Events | GTS Coalition

Feb 21: Best Practices in Government Contracting Focus on DHS & DOD

Join GTSC for a Capacity Building session focused on assuring you don’t learn the hard lessons on your own skin! After years of practice and experience, the IACCM has brought together best practices in government contracting from around the globe. Paired with the former procurement officer of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, this session will combine what best practices can be applied toward contracting with DHS and the Defense Department.

About our Speakers:

Tim Cummins

President & CEO, IACCM

In his role as President/CEO of IACCM, Tim works with leading corporations, public and academic bodies, supporting executive awareness and understanding of the role that procurement, contracting and relationship management increasingly play in 21st century business performance and public policy.
Prior to IACCM, Tim’s business career included executive roles at IBM and a period on the Chairman’s staff, leading studies on the impacts of globalization and the reengineering of IBM’s global contracting processes. His earlier career involved the banking, automotive and aerospace industries, initially in Corporate Finance and later in commercial and business development. He led negotiations up to $1.5bn in value and his work has taken him to over 40 countries.

Tim’s writing is extensively published and he has acted in an advisory capacity to government bodies in countries that include the US, UK, Australia, Canada and Japan, as well as regular briefings to senior managers at many of the world’s largest companies.

Tom Essig (BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!)
Former Chief Procurement Officer, Department of Homeland Security
Owner, TWE, LLC

As a senior acquisition professional with more than 30 years experience with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of the Navy (DON), Mr. Essig has expertise in contracting and program management and is certified by the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security at career level III in both the contracting and program management.

He currently advises government and commercial organizations on federal acquisition and procurement and contracting matters through his company TWE, LLC. He also currently serves as a Procurement Subject Matter Expert with Kearney & Company.

His most recent federal position was as the Chief Procurement Officer for DHS from 2006 to 2009 where he was responsible for the management, administration and oversight of the department’s acquisition, strategic sourcing program, competitive sourcing program and providing leadership over the department’s $17 Billion in annual acquisitions.

Mr. Essig reported to office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition) in February 2004. As Director of the Program Analysis and Business Transformation Division, he was responsible for overseeing analysis and support of contracting and business aspects of DON acquisition and other procurement programs and for the development and support of business transformation initiatives within DON. His division reflected the merger of the former Program Analysis and Support Division with the DON Acquisition Reform Office, and he was responsible for functions previously performed by those organizations.

From 1999 to 2004, Mr. Essig served as the Executive Director of the U.S. Navy Office of Special Projects (OSP). The OSP is a second echelon command reporting to the Commander, Naval Supply Systems Command and provides logistics, transportation, finance and other business and supply-related support to the fleet and shore establishment of the Department of the Navy. OSP’s mission supports every facet of the Navy. While in this assignment, Mr. Essig also served as the Director of the Navy Engineering Logistics Office.

Mr. Essig was selected as a member of the Senior Executive Service in 1995 and served as the Director of the Surface Systems Contracts Division of the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA). In this position he led a major procurement organization that planned, negotiated, and administered approximately 2,000 procurement actions valued at greater than $3 billion dollars annually.

Mr. Essig earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland in 1976 and graduated, with distinction, from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1991. In 2000, he graduated from the Advanced Program Management Course at the Defense Systems Management College. He is a member of the Department of the Navy Acquisition Professional Community.

Mr. Essig began his federal career in 1976 when he entered the Navy’s Contracting Intern Development Program and was assigned to NAVSEA as a contract specialist, supporting various Naval weapon systems programs. In 1985, he was selected as the contracting officer for the Aircraft Carrier and Battleship programs. While in that position, he successfully negotiated what was then the largest shipbuilding contract in U.S. Navy history: a $4.3 billion contract for construction of two NIMITZ-class aircraft carriers. During his tenure at NAVSEA, Mr. Essig also served as the contracting officer for Standard Missile production, head of the Major Combatant Shipbuilding Branch, and Assistant Director of the Shipbuilding and Undersea Systems Contracts Divisions. In 1997, he received Vice President Gore’s Hammer Award for his work as a member of the Joint Navy/Industry Submarine Combat System Integrated Development Plan Team. He was awarded the Department of the Navy Superior Civilian Service Award in 1999 and the Distinguished Civilian Service Award in 2004.

12/16: Business Development for Emerging Small Companies

Join the Government Technology & Services Coalition’s (GTSC) Emerging Small Business Group Monday December 16 for a hand-on, practical workshop on business development best practices for emerging small companies. Our speaker has over 40 years of experience in business development, IT systems development, integration and operations.

In this interactive discussion we will discuss:

Introduction to the BD lifecycle from a small business perspective
Challenges and opportunities in each phase
Strategies and techniques to target your business development to make the most of your time and investment.

About Tony Sacco

Mr. Sacco has over 40 years professional and management experience in the fields of Business Development, IT Systems development, integration and operations. A majority of his experience was and is involved in the management of significant, fixed price, software intensive, development, systems integration and O&M programs for the federal government. His last responsibility, before retiring, was the SAIC program manager for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) EAGLE $1.25B IDIQ program which included winning and executing over 40 competitive Task Orders. His previous assignment includes more than 7 years of IT program management on DHS and predecessor agency contracts, leading a $400 million IT engineering services program. Mr. Sacco is a PMI-certified PMP and an experienced earned value methodology (EVM) instructor with real-world ability in implementing solu¬tions for large federal programs. As program manager on a major IT services contract, Mr. Sacco oversaw critical projects for DHS, including the design and build of the DHS network backbone for OneNetwork, design and imple¬mentation of the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) facility, and design and implementation of the DHS enterprise architecture (EA). In part, the work that Mr. Sacco led for SAIC resulted in SAIC’s selection by Frost and Sullivan as the 2005 Homeland Security Company of the Year. He also was the program manager for the development and worldwide deployment of the Navy War Gaming System (NWGS). He holds a BSEE from Polytechnic Institute of NY; a MSOR from New York University and a MBA from Rider University. He is a member of the Program Management Institute (PMP) and a IEEE Life Member He is certified to teach EVM and courses in Business Development, PM and Quality Management.

About GTSC’s Emerging Small Business Action Group

The Emerging Small Business Group is open to GTSC members with revenue less than $2.5 million. It focuses on understanding the numerous challenges of starting/growing a small business in the Federal space and marshaling GTSC’s vast resources of peers, owners, mentors, subject matter experts and online virtual tools to provide our emerging small business members the knowledge and techniques they need to meet the challenges of growing a business.

Elaine Kapetanakis
Chair, GTSC Emerging Small Business Action Group
CEO, Kapstone Technologies

Nov. 19: GTSC Annual Member Meeting

Members of the Government Technology & Services Coalition for our third annual member meeting to learn about all the services of GTSC, provide your input on our letter to incoming DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson and share your feedback for our 2014-2015 priorities!

Emile Monette, the Senior Advisor for cyber security policy for the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), will join us to discuss the agency wide and interagency implementation of cyber security initiatives related to government facilities and acquisition. Linda Mathes, CEO of the American Red Cross in the National Capital Region, will talk about the American Red Cross Ready Rating program and its importance to GTSC’s Designation of Leadership Excellence. Jose Arrieta, DHS Ombudsman, will discuss the year ahead at DHS.

Given sequestration, budget cuts and possible future government shutdowns, GTSC is committed to exploring every business opportunity possible for your success. From the Small Business Collaboration Group to forming vigorous Action Groups and developing the Contracting Officers workshop, we’ve accomplished a lot over the past year and we’re excited to keep moving!

Please note: this is a GTSC Member only meeting. Thank you!

Agenda

I. Welcome and overview of GTSC’s 2012-2013: Discussion of Lion’s Den, Mentor and Workgroup activity.

Kristina Tanasichuk, CEO, GTSC
Jon Ostrowski, COO, GTSC
Workgroup Chairs
- Chair, International Initiative: RADM Donald P. Loren, CEO, Old Dominion Strategies
- Chair, Human Capital and Learning: Dr. Sheri Dougherty, President & CEO, DAI
- Co-Chair, DHS Engagement: Sara Kindsfater0-Yerkes, Managing Partner, The Big Brain Co.

II. A View of the Year Ahead

Jose Arrieta, Ombudsman, DHS

III. Meeting the Challenges

Emile Monette, Senior Advisor, Cyber Security Policy, GSA
Linda Mathes, CEO, American Red Cross in the National Capital Region
Bruce Davidson, Director, SAFETY Act Office, S&T, DHS

IV. Government Relations

Incoming Secretary Jeh Johnson
Hill Activity
- Michelle Mrdeza, Partner, Cornerstone Government Affairs & GTSC Founding Strategic Advisor
- Chani Wiggins, President & Founder, Winn Strategies & GTSC Strategic Advisor
Broadening our Base

V. Business Development

Overview of procurements and focus areas for business development
- Bill Carroll, Senior Partner, Strike Force Consulting
- Andrea McCarthy, Senior Director NTT Data
- Tony Sacco, Former Vice President, SAIC

VI. What do you see as our top priorities for 2014-2015?

Dec. 12: The National Security Supply Chain: Reducing the Vulnerabilities

Join the Government Technology & Services Coalition (GTSC) for a program featuring an overview of acquisition, technology and innovation in the intelligence community to both assure we have the most advanced protections in place to mitigate our vulnerabilities, and the most recent tools and information on how to protect intellectual property, prevent insider threats and understand supply chain considerations in the government contracting environment. Keynote Frank Montoya, Jr., National Counterintelligence Executive, Office of the Director of National Intelligence will keynote with a preview of the 2013 Economic Espionage Report (EER).

AGENDA AT A GLANCE

12:00 PM Welcome & Introductions

Kristina Tanasichuk, CEO, GTSC
Elena Kim-Mitchell, Director, Private Sector Outreach, ODNI

12:10 PM ODNI Movie

12:30 PM – 1:30 PMKeynote Luncheon:Preview of the 2013 Economic Espionage Report
Frank Montoya, Jr., Counterintelligence Executive, ONCIX

1:30 PM – 2:00 PM CERT & Insider Threat

Randy Trzeciak Senior Member of the Technical Staff, Software Engineering Institute’s (SEI), CERT Program, Carnegie Mellon University

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Best Practices on Insider Threats & Supply Chain Security

Joan McCarroll, Director, Systems Engineering and Integration (SE&I) Center of Excellence
Kathy Mills, Corporate Security Officer/Security Director, CENTRA Technology, Inc.

3:00PM – 3:30PM Cyber Threats & Vulnerabilities to Small & Mid-Sized Companies

3:30 PM – 4:15 PM Acquisition, Technology & Innovation
Dr. David A. Honey, Ph.D., Director for Science & Technology, Assistant Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Science & Technology, ODNI

4:15PM – 5:00 PM What Can Business Do?

DHS Business Continuity tool
FBI Resources

Keynote: Dr. David A. Honey, Director for Science & Technology, Assistant Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Science & Technology, ODNI

Dr. David Honey serves as the Director for Science & Technology and Assistant Deputy Director for National Intelligence for Science & Technology for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Dr. David A. Honey joined the DoD’s Office of the Director, Defense Research and Engineering as the Director for Research on 31 August 2009. Dr. Honey was responsible for policy and oversight of DoD Science and Technology programs from Basic Research through Advanced Technology Development. He was also responsible for oversight of DoD laboratories, ensuring the long-term strategic direction of the Department’s S&T programs, and for developing those technologies needed for continued technological superiority of US forces. Before assuming this position Dr. Honey was the General Manager and Senior Vice President of the Defense Sector for Information Systems Laboratories (ISL), a small business pursuing science and engineering innovations in the fields of advanced sensors, communications, UAVs, adaptive signal processing, and undersea warfare technology. Dr. Honey also served on the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Honey was the Director of the Defense Advance Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Strategic Technology Office (STO), Director of the Advanced Technology Office (ATO), and Deputy Director and Program Manager of the Microsystems Technology Office (MTO). While at DARPA he led efforts in optoelectronics, networks, communications, information assurance, network-centric-warfare applications, information assurance, sensor systems, space and near-space sensors and structures, maritime technology, underground facility detection and characterization, alternative energy, and chemical-biological defense.

Keynote: Frank Montoya, Jr., Counterintelligence Executive, Office of the National Counterintelligence Executive (ONCIX)

Frank Montoya, Jr. began his career as an FBI special agent in May 1991 and reported to the San Antonio Field Office, where he worked violent crime and fugitive investigations. He established and led activities of the division’s fugitive task force. Montoya also worked temporarily in the Oklahoma City Field Office to assist in the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing investigation. In April 2000, Montoya was promoted and worked at FBI Headquarters. He oversaw national security investigations and operations. During this time, he assisted in the Robert Hanssen investigation. Montoya transferred to the Milwaukee Field Office in November 2002. He served as supervisor and oversaw the counterintelligence squad and several national security investigations. Montoya returned to FBI Headquarters in December 2005, was promoted to unit chief in the Counterintelligence Division, and participated in the establishment of the National Cyber Investigations Joint Task Force. He moved to the West Coast in July 2007 and worked in the San Francisco Field Office as assistant special agent in charge in the counterintelligence branch.

Joan McCarroll, Director, Systems Engineering and Integration (SE&I) Center of Excellence

In her role as SE&I COE Director, Joan is responsible for establishing and promoting TASC’s best practices and processes in SE&I, program protection and cybersecurity including insider threat analysis. In her current role, Joan identifies Leading Practices in SE and deploys them across the company resulting in innovative solutions for our customers. In the area of program protection, Joan has expertise in both external and internal threat assessment and protection. Since joining TASC in 1990, Joan has performed and led end-to-end technical efforts in support of operationally deployed systems, systems under development, and future system architecture studies. She has held senior program management positions supporting the intelligence community in secure communications and SIGINT. Joan received her BSEE from Drexel University and her MS in Systems Analysis and Management from George Washington University. She has also attended Executive education courses at Darden and Strategic Marketing at the University of Chicago.

Kathy Mills, Corporate Security Officer/Security Director, CENTRA Technology, Inc.

Kathy joined CENTRA Technology, in November 2008 as the Corporate Security Officer/Security Director. She is responsible for all aspects of CENTRA’s Security operations, including personnel security, program security, physical security, and Information security, at both CENTRA’s Arlington and Burlington locations. Kathy has over twenty years experience in security including management of day-to-day operational security, personnel management, administration, and maintaining all aspects of a security program under the National Industrial Security Program.

Randy Trzeciak Senior Member of the Technical Staff, Software Engineering Institute’s (SEI), CERT, Carnegie Mellon University

Randy Trzeciak is currently a Senior Member of the technical staff for the Software Engineering Institute’s (SEI) CERT Program. Mr. Trzeciak is a member of a team in CERT focusing on insider threat research. The studies analyze the physical and online behavior of malicious insiders prior to and during network compromises. Other insider threat research uses system dynamics modeling for risk analysis of the impacts of policy decisions, technical security measures, psychological issues, and organizational culture on insider threat. Mr. Trzeciak also is an adjunct professor in Carnegie Mellon’s H. John Heinz School of Public Policy and Management. Prior to his current role in the CERT Program, Mr. Trzeciak managed the Management Information Systems (MIS) team in the Information Technology Department at the SEI. Under his direction, the MIS team developed and supported numerous mission-critical, large-scale, relational database management systems.

Dec. 16: Business Development for Emerging Small Companies

Join the Government Technology & Services Coalition (GTSC) and the Emerging Small Business Group on December 16 to learn about best practices for business development for emerging small companies. Our presenter is Tony Sacco who is the former Vice President of SAIC. He over 40 years of experience in business development, IT systems development, integration and operations. Topics will include:

Introduction to the BD lifecycle from a small business perspective
Challenges and opportunities in each phase
Strategies and techniques to be successful at BD

About Mr. Sacco

Mr. Sacco has over 40 years professional and management experience in the fields of Business Development, IT Systems development, integration and operations. A majority of his experience was and is involved in the management of significant, fixed price, software intensive, development, systems integration and O&M programs for the federal government. His last responsibility, before retiring, was the SAIC program manager for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) EAGLE $1.25B IDIQ program which included winning and executing over 40 competitive Task Orders. His previous assignment includes more than 7 years of IT program management on DHS and predecessor agency contracts, leading a $400 million IT engineering services program. Mr. Sacco is a PMI-certified PMP and an experienced earned value methodology (EVM) instructor with real-world ability in implementing solu¬tions for large federal programs. As program manager on a major IT services contract, Mr. Sacco oversaw critical projects for DHS, including the design and build of the DHS network backbone for OneNetwork, design and imple¬mentation of the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) facility, and design and implementation of the DHS enterprise architecture (EA). In part, the work that Mr. Sacco led for SAIC re-sulted in SAIC’s selection by Frost and Sulli¬van as the 2005 Homeland Security Company of the Year. He also was the program manager for the development and worldwide deployment of the Navy War Gaming System (NWGS). He holds a BSEE from Polytechnic Inst of NY; a MSOR from New York University and a MBA from Rider University. He is a member of the Program Management Institute (PMP) and a IEEE Life Member He is certified to teach EVM and courses in Business Development, PM and Quality Management.

elaine kap

About the Emerging Small Business Group

The Emerging Small Business Group is open to GTSC members with revenue <$2.5 million. It will focus on understanding the numerous challenges of starting/growing a small business in the Federal space and marshaling GTSC’s vast resources of peers, owners, mentors, subject matter experts and online virtual tools to provide our emerging small business members the knowledge and techniques they need to meet the challenges of growing a business.

Emerging Small Businss Group Chair: Elaine Kapetanakis

Oct. 30: Halloween Happy Hour

Join GTSC for a

Halloween Happy Hour

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

5:30 pm – 9:00 pm

IRIS Lounge, Tysons Corner

Please RSVP – Costumes preferred (those in costume will receive a raffle ticket for 2 grand prizes)!

BEST costume also wins a prize!!

>>Please RSVP

Proceeds to benefit the Border Patrol Foundation

www.BorderPatrolFoundation.org

About the Border Patrol Foundation

The Border Patrol Foundation provides resources to the families of the fallen and creates awareness of the escalating risk of those who keep America’s borders safe. These services create a financial bridge through the turbulent time following a family’s loss. The Foundation supports programs improving awareness of United States border security and recognizes community leaders supporting the families of the U.S. Border Patrol. The Foundation’s volunteers have served with the U.S. Border Patrol or are professionals, friends and family committed to the importance of securing America’s borders and dedicate their lives to the same.

Oct. 23: Cyber Security: Focus on Public Private Sector Collaboration

Join GTSC and the InfraGard National Capital Region Members Alliance for a cyber program focused on the threats to the public and private sector. gram. Since Executive Order 13636 and PPD-21 were issued in February 2013, there has been a renewed focus on the challenges of security the nation’s digital infrastructure. Most admit and understand that our cyber security relies on a strong and vital collaboration between industry and government — whether that be the industry protecting our critical infrastructure or industry that provides the underpinning of our economy. Legislators on Capitol Hill are trying to determine how to streamline authorities and responsibilities and law enforcement and other agencies in the Federal government are grappling with preventing and mitigating the impacts of this threat. This session will discuss DHS’ role in cyber security, how the private sector and Federal partners are communicating, what threats are at the forefront from cyber hackers, hostile nation states etc. and how we see future collaboration improving to fight these threats and protect our economy and infrastructure.

AGENDA AT A GLANCE

8:00 AM Registration & Breakfast

8:30 AM Conference Introduction

8:45 AM Keynote: The Challenges of Cyber Security

9:30 AM How do we share information more effectively?

10:30 AM What are the latest threats?

11:30 AM Lunch on your own in the National Geographic Society Cafeteria

12:30 PM Keynote: Cyber Security Priorities from the DHS Perspective

1:15 PM Where is the Government Targeting their Resources?

2:00 PM What the Private Sector Do?

2:45 PM Closing Remarks

Confirmed Speakers:

Keynote: Dr. Phyllis Schneck, Deputy Under Secretary for Cyber Security, NPPD, DHS

Dr. Phyllis Schneck, McAfee’s former CTO and vice president of the global public sector, has been named deputy under secretary of cyber security for the National Protection and Programs Directorate at DHS. Join us to hear her priorities for cyber at NPPD!

Denise Anderson, National Council of Information Sharing and Analysis Centers (ISACs); Vice President, Financial Services-ISAC

Noel Due, Supervisory Special Agent, FBI – HQ, Cyber Division, Operation Clean Slate

Brian Finch, Partner, Global Security, Dickstein Shapiro LLP

John Harmon, Partner, Tactical Network Solutions

John Lainhart, CGEIT, CISA, CISM, CRISC, CIPP/G, CIPP/US Partner, Cybersecurity & Privacy, US Public Sector, IBM Global Business Services

James Mulvenon, Vice President, Defense Group Inc., Center for Intelligence Research and Analysis

Vipul Sharma, Vice President & CTO, Civil Government & Healthcare IT solutions, L-3 STRATIS

Trent Teyema, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, FBI WFO, Criminal Division – Cyber Branch

Glenn Wood, Vice President, Technology, InfraGard Board & Co-Chair, Cyber SIG

About the InfraGard National Capital Region Members Alliance

The InfraGard National Capital Region Members Alliance (INCRMA) consists of a growing membership of professionals who are creating a more resilient critical infrastructure in the Washington, DC metro area. These include defense industrial base, information technology, water supply systems, electrical energy, emergency services, law enforcement, health systems, transportation, banking, and telecommunications. Our membership is voluntary yet exclusive and is comprised of individuals from both the public and private sector. The main goal of INCRMA is to promote ongoing communication, education, and community outreach between the public and private sectors and the FBI. In doing so, information is shared, relationships are strengthened, and vital assets are protected. To learn more, visit us at www.infragard.org.

Oct. 10: Cyber Security Acquisition: What is the Government Buying?

Join the Government Technology & Services Coalition (GTSC) during October’s National Cyber Security Awareness Month for an in-depth look at the acquisition landscape for cyber security programs across DoD, DHS, DOS, and DOJ during its Capacity Building Session, Cyber Security Acquisition: What is the Government Buying? GTSC’s Strategic Partner Dickstein Shapiro LLP will track acquisition activity and provide some insights into how the Federal government is making cyber security investments. This is a “must attend” program if you are interested in understanding the Federal cybersecurity space.

Speakers:

Brian E. Finch

Partner

Dickstein Shapiro LLP

Brian Finch, a partner in Dickstein Shapiro’s Washington, DC office, is head of the firm’s Global Security Practice. Named by Washingtonian magazine in 2011 as one of the top 40 federal lobbyists under the age of 40, Mr. Finch is a recognized authority on global security matters who counsels clients on regulatory and government affairs issues involving the Department of Homeland Security, Congress, the Department of Defense, and other federal agencies. His focuses include liability mitigation, protection of critical infrastructure, state and local grant funds, WMD response preparations, chemical security, cyber security, and border and trade security.

Mr. Finch is a Senior Advisor to the Homeland Security and Defense Business Council and also is a member of the American Bar Association’s Homeland Security Executive Committee for the Administrative Law Section. Mr. Finch served as an inaugural Senior Fellow at George Washington University’s Homeland Security Policy Institute. He also was a member of the Heritage Foundation/Center for Strategic and International Studies Task Force for Examining the Roles, Missions, and Organization of the Department of Homeland Security. Mr. Finch is a Professorial Lecturer in Law at The George Washington University Law School, where he co-teaches Homeland Security Law and Policy. He is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia.
Mr. Finch speaks and writes extensively on global security and terrorism matters, as well as other public affairs issues. He has testified on the implementation of the SAFETY Act twice before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security. He is regularly quoted in publications such as CQ Homeland Security and Washington Technology, and has been profiled by Government Security News Magazine, a leading homeland security journal. Examples of his articles include “Utilizing the SAFETY Act to Assist with CFATS Process,” which appeared in Business & Industry Connection in October 2009; “The SAFETY Act Affords Protections For Smart Grid Players,” which appeared in Renew Grid in October 2009; and “How Sports Owners Can Find Protection in SAFETY,” which appeared in the Sports Business Journal in November 2006. He also has appeared on television news programs such as MSNBC Live as a global security commentator.

Graham (Rusty) Mathews

Senior Legislative Advisor

Dickstein Shapiro LLP

Rusty Mathews, the senior legislative advisor in the Public Policy & Law Practice of Dickstein Shapiro, joined the firm in 1996. Mr. Mathews’ specialties encompass representation, on a variety of legislative and appropriations issues, of the environmental community, electric utilities, competitive power producers and marketers, healthcare providers, direct marketers, homeland security and related high-tech industries, insurance and reinsurance providers, and clients involved in sports, entertainment, and Internet gaming.
During the years 1995 through 1996, in the office of U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski, Mr. Mathews served as Chief Minority Clerk, Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies. He managed all aspects of Congress’s second largest discretionary appropriations bill ($90 billion). He was also responsible for budget development and policy management for 25 federal departments and agencies, including the Departments of HUD and VA, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Science Foundation, NASA and Federal Emergency Management Agency, and 15 independent boards, commissions, and offices.
In 1989 through 1994, in the office of U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd, Mr. Mathews was the Assistant Majority Clerk, Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Department of Interior and Related Agencies. He managed all aspects of the Department of Interior appropriations bill relating to annual budget requests and policy development for the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Bureau of Mines, Office of Surface Mining, Smithsonian Institution, and the fossil energy accounts for the Department of Energy. He also served as principal negotiator for the Midwestern and Eastern coal states during Congressional deliberations on the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.
Among Mr. Mathews’ career highlights are membership on the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, serving as Deputy Vice President for External Affairs with the U.S. Synthetic Fuels Corporation, and being Director of Senate Relations with the Department of Energy.

Oct. 16: Mentor Session with Harris IT Services

Join the Government Technology & Services Coalition for a Mentor Session with Mr. Keith Bryars, the Client Executive for National Security and Federal Law Enforcement at Harris Harris IT Services on Wednesday, October 16.

About Harris IT Services

A leading provider of end-to-end solutions in mission-critical IT transformation, managed solutions, and information assurance for defense, intelligence, homeland security, civil and commercial customers. With over 3,300 professionals worldwide, Harris IT Services offers demonstrated past performance, proven technical expertise and innovative solutions in supporting large-scale IT programs that encompass the full technology lifecycle.

About Keith Bryars, Client Executive

Keith Bryars is a client executive with Harris IT Services. Harris IT Services designs, deploys, and operates secure communications systems and information networks with optimal reliability and affordability for high-profile customers in government and commercial markets, delivering expertise in cloud services, cyber security/information assurance, enterprise managed services, mobility, and systems integration worldwide.

Mr. Bryars joined Harris Corporation in April 2012 following a 25-year career as a senior executive special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Throughout his FBI career, Mr. Bryars was involved in a number of significant highprofile investigations involving counterterrorism, cybersecurity, counterintelligence, public corruption, and violent crimes. He is considered a subject matter expert in Federal Law Enforcement and National Security matters.

At the FBI, Mr. Bryars led and managed field operations across the country and served in the FBI’s Kansas City, Miami, Nashville, Birmingham, and Washington field offices, and at FBI headquarters in Washington, DC. As an FBI senior executive, Mr. Bryars helped lead the FBI’s strategic transformation, post-9/11, to an intelligence-led, threat-driven organization.

He also served as a senior executive at the FBI’s Engineering Research Facility at the Operational Technology Division at Quantico, Virginia, where he oversaw all of the FBI’s technical programs supporting FBI field operations and intelligence collection, and directed a variety of technical capabilities and operational technology support to the FBI and other Federal Law Enforcement and National Security partners.

Before his FBI career, Mr. Bryars worked as a mechanical engineer in the nuclear power industry.

Mr. Bryars holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Auburn University.

Harris is an international communications and information technology company serving government and commercial markets in more than 125 countries. Harris is dedicated to developing best-in-class assured communications® products, systems, and services.

About GTSC’s Mentor Companies

The Government Technology & Services Coalition’s (GTSC) Mentor companies understand how critical a robust, successful homeland and national security market is to our nation’s security. Together with our members, these firms are committed to bringing the innovation, ideas and agility of small business to the experience, infrastructure and resources of large companies. GTSC mentors join us to provide advice and counsel to small and mid-sized companies, find new and innovative teaming partners, address challenges in the prime/subcontractor relationship in a neutral environment and improve mentor/protégé communication and success. Both our large and small companies recognize that the best security for our citizens – both physically and economically — is derived from the ability of our markets to meet the challenges posed by terrorism, natural disasters, and criminal activity.

Feb 21: Best Practices in Government Contracting Focus on DHS & DOD

12/16: Business Development for Emerging Small Companies

Elaine Kapetanakis
Chair, GTSC Emerging Small Business Action Group
CEO, Kapstone Technologies

Nov. 19: GTSC Annual Member Meeting

Dec. 12: The National Security Supply Chain: Reducing the Vulnerabilities

Dec. 16: Business Development for Emerging Small Companies

Oct. 30: Halloween Happy Hour

Oct. 10: Cyber Security Acquisition: What is the Government Buying?

Oct. 16: Mentor Session with Harris IT Services

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Elaine Kapetanakis Chair, GTSC Emerging Small Business Action Group CEO, Kapstone Technologies

Elaine Kapetanakis
Chair, GTSC Emerging Small Business Action Group
CEO, Kapstone Technologies