Wed, Aug 26, 2:00 PM CDT – Wed, Aug 26, 2:40 PM CDT

Cyber DIB-fense

As cyber threats escalate in complexity and scale, the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) faces mounting pressure to safeguard critical systems and supply chains. This panel brings together leaders from government and industry to explore how public-private partnerships, zero trust architectures, and emerging cyber technologies are strengthening the digital backbone of American defense. Attendees can look forward to gaining practical insights and actionable strategies to enhance security in today’s challenging threat landscape, with a particular focus on the needs of startups and expanding businesses. Please note: Adding this session to your agenda does not guarantee admission. Admission will be granted on a first-come, first serve basis until room capacity is reached.

Add to calendar

Speakers

speaker

Zach Walker

Co-founder · ATX Defense

Zach led the Defense Innovation Unit’s Texas office from 2017-2020 and has over two decades of national security experience with service in the Army, Air Force, NSA, CIA, and at the Pentagon. He co-founded ATX Defense to help national security organizations integrate revolutionary technology, scalable processes, and long-term viability into operations. Zach retired from military service in 2025.

speaker

Zac Staples

Founder & CEO · Fathom5

Zac Staples is the Founder and CEO of Fathom5, a defense technology company headquartered in Austin, Texas. Since 2018 he has led Fathom5 to uninterrupted growth and profitability. Zac and the Fathom5 team are building Brilliant Machines with new actuators, cyber resilient designs, and AI optimization. Among the company’s many accomplishments are the first program of record deployment of AI aboard a Navy warship, 17 fully awarded patents for actuator and security technologies, and several examples of accelerating defense innovation. Before launching Fathom5, Zac served in the U.S. Navy for over two decades, His career of shipboard service culminated in Zac's selection as the Secretary of the Navy’s 2017 “Innovation Catalyst” award winner for pioneering efforts to develop new digital and cyber capabilities. His background steers Fathom5's vision toward tactical edge use cases for defense innovation.

speaker

Ligeia Zeruto

Head of Government, Aerospace and Defense · Beyond Identity

Ligeia brings 25 years’ experience in national security and proven success within technology startups and Fortune 500s including Amazon Web Services and GlaxoSmithKline and Beyond Identity. Ms. Zeruto is a retired Military Intelligence Officer, decorated combat veteran and contributor to the United States national cybersecurity workforce design and education standards through NICE. She was the lead author for the original US DOD Joint Cyberspace Training and Certification Standards for Cyber Protection Teams (DCO) and continues to provides advisory to various global organizations on cyber challenges. In her military capacity, she led the planning and execution of hundreds of intelligence operations against a wide array of foreign intelligence, military, and cyber targets.

speaker

Russ Mathers

Director · Strikewerx

Russ Mathers is the STRIKEWERX Director with the Cyber Innovation Center in Bossier City, LA. He directs a staff of thirty one providing innovation and collaboration services to the Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) headquarters. Russ is from Midland, Mi. He completed 27 years of active duty with the U.S. Air Force, with roles as a B-52 pilot, B-2 pilot, US Strategic Command nuclear operations planner, and Chief of Combat Plans in US Air Forces, Korea. He retired as the Chief of Staff for Eighth Air Force. He then served five years in federal civil service as Executive Director of AFGSC/A6 and the Air Force Nuclear Command, Control and Communications Center.