Homeland Security Forum
February 7th, 2023 9:00am-11:00am EST Virtual, ON24
As the global geopolitical and technological landscapes change, the United States continues to face new and emerging threats to homeland security. The U.S. government’s Department of Homeland Security is tasked with hardening security for threats on the horizon, enabling the nation to withstand attacks and ensuring the country’s ability to rapidly recover. The scope of DHS’ mission encompasses everything from natural disasters to counterterrorism and now even to cybersecurity, as the agency works to advance American prosperity and economic security.
Join the most influential leaders in homeland security at ExecutiveBiz’s Homeland Security Forum. This event gathers prominent public and private sector executives to discuss the foremost challenges and opportunities facing the nation today as DHS continues to procure new technologies and capabilities and instill a culture of relentless resilience across the U.S.
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Mark Borkowski -
Assistant Commissioner for the Office of Acquisition and Chief Acquisition Officer, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
Assistant Commissioner Mark S. Borkowski leads the new Office of Acquisition, created within CBP in June, 2016. Borkowski’s office provides oversight for all CBP acquisitions and consists for three directorates: Acquisition Governance and Oversight, Acquisition Support and the Procurement Directorate. In addition, Borkowski serves as CBP's component acquisition executive, responsible for ensuring that the agency’s acquisition practices are cost effective, support mission requirements and are integrated across CBP as appropriate. Previously Borkowski was the assistant commissioner of the Office of Technology Innovation and Acquisition starting in July 2010. As such, Borkowski was responsible for ensuring that CBP’s technology efforts are properly coordinated and focused on meeting CBP’s complex border mission. Prior to this appointment, Borkowski served as CBP’s executive director of the Secure Border Initiative, where he oversaw the implementation of the Department of Homeland Security's efforts to develop enhanced situational awareness for frontline CBP personnel along the U.S. borders. Before leading the Secure Border Initiative, Borkowski served as executive director for mission support at headquarters for CBP’s Border Patrol. In this role, he supported the chief of the Border Patrol in executing a $2 billion annual budget and in managing a total workforce in excess of 17,000 agents and support personnel. He oversaw functions of workforce management, labor and employee relations, finance, logistics, recruitment, training, facilities and tactical infrastructure. As a DHS Level III certified program manager, Borkowski provided expert advice and support to the Border Patrol on the technology program within the Secure Border Initiative called SBInet. He also directed an expedited organizational development efforts to redesign and transform the Border Patrol to respond to unprecedented growth in the organization driven by Presidential orders and Congressional appropriations. His division staff included 75 personnel assigned to six separate geographic locations. Prior to his appointment with the Border Patrol, Borkowski served as director for asset management in CBP's Office of Air and Marine. In that role, he oversaw acquisition and sustainment for CBP's aircraft and marine assets. Before joining CBP, Borkowski was program executive for the Robotic Lunar Exploration Program in the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate at NASA. In that role, he oversaw the development and operation of robotic missions to the moon as precursors to eventual human missions. He previously served as assistant deputy associate administrator for development programs in the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate. Borkowski assisted in overseeing the technology, development and acquisition programs to implement the President's Vision for Space Exploration. Also while at NASA, Borkowski served as program executive overseeing the Hubble Space Telescope Robotic Servicing and De-orbit Mission and as the coordinator for NASA's Exploration Transportation Strategic Roadmap. During his time at NASA, Borkowski was elected vice president of the international lunar exploration working group, a consortium of national space agencies and key commercial partners supporting initiatives for international collaboration in lunar exploration. Borkowski served more than 23 years on active duty in the U.S. Air Force, retiring in 2004 at the rank of colonel. His last assignment in the Air Force was as system program director for the Space Based Infrared Systems program office. In that capacity, he oversaw satellite programs worth more than $40 billion. Borkowski earned a master's degree in astronautical engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology as well as a master's in national resource strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He also has undergraduate degrees in aeronautical engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology and in mathematics from the State University of New York at Albany. Borkowski has certification from both the Department of Defense and DHS at the highest level for acquisition management. An accomplished public speaker, Borkowski has represented the Air Force, NASA and CBP before international conferences, academic and professional symposia, Congressional hearings and with the news media. He has won numerous awards, including the Air Force Association, Lieutenant General John W. O'Neill Outstanding System Program Director Award; the Company Grade Officer of the Year and the Manager of the Year Awards from the Air Force Rocket Propulsion Laboratory; the Air Force Systems Command nominations for the "Ten Outstanding Young Americans" award, several military medals and decorations and civil service performance awards. Borkowski is a native of Rochester, New York. He is married to the former Stephanie Miller of Lancaster, California. The Borkowski’s have three daughters.
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Paul Courtney -
Chief Procurement Officer, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Paul Courtney was appointed as the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) on August 15, 2021. In his capacity as the Senior Procurement Executive, Mr. Courtney is responsible for the management direction of the acquisition system of DHS, including implementation of the unique acquisition policies, regulations, and standards of the agency. He oversees the work of ten Heads of Contracting Activity that provide operational procurement services to DHS components, directorates, and offices. Mr. Courtney joined DHS as the agency’s Deputy CPO in June, 2019. Mr. Courtney was a member of the Senior Executive Service from 2013 to 2019 with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and served as Head of Contracting Activity and Procurement Executive. In this role, Mr. Courtney led the FBI's contracting officers, and the FBI's acquisition of approximately $4 billion in goods and services. He ensured the FBI's law enforcement and national security mission was accomplished efficiently and effectively. During his FBI tenure, he led an acquisition business transformation effort which established a category management structure and numerous enterprise contracts. The effort eliminated the lowest price technically accepted contracting method for services, standardized business processes, and created one way of doing business with the FBI. Mr. Courtney served as the Defense Intelligence Agency’s (DIA) Senior Expert for Contracting, and the Deputy Head of the Contracting Activity from 2007 to 2013. In his role at DIA, he was responsible for planning, managing, directing, and accomplishing the complete DIA procurement program, and its mission to provide timely intelligence to the warfighter. Mr. Courtney began his career in contracting as a contract specialist trainee in the Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). During his time at the BOP, he held positions of increasing responsibility, including overseeing the contracting offices responsible for a multi-billion dollar construction program and a multi-billion dollar private prison program.
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John Dvorak -
Chief Technology Officer, North America Public Sector, Red Hat
John Dvorak is Chief Technology Officer for the North America Public Sector at Red Hat. He leads a team of experienced Chief Architects and open source thought leaders who focus on the diverse mission requirements of Federal, State, Local, and Education customers. His team helps to shape and communicate the Red Hat technology vision; co-innovates with customers, partners, and associates; and advocates for Public Sector interests within Red Hat and Open Source communities. Dvorak has spent over 25 years as a technology leader in the Federal Government and industry. He is a former FBI Senior Executive who led efforts in data analytics, enterprise engineering, and software development within the law enforcement and intelligence communities. He began his civil service at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where he oversaw network engineering and drove several cybersecurity modernization efforts. Prior to joining Red Hat, he served in Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) roles within the systems integrator community, maintaining a focus on government mission requirements. He maintains active participation in multiple industry and government cooperative forums.
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Lester Ingol -
Deputy Chief Procurement Officer & Chief Security Officer (Acting), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Mr. Lester L. Ingol is the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Deputy Chief Component Procurement Officer. He was selected for this position in May 2020. Mr. Ingol is responsible for assisting the FEMA Chief Component Procurement Officer with providing leadership for the implementation of FEMA’s acquisition and contracting policies and procedures with the goal of timely development, procurement, and deployment of complex acquisition solutions and programs management systems for the FEAM mission while managing the agency’s spend of $2B a year and an average $5B during extensive calamitous hurricane seasons. Mr. Ingol also serves as the FEMA Director of Acquisition Operations Division, and the Chief of the Contracting Office which he was selected for in May 2018. Mr. Ingol is responsible for providing a full range of acquisition services and business solutions to all FEMA programs, partners, and stakeholders. He leads the oversight of procurement of all mission essential assets, supplies and services, construction, Architect and Engineering, and business advising and solutions development. Mr. Ingol also served as the FEMA National Response Coordination Center’s Resource Support Section Chief during the 2017 and 2018 Hurricane Seasons where he was responsible for national level emergency response and providing the affected Regions with supplies, equipment, people, facilities, and services necessary to respond to Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. Previously, Mr. Ingol served as the FEMA Deputy Director for Preparedness and Internal Operations, within the Office of the Chief Procurement Officer responsible for the procurement of the Agency’s Information Technology, Federal Insurance Mitigation Administration requirements, Preparedness and Continuity requirements, and all mission support functions. Mr. Ingol has also served as the Branch Chief for Recovery acquisitions where he managed the procurement activities for FEMA recovery during disasters spanning from 2010 to 2015 to include Hurricane Sandy, the tornadoes in Joplin, Missouri, Alabama, and he played an integral role in the development of the Catastrophic Housing Annex to Federal Interagency Operational Hurricane Plan. Prior to his appointment as the Branch Chief for Recovery, Mr. Ingol served as the FEMA Branch Chief for Support Services, Deputy Branch Chief for Mitigations and as the Acquisition Chief for FEMA’s Louisianan Recovery Office following Hurricane Katrina. Prior to his tenure with FEMA, Mr. Ingol began his acquisition career as a Logistician while serving on active duty in the US Marine Corps where he served for 10 years. Following his service to our country he became a Contracting Officer for the Department of the Army, Intelligence and Security Command where he held positions of increasing responsibility primarily supporting the Army’s Linguist program where he was a member of the team that implemented the contracts in support of linguistic services in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and the Army’s linguist training centers. He was awarded the Army’s Civilian Commendation Medal for his work. Mr. Ingol holds a Master of Arts in Management and Leadership from Webster University’s George Herbert Walker School of Business and Technology; and a Bachelor of Science in Management from Park University. Mr. Ingol has also attended The Brookings Institution Executive Leadership program.
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Keith O'Neill -
Senior Procurement Executive and Head of Contracting Activity, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)
Keith J. O’Neill currently serves as the Head of Contracting Activity (HCA) for the United States Coast Guard. In this capacity, he has responsibility for all contracting functions within the agency, including functional responsibility for over 500 civilian and military personnel throughout the United States and abroad. The U.S. Coast Guard spends approximately $3.5 billion each year through more than 40,000 procurement transactions. Mr. O’Neill has more than 25 years of accomplished acquisition experience with expertise in the areas of contract operations, procurement policy, small business advocacy and leadership. Prior to his current position, Mr. O’Neill served as the HCA and Associate Director at the Department of the Interior (DOI), Interior Business Center Acquisition Services Directorate (AQD), a non-appropriated assisted acquisition office that supports over 35 federal agencies. As the HCA, Mr. O’Neill oversaw an organization of 200 federal employees in multiple locations that executed over 9,000 actions, obligated over $2 billion, and generated over $65 million in revenue annually. Additionally, Mr. O’Neill was the Chief of the Procurement Policy and Oversight Division (CG-9131) at the U.S. Coast Guard where he was responsible for oversight of acquisition plans, competition and small business advocacy, cost and pricing, internal controls and oversight, purchase card management and liaison to, at the time, 48 contracting offices. In past positions, he helped establish the contracting and procurement office at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) as the Senior Contracting Officer and then as both the Chief of the Acquisition Division and HCA. In addition, Mr. O’Neill served as a Contract Specialist, Contracting Officer and Senior Procurement Policy Analyst within the Department of Transportation (DOT), where he assisted with major acquisitions and served as competitive sourcing coordinator. Finally, Mr. O’Neill served as an Economist and Market Analyst with the United States Postal Service (USPS). Mr. O’Neill holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics from George Mason University (GMU) and a Master of Business Administration Degree from George Washington University (GWU). He maintains a Level 3 Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting.
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David Patrick -
Chief Acquisition Executive, U.S. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
David Patrick is the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Chief Acquisition Executive (CAE). As CISA’s CAE, he provides management and oversight for all acquisition and procurement functions of CISA consistent with the missions of the agency, applicable laws, regulations, principles, and standards. David is leading the realignment of CISA acquisition and procurement activities and the transformation of the Office of the Chief Acquisition Executive (OCAE). Prior to joining CISA, David served as the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Deputy Assistant Director (DAD) of the Office of Investment and Program Accountability (OIPA) and Deputy CAE. In this role, he oversaw all aspects of ICE’s $4.4 billion acquisition program portfolio, including acquisition policy, support & governance, acquisition workforce development, and data/reporting activities. Additionally, while at ICE David served in an acting capacity as ICE’s CAE and ICE Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans’ (SPP) Deputy Assistant Director. From 2010 to 2017, David served in multiple leadership positions within the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of Program Accountability and Risk Management (PARM), including as Director of Acquisition Operations and Director of Policy and Governance. In these roles, he led and oversaw acquisition program governance of the Department’s $18 billion portfolio of major acquisition programs, development of DHS’ major acquisition and systems engineering policies, acquisition program management training requirements, and acquisition reporting activities including coordination with Congressional and Government Accountability Office (GAO) overseers. Before his role at PARM, David served as a Program Manager at US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), leading two DHS major acquisition programs; the Border Patrol Facilities Program ($6.8 billion) and the Mobile Assets Program ($1.25 billion). Before joining DHS in 2007, he served as a Project Manager, Risk Manager, and Requirements Manager for IT programs at the US Census Bureau. From 2000 to 2004, David was a Banking/I.T. Consultant for ISECON-AG in Pfaffenhofen, Germany. Additionally, from 1995 to 2000, David served in the US Air Force Reserves as Combat Arms Training and Maintenance (CATM) Instructor. David holds DHS (Level III) and FAC P/PM (Senior-level) Program Manager certifications, FAC-COR (Senior-level) certification, and is a Project Management Institute (PMI) certified Project Management Professional (PMP). He has a BA from the University of Georgia and an MBA from the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management, Université Libre de Bruxelles in Brussels, Belgium. Additionally, he is a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government’s Senior Executive Fellows Program.
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Cathy Smith -
Director, Office of Selective Acquisitions (Acting), U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Cathy Smith currently serves as the Deputy Director, Office of Selective Acquisitions (OSA) within the Office of the Chief Procurement Officer (OCPO) for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In this role she manages the execution of classified and sensitive procurements for several DHS headquarters and component customers. Ms. Smith provides comprehensive leadership, oversight and leverages acquisition best practices from her partners in the Intelligence Communities (IC), and uses available tools and processes to make OSA a cutting-edge organization. Ms. Smith began her acquisition career in 1996 for the Department of Army and has since assumed various roles with increasing levels of responsibility. As a Contracting Officer for Department of Army, she focused on primarily executing transportation and information technology procurements, from buying containers and shipping goods to support our warfighters and peacekeeping operations to radio frequency technology. In February 2013, she joined the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency as a Supervisory Contracting Officer where she supported several high-level procurements for her intelligence customers and stakeholders. In August 2015, Ms. Smith was hired to serve as OSA’s new Policy and Oversight Director with background knowledge of executing classified contract requirements. In this capacity, she has executed classified policies and guidance for classified and sensitive but unclassified acquisitions on behalf of DHS OCPO/OSA. By April 2017, she was selected as its Deputy Director. Since her arrival at DHS, Ms. Smith has participated in multiple briefings with Congressional staffers, enhanced OSA’s interaction with its IC partners and has developed and maintained interagency alliances across the Department. Ms. Smith earned a Master’s degree in Business Administration with concentration in Acquisition and Procurement from Strayer University.
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9:00am - 9:05am EST
Welcome & Opening Remarks
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9:05am - 9:45am EST
Keynote Address: Paul Courtney
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9:45am - 10:45am EST
Panel
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10:45am - 10:50am EST
Closing Comments
