Co-sponsored by AFCEA International

Dentons Silicon Valley Office

1530 Page Mill Road
Suite 200
Palo Alto, CA 94304
Map & Additional Information

The United States Department of Defense (DOD) recently launched a priority initiative to convince Silicon Valley companies to bring their innovations in software and technology to DOD. The Secretary of Defense, Ash Carter, and his chief deputies have been travelling the Valley promoting their initiative. This includes the formation of the new "Defense Innovation Unit Experimental" at Moffett Field in Mountain View to serve as a collaboration point for local companies to partner with and sell to DOD. What are the opportunities for Silicon Valley companies in engaging DOD and the US intelligence community? What are the risks? Our half-day program will explore these key issues and more in the following panel discussions:

Panel I: DOD's innovation initiative: Background, opportunities and risks

Spotlight Defense Innovation Unit Experimental (DIUx), including a brief history of DOD's relationship with Silicon Valley, a discussion of In-Q-Tel and lessons learned, a focus on the policies and motives driving DOD's reenergized interest in engaging Silicon Valley technology companies and the key contract issues companies must understand before doing business with DIUx and other DOD components.

George Duchak, Director, Defense Innovation Unit Experimental

Major General (Retired) Tim Haake, Senior Advisor, Public Policy and Regulation Practice, Dentons US LLP (Former Deputy Commander, Mobilization and Reserve Affairs, US Special Operations Command)

Thomas Benjamin, Senior VP & COO, ANSER (Former Deputy GC, Central Intelligence Agency and former key member of In-Q-Tel)

Chris Fetzer, Senior Advisor, Public Policy and Regulation Practice, Dentons US LLP (Former defense aide to Sen. Elizabeth Dole)

Panel II: Priority areas for DOD and US intelligence community investment and acquisition

Explain DOD (including Special Operations and other components) and intelligence community near- and long-term technology and innovation investment and acquisition priorities, and educate attendees about a diverse range of opportunities to collaborate on R&D and do business with DOD and the US intelligence community.

Peter Newell, BMNT Partners, Palo Alto (Former Director, US Army Rapid Equipping Force)

James Waters, Vice President, Compass Partners (Former Navy SEAL officer and White House aide)

Kevin Hulbert, President, XK Group and Senior Advisor, Dentons US LLP (Cyber, Intelligence and Counter-Terrorism expert)

Mike McNerney, Senior Consultant, Delta Risk (Former USAF officer and Cyber Policy Advisor, Office of the Secretary of Defense)

Panel III: After the innovation: Key issues in the business planning, sale and acquisition of government contractors

Examine the key issues that emerging and middle-market companies that sell to DOD, the intelligence community or civilian government agencies need to consider in creating their business plans and preparing to go to market for financing or sale, as well as for the acquisition of government contractors.

Trevor Bohn, Managing Director, Aerospace and Defense Investment Banking Group, Salem Partners

Paul Conley, PhD, Managing Director, Silicon Valley Office, Paladin Capital Group

We hope you can join us for this lively and interactive session, and for the keynote lunch, delivered by Christopher Finan, CEO and Co-Founder of Manifold Technology and former White House Director of Cybersecurity Legislation and Policy, following the panel discussions. Opening remarks will be given by Stafford Matthews, Managing Partner of the Dentons Silicon Valley office, and Lieutenant General (Ret) Bob Wood, Executive VP of AFCEA International.