Conference Agenda
Jump to: Monday, April 7 | Tuesday, April 8 | Wednesday, April 9
Agenda as of January 19, 2025 and subject to change. Panelists are Confirmed unless otherwise noted.
Monday, April 7
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
(NEW!) Welcome Reception
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South Building Terrace, PHX Convention Center
Tuesday, April 8
8:30 AM – 9:45 AM
Opening Remarks: Tom Homan
Opening Keynote Panel Discussion: “State of the Border”
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The men and women who serve on the southern border face never-ending waves of trials and tasks regarding human migration, transnational crime, illegal immigration, and a host of other obstacles in securing the border. The Opening Keynote brings the leadership to discuss what they’re seeing, what they need, and what the next steps are in America’s ongoing border crisis.
Moderator:
Ryan Scudder, Managing Partner, HonorGuardians, LLC; Former Executive Assistant Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Panelists:
Tom Homan, Border Czar; Former Director, ICE
Diane Sabatino, Acting Executive Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations, CBP (Invited)
AnnMarie Highsmith, Executive Assistant Commissioner, Office of Trade, CBP (Invited)
Ballroom
9:45 AM – 10:00 AM
BPF Honoring the Memory Ceremony
Border Security Expo honors and recognizes law enforcement personnel who have lost their lives in the line of duty. This ceremony, inaugurated at Border Security Expo 2012, continues to honor our fallen heroes each year at a special ceremony in the conference hall.
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Sponsored by AKIMA
Ballroom
10:00 AM – 10:15 AM
Coffee Break
Ballroom Lobby
10:00 AM – 12:15 PM
DHS Exhibitor Matchmaking
Meeting Room
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Exhibit Hall Open
Hall F & G
10:15 AM – 11:15 AM
Technology and AI – Mission Related Scenarios
Moderator:
Patty Todaro-Bolin, Managing Partner, ICS Advisory
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Panelists:
Ntina Cooper, Executive Assistant Commissioner, Enterprise Services, CBP (Invited)
Rachelle Henderson, Chief Information Officer, ICE (Invited)
Ballroom
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
Acquisition and Contracting in DHS: Major Policy, Structure and Vision for the Department and its Components
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This panel will discuss new major trends, regulation, and policy in DHS Acquisition and Contracting and new innovations within the last year and those in coming year. It will focus on HOW DHS develops requirements, and contracts with industry. The topics will include innovations in contracting methods and alternatives to FAR based contracts. It will also include the legislative agenda for contracting, and the Department’s plan for revised acquisition oversight and new joint requirements (JRC).
Moderator:
Elaine Duke, Principal, Elaine Duke & Associates, LLC
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Panelists:
Paul Courtney, Chief Procurement Officer, DHS (Invited)
Sarah Todd, Executive Director, Acquisition Policy and Legislation, Office of the Chief Procurement Officer, DHS (Invited)
Jaclyn Rubino, Executive Director, Strategic Programs Division, Office of the Chief Procurement Officer, DHS (Invited)
KC Milligan, Component Acquisition Executive, Executive Director, Acquisition Governance and Oversight, Office of Acquisition, Enterprise Services, CBP (Invited)
Ken Marien, Senior Advisor, DHS Program Accountability and Risk Management (PARM) (Invited)
Ballroom
12:15 PM – 1:15 PM
Lunch in the Exhibit Hall
Hall F & G
2:45 PM – 3:45 PM
Breakout Session: Acquisition & Contracting in the Components​
Moderator:
Elaine Duke, Principal, Elaine Duke & Associates, LLC
Panelists:
Kerri Bishop, Chief of the Contracting Office, MST, Procurement Directorate, CBP (Invited)
KC Milligan, Component Acquisition Executive, Executive Director, Acquisition Governance and Oversight, Office of Acquisition, Enterprise Services, CBP (Invited)
Melanie Alston, Deputy Head of Contracting Activity, ICE (Invited)
Amanda Duquette, Head of Contracting Activity, USCIS (Invited)
Darin (Andrew) Jones, Division Director, Office of Procurement Operations, DHS (Invited)
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Breakout Session: Technology & AI (Post-Quantum Cryptography, AI & Edge Computing)
Moderator:
Patty Todaro-Bolin, Managing Partner, ICS Advisory
Panelists:
Dr. Ed Mays, Deputy Assistant Commissioner/Deputy CIO, Infrastructure & Support Services, CBP
Sunil Madhugiri, Chief Technology Officer, CBP
Breakout Session: Advancing Officer Safety & Well Being: Body Armor Council
What has DHS done to address the issue of body armor fit and safety, and where they will focus in the future? This panel will discuss the vital work of advancing law enforcement officers' knowledge of body armor fit resources, equipment features, and communication best practices to improve overall safety and officer wellbeing.
Moderator:
Benjamine C. Huffman, Director, Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC)
Panelists:
Jaclyn Rubino, Executive Director, Strategic Programs Division, Office of the Chief Procurement Officer, DHS
Alana Bell, Supervisory Air Marshall in Charge (SAC), Orlando Field Office, TSA
Kelei Walker, Deputy Field Office Director, Denver Field Office, ICE
Meeting Rooms
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Exhibit Hall:
Opening Night Networking Reception
Hall F & G
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Border Patrol Foundation’s Southwest Soiree
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*tickets sold separately here and at the Border Security Expo until 4:00 PM or until tickets are sold out.
Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel | Skyline Terrace
Wednesday, April 9
8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
DHS Exhibitor Matchmaking
Meeting Room
8:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Exhibit Hall Open
Halls F & G
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
Innovation in Border Security Technology
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Join a robust discussion between innovation and management teams on how the new Administration is expected to leverage cutting-edge technology to protect the border. Whether it’s autonomous systems such as drones, counter drone solutions, aerostats, video surveillance systems, range finders, thermal devices, sensors, maritime solutions and more, innovative and emerging technology is helping secure the U.S. border.
Moderator:
Heather Moeder Molino, Principal, Cornerstone Government Affairs; Former Staff Director, House Intelligence Committee
Panelists:
Ruynard Singleton, Executive Director, Program Management Office Directorate, U.S. Border Patrol (Invited)
Jeremy Ocheltree, Acting Director, Innovation Team, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Invited)
Melissa Oh, Managing Director, Department of Homeland Security Science & Technology Directorate (S&T) Silicon Valley Innovation Program (SVIP) (Invited)
Ballroom
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Technology & Trade
Moderator:
Ana Hinojosa, President, ABH Global Trade Consulting, LLC
Panelists:
Brandon Lord, Executive Director, Trade Policy & Programs, Office of Trade, CBP (Invited)
Eric Choy, Executive Director, Trade Remedy & Law Enforcement, Office of Trade, CBP (Invited)
Susan Thomas, Executive Director, Cargo Conveyance Security, Office of Field Operations, CBP (Invited)
Ballroom
10:30 AM – 10:45 AM
Coffee Break
Ballroom Lobby
10:45 AM – 11:30 AM
Emerging Threats Posed by Transnational Criminal Organizations/Cartels
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Moderator:
Mike Braun, President SAVA Workforce Solutions; Former Assistant Administrator and Chief of Operations, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
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Panelists:
Will Kimball, Chief of Operations, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
Thom Browne, Chief Executive Officer, Colombo Plan Secretariat
Terry Cole, State of Virginia, Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security
Joe Draganac, Assistant Director, National Targeting Center, CBP
Dave Laleikini, Unit Chief, Homeland Security Investigations, Innovation Laboratory Task Group 1 (Invited)
Ballroom
11:40 AM – 12:30 PM
Breakout Session: Mexican Cartels’ Supremacy in the Global Drug Trade
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Moderator:
Mike Braun, President SAVA Workforce Solutions; Former Assistant Administrator and Chief of Operations, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
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Panelists:
Will Kimball, Chief of Operations, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
Terry Cole, State of Virginia, Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security
Joe Draganac, Assistant Director, National Targeting Center, CBP
Dave Laleikini, Unit Chief, Homeland Security Investigations, Innovation Laboratory Task Group 1 (Invited)
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Breakout Session: Technologies for Law Enforcement to Counter Emerging Threats: What’s Here and What’s Coming
Moderator:
Patty Todaro-Bolin, Managing Partner, ICS Advisory
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Panelists:
Rob Renner, (A) Director, Fentanyl Directorate, CBP
Mike Prado, (A) Assistant Director, HS Cyber and Operational Technology Division, ICE (Invited)
Breakout Session: AI & the Law
This panel will discuss emerging trends from a policy and legal perspective, as well as recent developments in the law that will affect how DHS legally can use technology and systems to meet mission. Top areas include artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and UAS identity. The panel will consider potential implications and impacts for cross-border activities. As quickly emerging technologies associated with these topics affect border-related activities, will the law maintain pace with those developments? How are companies developing tomorrow’s technologies affected by legal developments surrounding artificial intelligence and cybersecurity?
Moderator:
Elaine Duke, Principal, Elaine Duke & Associates, LLC
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Panelists:
Joseph Maher, Esq, Nixon Peabody; Former Deputy and Acting General Counsel, DHS
Jason Hirsch, Esq, Nixon Peabody; Former META
Meeting Room
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Lunch in the Exhibit Hall
Hall F & G
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
DHS Exhibitor Matchmaking
Meeting Room
3:00 PM
Expo Hall Closes
Hall F & G