Board of Regents

Jerry Akerson is a Sales Tech Fellow responsible for expanding Jacobs’ long-standing relationships with the U.S. Air Force, NASA, and other aerospace customers. Before joining business development, Jerry served as the Technical Director of the Jacobs Engineering and Technology Acquisition Support Services (ETASS) Group, located at Hanscom AFB, MA. In this role, he was responsible for the integration of the customer’s technical vision with the overall ETASS program execution across the Air Force’s command and control, communication and computer network, and business enterprise system portfolios. Jerry also served as a senior engineer and radar analyst supporting Foreign Military Exploitation activities for Project Chicken Little on the Jacobs Technical and Engineering Acquisition Support (TEAS) contract at Eglin AFB, FL.

Jerry retired from the U.S. Air Force after serving a distinguished 21-year career on active duty. In his last assignment, Jerry was the Director of Test Support and Assistant Director of Operations for the 28th Test Squadron at Eglin AFB. In that role, he was responsible for leading the organization’s implementation of Design of Experiments as the test strategy of choice. In other assignments, Jerry led the Air Force Academy Math Department’s largest division and managed a $1B communications acquisition program. He also supported the Space Shuttle program and other space operations.

Jerry received his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of California at Davis, and his Master of Science and Doctorate degrees, both in Electrical Engineering, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Richard G. Allen leads the Strategic Systems business unit comprised of 1200+ BAE Systems Team members operating under 6 divisions at 14 locations across the country. He oversees the technical delivery and financial performance of a portfolio valued at $1.2 billion comprised of engineering services and O&M contracts. As the Program Manager for the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Systems Directorates’ (ICBMSDs) Integration Support Contract, he directs systems engineering and joint mission support for the Minuteman III ICBM weapon system and its successor – the Sentinel (previously Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD).

With more than three decades of leadership, Mr. Allen has garnered extensive experience in program management, requirements development, acquisitions, maintenance, sustainment, and modernization of ICBMs and other nuclear weapon systems. Mr. Allen served 24 years in the United States Air Force as a missile launch officer, staff officer, and missile and munitions maintenance officer with assignments across the United States and internationally. Before joining BAE Systems in 2015, Mr. Allen was a senior military operations analyst supporting the ICBM Futures Division by developing analytical capabilities supporting GBSD acquisition and product support programs.

A native of Conroe, Texas, Mr. Allen holds a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering Technology from Texas A&M University, and a Masters of Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle University. He and his wife, Della, have four children.

Mike Beltrani is the Vice President of the Strategic Mission Systems business area within the Maritime & Strategic Systems business. Strategic Systems provides strategic warfare systems solutions to the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force.

Mr. Beltrani oversees and manages the execution of multi-discipline design and production teams for the launch control system of submarine launched nuclear ballistic missiles. Mr. Beltrani’s portfolio also includes weapon system security solutions, guidance, navigation and electronic systems production and repair, and high assurance communications. Similar work is performed for the United States Air Force Intercontinental Ballistic Missile strategic deterrent. Mr. Beltrani provides leadership for more than 1200 employees across a variety of programs., manufacturing, and field personal. Prior to this role, Mr. Beltrani lead Strategy and Business Development for the Strategic Mission Systems business area and was the Segment Director for Nuclear Weapon Security.

Prior to joining General Dynamics Mission Systems, Mr. Beltrani was Vice President of Business Development at L3Harris Reconnaissance Mission Systems Sector, responsible for the growth of the ISR business. Before joining L3Harris, Mike held Program Management and Business Development executive leadership roles at Telephonics and BAE Systems. Prior to joining industry, Mike served in the Air Force for seven years, with his last role in Program Management.

Mr. Beltrani received his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Assumption University and holds a Master of Business Administration from Western New England University. He received Project Management Institute’s Program Management Professional (PMP) certification in 2005, was a graduate of BAE Systems LEAD program in 2006 and received Stanford University’s Advanced Project Management Certificate in 2009.

Vice Admiral Terry Benedict, USN, Ret., is President of Systems Planning and Analysis (SPA), Inc. Since completing his Navy career, Vice Admiral (Ret.) Benedict served as Chief Operating Officer of Blue Origin and Operations Manager for the Nuclear Security and Operations Group at Bechtel. He also served on SPA’s Board of Directors from 2019¬–2021.

Vice Admiral (Ret.) Benedict was associated with the Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs for thirty years, where he held ten different positions, ultimately serving as the Program’s Director for eight years (2010-2018). Before assuming command of Strategic Systems Programs, Vice Admiral (Ret.) Benedict served as Program Executive Officer for Integrated Warfare Systems, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy.

Vice Admiral Benedict graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science Degree. He also holds a Master of Science in Engineering Science from the Naval Postgraduate School and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. He is a graduate of the Advanced Program Management course at the Defense Acquisition University and the Executive Leadership Course at Carnegie Mellon. Vice Admiral Benedict serves on the Board of Directors at Draper Laboratories, the Board of Advisors of X-Bow, Livermore Laboratory’s External Advisory Board and is a member of the STRATCOM Senior Advisory Group, Stockpile Assessment team.

General Elder joined the George Mason University faculty as a research professor with the Volgenau School of Engineering following his retirement from military service as the Commander of 8th Air Force and U.S. Strategic Command’s Global Strike Component. He currently conducts research in the areas of command and control, assured communications, strategic stability and deterrence, competition-cooperation management, and international actor decision-making. General Elder served as the Central Command Air Forces Deputy Commander for Operation Enduring Freedom, Air Operations Center Commander and Deputy Air Component Commander for Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Commandant of the Air War College. He was the first commander of Air Force Network Operations and led the development of the cyberspace mission for the Air Force. He received his Doctorate in Engineering from the University of Detroit.

Dr. Chris Ferrero is Associate Professor of Intelligence and Security Studies at Coastal Carolina University in South Carolina. He earned his PhD in Foreign Affairs at the University of Virginia in 2011. Prior to joining the academy, he worked on deterrence and nonproliferation issues for the Departments of State and Defense. Dr. Ferrero is a member of the United States Strategic Command's Academic Alliance. His current research focuses on nuclear norms and ethics.

As President of Mission Support and Test Services LLC (MSTS), Garrett Harencak provides leadership and management direction for the effective and efficient execution of operations at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) and leads development of a visionary and executable strategic plan. Prior to joining MSTS in 2022, Harencak was the Vice President of Strategic Defense Programs and Deputy Program Manager of the Missile Defense Agency Integrated Research and Development for Enterprise Solutions contract at Jacobs Engineering. Before joining Jacobs, Harencak served in the U.S. Air Force for more than 39 years and rose to the rank of Major General.

Harencak holds a bachelor’s degree in humanities from the U.S. Air Force Academy, a master’s degree in management from Abilene Christian University, and a master’s degree in national security studies from the Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base. He is an Adjunct Professor of Nuclear Deterrence and Assurance for the Air Force Nuclear College at the Air Force Institute of Technology and a member of the Board of Regents, Strategic Deterrent Coalition, Washington, D.C.

Dr. Sarah Hiza is the Vice President and General Manager of the Strategic and Missile Defense line of business at Lockheed Martin Space. In this role, she is responsible for over 6,500 employees across 18 U.S. and U.K. sites supporting a broad portfolio of programs in strategic deterrence, missile defense and hypersonic strike. She also leads the Lockheed Martin Corporate Executive Steering Committee for hypersonic strike. Sarah’s technical expertise includes work in polymers and energetic materials, including explosives and rocket propellants, chemistry and missile hardware/subsystems. She brings tenacity, ownership, and people-focused leadership with a focus on execution excellence, customer partnerships, and risk management to programs ranging from developmental, low-rate production to highly mature, complex defense systems.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), and a doctorate degree in polymer science from The University of Akron. She has one patent, has authored eight national publications and has been highlighted in national media. Sarah has a passion for cultivating an inclusive work environment, and she encourages the next generation of leaders to think about how their decisions impact their place of businesses, their co-workers, the community and the world around them.

Stacy Kubicek is the Vice President and General Manager for the Mission Solutions line of business within Lockheed Martin Space. In this role, she is responsible for approximately 4,600 employees and a multi-billion-dollar portfolio focused on delivering and operating mission critical hardware and software solutions for government defense and intelligence agencies, as well as commercial and international customers. She provides end-to-end thought leadership for the business and is growing key capabilities in areas such as 5G from Space, Cyber, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning (AI/ML), and Joint All Domain Operations (JADO). Originally from Lincoln, Nebraska, Kubicek began her career with Lockheed Martin in northern Virginia as a Software Engineer. She holds a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from the University of Arizona and an MBA with a concentration in Information Technology from the University of Denver.

General John Michael Loh culminated his thirty five year Air Force career in July 1995. He served as the Air Force Vice Chief of Staff in 1990-91 during the first Gulf war. He then served as commander of Tactical Air Command in 1991-92, and the first commander of Air Combat Command from 1992-95. He also served as commander of Aeronautical Systems Center in 1988-90 responsible for directing the research, development and acquisition of all Air Force aircraft and aircraft systems. General Loh spent his active duty career in both the combat operations mission area flying primarily fighter aircraft, and in the operational requirements, development and acquisition mission areas of the Air Force. General Loh was an experienced fighter pilot with more than 4,300 flying hours and 200 combat missions in the F-4 Phantom in the Vietnam War.

General Loh has served on the National Security Advisory Panel of the Sandia National Laboratory dealing with nuclear weapons matters, strategic and extended deterrence, and nuclear non-proliferation. Currently, General Loh is the President of the consulting company he founded in 1995, JML & Associates Inc., serving as consultants to the senior management of leading aerospace and defense corporations, and the Air Force.

He is a Founding Director of the Air Force Academy Endowment, and serves as a trustee of the Air Force Academy Falcon Foundation. He is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, Class of 1960, and earned a master’s degree in Aeronautics from MIT in 1973. He is also a graduate of the Air War College, Class of 1978.

Chris McCarthy currently serves as Textron Systems’ Vice President, Global Military Sales & Strategy (GMSS). In this role, he leads a team responsible for identifying, developing and capturing new domestic and international business opportunities for the company’s Air, Land, Sea and Weapon Systems business lines. Products, programs and capability areas include unmanned systems, next generation armored vehicles, anti-armor munitions and future reentry and hypersonic vehicles.

Prior to his current role, Chris served in various Business Development roles at Textron Systems and Northrop Grumman, most recently leading Textron’s Strategic Systems Sales & Strategy team supporting work on USAF LGM-35A Sentinel, high-temperature materials for reentry and hypersonic applications, US Army Area Denial and Area Effects capabilities, and kinetic/non-kinetic payload development for multiple DoD weapon systems.

Chris served over 21 years as a US Air Force officer and fighter pilot, including significant experience in Defense Department budgeting and acquisition processes, aircraft and weapons system test and evaluation, and international political-military affairs. He commanded an Air Force Operational Test & Evaluation squadron and is a Command Pilot with over 2,000 flight hours in the F-15C.

Chris holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the US Air Force Academy, a Master of Science in Management from Troy State University, and a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the US Naval War College.

Admiral Mies completed a distinguished 35-year career in the US Navy. He commanded US Strategic Command for four years prior to retirement. As Commander in Chief, he was directly responsible for the command and control of the Nation’s strategic nuclear forces supporting the national security objective of strategic deterrence. A distinguished scholar and athlete, he graduated first in his class with highest honors from the U. S. Naval Academy. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree with majors in mechanical engineering and mathematics. An intercollegiate wrestling champion and an all-conference lightweight football player, he was awarded the Thompson Trophy for contributing the most to the promotion of athletics at the Naval Academy. He has completed post-graduate education at Oxford University, England, the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, and Harvard University. He holds a Masters degree in government administration and international relations; he also holds an Honorary Doctorate of Law degree from the University of Nebraska and was honored as a Distinguished Graduate of the Naval Academy. His professional education includes the Flag Officers’ Capstone course, the program for Senior Executives in National and International Security at Harvard University, and the Joint Flag Officer Warfighting course.

Following retirement from the Navy, Admiral Mies served as a Senior Vice President and Deputy Group President of Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) and as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Hicks and Associates, Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of SAIC. He presently serves as the CEO and President of The Mies Group, LTD. Admiral Mies served as the Chairman of the Department of Defense Threat Reduction Advisory Committee from 2004-2010 and Chairman of the Boards of the Navy Mutual Aid Association from 2003-2011 and the Naval Submarine League from 2007-2016. He presently serves as the Chairman of the Strategic Advisory Group for US Strategic Command, Vice Chairman of the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board, and is a member of the Committee on International Security and Arms Control of the National Academy of Sciences, the Board of Governors of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and the Board of Directors of Exelon Corporation, the US Naval Academy Foundation, and the US Naval Institute. He also serves on numerous other advisory boards.

Tim Morrison is Senior Director of Space, Intelligence, and Missile Defense for Government Operations. In this role, he leads Government Operations activities supporting the Vice President and General Manager of Boeing’s Missile and Weapon Systems businesses and the program managers of the various individual business focuses.

Previously, Tim was Deputy Assistant to the President for national security in the Trump administration. He served as Senior Director on the National Security Council for European affairs, where he was responsible for coordinating U.S. government policy for 52 countries and three multilateral organizations. Prior to that post, he was Senior Director for Counterproliferation and Biodefense, where he coordinated U.S. government policy on arms control, North Korean and Iranian weapons of mass destruction programs, export controls and technology transfers, and implementation of the Conventional Arms Transfer policy.

For 17 years, Tim worked in a variety of roles on Capitol Hill. From 2011 through July 2018, he served on the House Armed Services Committee staff, initially as Staff Lead of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces and ultimately as Policy Director of the Committee. As Staff Lead of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, he oversaw a more than $30 billion portfolio of missile defense, DOD and DOE nuclear weapons programs, and national security space programs.

As Policy Director, Mr. Morrison led implementation of the Chairman’s priorities, including overseeing implementation of the National Security Strategy and National Defense Strategy. From 2007 until 2011, Tim was the National Security Advisor to U.S. Senator Jon Kyl (AZ), the Senate Republican Whip, where he assisted in coordinating national security policy and strategy for the Senate Republican Conference and led policy initiatives on nuclear weapons, arms control, export controls, and economic sanctions.

Tim has a B.A. in political science and history from the University of Minnesota. He also has a J.D. from the George Washington University Law School. He was an intelligence officer in the United States Navy Reserve between 2011 and 2021. Tim is also a senior fellow at Hudson Institute, specializing in Asia-Pacific security, missile defense, nuclear deterrent modernization, and arms control. He currently serves on the U.S. Strategic Command Strategic Advisory Group; the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Expert Review Committees for the Weapons and Complex Integration Directorate; and the Sandia National Laboratory External Advisory Board for Global Security.

Scott Pingsterhaus leads Business Development for the Training & Mission Solutions based in Richardson, Texas. In this role, Pingsterhaus is responsible for leading the portfolio’s marketing and sales organization. Training & Mission Solutions is a major segment of the company’s Mission Systems business, including Simulation and Training, Mission Solutions such as Strategic Command and Control, Unmanned Air Systems, Joint Fires/Electronic Warfare Solutions, Thermal and Electronics Systems, and Ejection Seats and associated Propulsion Solutions. Previously, Pingsterhaus served as Director of Strategic Command and Control (C2) programs. In this position, he was responsible for the company’s business delivering mission systems in the areas of Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3), VLF/LF based solutions and senior leader communications including the company’s role for the E-6B platform.

Since joining the company in 1992, he has served in a variety of positions in strategy, program management, business development, and engineering in the company’s Government Systems and Commercial Systems businesses.

Pingsterhaus earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Electronics from Saint Louis University and a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Iowa. He also holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Texas at Dallas.

John Robinson is the Chief of Staff, Defense, Space and Security, Government Operations. In this role, he interfaces with the direct reports to the VP Defense, Space & Security and will coordinate all actions in support of the VP’s strategy regarding Boeing programs. He acts as the director for an organization of 28 employees that works collaboratively across Government Operations. This position requires knowledge, insight and thorough understanding of Boeing products, services and capabilities and how these may best be considered by the Department of the Defense. He also works hand in hand with Boeing legislative, third party, state and local, communications and international teammates. Prior to this role he was the Director of Air Force integration where he was responsible for aligning Boeing strategy with the customer’s needs and wants in the development of business campaigns and developing strategies and opportunities for new business with U.S. Government customers to include supporting international campaigns.

Prior to joining Boeing in August 2011, John served 26 years in the USAF. His last position was Division Chief for budget analysis and development at Headquarters Air Force, where he led multi-year budget planning for a $31.8 billion portfolio for thirty critical programs, which comprise the Air Force’s nuclear enterprise. He also served as the Vice Commander, 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. In that position, equivalent to a Chief Operating Officer, John led the training, maintenance and operations of the nation’s only Stealth Bomber wing. Earlier in his Air Force career, John served as Commander, 20th Bomb Squadron where he managed an Air Force B-52 squadron with an annual operating budget of $31 million and 370+ personnel.

John holds a BS in astronautical engineering from the United States Air Force Academy, an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a masters degree in national security strategy from the National War College.

Dr. Simonson is a physicist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), supporting the Weapons and Complex Integration Directorate and LLNL’s new Office of Defense Coordination. He has recently returned to Livermore following special assignment to Air Force headquarters in the Office of Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration in the Pentagon, where he worked on several strategic topics, including nuclear certification, hardening and survivability of Air Force platforms, as well as a broad collaboration in national security with the United Kingdom.

Prior to this duty he served as Special Scientific Advisor to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Matters. In this role he provided technical advice on issues pertaining to the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile. He was also responsible for developing a DoD science and technology plan for countering weapons of mass destruction worldwide. Dr. Simonson was also a liaison to the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and to partners in the United Kingdom. Prior to his service in the DoD, Dr. Simonson served as Chief Science Advisor in the Office of Defense Programs at the NNSA. He assisted the Deputy Administrator in directing the Stockpile Stewardship Program, which is responsible for maintaining the safety, security, and reliability of the Nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile at NNSA’s eight sites. Dr. Simonson also served as Science Advisor to the Commander of the Air Force District of Washington, at Andrews AFB. Employed at LLNL since 1983, he has experience in first principles calculations of nuclear weapons effects and he has led large programs in nonproliferation, counterproliferation, sensor system development, systems analysis and battlefield simulations.

He holds a Ph.D. from Yale University in astronomy and has various additional degrees in physics and music performance. Among other awards, he is the recipient of the Air Force Exemplary Civilian Service Medal and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He is the author of numerous publications in astronomy, nuclear weapons effects and high-power laser experiments.

D'Anne Spence joined Jacobs' Government Relations team in October 2022, supporting Jacobs' business development and program teams in defense, spaI nuclear, intelligence and cybersecurity. In this role, she advocates for Jacobs' legislative priorities in front of Congress, federal agencies, the White House, an the Defense industry, managing relationships with officials across the political spectrum. D'Anne brings more than 23 years of military service in numerous leadership and staff positions across the Service, Joint and Secretariat levels of two federal executive departments. D'Anne is involved in numerous organizations dedicated to the promotion of the United States defense programs. She serves on the Board of Directors for Military Benefit Association, a non-profit dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the economic welfare of veterans and their families. She sits on the Board of Directors for the Army Navy Country Club and serves as the Club Secretary. Additionally, she is a member of the Strategic Defense Coalition Board of Regents. D'Anne holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the United States Air Force Academy and a Master of Science in Chemistry from the University of Maryland. She also has a Master of Business Administration from the University of New Mexico and a Master of Military Operational Art and Science from Air University.

Vice Admiral Szemborski has served in Senior Strategic Planning and Financial Management positions both in and out of government including Vice President of Corporate Strategy for Northrop Grumman Corporation and Principal Deputy Director of Program Analysis and Evaluation for the Secretary of Defense. As Principal Deputy Director of Program Analysis and Evaluation for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Stan led the 150-person team known since the 1960s as “McNamara’s Whiz Kids.” In this role, he conducted critical analysis of alternative force structures, cost-effective weapons systems and operational readiness, and oversaw the entire $3 trillion Future Year Defense Plan. Known for integrity, evenhandedness and an ability to get things done, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld awarded Stan the Department of Defense Distinguished Service.

Stan served 36 years in the United States Navy, rising to the rank of Vice Admiral and received the Navy’s Distinguished Service Medal by the Chief of Naval Operations. He commanded the nuclear-powered submarines USS Chicago and USS Houston, and later as Commander of Submarine Squadron Four in Charleston, South Carolina, was responsible for 3,000 people and $15 billion in assets.

Stan remains engaged in the Navy and the affairs of his fellow seamen, serving on the board of the Navy Mutual Aid Association (NMAA), a nonprofit with more than $27 billion in insurance policies, and previously served on the board of the Naval Submarine League. He also previously served on the board of Austal, USA. Stan graduated with distinction from the United States Naval Academy and earned a Master of Science in electrical engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School.

Dr. Brooke Taylor is Founder and CEO of Defending Our Country (DOC), LLC and Vice President of Wargaming for SBCC. Dr. Taylor provides national security and foreign policy expertise from an extensive combined career in private industry, academia, and in service to both the legislative and executive branches of government. Dr. Taylor worked on Capitol Hill as a George Washington University Nuclear Security Fellow, where she led multi-billion dollar appropriations portfolios to include Defense, Energy and Water, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs; managed the Congressional Nuclear Security Working Group; and as Military Liaison Assistant to United States Strategic Command. Dr. Taylor is a former United States Congressional Candidate.

Dr. Taylor is an experienced defense sub-contractor working as principal investigator, project manager, and wargame creator developing Air Force Global Strike Command’s National Nuclear Strategy and Global Security Workshop for Practitioners. Dr. Taylor is distinguished faculty for Missouri State University Defense and Strategic Studies program. She presents and publishes on such topics as appearing in The Hill, Wild Blue Yonder, U.S. Marine Corps Press Forging Wargamers, and the United States Air Force Academy Space and Defense Journal among others. Dr. Taylor volunteers on several boards in service to her community and areas of interest and lives in northern Virginia.

Thomas leads an organization of approximately 600 employees in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, and Hill Air Force Base, Utah, who support the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) program (Minuteman III), Long Range Strike Option (next generation cruise missile), and Advanced Concept development (hypervelocity projectiles).

Ev previously served in the Air Force for more than 30 years and was responsible for overseeing ICBM development activities, operations and sustainment. His assignments included vice commander, Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, and commander, Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. He retired as a Vice President with Lockheed Martin.

He holds master’s degrees in national security strategy from the U.S. Naval War College and in industrial safety and business management from Central Missouri University, as well as a bachelor’s in environmental health from Mississippi Valley State University.

Scott A. Vander Hamm is a Vice President and Corporate Lead Executive for Northrop Grumman’s Midwest regional office based in Bellevue, NE, representing all sectors and respective business activities. He reports to Charlie Lyon, Vice President Air Force programs, Northrop Grumman Corporation Government Relations, Falls Church, VA. As Vice President, Government Programs and Corporate Lead Executive, Vander Hamm responds to and represents Northrop Grumman to our customer base, and to our peer industry partners/competitors, and all other smaller business leaders in the region. The region includes US Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, as well as Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale AFB, LA and other US Strategic Command components across the continental United States. Vander Hamm retired from the U.S. Air Force on December 1, 2017, after 32 years of service. His final assignment was Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations for Headquarters Air Force. He was promoted to major general in 2013. Scott earned degrees from Grand Canyon University in 1985 (B.A.), Northern Michigan University (M.A.), and Marine Corps University (M.S.). He attended Marine Command & Staff College, Quantico, VA in addition to a year as a Secretary of Defense Corporate Fellow with 3M Company, Saint Paul, MN.

Eric Wollerman is president of Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies (FM&T). FM&T manages and operates the U.S. Department of Energy’s Kansas City National Security Campus (KCNSC). With over 7,000 employees in Kansas City and Albuquerque, the KCNSC provides national security through their diverse engineering, manufacturing, and secure supply chain management activities.

As Honeywell FM&T president, Wollerman is responsible for applying best-in-class commercial standards in managing operations and delivering outstanding mission results with a $1.8B annual operations budget.

Since joining FM&T in April 2020, Wollerman has been leading KCNSC’s strategies, including: delivering operational excellence in nuclear weapons and national security missions with a focus on quality, early design engagement and delivery requirements; embracing digital transformation tools and technologies to enhance our mission; strategic planning for KCNSC’s infrastructure; supply base and workforce needs for today and the future; and, unlocking the value of our people and processes while enhancing the organization’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Acceptance (IDEA) strategies.

In addition to leading the Honeywell FM&T business, Eric supports community reinvestment with key focus areas in Society, Education and the Environment. Wollerman has a strong partnership with Grandview School’s STEMM and advanced manufacturing programs. He is a board member for the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, National Security Executive Council, Strategic Deterrence Coalition, and is on the Leadership Council with the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Wollerman’s Honeywell career began in 2005 within its Integrated Supply Chain. His driving improvements in supplier quality, implementation of lean manufacturing, success in managing operations & ability to forge strong customer relationships soon led to senior leadership roles within Honeywell Aerospace Technologies. He also ran operations for several manufacturing plants and most recently led global customer service operations within the Aerospace Technologies portfolio.

His academic degrees include a Bachelor’s of Science in Industrial Engineering and a Master’s of Science in Industrial & Systems Engineering from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Eric also holds a Certificate of Aircraft Maintenance & Technology from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, is a certified Lean Expert, and an Eagle Scout.

Dr. Christopher Yeaw is the Research Director for Nuclear Programs at the National Strategic Research Institute, U.S. Strategic Command’s University Affiliated Research Center (UARC). Led by the University of Nebraska, NSRI leads and leverages collaborative efforts with other academic institutions, National Laboratories, FFRDCs, other UARCs, and non-profit organizations. NSRI’s goal is to responsively and enduringly support the government in successfully executing the nuclear and counter-WMD missions with world class research & analysis. The Nuclear Programs Directorate collaborates across the entire range of nuclear issues: deterrence policies, threat analysis, weapons design, strategic materials, NC3, war gaming, nonproliferation, counterterrorism, and education. Immediately prior to his appointment at NSRI, Dr. Yeaw was the National Nuclear Security Administration's Senior Policy Advisor for Defense Programs, having served as the Department of Energy's lead official in the development and rollout of the 2018 Nuclear Posture Review. Formerly, he was the founder and director of the Center for Assurance, Deterrence, Escalation, and Nonproliferation Science & Education (CADENSE), a nuclear weapon think tank at the Louisiana Tech Research Institute. From 2010-2015, Dr. Yeaw served as the first Chief Scientist of Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC).

Dr. Yeaw began his career in 1996 at the Naval Surface Warfare Center as a lead missile defense engineer following his graduation with a doctorate in nuclear engineering and engineering physics from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Next, he served as a lead nuclear weapons technical intelligence officer with the Defense Intelligence Agency. After his tenure at DIA, Dr. Yeaw served as the Principal Advisor for Nuclear Matters to the Assistant Secretary for Verification and Compliance, during which he was a member of the first special diplomatic mission to Libya and led the initiation of the dismantlement of the Libyan covert nuclear weapons program. He then served as the Chief Scientist of the Department of Energy's Office of Intelligence. Finally, prior to his AFGSC assignment, he was an Associate Professor and Director of the Mahan Scholars Research Program at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, where he also founded the STRATCOM-sponsored Deterrence & Escalation Game and Review (DEGRE) nuclear war game series.