Chief of Staff French Air and Space Force
General Stéphane Mille graduated from the French Air Force Academy as a fighter pilot and served in operational units on the Mirage F1C and 2000C as an air defense pilot, deploying to Chad in 1991 and the former Yugoslavia in 1994 and 1995. Following an assignment at the French Air Force Academy, he returned to Cambrai Airbase with Squadron 1/12, deploying to Saudi Arabia in 1999 and 2000 and then Kosovo in 1999. After attending the French War College in 2002, he assumed command of the French Air Force Pilot Training School at Cognac AFB and deployed to Naples with NATO Air Command. He completed the Higher Military Studies Center course (CHEM) and attended the 62nd session of the French Higher Level Defense Studies Institute (IHEDN).
From 2012-2014, General Mille was Base Commander of Creil AFB, where transport squadrons, the military space observation center, QRA, and joint units, including intelligence centers, are located. He served as Head of the French Air Force Chief of Staff’s cabinet before being posted on tour as Deputy Commander of Operation Barkhane. On his return, he became Deputy Director and then Director of the French Joint Operations Centre and, in 2020, Director of Operations at the French Joint Staff. He is the first airman awarded the honorary rank of Corporal of the French ‘’Troupes de Marine.’ He is a command pilot with over 2,600 flying hours, including 150 combat hours in 55 combat missions. He was promoted to General in September 2021.
Chief of Staff Italian Air Force
As Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Luca Goretti is the senior uniformed Air Force Officer responsible for the organization, training, and equipment of 44,000 active-duty men and women serving in Italy and overseas. He is responsible for the preparation and deployment of the national airspace defense system and coordinating the deployment of all means involved in the defense of national airspace. His notable staff tours include Head of the Prevention Office of the Flight Safety Inspectorate, Chief of the Planning and Transformation Office within Italian Air Force Staff, Deputy Chief of Defense Planning, Programming and Budget General Office, and Deputy Chief of the Cabinet of the Minister of Defense.
Lieutenant General Goretti was commissioned in 1980 and attended the Italian Air Force Academy, and in 1985 graduated as a Military Pilot at the Euro NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training at Sheppard AFB, Texas, USA, flying the T-38 jet trainer. He has served in a variety of positions at the squadron and wing levels, including as commander of the 156th Fighter Squadron and 32nd Fighter Wing. As a Tornado Flight Instructor, he participated in major international exercises such as Red Flag, Maple Flag Goose Bay, and TLP. He has accumulated over 3,000 flying hours, including over 2000 hours on the Tornado, and more than 100 hours flying combat missions. He holds a bachelor’s in Aeronautical Science from the University of Studies “Federico II” in Naples, and a Ph.D. in Political Sciences from the University of Trieste.
Commander, UAE Air Force & Air Defence
Major General Staff Pilot Ibrahim Nasser M. Al Alawi is the Commander of the UAE Air Force & Air Defense (AFAD). As Commander, he serves as the senior uniformed Emirati Air Force and Air Defense officer responsible for organizing, training, equipping, and maintaining combat-ready forces for peacetime air sovereignty and wartime air defense. As a member of the UAE General Headquarters staff, the general and other service chiefs function as the senior military advisers to the Chief of Staff and Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces. Prior to his current position, he served as the Deputy Commander of UAE AFAD until 2014 and, earlier, as Director of Operations of UAE AFAD. He is a staff pilot with over 3,500 flight hours on various aircraft.
Major General Al Alawi joined the UAE AFAD as a cadet in 1978 and completed his basic helicopter training with the French Army Aviation Wing. He later completed the Instructor Pilot Course with the Royal Moroccan Air Force and attended the Squadron Commander Course in Egypt before assuming command of the Anti-Tank Squadron in 1987. After completing the Staff and Command Course with the U.S. Army at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1993, he took command of the Apache Helicopter Group and, later, Al Dhafra Air Base. He holds Masters degrees in International Relations from Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Massachusetts, and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Air War College, Alabama.
Air Commander, Royal Australian Air Force
Air Vice-Marshal Glen Braz joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1987. After completing studies at the Australian Defence Force Academy and pilot training, he completed F-111C conversion and joined No. 1 Squadron. Early in his career, Air Vice-Marshal Braz flew F-111C and was a Flying Instructor on the PC-9 and Macchi lead-in-fighter. In 2003, he served in the Combined Air Operations Centre in support of Operations overseas. After completing the Australian Command and Staff Course in 2006, Air Vice-Marshal Braz was appointed Deputy Director, Air-Land Integration. He later served as Deputy Director, Super Hornet Transition Team and then as Commanding Officer of No. 1 Squadron, introducing the Super Hornet into service.
Following this, Air Vice-Marshal Braz completed Staff roles as Air Staff Officer Plans and Operations in Washington D.C. and as Director EA-18G Growler Transition, before deploying as Commander, Australian Air Task Group – Middle East Region in 2015, for which he was recognized with the Distinguished Service Medal. On return to Australia, Air Vice-Marshal Braz commanded No. 82 Wing, followed by the Air Force Training Group. After a brief period as Director General, Military Strategic Commitments in early 2020, he was promoted to Air Vice-Marshal in July 2020 and assumed the role of First Assistant Director-General, Expeditionary and Transnational Intelligence Division within the Australian Signals Directorate. In January 2023, Air Vice-Marshal Braz was appointed Deputy Chief of the Royal Australian Air Force. He took up his current role as Air Commander Australia in July 2023.
Commander, U.S. Air Force Central Command
Lieutenant General Alexus G. Grynkewich is Commander, Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central), Shaw AFB, South Carolina, and the Combined Forces Air Component Commander for U.S. Central Command, Southwest Asia. In these roles, the general is responsible for developing contingency plans and conducting air operations in a 21-nation area of responsibility covering Central and Southwest Asia. General Grynkewich received his commission in 1993 after graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy. He has served as an instructor pilot, weapons officer, and operational test pilot in the F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-22 Raptor. General Grynkewich has commanded at the squadron, wing, and Air Expeditionary Task Force levels, and his staff assignments include service at Air Combat Command, U.S. European Command, U.S. Central Command, Headquarters Air Force, and the Joint Staff. Prior to his current assignment, he served as the Director of Operations for U.S. Central Command.
Lieutenant General Grynkewich is a command pilot with more than 2,300 of flight hours, primarily on the F-16C and F-22A. He has also flown the B-1B, B-2A, B-52H, C-17A, E-9A, F-15D, F-15E, HH-60G, MC-12W, MQ-1B, MQ-9A, QF-4E, T-38A, TU-2S. Lieutenant General Grynkewich holds a bachelor’s in Military History from the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado, a master’s degree in History from the University of Georgia, Athens, a master’s in Homeland Security from the Naval Postgraduate School, California, and a master’s in Joint Campaign Planning & Strategy from the Joint Advanced Warfighting School, Virginia.
Director General, UAE Space Agency
Salem Butti Salem Al Qubaisi has been Director General of the UAE Space Agency since 2021, where he is responsible for setting the Agency’s strategic direction, delivering on its mandate to strengthen the space sector, and contributing to the nation’s vision for sustainable economic growth and diversification. Al Qubaisi has been a member of the Agency’s board of directors since 2018, providing critical oversight on operations and major projects such as the Emirates Mars Mission. Today, Al Qubaisi leads the Agency’s ambitious efforts to encourage the development of space science and advanced technologies, set relevant regulations, establish bilateral and multilateral partnerships, enhance national capabilities, and promote peaceful applications for deep space research.
Al Qubaisi formerly served as a board member with Abu Dhabi’s Monitoring and Control Centre (ADMCC) and the National Commission of International Humanitarian Law under the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Earlier, he was the Director of Nuclear Security at the Federal Authority of Nuclear Regulation, and, before this, he spent five years with Lockheed Martin as a Technical Program Manager for the Ministry of Defense, where he worked on avionics, radar, weaponry, and technology targeting systems from 1999 and 2005. Al Qubaisi has a bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from California State University, Sacramento, and a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas, Arlington. He is also an honorary graduate of the National Defence College, holding a master’s degree in Strategic and Security Studies.
Vice President
Customer Requirements – Aeronautics,
Lockheed Martin Corporation
Gary North is the Vice President for Customer Requirements, Aeronautics for Lockheed Martin Corporation, serving as the company interface for customer requirements across the wide spectrum of all Aeronautics. In addition, Mr. North is responsible for ensuring Lockheed Martin fulfills United States and international F-35 customer requirements and ensuring requirements for industrial partners around the world are met. Prior to joining Lockheed Martin in 2013, Mr. North served for 36 years in the Air Force, retiring with the rank of General. He commanded U.S. Air Force units at every level, from squadron to major command, and held numerous key operational, command and staff positions, including Commander, Pacific Air Forces where he was responsible for all U.S. Air Force operations in the Pacific, including as the Joint Force Air Component Commander for the U.S. Pacific Command.
Previously, Mr. North also served as the Commander of U.S. Air Forces Central and the Combined Forces Air Component Commander for U.S. Central Command for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He is a command pilot with more than 4,700 flying hours, primarily in the F-16, F-15C, and the F4G. Mr. North is a graduate of the Air Force F-16 Fighter Weapons School and flew 83 combat missions in Operations Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom. Mr. North holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from East Carolina University, and masters degrees in Public Administration and Human Resource Management from Golden Gate University, and in National Resource Strategy from National Defense University.
Former Chief Information Officer, U.S. Department of Air Force
Lauren Knausenberger is an American entrepreneur, investor, and technology executive. She most recently served as the Chief Information Officer for the U.S. Department of the Air Force, comprised of the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force. As CIO, Ms. Knausenberger led three directorates–Enterprise Information Technology, Data and Artificial Intelligence, and Cybersecurity–and supported 20,000 cyber operations and support personnel around the globe. She provided oversight of the Air Force’s Information Technology investment strategy from networks to cloud computing, Enterprise policies, data management, digital transformation, information resources management, information technology innovation initiatives, cybersecurity, information assurance, ethical use of AI, and related matters for the Department of the Air Force.
Before she joined the Air Force, Ms. Knausenberger founded a consulting firm and was a Venture Partner with NextGen Angels, specializing in solving problems of national security importance and investing in commercial technologies that could be applied to a government mission. Before her time as an entrepreneur and venture capitalist, Ms. Knausenberger held positions of increasing responsibility at American Management Systems and CACI, beginning as a systems analyst and designer, then as a go-to project manager for program turnarounds, a program manager for large IT and finance programs, and finally, as a division manager overseeing much of the company’s technology portfolio. Ms. Knausenberger earned a Bachelor of Science in Decision and Information Sciences from the University of Maryland and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business.
Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Training Command, Indian Air Force
Air Marshal Radhakrishnan Radhish AVSM VM, an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force in June 1985. The Air Officer has close to 2500 hours of flying experience on various aircraft, including the MiG 27 ML and MiG23 MF. He is a Fighter Strike Leader and Instrument Rating Instructor and Examiner. During his illustrious career in the Indian Air Force, the Air Officer has held numerous important appointments, including Commanding Officer of a frontline fighter squadron, Station Commander and Air Officer Commanding of two important frontline air bases in the Eastern Sector, Director of International Defence Cooperation, Directorate of Intelligence and Principal Director of Personnel (Officers) at Air HQ. He has been a Directing Staff at the Defence Services Staff College, Commandant of the College of Air Warfare, and Centre Director for Aviation on deputation to a central agency.
Prior to assuming his current role, he was Air Defence Commander and Senior Air Staff Officer at two operational commands. In recognition of his distinguished service, the Air Marshal was awarded VayuSena Medal on January 26, 2006, and AtiVishishtSeva Medal on January 26, 2013. He is a graduate of the Joint Services Command and Staff College, Shrivenham, UK, and the Royal College of Defence Studies, London, UK. He is married to Mrs. Hyacinth May Radhish and blessed with two children. He maintains a keen interest in reading, traveling, football, and cricket.
Director General, Planning and Policy Department, Japan Air Self-Defense Force
Major General Hiroaki is Director General, Defense Planning and Policy Department (A5/6/8), Air Staff Office (ASO), Koku-Jieitai (Japan Air Self-Defense Force). In his current position, Major General Hiroaki is responsible for leading defense plans and programs of the Koku-Jieitai, including defense cooperation and exchanges, weapons system programs, space security, cybersecurity, C4 systems, civil engineering, and the F-35 program.
He was commissioned in the Koku-Jieitai after graduating from the National Defense Academy in 1993. Specializing in Communication and Electronics, he served multiple tours of duty as Vice Commandant, Air Command and Staff College; Commander, Northern Aircraft Control and Warning Wing; Director, Cybersecurity and C4 Systems Division, and Defense Planning and Policy Department at the Air Staff Office. He has served assignments at Joint Staff and National Security Secretariat, and as an officer dispatched to Marubeni Corporation. He is a graduate of the National Defense Academy, the Command and Staff Course from JGSDF Command and Staff College, the Air War Course from Air Command and Staff College, and the Special Course from Joint Staff College.
Director, Force Modernization and Employment Program,
RAND Project Air Force
Dr. Sherrill Lingel is Director, Force Modernization and Employment Program within RAND Project Air Force (PAF) and a senior engineer at the RAND Corporation. She spent three years as a field analyst reporting directly to Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) leadership. She was a department director of Technology and Applied Sciences at RAND. Most recently, Lingel conducted research on Air Moving Target Indications (AMTI) for the Pacific theater and Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) for Agile Combat Employment (ACE) in Europe preceded by work on ACE in a contested electromagnetic spectrum environment in Europe and lead a team providing an independent assessment of the Department of the Air Force’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) flight plan’s alignment with the 2018 National Defense Strategy.
She led a research team on artificial intelligence applications for JADC2 for the U.S. Air Forces Air Combat Command (ACC). Her research includes complexity in great power competition and warfare, multi-domain operations, JADC2, ACE, ISR capabilities for highly contested environments, and air and missile defense. Before joining RAND, she worked for the Norwegian Institute for Water Research in Oslo, Norway. Dr. Lingel earned a Ph.D. in civil engineering, an M.S. in aeronautics and astronautics engineering from the University of Washington, and a B.S. in aeronautical engineering from the University of Virginia.
Vice President, Air Power Requirements & Capabilities,
Raytheon Missiles & Defense, Raytheon Technologies
Prior to Jon Norman’s career with Raytheon, he served a distinguished 32-year career in the United States Air Force, retiring as a Major General after serving as Chief of Staff, United States Southern Command, Florida. His previous staff assignments included Director, Global Power Programs, SAF/AQ, Executive Officer to Chief of Staff U.S. Air Force, Director J-8 Force Application Division at the Pentagon, Washington DC, ACC Representative to the National Security Agency, Fort Meade, Maryland, Vice Commander, 12 Air Force, Davis Monthan AFB, Arizona, and Vice Commander, Pacific Air Forces, Joint Base Pearl Hickam, Hawaii. He commanded at the Squadron, Group and twice at the Wing level and served in a variety of joint positions throughout Europe, Asia, and the US.
Mr. Norman earned his pilot’s wings at Laughlin AFB, Texas, and was recognized as a Distinguished Graduate and Flying Award winner. He served as an Instructor, Evaluator, and Operational Test Pilot in all F-16 variants during various operational, test, and combat duty assignments and is a US Fighter Weapons School distinguished graduate. During Mr. Norman’s flying career, he was recognized with two Distinguished Flying Crosses and four Air Medals. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Science and Engineering from the United States Air Force Academy, a Master’s in Military Art & Science from US Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS, and a Master’s in National Security Strategy from the US National War College, Washington DC.
President, Business Development - Defense, Space & Security, Global Services, Boeing
Heidi Grant leads a team of nearly 500 people in 25 states and 16 countries representing Boeing’s defense, space and government services portfolios. Her organization develops and maintains customer relationships that align the company’s products and services with customer mission requirements, capturing new business, and achieving business growth. Ms. Grant joined Boeing in November 2021 from the U.S. Department of Defense, having served as director, Defense Security Cooperation Agency, responsible for all DOD security cooperation programs involving defense articles, military training, and other defense-related services. She oversaw more than 15,000 military sales cases with more than 150 countries valued at more than $600 billion and managed a certification program for 20,000 civilian and military personnel.
Prior to the agency, Ms. Grant was director of Defense Technology Security Administration, responsible for developing and implementing global technology security policies for international transfer of defense-related goods, services, and technologies. Between 2010-2018, Ms. Grant served as deputy under secretary of the Air Force, providing oversight and guidance for international policy and for programs supporting global national security objectives, technology and information disclosure, security assistance, education and training, and cooperative research and development. Previously, she helped establish U.S. Africa Command as its first director of resources. Ms. Grant has a Bachelor of Science in business from Pfeiffer University and a Master of Public Administration in financial management from Troy State University.
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