AFCEAN of the Month, August 2026
Rebecca Garcia has demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation and dedication in advancing the mission of the AFCEA Northern Virginia (NOVA) Chapter community. An AFCEA member since 2002 and an active volunteer leader with AFCEA NOVA since 2020, Garcia has become one of the chapter’s most impactful contributors across programming, education, mentorship and member engagement. Her ability to connect government, industry and mission partners has strengthened chapter initiatives and fostered greater collaboration in support of national defense priorities.
Most notably, Garcia has served as the chair of Space Force IT Day since 2023, helping transform the event into one of AFCEA NOVA’s premier programs. Under her leadership, the event experienced significant growth in government participation and executive-level engagement.
Garcia consistently brought together senior leaders from organizations, including the U.S. Space Force, Office of the Secretary of Defense chief information officer, Space Systems Command, National Reconnaissance Office, Defense Information Systems Agency, NASA and international partners, to deliver timely and mission-focused discussions. Senior Space Force leadership recognized the event’s impact, praising the quality of the panels, collaboration between government and industry, and AFCEA NOVA’s role in helping build “the platform that allows that ecosystem to thrive.” Garcia also strengthened the event’s educational mission by integrating senior Space Force leaders into the corresponding Student IT Day, providing high school STEM students with direct engagement with government and industry leaders while supporting the next generation of guardians and innovators.
Beyond Space Force IT Day, Garcia has actively supported AFCEA NOVA’s Education Committee Micro Mentoring Program and luncheon series, contributing to professional development and member engagement across the chapter. Professionally, she serves as a senior regional sales director at Gigamon, where she supports zero trust in the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Transportation Command and U.S. Strategic Command. Her sustained service, measurable impact and commitment to AFCEA’s mission exemplify the qualities of an outstanding AFCEAN of the Month.
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