Joni Ahlers
Business Development Manager, ManTech; Dayton Wright Chapter
Joni is a passionate advocate for women in business, government, and STEM education, making her an outstanding nominee for the AFCEA Women's Appreciation Award. As a dedicated AFCEA member and leader, she has profoundly impacted women in the industry by facilitating mentorship opportunities and guiding over 20 women through a STEM-focused mentor program. Joni’s advocacy for STEM education is further demonstrated by her involvement in local initiatives, including the Girls Air Camp and Robotic Challenges, as well as securing over $50,000 in corporate funding for STEM scholarships. Her leadership extends to empowering women by helping them overcome self-doubt, fostering leadership development, and championing gender equality. As President of the Women in Defense Greater Miami Valley Chapter and the first female Regional Vice President of the Midwest AFCEA region, Joni has provided invaluable platforms for mentorship, networking, and professional growth. Her tireless dedication to supporting and advancing women, along with her unwavering commitment to STEM and leadership in defense, makes Joni a truly deserving candidate for this prestigious recognition.
LtCol Clarissa Blair, USMC
United States Fleet Forces Command; Hampton Roads Chapter
Lieutenant Colonel Clarissa N. Blair is an exceptional leader and dedicated mentor, making her a standout nominee for the Women’s Appreciation Award. A member of AFCEA since 2016, Clarissa has been an integral part of the Hampton Roads Chapter, focusing on developing women in their careers and empowering junior female officers. Currently serving as the Amphibious Communications Officer at U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Clarissa is known for her selfless leadership, high standards, and unwavering commitment to the growth of those around her. She mentors young women officers, offering invaluable guidance on career choices, work/life balance, and navigating military dynamics. Clarissa has spearheaded impactful initiatives such as the Gettysburg Battlefield staff ride and Branch Female Empowerment sessions, and played a pivotal role in promoting a junior officer to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. As an active member of the AFCEA community, she revitalized the Chapter’s engagement with the Information Warfare Training Command and contributed significantly to the success of the Maritime IT Summit and the 2024 Women’s Operational Leadership Panel. Clarissa’s contributions to mentorship, leadership development, and community engagement have made her a respected and influential figure both within the military and the AFCEA community.
Becci DeFrank
Federal Sector AI Leader, NVIDIA; Washington DC Chapter
Becci has dedicated her 40-year career, including over 17 years with AFCEA, passionately advocating for women in business, technology, and government. As President of the AFCEA DC Chapter, she promotes positive change through personal leadership and mentorship. Becci utilizes her roles to support women's upward mobility and gender equality. Additionally, she fosters collaboration through mentorship and innovative programs to achieve these goals. She fosters cross-functional collaboration, uniting diverse talents and perspectives to solve complex challenges across her organization. This exemplifies her excellence in volunteer efforts, including building fundraising and awareness campaigns and making significant contributions focused on improving lives and creating opportunities for growth and development. As a committed mentor, Becci has inspired many women through exemplary service and dedication while balancing her career and family life. She advocates for mentoring at all levels, whether in the C-suite or among mid- to young professionals, ensuring that others can access opportunities and achieve compensation equity while building the confidence to be fierce advocates for each other in a largely male-dominated environment. Becci supports a diverse leadership team that embraces various perspectives, enhances decision-making, and strengthens the organization's capacity to address future challenges. She is passionate about STEM education and has championed the AFCEA DC STEM Scholarship Program. At AFFIRM, Becci organized events such as a Career Day Workshop to recruit students for federal IT careers. In her previous role as VP of Industry Growth at Oracle, she successfully led a philanthropic initiative to combat human trafficking. She provided educational resources through Women in Government, leveraging her extensive network to improve outcomes for women and children. Becci is a Board Member for AFFIRM and How Women Lead, providing pathways for investment and philanthropy for Women.
MAJ Zori Drew, USA
1-2SBCT, 7ID, ICOPRS; Fort Knox Gold Vault Chapter
Major Zori Drew is a dedicated leader and mentor who has made significant contributions to the professional development and success of women in the military and government. As the chapter liaison for the Female Mentoring and Morale Program (FMMP) Executive Board, Zori oversees more than 58 FMMP chapters across the Army, providing mentorship and networking opportunities for both male and female service members and civilians. A recipient of numerous accolades, including the Technology Rising Star Award and the AFCEA 40 Under Forty Award, Zori has been recognized for her leadership in STEM and her innovation in supporting the federal government through information technology. Zori actively advocates for STEM scholarships and career development, leveraging her extensive network to introduce women to valuable educational and professional opportunities. Her commitment to mentoring is evident in her sponsorship of women seeking new and advanced positions within her command and beyond. Through her work with FMMP, Zori continues to create environments for women to network, grow, and excel, making her a standout advocate for women’s empowerment in both business and government.
Amy Fadida
Owner, Founder and CEO, A.M. Fadida Consulting; Bethesda Chapter
Amy Fadida is a dedicated advocate for the advancement and empowerment of women, both personally and professionally, making her an exemplary nominee for the Women’s Appreciation Award. As the Founder and CEO of A.M. Fadida Consulting, a woman-owned small business, she has spent nearly three decades helping women navigate career challenges in traditionally male-dominated industries, particularly in IT and telecommunications. And for twenty years in corporate roles prior to launching her business, Amy worked in support of her co-workers’ upward mobility in the workplace and set an example for women helping women be more successful. Amy’s lifelong commitment to mentoring women and supporting STEM careers is evident through her financial contributions to organizations like AFCEA, as well as her efforts to create internship opportunities for students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. A long-time AFCEA member, she has served on numerous committees, including the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of AFCEA International, Governance, Small Business, and Technology Committees. Through her leadership, Amy has championed diversity, equity, and inclusion, significantly increasing the representation of women, people of color, and individuals from diverse backgrounds within AFCEA’s leadership. Amy’s unwavering dedication to empowering others and her tireless work to create opportunities for women in business, government, and beyond make her a standout leader and a true advocate for change.
Lyndsey Hoe
Vice President, Business Development and Growth, Dev Technology Group, Inc; Belvoir Chapter
Lyndsey Hoe is a dynamic advocate for women in STEM, business, and government, exemplifying the core values of AFCEA through her leadership and dedication to professional development. As the founder of AFCEA Belvoir's first Women in AFCEA committee and former VP for Women in AFCEA Belvoir, Lyndsey has significantly advanced the organization's mission by organizing impactful events, including high-profile panels at Industry Days Conferences that address key issues facing women in STEM. Her efforts have strengthened AFCEA's reputation and empowered countless individuals. Beyond event coordination, Lyndsey is committed to mentoring women and emerging professional, notably through her leadership of Dev Technology Group’s Denizen’s program, which fosters connections between early- and mid-career professionals and senior management, as well as a mentor for ACT-IAC's Voyagers Professional Development program. She has also secured meaningful STEM scholarships, promoting opportunities for women in business, government, IT and aerospace. Lyndsey’s personal mentoring and networking initiatives have helped women advance in their careers, create lasting relationships, and access leadership roles across multiple sectors. Her contributions, including co-leading the Women’s Empower Hour at the ACT-IAC Emerging Leaders Conference, further highlight her unwavering commitment to empowering women and young professionals to make a lasting impact in their careers and amongst their communities.
Alisha Kelly
Vice President, Business Development, Trace Systems; Washington, DC Chapter
Alisha Kelly is a passionate advocate for the advancement of women across her corporate, volunteer, and personal endeavors, with a longstanding commitment to fostering inclusion and mentorship. As the Vice Chair of Women in AFCEA (WIA), Alisha has played a pivotal role in expanding initiatives like the Women’s Outreach Leadership (WOL) Networking Happy Hours and reviving the STEMpowerment Forum. Under her leadership, the inaugural WIA Mentor/Protégé Program was launched, which pairs mentors and protégés for professional development. The program was so successful that the WIA team will be expanding to include significantly more mentors and protégés. In addition to her volunteer leadership, Alisha is Vice President of Business Development at Trace Systems, where she mentors and promotes women within the company. She also contributes to the STEM scholarship review process for AFCEA, recommending highly qualified candidates. Throughout her career, Alisha has championed equal opportunity, offering guidance, support, and sponsorship to empower women in the GovCon industry and beyond.
Dr. Jennifer Miller
Business Operations Manager, Defense Health Agency; Northern Virginia Chapter
Dr. Jennifer Miller is a tireless advocate for the advancement of women in both the private and public sectors, making her an exceptional candidate for the AFCEA Women’s Appreciation Award. With over 11 years of active involvement in AFCEA at the international level, Dr. Miller has made significant contributions to the Education Board, Young AFCEANs, and various committees supporting STEAM initiatives. Her 14 years of work in Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) have earned her accolades, including attending the 2023 Grace Hopper Celebration in support of women in tech and the LGBTQ+ community. Dr. Miller’s mentorship and advocacy have directly impacted the careers of numerous women, particularly in fields like resource management, risk, finance, tech, and program management. She has volunteered with organizations like Edu-Futuro, NetWerk, and Goodwill Industries, empowering underrepresented youth and women to rise above disadvantages and achieve greater professional success. As a mentor to hundreds, Dr. Miller’s dedication extends to personalized coaching, resource-sharing, and career development for both individuals and groups. Her work extends to sponsoring women transitioning between roles and advocating for their advancement within government and the private sector. A highly regarded thought leader, Dr. Miller has authored over 100 publications and continues to create opportunities for women to network, learn, and excel in their careers, making her a standout leader in the AFCEA community.
Stephanie Miller
President, B Technology, LLC; Alamo Chapter
Stephanie Miller is a passionate advocate for the development of women professionals, particularly in the fields of defense, cybersecurity, and STEM. As an active member of several AFCEA chapters, including NOVA, DC, Bethesda, Fort Belvoir, and Alamo, she has facilitated mentorship opportunities by connecting emerging female professionals with experienced mentors from both government and industry. Stephanie played a pivotal role in the launch of the Women in Defense (WID) chapter in Texas, increasing its visibility through strategic initiatives like organizing membership tables at FedSuperNova. Her mentoring efforts have helped women transition from help desk roles to cybersecurity careers, and evolve from systems administrators to cybersecurity professionals and business owners. Stephanie has also been a staunch advocate for women in STEM, participating in events, providing scholarships, and mentoring students through initiatives like the Alamo ACE “Capture the Flag” competition. Her sponsorship of numerous women for promotions and career advancement has empowered them to embrace leadership roles and start their own businesses, demonstrating her commitment to closing the gender gap and fostering the next generation of female leaders.
Dr. Diana Orozco
Business Development Manager, BreakPoint Labs; Alamo Chapter
Dr. Diana Orozco is a passionate advocate for women in STEM and cybersecurity, making her an exceptional candidate for the AFCEA Women’s Appreciation Award. Overcoming early challenges as a teenage mother, Diana earned a PhD and has dedicated her career to empowering women and creating opportunities for professional growth. She actively serves on the Board of the Women’s Society of Cyberjutsu (Alamo Chapter), the CyberTexas Foundation, and the Advisory Board of Latinitas, among many other organizations, where she facilitates mentoring and networking opportunities for women in business and government. Diana has played a pivotal role in organizing and supporting impactful events, such as the All Girls AFA CyberPatriot Camp, the Learning Undefeated Emerging Leader program, and the San Antonio Mayor’s Cyber Cup Awards. She has also contributed significantly to the dialogue on inclusivity in cybersecurity through her blog post on creating a more inclusive space for women in the field. Diana’s commitment to mentoring, advocating for diversity, and inspiring the next generation of women leaders in cybersecurity makes her a standout leader in the industry.