Meet our Speakers

Alex Whitworth

Sales Director, Carahsoft

Alex Whitworth is an IT executive with more than 16 years of experience in all aspects of public sector sales, marketing and channel development. As Director at Carahsoft Technology Corp., he manages several sales teams, providing leadership and insight into the Public Sector IT marketplace. His teams play a major role in supporting the government’s evolving cybersecurity demands, with a deep focus towards supporting agencies with successful zero trust adoption. In addition, he leads Carahsoft Technology Corp.’s corporate strategic efforts in helping organizations meet compliance with the DoW’s CMMC initiative.

Robert J. Wagman, Jr.

Partner, Bracewell

Bob Wagman heads the firm’s Government Contracts practice.  For more than 20 years, Bob has been a trusted advisor to clients of all sizes in a broad range of industries in all facets of conducting business with the government including government contracts, grants and other federally-funded projects. His experience ranges from representing companies in litigation matters before courts and administrative tribunals to advising clients and corporate counsel in transactional matters and regulatory compliance.

On Government Contract litigation matters, Bob has represented numerous companies, academic institutions, and individuals in civil False Claims Act (qui tam) matters ranging from representing clients at the early stages of DOJ/Inspector General investigations, to securing dismissal of qui tam complaints, to defending firms in jury trials.

John Nolan

Vice President of Compliance, ISI

John serves as the Vice President of Compliance for ISI Enterprises. John oversees the compliance program and operations for the company’s Managed Service Provider (MSP) operations. John joined ISI at the start of their CMMC program and was responsible for creating the entirety of ISI’s gap assessment, remediation, and continued compliance programs. Holding roles in Engineering, Cybersecurity, Compliance, and Project Management, John has contributed to nearly all verticals the IT field has to offer over the last 23 years. He has spent the last 15 years in the MSP world, dedicating ten of those directly to Department of Defense contractors supporting their unique needs and IT infrastructure.

Jason Sproesser

Dir of Solutions Architects, Summit 7

Jason Sproesser is the Director of Solutions Architects at Summit 7. His team helps DIB organizations identify security strategies which help them meet regulatory requirements, aligned with their business goals. He uses his 10+ years of experience to assess, implement, and manage secure, compliant systems. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the MSPs for the Protection of Critical Infrastructure (MSP Collective), the Board of Advisors to the Secure Controls Framework (SCF), and is an Appointed Member of Cyber AB’s C3PAO Advisory Council ESP Subcommittee. 

As co-host of the Sum IT Up podcast, Jason uses his deep technical knowledge and strategic vision to break down the latest cybersecurity news and trends for the DIB, helping organizations navigate evolving regulations. Jason’s astute insights and dynamic strategies empower organizations to turn the complexities of cybersecurity into a source of strategic resilience. 

Nick Summers

Co-founder of ComplAi Inc.

Nick Summers is the co-founder of ComplAi Inc., a company dedicated to providing AI-powered solutions that simplify Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) compliance for Defense Industrial Base (DIB) companies. His career, marked by significant contributions to innovation at global Fortune 500 companies, equips him to lead efforts in enhancing data security and compliance. 

With a deep understanding of strategic disruption and technology integration, Nick is committed to helping DIB companies navigate the complexities of CMMC requirements, ensuring they achieve and maintain robust cybersecurity standards through ComplAi Inc.’s advanced platforms.

Brian “Stretch” Meyer

Field CTO, Axonius

With over 15 years of experience in the federal technology sector, Brian “Stretch” Meyer has built a distinguished career spanning the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and the intelligence community. As the Field Chief Technology Officer at Axonius Federal, he leverages deep technical expertise and strategic leadership to help government agencies tackle their most complex cybersecurity challenges.

Stretch’s career is defined by his success in technical leadership and his deep federal experience. He has held key positions, including Security Services Manager at major DoD agencies, where he had direct oversight of Cybersecurity Architecture and Engineering divisions supporting the Mission Partner Environment programs.

Ijenna Aluko

CEO & Founder, TandT LLC

Ijenna Aluko is a cybersecurity executive, compliance strategist, and purpose-driven entrepreneur at the forefront of securing America's defense industrial base. As the CEO and Founder of TandT LLC: a certified CMMC Registered Provider Organization (RPO) and Third-Party Assessment Organization (C3PAO Candidate), and a Woman-Owned Small Business. Ijenna brings a unique blend of technical depth, compliance expertise, and entrepreneurial vision to every engagement.

Ijenna launched her cybersecurity career as a certified Splunk Architect, supporting multiple federal agencies as a subcontractor and building a foundation of hands-on technical expertise. Armed with a Master of Science in Cybersecurity Information Technology and a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, she founded TandT LLC in August 2020 with a clear mission: make enterprise-grade cybersecurity accessible to small and mid-sized defense contractors.

Matt Stern

Chief Security Officer, Hypori

Matt is an experienced cybersecurity executive leader in both the private and public sectors. Matt led professional services for a premier cyber threat intelligence company and the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) contract team. He was also the Program Director for system engineering, design, and deployment of the National Cyber Protection System (EINSTEIN) and the Deputy CIO for the largest ever deployed military communication system supporting 150,000 Operation Iraqi Freedom II soldiers.

Matt is a retired and decorated twenty-two-year U.S. Army combat veteran whose service culminated in command of the Army Computer Emergency Response Team (ACERT). He holds a Master’s Degree in Information Systems and Computer Resource Management from Webster University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Northern Illinois University.

Naveed Mirza

Senior Solutions Architect, Okta

Naveed is a Senior Solutions Architect at Okta, focusing on the DoD and Federal customer base. He has worked in cybersecurity since leaving the US Navy in the late 1990s. Before coming to Okta, Naveed was a consultant for several DoD customers, and he continues to offer advice via active participation in the DoD community. He grew up in Stafford, Virginia, and upon returning from active duty, took up residence there once more. In his free time, he enjoys beer brewing, gaming, and the occasional date night with his wife.

Cole French

Dir, Cybersecurity Services, Kratos

Cole French leads the CMMC capability for the consulting arm of Kratos’ commercial cybersecurity compliance, penetration testing, and continuous monitoring business. Mr. French has supported clients across the health, finance, cloud, and Homeland Security sectors throughout his 14+ years of IT and cybersecurity experience. Mr. French is working to build and expand Kratos existing cybersecurity compliance capabilities to include CMMC assessment and advising services. Mr. French is a Certified CMMC Assessor, Registered Practitioner, holds a Master of Science in Computer and Information Sciences, graduate certificate in cybersecurity, and several cybersecurity industry certifications.