Luncheon Highlights DISA's Strategic Vision and Industry

In January, Theresa Pines, chapter senior vice president, hosted a noteworthy luncheon featuring discussions on the upcoming strategy from the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). The event began with insights from Christie Bardo, executive vice president of Marketing Intelligence at GovExec, who highlighted that DISA has awarded a remarkable $37 billion in contracts over the past decade. Notably, small businesses received 17% of DISA's funding in the last year, indicating substantial opportunities for growth and collaboration.

Bardo also emphasized that under the new administration, artificial intelligence initiatives and regulatory frameworks will play a crucial role in DISA's strategic direction.

The luncheon progressed with Jennifer Grijalva from HashiCorp introducing the keynote speaker, DISA's Deputy Director Christopher Barnhurst. He addressed the current threat landscape, underscoring the necessity of public-private partnerships to effectively combat these challenges. Barnhurst stressed the importance of real-time information exchange and collaboration, particularly in relation to cloud-based internet isolation initiatives that benefit the agency.

A highlight of the event was the panel discussion titled "Supporting Mission From Enterprise to Edge," moderated by Jason Martin, director of Acquisition at DISA. The panel featured key DISA leaders: Roger Greenwell, Jeff Marshall and Christopher Argo.

Argo shared insights into DISA's strategic road map to 2029, focusing on the technological needs of warfighters. He detailed how his office gathers requirements from combatant commands and field offices to ensure mission readiness.

Greenwell discussed DISA's approach to data utilization, emphasizing the need for meaningful metrics across various domains, from personnel data to incident responses. He advocated for a common framework for identity and enterprise ICAM, highlighting that not every situation requires extensive data analytics.

Lastly, Marshall addressed the challenges of data-sharing within hybrid cloud environments. He pointed out the critical gap between industry technology and DISA's capabilities, emphasizing his dedication to bridging that divide to enhance mission support.

Overall, the luncheon provided a valuable platform for dialogue on DISA's strategic initiatives and the vital role of collaboration between the agency and industry partners.

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