Electronic Warfare Forum
January 19th, 2023 1:00pm-3:00pm EST Virtual, ON24
With the rise of electronic warfare, or EW, the battle for control of the electromagnetic spectrum is intensifying. The electromagnetic spectrum and directed energy can be used in military applications to detect, disrupt and deceive adversarial forces while protecting U.S. and allied forces. These tactics can target communication systems, radar and other military and civilian systems that rely on the electromagnetic spectrum.
In recent years, EW threats have become more complex and frequent, and U.S. adversaries and competitors are more capable now than ever before — today, control of the EM spectrum is critical to our national interests and missions.
During the ExecutiveBiz Electronic Warfare Forum, you’ll hear from military leaders, government officials and industry executives as they discuss the state of EW today, how the U.S. military can outpace its competitors and what industry can do to support this mission.
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COL Kevin Finch -
Deputy Director for Acquisition, Digital Capabilities and Security Center and the JADC2 Lead, Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA)
COL Kevin E. Finch was born in Orlando, Florida and entered active duty as a Field Artillery Second Lieutenant in 1995 upon graduation from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. During COL Finch’s first assignment to 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas, he served in the following positions: Company Fire Support Officer, D/2-5 CAV; Battalion Fire Support Officer, 2-5 CAV; Platoon Fire Direction Officer, C/1-82 Field Artillery; Platoon Leader/ Executive Officer C/1-82 Field Artillery; Battalion Fire Direction Officer, 1-82 Field Artillery and OPERATION JOINT FORGE; Battalion Fire Support Officer (Joint Military Commission Officer), 1-12 CAV and OPERATION JOINT FORGE; and Assistant Operations Officer, 1-82 FA. During COL Finch’s second assignment to Fort Lewis, Washington, he served in the following positions: Fires and Effects Coordination Cell Battle Captain, HHC/3rd Brigade 2nd Infantry Division; Commander, A/1-37 Field Artillery, 3rd Brigade 2nd Infantry Division; Warranted Contracting Officer, United States Central Command and OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM; and Warranted Brigade Contracting Officer, 25th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade 25th Infantry Division and OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM. Subsequent assignments included: Test Officer, Operational Test Command, Maneuver Test Directorate at Fort Hood, Texas and OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, Brigade Warranted Plans and Operations Officer, 410th Contracting Support Brigade at Fort Sam Houston, Texas; a Department of the Army Systems Coordinator for the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology at the Pentagon; the Product Manager for Information Warfare under PEO Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors; ARCYBER’s Director Advanced Concepts and Technology; and most recently the PM for Electronic Warfare and Cyber (EW&C), where the Army Acquisition Executive selected EW&C the 2019 O-6 Level PM Team of the Year and the Association of Old Crows awarded him the 2021 Stanley B. Hall Executive Management Award . He holds a Bachelor of Science from the United States Military Academy, a Master's in Business Administration from Texas A&M Central Texas, and a Masters in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College. His military education includes the Field Artillery Basic Course, Air Defense Artillery Captains Career Course, the Acquisition Basic Course, Intermediate Level Education, and the Army War College. He is a Certified Acquisition Professional in Program Management: Advanced, Engineering & Technical Management: Practitioner and Contracting: Foundational. His military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal (Silver Oak Leaf Cluster), Joint Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (Four Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Achievement Medal (One Oak Leaf Cluster), Parachutist Badge, and Air Assault Badge. He is married to LTC (R) Jennifer Finch and they have three children.
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William Flynn -
Director, Cryptographic, Electronic, and Cyber Warfare Division [N2/N6W], Department of the Navy
A member of the Defense Intelligence Senior Executive Service (DISES), Mr. Flynn is currently serving as the Director for Cryptologic, Electronic and Cyber Warfare for the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Warfare (OPNAV N2N6). Where he leads the execution of oversight and resource sponsorship for key Navy Cryptographic, Electronic Warfare and Cyber Mission force capabilities. Mr. Flynn is a graduate of Georgetown University, his naval service began when he received a Naval Reserve commission through Aviation Officers Candidate School and was designated a Naval Flight Officer in 1984. His operational tour in the EA-6B Prowler included worldwide deployments aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65) and USS Coral Sea (CV 43) with Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 133 (VAQ-133). In the fall of 1988 he was assigned to the SPEAR (Strike Projection Evaluation and Anti-Air Research) division at the Navy Operational Intelligence Center. He left active duty in December of 1991, and joined the Office of Naval Intelligence as a civilian, holding a variety of managerial positions in C4ISR and related operations. In 1997 he was selected for a 1- year special assignment in the Joint Intelligence Research Office (JIRO) as part of a special materials analysis team. From 1998 to 2003 he was the Deputy Department Head for Foreign C4ISR and intelligence support to Information Operations. In July of 2003 he was promoted to executive rank as a Senior Intelligence Professional to serve as the Assistant to the Director of Naval Intelligence for Intelligence Support on the Chief of Naval Operations Staff. By 2008 as a Defense Intelligence Senior Executive he oversaw all substantive and operational intelligence support provided to Navy leadership, integrating daily intelligence production, service, and joint intelligence watch support as well as Deep Red’s alternative analysis functions. From 2008 through 2012 he was the founding director of the Farragut Technical Analysis Center for the Office of Naval Intelligence. The Farragut Center focuses all-source scientific and technical analysis on foreign naval capabilities, working closely with the acquisition and countermeasures communities preparing the Navy to meet current and future challenges. From 2012 through 2014 he served in a Joint Duty Assignment as the Defense Intelligence Agency’s lead for Analytic Modernization, developing an Intelligence Community governance structure for Object Based Production. He also served as a Naval Reservist as an EA-6B Mission Commander with VAQ-209 at NAF Washington from 1992 to 2003. Operational experiences included extensive combat missions supporting Operations Deny Flight and Allied Force in the Balkans, and four tours with Operation Northern and Southern Watch over Iraq.
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LTG Maria Gervais -
TRADOC Deputy Commanding General and Chief of Staff, U.S. Department of the Army
Lieutenant General Maria R. Gervais assumed duties as the TRADOC Deputy Commanding General/Chief of Staff on May 28, 2021. Prior to her assignment, she served in Army Futures Command as the first Cross-Functional Team Director for the Synthetic Training Environment located in Orlando, Florida. She received her regular Army commission in 1987 as a Distinguished Military Graduate of the Lander College Reserve Officer Training Corps program in Greenwood, South Carolina, and assigned to the Chemical Branch. Her professional military education includes Chemical Officer Basic and Advanced Courses; Command and General Staff College; and U.S. Army War College where she received a Master of Military Strategic Studies. She earned a Master of Arts in Human Resources from Webster University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Lander College. She served in a variety of command and staff assignments at every level including: Brigade Chemical Officer and Headquarters Executive Officer, 17th Field Artillery Brigade; Platoon Leader and Executive Officer, 11th Chemical Company; Battalion Chemical Officer, 1st Battalion, 227 Aviation Regiment (ATTACK), 1st Cavalry Division; Division NBC Element Director, Division Headquarters and Headquarters’ Company Commander, and Brigade Chemical Officer, 101st Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault); Joint Chiefs of Staff J5 intern, Policy and Strategy Directorate, Weapons Technology Control Division and Systems Integrator for Smoke and Decon Systems, Headquarters Department of the Army in the Pentagon; G3, DAMO-FDB; Executive Officer to the III Corps G3 and Operations Officer, 2nd Chemical Battalion, 13th Corps Support Command at Fort Hood; Logistical Planner and Chief of Operations, 21st Theater Support Command (TSC); Battalion Commander, 82nd Chemical Battalion and Chief of Staff, United States Army Chemical School and Maneuver Support Center; Commander, United States Army Environmental Command; Chief of Staff, Iraq Train and Advise Mission (ITAM) Director, Baghdad, Iraq; Division Chief for Full Dimension Protection, HQDA G-8, Pentagon; Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Cadet Command and Fort Knox; the 28th Chief of Chemical and the Commandant of the U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear School; and as the Deputy Commanding General Combined Arms Center-Training. Her awards and decorations include: Distinguished Service Medal; five Legions of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, seven Meritorious Service Medals, two Joint Service Commendation medals, six Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, two National Defense Service Medals, Southwest Asia Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon, two Overseas Service Ribbons, Kuwait Liberation Medal, Saudi Arabia Kuwait Liberation Medal, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Joint Staff Identification Badge, Army Staff Identification Badge, and the Joint Meritorious Unit Award.
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Martin Klein -
Vice President, Analytics and Artificial Intelligence, ECS
As vice president of Analytics and Artificial Intelligence, Mr. Martin “Marty” Klein brings 20 years of data science, advanced analytics, artificial intelligence/machine learning delivery, and profit and loss management experience to his role at ECS. He oversees ECS’ key strategic digital transformation initiatives focused on the defense and intelligence market segments. Marty is a founding member of the ECS AI practice, having served as a program manager, project manager, director, and vice president delivering multiple large-scale data and AI programs for the defense and intelligence community. Prior to joining ECS, Marty served as general manager of C3 AI Federal and senior vice president for C3 AI Global Defense, Intelligence, and Cyberspace, where he managed the delivery of multiple enterprise AI programs. He also served as the chief operating officer of the Department of Defense Joint Artificial Intelligence Center and is a combat veteran with 30 years of service as a commissioned officer in the United States Army and Army Reserve. He has commanded at every level in the Army. Marty holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration degree from Lenoir-Rhyne University, a Master of Business Administration degree from Webster University, and a Master of Strategic Studies degree from the Army War College. He holds a certification as a Project Management Professional (PMP).
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William Utroska -
Deputy Project Manager, Electronic Warfare & Cyber (EW&C), U.S. Department of the Army
Mr. William (Willie) T. Utroska is currently serving as the Deputy Project Manager, Electronic Warfare & Cyber (EW&C) since March 2020. He was commissioned a second lieutenant of Infantry in June 1988 and retired in September 2012. He has served in a wide variety of Army and Joint assignments throughout his military and civilian career. His operational assignments include serving in the 8th INF Div and 1st AR Div as an Infantry Rifle Platoon Leader, Infantry Battalion Support Platoon Leader, and Infantry Rifle Company Executive Officer. His next assignment was with the 101st ABN Div (Air Assault) as an Assistant S3, Infantry Rifle Company Commander and Chief of Live Fires. He then was selected to a congressionally mandated AC/RC assignment as a Company Commander at Fort Chaffee, AR for 5th Army. Mr. Utroska’s acquisition assignments include PEO C3S as the Operations Officer for Horizontal Technology Integration and Assistant Product Manager, AFATDS. He was then assigned to USCENTCOM J2 as the Chief Intel Systems Requirements, Chief System Analysis & Design, and Deputy Chief Systems Engineering Division. During his assignment with USCENTCOM he deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Qatar in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Mr. Utroska then served as RDECOM’s first CSL Product Manager, C4ISR on the Move and prior to his retirement from the Army as the Military Deputy, Space & Terrestrial Communications Directorate, CERDEC. Upon retirement, Mr. Utroska worked in industry for five (5) years before entering government service to be the Deputy Product Manager Electronic Warfare Integration (EWI) in September 2017. Mr. Utroska holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of Puerto Rico – Bayamon and a Master of Science in Information Systems Technology Management from the Naval Postgraduate School. His military education includes the Infantry Officer’s Basic and Advance Courses, the Combined Armed Services Staff School, Command and General Staff College, Joint and Combined Warfighting School, the Program Manager’s Course, and the Colonels Command Assessment Program. He is a member of the Army Acquisition Corps and holds professional certifications in Program Management (Level III), Systems Engineering (Level III) and Science & Technology Management (Level II). Mr. Utroska’s awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (with Oak Leaf Clusters), Meritorious Service Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Achievement Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters), Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Army Superior Unit Award, Civilian Service Achievement Medal as well as multiple campaign medals for Iraq and Afghanistan. He’s earned the Air Assault badge, Parachutist badge, Expert Infantryman badge, and the Ranger tab. Mr. Utroska has three (3) daughters (Stephanie Utroska-Gaydosh, Jennifer Utroska-Repay, and Gabriela Utroska), and a beautiful granddaughter (Ava Rose Marie).
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Maj Gen (Ret.) Kirk Vollmecke -
Senior Director, Cyber Mission Sector, Peraton
MG(R) Kirk F. Vollmecke specializes in defense acquisition and procurement management culminating in a 35-year Army career as the Program Executive Officer (PEO) for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors. As the PEO, Kirk was the senior executive responsible for the acquisition life-cycle and portfolio management of over 90 major defense programs with an annual spend budget of $3 billion. His product development and life-cycle management activities spanned aircraft survivability, biometrics, electronic warfare, offensive cyber, space, assured-position, navigation & timing (A-PNT), national intelligence systems, force protection, TENCAP, aerial intelligence surveillance platforms, and ground target acquisition sensors. MG(R) Vollmecke is highly skilled in strategic planning, program management, manufacturing/acquisition logistics, procurement, contract administration, business management, and security assistance. He has over 28-years of acquisition and cross-functional leadership assignments. Kirk is extremely versatile and possesses in-depth knowledge about federal/DOD contracting and the Government sector’s services. His strengths include creating strategic plans, enabling business process re-engineering, and implementing adaptable acquisition programs. He has cultivated strategic partnerships and relationships across the military as well as the broader Intelligence Community, Industry, and Congress. MG(R) Vollmecke ran the largest security assistance program in the Defense Department. As the Deputy Commanding General for the Combined Security Transition Command- Afghanistan (CSTC-A), he focused on requirements development, inter-agency procurement and logistics coordination, and NATO trust project management activities in efforts to improve, train, and support the Afghanistan National Defense Forces. Prior to his Afghanistan deployment, Kirk’s portfolio and systems management expertise was proven as the Deputy for Systems Management working for the Army’s Acquisition Executive. He tackled troubled programs and modernization strategies across various sub-segments and oversaw major equipment procurements to fulfill wartime requirements in Iraq and Afghanistan. Before returning to the Washington DC, MG(R) Vollmecke was the Commanding General of the Mission and Installation Contracting Command. This buying command provided essential contracting solutions and contract administrative services to all Army commands and installations across the Continental U.S. MG(R) Vollmecke as a newly promotable Brigadier General helped to manage the Army’s $120 billion procurement system providing global, wartime, and international procurement support. Before returning to the Army’s secretariat, Kirk served on the Joint Staff as the J-8 Capabilities and Acquisition Division Chief and prior to that assignment as the Commander, Defense Contract Management Agency Iraq/Afghanistan providing contract administrative services directly supporting operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Kirk has had other program and contract management assignments spanning product development, manufacturing and global sustainment and held a number of positions overseeing classified and sensitive programs. MG(R) Vollmecke is a member of the NACD and completed Corporate Board of Directors training. Kirk graduated from Centre College of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Management and English. He is a 2015 Distinguished Alumnus and member of the President’s Advisory Council. He has a Master of Science in Management from the Naval Postgraduate School with his concentration in Systems Management and Acquisition. In addition, MG(R) Vollmecke has a Master of Science in Defense Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. Kirk is a Certified Professional Contract Manager (CPCM) and Project Management Professional (PMP) as well as a member of the National Contract Management Association and Program Management Institute respectively. Kirk has completed the Executive Program Manager course as well as being DOD Level 3 certified in the Program and Contract Management fields.
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1:00pm - 1:05pm EST
Welcome & Opening Remarks
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1:05pm - 1:45pm EST
Keynote Speaker: LTG Maria Gervais
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1:45pm - 2:45pm EST
Panel
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2:45pm - 2:50pm EST
Closing Comments
