People Category: Panelist

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”.

Quinton Packard is a military fellow representing the United States Navy in the Defense and Security Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). He joins CSIS after serving as the Executive Assistant to the Chief of the Navy Reserve in the Pentagon. He is a naval aviator with over 3,000 flight hours in the CH-46E, HH-60H, and MH-60F airframes. He spent the first eleven years of his total 27 years of military service as a United States Marine before transferring to the Navy Reserve in 2008. His aviation tours included deployments to Kosovo, Djibouti, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, as well as multiple tours in Iraq.

His command tours include serving as Commanding Officer of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron-84 and the Commodore of the Maritime Support Wing. Quinton holds a BA in international relations from the University of Delaware and an MS in national resource strategy from the Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, with a concentration in weapons of mass destruction. He is a Harvard Kennedy School Senior Executive Fellow, an MIT Seminar XXI Fellow, and earned his Executive Certification in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School.

Maj. Gen. James E. Smith is the Vice Director for Joint Force Development, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia.  As the Vice Director for Joint Force Development, Maj. Gen. Smith serves as the principal assistant to the Director for Joint Force Development (J-7), supporting the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in enhancing the operation effectiveness of both the current and future joint force. The J-7 is responsible for the six functions of joint force development: Doctrine; Education; Concept Development and Experimentation; Training; Exercises and Lessons Learned.

Originally from Boise, Idaho, Maj. Gen. Smith commissioned in 1997 as the top graduate of the United States Air Force Academy.  His career spans numerous space operations and acquisition positions including command at the squadron, group, wing and garrison levels. His staff assignments include Headquarters, NATO; Headquarters, Air Force Space Command; the Air Staff; the Space Staff; and the Joint Staff.

Maj. Gen. Smith has deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and to the U.S. Embassy in Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. Prior to his current position, Maj. Gen. Smith served the Assistant Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Operations, Cyber, and Nuclear, Headquarters U.S. Space Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia.

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 nearly 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.

Michael Rambo leads Spirit’s Research & Technology (R&T) Global Technology
Strategy team comprised of Distinctive Capabilities Leaders, Intellectual
Property professionals, and R&T Opportunity Capture managers. In this role,
he guides a group of senior engineering specialists in technology roadmap
development, maintains a strategic framework to evaluate ongoing and
potential business opportunities, owns the intellectual property portfolio, and
advises on technology strategy across the global Spirit AeroSystems
enterprise. Michael is a Spirit Ambassador and regularly represents Spirit at
events and by visits throughout the commercial and defense aerospace
industry.

He is a US Air Force Academy graduate and retired Air Force pilot, strategist,
inspector, and command and control officer. He flew the T-3A, T-37B, T-1A,
KC-135R/T, and every variant of the Beechcraft T-6 for a total of over 3,000
flight hours, with almost 450 combat hours, earning two Meritorious Service
Medals, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, three Air Medals and other
accolades. In the aerospace defense industry, prior to joining Spirit, he spent
over a decade with Beechcraft/Textron Aviation in roles of increasing
responsibility spanning Program Management, Supplier Management,
Business Development, Demonstration Flight, Training and Simulation
Programs, and Product leadership.

Michael holds a Master of Operational Military Arts and Sciences
through Air University, a Bachelor of Science in Operational Arts
and Sciences through the Air Force Academy, and a Professional
Certification as a Strategic Execution Professional (SEP) through
Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.

Michael is a native Texan, but now lives in Wichita, Kansas with
his wife, Nancy, son, Schaefer (19), and daughter, Elizabeth (16).

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.