One sensor can generate 1.3 million data points per minute. Now imagine hundreds of them on a single military aircraft. OT powers everything from sensors in Air Force fighter jets to floating ocean buoys, yet applying traditional data management strategies to these systems is anything but simple. While many understand that OT controls physical devices, far fewer grasp the scale, velocity, and complexity of the data these systems generate.
This week on Feds At the Edge, experts from US Coast Guard, US Strategic Command, Army Test and Evaluation Command, and BMC explore practical ways to bring Operational Technology (OT) into modern federal IT architectures, from using analytics tools to extract actionable insights, to adopting platforms that unify data across systems, and training people to use technology effectively.
Tune in on your favorite podcast platform to learn how federal agencies can turn overwhelming OT data into clarity, confidence, and smarter operational decisions.
To view this webinar: OT is Not IT.
Featured Speakers:
RDML Russell Dash
Assistant Commandant, CG-6 & CIO
RDML Rusty Dash is the U.S. Coast Guard’s Assistant Commandant for Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Information Technology (CG-6). In this capacity, he also serves as the Coast Guard’s Chief Information Officer.
RDML Dash was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and is a native of Yorktown, Virginia. He graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics and Computer Science. Ensign Dash’s first assignment was as a Deck Watch Officer onboard the 270 foot Medium Endurance Cutter CAMPBELL (WMEC 909), in New Bedford, Massachusetts.
From 1996-1998, Lieutenant Junior Grade Dash was the Officer in Charge of Law Enforcement Detachment Five Charlie, part of the Tactical Law Enforcement Team North located in Portsmouth, Virginia. During that time, LEDET 5C was deployed onboard U.S. Navy warships to conduct counter-drug operations in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Oceans, and United Nations sanctions enforcement in the Arabian Gulf.
He reported to the Law Enforcement section of the Atlantic Area and Fifth District staff in 1998, where he planned District-wide law enforcement operations. Lieutenant Dash returned to sea duty in 2001 onboard the 270 foot Medium Endurance Cutter NORTHLAND (WMEC 904), in Portsmouth, Virginia, and he served as the Operations Officer and Navigator. He was subsequently assigned as Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Cutter Washington (WPB 1331), a 110 foot patrol boat in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 2003. Patrolling paradise is arduous duty, but someone has to do it. This was his last afloat assignment. From 2005-2007 Lieutenant Commander Dash attended the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California where he earned his Master of Science Degree (with Distinction) in Information Systems Technology and won the RADM Grace Murray Hopper Award for outstanding academics and leadership. Following graduate school, he was assigned to Coast Guard Headquarters in the Office of C4 & Sensors Capabilities (CG-761). In 2011 Commander Dash transferred to the Atlantic Area staff and served as the Deputy Division Chief of LANT-6. From 2012-2013 he was assigned to the Department of Homeland Security as a Program Manager in the Office of Applied Technology in Washington, D.C.
He returned to the Coast Guard in 2013 and was assigned as Executive Officer at the Command, Control, and Communications Engineering Center in Portsmouth, Virginia. From 2016-2017 Captain Dash attended the National Defense University where he earned a Master of Science degree (Distinguished Graduate) in Government Information Leadership with concentrations in Cyberspace Strategy and Cybersecurity Leadership. After graduating from NDU he reported to CG-6 and became the first Chief of the Office of C5I Program Management (CG-68) in 2018. He assumed command of the C4IT Service Center in May 2019, and became the first C5I Service Center Commanding Officer in June 2020. He transferred to the Personnel Service Center as Deputy in May 2022 and then “fleeted up” to be the PSC Commander from May 2023 to June 2024.
Rear Admiral Dash’s awards include the 2018 CDR John P. Dailey Award for Outstanding Leadership and Mentorship within the Coast Guard C4IT Community, the Legion of Merit (2x), Meritorious Service Medal (4x), as well as other personal, unit, and service awards.
He and his wife Danielle are the proud parents of three adult sons. They are also proud part-owners of the Green Bay Packers, winners of 13 professional football championships.
Assistant Commandant, CG-6 & CIO,
U.S. Coast Guard
Elizabeth Durham-Ruiz
Director, C4 Systems & CIO
Ms. Elizabeth Durham-Ruiz is the Director of Command, Control, Communications and Computer Systems (C4) and Chief Information Officer (CIO), United States Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.
As the Director of C4 Systems, data, and Artificial Intelligence (AI), Ms. Durham-Ruiz is responsible for providing and assuring global-integrated C4 capabilities for U.S. Strategic Command execution in support of full spectrum operations for global strike, nuclear deterrence, missile defense, and cyberspace operations. She translates DoD and Joint Chiefs of Staff communications and information policies and applies them across the command.
As the CIO, Ms. Durham-Ruiz has sole responsibility for developing, coordinating, and implementing U.S. Strategic Command enterprise information environment support for DoD Chief Information Officer initiatives, policy, and guidance. This includes Clinger-Cohen Act compliance, information resource management, and information technology governance processes such as capital planning, business process improvements, and portfolio management.
Ms. Durham-Ruiz was commissioned into the United States Air Force in 1982 following her graduation from the United States Air Force Academy and served on active duty until 2007. She has extensive experience in command, control, communications and cyber systems supporting Presidential, strategic, tactical, satellite commanding and integrated tactical warning/attack assessment missions; satellite communications; enterprise information technology systems; cloud computing; and data and AI.
After retiring from active duty as a Colonel, Ms. Durham-Ruiz held a variety of senior civilian positions at United States Strategic Command and United States Transportation Command. She led many cross-functional teams to analyze and develop pioneering solutions to complex technical problems, focusing on Nuclear Command, Control, and Communication (NC3), C4, cyber, cloud computing, and big data analytics.
Director, C4 Systems & CIO,
U.S. Strategic Command
Nicholas Travisano
Chief Information Officer & Director, Information Management
Nicholas Travisano is the Chief Information Officer and Director of Information Management for the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command. Leading the strategic governance of IT and OT across the test and evaluation networks, he brings over fifteen years of defense experience in IT acquisition, cybersecurity, and systems architecture. In this role he’ll share insights on navigating the critical differences and synergies between OT and IT environments, ensuring successful data collection and digital transformation within the Army’s test and evaluation enterprise.
CIO & Director, Information Management, U.S. Army Test & Evaluation Command
Katie Tierney
AVP, Digital Service & Operations Management
Katie Carty Tierney is the Sales Leader for the Digital Service and Operations Management product line in the Americas at BMC Software. In this role, Katie works with BMC’s customers to help ensure that they understand and achieve significant business value from the adoption of game-changing technologies like BMC Helix AI Service Management, BMC Helix AIOps, and BMC’s market-leading Helix Continuous Optimization portfolio.
Katie has spent over a decade at BMC in key leadership positions in Sales, Presales, and the Digital Service Management (DSM) business unit. During her time at BMC, Katie has provided guidance and hands-on support for hundreds of customers all over the world. Katie prides herself on her unwavering commitment to customer success, which drives her every day.
Katie’s almost thirty-year career in IT spans sales leadership, technical sales, software development and architecture, and package implementation with companies such as Symphony SummitAI, WhiteHat Security, Forté Software, BSG Alliance/IT, and Sun Microsystems. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Texas A&M University.
AVP Digital Service & Operations
Management, Americas, BMC
Jane Norris
Contributing Editor
Jane Norris a contributing editor to FedInsider, is committed to advancing government communications and putting people first in every regard.
Jane brings a lifetime career in media and government to her role. She has held senior roles at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). As a consultant and public relations lead, she worked to execute priority issues for two powerhouse government contracting firms creating successful communications strategies for issues like, technology modernization, AI, data analytics, cybersecurity, customer experience, human centered design, health and economic policy, the government workforce and employee engagement.
Jane’s private sector career also includes on-air work with multiple radio and television stations, most recently as a daily drive-time host on Federal News Radio/WTOP in Washington DC.
Contributing Editor,
FedInsider
