NIST

Martin Stanley is an AI and cybersecurity researcher at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), where he helps advance the adoption of the NIST Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Framework. Previously, he served as head of R&D at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and as cybersecurity director at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Stanley is a frequent contributor to federal AI and cybersecurity initiatives and has co-authored key NIST guidance on generative AI, secure software development, and AI risk management, as well as the Oxford University Press book Digital Health.

CMU

Dr. Mark DeSantis is the CEO and cofounder of Musing AI, an AI service designed to help seniors manage everyday tasks. He is a serial entrepreneur who has founded and led several AI and technology companies, including Bloomfield, RoadBotics, kWantera, and Think Through Learning, with multiple successful acquisitions by Kubota, Michelin, and Imagine Learning. In addition to his entrepreneurial career, DeSantis has held leadership roles in venture capital, management consulting, and U.S. science and technology policy. He is an adjunct professor of entrepreneurship at Carnegie Mellon University, an advisor to several investment firms, and coauthor of Practical AI: Building and Using AI in the Real World.

CMU

Dr. Phillip Yu is the executive director of Carnegie Mellon University's master's programs in Engineering and Public Policy (EPP) and Engineering & Technology Innovation Management (ETIM), and an associate teaching professor. Before joining CMU, he spent more than 30 years at PPG Industries, where he led global science and technology initiatives focused on innovation, R&D strategy, workforce development, government partnerships, and analytical operations. Yu helped commercialize multiple advanced materials and technologies, holds eight patents, and has authored 10 professional publications. He has also served on university advisory boards and as a peer reviewer for the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation, supporting technology commercialization and industry-academic collaboration.

VT

William "Chris" Headley is the interim director of the Spectrum Dominance Division at the Virginia Tech National Security Institute and a research associate professor. His research focuses on spectrum sensing, machine learning, and digital signal processing, with expertise in applying advanced signal processing techniques to national security challenges. Before serving as interim director, he held research associate and research scientist positions at the Hume Center. Headley earned his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering from Virginia Tech..

VT

Stephen Adams is a Research Associate Professor and the Assistant Director of the Intelligent Systems Division in the Virginia Tech National Security Institute.  He received a M.S. in Statistics from the University of Virginia (UVA) in 2010 and a Ph.D. from UVA in Systems Engineering in December of 2015.  His research focuses on applications of machine learning and artificial intelligence in real-world systems.  He has experience developing and implementing numerous types of machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms.  His research interests include feature selection, machine learning with cost, transfer learning, reinforcement learning, inverse reinforcement learning, anomaly detection, explainable AI, and probabilistic modeling of systems.  His research has been applied to several domains including fraud detection, activity recognition, prognostics and health management, cyber-physical systems, psychology, cybersecurity, internet-of-things devices, and sports analytics. 

FEDERAL AI ACCELERATOR

Sal D’Itri is the Chairman of the National Spectrum Consortium (NSC), where he expanded the organization to over 400 member companies and secured more than $2 billion in OTA contract awards." He is Founder of Grace Innovations, a technology advisory firm. He has served as a board member for the Wireless Innovation Forum and as an appointee to the Information Technology Advisory Commission for Arlington County, Virginia.

FEDERAL AI ACCELERATOR

Paul Battaglia has more than 30 years of experience as a senior level executive in Federal enterprise software sales, management, and marketing. Paul has served as the CEO of two venture-backed firms, and he has held leadership positions with Oracle, Salesforce, and Blackberry. He is passionate about execution, delivery, and expansion. He has published numerous articles related to technology in government, appeared on television and radio, and has served on Corporate Advisory Boards.