Monthly Luncheons Speaker Bios

Conklin has previously served as the Technical Director for the Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security (CIAS) at The University of Texas at San Antonio. His research interests include the use of systems theory to explore information security, specifically in Cyber Physical Systems (CPS), and the measurement of security through regulation and metrics. He has an extensive background in secure coding and is a member of DHS Software Assurance Forum working group for workforce education and development. A frequent speaker on information security, he has authored numerous academic publications on security and is a co-author on four books on information security. Prior to his academic career, Conklin worked in Financial Industry and the Manufacturing sector. He was a US Naval Officer and served aboard the USS Stark (FFG-31) as Damage Control Assistant when it was struck by two Exocet missiles in the Persian Gulf in 1987.
 

19 Jan 2010
Speaker: Mr. Jeff Reich, Director of Operations for the Institute for Cyber Security, UTSA


8 October 2009, 11:00 am
Speaker: Brigadier General David B. Warner, Director, Communications and Information, and Chief Information Officer, Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base 

15 September 2009, 11:00am
Speaker: Col Hal Bullock, Deputy Commander, 624th Operations Center, USAF
Colonel Hal Bullock is a 1981 distinguished graduate of the Air Force ROTC program at the University of Southern Mississippi, where he earned a B.S. in Computer Science. He is a career communications officer, with numerous joint assignments including tours with USPACOM, USEUCOM, USCENTCOM, and DISA.  His "blue" assignments include serving as the first-ever dual squadron commander at Keesler AFB, simultaneously commanding the 81st Maintenance Squadron and the 81st Logistics Support Squadron.  Most recently he served as the Deputy J6 at USCENTCOM and deployed for 6 1/2 months as the first J6 for US Forces, Afghanistan.

Col Bullock was recently assigned to San Antonio as the Deputy Commander for the 624th Operations Center under the newly established 24th Air Force.
 

18 August 2009, 11:00
Speaker: Thom Rubel, Practice Director, IDC Government Programs
Thom is responsible spearheading all research targeted to decision-makers within government organizations and maintains direct responsibility for managing the EMEA and U.S. research agendas. He draws on more than 20 years of experience in government and IT research organizations to deliver research specific to strategies, operations, programs, policies, and technologies unique to government markets.

Prior to joining Government Insights, Thom served as Vice President of Government Strategies at META Group, where he focused on assisting government clients to more effectively communicate IT transformational value to government business processes for improving operations and policy outcomes. During his career, he also initiated and served as Director of the State Information Technology Program at the National Governors Association's Center for Best Practices, where he guided the development and implementation of an IT program that included management and procurement, electronic government transactions, enterprise strategies, and policy solutions. In this role, he managed a twelve-governor IT Task Force and a Corporate Advisory Group composed of more than thirty IT companies that served as resource and sounding board for the governors and the Center's projects and programs.

From 1989 to 1993, Thom served as Assistant Under Secretary for Small Community and Rural Development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and was Deputy Director of Intergovernmental and Consumer Affairs at the U.S. Department of Transportation from 1987 to 1989.

He is a frequent speaker at government events and often turned to by national and industry-specific media outlets — including Business Week, Federal Computer Week, The Washington Post, Washington Technology, Federal Computer Week, Government Computer News, and Government Technology, — for his opinions on government strategy and technology trends. An Iowa native, he is a graduate of the University of South Dakota. 

21 July 2009
Speaker: Chief Master Sergeant Richard A. "Andy" Kaiser, Headquarters, Air Force Personnel Center
Chief Kaiser entered the Air Force in March 1984. Following technical training, he served as an environmental health specialist at K.I. Sawyer AFB, Michigan. He cross-trained into the Communications-Computer Systems Operations career field in 1988. As a communicator, he served as data processing operator, training manager, technical school instructor and instructor supervisor, course developer, theater battle management NCOIC, information protection and network strategies manager, acting first sergeant, command and control systems flight superintendent, and unit support branch chief. He has also served as mission support group superintendent. Chief Kaiser deployed extensively to multiple locations in Southwest Asia in support of Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, ENDURING FREEDOM, and IRAQI FREEDOM. Before assuming his current position, Chief Kaiser served as Command Chief Master Sergeant for the 621st Contingency Response Wing, McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey.


16 June 2009
Speaker: Johnnie Hernandez, President & CEO of EADS North America Defense, Security and Systems Solutions, Inc.
Johnnie Hernandez is Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of EADS NA Defense Security and Systems Solutions, Inc., based in San Antonio , Texas.
Mr. Hernandez has over 40 years of experience in Security/Information Protection/Information Assurance, and has actively participated in the security assessments and education/training process during this time. He is responsible for a staff of highly qualified system security analysts, computer information specialists, programmers, engineers, marketing and sales, and administrative personnel.

Previously, Mr. Hernandez held the positions of program director, general manager and vice president within the information technology industry, since his military retirement in 1980. Mr. Hernandez received the designation of Certified Professional Manager (CM) from James Madison University , Certified Project Manager (CPM) from George Washington University and Certified Program Manager (PM) from AT&T University . He received his Bachelor's Degree in Business from the University of Northern Colorado.

19 May 2009
Speaker: CAPT Tina Ortiz, CPNP, NC, USN, Commanding Officer, Navy Medicine Information Systems Support Activity, Ft. Sam Houston
CAPT Ortiz was born and raised in Lewiston, Maine .  She holds a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Nursing from The Catholic University of America.  CAPT Ortiz has been a Nurse for over 27 years and is a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. She has also specialized in Pediatric, Maternal, Ambulatory, Critical Care and Emergency Medicine.  CAPT Ortiz was commissioned on August 8, 1989 in New Orleans , LA and has served in the Navy for 19 years.

CAPT Ortiz' other assignments include Executive Officer, Navy Medicine Information Support Activity; Director of Programs and Integration in the Chief Information Office at the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Washington DC; Acting Department Head and Provider, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth; Provider, Naval Ambulatory Care Center, King's Bay; Duty Under Instruction, The Catholic University of America; Recruiter, Navy Recruiting District, New England; and Division Officer, Naval Hospital, Jacksonville.  She deployed to Iraq in March of 2003 with Fleet Hospital 3 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and to Guantanamo , Cuba in support of the Haitian Crisis in December of 1991. 

Her accomplishments include three terms as the Vice President of the Military Chapter of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) and one term as the President of the Tidewater Chapter of NAPNAP.  CAPT Ortiz is a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), and the American Legion. 

Her personal awards include: two Meritorious Service Medals; four Navy Commendation Medals; six Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medals; one Presidential Unit Citation; one Humanitarian Service Medal; the Iraqi Service Medal; and various other campaign and service medals and ribbons.  CAPT Ortiz has also been recognized by Who's Who in American Nursing and the Great 100 Nurses of New Orleans .  In addition, she has received the CAPT Dooling Award and the Nursing Excellence Award. 

CAPT Ortiz is married to Carlos Ortiz LTC (R) USA , and both are the proud parents of four children, Maribel, Kristin, Catelyn, Carlos Jr., and one granddaughter, Alexandra.

24 March 2009
Speakers: Timothy J. Karmondy, Lt Col, USAF
Lieutenant Colonel Tim Karmondy is Commander, 690 th Alteration and Installation Squadron, Lackland AFB, Texas. He is responsible for leading the planning, engineering and installation of communications and facilities projects supporting the National Security Agency and Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Agency worldwide.

Lt Col Karmondy received his commission in 1989 from the U.S. Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program and was a four year member of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets. His career includes engineering intrusion detection systems protecting nuclear weapons, managing theater-wide intelligence communications programs in Europe, leading the Pentagon standard integrated desktop initiative engineering team, maintaining software for a space weather center, evaluating homeland defense and tactical radars, and as an Air Staff officer, supporting capital investment planning and governance compliance.

He deployed to the 363rd Expeditionary Communications Squadron, Prince Sultan Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as Deputy Commander and Base Communications Engineer in 2002 and to the Coalition Coordination Center, MacDill AFB, Florida, as Chief, Coalition Communications Operations in 2006.


24 Feb 2009, 11:00
Speakers: David Gallant, e-Fense, Computer Security and Forensics Specialist
As a Director of Computer Forensics and Operations, for e-fense, David T. Gallant brings to bear a depth of experience in forensic media analysis, network intrusion investigations, and technology protection. Prior to joining e-fense, Mr. Gallant served as the Chief, Computer Crime Investigations branch, with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) Detachment 401, Randolph AFB, TX. He was responsible for oversight, analysis and assistance for all computer crime related investigations and operations within Texas , Oklahoma , Louisiana , and Mississippi.


13 Jan 2009, 11:00
Speakers: Brigadier General Gregory J. Touhill, Commander, 81st Traing Wing, Keesler Air Force Base
Brigadier General Gregory J. Touhill is Commander, 81st Training Wing, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. He commands 12,000 Airmen and civilians, providing technical training for officers, enlisted and civilians of the U. S. Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserves as well as other Department of Defense agencies. The training covers numerous electronic, computer, weather, medical, personnel, comptroller, and information management career fields and creates combat capability for Air Expeditionary, Space, and Cyberspace Forces.


18 Nov 2008, 11:00
Speaker: James Glowacki, Loss Prevention and Security, HEB
James Glowacki works for H-E-B, one of the largest regional food retailers in the United States. He provided security assessments, physical security leadership, investigations, loss prevention practices, and new project setup for the San Antonio and San Marcos warehouses. James and his wife of 19 years have two teenage children living at home and two dogs. James serves as Secretary for the Board of Directors for InfraGard, an FBI Program. James is on the ASIS Board as Chairperson of the Retail group for Chapter 092 in San Antonio. James volunteers his time by helping young children through Junior Achievement and several other community events with H-E-B.


21 Oct 2008, 11:00
Speaker: Jim Shoemaker, Founder, Bluenotch
Jim has been in the IT industry for over 10 years. He developed applications and appliances for broadcast radio, internet and satellite devices. He is the founder of Bluenotch, a consulting firm focused on Intrusion Detection and Analysis. Jim is actively involved in SANS and GIAC--He is on the GIAC Advisory Board, a GIAC Technical Director, a Stay Sharp instructor, a local mentor and a proctor. He holds many certifications including the GCIA, GCIH, and GCFA.

16 Sept 2008, 11:00
Speaker: Major General William T. Lord, Air Force Cyberspace Command (Provisional), Barksdale Air Force Base, La.
Maj. Gen. William T. Lord is Commander, Air Force Cyberspace Command (Provisional), Barksdale Air Force Base, La. He is responsible for establishing cyberspace as a domain in and through which the Air Force flies and fights, to deliver sovereign options for defense of the United States. In his current duty, he is creating the Air Force major air command for organization, training and equipping of combat forces to operate in cyberspace. 

General Lord is a 1977 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. He holds a bachelor's degree in biological and life sciences, and master's degrees in business administration and national resource strategy. General Lord held various duties with tours in Europe, U.S. Central Command and the White House. He has had multiple staff assignments, including two major air commands as Director of Communications and Information Systems. General Lord has commanded at the detachment, squadron, group, wing and joint levels.
Prior to his current position, General Lord was Director, Cyberspace Transformation and Strategy, Secretary of the Air Force Office of Warfighting Integration and Chief Information Officer, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

19 Aug 2008, 11:00
Speaker: Col Sam Douglas, Chief Operations Division, AMC/A6O
Colonel Samuel R. Douglas is the Chief, Operational Systems Management Division, Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. The Operational Systems Management Division oversees AMC's deployable communications systems, information management systems, and communications services such as frequency management. The division is responsible for policy guidance, program management, resource allocation and information management as they pertain to deployable and operational communications systems. The division also manages enterprise information management including publishing, business and records management, and the freedom of information act process.

Colonel Douglas is a native of Huntsville, Texas. Upon completion of Huntsville High School in 1979, he entered the Air Force in 1983 after his commissioning as a distinguished graduate of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps, Grambling State University, Grambling, La.

15 Jul 2008, 11:00
Speaker: Col Theresa Giorlando, Director of Communications, HQAETC
Colonel Theresa Giorlando is the Director of Communications at Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas . As director, she is the functional leader for 7,500 communication professionals, providing information technology services to over 85,000 personnel at 13 major installations. She leads a directorate staff comprised of 265 military and civilian personnel. Colonel Giorlando is responsible for formulating and providing policy and guidance for all communications budgeting, programming, operations, and maintenance activities within the command, as well as executing a $57 million annual operations budget. Colonel Giorlando is also AETC's Chief Information Officer. In this capacity, she is responsible for planning, developing, and implementing policies for integrating information technology across AETC. Colonel Giorlando earned her commission through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Wright State University , Dayton , Ohio in 1984. She started her career as a computer specialist and has served as a software programmer, systems analyst, project manager and database administrator in support of computer programs. She then transitioned to communications and served as a flight commander, and MAJCOM program manager before serving as commander of the 31 st Communications Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy , during Operation ALLIED FORCE. She continued support of communications programs serving on both Joint Staff and Air Staff in the areas of network operations and information management.

Before assuming her current position, Colonel Giorlando was Commander of the 96 th Mission Support Group, 96 th Air Base Wing, Air Armament Center , Air Force Material Command, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida .