Mr. Abrahams is a founding partner of Abrahams Wolf-Rodda, LLC, a boutique government contracts and wage & hour law firm in the Washington DC metropolitan area. See www.awrcounsel.com. The practice includes traditional government contracts work (bid protests, claims, compliance advice, prime-sub disputes, etc.) and a wage & hour practice (spanning the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Service Contract Act, the Davis-Bacon Act, various Executive Orders, and state wage laws). In the latter, Mr. Abrahams represents mostly employers in class and collective actions, individual lawsuits, federal and state wage investigations, and self-audit compliance. At his new boutique law firm, Mr. Abrahams is now available to represent workers in their personal wage claims, including collective and class actions. Mr. Abrahams also has been retained to be an exemption classification consultant and expert witness in wage and hour disputes.

Mr. Abrahams was formerly a partner at Brown Rudnick LLP for almost 10 years and was at Epstein Becker & Green, PC for almost 25 years. He is the former Chairman of the American Bar Association, Public Contract Law Section, Employment Safety & Labor Committee. He is also a former adjunct professor at George Washington University Law School where he taught a course called “Federal Labor Standards.”

Starting in 1985, Mr. Abrahams co-authored more than nine books in the fields of government contracts and wage and hour law. His wage & hour publications include the: Fair Labor Standards Handbook for State, Local Governments and Schools; Employer's Guide to the Fair Labor Standards Act; FLSA Employer Exemption Handbook; and Public Employer's Guide to Payroll Administration. In 2011, Mr. Abrahams also co-authored three booklets: Smart Guide to FLSA Exemptions; Do I have to pay My Employees for This? FLSA Working Time Essentials; and FLSA Overtime Basics. In the government contracts field, Mr. Abrahams co-authored the: Government Contracts Compliance Guide; Public Official’s Guide to e-Government; and Government Contractor’s Guide to Employment Law Compliance. Overlapping the government contracts and wage & hour field, Mr. Abrahams co-authored two Federal Publications (now West) Briefing Papers: The Service Contract Act; and The Davis-Bacon Act.

Mr. Abrahams teaches regularly for Federal Publications Seminars on the Service Contract Act and the Davis-Bacon Act. He has been a continuous speaker at ThomsonReuter’s Year in Review Conference and its predecessors since the late 1980s.

Larry Allen has over 20 years' experience in government acquisition. Larry has written or contributed to three books on government contracting, including Multiple Award Schedule Contracting (contributing author), The Secret of Schedules Sales Success> (primary author), and Business to Government (contributing author). He has written numerous articles on the state of federal acquisition in periodicals such as "Federal Computer Week" and "The Federal Times". He regularly teaches classes on government acquisition and has been a guest of the governments of South Korea, Canada, and Great Britain speaking on the topic of how foreign companies can do business in the US government marketplace.

Larry is an expert in GSA and VA Multiple Award/Federal Supply Schedule contracting, as well as GWAC and IDIQ contracts. He served as a member of the Multiple Award Schedule Advisory Panel and the "Federal Contracts Report" Board of Advisors. He has testified often before committees of the US Senate, House of Representatives, and several state legislatures. He hosts his own radio show on government procurement, "Off the Shelf" on Federal News Radio in Washington, DC.

Bob is a Director at BDO Project Controls. He has 20+ years of experience in a variety of engineering and Government contracting environments, specializing in Project Control and Earned Value Management.

Edmund Amorosi represents clients in the government contracts and construction industries. He has appeared on behalf of clients in federal and state courts, before administrative agencies and boards, and in alternative dispute resolution settings including mediation and arbitration, both domestic and international.

His practice also includes commercial litigation and counseling relating to the government contracts and construction industries, including disputes between prime contractors and subcontractors, teaming and confidentiality agreements, joint ventures, and non-compete and non-disclosure agreements.

Giacomo is the National Leader of RSM’s Government Contract Consulting team which serves clients who operate in the Federal contracting and grantee market spaces on matters related to cost accounting, regulatory compliance, subcontract management, USG contract due diligence, ERP implementation design, and litigation/audit support. His clients span across multiple business sectors, including aerospace and defense, manufacturing, construction, architecture & engineering, IT services, bio-tech, CROs, nonprofits, ANCs, FFRDCs, National Labs, and INGOs.

Specifically, Giacomo specializes in all aspects of the government contracting lifecycle and assists clients to establish cost accounting practices and indirect cost rate strategies as a means to meet the Organization’s strategic goals (e.g., maximize cost recovery, minimize administrative burden, reduce risk). Additionally, he consults clients on best practices for mitigating compliance risks; as well as, aiding in the design and implementation of internal controls - including those required to obtain government approved business systems (e.g., Accounting/billing, estimating, purchasing). Giacomo routinely works with executive teams to successfully integrate acquisitions or design Federal segments to recognize operational and cost efficiencies in a manner compliant with Federal regulations.

Giacomo supports companies in the strategic resolution of contract audit issues stemming from Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA)/Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA)/Office of Inspector General (OIG) audits - including addressing complex Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), Cost Accounting Standard (CAS), Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200) compliance matters and other Federal contract administration matters.

Giacomo leads pricing teams to prepare responses to Government request for proposals - including strategic pricing considerations, drafting complete cost volumes, preparing CAS Board Disclosure Statements (CASB DS-1) for submission and successful negotiation.

Teddie Arnold is an Partner in the Government Contracts group in the Washington, D.C. office of Seyfarth Shaw LLP.

Mr. Arnold focuses his practice in all areas of government procurement, including bid protests, contract claims, procurement fraud, ethics & regulatory compliance, suspension & debarment, internal investigations, small business regulations, and contract drafting. Mr. Arnold regularly represents clients prime contractors and subcontractors in litigation before the Government Accountability Office, the Boards of Contract Appeals, the Court of Federal Claims, and state and federal courts across the country. Mr. Arnold also has expertise in the False Claims Act, suspension & debarment proceedings, and other matters related to procurement fraud. He also routinely represents federal construction contractors in the defense and prosecution of claims against the Government.

Mr. Arnold is designated as a Next Generation Partner by Legal500®. He is currently pursuing is LLM in Government Procurement from George Washington University Law School.

Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Arnold served as law clerk to the Honorable Glen M. Williams in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia during the 2008-2009 term.

Paul Bailey is a Partner for Capital Edge Consulting. Mr. Bailey has broad experience with federal procurement rules and regulation through combined industry and public accounting experience at PricewaterhouseCoopers and KPMG. Over the course of his 30-year career, Paul has provided expert advice and testimony for government contractors and their counsel, government agencies including Inspector General and the Department of Justice on the administration of contracts and resolution of complex government accounting and compliance disputes. While in public accounting, Paul was responsible for the Department of Energy’s outsourced contractor audits to KPMG, including Incurred Cost and Price Proposals, CAS compliance and Business System adequacy. Paul has conducted audits for and on behalf of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Department of Justice and Department of Energy, Office of Inspector General.

Paul joined Capital Edge Consulting from Harris Corporation in Melbourne, Florida where he was Vice President of Government Accounting and Compliance. In the accounting and compliance role, Paul was responsible for the oversight and approvals of the Business Systems to satisfy DCAA/DCMA surveillance and adequacy determinations. Paul orchestrated and directed an External Restructuring of CAS segments to align cost allocations and synergies following a major acquisition. Paul has been an industry leader in settlement of indirect rates based on past company experience foregoing the DCAA Incurred Cost Audit process. In addition to extensive accounting and compliance experience, he has held Vice President roles leading Contracts, Subcontract Administration, and Procurement functions.

Mr. Bassett is a senior Cyber Security and Risk Management subject matter expert with over 32 years of experience in all aspects of security and privacy program architecture, design, management, and operations. His experience spans Government, Health Care, Financial Services and other industries and includes risk management, program planning, application and software security, security assessments and audits, and security operations.

He built and led a global security consulting practice specializing in security strategy, assessment and testing, and managed security services. He has been the principal advisor to many Fortune 500 and government clients on information systems security, responsible for securing their critical information assets for e-commerce transactions, sensitive health records, and classified military communication. Ed is a U.S. Army veteran and a graduate of Clarkson University where he earned a degree in computer science.

Laura is a senior manager at BDO Project Controls.

Jon is a Director in the CohnReznick’s Government Contracting Industry practice. He has over 15 years of experience in Government Regulatory Compliance with a demonstrated history supporting the government services industry. He provides a range of advisory services for government contractors including FAR/CAS compliance, DFARS business systems, infrastructure and indirect cost rate structuring, and incurred cost proposals and forward pricing rate proposals. He also has extensive international experience including serving as an industry segment compliance manager in Seoul, South Korea and assisting clients onsite in the Middle East and South America.

Jon's areas of expertise are DFARS-Compliant Business System gap/readiness assessments and implementations, FAR & CAS compliance, Cost allowability, allocability and reasonableness, Incurred cost proposals, Cost estimating, Complex indirect rate structures, Requests for Equitable Adjustments, Accounting & Compliance Government Contracts Training.

Mr. Joseph P. Bentz was appointed as the Deputy Director, Defense Contract Audit Agency on March 17, 2019. He is responsible for assisting the Director, DCAA in leading the agency’s worldwide operations, which includes nearly 5,000 personnel, and an annual operating budget of approximately $650 million.

Prior to his selection as the Deputy Director of DCAA, Mr. Bentz was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Management and Budget) (DASA (M&B)) in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works (ASA (CW)). As the DASA (M&B), Mr. Bentz served as the principal advisor on management and budget issues to the ASA (CW), and was responsible for all matters related to the development and
implementation of the Civil Works budget and the reimbursable international and inter-agency support activities of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Mr. Bentz was selected for the Senior Executive Service in May 2009. From July 2013 until December 2017, Mr. Bentz served as the Principal Deputy Auditor General for the U.S. Army Audit Agency. His responsibilities included developing and overseeing the execution of the Army’s Internal Audit Plan and overall management of audit operations to include prioritizing audit workload, allocating audit resources, and optimizing audit processes.

In addition, Mr. Bentz directed the planning, execution, and reporting of the Army’s most sensitive and significant audit efforts. Prior to being selected as Principal Deputy, he served in Agency executive positions as Deputy Auditor General, Acquisition, Logistics and Technology Audits, Deputy Auditor General, Installations, Energy and Environments Audits, and as Deputy Auditor General, Policy and Operations Management. Starting with the Army Audit Agency in 1987, Mr. Bentz held a variety of staff auditor and leadership positions in the Northeast Region and National Capital Region.

Joe joins the firm after more than 35 years of experience in government auditing and acquisition, including expertise in enhancing the operational and cost effectiveness of business operations, conducting internal investigations, resolving compliance challenges, improving business system effectiveness, and improving relationships between contractors, auditors, and contracting officers.

Joe is the former deputy director (and acting director) of the Defense Contract Audit Agency where he partnered with the director in providing direction and oversight of the agency’s $650 million annual operating budget and nearly 5,000 professionals providing contract audit and advisory services worldwide. Joe also served as deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Army for management and budget and as the principal deputy auditor general of the U.S. Army working with U.S. Army senior leaders addressing the U.S. Army’s highest priorities in support of its soldiers.

Joe possesses extensive knowledge of government financial management, acquisition, and contracting processes and he has participated as chair or officer on various DoD committees and councils.

Ryan Berry co-founded Ward & Berry with Dan Ward in 2017. Although Ryan is active in all of the firm’s practice areas, his current client work comprises investigations, corporate compliance, and general counsel representation of government contractors.

Before co-founding Ward & Berry, Ryan was an equity partner in one of the largest global law firms. He has successfully handled significant commercial litigation matters through trial for national security, technology, and sports and entertainment clients.

Ryan is experienced in handling international disputes and investigations for government contractors and multi-national corporations. His work in this area has been particularly focused on the False Claims Act (FCA) and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Ryan has skillfully guided clients through investigations brought by the Inspector General (IG) of federal agencies, Congressional investigations, suspensions and proposed debarments.

Mr. Berteau became the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Professional Services Council (PSC) on March 28, 2016. Prior to PSC, Mr. Berteau was confirmed in December 2014 as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Logistics and Materiel Readiness. He oversaw the management of the $170 billion in Department of Defense logistics funding.

Previously, Mr. Berteau served as Senior Vice President and Director at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). His research and analysis covered federal budgets, national security, management, contracting, logistics, acquisition, and industrial base issues.

Mr. Berteau is a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration and has also served as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University and at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, a Director of the Procurement Round Table, and an Associate at the Robert S. Strauss Center at the University of Texas.

Laura is a project manager by profession, focused on implementing PM best practices, and deploying practical solutions that help get teams humming. She is judicious in selecting and implementing PMI advocated and Agile processes. She has twenty years consulting experience with 11 of those in Earned Value Management. She sets up and helps administer performance management and performance measurement processes using industry tools such as Atlassian Jira, Confluence, MS Project, Deltek Cobra, and others. She has a proven track record in helping businesses transform their project management approach to win work, identify process efficiencies and generate cost savings.

Courtney Black is Principal in the Ernst & Young LLP Government Contract Services practice in the Dallas, TX office. Courtney has over 18 years of experience in government contracting with EY, advising clients on considerations spanning the government contracting lifecycle. She specializes in assisting clients in conducting business with the federal government, including determining compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Cost Accounting Standards, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circulars, and contract-specific requirements. She also assists clients with developing cost accounting structures to optimize cost recovery, calculating indirect rates, preparing CASB disclosure statements, preparing incurred cost submissions, and documenting systems manuals along with policies and procedures. She provides technical advice to clients contracting with the General Services Administration (GSA), Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and other agencies in the areas of proposal and equitable adjustment preparation, cost allocations and cost reporting. Courtney works across multiple industries including aerospace and defense, professional services, utilities, engineering and construction, healthcare and technology.

Ms. Stacy Bostjanick is a member of the Senior Executive Service and serves as the Chief Defense Industrial Base Cybersecurity, Deputy Chief Information Officer for Cybersecurity (DCIO(CS)), Office of the Chief Information Officer. In this position, she serves as the focal point within the DoD CIO to implement the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program across the Defense Industrial Base (DIB).

As the CMMC Director, Ms. Bostjanick is responsible for shepherding this critical program though the Code of Federal Regulation System rulemaking process for both the CFR 32 and 48 and ultimately implementing the program across the more than 220,000 companies that make up the DIB. This includes collaborating across the Federal Government with partners such as the Department of Homeland Security and the other members of the Federal Acquisition Security Council, to standardize this process and truly federalize it. In this role, she also directs the Department’s efforts to educate DIB partners on programatic requirements and ensures that DoD implements risk information sharing though the program’s execution. Additionally, Ms. Bostjanick is responsible for ensuring the Defense Acquisition community is trained and capable of including these requirements in their Programs and Acquisitions.

Townsend Bourne is a partner in the Governmental Practice at the Washington, D.C. office and leads the firm’s Government Business Group. She represents companies engaging with the Federal Government, including aerospace, defense, commercial, and cloud service providers. Townsend specializes in cybersecurity and data protection for government contractors, guiding clients through DoD and civilian agency security requirements, and handling subcontractor agreements and incident response. She also has extensive experience in complex litigation related to the Contract Disputes Act and False Claims Act, bid protests, claims litigation, internal investigations, and issues involving multiple award contract vehicles and procurement integrity.

Michael Bowsher KC has a busy practice in public procurement, competition and commercial law, particularly in disputes concerning major public and public-private projects. He is particularly known for his unique practice in regulated procurement in the United Kingdom, Ireland, elsewhere in Europe and beyond.

Michael Bowsher KC has appeared as counsel in many of the major procurement cases over more than a decade. His contentious practice is complemented by a substantial practice in providing legal and strategic advice for bidders and purchasers throughout the procurement process.

Michael’s remains very active in competition law matters, having acted in a number of recent matters involving essential facilities, competition in payment systems and now acting as leading counsel in a number of collective proceedings brought in the CAT.

In recent years Michael has become increasingly involved in matters involving application and interpretation of investment treaties and trade agreements as well as a range of matters involving Outer Space law.

Michael is active in a range of dispute resolution arrangements. He has often been appointed as arbitrator, mediator and expert by CEDR, LCIA, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and the Technology and Construction Solicitor Association. Most of his appointments involve disputes concerning investments or long term contracts involving the public sector or utilities. He has recently been involved in a number procedures involving disputes in the operation of the NHS.

Michael is a Visiting Professor at King’s College London where he teaches EU Public Procurement on the LLM degree course and is Director of the Distance Learning Diploma and Masters in Public Procurement law. Each of these courses includes substantial components concerning procurement by international organisations beyond the EU.

Michael is a member of the Bar Library in Belfast and the Law Library in Dublin, and practises actively in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland as well as in England and Wales.

Michael is Leader of the European Circuit of the Bar of England and Wales.

Derek Boyd is a partner in the government contractor advisory services practice of Baker Tilly.

Derek has more than 15 years of experience working with and for government contractors in a variety of industries, including technology, professional services, aerospace and healthcare. Derek assists government contractors on a wide range of business issues and regulatory compliance matters. Prior to joining Baker Tilly, Derek was the director of government compliance for a major government contractor.

With over 10 years of experience in government contracting, Steve possesses a comprehensive understanding of Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations (DFARS). He is capable of translating complex regulatory requirements into actionable policies and procedures. His industry experience in estimating, accounting, and procurement provides a unique perspective on end-to-end government contracting lifecycle, ensuring his clients successfully navigate their contractual obligations.

Jamie Brabston is a Senior Legal Consultant and Director with Redstone Government Consulting, Inc. (Redstone GCI), specializing in Labor and Employment Law, with an emphasis on government contract law and compliance. Prior to joining Redstone GCI, Jamie was Senior Counsel with Lehr Middlebrooks Vreeland & Thompson, P.C., a boutique labor and employment law firm based in Birmingham, AL. Jamie assists employers with compliance, problem prevention, the analysis of complex employment law and contract related issues, and in conducting investigations to address employee complaints.

In addition, Jamie advises federal government contractors with contract specific requirements such as affirmative action compliance, Service Contract Act issues, CoBEC, the Drug Free Workplace Act, record keeping, and in performing mock compliance assessments and other issues specific to employers working with the federal government. Jamie is a proficient trainer and speaker and is a primary instructor for Federal Publications Seminars course, “HR for Government Contractors.” Additionally, Jamie regularly conducts training and education for individual employers and their employees on non-discrimination and anti-harassment, as well as training sessions for executive and non-executive management on a wide variety of overall management leadership skills, and government contract specific topics. Jamie also specializes and advises clients on a wide range of employee benefits issues including ERISA welfare benefit plans, HIPAA, wellness plans, COBRA, the Affordable Care Act, and other federal and state laws, including related reporting requirements. In addition, Jamie works with employers in responding to complaints filed with external agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Labor and the Department of Industrial Relations and provides litigation support as needed.

Ms. Elaine (Daisy) M. Bradley assumed the position of Deputy Regional Director, Eastern Region, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) in June 2023. Ms. Bradley serves as the principle advisor to the Regional Director and shares full authority and responsibility for total management and operations of Eastern Region and its resources. She is responsible for the execution of the Agency’s mission and strategically leads approximately 800 employees in providing mission-critical contract audit and financial advisory services to the Department of Defense as well as other Executive Departments and foreign governments. She oversees and manages an annual operating budget of approximately $80 million.

Ms. Bradley came to DCAA from the Air Force Audit Agency, where she served as the Associate Director for the Acquisition Division of the Acquisition, Logistics, and Financial Audits Directorate, Air Force Audit Agency, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. She oversaw Department of the Air Force and major command level audits for the $84 billion air and space acquisition portfolios along with three smaller portfolios. Specifically, she was responsible for the planning, execution, and reporting of Air- and Space Force-wide audits addressing major and non-major weapon system acquisition; research, development, test, and evaluation activities; science and technology programs; small business advocacy and compliance; and contracting functions.

Ms. Bradley also served as the Air Force Audit Agency Air and Space Operations Division Program Manager where she developed a form of “just in time” audits to provide Air Force leaders timely feedback on strategic program initiative implementation success. She led the completion of 62 audits in 1 year, reviewing all 55 of the Air Force’s strategic initiatives, leading to improved governance, resource identification, plan development, and execution of key initiatives.

Ms. Bradley began her government career in the United States Army as a logistics specialist and paratrooper at Ft. Liberty (formerly Ft. Bragg), North Carolina. After leaving active duty, she worked as a Staff Accountant in a public accounting firm. She began her civil service career as an installation level Auditor in 2003. Since that time, she held positions of increasing responsibility at various world-wide locations, including Audit Manager, Team Chief, Chief of Staff, Program Manager, and Associate Director.

Chad Braley is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Capital Edge Consulting, Inc. Since its inception, Capital Edge has grown into the country’s leading firm, focusing solely on serving both foreign and domestic contractors who do business with the US Government.

Chad’s areas of expertise include the Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), agency supplement regulations, Contractor Accounting, Purchasing, Estimating, MMAS, and EVM Business Systems, Truth in Negotiations Act, government accounting requirements Incurred Cost Submissions (ICS), DCAA Audits support and preparation, other regulatory non-compliance support, Terminations, Requests for Equitable Adjustment (REA), ERP systems and risk mitigation.

Moshe Broder assists government contractors in navigating diverse issues across the government contracts and grants landscape. Moshe prosecutes and defends complex and high-stakes bid protests before the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the US Court of Federal Claims (COFC). He has litigated more than 100 protests and has repeatedly obtained meaningful relief for clients in strategically important procurements.

In addition to bid protests, Moshe also counsels clients on a broad range of legal issues and represents government contractors in contract claims and disputes. Moshe conducts internal investigations and represents government contractors in all states of civil litigation. He has a special interest in issues involving national security and cybersecurity, and advises government contractors in disputes and bid protests involving classified programs.

Moshe maintains an active pro bono practice.

Mr. David S. Cadman is currently serving as the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Acquisition Enablers. He also serves as the Director for Acquisition Data and Analytics (ADA) where he is responsible for the development and implementation of acquisition portfolio based analytical methods focused on data analytics which includes but is not limited to data mining, simulation, machine, and statistical learning, probability theory, mathematical optimization, and visualization of results. ADA establishes a program management policy that applies these methods as appropriate to acquisition portfolios, Major Defense Acquisition Programs, and business systems and functions.

Before the A&S reorganization, he served as Director for Performance Assessments and Root Cause Analyses (PARCA) and Deputy Director, Root Cause Analyses (RCA). Where he identified root causes on Major Acquisition Programs that had a critical Nunn-McCurdy cost breach or upon request of the Secretary of Defense.

Mr. Callahan represents government contractors on a broad range of litigation matters, including false claims investigations and actions in the defense, construction, and medical industries; bid protests and contract claims at the federal, state and local levels; and prime/subcontractor disputes in state and federal court, arbitration and mediation. Mr. Callahan also counsels government contractors and grantees regarding their compliance with contract and legal requirements, accounting standards and audit practices.

Mr. Callahan has significant experience in the government contracts and construction industries. He has prosecuted and defended bid protests of contract awards involving major civil and facilities construction projects. He has investigated, prepared, and litigated requests for equitable adjustment, termination settlement proposals, and other claims involving billions of dollars of costs whose cause is disputed. In these matters, Mr. Callahan often works closely with forensic accounting firms, and he counsels client leadership on the timing, framing, and tone of the submissions and legal filings, and on negotiation and litigation strategy.

Mr. Callahan frequently contributes to bar publications and scholarly journals. Among other publications, his articles have appeared in the Procurement Lawyer, A.B.A. false claims acts and construction books, William & Mary Law Review, Cardozo Law Review, The Government Contractor, Legal Times (Washington), New York Law Journal, and The Federal Lawyer.

As Co-Leader of the Government Contracts team and Law360 MVP in Government Contracts law, Todd Canni is entrusted by government contractors to resolve their most important “bet-the-company” government contracts matters and unexpected “crisis” events. He advises contractors throughout the life cycle of a government contract from award through closeout and everything in between, including bid protests, debarment matters, civil False Claims Act investigations, civil investigative demands, government disclosures, complex contract disputes and building and enhancing ethics and compliance programs. Todd is widely known as one of the nation’s preeminent suspension and debarment lawyers and one of only a few debarment lawyers who previously served as a Department of Defense debarring official.

Among his accomplishments: in 2022, Todd served as lead trial counsel in successfully challenging a DoD debarment in federal court, thus saving the client’s business – an outcome that contributed to his former firm receiving “Government Contracts Group of Year” honors by Law360. Due to Todd’s nearly two decades of experience in the government contracts and debarment spaces, including as a debarring official and as defense counsel, and his involvement in several dozen administrative agreements involving monitoring, he is well positioned to serve as an Independent Monitor under agency Administrative Agreements. Indeed, Todd authored the chapter on Administrative Agreements set forth in the ABA’s Practitioner’s Guide to Suspension and Debarment. In 2023, Todd was named a Law360 MVP for Government Contracts for his exemplary work in the field.

Tara Cannon is a Product Marketing Manager at Deltek for the Costpoint Product Line, Deltek’s flagship Enterprise Resource Planning tool for Government Contractors. She brings her 18 years of experience working for both small and large firms in the Aerospace and Defense Industry to Deltek’s Product Strategy organization. Tara works to further Costpoint’s mission of helping businesses navigate and succeed in the complex compliance landscape that is Government Contracting. She considers her work a success if she can help move the needle to ensure that customer and market needs continue to be met by Deltek’s Government Contracting software products.

Mr. Fredrick E. Carr assumed the position of Assistant Director, Operations, Defense Contract
Audit Agency (DCAA) in April 2023. He strategically leads a workforce of 150 personnel who provide
management information system and data analytics support, investigative support services,financial
liaison advisory services, and quantitative methods policy to over 4000 auditors and support
personnel dispersed throughout 300 offices worldwide. He oversees and manages an annual
operating budget of approximately $30 million.

Prior to coming to DCAA, Mr. Carr was the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Financial
Operations, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Financial Management and Comptroller, Arlington,
Virginia. Mr. Carr served as the principal adviser to the Assistant Secretary and the Air Force senior
staff on all issues involving the amended Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990 and related financial
management reforms. He was responsible at the executive level for ensuring the Air Force complies
with legislative and executive financial management mandates leading to the effective and efficient
use of the Air Force resources. Additional responsibilities included the management of human
resources and technology solutions for Air Force financial management.

Matt Carter is the co-leader of Pillsbury’ s Government Contracts & Disputes practice. His practice includes litigating bid protests, conducting internal investigations, representing companies and individuals in suspension and debarment proceedings, and providing regulatory and compliance advice.

Matt, the leader of Pillsbury’s Bid Protests team, has achieved successful results for his clients in more than 50 bid protests at the Government Accountability Office, the Court of Federal Claims, and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Matt also is a leading suspension and debarment lawyer. He has successfully represented corporations and individuals before numerous civilian and defense suspension and debarment officials, including the Air Force, the Army, DLA, the EPA, and the Navy, to ensure their continued eligibility to participate in federal programs. Matt is active in the ABA’s Public Contracts section and has served as a vice-chair of that section’s Suspension and Debarment Committee. He has also successfully defended numerous defense contractors in False Claims Act litigation.

A former Division One athlete, Matt was named a 2022 “ Rising Star” in the government contracts field by Law360and was recognized as a 2023 “ Rising Star” in Government Contracts by Bloomberg Law. He has also been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star for Government Contracts in 2016 – 2018 and 2023 – 2024.

Michael is a Director at Capital Edge Consulting, Inc. and a member of the firm’s CPSR Compliance Practice. He is an expert in the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) Contractor Purchasing System Review (CPSR) process.

Michael’s areas of expertise include contractor business systems compliance, with an emphasis in DCMA CPSR readiness, execution, and compliance. He is also versed in FAR and DFAR regulations, DCMA processes and procedures pertaining to purchasing system reviews and contract administration, Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), Earned Value Management Systems (EVMS), proposal analysis and evaluation, cost modeling and estimating, forward pricing rate recommendations (FPRR) and agreements (FPRA), and he is fluent in Spanish. Michael has experience conducting CPSR-related training to DCMA CPSR Group procurement analysts as well as to dozens of Federal contractors.
As a DCMA CPSR Procurement Analyst, Michael was the “Team lead” for nearly 15 DCMA CPSRs in the last 3 years and served as the procurement analyst in nearly 15 additional reviews during the same time period. Michael was one of the few procurement analysts with experience in reviewing small business concerns and Ability One contractors. His experience covers a complete spectrum of contractors from A&E service providers to foreign manufacturing firms.

During his tenure as a DCMA CPSR Group Procurement Analyst, Michael developed a tool for use by all CPSR Group procurement analysts (for all four CPSR Teams) in performing CPSRs. Also, Michael developed a tool that all DCMA Administrative Contracting Officers (ACO) are currently required to use in their annual surveillance of contractor purchasing systems responsibilities. Michael was personally selected by the DCMA CPSR Director to represent the Phoenix CPSR Team at the National Contract Management Association (NCMA) World Congress (2015).

Prior to his time with the DCMA CPSR Group (Phoenix), he was a DCMA ACO and managed all activities related to Base Life Support on three US Military and US State Department installations in Iraq. Michael was responsible for approving or denying all work requests in accordance with US Government contracts, and managed all aspects of Government Prime Contract Administration with contracts in excess of $3.1 billion. He assisted DCMA Cost/Price Analysts in proposal analysis and evaluation cost modeling and estimating, forward pricing rate recommendations (FPRR) and agreements (FPRA), Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) allocation of allowable and accounting for unallowable costs, and administered contracts for DCMA with the largest aircraft manufacturer in the world.

Ms. Debbra M. Caw, a member of the Senior Executive Service since June 2015, assumed the position of Deputy Director, Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) in January 2023. She is responsible for assisting the Director, DCAA in leading the Agency’s over 4,000 personnel as they execute the Agency’s worldwide operations and managing an annual operating budget of approximately $650 million.

Ms. Caw was formerly the Assistant Director of Operations. In this role, she strategically led a workforce of 150 personnel providing data analytics support, investigative support services, financial liaison advisory services, and support to Agency Information Systems. A catalyst for change, she moved the Agency toward becoming a data centric organization by transforming existing data into dashboards to better manage the audit workload. She also championed the use of data analytic techniques to improve the efficiency of the audit process across the entire Agency.

Justin Chiarodo is Partner at BlankRome and is the Chair of the Government Contracts Practice Group. Justin focuses his practice on all aspects of federal, state, and local procurement law. He has spent his entire career helping leading and emerging government contractors successfully navigate high-stakes litigation, compliance, and regulatory matters. Recent engagements include the successful defense of a $300 million sole-source award under a requirements contract for a major tactical wheeled vehicle program, managing the government contracts aspects of the $380 million sale of a defense electronic systems manufacturer, and defeating a $10 million False Claims Act suit based on the public disclosure bar.

Jeffery M. Chiow represents clients in litigation and government investigations related to government contracts, including federal and state bid protests and claims. Many of the bid protests that he litigates involve enterprise critical matters with billions of dollars at stake. Jeff has deep experience in the aerospace and defense sectors, as well as cybersecurity, technology services contracting, and schedule contracting. Prior to entering private practice, he was a U.S. Marine Corps weapons and sensors officer in the F/A-18D Hornet. This experience informs Jeff’s work with cutting-edge technology in the areas of space systems, cloud computing, weapons platforms and IT systems. Jeff also advises businesses on compliance matters, working with government contractors to develop tailored strategies for addressing complex business, legal, and regulatory issues. In particular, he is a recognized leader in the constantly-evolving area of cybersecurity, including compliance with DoD’s cyber and supply chain requirements and the CMMC initiative and related investigations and disclosures.

Jeff’s False Claims Act experience includes advising on alleged fraud involving federal grants, DOJ Civil Fraud investigations, and qui tam suits alleging hundreds of millions of dollars in damages. He conducts sensitive internal compliance investigations and counsels defense, health care, construction, and technology clients about potential civil and criminal liability as well as potential disclosure obligations.

Ms. Amanda Cline is the Small Business Program Manager at DCAA Headquarters in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. In this capacity, she serves as the program manager and audit expert for the small business program with responsibility of providing assistance and consultation with regard to audit requirements and their application to small business.

Ryan Connell is Director, DCMA.

Chris Cornillie is a federal market analyst with Bloomberg Government, focusing on information technology, cybersecurity, cloud, and modernization. Prior to joining Bloomberg, he was an analyst with Gartner, where he advised C-suite clients on best practices in information security. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois and a master’s degree from the University of Chicago.

Follow him on Twitter at @ChrisCornillie

Bob’s clients benefit from his thirty-plus years of experience working with government contractors leading Accounting, IT, and Contract Management departments. All the situations he navigated and problems he solved have uniquely qualified him to help his clients solve technical accounting and regulatory reporting issues.

Bob is a leader in the Consulting practice at Saggar & Rosenberg and focuses on helping clients with government contracting regulatory topics and issues. Bob’s clients appreciate his practical approach when analyzing problems and proposing solutions. His clients rely on him to articulate complex topics in a simple and straightforward manner.

Bob’s clients include small, medium, and large businesses contracting with the U.S. Federal Government in a wide range of industries including aerospace and defense, pharmaceutical and biotech sectors, manufacturing, and professional services. He has also worked with numerous departments within the Federal government, including the Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and many others.

Bob regularly teaches classes about Federal Acquisition Regulations, Cost Accounting Standards, and current industry trends such as cost estimating and indirect rate structures. He is known for adding levity and humor to complicated rules and regulations.

You’ll likely find Bob on a golf course outside the office. He also enjoys time with his wife and three dogs, Woodford, Tinka, and Leo. His two bucket list trips include fly fishing in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and exploring Machu Picchu & the Sacred Valley of the Inca in Peru.

Eric, a Partner at Holland & Knight specializing in Government Contracts, Internet/Technology Law, and representing businesses of all shapes and sizes, was named a Super Lawyers Rising Star. This honor is only given to the top 2.5% of attorneys who meet certain criteria. Eric has appeared as a guest on Fox News, Government Matters, NPR, Federal News Radio and has been quoted in numerous publications including Newsweek, Washington Lawyer and the Washington Business Journal.

Eric is a proven trial attorney in state and federal court.

Aside from his recent accomplishments, Eric has extensive experience in litigating all stages of complex multi-million dollar matters in various state and federal courts from commencement through trial and verdict. In addition, Eric has successfully represented contractors before the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the United States Court of Federal Claims (COFC), the Department of Labor and various governmental boards. Eric has also briefed and argued appeals in state and federal court.

Eric frequently speaks to industry groups regarding government contract, business, and technology issues and related litigation and intellectual property issues.

Focus Areas: Government contracts litigation (including bid protests, subcontractor/prime contractor disputes, DOL litigation including Service Contract Act (SCA) & FLSA investigations), technology and Internet law, complex commercial litigation, intellectual property litigation, employment litigation, and appellate law.

Mr. Darst specializes in legal matters involving Government construction and service contract law and has extensive experience in the areas of contract formation and administration issues, bid protests, claims preparation and litigation, internal investigations, voluntary disclosures, procurement fraud investigations, various suspension and debarment proceedings, matters related to Small Business Administration, and other issues involving the award and administration of federal and state government contracts. Mr. Darst has represented clients in various matters before the Government Accountability Office, the Postal Service, Armed Services, and General Services Administration Boards of Contract Appeals, the Court of Federal Claims, the Small Business Office of Hearing and Appeals, and various agency-level proceedings. Mr. Darst's practice includes assisting clients with matters related to the sale and acquisition of firms involved in Government contracting, software licensing issues, other corporate governance matters, and civil litigation in Virginia and District of Columbia.

Mr. Darst is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia, Virginia, and West Virginia. He is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Federal Claims, the Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and the United States District Courts for the Eastern District of Virginia and the Southern District of West Virginia.

Mr. Darst earned his B.A. from Marshall University and a J.D. from West Virginia University. After graduating from law school, Mr. Darst worked as an attorney with the United States Navy's Office of General Counsel and represented the Navy in matters involving the acquisition and administration of service and supply contracts for the Naval Sea Systems Command.

Merle DeLancey’s practice focuses on a wide variety of government procurement law. He represents clients contracting with federal and state governments, with an emphasis in the healthcare industry. Merle has experience in a broad spectrum of government contracting issues and litigation.

As the DIBCAC Director for the Defense Contract Management Agency, Nicholas (Nick) DelRosso Jr. oversees DCMA's cybersecurity assessments of the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) based upon DFARS 252.204-7012. Prior to this position, he served as a Team Chief for the DIBCAC. In this capacity, he supervised a team which conducted cybersecurity assessments of the DIB. DelRosso has also served as Software Surveillance Specialist, Computer Engineer, and Support Program Integrator within DCMA. He has software development experience with a defense contractor and program experience as part of a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC).

CMMC Pro
Member, American Bar Association
Special Agent, US Army Counterintelligence (retired)

Jon has over two decades in security and risk management. Most of this time was with the US Army where he served as a Counterintelligence Special Agent. Jon's various global assignments involved advanced security and threat management roles at the Army's Intelligence and Security Command and the NSA in support of the national intelligence and US Special Operations communities. He was also selected to serve as a founding member of NATOs first ever military cyber-defense working group.

Jon has spent the past three years working with MSPs helping them understand security, compliance, and risk management. His guiding work principle is: security and compliance should enable business operations by allowing senior leaders to make informed risk decisions while
protecting critical business functions. He also volunteers his time with the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) where he helps companies
recruit veterans into IT and other hard to fill roles.

W. Jay DeVecchio is a litigator and former Co-Chair of Morrison & Foerster’s Government Contracts and Public Procurement practice. Clients from the aerospace, technology, and health care sectors seek his representation in all facets of government procurement law, from bid protests to complex claims and disputes through suspension and debarment. He also represents clients in related issues such as criminal and civil fraud, qui tam actions, and internal investigations

Jay’s litigation successes include defeating a major qui tam action in a jury trial, prevailing in one of the largest defective pricing appeals tried to date, enjoining the Department of Defense for an improper debarment, winning the leading case on latent defects in government contracts, and achieving victory in the Eleventh Circuit's decision on false claims immunity for Medicare contractors.

He has been a guest instructor at the University of Virginia and the George Washington University Law School Government Contracts Program, and the American University Washington College of Law. Jay also conducts seminars on diverse subjects including claims, disputes, terminations, and data rights.

Linda Diaz is a CMMC Registered Practitioner with 20+ years Functional and Technical hands-on experience in both GovCon and Commercial shared Accounting and IT Services which includes approximately 10+ years as a technical lead in Application Hosting and Cloud Services.

Jim is a senior manager and PMP at Raytheon Technologies.

Kellen Dwyer is co-leader of Alston & Bird’s National Security & Digital Crimes practice. He previously served in the Justice Department in several cyber and national security roles. As an assistant U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia, he obtained a computer hacking indictment against Julian Assange and represented the United States at Assange’s extradition hearings in London. He received the Attorney General’s Award for the trial of a Russian hacker who helped develop malware used in one of the largest data breaches in U.S. history. Kellen also prosecuted Aleksey Burkov, a Russian hacker whose arrest in Israel triggered a high-profile tug-of-war between the U.S. and Russia.

As deputy assistant attorney general in the National Security Division, Kellen led the department’s national security and cybersecurity policy on issues such as encryption, cryptocurrency, ransomware, GDPR/Schrems II, breach notification, supply-chain security, and foreign election interference. He testified before Congress, represented the DOJ on the National Security Council, advised Cyber Command, approved sanctions, and helped coordinate a whole-of-government response to major cyber incidents, including the SolarWinds breach. Kellen also oversaw the division’s appellate unit, which advised on sensitive investigations and litigated before the Supreme Court, the circuit courts, and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review.

Kellen teaches cyber-crime at George Mason Law School. He clerked on the Ninth Circuit and the Southern District of New York.

Aaron Dyer, Pillsbury’s Corporate Investigations & White Collar Defense Practice Group Co-Leader, is a former federal prosecutor and experienced trial attorney focusing on complex criminal and civil litigation and regulatory enforcement actions. In addition, Aaron represents individuals and corporations in internal investigations and intellectual property litigation, emphasizing securities, health care, the False Claims Act, and intellectual property theft and piracy. He also advises clients on corporate governance issues and the implementation of corporate compliance programs. Aaron spent almost seven years as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles. While in the criminal division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, he tried numerous complex fraud cases, including securities, bank, tax, investment, and insurance fraud. In addition, he spearheaded the Internet and computer crime prosecutions for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, serving as the Computer and Telecommunications Crimes Coordinator. He also served as the acting chief and deputy chief of the Major Frauds Section. During that time, he handled numerous oral arguments in the Ninth Circuit.

Since 1989, Joseph has been practicing primarily in the areas of government contracts, export controls, and international law. Joseph has participated in litigation before the federal courts, the Boards of Contract Appeals, and other administrative tribunals and agencies. Joseph was one of 15 recipients nationwide of the Burton Legal Foundation Award for Legal Achievement for 2000 and is also an NCMA Fellow.

Prior to joining Seyfarth, Joseph held a variety of legal and managerial positions with a major defense company.

Robert Eason has over 20 years of experience with the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) and has held a wide variety of positions in DCAA. He is currently the Division Chief for the Policy Accounting and Cost Principles (PAC) Division at DCAA Headquarters, and is responsible for audit policy for a number of program areas including contractor business systems and Cost Accounting Standards.

Courtney has extensive experience with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) compliance, evaluation and preparation of Cost Presentations, cost accounting systems setup and reviews, and policy and procedure preparation. Prior to joining Redstone Government Consulting, Courtney served as a financial statement auditor for large and mid-tier government contractors.

Courtney works with small and large contractors in pro-actively preparing contractors for government contracts challenges as well as resolving complex DCAA and government procurement issues. Courtney’s expertise includes establishing and/or evaluating job cost accounting structures; management and preparation of complex incurred cost and forward pricing rate proposals; evaluation of internal controls most often evaluated by DCAA to include billing and estimating systems; preparation/evaluation of policies and procedures; development of cost allowability evaluation programs, and; preparation of corrective action plans for overcoming DCAA audit findings.

Courtney is a lead instructor for the Federal Publication Seminars course, “Government Contractor Accounting System Compliance”, and provides class instruction for other compliance courses and webinars such as “Preparation of Incurred Cost Submissions”, “Cost Accounting Standards”, and “Cost and Price Analysis”.

John A. Ellis is currently the Director for DCMA’s Software Division, responsible for the Policy, Training, and Tools used by the Agency’s software professionals in the conduct of their software surveillance activities, including the application of cybersecurity contract requirements and policies.

Mr. Ellis, a retired Army Colonel, served on active duty for more than 30 years. Commissioned a second lieutenant in the Field Artillery in May 1985 and becoming a member of the Army Acquisition Corps in 1995, he served in a variety of assignments until his retirement 1 June 2015.

John held assignments both stateside and abroad. Mr. Ellis’ DCMA experience began as the Commander of the Future Combat Systems (FCS)/Army Modernization Programs (AMP) contract management office in St. Louis, MO and he culminated his active duty career as DCMA’s Central Region Commander.

Erin Estevez is a partner in Holland & Knight's Corporate, M&A and Securities and Government Contracts practice groups in the firm's Tysons office. Ms. Estevez has broad government contracts experience and focuses her practice on advising companies ranging from innovative startups to large, established contractors on regulatory and contractual requirements for doing business with the U.S. government.

Ms. Estevez has substantial experience with mergers and acquisitions and financings involving government contractors, including conducting due diligence, negotiating transactional documents, and assessing industrial security and foreign ownership, control and influence (FOCI) issues, as well as navigating post-transaction matters such as novations. She also regularly advises clients on compliance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and agency FAR supplements, intellectual property and data rights, small business programs, cybersecurity requirements, obtaining facility security clearances and FOCI mitigation, and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and responses. In addition, Ms. Estevez negotiates the terms of government contracts, subcontracts, and teaming agreements.

As a Product Marketing Manager, Sarah supports the product strategy group at Deltek to ensure our project-based solutions align with the needs of government contractors. She brings more than a decade of experience in marketing and writing to support our customers through ongoing market analysis and the development of industry-specific thought leadership resources, including Deltek Clarity.

Government contract clients comply with a myriad of complex statutory and regulatory requirements at the federal, state, and local levels of public procurement. Many also have to comply with complex cost requirements unique to government contracts. They also need training in a myriad of contractual programs required by both federal and state agencies.

Don helps clients at every step of the procurement process. He prepares proposals, negotiates contracts, files or defends protests, and advises and trains clients. Don also supports claim preparation, negotiation, and litigation at both the prime contract and subcontract level. He helps with terminations for convenience or default, and eventually contract close-out. Additionally, he assists on the numerous audits that the government conducts.
For more than 40 years, Don has practiced government contract law. He started at the Office of General Counsel, Department of the Navy where he handled litigation for the Navy at the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals in 1979. Don then went into private practice at a well-recognized government contract firm, where he worked on major claims for the top government contract companies for 13 years. He joined Seyfarth in San Francisco in 1995 and has been with the firm since that time. Throughout his career, Don has represented aerospace, construction, service, and information technology companies in major claims and litigation with either the government or other contractors. He has also helped prepare proposals on major procurements, negotiate the contract, and handle the audits and close-out procedures. Furthermore, he has advised government contractors on virtually all areas of government contract law, such as intellectual property, export control, mandatory disclosure requirements, cost-accounting matters, audits, bid protests, and training programs.

Throughout his practice, Don has committed himself to a wide range of matters and reached successful outcomes. He supported a client for 13 years in dispute with the DCMA over the proper charging of IR+D and capital costs on the development of a new radar system for the F/A-18 aircraft. The amounts in dispute cover more than a decade of indirect costs, the total of which was in excess of $700 million. Eventually, based on arguments he helped to develop, the government dropped the case with zero recovery. Besides litigation, he has counseled small, medium, and large contractors in multiple industries. For example, he helped a small, $20 million-a-year training contractor prepare its proposal on a six-month $100 million training contract for baggage handlers on bomb detection equipment. He also helped to negotiate the contract, helped to ensure proper performance, and supported audits and close-out efforts.

Don relies on Seyfarth's team of attorneys and professionals, as well as the firm's technology, to enhance his service and cut costs. He sold one of the first SeyfarthLean representations to a large client, an arrangement that has continued for more than 12 years. Don has used SeyfarthLean concepts to evaluate a contractor's export control processes between its headquarters in the US and subsidiaries in Canada. He has also used SeyfarthLean to evaluate a food manufacturer's government contract risks and helped to develop a training program for them, based on the risks identified. In addition, Don once teamed with the in-house counsel of a missile to try a case at the ASBCA. The in-house counsel served as associates to minimize costs and worked well with outside counsel throughout the trial.
Don enjoys having a fast-paced practice at Seyfarth with clients in different parts of the country, because he never knows what's coming in the door each day. He has always enjoyed the practice of government contract law, because it frequently involves complex technology, large procurements, and large-dollar disputes.

Pat Fitzgerald is a member of Baker Tilly’s government contractor advisory services group. He joined the firm in 2015, bringing with him over 35 years of experience in government auditing and acquisition, including expertise in enhancing the cost effectiveness of business operations, resolving compliance challenges, improving business system effectiveness, conducting internal investigations, preparing for negotiations, and improving relationships between contractors, auditors and contracting officers.

Pat is the former director of the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) for the Department of Defense (DoD). There, he oversaw the agency’s $600 million budget and the 5,000 professionals providing contract audit and advisory services. His background also includes advising soldiers on effective and efficient mission completion practices, making recommendations to army leaders for resolving varied issues and directing the internal audit function as the U.S. Army’s auditor general reporting directly to the secretary of the Army. Pat possesses extensive knowledge of government contracting processes, including cost accounting standards. His experience includes serving on the five-person OMB Cost Accounting Standards Board representing the DoD. An exceptional communicator, having testified before members of congress on several occasions, Pat often advises clients on how to employ effective communication strategies to help resolve issues.

Mr. John Foley has been with the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) since 2008. He has been with the Contractor Purchasing System Review (CPSR) Group since 2012. He has worked as Procurement Analyst, Team Supervisor and is currently in the role of Group Director at Hanscom AFB in Bedford, Massachusetts.

Dan's practice focuses on a wide variety of government procurement law, including bid protests, False Claims Act and qui tam litigation, investigations of potential civil and criminal matters, ethics and compliance, contract claims and disputes, GSA schedule contracting, and small disadvantaged business contracting. Dan is also experienced in negotiating and drafting teaming agreements and subcontracts, as well as providing counseling on the interpretation of FAR clauses and solicitations. Dan's practice also focuses on state and local procurement matters, including State False Claims Act issues, lobbying and contingency payment compliance. He has been involved in bid protest litigation in six states and the District of Columbia. Dan is ranked as a Band 1 ranked attorney by Chambers USA, listed as a two-time Law360 MVP (2015, 2020), was named to Legal 500’s “Hall of Fame” for Government Contracts in their 2020 Guide, is an Acritas Star and was previously named to BTI’s list of “Client Service All-Stars.

Kirk A. Foster is an Assistant General Counsel and the Director of Compliance and Privacy for Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) Mission
Technologies. In this capacity, he advises the President and senior leaders of HII Mission Technologies on compliance and legal matters,
and supports the HII Mission Technologies business operations counsel and compliance managers on legal, regulatory, and strategic issues. He also supports the HII Mission Technologies Chief Information Officer on cyber and technology matters.

Prior to joining the HII Law Department in 2019, Kirk served a 28-year career with the U.S. Navy’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps, where he served in a variety of senior legal advisor and leadership positions in the Pentagon, and at various Navy and Joint commands, including two sea deployments and deployments to Iraq and Pakistan.

Calvin Freeman is VP, Enterprise Procurement and Supply Chain Management at ManTech. He is a Senior Manager with over 25 years of broad-based experience in Subcontracts Administration, General Procurement, and Supply Chain Management in the public and private sectors. Proven ability to engage cross-functionally and achieve results through collaboration with program business partners.

Pascal Friton is a specialist lawyer for public procurement law (“Fachanwalt für Vergaberecht”) and an expert for international trade law. His public procurement law practice covers advice to both contracting authorities and bidders, in particular in the IT, defence and security, infrastructure, energy and healthcare sectors. In addition, he has longstanding experience in the field of procurement compliance (exclusion from public procurement procedures, corruption registers and self-cleaning). This also includes advising on sanctions imposed by the World Bank or other multilateral development banks.

In the area of international trade law Pascal regularly advises the export industry and financial institutes on economic sanctions of the EU, for example against Iran and Russia. Pascal’s practice also includes EU and German Blocking/Anti-Boycott Law as well as FDI applications to the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action under the German Foreign Trade and Payments Act (Außenwirtschaftsgesetz (AWG)).

Pascal is regularly ranked as one of the leading public procurement lawyers by Who’s Who Legal: Government Contracts and is also among Who’s Who Legal “Thought Leaders - Germany”. He is recommended by The Legal 500, listed in Chambers Europe for Public Procurement, and ranks also among Germany’s most renowned lawyers according to German business magazines “Wirtschaftswoche” and “Handelsblatt”. In the field of “International Trade” he is also listed as leading lawyer by Who’s Who Legal.

Pascal is admitted to the Bar in Germany (Rechtsanwalt) and is also a specialist lawyer for public procurement law (“Fachanwalt für Vergaberecht”).

Matt is a principal in Baker Tilly's risk advisory practice. Matt joined Baker Tilly in 2020 . He leads our Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) and Government Contractor IT Risk suite of services. He has led IT audits and cybersecurity assessments for large primes down to smaller 8A contractors. Matt’s expertise includes internal auditing, SOX compliance, information technology controls, business process controls, and ERP risk and controls. Examples of these engagements include CMMC Readiness assessments, 800-171 implementation projects, 800-53 based ATO readiness reviews, IT Risk assessments, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, internal audit, pre- and post-implementation assessments, and privacy assessments for clients.

Matt is actively engaged in supporting government contractors, grant recipients, state and local governments and federal agencies navigate the CMMC requirements but has extensive experience supporting NIST 800-171 and 800-53 related assessments. Matt has also run fully co-sourced internal audit engagements for large clients (multi-billion dollars in revenues) in the government contracting industry.

Dan provides tax planning and compliance services to closely held businesses and their owners. He serves clients in a broad range of industries, including software and technology, government contracting, automotive and other retail, manufacturing, publishing, construction and real estate. Dan has been with Baker Tilly since 2010.

Specific experience Oversees tax compliance engagements comprising federal and multi-state filings for corporations, flow-through entities, individuals and trusts Assists businesses and individuals with income tax projections and planning strategies to maximize after-tax cash flows Consults with clients on structuring for capital transactions including debt and equity financing, corporate reorganizations, acquisitions and divestitures Assists with buy-side and sell-side tax due diligence procedures, review of transaction agreements and assistance with negotiations concerning key terms, representations and warranties, and analysis of income tax and financial reporting implications of deal structures Experience with various tax incentives and credits, including the IRC section 41 research credit Prepares and reviews income tax provisions in accordance with ASC 740 (formerly FAS 109 and FIN 48) for corporate clients Assists clients in resolving controversies with the IRS and state taxing authorities Leads both local and firm-wide training courses on various technical tax and industry-focused topics

Jim is the General Counsel and Director of Education at FutureFeed.co, where he brings a broad range of legal, technical, and business expertise to the team. He is a Founding Director and former Board Treasurer of the CMMC Accreditation Body (now called the CyberAB), a CMMC Provisional Instructor, Certified CMMC Professional, and Certified CMMC Assessor. Jim also authored and taught the CyberAB’s original Registered Practitioner training. Jim earned a BSECE from Drexel University and JD and LLM degrees from George Mason University.

Jim spent most of his professional career working in the cybersecurity field. He has worked for and counseled a variety of organizations, from various portions of the United States government, including the U.S. House of Representatives and United States Coastguard; to government contractors, including Unisys Corporation and The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory; to start-up technology and consulting companies.

Jim regularly speaks at domestic and international cybersecurity conferences and has been called upon as an expert witness on cybersecurity, IT, and government contracts issues. Jim is the author of two books, “CUI Fundamentals” and “CUI Informed”, about the government’s Controlled Unclassified Information (“CUI”) program. He is also the co-author of a Certified CMMC Professional (“CCP”) curriculum taught by several training providers nationally. Jim’s research into the application of Enterprise Risk Management techniques to the field of cyber and privacy governance has been published by the Supreme Court of Singapore in their prestigious National Law Journal and in two different books published by LexisNexis. Jim is also a co-founder of the CMMC Information Institute, which helps small businesses to better understand and meet their cybersecurity and data privacy obligations. When he isn’t working, teaching, or volunteering with the Institute, Jim can be found swimming, kayaking, and fishing with his kids.

Nick, a partner in our Tysons, Virginia office, has been with Baker Tilly since 2006. Nick specializes in financial statement attest and financial advisory engagements. He works with clients in numerous industries, including government contracting, assisting in matters pertaining to corporate financial accounting issues, U.S. GAAP reporting matters, key business processes and strategies to improve the design and effectiveness of internal controls.

Michael Greenman has worked in government and technology for over 20 years. At Deltek, Michael works in the Product Strategy team and is the evangelist for cybersecurity compliance and cloud. Prior to joining Deltek, he worked as a consultant for a Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP) conducting cybersecurity risk assessments for local government and advising government contractors on CMMC preparation.

D.J. is a manager in the government contractor solutions practice of Baker Tilly. He has been working in government compliance and contracting for 12 years with expertise in monitoring contractor business systems, Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), final incurred costs and forward pricing rate agreements. He has extensive experience as a warranted corporate and divisional administrative contracting officer and has developed numerous policies and procedures related to government compliance. Additionally, he works with federal auditors to resolve findings for all types of audits and has experience reviewing policies and procedures for government contractors of all sizes.

Matthew Haws is a partner in the Government Contracts Practice. He represents clients ranging from defense manufacturers to IT systems integrators on government contract and grant law issues, including claims, compliance, and investigations.

Mr. Haws guides contractors through complicated issues in their relationship with the government, including significant bid protests, Inspector General investigations, mandatory disclosures, False Claims Act (FCA) litigation, suspension/debarment proceedings, DCAA audits, and claims against the government. He conducts internal investigations, develops requests for equitable adjustment and claims, and provides guidance to contractors on their most complicated problems.

Ryan Heidorn is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Steel Root, where he leads the firm’s cybersecurity compliance practice. Ryan’s expertise includes helping government contractors implement and operationalize cybersecurity requirements under DFARS 252.204-7012 and NIST SP 800-171.

Ryan teaches cybersecurity at Endicott College and serves on the board of directors of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) New England chapter.

Kim Herrington is Vice President, Government Finance at L3Harris Technologies. In this role, Kim is responsible for providing strategic leadership to L3Harris business segments to optimize financial performance within the U.S. government contracting environment. This role enables enterprise performance by leveraging best-in-class defense government finance principles to improve organizational effectiveness and minimize risk. Areas of focus include wrap rate management, government compliance, strategic rate pool structure reviews, and integration of financial plans into the strategic plan.

John is seasoned government contracting expert who assists contractors with regulatory compliance requirements throughout the government contract lifecycle. John works with government contract and grant recipients of all shapes and sizes and provides strategic advisory services to some of the largest US Federal Government contractors in the world. He works with contractors serving a wide-ranging customer base including Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Energy (DOE), Health & Human Services (HHS), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), various intelligence agencies, and many others. John brings a thoughtful and strategic approach to solving complex compliance challenges while keeping his clients’ unique business interests and needs at the forefront. John has an in-depth understanding of the federal compliance environment, procurement process, and implications to contractors. He has extensive, practical knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), Defense FAR Supplement (DFARS), other agency FAR supplements, and Cost Accounting Standards (CAS).

Jen is supporting OUSD(A&S)/AAP (EVM-CR Deputy Program Manager) for Tecolote Research.

Jerald S. Howe, Jr. is a Leidos executive vice president and the company’s general counsel. Howe has responsibility for legal, contracts, corporate governance, environmental health and safety, and administrative oversight of the ethics and compliance and internal audit functions. He joined Leidos in July 2017 after serving as partner at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP (Fried Frank) where he was a member of the firm’s government contracts, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and aerospace and defense practices.

Howe is an accomplished leader with nearly 35 years of experience advising and representing clients in government contracts litigation, investigations, and bid protests as well as in M&A and private equity transactions. His experience includes the aerospace, defense, intelligence, and government services sectors.

Ms. Barbara Hunt is a retired Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Executive Technical Expert and program manager with over 20 years of experience in the fields of cyber, information, and telecommunications technology and operations. Her last position in the Intelligence Community (2008-2012) was as Director of Capabilities for Tailored Access Operations at the National Security Agency (NSA’s offensive cyber mission). As a member of NSA/TAO's senior leadership team, Ms. Hunt was responsible for end-to-end development and capabilities delivery for a large-scale computer network exploitation effort. She provided the technical and operational foundation for computer network operations.

As the Senior Technical Advisor for the National Clandestine Service, CIA, Ms. Hunt created an ovearching strategy for technology management for the National Clandestine Service (NCS). This activity helped provide strategic direction to operational components for their use in developing and implementing coordinated plans of action, which bolstered innovation, common vision, collaboration, resource management, and information sharing.

Ms. Hunt founded Cutting Edge Consulting Associates (Cutting Edge CA) in 2012 to provide leading-edge, innovative, identity-protected access to the Internet and cyber threat mitigation capabilities. Cutting Edge CA’s flagship offering is NetAbstraction, a “carrier” class network service that protects your identity and provides additional security for your communications on the Internet. Ms. Hunt is the inventor on two patents for the unique network architecture and design that allows NetAbstraction to both protect your identity and improve your performance when operating on the Internet or in the cloud.

Alex Iftimie is co-chair of Morrison & Foerster’s Global Risk and Crisis Management group and routinely advises Fortune 500 and high-growth clients on all aspects of breach preparedness and response, including counseling executives on cybersecurity governance and risk management, and responding to cyber incidents ranging from ransomware attacks to nation-state sponsored economic espionage. Drawing on his experience at the National Security Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, Alex also advises global entities on legal obligations related to the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA); foreign investment transactions before the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS); and laws related to material support to terrorism, sanctions, and export controls.

Prior to joining Morrison & Foerster, Alex held multiple senior positions at the DOJ, including Counselor to the Attorney General, Deputy Chief of Staff and Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for National Security, and Special Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia. Throughout his time at DOJ, he advised the Department leadership on national security, intelligence and cyber matters, including policy and legal issues arising in the National Security Council process, CFIUS matters, complex issues involving FARA, and engagements with non-U.S. officials. He also represented the Department on the Export Control Reform Initiative that sought to strengthen national security and the competitiveness of key U.S. manufacturing and technology sectors, and before the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court on issues involving novel questions at the intersection of law and technology. Most recently, as a prosecutor in the National Security and Cybercrime Units of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, Alex brought the Department’s charges against Russian efforts to interfere in the 2018 midterm elections. During his time at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, he also investigated, and/or prosecuted, federal crimes ranging from espionage, trade secret theft, and national security cyber matters, to fraud, firearm, and drug offenses.

John Infantolino is a principal in CohnReznick’s Technology+ practice. Based in Tysons, Virginia, John has extensive experience in government contracting advising mid-sized contractors on large ERP Implementations. He has also led more than a dozen mid-size (100-200 million) to large (500 million) Deltek implementations focused on optimum GAAP and government accounting to maximize business benefits.

John’s experience includes directing all aspects of an ERP implementation. This includes conceptualizing & formulating comprehensive project plans, implementing systems, conducting tests, system rollout, and providing end-user training. He also has a strong background in executing, sustaining, and continually enhancing ERP systems with multiple interfaces such as Costpoint MES.

Before joining CohnReznick, John was Vice President (EBS) for a global defense manufacturing company. In this role, he was responsible for leading and delivering complex $200-300M Oracle to Deltek ERP implementations with various interfaces.

As Vice President of CMMC and FedRAMP Assurance at Coalfire Federal, Stuart Itkin has responsibility and oversight of the company’s CMMC RPO Advisory Services and C3PAO Assessment Services, and for its FedRAMP 3PAO Assessment Services for Federal. Stuart previously served as Vice President of Product Management at Exostar, a Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Technologies, BAE Systems, Rolls Royce formed joint venture company, where he had responsibility over the company’s compliance management, supply chain risk management, and secure collaboration platforms, and for establishing its CMMC practice area. Stuart has served in leadership roles with cybersecurity companies PivotPoint Risk Analytics, SAIFE, and ThreatTrack Security, as lead mentor at the Virginia State Government funded MACH37 cybersecurity product accelerator, and as an advisor and board member to several early and growth stage cybersecurity companies. Stuart was recruited to the Washington DC area by the Corporate Executive Board, now a subsidiary of Gartner, where he served as Global Chief Marketing Officer. Stuart earned a BA and an MA and is an ABD from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Coalfire Federal has 20 years’ experience providing cybersecurity services to a wide range of government and commercial organizations enabling and protecting their mission-specific cyber objectives. As the leading FedRAMP 3PAO, one the first authorized CMMC C3PAOs and a CMMC RPO, the company is able to perform CMMC Assessments for OSCs and provide advisory services to organizations preparing for CMMC Certification. The company, in addition, also offers a full spectrum of cybersecurity services including cyber program management and operations, technical security assessments, cyber automation, engineering and orchestration, and security compliance and advisory services. For more information, visit: www.coalfirefederal.com.

Mark Jones is CPRC Pricing Division Director at the DCMA.

Michelle Jones is an analyst, program manager, and researcher on space and software-intensive programs for National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). She led Schedule Execution Metrics Thresholds Study, establishing data-driven predictive analytics for program schedules, and co-authored the Joint Space Cost Council Better Earned Value Management (EVM) Implementation Study, recommending EVM system (EVMS) improvements in acquisition programs.

Perry Keating is the Managing Director and President of Protiviti Government Services (Pro Gov), with over 30 years of experience in business and service with the government and the Defense Industrial Base (DIB).

Perry’s technical expertise includes protecting government data, systems, and networks from cybersecurity assessments, policy development, and remediation through incident response for compliance with a variety of frameworks (FAR 52.204-21, DFARS 252.204-7012, FISMA, FedRAMP, NIST RMF, NIST 800-53; NIST 800-171, CMMC).

His experience gives him unique industry insight into the Aerospace & Defense (A&D), Government Contractors (GovCon), Defense Industrial Base (DIB), and Public Sector (US Federal, State & Local) as well as the Telecommunications and High-Tech industries.

Perry earned his MBA from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Tulane University. He proudly served as a Commissioned Officer in the US Army Corps of Engineers.

He is a member of the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM); the Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association (AFCEA); the Army Engineer Association (AEA); the Association of the United States Army (AUSA); the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA); and the Reserve Officers Association (ROA)

Michael A. Killham is a California attorney specializing in U.S. Government procurement and subcontracting support. He provides legal advice, training, and assistance concerning all aspects of federal and commercial contracting and fiscal law, including but not limited to subjects relating to Contract Formation and Administration, Legal Compliance, Subcontracting, Negotiations, Bid Protests, Contract Disputes, Commercial Item Contracting, Contract Terminations, Export/Import Compliance, and Source Selection.

Mr. Killham served as corporate counsel for major U.S. government contractors following his military career as a U.S. Army Judge Advocate. These assignments included Director, Legal Operations, for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, Advanced Development Programs (a.k.a. “Skunkworks”) in Palmdale, California; General Counsel for a U.S./French joint venture - Thales-Raytheon Systems Company, LLC - and MD Helicopters, Inc., in Fullerton, California and Mesa, Arizona, respectively; Senior Business Counsel for Raytheon Space & Airborne Systems in El Segundo, California; and Division Counsel for two operating divisions of Litton Industries, Inc. While in these positions, he was responsible for identifying, advising on, and resolving a wide variety of legal and business-related issues, including those relating to government and commercial contracting and subcontracting, export/import compliance, corporate governance, labor/employment law, government cost accounting, intellectual property rights, litigation management, and more.

Anthony Kim has more than 20 years of experience in various cost accounting and compliance issues related to government contracts. Specifically, he is knowledgeable in the areas of government contract procurement regulations, Cost Accounting Standards, OMB Uniform Guidance, Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards and Generally Accepted Auditing Standards.

Anthony’s industry experience includes architecture and engineering, aerospace and defense, construction, manufacturing, information technology, not-for-profits, and higher education. He has assisted clients with complex cost accounting matters, cost representations, business system implementations, expert testimonials, proposal assistance, audit support, and other regulatory compliance matters.

Prior to joining CACI International, Mr. Kim was a director at BDO USA, Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, Navigant Consulting and Partner at Capital Edge Consulting. He has also worked for KPMG as a manager for over seven years. Recently, he assisted in developing an annual DCAA conference seminar, conducted numerous training for Federal Publication Seminars, held webinars with clients and prospects on various government contract compliance matters, and served as a member of the National Defense Industry Association Contract Finance Committee in charge of regulatory and legislative updates.

He has assisted contractors and their outside counsel to resolve disputes arising under the Federal Acquisition Regulation, Cost Accounting Standards, Truth in Negotiations Act, and other accounting-related rules and regulations, and conducted independent forensic accounting investigations to evaluate allegations of fraud, accounting errors and irregularities, cost mischarging and defective pricing.

In addition, Anthony is a nationally recognized speaker who teaches classes through Federal Publication Seminars, National Contract Management Association, Virginia Society of CPAs. He has lectured on a number of topics, including Government Contract Accounting, Federal Acquisition Regulations, Cost Accounting Standards, Cost & Price Analysis, Incurred Cost Submissions, Introduction to Government Contracting, and Government Contractor Business Systems Compliance. He is a member of the National Contract Management Association (NCMA) and the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA).

Stephen Knight has practiced government contract law for more than 40 years, counseling and litigating on behalf of clients in all aspects of that practice. He has significant experience in claims and disputes, with special emphasis on costing and pricing issues involving cost allocability and allowability, Cost Accounting Standards, defective pricing under the Truth in Negotiations Act, and government audits. Stephen has substantial experience in compliance issues pertaining to government contractors and frequently assists clients in evaluating the requirement and manner of making disclosures to the government. He has conducted compliance reviews for clients, assisting in reviewing and evaluating internal controls, conducting training and evaluating specific compliance issues such as business systems and socio-economic requirements in government contracts. Stephen represents prime contractors as well as subcontractors in the manufacturing and services sectors and is experienced in ascertaining the necessary government contract requirements for inclusion in subcontracts.

Jonathan H. Kosarin, Associate Counsel, Special Projects Division, is assigned to the Department of Defense Irregular Warfare Technical Support Directorate. He has over 42 years’ experience in acquisition, government contracting, and fiscal law. Mr. Kosarin previously served as Assistant General Counsel at the National Reconnaissance Office; Deputy Counsel, Special Projects Division; and, Associate Counsel, Naval Supply Systems Command. While on active duty as a JAG with the Army, he served as European Trial Attorney and Attorney Advisor at the U.S. Army Headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany, and as Trial Attorney, U.S. Army Contract Appeals Division.

As an Army Reserve JAG, Mr. Kosarin served as Adjunct Professor of Contract Law/Chairman Contract and Fiscal Law Department at the Army Judge Advocate General's School in Charlottesville, VA; Acting Chief, Contract Law Division, U.S. Army Headquarters in Heidelberg Germany, and as Deputy General Counsel, Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office. He retired from the Army Reserve as a Colonel.

Mr. Kosarin is an Adjunct Instructor of Procurement and Contracting at the University of Virginia and also teaches at the joint UVA/Virginia State Police’s National Criminal Justice Command College. He is an instructor with Federal Publication Seminars teaching courses in contracting, procurement and negotiations.

Kim is currently the VP of Industry Marketing for Unanet. She concentrates on thought leadership and market positioning specifically in the areas of project management, accounting and government contracting. She started her career working for Raytheon where she held multiple management positions such as the Javelin Joint Venture Controller and Product Line Business Manager. Her love of Earned Value Management (EVM) developed in the early years of her career and today still enjoys talking about it and providing direction on best practices. After 17 years at Raytheon she joined ATK where she held the positions of Director of Business Systems, EVM Focal Point, and Finance Director.

Over the years Kim led multiple large ERP system implementations. She has been a trainer in her organizations and has provided guidance to many project and executive teams.

Stephanie Kostro is Executive Vice President for Policy at the Professional Services Council, where she leads a strong policy team that is committed to advocating for and supporting productive collaboration between the federal government and services industry. As a recognized executive, on-air commentator, and policy expert with more than 20 years of experience in the U.S. Government and industry, she brings a wealth of knowledge in federal procurement policy and acquisition regulations, government processes and programs, and public-private partnerships.

Prior to joining PSC in 2021, Kostro was a Principal at a government relations and consulting firm where she developed and implemented policy, funding, and business development strategies for a global client base. She worked extensively with civilian, defense, diplomatic, and intelligence officials, as well as with federal departments’ oversight committees in Congress.

From 2010-2015, she was a senior fellow and director of the Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a prominent national security think tank. Kostro served as a State Department contractor at U.S. Embassy Baghdad for one year, and from 2005-2008, she was a senior professional staff member and policy director on the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee. At the Pentagon from 1998-2005, she worked in a variety of offices within the Office of the Secretary of Defense, on the Joint Staff, and in embassies and missions overseas.

Stephen “Chase” Kunk is a Managing Partner Capital Edge Consulting, Inc. Chase specializes in U.S. Government contract and subcontract negotiations, administration, management and purchasing system compliance. His expertise stems from his legal education, former certification as a National Football League contract advisor to professional athletes, and in-depth experience as a contracts and procurement administration manager for an international contractor serving Department of Defense (DoD), Intelligence Community (IC) and civilian agency customers. Chase’s support to Capital Edge Consulting clients is predominantly in the areas of contract and subcontract administration, purchasing system compliance and Contractor Purchasing System Review (CPSR) readiness and risk mitigation. He also leads all contract and subcontract negotiation and administration for Capital Edge Consulting’s internal business operations.

Lindy Kyzer is the director of content of ClearanceJobs.com, the largest career site for individuals with an active federal security clearance. ClearanceJobs has registered more than 1 million candidates with an active federal security clearance and has been helping government contractors find cleared talent since 2002. As senior editor Lindy covers the defense industry, intelligence community, government and contracting trends for the ClearanceJobs news site, newsletters and media partners. She also manages ClearanceJobs’ social media. Prior to working for ClearanceJobs, Lindy was a Department of Army employee at the Pentagon and the U.S. Army’s first social media manager (she credits teaching hundreds of Army senior leaders to Facebook and Tweet as one of her claims to fame).

Paul Lalonde is a partner and lead of the Regulatory practice group. He focuses on government contracting law, international trade, anti-corruption and international arbitration. Mr. Lalonde is a recognized expert on government procurement and international trade law, with deep experience in anti-dumping and countervail investigations, customs, appeals, import and export controls, international sanctions, anti-corruption compliance and investigations, and international business. He regularly advises clients on Canada’s international investment treaty commitments and has played a key role in some of Canada’s highest profile trade disputes and negotiations including those on softwood lumber, steel and agricultural products.

His government procurement practice encompasses all aspects of the procurement lifecycle, from pre-tender activities, the bidding process and contract award, through contract administration and termination and the inevitable disputes that occasionally arise. His track record of appearances in bid protest procedures before the Canadian International Trade Tribunal and the courts is second to none in Canada.

Mr. Lalonde has received numerous accolades for his expertise in international trade and government procurement law including from Lexpert, Chambers Global (Band 1 for government procurement, Band 2 for trade law), the Legal 500, Who’s Who, the Guide to the World's Leading Lawyers (Legal Media Group / Euromoney Institutional Investor) and The Best Lawyers in Canada (Woodward/White). The Who’s Who Legal Government Contracts recognized Mr. Lalonde as a Global Thought Leader for North America. He also received in 2020 a global Client Choice Award in Government Contracts for Canada.

Mr. Lalonde has been involved in the area of anti-corruption law since Canada adopted the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act in the 90’s and was counsel on the first court-approved Remediation Agreement on charges under the CFPOA. He has assisted clients with respect to anti-corruption compliance through the entire spectrum of issues in this area, including developing compliance policies and programs, advising on business conduct issues, anti-corruption due diligence in transactions, internal investigations related to employee and third party conduct, RCMP and other enforcement authority investigations, dawn raids and negotiations. He has been involved in extensive thought leadership in this area including on topics such as whistle blower protections, victim reparations, deferred prosecution agreements, beneficial ownership transparency, money laundering, failure to prevent offences and facilitation payments.

Mr. Lalonde was appointed panelist on the fourth and fifth dispute resolution panels created under the Agreement on Internal Trade (now the Canadian Free Trade Agreement). He is also a listed arbitrator on the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR) Canada Panel of Arbitrators and has been involved in several arbitrations, both as counsel and party-appointed arbitration.

Mr. Lalonde has held numerous leadership positions in the Bar, including as chair of various committees of the International Bar Association, the Canadian Bar Association, Ontario Bar Association, and the American Bar Association International Law Section. Mr. Lalonde is a Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, has been named a Trustee of the International Bar Association Foundation and is former Chair and President of Transparency International - Canada. Mr. Lalonde has been nominated to a number of industry advisory committees and corporate boards, including TVOntario, TFO, la télévision éducative et culturelle de l’Ontario français, and was former Secretary and Legal Counsel of I.E. Canada, the Canadian Association of Importers and Exporters.

Fernand Lavallee's practice focuses on litigation of, and counseling on, public procurements, and he is a recognized leader in intellectual property rights in government contracts. Fern is a trusted advisor on the public procurement of artificial intelligence (AI) and AI enhanced or augmented products and services, the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, contract and subcontract formation, administration, compliance, cybersecurity, suspension and debarment, due diligence, internal investigations, rights in patents (Bayh-Dole Act), rights in technical data and computer software, and dispute matters to clients in the aerospace, high-technology, information technology, and life sciences sectors. He litigates government contracts cases and prime contractor/subcontractor disputes before federal and state courts and brings, or intervenes and defends against bid protests before federal agencies, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), and the Court of Federal Claims (COFC). Fern also brings claims before the Civilian and Defense Boards of Contract Appeals and COFC and size protests before the Small Business Administration (SBA).

Fern's clients engage in R&D and provide products and services to federal civilian and defense agencies, including the intelligence community, under contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADA), and Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreements.

Fern has taught, written, and spoken on government contracts topics including Foreign Ownership, Control or Influence (FOCI) issues and due diligence in M&As involving government contractors. He presented a paper on socio-economic programs in U.S. federal procurements at the 1st Interdisciplinary Symposium on Public Procurement held in Italy and co-sponsored by the University of Rome Tor Vergata and the Faculty of Law of the University of Copenhagen. He is a vice chair of the ABA's Public Contract Law Section's IP Committee.

LoraLee LeFleur is the Principal Director, Supply Chain, at The Aerospace Corporation.

Noah Leiden has been with Baker Tilly since 2010. He has worked in government contracting consulting since 1991 serving manufacturing, engineering, professional services, information and communications, healthcare, higher education, and not-for-profit organizations. Noah has extensive experience providing a range of government contract accounting, pricing, business system and internal control oversight, and regulatory and contract compliance to his clients.

Jake Leishman is an experienced government contracts attorney who develops and delivers instruction, legal consultation on legal, contract administration, acquisitions, policy implementation, and compliance issues.

Jake began as a social worker then moved to education, serving as the Director of Continuing Education at the University of Maryland School of Social Work and Community Planning. In addition to continuing education, Jake taught graduate and undergraduate courses in social policy and social administration.

After receiving her Juris Doctorate from the University of Maryland, Jake spent a few years in private practice but made the decision that corporate law, focusing on government contracts was her preferred arena. She worked at Federal Data Corporation as Corporate Counsel and at Electronic Data Systems (now HP Enterprise Services) as Senior Counsel for EDS’ Contracts with the United States Government. In addition Jake developed and delivered training to all EDS contract professionals who handled federal procurement, subcontracts under the FAR, and state and local contracts.

Jake's instructional approach focuses on two elements; the need for common sense and a good sense of humor when addressing problem solving, policy analysis and implementation, all aspects of contracting, and working in the Federal arena.

Bill is an assurance senior manager in Baker Tilly’s D.C. commercial practice who joined the firm in 2012. He specializes in providing audit and accounting services to clients in the government contracting, software and technology, manufacturing and media industries. Bill has extensive experience assisting clients with U.S. GAAP financial reporting, internal controls over financial reporting and key business processes.

Anthony Lewis is co-head of S&C’s National Security practice, a member of the Firm’s Criminal Defense and Investigations Group, and co-head of the Firm’s Cybersecurity practice. His practice focuses on international and government investigations and on cybersecurity incident response and advice. A former supervisor in the National Security Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, Mr. Lewis has particular expertise with matters involving economic and financial crime, sanctions, technology transfer, and export controls, cryptocurrencies, cybercrime, counterintelligence and other areas that implicate national security concerns for corporate clients and financial institutions.

Mr. Lewis has represented clients in internal investigations and regulatory enforcement proceedings, including with the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Office of Foreign Assets Control, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and financial regulators. He has advised clients in various sectors, including technology, industrials, financial services, and consumer goods.

Drew is a director in Baker Tilly’s Government Contractor Solutions practice. He has been with the firm since early 2012 and began his career with the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) working primarily with a multibillion-dollar contractor and providing various types of audit functions throughout the contracting lifecycle. He also has broad knowledge of rules and regulations surrounding the FAR, DFARS, CAS, and TINA. Drew is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the Commonwealth of Virginia and a licensed Certified Fraud Examiner through the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.

Ms. Lister has more than 16 years of dedicated experience in the private and public sectors focusing on cyber risk to business operations at the intersection of security and technology. She is currently leading Omniangle Technologies’ early warning cyber threat intelligence capabilities, expanding Omniangle’s strategic partnerships in multiple sectors, and driving innovation throughout the cyber intelligence community. Ms. Lister leverages her background in advanced cyber adversaries and insider threats to help executive clients protect intellectual property, data, and other critical assets from theft, industrial espionage, information technology sabotage, abuse, and financial fraud. She previously served as a Cyber and Counterintelligence officer for the CIA, leading cyber threat analysis teams protecting enterprise operations and critical assets worldwide. More recently, she led cyber and insider risk management at Global Professional Services Group where she served as a trusted cyber risk advisor for executive clients and Boards.

Andrea Little Limbago is a computational social scientist specializing in the intersection of emerging technology, national security, and information security. As the Vice President of Research and Analysis at Interos, Andrea leads the company’s computational modeling and methodology regarding global supply chain risk. Andrea is also a Co-Program Director for the Emerging Tech and Cybersecurity Program at the National Security Institute at George Mason, an industry advisory board member for the data science program at George Washington University, a non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council’s GeoTech Center, and a board member for the Washington, DC chapter of Women in Security and Privacy (WISP). She has presented extensively at a range of academic, government, and industry conferences such as Black Hat, RSA, SXSW, SOCOM’s Global Synch, BSidesLV, and Enigma.

Her writing has been featured in numerous outlets, including Politico, the Hill, Business Insider, War on the Rocks, and Forbes. Prior to Interos, Andrea was the Chief Social Scientist at Virtru, Endgame, and Berico Technologies. She also taught in academia and was a technical lead at the Joint Warfare Analysis Center, where she earned the Command’s top award for technical excellence.

Dismas (Diz) Locaria is a member of the firm's Government Contracts Group. Mr. Locaria's practice focuses on assisting government contractors in all aspects of working with the Federal government. Mr. Locaria has extensive experience assisting clients with regulatory and contract/grant term counseling, compliance (including ethics and integrity compliance), responsibility matters, such as suspension, debarment and other contracting/grant exclusions, small business matters and GSA Federal Supply Schedule contracting. Mr. Locaria also represents and counsel’s clients with the peculiarities of the Homeland Security Act, including obtaining and maintaining SAFETY Act protections. Government Contract and Grant Counseling and Compliance: Mr. Locaria has a wealth of knowledge regarding applicable contract (e.g., the Federal Acquisition Regulation) and grant (e.g., OMB Circular A-110 and A-122) regulations, including the application of these regulations to both prime contractors/grant recipients and subcontractors/subgrantees.

Kris leads EY’s Global Cybersecurity practice in Advisory.

Kris has over 20 years of experience serving large, diversified organizations implementing managed and professional security services. She is leading EY’s work with clients in corporate security and risk management. In previous roles, Kris was responsible for development and delivery of managed professional security services and for managing, monitoring and testing corporate resiliency functions globally at a global information technology company.

Kris is a recognized expert in the field on security, risk, compliance and governance with appearances at RSA, InfoSec, InterOp, CyberTech, the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), SecTor, and Hack-in-the-Box as well as appearances in Fortune, the Christian Science Monitor, and USA Today. Within the past few years, she has been recognized by Washington Business Journal as a Top 25 Woman in Business, EWF as Entrepreneur of the Year, SC Magazine as one of Top 5 Managers in the Security Industry (Reboot 25 quarter century retrospective) and Top Woman in Security, as CSO Compass award in reflection of demonstrated excellence, achievement and leadership in the security field, as a Top 25 CTO by InfoWorld, Top 25 Most Influential Security Executive by Security Magazine, and as Top Woman in Security by eWeek. Kris holds U.S. and EU patents for Object Oriented Risk Management Models and Methods.

Based in our Washington, DC office, Lenee is a Principal in the firm’s Government Contractors group. She has over 18 years of experience in Accounting. She services clients across a broad range of industries such as Government Contracting, Banking and Financial Services, and Manufacturing industries.

Lenee’s role includes Internal Audit, SOX Compliance, FAR/DFARS Compliance, General Ledger Accounting, and SEC Financial Reporting responsibilities. She has implemented ERP and Financial Systems using SDLC best practices which included documenting business and data requirements, system integration testing, and user acceptance testing.

Mr. Major is a partner and co-leader of the firm’s Government Contracts & Export Controls Practice Group. Mr. Major focuses his practice on federal procurement, cybersecurity liability and risk management, and litigation. A prolific author and thought leader in the area of cybersecurity, his professional experience involves a wide variety of litigation and counseling matters dealing with procurement laws and federal regulations and standards . His diverse experience includes complex litigation in federal court under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act and bid protest actions. He counsels all sizes of companies on issues relating to compliance with government regulations including, among other things, cybersecurity (NIST, FIPS, FedRAMP, and DFARS) requirements, multiple award schedule compliance, Section 508 issues, country of origin requirements under the Buy American and Trade Agreements Acts, cost accounting, and small business requirements. He also regularly conducts internal investigations to assist companies ensure that they are in full compliance with the law.

Mr. Major is a retired U.S. Air Force intelligence officer and remains a U.S. Air Force Academy Admissions Liaison Officer for the state of Maryland.

Sajeev is a Partner at Ernst & Young LLP, leading the Forensics Government Contracts Services Practice in the Washington, DC area. With over three decades of experience in the industry, Sajeev has taken the lead on numerous high-profile government contract issues, including pricing, compliance, accounting, and financing. His expertise covers a wide range of areas, such as the False Claims Act, Truthful Cost or Pricing Data, Cost Accounting Standards, the Service Contract Act, Procurement Integrity, and the Anti-Kickback Act.

Heading a team of professionals nationwide, Sajeev guides clients through internal investigations, audits, mandatory disclosures, and directs forensic accounting analysis. He also prepares expert reports for matters involving alleged fraud, contractor claims, arbitrations, and government investigations, and has led several bid protest matters focusing on price reasonableness and cost realism.

Sajeev offers advisory services to clients across various sectors to enhance their understanding and compliance with government award regulations and statutory requirements. He specializes in designing and implementing business processes and internal controls to meet these standards, with deep expertise in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circulars, and other federal procurement regulations and guidance.


Sajeev leads a team of professionals across the country in assisting clients with performing internal investigations, audits and mandatory disclosures and directing forensic accounting analysis and preparing expert reports in matters related to alleged fraud, contractor claims, arbitrations, and government investigations. In addition, he has lead several bid protest matters related to price reasonableness and cost realism.
Sajeev provides advisory services to the firm’s clients, across all sectors, to help improve their understanding and compliance with regulatory and statutory government award requirements. This includes designing and implementing business process and internal control enhancements to address these requirements.

Timothy is a Senior Manager on the Government Contracts Solutions team at EY (Ernst & Young). He has been with EY for over 15 years and helps clients understand a host of government accounting and compliance issues. This has ranged from understanding requirements related to FAR, CAS, and 2 CFR 200 to understanding Other Transactions (OTs), trade compliance rules, and cybersecurity requirements (NIST 800-171). He have executed a variety of proactive and reactive projects to assess, develop, and implement controls, systems, and processes. He have significant experience related to business systems, cost & price analysis, cost accounting, and a variety of other topics that affect government contractors from a variety of sectors supporting different agencies and departments of the Federal government. He is a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified Internal Auditor, and Certified Information Systems Auditor.

Sachin Mathur has 20+ years of project management and software development expertise. Sachin is a practicing professional and the President of Vytal Solutions, Inc.

Sachin started leading technical teams in various industries and settings in partnership with public and private sector clients, such as CMS, NIH, NASA, US Navy, Boeing, Medtronic, and more.

He prefers to utilize a mix of traditional and agile management frameworks in a practical setting. Sachin considers the practicalities of the organization’s culture and the project environment. His clients have seen results such as a 50%+ reduction in decision-making time, a 25%+ productivity improvement, and additional government investment for contract expansion.

John is EVM-CR Program Manager, at Tecolote Research, Inc.

As a former CFO and Controller for growing government contractors, Marty has had vast experience in government contract accounting. In 2009, Marty started his own business (PCI), in effort to provide best-in-class implementation, training and accounting support for small to mid-sized government contractors.

Matthew McKelvey has over twenty-five years’ experience in Finance/Accounting, Government Contracting, Business Valuations, Process Optimization, and Training. Matt is President and CEO of The McKelvey Group and is widely respected as a subject matter expert in both commercial and Federal marketplaces. He brings his extensive experience working with large, medium, and small companies to help his clients achieve the growth objectives of their owners.

As a consultant and CFO, he is well known for his expertise in working with organizations as they seek to create or improve their relationships with the Federal Government through price and proposal strategies, compliance, accounting, and training. In addition to direct client consulting in these areas, Matt demonstrates his comprehensive expertise through various speaking engagements and the Government contracting courses he instructs, including Cost/Price Proposal Workshops, DCAA Audit Preparation, Earned Value Management Systems, and Incurred Cost Submissions. Matt teaches his courses through several venues including training companies, conferences, and for individual clients. The McKelvey Group is a National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) recognized Continuing Professional Education (CPE) program sponsor providing CPE credits in accordance with nationally recognized standards.

Lieutenant Commander Michael McLaughlin is the former Senior Counterintelligence Advisor for United States Cyber Command, where he managed all counterintelligence activities and support to DoD cyberspace operations worldwide. He presently serves as a Research Affiliate for the University of Maryland Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security. His work focuses on the intersection of military and intelligence cyberspace operations, domestic and international law, and defense industrial base security. LCDR McLaughlin routinely advises senior Department of Defense officials on cyberspace and counterintelligence operations and policy.

Ms. Meagher concentrates in the areas of government contracts, litigation and construction law. Her practice includes counseling both prime contractors and subcontractors in a wide variety of procurement matters, including commercial item acquisitions, technical data rights, submission of claims, bid protests, small business issues, terminations, teaming agreements and joint ventures. She also represents firms involved with performing state and local public works projects and has particular expertise in protests, claims and payment disputes. Her practice includes providing strategic legal advice to federal grant recipients. In addition, Ms. Meagher advises clients on compliance issues and conducts internal investigations.

As Deltek's Information Security Officer (CISO), Caleb Merriman is responsible for leading Deltek's global information security team in support of providing the best software and solutions for project-focused businesses around the world.

Caleb is an accomplished security professional with an extensive background in the software industry. He joins Deltek from Guidewire Software, where he managed the company's enterprise security program. Prior to Guidewire, Caleb held leadership positions at various companies, including BBVA Compass, Blue Cross Blue Shield and Target, serving as CISO at several. In addition to Caleb's security experience, he spent over 20 years as a pilot in the Air Force and Air Force Reserve, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Geoff Merritt is a Principal in the Industry Specialty Services Group at BDO with a focus on Government Contracts. This group of more than 100 professionals provides unique business solutions to organizations across a wide array of industries including government contracting, life sciences, not-for-profit, manufacturing, technology, and construction, among others.

He has over 16 years of professional finance experience with focus on Government Finance & Compliance in the Aerospace & Defense sectors. Geoff has held management positions with small and mid-sized divisions of large corporations, bringing extensive hands-on experience with compliance matters relating to Federal Acquisition Regulations, Cost Accounting Standards, TINA, and Government Business System controls.
Geoff has extensive experience in corporate restructuring focusing on government contracting aspects, including disclosure statement development, cost accounting changes, and external restructuring proposal development. Additionally, Geoff has developed and delivered training programs for small operations entering into new compliance requirements to FAR and CAS.

He has also led various government contracting business processes including development of direct and indirect rate structures, forward pricing rate proposals, proposal cost volumes, DFARS business system descriptions, Estimate at Complete (EACs), and cost-type and progress payment invoicing.

Healthcare and life sciences companies turn to Kim’s unique combination of litigation and data privacy skills to protect their products, reputations, and data.

An experienced litigator, Kimberly Castellino Metzger plays an integral role on national counsel teams representing pharmaceutical manufacturers in courts nationwide. She frequently collaborates as either federal or local counsel, working closely with co-defendants and other attorneys to achieve favorable results for her clients. Kim has extensive experience with pretrial proceedings, including expert, fact witness, and 30(b)(6) depositions, dispositive motion practice, Daubert proceedings, and mediation. She enjoys the challenge of becoming a “non-scientist scientist” as she learns about the disease states, medicine, product science, and epidemiology underlying cases she prepares for trial.
As part of Kim’s healthcare-focused practice, she regularly counsels HIPAA-regulated entities (healthcare providers, health plans, and their business associates), as well as manufacturers of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and cosmetics and personal care products, on complex data security and privacy issues, including HIPAA’s Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules, the Cures Act, and GDPR compliance. Kim has earned several certifications through the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP). Her qualifications include: Certified Information Privacy Professional/U.S. Private Sector (CIPP/US). Certified Information Privacy Professional/Europe (CIPP/E), and Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) an industry-recognized combination for GDPR compliance. Fellow of Information Privacy (FIP) in IAPP’s inaugural class in 2016.

Bob Metzger heads the Washington, D.C. office of Rogers Joseph O’Donnell, PC, a firm that has specialized in government contracts for over 40 years. Chambers USA 2022 placed RJO in “Band 2,” among the “Elite” group of government contracts law firms nationwide. Chambers describes RJO as:
Well-respected government contracting boutique capable of handling a diverse array of federal, state and local procurement mandates on behalf of domestic and foreign clients. Notable litigation and regulatory capabilities, which include internal investigations, false claims proceedings and bid protests. Possesses particular expertise in technology matters, regularly representing clients in this space.

Chambers USA 2022 ranked Bob in Band 2 for Government Contracts – Nationwide and said that he is “routinely called upon by clients in cybersecurity matters, assisting clients with high-stakes contract procurements, qui tam litigation and compliance issues.” The Legal 500 (2022) describes him as a “key contact for data rights and cybersecurity issues, as well as procurement fraud and national security matters.” Who’s Who Legal (2022) again identifies Bob as among “Global Leaders” in Government Contracts, and in 2021 commented on his “wide-ranging” expertise in government contracting and technological issues.”

Bob was Counsel of Record for Microsoft in the 2019-2021 litigation at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims defending the protest brought by Amazon Web Services to the DoD award of the “JEDI” cloud services contract to Microsoft. He also was lead counsel in the successful 2021 GAO protest brought by Microsoft to the award by the National Security Agency of the “WildandStormy” cloud services contract to AWS.

Bob is recognized for subject area leadership in cyber, supply chain and related security matters. As a Special Government Employee of the Department of Defense, Bob was on the Defense Science Board task force that produced the “Cyber Supply Chain Report” (April 2017) which subsequently received the SANS Institute “Difference Maker” award. He is a co-author of August 2018 MITRE “Deliver Uncompromised” Report that is widely credited with significant influence on a broad range of security initiatives of the Department of Defense and federal civilian agencies. The Report team received a “Program Recognition Award” from MITRE in 2019. Bob has participated in several other MITRE projects on national security and public policy subjects, with subjects including ransomware, digital asset crimes and cyber insurance. He was named a 2016 “Federal 100” awardee by Federal Computer Week which cited his “ability to integrate policy, regulation and technology” and said of him: “In 2015, he was at the forefront of the convergence of the supply chain and cybersecurity, and his work continues to influence the strategies of federal entities and companies alike.”

Jennifer Morris’ practice areas include Government Contracts, Corporate Transactions, Cybersecurity, National Security, and Regulatory Compliance. Jennifer brings 23+ years of practice in the Washington D.C. metro area to her clients’ matters including a unique 360° perspective from prior U.S. Government civilian, military and commercial industry positions. Jennifer has served as a Senior Associate General Counsel in the Department of the Navy’s Office of General Counsel, an officer in the U.S. Army Reserves Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps., an Honors Attorney with the Central Intelligence Agency and as General Counsel/Deputy General Counsel with both large and small businesses.

Jennifer’s practice includes working closely with business partners to analyze and mitigate legal & business risks that stem from technology transactions and doing business with federal and state government entities. She helps her clients with government contracts, cyber-security risks & investigations, managing cyber data breach events, conducting compliance investigations & audits, advising C-Suite executives and Boards on regulatory and contractual requirements, establishing & maintaining systems of internal control including a full spectrum of corporate policies and training, preparing companies for contractor purchasing system reviews (CPSR), software licensing, reseller and channel management, best practices for protection of intellectual property, employment law, conducting international public sector business, Foreign Military Sales (FMS), and helping clients drive growth.

Adept at analyzing internal policies & procedures, identifying risks, and proposing streamlined and creative solutions to various aspects of business in small, mid-tier and large multi-national corporations, Jennifer’s business experience boosts her legal practice. She excels at working as an integrated business partner, finding practical business solutions to mitigate risk and navigating the Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community (IC) procurement rules and acquisition regulations including the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS). She has maintained an active Top Secret (TS) U.S. Government security clearance since 1998.

Jennifer’s 16+ years in-house with commercial companies provides her with a unique skillset of establishing and managing contracts and purchasing departments. This hands-on transactional and management experience dovetails with her legal practice and she helps clients manage, administer & negotiate contracts, manage & guide contracts and purchasing professionals, write & review bids, proposals and compliance matrices to improve competitive positions, and organize and restructure contract & supply chain file management to ensure compliance. Her transactional skills quickly provide negotiation results and accelerate business growth.

James Newland is a partner in Dentons US LLP, a licensed architect, and his law practice focuses on major construction and public works projects and includes a mix of non-contentious and contentious matters. He is ranked by Chambers USA which describes him as “very well versed in construction law and construction related issues.” He began practice in 1998.

In his practice, James drafts and negotiates construction contracts and procurement documents and helps clients resolve major complex claims involving construction and design issues on domestic and international projects. He represents national and international contractors and project owners in transactional work, mediation, arbitration and litigation. He has significant experience in vertical construction, power and heavy civil contracting and claims, as well as in design-build, P3, alliance contracting and traditional design-bid build delivery formats. Government construction contracting is a major focus of his work.

Prior to practicing law, James practiced architecture and worked as a project manager on development projects. Given this experience, James is frequently called upon to counsel clients on risk management and allocation, advising on troubled projects during the construction phase, project work-outs and project closeout strategies.

Andrea is EVM, Program Control Analysis at Leidos.

Former Director, Asymmetric Threat Response & Supply Chain Security (retired 5 Oct)
Special Concepts Group, The Mitre Corporation

Christopher Nissen was most recently Director of Asymmetric Threat Response & Supply Chain Security at the MITRE Corporation, a not-for-profit that operates and manages seven Federally-Funded R&D Centers (FFRDCs) serving in the National Interest. He is the founder and CEO of Intelwerks, a company dedicated to discovering and mitigating unknown operational risks from foreign intelligence services (FIS) against private sector companies. In addition, he helps companies build and execute strategies technology, policy and risk management, and monetization. Chris has over 30 years of experience developing solutions for extremely complex national security challenges from a counterintelligence vantage point.
In his most recent MITRE role, he worked across the corporation developing essential strategic elements to address non-kinetic, full-spectrum asymmetric threats to national security both in the public and private sectors. The primary attack vectors utilized by these threat actors via supply chains are cyber and human domains as well as products, services, and economics. Chris has developed extensive work programs in these and other domains across the technology, policy, and legislative solution spaces.

Kyle Peterson is a seasoned leader in Customer Success and Contracts Management. As Vice President of Account Strategy & Customer Success at VisibleThread, he drives initiatives to enhance RFP and contract clarity and compliance, ensuring maximum customer value. Previously, he managed $500M+ contracts at Sierra Nevada Corporation, ensuring FAR/DFARS compliance and leading key negotiations. With a strong background in operations and contracts analysis, Kyle excels at optimizing processes and delivering exceptional customer outcomes.

Marques Peterson is the managing partner of the firm’s Washington, DC office. His practice focuses on counseling and representing aerospace/defense and civil contractors in both federal procurement and international defense sales.

Marques has significant experience in bid protests and contract performance disputes before the Government Accountability Office, the Court of Federal Claims, and the Boards of Contract Appeals. He also regularly counsels clients on a wide array of government contract compliance issues, including contracting with the General Services Administration (GSA), pricing issues, and mandatory disclosure requirements.

Prior to entering private practice, Marques served on active duty in the Air Force Office of General Counsel at the Pentagon, where he counseled senior leaders on numerous acquisition-related matters including services contracting and space acquisitions.

As Senior Vice President of Information Solutions at Deltek, Kevin Plexico is responsible for overseeing research, analysis and specification creation for customers in the Government Contracting and Architecture, Engineering & Construction (AEC) industries.

Kevin manages the delivery of GovWin – Deltek's industry-leading government market research and information solution providing essential intelligence to over 5,000 clients. He has responsibility for leading the industry's largest team of analysts focused on the government contracting industry. He also provides thought leadership and expert opinion to industry executives and is a recognized expert on the public sector market.

Chris Pogue is the Director of Digital Forensics and Incident Response (DFIR) for CyberCX in the Americas and is a member of the global DFIR leadership team.

Over his 25-year career, Chris has led multiple professional security and services organizations to investigate data breaches, secure corporate computing assets and critical value data, implement wide-scale compliance regimes, and help executives and boards of directors both qualify and quantify security risks.

His extensive experience is drawn from careers as a cybercrimes investigator, ethical hacker, military officer, law enforcement and military instructor, university professor, business executive, and board advisor.

Chris served in the United States Army as a Signal Corps Warrant Officer, participating in multiple joint task force missions is support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and the Global War on Terror. He distinguished himself as an Honor Graduate from a variety of Army Academies and Schools and received multiple awards and commendations for excellence.

Chris was also an active member of the United States Secret Service Electronic Crimes Task Force in multiple field offices as well as the Headquarters Division. He has also been the recipient of multiple Secret Service Certificates of Appreciation.

Matt Popham is Sr. Vice President, Government Compliance Director, Leidos.

Ashley Powers* advises a broad range of government clients on compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and FAR supplement requirements, with specific expertise in supply chain and cybersecurity. She regularly advises clients on complex data rights issues, with a focus on clients in the new and emerging technology space. In addition to her counseling practice, Ms. Powers maintains an active government contracts litigation practice, representing clients in investigations, bid protests, and contract claims.

Ms. Powers has extensive government experience, having most recently served as Senior Counsel in the Contract Law Division, Office of General Counsel, at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). In that role, she developed CIA-wide supply chain and cybersecurity compliance programs and served as the agency's legal expert on these issues, including Section 889 of the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Ms. Powers was also the primary legal advisor with regard to the CIA's relationship with In-Q-Tel (IQT) and the agency's relationships with new and emerging technology companies more generally. Her practice included regularly advising on all aspects of the federal procurement process, focusing on data rights, organizational conflicts of interest, and Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigations. Finally, Ms. Powers served as lead counsel defending the CIA in bid protests and contract claims before the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Court of Federal Claims (COFC), and the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals (CBCA). She also spent several years as an Attorney-Advisor in the Contract Law Division of the Office of General Counsel at the Department of Commerce (DOC) where she represented the Department in all aspects of government contracts-related litigation, assisted in the redevelopment of the Department's Suspension and Debarment program, and served as a legal advisor to the Department's Suspension and Debarment Official (SDO).

Melissa Paige Prusock focuses her practice on investigations, litigation, and counseling related to federal government contracts and grants. Melissa’s substantial civil and criminal government investigations experience includes representing federal contractors and award recipients in False Claims Act (FCA) matters (including qui tam actions) and Office of Inspector General (OIG) audits and investigations. Melissa also regularly represents clients in suspension and debarment proceedings, counsels clients in connection with internal investigations and mandatory disclosures, and assists clients with assessing, developing, and implementing compliance programs.

Melissa provides strategic advice to federal award recipients, including private entities and state, territorial, and local governments, on compliance with the Uniform Guidance and other federal fund expenditure requirements. She also represents clients in bid protests before the Government Accountability Office and Court of Federal Claims, as well as in other government contracts and related litigation in various federal courts.

Concentrations Government investigations False Claims Act and qui tam defense Suspension, debarment and ineligibility determinations Development and enhancement of ethics and compliance programs Federal grants compliance counseling Bid protests Government contracts compliance counseling

Aaron Raddock is the National Co-Leader of BDO’s Government Contracts Practice. He focuses in the area of advisory services working with government contractors in virtually every industry on a wide range of business issues and regulatory compliance matters. Aaron regularly assists federal contractors with the development of REAs, Claims, and Termination Settlement proposals and frequently support clients in other areas involving complex cost accounting, audits, investigations and disputes.

Avani Rao is a Manager in HKA's Washington, D.C. office, with a focus on the government contracts practice. Avani has performed accounting, financial, and economic analyses in a variety of matters that center around cost, schedule, and damages analyses, as well as other dispute and compliance related issues, often within the context of the Federal Acquisition Regulation ("FAR"). Avani has supported the calculation and evaluation of damages claims ranging from tens of thousands of dollars to over $1 billion.

Tom Reynolds is a Partner in HKA’s Government Contracts Practice in Washington, D.C. Tom is a forensic accountant and CPA with 20 years of experience helping government contractors navigate the complex government contracting compliance rules and regulations. Tom has provided government contract accounting, auditing and advisory support to government contractors across numerous industries, including aerospace and defense, manufacturing, healthcare, construction, engineering, and professional services. Tom has presented contractors’ positions and facilitated negotiations with contracting officers, DCAA, DCMA, and other regulatory bodies.

Tom has supported government contractors in connection with business systems compliance assessments, DCAA/DCMA audit support, False Claims Act disputes, merger and acquisition due diligence and post-merger integration, and indirect rate modelling and analysis. Tom deals extensively with critical government contracting regulations and requirements, including the FAR, DFARS, and CAS.

Ms. Katelyn Rigle is the Operations Audit Liaison Small Business Coordinator for DCAA, headquartered at Fort Belvoir, VA. Ms. Rigle has been with the agency since 2009 and currently acts as the agency’s small business liaison, offering education, guidance and support to small and medium businesses working in the Federal contracting realm. Ms. Rigle also coordinates training through the Small Business Administration, APEX Accelerators, and federal consulting firms.

Michael Rizzo, Pillsbury’s Government Contracts & Disputes practice co-leader, has represented defense contractors, design/build firms, transportation and technology companies in multimillion-dollar, precedent-setting cases.

A government contracts lawyer in Los Angeles, Michael prepares Contract Disputes Act certified claims; resolves contract disputes before the ASBCA, the CBCA, California federal and state courts, and in arbitration; and handles termination disputes at the federal, state and local government levels. He defends lawsuits filed under the Civil False Claims Act. He crafts comprehensive government contracts compliance programs designed to reduce clients' future exposure and legal expenditures. Additionally, Michael is experienced in handling internal investigations into quality assurance and pricing issues.

Ryan Roberts is a partner in the Governmental Practice in the firm's Washington, D.C. office. He is also a member of the firm's Aerospace and Defense and Retail Industry Teams.

Areas of Expertise
Ryan regularly represents government contractors ranging from small businesses to the largest defense contractors in matters that include: Civil False Claims Act litigation defense Internal investigations Civil and criminal subpoena responses to both federal and state enforcement agencies Mandatory disclosures to the Department of Defense and General Services Administration (GSA) Offices of Inspector General Audits, including GSA pre- and post-award audits and defense contract audit agency audits Compliance programs, including drafting policies and implementing comprehensive compliance programs Contract Disputes Act (CDA) claims and appeals before the Boards of Contract Appeals and the Court of Federal Claims Bid protests before the Government Accountability Office Subcontracts, teaming agreements, joint ventures, and related disputes Small business issues under the Small Business Administration regulations Labor qualifications under service contracts Bribery, gratuities, and kickbacks Trade Agreements Act compliance Personal and organizational conflicts of interest Revolving door and other post-government employment restrictions Procurement Integrity Act Compliance As part of his internal investigation practice, Ryan serves as a member of the team appointed in 2013 by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana as the federal monitor over the New Orleans Police Department responsible for reviewing, assessing, and reporting publicly on the department’s compliance with a far-reaching Consent Decree.

Eleanor (Elle) Ross advises government contractors from diverse industries on regulatory matters, including compliance with government regulations, contract disputes, defense of claims, and government investigations. She litigates bid protests before the Court of Federal Claims and the Government Accountability Office. She advises clients in connection with an array of agreements and multi-award procurements, including challenging award decisions in a variety of fora.

Elle also counsels clients on federal and state compliance obligations, particularly concerning cybersecurity (including CMMC and NIST requirements) and supply chain risk management practices. She works with clients to understand government regulations, develop compliance plans, and implement those plans. She also assists with making mandatory and voluntary disclosures to federal agencies and represents clients in subsequent investigations and administrative proceedings. She manages sanctions proceedings against contractors, including cases alleging fraud and corruption.

Elle also represents clients in commercial contract disputes in mediation and federal court.

Previously, Ms. Ross was a legal consultant to the World Bank Office of Suspension and Debarment, where she reviewed cross-border investigations to determine contractor compliance with World Bank regulations.

Scott practices business litigation in federal and state courts and before arbitration and administrative tribunals. He has extensive experience handling government contract disputes and defending individuals and corporations in a wide range of civil and criminal fraud investigations. He has more than 30 years of experience investigating and litigating qui tam False Claims Act cases and related whistleblower actions. Scott has handled dozens of corporate internal investigations involving diverse industries such as aerospace and defense, healthcare, financial institutions, electronics, high technologies, transportation, construction, and telecommunications, among others that conduct business with the government. He provides compliance program advice and counsel and conducts investigations concerning the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Mr. Roybal utilizes his extensive experience to assist clients with early resolutions of potential disputes.

Marie is a Partner at Capital Edge Consulting, Inc. Marie’s areas of expertise include: Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), incurred cost submissions, forward pricing rate proposals, contract terminations, business system compliance reviews, policies and procedures development, indirect rate structure reviews, disclosure statements, cost impact models, DCAA audit support, cost engineering, construction-related claims, and litigation support.

Marie has more than 29 years of government contract cost accounting and compliance consulting as well as cost engineering, construction claims analysis and litigation experience in an array of industries that include pharmaceutical, defense, manufacturing, service, energy, and waste management.

Stephanie Kostro is Executive Vice President for Policy at the Professional Services Council, where she leads a strong policy team that is committed to advocating for and supporting productive collaboration between the federal government and services industry. As a recognized executive, on-air commentator, and policy expert with more than 20 years of experience in the U.S. Government and industry, she brings a wealth of knowledge in federal procurement policy and acquisition regulations, government processes and programs, and public-private partnerships.

Derek B. Santos is a member of the Senior Executive Service and serves as the Deputy General Counsel (Contractor Responsibility and Conflict Resolution) of the Department of the Air Force at the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. In this role, he provides oversight, guidance and direction for legal programs in anti-corruption, including acquisition integrity and remedies for misconduct affecting Department of the Air Force transactions. Mr. Santos serves as the department’s Suspension and Debarment Official, with responsibility for evaluating corporate ethics and compliance programs and the business integrity of contractors and grantees.

Mr. Santos also leads the Department of the Air Force conflict resolution portfolio, promoting negotiation and dispute resolution capabilities across all transactional areas in accordance with the Administrative Dispute Resolution Act.

Jeff Sarlouis is CISSP and GSEC certified with 23+ years in Information Technology with experience in IT Security, vulnerability management, network management and audit. He also has 5 years of defense contracting experience with a focus on creating System Security Plans (SSP) and working with DCSA to obtain and maintain Authorizations to Operate (ATO).

Alex Sarria is an experienced litigator and counselor with wide-ranging expertise in government contracts law. He represents government contractors in contract disputes, bid protests, False Claims Act lawsuits, and complex civil litigation arising from military operations, national security programs, and environmental remediation projects.

Named one of the "Top Lawyers Under 40" by the Hispanic National Bar Association in 2020, leading government contractors also turn to Mr. Sarria to investigate allegations of procurement fraud, prepare mandatory disclosures, and defend against government audits and investigations. In his counseling practice, Mr. Sarria advises clients on a wide range of federal procurement matters including cost allowability and cost accounting, defective pricing, Buy American Act (BAA)/Trade Agreements Act (TAA) compliance, intellectual property and data rights, supply chain (Section 889) and cybersecurity regulations (CMMC), subcontract pricing and flowdowns, commercial items and General Services Administration (GSA) schedule contracting, organizational conflicts of interest (OCIs), and business ethics and conduct requirements.

He also is recognized for his unique experience helping companies identify and mitigate their exposure to potential civil and tort liability and has worked with clients in numerous industries to secure liability protection and indemnification under the SAFETY Act, Public Law 85-804, the Price Anderson Act, the Defense Base Act (DBA), and FAR 52.228-7 (Insurance-Liability to Third Persons).

Mr. Sarria began his career in the highly-regarded government contracts group of McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP, where he practiced for seven years.

Roupenn is a senior manager for BDO Project Controls. He provides management consulting services to clients in Biopharmaceuticals, Aerospace, Defense, and Natural Resources.

Michael J. Schaengold focuses his practice on government contracts litigation, investigations and counseling, and on litigation before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. From 2014 to 2024, he was Chair or Co-Chair of Greenberg Traurig’s Government Contracts Group.

Mike's substantial government contracts dispute and bid protest experience includes litigation of major cases before the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Court of Federal Claims, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the Boards of Contract Appeals. He has represented clients in disputes involving most major departments and agencies of the U.S. government and, in recent years, has focused on procurements involving the Department of Defense, the General Services Administration, the Department of Energy, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the National Aeronautical and Space Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of State, among others. He has substantial experience in False Claims Act (including qui tam) and Inspector General investigations and litigation, including negotiating Settlement and Administrative Agreements related thereto; suspension and debarment matters; and drafting and implementing compliance programs.

Dave is a Principal and co-founder of C&S Consulting. He has more than 25 years of experience with both government and commercial customers in the implementation of systems and methodologies to improve management processes. He has worked with organizations in highly regulated industries such as aerospace and defense, government contracting, and natural resources to implement project controls systems that ensure mission-critical projects are completed on time and within budget.

Dave has extensive experience designing, implementing, and supporting compliant Earned Value Management Systems (EVMS) for both the U.S. Government and government contractors. In addition, he has provided EVMS assurance services supporting government contractors' EVMS compliance with the ANSI/EIA 748 standard. He provides a unique perspective gained through his experience directly supporting Federal Agency and Department of Defense (DOD) programs surveillance of contractors EVM reporting and EVM Systems.

He actively supports several government and industry associations that are developing improved project controls processes and surveillance of project controls systems. He frequently presents at conferences and training workshops on a variety of related industry topics.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS Earned Value Management Practitioners’ Forum (Founder) National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) Integrated Program Management Division Energy Facility Contractors Group (EFCOG) Project Delivery Working Group College of Performance Management (CPM)

Phillip Seckman represents clients concerning government and commercial contract matters. His practice spans a broad range of subjects related to federal procurement law, state and local procurement law, and complex federal regulatory issues. He concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial item acquisitions, GSA schedule contracting, cybersecurity, compliance, internal investigations, and bid protests (both federal and state). A significant component of his practice involves government contract cost allowability, proper cost accounting, and contract cost and pricing issues.

Phil has significant experience in the assessment, presentation, and litigation of complex contract claims. He also has significant experience assisting clients in establishing policies and procedures to ensure compliance with government contract requirements. When potential non-compliances have been identified, Phil has assisted in the internal review and assessment of these issues and has aided clients in the preparation of appropriate disclosures when required. He frequently assists DOD contractor clients regarding business systems issues, including preparing for, responding to, and remediating issues associated with reviews conducted by the Defense Contract Management Agency and the Defense Contract Audit Agency.

Phil frequently writes and lectures regarding commercial item acquisitions, GSA schedule contracting, cybersecurity, business systems, FAR Mandatory Disclosure Rule, and cost accounting issues.

Phil was recently named a Fellow of the National Contract Management Association. Phil also has been repeatedly recognized as a "Rising Star" by Colorado Super Lawyers.

Derek Shaw is a Director in the Government Contractor Advisory Services practice and brings to BDO more than 27 years of Finance experience with focus on Government Finance & Compliance in the Aerospace & Defense sectors. This includes a broad range of Government contracting & compliance matters, including Federal Acquisition Regulations, Cost Accounting Standards, TINA, Government Business Systems controls, and Restructuring. Derek has held senior management positions with large corporations, and also has extensive hands-on experience with small and mid-sized contractors, including SDB/8a firms.

Derek has extensive experience in mergers & acquisitions focusing on government contracting aspects, including restructuring proposal development. Derek has also been a frequent speaker at training conferences and has developed and delivered training programs covering various government contracting topics.

Mr. Shelby has over nineteen years of Government Contracting experience at the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA).

With a focus on Contractor Purchasing System Reviews (CPSR) for the last thirteen years, Randy conducted CPSR's as a procurement analyst, managed CPSR teams, and oversaw hundreds of CPSR's as a supervisory procurement analyst.

While at DCMA, Shelby worked as Team Lead to develop policies, standard operating procedures, templates, and data collection tools used in every CPSR conducted by the agency.

Randy co-created the “New CPSR Process” which encourages contractors to correct their deficiencies in the early stages of the purchasing system process. DCMA considered Randy a leading CPSR expert and relied on him to share knowledge at government industry events and other DoD agencies.

As a noted guest speaker, Randy shared expertise at NCMA's World Congress, SubCon, and Government Contract Symposiums. Randy also delivered CPSR presentations for Federal Publications Seminars (FPS), NAVSEA, the Army, and the Air Force.

John is a Director with Redstone Government Consulting, Inc. providing government contract consulting services to our clients primarily related to the DFARS business systems, CAS Disclosure Statements, and DCAA/DCMA compliance preparation, advisory, and defense. Prior to joining Redstone Government Consulting, John served in a number of capacities with DCAA/DCMA for more than 30 years. Upon his retirement, he was based in Texas as an SES-level Corporate Audit Director for DCAA, managing a staff of 300 auditors at one of the largest DOD programs.
John began his career in the late 80s working in the Clearwater, FL audit office and over the next three decades he progressed through a number of positions within both DCAA and DCMA with career highlights as DCAA Program Manager at Ft. Belvoir, Chief of Technical Programs Division, Deputy Assistant Director-Policy, Director of the DCMA Cost and Pricing Center, the SES-level Lockheed Martin Corporate Audit Director, and Director of Integrity and Quality Assurance.
John’s three decades of experience in performing and leading DCAA auditors and DCMA reviewers provides a wealth of expertise to our clients. John’s role, not only in the performance of audits, but also in the development of audit policy affords him unique insights into the defense of audit findings and the linkage of audit program steps to the underlying regulatory framework. He is an expert in FAR, DFARS, and other agency acquisition regulation, as well as a subject matter expert in the Cost Accounting Standards having reviewed and provided audit feedback on many of the largest and most complex cost accounting practices during his tenure with the DCAA.

John’s tenure with DCAA and DCMA came at a critical time during each agency’s history where a number of changes were occurring such as the response to the ICS backlog, development of audit approaches to the DFARS Business Systems and implementation of new audit initiatives as a result of Congressional oversight through the NDAA process. John’s leadership at the DCMA Cost & Pricing center saw oversight of all major DOD pricing actions, leadership of should cost review teams, the Commercial Pricing group and many other areas of strategic value to our clients. His involvement in these and other Agency initiatives is of great value to our clients due to his in depth understanding of DCAA and DCMA’s internal policy directives.

Kathleen Sievers is a Director of Research for the Information Solutions division at Deltek, focused on GovWin's Federal Opportunities product. Kathleen and her team of analysts provide the information GovWin IQ customers need to make educated business decisions to help them build their federal pipeline.

She started her career in federal contracting more than 30 years ago, first for an 8(a) environmental firm, then with a VAR/IT systems integrator before shifting into the federal market research industry. This experience fostered a "client's perspective" which she considers the foundation to providing a high quality, valuable product. She presents webinars several times a year on small business focused topics.

Curtis Smith is Program Manager at Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA). Mr. Smith works in the policy division revising and creating policy and guidance for the agency.

In May 2020, Stephanie was selected as a senior analyst in RSM’s cutting-edge Industry Eminence Program, which positions its senior analysts to understand, forecast and communicate economic, business and technology trends shaping the industries RSM serves. These senior analysts advise clients on conditions influencing middle market leaders. Stephanie’s focus is government contracting.

Stephanie has ten years of experience serving clients across the country by providing industry-specific insights and thought leadership that allows them to stay at the forefront of the changes within their industry while also providing valuation and advisory services related to mergers and acquisitions, financial reporting, tax reporting and strategic planning.

Stephanie has worked with a variety of publicly and privately held clients in the business and professional services industry, with a specialized focus on government contracting and private equity-backed portfolio companies. Stephanie has performed and reviewed hundreds of valuations of business enterprises, intangible assets, intellectual property and complex equity securities. Stephanie’s primary focus is on delivering timely, relevant information to her clients while also providing high-quality valuation services and market insight. This industry-specific focus has allowed Stephanie to bring her clients valuable information relevant to their business, which also allows her to work with them in a strategic and impactful manner.

Jose Soto is a Director with MorganFranklin Consulting and is a Government Contracts compliance subject matter expert with over 24 years of progressive experience which includes over six years with DCAA and over seventeen years in Industry including working for some of the largest Government Contractors. His vast experience includes preparation incurred cost submissions, Disclosure Statements, Forward Pricing Rates Proposals and Internal Controls design and implementation, as well as preparation of Gross Dollar Magnitudes and Detailed Cost Impact Proposals and assisting in position negotiations.

Specialties include interpretation CAS, FAR, and FAR supplements. Jose poses expertise in developing compliant policies and procedures and developing Strategies around Future State Indirect Rates Structure utilizing Industry Best practices to remain competitive and maximize profit.

Lonnie Springirth is a Solutions Engineer at JAMIS Software Corporation with over 13 years of government contract accounting and compliance experience. Lonnie has spent much of his career evaluating and implementing business systems solutions across multiple industries, including defense, professional services, and technology providers to various US Federal Departments and other agencies.

Roland M. Stein is an international trade law and national security expert and one of the founding partners of the leading law boutique BLOMSTEIN in Berlin, Germany. He is regularly listed as one of the leading lawyers for “Trade and Customs”, “International Sanctions” and “Foreign Investment Review” in various rankings, such as Lexology/Who’s Who Legal and The Legal 500.

Roland has many years of experience in advising national and international clients on all matters relating to international trade law. In particular, he has handled a large number of complex foreign investment control proceedings in recent years and represented clients in export control and sanctions procedures and investigations (in particular with regard to the export of software, technology and know-how as well as sensitive products). Roland also advises clients regarding tender procedures, mainly in the defence and security sectors.

Roland is a Director of the CELIS Institute and co-leader of the defence and security division of forum vergabe. He is co-editor of Recht der Investitionskontrolle (commentary on investment control law) and co-author of the Commentary on the German Foreign Trade and Payments Act (AWG) in Dorsch.

Roland is half German and half Brazilian and grew up in São Paulo. He has close relationships to Brazilian law firms and regularly gives speeches on issues affecting Brazil and the EU.

Bruce Stout is the Director of Compliance at Battelle.

A seasoned trial attorney, Ms. Sujeeth's practice focuses on litigation from the start through verdict. She is a member of the firm's Government Contracts, Complex Commercial Litigation, White Collar Criminal Defense, Attorney Liability and Conduct, and Construction Practice Groups. She also serves as the Chair of the RJO COVID-19 Task Force. From 2016 through present, she was listed as a “Rising Star” among government contracts attorneys in Northern California by SuperLawyer®.

Andrea Sundstrand is a lecturer in public law with a special focus on public procurement law and she is the course director of the advanced courses on public procurement law at the Faculty of Law. She also teaches public procurement law at Uppsala university, at Lund university, at George Washington University in Washington, at Tartu university in Tallin and for six years at King´s Collage in London.

Andrea conducts her research mainly on EU public procurement rules. She has been working full time with the EU directives on public procurement since 1994 and was in the negotiations for the 2004 EU Directives. Andrea previously worked 11 years at the Swedish surveillance authotity for public procurement. She has also worked in several project to assist new Member States with implementing the EU Directives on public procurement. Andrea was a member of the The Swedish Bar Association for over 20 years and has worked for several larger law firms in Sweden and in New York.

Andrea is chairman and the responsible publisher for the Swedish Procurement Law Journal (UrT, www.urt.cc).

Ace Swerling has over 30 years of security experience and has helped many of the largest organizations in the world to expand and protect their business by taking a balanced approach. Starting at a large US Defense contractor, he learned that while security is critical to defending the country, complying with regulations, and resisting attack; it is also critical to facilitating collaboration and ensuring economical results. He is dedicated to security and collaboration as business enablers by identifying business needs, defining processes, mapping to technical requirements, selecting vendors, and implementing quality solutions while managing risk and ensuring compliance.

Gunjan Talati is an experienced government contracts practitioner who regularly represents contractors in a variety of sectors, including aerospace and defense, health care, and technology. Gunjan’s practice is a mix of regulatory compliance, transactional, and litigation matters.

Gunjan’s regulatory compliance experience includes advising government contractors on complying with various Federal Acquisition Regulations, navigating small business and socioeconomic regulations and matters, addressing GSA and Federal Supply Schedule issues, and meeting ethics and compliance requirements. Gunjan also has significant experience in helping contractors navigate federal cybersecurity regulations and requirements.

Mr. David F. Tervonen currently serves as the Deputy Director of the Earned Value Management Division within the Office of Acquisition, Analytics, and Policy and Office of Assistant Secretary of Defense (Acquisition). In this capacity, he is responsible for all matters pertaining to EVM policy and guidance, communications and outreach, program interface, Integrated Performance Management methodologies, IPM data governance, and functional leadership.

James W Thomas (Jim) is a forensic accountant with 35 years of experience providing consulting and dispute resolution services to government contractors. He has been retained as an expert on more than 50 occasions.

Jim has testified as an expert in proceedings before the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals, Civilian Board of Contract Appeals, General Services Board of Contract Appeals, District Court and in arbitration. He has served as a neutral accountant in purchase price disputes involving government contract accounting issues.

In addition to his expertise in aerospace and defense, Jim serves many industries including technology, engineering and professional services, industrial products, construction, retail products and healthcare. Prior to joining HKA, he was a forensic services partner specializing in government contracts with PwC.

Jim specializes in cost and pricing matters including government audit issues, False Claims Act damages, defective pricing, labor charging, Cost Accounting Standards, cost allowability, record keeping requirements, Federal Supply Schedule contracts, claims, requests for equitable adjustment, terminations and prime/subcontractor disputes.

MaryJo “MJ” Thomas is Director of Security at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works. She is responsible for overseeing all BIW Security functions including supply chain vetting, cyber security, industrial and physical plant security programs. She manages day-to-day activities and ensures compliance with all programmatic, regulatory, legal and contractual requirements for these areas. She has extensive experience in matters concerning national security and the protection of defense weapons and technology, with specific expertise in crisis and change management and investigative leadership.

Ms. Thomas spent much of her professional career with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Her most recent Pentagon assignment was as FBI Senior Advisor to the Department of Defense for the FBI National Security branch. Ms. Thomas served as primary interface between the FBI and the Office of Secretary Defense on national security investigations involving counterintelligence, counterterrorism, cyber and weapons of mass destruction matters. Her previous roles include Section Chief of the Counterproliferation Center in the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division.

Ms. Thomas joined the FBI as a special agent in 2000 after serving as a law enforcement officer in Rhode Island. Ms. Thomas also has served as a Security Forces Officer and Logistician in the Air Force, active duty and reserve.

Steven N. Tomanelli is the owner of Steven N. Tomanelli & Associates and is an attorney specializing in government contract law in the Washington DC area. Steven N. Tomanelli & Associates provide legal services, training and consulting services in all aspects of government contracting and federal appropriations law. Courses include: COR Certification, COR Refresher, Buy American & Trade Agreements Acts, Cost Realism, Justifications & Approvals, Intellectual Property, How to Avoid Bid Protests, Negotiating Software Licenses, Performance-Based Contracting, Small Business Contracting, IDIQ Contracting, Source Selection, FAR Workshop, Advanced FAR Workshop, FAR Update, Contract Disputes and Terminations, Introduction to Government Contracting, Procurement Ethics, Past Performance Evaluations, Federal Appropriations Law, Commercial Item Acquisition, as well as courses tailored for the specific customer.

Mr. Tomanelli is a retired Air Force Judge Advocate and has held numerous high-level procurement law positions, including Chief of Acquisition and Fiscal Law for the Air Force’s Air Mobility Command and Senior DoD Counsel for the National Reconnaissance Office in Chantilly, Virginia. He has provided consulting services and legal advice in support of highly classified major system acquisitions and has been a member of many source selection boards, advisory councils and “red teams.” He served as a Professor of Contract and Fiscal Law at the Army Judge Advocate General's School in Charlottesville, Virginia. While in the Air Force, he was selected as “The Outstanding Career Judge Advocate of the Air Force.”

Mr. Tomanelli received his B.A. and J.D. at Hofstra University, and his Master of Laws in Federal Procurement Law at George Washington University. While earning his Master of Laws degree, Mr. Tomanelli worked as an Intern at the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals.

Since 1995, Mr. Tomanelli has consistently been one of the highest rated acquisition trainers in the country according to student evaluations. He has authored over forty course books and written numerous articles on federal procurement and fiscal law topics. Mr. Tomanelli authored a comprehensive textbook titled, A Practical Guide to Federal Appropriations Law (MCI); is currently the Lead Editor of the FAR and the Annotated FAR for Thomson-West Publishing Company; and has received “Small Business Achievement Awards” for two consecutive years from the Department of Homeland Security. Mr. Tomanelli is an attorney in good standing of the Virginia Bar; and serves on the Advisory Board of the Government Contractor (West Publishing). He has been retained as an expert witness in numerous federal, state and international court cases on federal procurement law matters. Mr. Tomanelli has a current TS/SCI security clearance.

Alex Tomaszczuk, a Pillsbury Government Contracts & Disputes partner, is repeatedly recognized by Chambers USA as an authority on government contracts and disputes litigation.

Alex litigates high-dollar value government contract claims and bid protests, helps clients challenge adverse CPARS ratings and conducts internal investigations related to a wide range of compliance issues. He represents a diverse set of clients, including utilities, aerospace manufacturers, real estate developers and service contractors in actions before the GAO, the Court of Federal Claims and other federal forums. Alex has secured important victories in procurement and contractual disputes with the DOE, DOD, Justice Department, the GSA and other agencies.

Kristin Torcasi is the Vice President of Government Compliance for CACI International Inc headquartered in Arlington, VA. Kristin is responsible for ensuring compliance with Government contract requirements and serves as the company’s liaison for Government inquires and audits. Kristin has a wide range of experience in government contract accounting, including business system compliance; preparation of incurred cost proposals and forward pricing rates; application of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and Cost Accounting Standards (CAS); CASB Disclosure Statement preparation; cost allowability matters; cost accounting structure evaluation; and cost impact preparation.

Kristin is a CPA in the state of Virginia.

Tim Trickett is the CTO of BDO Public Sector and leads Public Sector’s Technology Office. He is responsible for the overall strategic and technological management of BDO Public Sector. He is also responsible for BDO Public Sector’s IT infrastructure which support Federal, State, Local, and Non-Profit organizations. Tim is a service-disabled veteran with seventeen years of specialized experience in cybersecurity, information technology, compliance, and risk management.

Prior to joining BDO Tim was a Senior Cybersecurity Engineer for the U.S. Army’s Engineering Research and Development Center (ERDC) Information Technology Laboratory. While at ERDC Tim was a Team Lead for ERDC’s Security Control Assessor-Validator (SCA-V) Team and conducted Risk Management Framework based assessments for the Department of Defense and Federal Government.

In addition to his work with ERDC, Tim served as a Principal Consultant and Subject Matter Expert on many projects and programs throughout the Federal Government. Prior to working in cybersecurity, Tim was a Human Intelligence Collector, Counterintelligence Agent, and Electronic Warfare Instructor in the U.S. Army.

Mr. Turner is a Partner and Co-Leader of the Government Contracts & Export Controls Practice Group. He is an innovative business lawyer with significant experience resolving complex government contracts issues for a broad array of companies – ranging from multinational Fortune 100 corporations to mid-market and small businesses. Mr. Turner routinely represents clients in the aerospace, defense, information technology, health care and industrial supply sectors.

Mr. Turner is a prolific author and lecturer and is routinely called upon by national and international news organizations to offer his insight regarding developments in the federal procurement industry.

Bob’s law practice focuses on the application of international trade, government procurement and national security law and regulations. He regularly advises both U.S. and foreign clients on international trade matters including: the application of export controls such as the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), the sanctions regulations administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), and U.S. and foreign anti-corruption controls including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

In the government contracts area, Bob advises and assists clients in the defense, aerospace, technology, software, telecommunications, health care, energy, and manufacturing sectors with claims, bid protests, and counselling. In his national security law practice, Bob leverages experience as a retired naval intelligence officer (with command and combat experience) to assist U.S. and foreign clients with reviews by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), as well as security clearances and compliance with the National Industrial Security Program (NISP), nuclear and naval nuclear technology controls, and the DoD technology release processes.

Linda Weinberg provides practical advice to business and institutional clients on international trade law, including export controls, foreign assets control and customs. She works regularly with the U.S. and foreign government agencies that regulate international trade to help clients realize their distinct objectives surrounding their global commerce initiatives.

Carla Weiss advises large and small clients on a range of high-stakes government contract issues. She is a well-known bid protest practitioner, with successful matters before the Government Accountability Office, Court of Federal Claims, SBA Office of Hearing and Appeals, and FAA Office of Dispute Resolution for Acquisition. In partnership with clients, she provides strategic legal guidance throughout the acquisition process, and ultimately represents protesters challenging contract decisions—and intervenors defending their awards.

Carla also has significant experience handling internal investigations for government contractors and representing contractors and subcontractors in claims litigation against the government. In addition, she counsels clients on a variety of federal statutes, regulations and government contract-related compliance matters, including FAR and DFARS interpretation, SBA small business and socioeconomic programs and eligibility, and foreign sourcing requirements. Through multiple secondments, Carla has seen first-hand the pressures and demands facing government contractors, and she brings that in-house perspective when advising clients.

Prior to joining the firm, Carla served as a law clerk to former United States Senator Arlen Specter at the Senate Judiciary Committee. She also worked at the National Republican Senatorial Committee and interned with the White House Office of Public Liaison.

Jeffery White is Founder and CEO of J.A. White & Associates Inc. A leading industry firm in Federal Contracting and Compliance consulting offering a tailored line of advisory services to clients.

With over 38 years of experience in both the private and public sectors, White's expertise has led his firm to have an unprecedented 100% approval rate of Contractor Purchasing System Reviews (CPSR) and other Business System assessments.

The design of document automation, CPSR ProDocs, was spearheaded by visionary, Jeffery White. Used by small and large government contractors, the software streamlines the Procurement workflow process by leveraging a company’s existing enterprise platform and automates compliance-related Procurement file documentation. A company's benefits may include cost savings, 100% accuracy, increased CPSR success, error reduction and lead time reduction. White’s clients currently include government agencies, prime contractors, and subcontractors across the United States, Europe, and the Middle East.

Christine Williamson, CPA, PMP, is a Partner in CohnReznick’s Government Contracting Industry Practice which she led for 15 years. She provides financial and accounting consulting services that offer solutions to such complex issues as indirect rate structure development, executive compensation analysis, and mergers & acquisitions. Christine has a deep breadth of knowledge in GAAP, FAR, CAS, DCAA and DCMA. Additionally, she advises government contractors with their tax strategies and operational issues, including: financial statement reporting, disclosures, incurred cost submissions, proposals, forward pricing rates, and federal and state tax preparation.

Jason leads professionals skilled in providing transaction advisory and due diligence services, chief financial officer (CFO) advisory and business valuations. He has transaction experience in a wide variety of industries including construction, government contracting, software and technology, business services, real estate, healthcare and private equity. Jason is skilled at financial statement analysis, financial modeling and forecasting, and interfacing with key management and financial staff.

Matt is President of IntraManagement Systems

Bill Wootton is the Founder and President of C3 Integrated Solutions, a full-service IT provider that specializes in securing our nation’s Defense Industrial Base through cloud-based solutions and industry leading partners. C3 is a provider of Microsoft Government Cloud solutions including Microsoft 365 GCC, GCC High and AzureGov, and specializes in helping clients achieve CMMC and NIST 800-171 compliance by providing MSP, security and Microsoft 365 integration services. With over 100 migrations to GCC High already completed, C3 offers an award-winning, tailored approach to helping DoD clients move to the GCC High cloud.

Tony Worick is a Partner at Capital Edge Consulting, where he specializes in helping businesses navigate and succeed in working with the United States Government. With extensive experience with large aerospace and defense contractors and aiding commercial companies in establishing public sector ventures, Tony leverages his expertise in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to drive business growth and compliance.

Tony's comprehensive approach includes establishing robust internal control frameworks, continuous risk and control monitoring, and providing actionable recommendations to ensure compliance and business continuity. His clients span various industries, including aerospace, biotech, defense, energy, healthcare, IT, intelligence, and manufacturing. Tony's in-depth knowledge of DCAA audit methodologies has contributed to numerous successful government business system audits. Additionally, he supports clients through large-scale transformations, deals due diligence, and integration plans, ensuring seamless operations and compliance throughout acquisitions involving government contracts.

Jason Workmaster focuses his practice on government contracts-related litigation, including contract claims and disputes, bid protests, and civil False Claims Act (FCA) cases. He has represented a host of clients in these types of cases before the boards of contract appeals, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (COFC), the Government Accountability Office (GAO), and U.S. District Court. He also routinely assists clients in responding to government audits and investigations.

A former partner in the highly-regarded McKenna Long & Aldridge government contracts practice, Mr. Workmaster is recognized as an expert on a wide range of government contracting issues – including contracting on the battlefield, cost allowability, the Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), contract funding, requests for equitable adjustment, the General Services Administration (GSA) Schedules program, and the Trade Agreements Act (TAA). He also is a recognized leader on FCA issues and has appeared on NBC's The TODAY Show and Canadian TV's National News to discuss the highly publicized FCA case against the cyclist Lance Armstrong.

Cara Wulf is a partner in the Government Contracts & Global Trade practice group at McCarter & English. She focuses her practice on government contracts and regulations. She has extensive experience counseling clients regarding compliance with federal, state, and local public procurement requirements. She also assists in litigation involving bid protests, claims, and other disputes before federal agencies, courts and the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). Cara is a frequent lecturer for Federal Publications on U.S. domestic preference statutes, regulations and executive orders as they apply to the U.S. Government supply chain.

Gina Yacone is a Senior Cybersecurity Consultant & vCISO with Agio’s Raleigh, NC office. Gina is an information security strategist and speaker with a unique technical vision and business acumen. She is responsible for educating organizations about the ever-changing cybersecurity landscape and helping them build a dynamic cybersecurity and privacy programs. She loves focusing on the unique challenges today’s organizations face.

Gina is a designated CompTIA Subject Matter Expert and holds certifications from ISACA as a Certified Data Privacy Solution Engineer (CDPSE), (ISC) 2 as a Systems Security Certified Practitioner, CompTIA in Security Plus (Sec+), as well as the Health Information Trust Alliance (HITRUST) as a Certified CSF Practitioner (CCSFP) and a Certified HITRUST Quality Professional (CHQP).

Prior to her work in information security, Gina was a licensed private investigator for Barry A. Cohen, P.A., in Tampa, FL. While there, she specialized in high-profile, complex litigation.

Lynn David Research Professor in Government Procurement Law, George Washington University Law School
Christopher R. Yukins has many decades of experience in public procurement law. He writes and speaks regularly internationally on issues of environmentally sustainable public procurement.
He teaches on U.S. (federal and state) and foreign public procurement law, and focuses on emerging public policy questions in public procurement around the world.

He is an active member of the Public Contract Law Section of the American Bar Association, and previously served as the president of the Tysons Corner Chapter of the National Contract Management Association.

He is a faculty advisor to the Public Contract Law Journal, and has contributed pieces on procurement reform, international procurement, electronic commerce and information technology to a broad range of journals, including Washington Technology, Government Contractor, Legal Times, and Federal Computer Week. He has published on procurement reform in scholarly journals, including the Georgetown Journal of International Law, and Public Procurement Law Review (United Kingdom).

Together with his colleagues at the George Washington University Law School, Steven Schooner and Jessica Tillipman, he runs a popular colloquium series on procurement developments in the United States and internationally.

In private practice, Chris Yukins has been an associate, partner, and of counsel at leading national firms; he is currently counsel to the firm of Arnold & Porter LLP. He served as an advisor to the U.S. delegation to the working group on reform of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Procurement Law, and he teaches and speaks often on issues of comparative and international procurement law. He previously served for several years as a trial attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice, where he handled trials and appeals involving bid challenges and contract claims against the U.S. government.

Further background on his work is available on his blog, www.publicprocurementinternational.com.