Speakers 2025

We are excited to begin announcing our speakers for the 2025 AI Symposium! 

Speakers listed alphabetically. Speakers subject to availability

If you are interested in attending as a speaker please email institute@spacecamp.com

Here is a partial list of our speakers: (Updates made regularly.)

Dr. Daniel Adamek

Dr. Daniel Adamek

Dr. Daniel Adamek is a seasoned scientist, innovator, and mental health advocate with nearly three decades of experience in interdisciplinary research and technology development. He currently serves as the Chief Science Officer at CohesionForce, where he drives advancements in software and systems engineering tools. As the Founder and Executive Director of Little Orange Fish and an affiliate faculty member at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Dr. Adamek leverages principles of molecular biophysics, systems thinking, and artificial intelligence to address critical societal challenges, including improving mental health care accessibility, advancing equity in healthcare access, and applying systems approaches to understanding the physiological mechanisms of PTSD—from molecular pathways to clinical outcomes.
 

Topic: Advancing Mental Health Care with Human-Centered AI Innovation

 

Sandeep Bodduluri, Ph.D.

Sandeep Bodduluri, Ph.D.

Dr. Bodduluri is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care and Director of AI research at UAB's Center for Lung Analytics and Imaging Research (CLAIR). He also serves as Director of AI programs at Marnix E. Heersink Institute for Biomedical Innovation (MHIBI) overseeing Graduate Certificate and MS (AI in Medicine) degree programs at Heersink School of Medicine. He also holds teaching appointments in Electrical and Computer Engineering. He obtained his MS and PhD in Biomedical Engineering from University of Iowa.  

Topic: AI Applications for Chronic Lung Disease

 

Col. Heather B. Bogstie

Col. Heather B. Bogstie

Col. Heather B. Bogstie is Deputy Director, Space Systems Integration Office, Space Systems Command, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California. The Space Systems Integration Office defines and manages an integrated, threat-based, system-of-systems space enterprise to deliver warfighting capabilities.

Col. Bogstie was commissioned in 1998 through the ROTC program at Auburn University. Her first assignment was a Minuteman III missile operator/ instructor/ flight chief at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. She then moved to the Air Force Technical Applications Center at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida as a Systems Engineer for the Nuclear Treaty Monitoring Directorate, upgrading and installing 15 seismic stations spanning all seven continents. Afterwards, she became the Chief of Payload Products, Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) Wing at Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, delivering the critical SBIRS GEO-2 missile detection and warning payload for spacecraft integration.

After attending Air Command and Staff College, she was a Political Military Planner in the Western Hemisphere Directorate of J5, The Joint Staff, Pentagon, and coordinating Defense Support of Civil Authorities and Pandemic Influenza/Infectious Disease policies with interagency partners. She followed that assignment as Chief, Space Vehicle Engineering Branch at the National Reconnaissance Office where she led a 1,500-member joint team for $4.3B+ SIGINT space vehicle development.

She then became Materiel Leader for Space Operations with Space and Missile Systems Center’s (SMC) Advanced Systems and Development Directorate at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico and led the $152M RDT&E Support Complex, operating $672M in DoD and NASA missions. While there, she was dual-hatted as Program Manager for the $94M ORS-5 space situational awareness pathfinder program. Following that tour, she became Chief of the SMC Commander’s Action Group, where she then led the SMC 2.0 effort--the largest re-organization in the Center’s 60 years.

Afterwards, she was Senior Materiel Leader of the Rapid Development Division, where she managed an $800M portfolio critical to developing innovative on-orbit technologies that enabled numerous missions across the space enterprise. Following this assignment, she was hand selected to establish the Resilient Missile Warning, Tracking, and Defense Acquisition Delta at Space Systems Command which included leading the new $7.2B MEO Missile Track constellation and the integration of the overall Overhead Persistent Infrared enterprise, ensuring rapid response to evolving and emerging hypersonic threats.

Topic: AI integration into Space Force

 

Fox Bonilla

Fox Bonilla

Fox Bonilla is a results focused leader in technology development, strategy, and implementation with a proven track record of innovation and expertise in spatial computing and data visualization. Over 25 years, Fox has developed and patented cutting edge AI and VR technology, created space mission planning software for NASA, developed decision support systems for the Department of Defense, and has served in roles supporting committees advising U.S. President Barack Obama about options for future human spaceflight.

Mr. Bonilla is a company founder and technologist who thrives in rapid problem solving environments. In addition to his CEO duties at Harbinger, Mr. Bonilla serves as adjunct faculty in the School of Arts, Media, and Engineering at Arizona State University. Fox also provides insight and guidance regarding XR and spatial computing industry best practices as the co-chair of the Privacy and Safety Working Group at XRSI. Mr. Bonilla is regularly featured as on-air talent throughout global news media as a subject matter expert on AI and immersive systems.
 

Topic: Hyperspace Traveler: How to prevent catastrophic failure when creating an immersive AI system

 

Brian Brown

Brian Brown

Brian Brown is the SVP Executive Creative Director and Creative Innovation lead at Razorfish. A designer, storyteller, coder, and cultural anthropologist—Brian thrives at the intersection of technology, culture, and creativity. Brian's work is helping to shape the future of digital marketing. From reimagining brands in the metaverse to pioneering AI-driven campaigns, he’s spent over 20 years merging emerging tech with pop culture to craft experiences that resonate and inspire.

Brian’s work has earned accolades from BDA’s, Effies, OMMA, IAB, Campaign, and Adage, but he’s more interested in what’s next than resting on past successes. Leading a team of creative technologists, he bridges the gap between technological innovation and human connection, turning complex ideas into engaging stories and boundary-pushing campaigns.

As a thought leader, Brian has spoken at universities, industry events, and conferences, offering sharp insights on generative AI, immersive storytelling, and the cultural shifts sparked by emerging tech. His fascination with how technology drives societal change—slowly at first, then all at once—fuels his work and his passion for innovation.

Topic: Muse in the Machine:  AI and the Next Era of Creativity

 

Wes Chaar

Wes Chaar, Ph.D.

Wes’ career started in Aerospace Engineering where he contributed to the US Space Exploration Program and Mars Missions. He was first to introduce the concepts of Adaptive Navigation Systems using Artificial Intelligence and Machine learning combined with Genetic Algorithms for use in Deep Space Missions.

Transitioning from Aerospace Engineering to the business world, Wes brought his deep knowledge of mathematical modeling and computer science, establishing himself as a leading expert in the Analytics, Data Science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, and Data Fusion fields. Over the course of his career, Wes has driven industry-leading innovations in the Airlines, Hospitality, CPG, Retail, Advertising, Media, Marketing, Private Equity, and Data Services sectors.

His work has been recognized, including receiving an Emmy for Engineering and Technology (Turner team), the INFORMS Innovative Applications of Analytics Award, the ANA Genius Awards for Marketing Analytics Science, the ANA Genius Awards for Excellence in Pioneering Analytics Innovation, the ARF Great Mind Award in Analytics Leadership, Corinium’s Top 100 Innovators in Data & Analytics for the Americas, finalist for the Wagner Prize, finalist for the Edelman Award, and more. Furthermore, he has published in numerous journals and proceedings, including IEEE Transactions, M&SOM, AAS, Interfaces, and others, and has presented at conferences around the globe. He is a member of AIAA, IEEE, and INFORMS.

Wes attained his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. He resides in Dallas, Texas

Topic: Closing the Gap: Practical Strategies to Build AI Literacy in Organizations

 

Solange Charas

Solange Charas, Ph.D.

Solange Charas, Ph.D., is a seasoned Human Capital Practitioner with over 35 years of experience in strategic workforce management, AI integration, and human capital materiality reporting. As CEO of HCMoneyball, she leverages AI-driven analytics to enhance decision-making and improve workforce efficiency and ROI. She is a Professor of Practice at Columbia University, where she develops curricula bridging theory and real-world application. Her extensive public company board experience and background as a CHRO in global organizations underscore her expertise in aligning AI solutions with human oversight. In her work, she advocates for AI-driven innovation while emphasizing the critical role of humans-in-the-loop (HITL) to mitigate risk and drive sustainable business performance. A recognized thought leader, Solange has authored over 300 practitioner articles, been cited in more than 100 academic works, and regularly speaks on the intersection of AI, human capital, and financial outcomes. She is the author of Humanizing Human Capital: Invest in Your People for Optimal Business Returns.   

Topic: AI and Humans in the Loop: Enhancing Human Capital for a Tech-Driven Future

 

Howard Chen

Howard Chen

Howard Chen is an Assistant Professor for the Industrial & Systems Engineering and Engineering Management (ISEEM) department at UAH. Dr. Chen’s research interests broadly span the areas of Human Systems Integration, Biomechanics, and Occupational Ergonomics, where he focuses on (i) the development of novel motion analysis solutions, and (ii) applying the latest methods towards understanding, predicting, and preventing work-related injuries. Much of his work leverages multi-sensor data fusion, machine learning, machine vision, and wearable sensors. Prior to joining UAH, Dr. Chen was Postdoctoral Fellow and Assistant Research Professor for the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Auburn University. Dr. Chen received his PhD in Industrial Engineering at The University of Iowa, where he was a NIOSH Fellow and a Graduate Research Assistant within the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health.

Topic: Research Methods for Studying AI and Human Systems

 

Glenn Clayton

Glenn Clayton

Glenn Clayton is a seasoned entrepreneur and early-stage tech investor. As Managing Partner of Mark II Ventures, a Nashville-based venture studio, he has helped launch multiple AI-enabled B2B SaaS startups. In addition to Mark II, Glenn oversees Fieldcrest Ventures, a firm that advises, incubates, and invests in early-stage software and deep tech companies. His prior experience includes building and scaling multiple successful tech startups, several of which were based in Alabama.
 

Topic: AI & Energy Demands - Are We Ready? 

 

Dr. Kuan Collins

Dr. Kuan Collins

Dr. Kuan Collins is a leader in Booz Allen's domestic resilience practice, where she leads solution strategy and storytelling for the growth enablement team supporting law enforcement and immigration strategy and strategic opportunities and investments. Kuan is a recognized expert in solution architecture and systems engineering. Focusing on digital transformation, IT modernization, intelligent software, and analytics, she and her team of human-centered design experts drive strategic programs and initiatives for our defense and civil businesses.

Before joining Booz Allen, Kuan was executive director for digital innovation at Axient Corporation where she led digital transformation and innovation investments and solutions. Previously, Kuan worked as a fellow and innovation factory director for SAIC. While there she led the development of innovative programs, including enterprise search using natural language processing (NLP) and neural search.

Kuan currently serves on the College of Science college advisory board at the University of Alabama, Huntsville. She earned a Ph.D. in business administration from the University of Maryland Global campus, an M.Sc. in information systems from Strayer University, and a B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Maryland at College Park.

Topic: Ready, Set, Go AI! Practical Tips for Implementing AI Solutions Today

 

Dr. Brian Davidson

Dr. Brian Davidson

Dr. Brian Davidson, Chief Technology Officer at SkyfireAI, comes from an esteemed career in the DoD in micro-electronics and creating new AI programs at DARPA; and working as a AI and cybersecurity expert across many commercial sector companies; as well as becoming the lead data scientist for new business development at Comcast NBCUniversal. 
 

Topic: Taking Flight with Responsible AI in Law Enforcement Drones

 

Toni Eberhart

Toni Eberhart

Toni Eberhart is a Communications Strategist and Innovation Program Designer at Booz Allen Hamilton. Before joining Booz Allen, Toni held leadership positions in the areas of communications, marketing, media relations, and community engagement.

She is passionate about innovation and entrepreneurship and serves national and local non-profit organizations aligned to advancing opportunities for entrepreneurs including Launch Tennessee Valley, TechBirmingham, Startup Champions Network, and Right to Start.

Toni is a graduate of the Drexel University LeBow College is Business in Philadelphia, Penn.  

Topic: Topic: Ready, Set, Go AI! Practical Tips for Implementing AI Solutions Today

 

Chris Hand

Chris Hand

Chris Hand is a seasoned technology leader with over a decade of experience in the software industry. Known for his technical expertise and leadership, he has successfully led cross-functional teams in various roles across Technology, Architecture, Customer Experience, and Operations. Now the CEO of GenServ AI, a company specializing in custom Generative AI solutions for businesses, Chris continues to drive innovation, focusing on improving efficiency, customer satisfaction, and product development. His background includes designing scalable software and launching cutting-edge applications across web and mobile platforms.

Topic: AI with a Human Touch: Designing Systems for Efficiency, Experience, and Quality

 

Doug Hamrick

Doug Hamrick

Doug leads the innovative development and execution of predictive maintenance, manufacturing and supply chain strategies helping organizations use Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Analytics to increase efficiency, reduce cost, accelerate decision making, improve performance, manage risk, and drive sustained value. He is a leader in Booz Allen’s Artificial Intelligence & Analytics practice supporting a portfolio of client engagements and strategic investments in multiple markets.

Doug has over 35 years global manufacturing/supply chain operations, process improvement, and product development experience in several industries (including automotive, aerospace, electronics, defense, and government). Since joining Booz Allen in 2009 he has built and led teams to help clients in several government and commercial markets. Doug has extensive experience with global firms building capability to facilitate analytics and AI based technical, organizational and cultural solutions to drive sustained business results. He has acute knowledge of global business practices having direct experience working in more than 20 countries.

Topic: Ready, Set, Go AI! Practical Tips for Implementing AI Solutions Today

 

Annie Hanlon

Annie Hanlon

Annie Hanlon is an accomplished executive and award-winning producer with expertise spanning advertising and commercials, immersive and virtual production, traditional film and series, emerging technology, and documentaries.

As Co-founder of PLAYBOOK, she advances the adoption of virtual production, real-time technologies, AI, and emerging tools for industry leaders. Annie is known for her impact at Netflix, Lytro, and Here Be Dragons and for setting new standards in the creative use of technology in entertainment.

A 2024 Adult Space Camp graduate, Annie is a member of the Television Academy’s Emerging Media and Commercial peer groups as well as the Co-founder of Playbook AID, an ethical solution for everyone to protect, secure, and control their intellectual property online.

Topic: The Creators Creativity Sandbox: Where Human Vision Meets Gen AI Part 2

 

Josh Jones

Josh Jones

Joshua Jones is CEO of QuantHub, a Birmingham-based education technology company that helps people prepare for a data-driven future. As an online learning platform, QuantHub provides personalized learning paths in data and AI skills for students, professionals, and corporations, preparing them for future job demands. Prior to his role at QuantHub, Jones was founder and CEO of StrategyWise, an award-winning data science and AI consulting firm. StrategyWise provided data science strategy to global firms ranging from Samsung and Toshiba to Southern Company and Chick-Fil-A. StrategyWise was recognized as one of America’s fastest-growing companies three years in a row on the Inc 5000. A lifelong entrepreneur, Jones’s career experience has spanned 6 startups, 45 countries and 4 languages. He has been quoted by Forbes, CIO.com, the Atlanta Business Chronicle, and Entrepreneur Magazine, and is a TEDx alum and regular speaker and lecturer in universities and conferences across the US. Joshua received his Master of Business Administration at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School and his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Alabama.

Topic: Demystifying AI: A Look at Past, Present, and Future

 

Nicholaos Jones

Nicholaos Jones

Nicholaos Jones is Professor of Philosophy at The University of Alabama in Huntsville. His research specializes in the philosophy of science and technology, with a focus on systems thinking and strategies for integrating ethics into engineering design. His work has appeared in Journal of Defense Modeling and Simulation, Philosophy of Science, and British Journal for the Philosophy of Science.

Topic: The Uniqueness of AI-Enabled Systems

 

Dr. Joseph

Dr. Robert Joseph

Robert is a dynamic leader in technology and data innovation, dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations to reach their fullest potential. He is a co-founder of Team MindShift, a pioneering talent and workforce development firm specializing in technology training, and a LinkedIn Learning Instructor. With over 19 years as a university professor, he has inspired and impacted the careers of more than 5,000 students. Previously, Robert held roles as a Senior Data Scientist and Director at Stanley Black & Decker. Throughout his career he has contributed to advancements across recruitment, manufacturing, telecom, healthcare analytics, and software development. He holds both a B.S. and M.S. in Electrical Engineering from MIT, along with an M.S. and Ph.D. in Computer Science from Carnegie Mellon University.

An accomplished developer, Robert has created hundreds of mobile, web, and desktop applications, and holds a patent for an internet DJ system. Yet, beyond his professional achievements, his most meaningful accomplishment is being a father to two young adult sons, a role he cherishes above all.

Topic:  Closing the Gap: Practical Strategies to Build AI Literacy in Organizations 

 

Hanumanthrao "Rao" Kannan

Hanumanthrao "Rao" Kannan

Dr. Hanumanthrao "Rao" Kannan is an Assistant Professor in the Industrial and Systems Engineering and Engineering Management department at The University of Alabama in Huntsville. He holds a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering from Anna University, an M.S. in Astronautical Engineering from the University of Southern California, and a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from Iowa State University. Dr. Kannan's research focuses on improving Systems Engineering processes through novel theoretical foundations, with specific focus on problem space representation, knowledge representation and reasoning, ontology development, and Verification & Validation. His research also involves developing theoretical foundations for the semantic composition and validation of Digital Twins. Dr. Kannan's work spans transdisciplinary fields, including Formal Logic, Decision Theory, and Engineering Design. He is transitioning these foundations to apply to AI systems, exploring the intersection of Systems Engineering for AI (SE4AI). Prior to his current position, he served as an Assistant Professor at Virginia Tech and held postdoctoral positions at both Virginia Tech and Iowa State University.

Topic: The Uniqueness of AI-Enabled Systems

 

Josh Wallace Kerrigan

Josh Wallace Kerrigan

Josh Wallace Kerrigan is a filmmaker originally from Wichita Falls, Texas. His early work was regularly featured on Funny or Die and also aired on Comedy Central. In 2019, Josh made his feature film debut with the satirical horror Keeping Company (Director/Co-writer)-- which is now available on Paramount Plus. More recently, he has started making videos under the banner Neural Viz which explores storytelling with AI tools. Those videos have garnered millions of views world wide.

Topic: The Creators Creativity Sandbox: Where Human Vision Meets Gen AI Part 1 

 

Jay Langley

J. Langley

J. Langley is the Founder of Huntsville AI and Chief Technical Officer of CohesionForce, Inc. With over 20 years of experience in Department of Defense (DoD) architecture, systems, and software development, he has a proven track record of delivering innovative solutions. Since 2006, he has specialized in artificial intelligence, focusing on natural language processing (NLP), image recognition, recommendation systems, and audio transcription technologies. In 2018, he founded Huntsville AI, creating a thriving community of practice to advance AI collaboration and innovation in Huntsville. Since its inception, Huntsville AI has held over 200 local meetups, 2 remote NeurIPS meetups, and been an active supporter of the NASA SpaceApps Challenge, the HudsonAlpha Tech Challenge, and the AI Huntsville Taskforce.

Topic: AI - Continuous Learning for Humans

 

Larry Lowe

Dr. Larry Lowe

Dr. Larry Lowe is Chief Scientist at RippleWorx, a commercial software company headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama. He leads the data science team responsible for data analysis, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data visualization. He is currently working with large language models implementing classification and summarization algorithms on survey and performance data in order to map individual motivation to organizational performance. He started part-time in October, 2021 and joined full-time in April, 2022.

Topic: Prompt Engineering Workshop

 

Don Mathis

Don Mathis

Don Mathis, co-founder and CEO at SkyfireAI, is a serial entrepreneur, executive and innovation leader. Most recently Growth GM with Comcast NBCUniversal, Don also spent 22 years with the Navy, active and reserve, where he was a Commanding Officer, anti-submarine flight officer and first responder at Ground Zero after 9/11.

Topic: Taking Flight with Responsible AI in Law Enforcement Drones

 

Ryan Melvin

Ryan Melvin, Ph.D.

Dr. Ryan L. Melvin is the Endowed Faculty Scholar for Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning and an Associate Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. His multidisciplinary publication record spans Artificial Intelligence, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Statistics. Dr. Melvin has delivered numerous trainings, lectures, and seminars on AI across the globe. His innovative algorithms are actively utilized by academic, private, and governmental institutions. Dr. Melvin holds a Ph.D. in Physics and a Master’s in Statistics from Wake Forest University. His work has been highlighted in an Intel Spotlight video and featured in journals such as BJA and PNAS.

Topic: Applications of Large Language Models

 

Vineetha Menon, PhD

Vineetha Menon, PhD

Vineetha Menon, Ph.D., Chief AI Transformation Officer at Cirkle LLC and Dr. Terence Reed Endowed Associate Professor of Computer Science and Director of the Big Data Analytics lab in the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Dr. Menon has over a decade of expertise in multidisciplinary Data Science research domains, including Gen AI, bias and transparency in large language models (LLMs), deep learning, AI-driven drug discovery, cybersecurity, explainable AI for better transparency in evolutionary human-AI autonomous system interaction and human-AI trust domains. She is an expert in big data analytics and has consulted for local, defense and global clients on topics spanning human-AI teaming, human performance modeling, organizational performance prediction based on Baldrige model, and lean six sigma models, AI adoption and risk mitigation frameworks for organizations. Dr. Menon is a world recognized IEEE/ACM mentor, AI tech visionary and invited speaker for technical conferences, defense symposiums, executive summits to local news outlets. She is the recipient of the 2023 IEEE Region 3 Outstanding Young Professional award, the 2022 IEEE Huntsville Young Professional of the Year award, and the 2021 IEEE Eta Kappa Nu (HKN) Outstanding Young Professional award for her exemplary contributions to multidisciplinary Big Data applications research, global leadership, mentoring, community impact.
 

Topic: AI-Driven Performance Prediction: A Used Case of Automation and HITL Integration


 

 

Mickey

Mickey Mentzer

Mickey Mentzer is the Senior Director of Baseball Systems for the Cincinnati Reds. In this role his teams are tasked with managing the massive amounts of data for both the sport and business side of the organization. His teams are also responsible for the interfaces for the front office, coaching staff, sports science, and players. Before his role with the Reds, he had the opportunity to work in the innovation space for companies like P&G, Kroger, Anthem and 5/3. He also architected a platform for the social app ooVoo that supported 180 million users globally during its time.

Topic: The Future of the Game: Harnessing AI in Baseball

 

Bryan Mesmer

Bryan Mesmer

Dr. Bryan Mesmer is an Associate Professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering and Engineering Management at The University of Alabama in Huntsville. Dr. Mesmer’s research reimagines systems engineering using approaches that span traditional areas of decision theory and modeling and non-traditional areas of communication arts and psychology. He has been PI, Co-PI, or Lead Researcher on over $13M in research sponsored by NASA, Army, Navy, DoD, and others. Dr. Mesmer’s latest research is exploring the differences between architecting and designing. He is also characterizing architecting through a game theoretic lens.

Topic: The Uniqueness of AI-Enabled Systems

 

Andrew Miller

Andrew Miller

Andrew Miller is a Clinical Lecturer in law, a Clinical Fellow in private law, and an Associate Research Scholar in law at Yale Law School. Miller is the director of the Private Law Clinic, which he co-founded in 2022. At the Clinic, students work on cutting-edge and theoretically challenging matters in consumer protection, contract, tort and property law. Miller also researches the theoretical and doctrinal implications of algorithmic decision-making in consumer markets.After graduating from Yale Law School in 2018, Miller clerked for Judge Diane Wood on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and spent two years at Loevy & Loevy, a Chicago civil rights firm. At Loevy & Loevy, Miller focused on seeking redress for people harmed by the misuse of facial recognition, digital surveillance, and other artificial intelligence technologies.

Topic: AI and Democracy

 

Jamie Miller

Jamie Miller

Mr. Miller is the Founder and CEO of Mission Multiplier, a Huntsville-based, SBA-certified small business and Department of Defense recognized asset at the forefront of cybersecurity and information assurance innovation. Mission Multiplier is formally sponsored by the Missile Defense Agency as part of their Mentor-Protégé program and was recently awarded the 2019 Small Business of the Year in the Government Contracting / Technology category by the Huntsville – Madison County Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Miller is also the CEO of two additional companies, both Joint Ventures (JVs): (1) Mission Innovate LLC, a JV with All Points (our MDA-sponsored Mentor); and (2) MARS Suite LLC, which is also under an SBA-JV with All Points. Both JVs are focused on cyber technology development and innovation.

Mr. Miller possesses over 20 years’ experience and is a proven thought leader that has developed innovative approaches and methodologies to solve problems in the areas of: cybersecurity assessment; governance; engineering; operations; critical infrastructure protection; data analytics; and continuous monitoring. Mr. Miller’s innovative cyber solutions – to include ISSO-as-a-Service, MARS Suite™, and SATURN-i – are changing the game for how organizations make more informed and effective risk management decisions at a reduced cost.

Mr. Miller was recently awarded the “2021 Entrepreneur of the Year” by the Catalyst Center for Business and Entrepreneurship. Mr. Miller was also nominated for the prestigious Russell G. Brown Award by the Huntsville Chamber four years in a row -- from 2017 through 2020. Mr. Miller was a finalist as “Entrepreneur of the Year” as part of the 2018 Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA) imerge Innovation Awards, and he also won the “2016 Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year” by the Innovate Huntsville organization. He is a regular speaker at information security industry leading conferences (e.g., National Cyber Summit), and has published several industry articles – most recently writing about “Shared Risk” for the Security Magazine. Mr. Miller serves as the President of the Board of Directors for Cyber Huntsville, a Tennessee Valley Initiative; CyberReach; the Southeastern Cyber Security Foundation; and he also serves as the National Cyber Summit Program Co-Chair. Mr. Miller is also a proud member of the Leadership Huntsville Class of 29, and Focus Class 31. He holds an MBA in consulting from Thunderbird School of Global Management, and a BA in International Studies from American University.

Topic: The Role of AI in Cybersecurity: Opportunities and Challenges
 

 

Monroe

Dr. William Stonewall Monroe

Dr. William Stonewall Monroe currently serves as the Vice President for Data Science at Analytical AI and the Chief Data Scientist at Strategic AI Services. With a robust background in data science and AI, He has held pivotal roles such as Algorithm Scientist for a Medical Imaging Startup VIDA Diagnostics and lead research and data scientist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s supercomputer, the largest and fastest in the state. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he spearheaded the UAB Research Computing big data effort to triage COVID test results across all academic institutions in Alabama.

At Analytical AI, he has led his team to innovate security domain solutions for explainable image-based AI. The work includes multiple Phase 2 SBIR projects with AFWERX, focusing on detecting wildlife intrusion and foreign object debris, developing on-person screening algorithms for TSA and CBP, and creating narcotics detection systems for vehicle screening at CBP, among other applications in a wide variety of domains.

 In addition to his professional roles, He hosts the podcast “Analytical Innovations,” where he discusses advancements and trends in AI and data science, ethics, leadership, and entrepreneurship. He am particularly passionate about the importance of explainable and trustworthy AI and the critical role of human oversight in areas where ethical considerations and decision consequences are paramount.

Topic: Who said that? Explainable AI for the Human in the Loop when Lives are on the Line

 

Grant Moyle

Grant Moyle

Grant Moyle is the Chief Technology Officer and Master Trainer at ROI Training. Over the last 20+ years, Grant has worked with the world’s leading organizations to modernize their computing operations into the Cloud, and leverage AI and ML to solve business problems. His customers include NASA, NIH, Google, Goldman Sachs, Mayo Clinic, and HSBC.

A 2-time Google Cloud Trainer of the Year, Grant has trained thousands of business and technology professionals around the world. He has degrees from Johns Hopkins University in Biomedical, Electrical and Computing Engineering. He holds multiple certifications from Google Cloud, AWS, Microsoft and ISC2. Since a young age, Grant has had a passion for technology and is an avid space enthusiast. Grant enjoys annual visits to the US Space and Rocket Center for his space camper son Duncan.

Focused on helping organizations achieve digital transformation thru upskilling, ROI Training is the global leader in customized technology and management training solutions. ROI is an AWS Advanced Tier Training Partner and has been awarded Training Partner of the Year six times by Google Cloud. ROI has authored 10 Generative AI classes and trained over 500,000 people on Cloud and AI technologies.

Topic:  Cloud Computing and Human-Centric Autonomous Systems - Explore the Synergy of Humans and AI

 

Tom

Tom Plunkett

Thomas Plunkett is a member of the Virginia State Bar and the Patent Bar.  He is a published author and frequent speaker on topics including intellectual property law, artificial intelligence, computer science, and other topics.  He has technical certifications in Generative Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and other topics.  He has a B.A. and J.D. from George Mason University, an M.S. in Computer Science from Virginia Tech, an M.S. in Blockchain and Digital Currency from the University of Nicosia.  He has graduate certificates in Cybersecurity and Management Science from Stanford University.  He has taken graduate courses in Data Science from the University of Colorado Boulder. 

Topic: Intellectual Property Law and Generative Artificial Intelligence 

 

Marcus Sachs

Marcus Sachs

Marcus (Marc) Sachs is the Senior Vice President and Chief Engineer at the Center for Internet Security. He is a retired US Army Officer and was a White House appointee in the George W. Bush administration. His private sector experience includes senior leadership roles at SRI International, Verizon Communications, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, and Pattern Computer. Prior to joining CIS he was the Deputy Director for Research at Auburn University’s McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security. He is a recognized cybersecurity expert with over 30 years of experience countering a wide range of cyber threat actors. Marc lives and works in Huntsville, Alabama.

Topic: Exploitation of Autonomous AI by Cyber Threat Actors

 

Dr. Chris Shumeyko

Dr. Chris Shumeyko

Dr. Chris Shumeyko is a Senior Associate within Booz Allen Hamilton’s Chief Technology Office, where he leads efforts in artificial intelligence (AI) focused on Predictive Maintenance (PMx), Logistics, and Supply Chain solutions across the Defense sector. In this role, Chris manages AI-focused client delivery while also partnering with teams across Booz Allen to identify AI integration opportunities in support of varying client missions.Prior to joining Booz Allen in 2022, Chris served as both a Product Manager and Technical Advisor in the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC). There, he enabled the development of Joint Logistics (JL) capabilities while also supporting various AI education initiatives across DoD. He oversaw PMx capability development efforts with organizations from across Academia, Industry, and Government, providing technical guidance and insights to the JL Director to achieve the goal of increased mission readiness across the Joint Services.

Chris began his career in the defense sector as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the U.S. Army Research Lab, where he combined computational and experimental research to investigate state-of-the-art structural materials for military applications. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Lafayette College and a PhD from Lehigh University, both in Mechanical Engineering. Additionally, Chris has experience teaching in higher education and leading nonprofit organizations.

Topic: Ready, Set, Go AI! Practical Tips for Implementing AI Solutions Today

 

Matt Sloan

Matt Sloane

Matt Sloane began his career at CNN Medical News alongside Dr. Sanjay Gupta, where he reported on a wide range of health and wellness topics, as well as breaking news stories. His dedication and excellence in the field earned him three Daytime Emmy award nominations and a New York Festival award for his outstanding coverage of Diana Nyad's historic swim from Cuba to Key West.In 2014, following his tenure at CNN, Sloane ventured into the world of drone technology by founding Skyfire. His company provides expertise to public safety agencies regarding the rapidly growing use of drones. Notably, Sloane serves on the National Fire Protection Association's committee on drones and is also a part of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International’s Air Advocacy Committee. Sloane and SkyfireAI have been featured in various publications, including CBS News, the Los Angeles Times, and numerous industry-specific publications.

Topic: Taking Flight with Responsible AI in Law Enforcement Drones

 
Christina Lee Storm

Christina Lee Storm

Christina Lee Storm is an award-winning producer and senior entertainment executive, recognized for her pioneering work at the intersection of storytelling and cutting-edge technologies across film, television, animation, documentaries, virtual reality, augmented reality and XR.

As Founder of ASHER XR and Co-Founder of PLAYBOOK, Christina has driven the creative and strategic implementation of virtual production, real-time technologies, AI, and emerging technology for studio giants like Netflix, Universal, and DreamWorks Animation.

Christina serves as Governor of the Television Academy’s Emerging Media Programming peer group and sits on the Academy’s AI Task Force and Producers Guild of America's Production Innovation Task Force. She is also Co-Founder of Playbook AID, an ethical solution for everyone to protect, secure, and control their intellectual property  in the age of online digital theft.

Topic: The Creators Creativity Sandbox: Where Human Vision Meets Gen AI Part 1 

 

Chad Tillman

Chad Tillman

Chad Tillman, Director UAS Operations, Huntsville, AL, is a seasoned public safety professional with over 20 years of experience. He has served as an EMT with Huntsville-Madison County Rescue for 16 years and is a pioneer in drone technology, founding the North Alabama UAS Working Group and the Unmanned Aerial Systems Information and Analysis Organization. As the UAS Program Director for the Huntsville Police Department, he has successfully implemented a comprehensive drone program, significantly enhancing public safety operations.

Topic: Taking Flight with Responsible AI in Law Enforcement Drones

 

Lisa Vangsness

Lisa Vangsness

Lisa Vangsness, PhD, is a faculty member in the Psychology department and the director of the Challenge, Metacognition, and Perception (ChaMP) Lab at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. She has more than a decade of experience in human factors and usability testing from private, academic, and consulting perspectives. Dr. Vangsness uses her expertise to provide evidence-based and actionable design recommendations that are grounded in the scientific understanding of human cognition and behavior. She’s authored 27 research papers and is the co-inventor of the Linguistic FingerprintTM, a patent-pending tool that leverages the power of AI to provide real-time mental state assessment (e.g., workload) from a person’s speech or writing. She collaborates with a variety of interdisciplinary teams on topics related to human-AS/AIS interaction.

Topic: Research Methods for Studying AI and Human Systems

 

Shelby Ward

Shelby Ward

Shelby Ward is the COO of Curious Refuge, the world’s first online home for AI Filmmakers. Shelby has spent her career cultivating artist education communities in motion design and VFX, assisting artists at the highest levels of the industry, from Disney to Netflix. She is passionate about creating an optimistic and inclusive creative community centered around modern technology. She is a regular voice on film industry panels, and her AI films have been screened around the world.

Topic: The Creators Creativity Sandbox: Where Human Vision Meets Gen AI Part 2

 

Kristin Weger, PhD

Kristin Weger, Ph.D., Founder and CEO of Cikle and Associate Professor of Industrial Organizational Psychology at the University of Alabama in Huntsville and Director of the Leaderahip and Organizational Behavior Lab. Dr. Weger specializes in lean and agile leadership development, organizational transformation, operations management, daily and shop floor management, emotional intelligence and behavioral change, and optimizing and digitalizing regulatory processes. With over a decade of consulting experience, she has worked with global clients spanning diverse sectors such as automotive, aerospace, defense, construction, manufacturing, processing, and oil and gas. Dr. Weger is recognized globally for her expertise as a consultant, trainer, and coach in process and leadership excellence. She has trained more than +500 team leaders, supervisors, managers, and executives. As a global master coach, she implements internal coaching programs and develops skills in individuals from the system level to C-level, contributing directly to their professional growth and the success of their organizations. 

Topic: AI-Driven Performance Prediction: A Used Case of Automation and HITL Integration


 

 

Ana Wooley

Ana Wooley

Dr. Ana Wooley is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering and Engineering Management (ISEEM) at The University of Alabama in Huntsville. She completed her PhD in Industrial and Systems Engineering at Auburn University and she holds a Master's degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the same institution. She is an expert in modeling and simulation of manufacturing systems, with a particular focus on automotive manufacturing systems. Dr. Wooley’s current research focuses on digital twin development, smart manufacturing, simulation, and seamless integration of these technologies into manufacturing systems. She has collaborated with a leading automotive company to develop simulations of several aspects of their manufacturing lines. Alongside her research endeavors, she actively imparts knowledge in simulation and manufacturing through her teaching role, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses

Topic: Research Methods for Studying AI and Human Systems


 

 

Dr. Beverly Wright

Dr. Beverly Wright

Beverly Wright, PhD, CAP serves as Vice President of Data Science & AI at Wavicle Data Solutions, and Director for Data Science & AI at University of Georgia’s Executive Education.   With a career spanning over 30 years across utilities, financial services, telecommunications, healthcare, consulting, and academia, Beverly has led numerous teams and established herself as a data science & AI thought leader, executive professor, national speaker, podcast host, and a trailblazing advocate for data science for good.   She also serves as Board Chair for TAG Data Science & AI, Board Member for Georgia Institute of Technology’s Master of Science in Analytics program, Past President of the Analytics Society at INFORMS, and podcast host for TAG Data Talk.

Topic: Closing the Gap: Practical Strategies to Build AI Literacy in Organizations

 

Adam Zuckerman

Adam Zuckerman

As an entrepreneur, attorney, and MBA, Adam is a subject matter expert focused on the impact and implementation of future-facing technologies and the fourth industrial revolution, often at the intersection of enterprise growth and startups.

With a diverse background that spans many industry verticals (including energy, finance, non-profits, startups, and Fortune 500 companies) he serves as advisor to several organizations, keynotes events around the world, have been hired to present on the future of technology to leading global agencies (e.g.; Carat, Havas, MediaCom, Mindshare, Ogilvy, Publicis, Zenith, and others). Mr. Zuckerman is also an Eisenhower Fellow, adjunct professor at the University of Maryland, and has been a guest analyst on the topic of business and technology on CNBC nearly two dozen times.

Topic: Hyperspace Traveler: How to prevent catastrophic failure when creating an immersive AI system

 

Jim Adams

Jim Adams

Jim Adams has over 40 years of aerospace experience. Recently retired from NASA, he has directed or been involved in over 30 spaceflight missions to explore the Earth the Sun and most of our Solar System. He last served as NASA’s Deputy Chief Technologist, advising the Administrator on NASA’s technology portfolio and advocating the use of new technology throughout the Agency, influencing $6B annually. Mr. Adams has also served as NASA’s Deputy Director of the Planetary Science Division (PSD). He was responsible for a $1.5B annual budget for many missions including the Mars Science Laboratory, Pluto-New Horizons, DAWN (Ceres and Vesta) and MESSENGER (Mercury). He has served on the National Science and Technology Council’s “Strategic Computing Initiative” helping to assure that the nation’s space high performance computing needs would be met by US investments in computing technology and infrastructure. Mr. Adams also led a comprehensive assessment of the Nation’s Pu-238 production capability and infrastructure and many other independent reviews of Agency capabilities. He has been awarded three medals for outstanding service and leadership by the Agency and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics and a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering.

A gifted storyteller, Jim engages the curiosity and imagination of his audiences, and inspires emerging scientists and entrepreneurs to think creatively and inventively.

 

Topic: Special speaker at the Thursday night dinner.

 

Thank you to our current sponsors:
BearcognitionrippleworxAHABooz-AllenHexagon   ingentis

AI Symposium

Symposium Schedule 
Who Should Attend 
Why You Should Attend 
How To Register 
Where to stay 
Sponsorships 
Other Activities