prime, Project Battering Ram which digitizes and modernizes and integrates the security classification guide process directly to data, and co-leads the Bravo Hackathons and associated AI and Data Battle Labs.

Culley Horne works as an independent consultant helping industry and government shape defense technologies that bolster American dynamism in the strategic competition space. As an Air Force Reservist he has fostered industry engagement as a Senior Innovation Strategist for the Chief of Staff of the Air Force's Strategic Studies Group. In 2024 he helped host the BRAVO hackathons across two combatant commands, creating more than 100 prototypes for the DOD at a fraction of the cost of traditional contracting methods. His strategic perspective was developed over a military career that included working with foreign partners as deputy director of operations for Special Operations Joint Task Force in Central and South East Asia, Digital Transformation for the First Special Operations Wing, and as a Special Operations Air Liaison. He brings over a decade of practical aviation experience piloting AC-130 gunships, notably winning the Mckay Trophy in 2021 for the role his crew played during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. He holds a Bachelors of Science from the University of Georgia and continues to broaden his knowledge of business management as a serial entrepreneur.

Bennett Weidemann is the AFWERX Spark division's AI Solutions Architect and Automation Specialist with 23 years of strategic and operational experience, specializing in Generative AI, workflow automation, data aggregation, and digital transformation. With a track record of deploying agile AI-driven solutions, Mr. Weidemann has led groundbreaking initiatives, including the development of an AI-powered war games simulator for AFWERX exercises, engineering advanced Defense Travel System AI agents, and automating enterprise-scale resource management. His expertise has optimized decision-making, enhanced mission readiness, and accelerated innovation in next-generation Air & Space technologies. 

Rebecca K. Lively began her career as an attorney focusing on legal and policy issues relating to software development, acquisition, intellectual property, and cyberspace operations. In 2020 she went all-in on software development, co-founding Shadow’s Edge Software, Air Force Cyber’s Software Factory. As the Air Force and Cyber Portfolio Lead at Defense Unicorns, Rebecca leverages her diverse background to build solutions to streamline software delivery and cybersecurity in highly regulated environments.  

Danielle is a battle-tested business strategist who transforms bureaucratic quagmires into high-performance revenue engines. She has helped industry leaders like Southwest Airlines and Wayfair unlock over $1 billion in savings through surgical process redesign and strategic innovation. Danielle has also successfully navigated the notorious "Valley of Death," multiple times by expertly guiding breakthrough technologies from early development to successful adoption within the complex Defense market.

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As the founder of Immersive Insights, Danielle engineers resilient, adaptive systems for defense contractors entering commercial markets and Fortune 500 companies seeking an operational edge. Her innovative approach to business enablement empowers organizations to become anti-fragile—positioning them to thrive and scale regardless of economic volatility or regulatory complexity. Danielle's strategic insights and actionable methodologies have made her a sought-after advisor for executives determined to future-proof their businesses