Ms. RuthAnne Darling

Director for Operational Energy-Innovation in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering

Captain Charles "Newt" McKissick

US Navy, Military Deputy, Navy Service Lead, Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)

Dr. Matt Willis

Director, U.S. Army FUZE Flagship Innovation Engine (Includes SBIR/STTR, xTech, ManTech, TMI programs)

Dr. Matt Willis serves as the Director of Army FUZE, leading the Army’s portfolio of private sector engagements through prize competitions (xTech), the Army Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, the Technology Maturation Initiative (TMI) program, and the Manufacturing Technology (ManTech) program, comprising over $750 million in annual research and development investments. Previously, Dr. Willis served as the Army Director for Laboratory Management at the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology (ASA(ALT)) and held various positions across the Army and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Dr. Willis earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University and both a Master of Science and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Mr. Brian Smith

Director Nuclear Reactor Development, Idaho National Laboratory (INL)

Ellen Chang

Managing Director, CapZone Impact Investments

Ellen is a mission focused deep tech investor with a particular focus on the maritime and space domains. She is Managing Director, CapZone Impact Investments, a specialty investment fund where Opportunity Zones meets the National Interest. In this capacity she works on shaping investment areas and is responsible for business development/deal origination. CapZone Investments is the first Opportunity Zone fund that has invested in industrial infrastructure, in the maritime domain to be specific.

Ellen started her career as an officer in the U.S. Navy where she served as an intelligence officer. She later joined JP Morgan where, as a banker, she worked with the aerospace team, and, for a short period, in a pilot group that facilitated investing in start-ups. Amidst the dot-com era, Ellen founded a start-up in the aviation industry where the team focused on building a B2B aviation part sourcing and brokerage focused on business jets. On the heels of the dot-com-bust, Ellen was recalled into the Navy to support Desert Storm II. Following this recall, she jointed Northrop Grumman. During her 12 years at Northrop Grumman, she held positions as a systems engineer, then program manager then director of an advanced systems division. Her work included design and development of autonomous systems ranging from the Global Hawk to the Unmanned Carrier-based unmanned aerial system to concepts integrating space and air platforms.

Ellen holds a BA in history from the University of Pennsylvania, an MS in systems engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School, and an MBA in Finance from The Wharton School. Ellen loves to run, taste wine, and travel. She is also co-founder of Wharton Aerospace and runs the innovation-ventures focused Wharton Aerospace Ventures.

Dr. Dan Flowers

Energy Security Program Leader, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Dan Flowers leads Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory’s (LLNL’s) applied energy program, which focuses on utilizing science and technology to accelerate the transition to low-carbon energy, including energy materials, hydrogen, carbon conversion, advanced transportation fuels, and subsurface energy. Flowers’ program supports sponsors in the Department of Energy’s applied energy offices, including the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the Office of Fossil Energy, the Office of Nuclear Energy, and the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy. Throughout his career, he has conducted research in technologies for advanced transportation, renewables, nuclear power, and national security. He holds a B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Davis.

Mr. John Peterson

Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) G4 (Ret.), President, JPCE, Under contract with U.S. Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD)

LTC Matthew Dick

U.S. Army, Military Deputy, Operational Energy-Innovation (OE-I), Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy Resilience and Optimization, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment OUSD (A&S)

Rob Petrosino

Strategic Engagement Advisor, Artificial Intelligence, Federal Bureau of Investigation