Most practitioners building cybersecure environments know the basics: simplify system procedures, invest in continuous education, and elevate visibility across the network.
But what happens when new mandates are applied to legacy systems? The “bolt-on” approach is often expensive, frustrating, and ineffective.
This week on Feds At the Edge, experts from NETCOM, DARPA, and Axonius discuss how automation, AI, and continuous learning are reshaping cyber defense, and what agencies must do to build security that works.
We examine patching challenges, attack surface reduction, and how AI can help ease “task saturation,” along with why visibility and education remain essential.
Tune in on your favorite podcast platform to hear whether modern technology is enough to meet today’s security demands.
To view this webinar: Cybersecurity: Building Resiliency, Reducing Redundancy.
Featured Speakers:
Dr. Matt Turek
Deputy Director, Information Innovation Office
Dr. Matt Turek assumed the role of deputy office director for DARPA’s Information Innovation Office (I2O) in May 2022. In this position, he provides technical leadership and works with program managers to envision, create, and transition capabilities that ensure enduring information advantage for the United States and its allies.
Turek joined DARPA in July 2018 as an I2O program manager, and served as acting deputy director of I2O from June 2021 to October 2021. He previously managed the Media Forensics (MediFor), Semantic Forensics (SemaFor), Machine Common Sense (MCS), and Explainable AI (XAI) programs as well as the Reverse Engineering of Deception (RED) AI Exploration program (AIE). His research interests include computer vision, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and their application to problems with significant societal impact.
Prior to his position at DARPA, Turek was at Kitware, Inc., where he led a team developing computer vision technologies. His research focused on multiple areas, including large scale behavior recognition and modeling; object detection and tracking; activity recognition; normalcy modeling and anomaly detection; and image indexing and retrieval. Turek has made significant contributions to multiple DARPA and Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) efforts and has transitioned large scale systems for operational use. Before joining Kitware, Turek worked for GE Global Research, conducting research in medical imaging and industrial inspection.
Turek holds a doctorate of philosophy in computer science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a Master of Science in electrical engineering from Marquette University, and a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from Clarkson University. His doctoral work focused on combinatorial optimization techniques for computer vision problems. Turek is a co-inventor on several patents and co-author of multiple publications, primarily in computer vision.
Deputy Director, Information Innovation Office, DARPA
LTC Keith Christiansen
Regional Cyber Center Chief
Keith Christiansen is a proven cybersecurity leader with over two decades of experience building, developing, and leading high-performing teams that secure complex networks. Originally from Tucson, Arizona, Keith began his career serving in the U.S. Army as an enlisted Soldier in 1999 and has risen to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He has a deep understanding of networking and cybersecurity challenges in demanding environments. He deployed in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, honing his skills in strategic problem-solving and team leadership under pressure.
Keith holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Master of Science in Technology Management from Arizona State University, as well as a Master’s degree in Operational Studies from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. He complements this academic foundation with industry-recognized certifications including Project Management Professional (PMP), Amazon Web Services Cloud Practitioner, and Microsoft Azure Fundamentals and Security Fundamentals.
In his current role at the NETCOM Global Cyber Center as the Secure Division Chief, Keith is spearheading the integration of Zero Trust capabilities across the Army’s enterprise network by building adaptable teams and leveraging new technologies to strengthen the Army’s cybersecurity posture. Prior to this, he served as the Branch Chief for Cybersecurity and Modernization at the J-6 Joint Staff, Pentagon.
With a consistent record of successfully guiding teams to deliver secure and reliable technology solutions, Keith is passionate about fostering collaboration between government and industry to address today’s complex cybersecurity landscape.
He resides in Fort Huachuca, Arizona with his wife and two daughters.
Security Division Chief,
Global Cyber Center, NETCOM
Johann Wallace
Acting Director of NETCOM Cybersecurity
Mr. Johann R. Wallace is a long-time resident of Arizona, is married and has one child.
At the age of 18, Johann took on his first leadership role for a multi-national corporation that served a variety of clients in the healthcare, telecommunication and finance industries. In 2005 his career focus shifted to information technology and what is now known as cybersecurity, where he provided the full-range of support and sustainment to the very same industries.
Entering into the federal contracting world in 2008 and up until 2017, Johann continued his leadership roles by overseeing a variety of cybersecurity inspections, assessments and engineering programs for the Army. During this time he also worked as a threat analyst, responsible for analyzing old and emerging threats that could impact the Army’s network, to build and validate mitigations to protect the Army’s network.
Johann transitioned to the Department of the Army as a civilian in 2017, finding his professional home within the Network Enterprise Technology Command (NETCOM) Cybersecurity Directorate as the lead of the vulnerability management team, a key enabler to bridge the gap between cybersecurity and intelligence to support effective operations, where he now serves as the Acting Director.
Acting Director, NETCOM Cybersecurity,
U.S. Army NETCOM
Brian “Stretch” Meyer
Field Chief Technology Officer
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.
A United States Air Force veteran, Stretch played a critical role in engineering and securing mission-critical systems in theater, supporting Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) and Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan. His passion lies in translating mission needs into innovative cybersecurity solutions, ensuring federal agencies can strengthen their security posture in an evolving threat landscape.
Field Chief Technology Officer,
Axonius Federal Systems
Michael Kennedy
Moderator & Contributing Editor
Michael Kennedy retired in May 2017 from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). He had an extensive career in the Federal Government, with leadership responsibilities leading to numerous national level roles at the Senior Executive Service level since April 2006. He served in many positions within the ODNI beginning in its first year of operation and culminating in his final assignment as the Deputy Program Manager for Technology and Standards for the Program Manager – Information Sharing Environment (PM-ISE), within the ODNI.
Mr. Kennedy has left an indelible mark of professional accomplishment and Leadership across a broad spectrum of complex issues, most notably in the development of innovative technology solutions and transformative outcomes for the Intelligence Community (IC) during 42 years of total government service in IT and other leadership roles:
- Deputy Program Manager for Technology & Standards, ODNI (Nov 2011 – May 2017)
- Director, INTELINK, ODNI (July 2008 – Nov 2011)
- Chief, Information and Technology, ODNI (April 2006 – July 2008)
- Chief, Networks & Operations – Plans, Policy, & Resource; National Air & Space Intelligence Center (April 2003 – April 2006)
- Chief, Intelligence Systems Division, U.S. Southern Command (Feb 2000 – April 2003)
- Chief, Department of Defense Intelligence Information Systems (DoDIIS), System Integration Management Office, U.S. Central Command (March 1995 – Feb 2000)
- Head of Customer Support & Dep COTR, Supercomputer Center; Deputy Chief – Communications and Networks, Naval Oceanographic Office (Oct 1989 – Feb 1995)
- Retired U.S. Navy Captain with over 30 years combined active and reserve duty (1975 – 2009)
Contributing Editor,
FedInsider
