People Category: AIAA DEFENSE Forum 2025

Major Phillip Smith is a Program Manager at DARPA’s Tactical Technology Office (TTO) where he runs the ANCILLARY and REMA programs. He previously served as the Deputy Director of the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab’s Future Technology Office and Operations Officer for the Marine Innovation Unit, where he trained reservists on emerging technologies and their impact on Force Design 2030. Prior to that, he led the Futures and Forecasting section at the Marine Corps Rapid Capabilities Office, spearheading innovative programs like Blue Crayons, Wing in Ground effect, Egon (C-UAS), and Autonomous Low Profile Vessel. His experience also includes roles as a Coalition Coordination Officer at Central Command, an Aviation Training & Readiness Analyst, and a AV-8B Harrier Attack Pilot with combat experience in Iraq.

LTC Michael “Woody” Woodhouse is the Deputy Cell Director for Warfighter Integration and the Long Range Kill Web Lead at the Space Development Agency (SDA). The Warfighter Integration Cell supports the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) programs from requirement identification to launch and operations. Recognized as the Department of Defense’s constructive disruptor for space acquisition, SDA will quickly deliver needed space-based capabilities to the joint warfighter to support terrestrial missions through development, fielding, and operation of the PWSA.

LTC Woodhouse has served in a variety of Artillery, Missile Defense, and Acquisition assignments. Notably as the “Top Notch” Air Defense Artillery Brigade Operations Officer, deployed to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar in support of Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Inherent Resolve. Additionally, he led that “Diamondback” Air & Missile Test Detachment as the unit trained for and executed the first Soldier-led flight test
of the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS).

LTC Woodhouse served in several leadership and staff positions to include: Space and Missile Defense Planner, HQs Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (NATO); Brigade S3 Operations Officer, 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade; Battalion S3 Operations Officer, 3rd Battalion (Patriot), 2nd Air Defense Artillery; Commander Patriot Test Detachment, 3rd Battalion, 6th Air Defense Artillery; Air and Missile Defense Planner, Headquarters 3rd Army
(USARCENT); and Commander of Charlie Battery, 6th Battalion, 52nd Air Defense Artillery.

LTC Woodhouse has an M.A. from the University of Texas at El Paso, an M.A. in Military Arts and Science from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and a B.S from Niagara University. He is a graduate of the Joint Forces Staff College, Air Defense Artillery Officer Basic and Advance Course, Multi-TADIL Advanced Joint Interoperability Course, Army Space Cadre Basic Course, the Joint Firepower Course, the joint Air Operations Command and Control Course, and the Defense Strategy Course. LTC Woodhouse’s awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medals, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medals, Army Achievement Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and the Korean Defense Service Medal.

Tom Sarama is the Chief Engineer for Raytheon, an RTX business.  Sarama’s 40-year career has included progressively responsible positions in both military and commercial aircraft programs, which gave him a remarkably broad range of experience in engineering, manufacturing, and business development.

Sarama joined Raytheon Aircraft Company in 2000 as Engineering Vice President, focused on engineering processes and tools, and developing aircraft and people. In 2003, he transitioned to Strategic Programs Vice President to help lead the company’s business transformation, developing and implementing programs that aligned with the organization’s strategic vision to create a lean, agile commercial-aircraft company. This work included defining the company’s core competencies and promoting continuous improvement while developing outside strategic alliances for non-core activities.

In 2004, he joined RMS as manager of the Advanced Air Vehicles Product Center, which he developed to support the enterprise’s entry into new markets such as unmanned aerial vehicles. Later that year, he was promoted to lead the Mechanical Subsystems directorate.

In 2007, Sarama was named RMS Chief Hardware Engineer. He helped teams across the enterprise to solve highly visible complex problems, ultimately providing a path to start or continue product deliveries. This role accelerated his exposure to the company’s broad technology applications, uniquely preparing him for the Raytheon Chief Engineer position.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Florida and a master’s degree in business administration from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Dr. Ali Perez joined Lockheed Martin Ventures in 2021. Ali is responsible for investments in human potential, biotechnology, man-unmanned teaming, digital transformation, and advanced manufacturing. Her role also supports post-deal integration and transition of technology from the Ventures portfolio into Lockheed pursuits and programs.  She runs the Ventures Internal Research and Development program that provides LM engineers with opportunities to collaborate with start-up companies that Lockheed Martin Ventures has invested in.

Prior to joining Lockheed Martin Ventures, Ali worked to manage Lockheed’s Technology Strategy and Research (TS&R) portfolio under the VP of TS&R. She started her career at Lockheed in the Advanced Technology Laboratories running research programs in neuroscience, human and autonomy collaboration, man-unmanned teaming, and artificial intelligence. Before joining Lockheed, Ali worked for the University of Texas at Dallas conducting research in neurophysiology and cognitive training for individuals with traumatic brain injury and cognitive impairments.

Ali received an M.S and Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuroscience from the University of Texas at Dallas. Ali also received her B.A in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina.

Maj. Gen. Luke Cropsey is the Department of the Air Force Program Executive Officer for Command, Control, Communications and Battle Management (DAF PEO C3BM), Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. DAF PEO C3BM integrates the C3BM materiel enterprise within the department, aligning technical architecture and acquisition authorities to streamline the delivery of decision advantage capabilities via the DAF BATTLE NETWORK.

The DAF BATTLE NETWORK is the integrated system-of-systems connecting sensor, effector, and logistics systems providing better situational awareness, faster operational decisions, and decisive direction to the force. It integrates roughly 50 programs of record across the department, ensuring resilient decision and information advantage needed by the Air Force, Space Force, Joint, and Coalition forces to win against the pacing challenge. It is the DAF’s contribution to Combined Joint All Domain Command and Control.

Maj. Gen. Cropsey was commissioned through the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1995. He held key engineering, acquisition, and sustainment positions on Air Force conventional and nuclear weapon systems and National Reconnaissance Office space systems; served on the Office of the Secretary of Defense staff for systems engineering; and led at the squadron, group and wing levels as a Materiel Leader and Senior Materiel Leader. Maj. Gen. Cropsey’s joint experience also includes three years at the European Command Plans and Operations Center in Stuttgart, Germany, where he served as a Space Operations Planner and Executive Officer to the Director of Operations.

Prior to assuming his current position, Maj. Gen. Cropsey was the Director of the Air Force Security Assistance and Cooperation Directorate, and Director of International Affairs, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

Maj. Gen. Cropsey is a certified Level III Engineer, Level III Program Manager, and a graduate of the Defense Systems Management College Program Manager’s Course.

Ms. Sally Pfenning is the Director, Requirements and Resource Integration (J8), Headquarters, U.S. European Command (USEUCOM). As the EUCOM J8, Ms. Pfenning serves as the Commander’s principal advisor providing analytical expertise, judgement, and advice on all aspects of capability needs, technology innovation approaches, and resource integration necessary to engage and enhance European and U.S. security interests within the European theater. She facilitates the development of USEUCOM requirements for the Future Years Defense Program, advocates for material and non-material solutions, and manages the headquarters’ budget.

She is focused on and responsible for translating defense strategy into capabilities and resource requirements, and providing oversight for all resource integration and synchronization functions of USEUCOM. She interfaces regularly with NATO, OSD, Joint Staff, other Combatant Commands, theater service components, and the military services.

Dr. David Denhard is the Chief Scientist and Technical Advisor, Headquarters United States Space Command, Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado. A Senior Technical (ST) Executive, he serves as the Director of the Space Command Technical Analysis Group and principal advisor to the United States Space Command Deputy Commander over the planning, conduct, and coordination of space-related science and technology.

Dr. Denhard has over 35 years of experience in the Department of Defense as an acquisition and research and development program manager and operational analyst.

Dr. Denhard has held positions in Air Education and Training Command, Air Force Materiel Command, Pacific Air Forces, the Missile Defense Agency, United States Central Command, United States Northern Command, and the Air Staff.

Dr. Denhard’s experiences include leading:

• Missile Defense Science and Technology Development
• Ballistic Missile Defense, Hypersonic Defense, and Air and Cruise Missile
• Defense requirements development, concept development, and evaluation
• Aircraft and Space program management
• Joint and Service Technology research and development
• Combat Command and Service Component planning, plan analysis, and assessment
• Training System development
• Aircraft and Training System Test and Evaluation
• Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Enterprise evaluation
• Anti-Tamper programs and activities
• Graduate-level (dissertation and thesis) operations research

Dr. Denhard previously served for 26 years as an officer in the United States Air Force. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and Doctorate of Philosophy and Masters of Science degrees in Operations Research from the Air Force Institute of Technology.

Meggan Schoenberg is the Principal Director for Integrated Network System of Systems (INSS) in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Critical Technologies (ASD CT), Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)). In this position, she serves as the Department of Defense’s senior official and subject matter expert for INSS. Ms. Schoenberg leads the DOD’s vision, strategy, and roadmap for INSS Strategic Command Control and Communication (C3) systems. Additionally, she oversees the strategic alignment and coordination of the Department’s more than $7 billion annual portfolio in C3 including science and technology, prototyping, test and evaluation, and industrial base development.

Schoenberg has over 30 years of experience in the research and development of C3 systems. She has over 20 years of Industry experience researching, designing, developing, and deploying C3 technology for OSD and Joint Staff, the United States Air Force, and Commercial telecommunications. This includes deploying technology in theater to the Army Deep Operations Coordination Cell (DOCC) during the Kosovo conflict.

As a Civil Service Scientist and Engineer, she came to OUSD(R&E) in 2022 to support ASD Mission Capabilities (MC) Mission Integration (MI) as the Chief Engineer for Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2), Mission Digital Environment (MDE), and Nuclear Command Control Communications (NC3) before assuming the PD INSS role in 2023.

Prior to joining OUSD(R&E) in 2022, as a Naval Computer Scientist and Engineer, she completed a two-year tour as the Navy Surface Warfare Command Dahlgren Division (NSWC DD) Intelligence and Cyber Advanced Technologies branch and Cyber Engineering brand head, leading development and delivery of Navy and Special Force capabilities to the warfighter.

As Principal Department of Navy Modeling & Simulation (M&S) Technical Advisor to USFFC (2018 – 2020), Schoenberg advanced critical LVC (Live, Virtual, Constructive) capabilities and policies to certify Carrier Strike Groups for deployment; strengthened & institutionalized testing & training resource sharing; and secured funding and transition for next generation strategic capabilities. In 2018 she completed a three-year tour as the Office of Naval Research Global (ONRG) Science Advisor to Commanding General United States Marine Corps Forces Command earning the Meritorious Civil Service Award. In 2015 she completed a three-year tour as ONRG Science Advisor to Commander Navy Warfare Development Command where she enabled immediate transition of Science & Technology (S&T) capabilities, initiated results driven requirements and budget informing S&T experimentation program, established a transition path for training M&S technologies, was the senior advisor to the CNO’s (Chief of Naval Operations) Rapid Innovation Cell (CRIC), and was the principal technical advisor for the USFFC lead Miami Submarine investigation.

She is a Doctoral student at Old Dominion University in Complex Systems Governance, building on a master’s degree in systems Engineering at Virginia Tech and a BS in Mathematics and a BS in Computer Science from Penn State University. She is an acquisition professional for DOD with DAWIA PM level 2 and Engineering level 3 certification. Most recently, she authored the “Context in Complex Systems Governance” chapter of the Masters/PhD level textbook, “Complex Systems Governance Theory and Practice”.