Driving National Innovation: Strategies for a Competitive Future

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Join us for an engaging panel discussion on the newly proposed National Innovation Strategy (NIS) by AFCEA International’s Cyber Committee. This event will explore the critical role of innovation in strengthening national security, economic prosperity, and societal well-being. Our esteemed panelists, James Craft from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and Russell Miller from the Defense Acquisition University (DAU), will delve into the NIS’s recommendations, including increased collaboration between government, industry, and academia, and the creation of a National Innovation Council. Learn how these strategies aim to position the United States as a global leader in innovation, protect critical infrastructure, and drive economic growth. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain insights into the future of innovation and its impact on our nation.

Additional information links:

https://www.afcea.org/signal/resources/linkreq.cfm?id=561

https://www.afcea.org/signal-media/afcea-internationals-cyber-committee-proposes-national-innovation-strategy

SPEAKERS:

Lolita Horne

Moderator

Lolita Horne co-leads DAU's Innovate to Win initiative which inspires and empowers the workforce to deepen their innovation skills and improve innovation readiness to address global opportunities, vulnerabilities, and threats. Over the last 20 years, Mrs. Horne has worked across industry, nonprofits, and now government where she is a proven Learning Systems Program Manager and innovation leader driving transformation, modernization, diversity, and excellence within government initiatives.

Mrs. Horne is a PMP and holds a master’s in information technology from Johns Hopkins University.

James P. Craft, Jr.
Guest Speaker

James P. Craft (Jim), a career member of the Senior Executive Service (SES), is a Senior Advisor to the OPM Deputy CIO, OPM Software Manager, and Innovation Champion, where he has led efforts to develop a National Innovation Strategy. Prior to this assignment, Mr. Craft served as the Deputy Associate Director for Senior Executive Service and Performance Management, where he led efforts to foster the SES Corps, including revitalizing the Presidential Rank Award (PRA) program, developing new Federal telework and worklife policy, and enhancing Federal-wide efforts to improve performance management of the workforce.

From 2006 to 2021, Mr. Craft served as a DOD SES at: the US Marine Corps; the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization; the Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Agency; and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. In these organizations, he has served as Deputy CIO/G-6, CIO USMC, CIO for JIEDDO, Director Plans and Training, and Director Mission Support where he led the development and use of Big Data/Artificial Intelligence toolsets and oversaw the DTRA’s Security and Counterintelligence activities. From Sept 2005 to October 2006,he served as the Department of State’s Senior Telecommunications Advisor to the Afghan government and US programs in Afghanistan directing technology support for US strategic goals such as economic development, rule of law, and security. From 2001 to 2005, worked as an executive at Raytheon and PriceWaterhouseCoopers. From Jan 1998 to Nov 2001, he served as US Agency for International Development’s ISSO.

From 1983 to 1998, Mr. Craft worked roles in industry as: department manager, program manager, and systems engineer after completing active duty as a Marine Corps Communications Officer (Jan 1979 to April 1983). Mr. Craft has a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from George Mason University. A graduate of the National Defense University’s IRM College Advanced Management Program, he earned Defense Acquisition Level III Certifications in Program Management and IT Acquisition. He received a Meritorious Presidental Rank Award (2010), the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service (2006), and the USAID Annual IG Achievement Award (2000). He is a life member of the Marine Corps Association, the Armed Forces Communications Electronics Association, and the Senior Executive Association.

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Driving National Innovation: Strategies for a Competitive Future

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