After spending 14 years with the Department of Homeland Security, United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Technology (US-VISIT) Program, which transitioned to the Office of Biometric Identification Management (OBIM), Ms. Stephens is now at the Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology, in the role of Biometrics Standards Coordinator.

Mr. Joseph Gregg serves as the Strategic Communication and Plans Analyst at the Defense Forensics and Biometrics Agency (DFBA), under the Department of the Army. DFBA, a component of the U.S. Army’s Office of Provost Marshal General (OPMG), executes the responsibilities of the Executive Agent for DoD Biometrics and Forensics on behalf of the Secretary of the Army. Mr Gregg develops, coordinates, implements, and manages a comprehensive communications strategy for DFBA that conveys complex information about the biometric and forensic enterprises. He provides oversight of a Microsoft SharePoint team and ongoing collaborative initiatives within the organization to enhance collaborative efforts and automated processes in support of the agency mission. Mr. Gregg graduated from the WV State University with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics and an Associate in Computer Science. He also received a Master’s in Business Administration from WV Graduate College.

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Adam McBride is an IT Program/Project manager with over 30 years of Federal Government experience. Adam is currently working at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as the HHS HSPD-12 IT Program Manager with the Program Support Center (PSC) located in Rockville, MD. Adam is the federal lead for the Next Generation External User Management System (XMS) and Access Management System (AMS). XMS is the platform HHS uses to allow all external users needing authentication and authorization into permitted HHS agency applications. AMS is the HHS platform to allow HHS internal users (Employees and Contractors) to access cross-agency applications within HHS. Adam works across multiple stakeholders both across HHS and external to enable strong IAM controls for HHS applications.

Dr. Kenneth Myers is the Director of the Identity Assurance and Trusted Access Division with the General Services Administration Office of Government-wide Policy. He advises and coordinates government-wide digital identity policies and collaborates with federal executive branch agencies on implementation guidance. As an identity professional, he has experience working with various public and private organizations on digital identity, PKI, security management, and governance challenges. He is a former active duty Marine and a recent graduate of the Marymount University Doctorate of Science in Cybersecurity program where he research Identity and Access Management workforce development.

William Graves is the Deputy Assistant Director, Office of Biometric Identity Management for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). OBIM is the lead entity at DHS for biometric identity management services across the entire Federal Government. Mr. Graves is responsible for setting the strategic direction and growth objectives related to technology development, biometrics and identity services. He also oversees interagency, international, academia and industry special projects and the integration of these technologies within existing DHS systems. Mr. Graves has over 20 years of federal service with the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Defense and was awarded the FCW Fed100 in 2018 for his exceptionalism and leadership in Biometrics.

Previously Mr. Graves served as the Chief Engineer for Department of Defense Project Management Biometrics where he established the Science and Technology (S&T) program and fully aligned this program with the National Military Strategy, Army Operating Concepts, Intelligence Functional Concept, and U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence’s 30-year Strategic Plan. Mr. Graves was responsible for multiple Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR), Rapid Innovation Fund (RIF), and internally funded projects. Mr. Graves was also the DoD Chair of the Interagency Forum on Biometrics and Identity (IFBId) and facilitated a strong, coordinated effort across the Federal Government to identify and resolve important S&T policy issues related to IT systems/technologies as well as research, testing, standards, education, training, privacy, and outreach campaigns. He also established the Biometric Interoperability Standards Conformance Office (BISCO) to find, assess, test, and evaluate identity related technologies to meet current and future requirements and accelerate the transition of S&T projects into operationalized programs of record. Additionally, he served as the U.S. representative to the NATO Biometric Standards working group and facilitated the creation of the biometric transmission standard (NATO STNAG 4715). As the Chair of the NATO Architecture Sub-Working Group, he created technical solutions and policies for biometric systems interoperability and cross-organization standardization.

Prior to PM DoD Biometrics, Mr. Graves served as the Chief Biometric Engineer at the DHS US-VISIT Program where he was responsible for biometric standards development, technical assistance to foreign countries, and technical innovation. In this role, he served as chair of the INCITS M1.6 Task Group on Cross Jurisdictional and Societal Issues, represented the United States at the ISO/IEC SC37 Biometrics meetings, and represented US-VISIT’s interests as an active member of the National Science and Technology Council's (NSTC) Subcommittee on Biometrics and Identity Management. He also created the National Information Exchange Model (NIEM) Biometric Domain and managed it under US-VISIT stewardship.

Mr. Graves is also an Adjunct Professor at George Mason University teaching Policy, Law, Ethics, and Privacy of Identity Analysis.

Mr. Graves served in the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne division during the Gulf War. He received a B.A. in Economics from George Mason University and a Master’s degree in Information Technology from American InterContinental University. He received a Master’s Certificate in Project Management from George Washington University, and a CIO Certificate from Carnegie Mellon University. Additionally, he is a DAWIA Certified Level III Program Manager, and a Certified Biometrics Security Engineer (CBSE).

Kay Turner is the Chief Digital Identity Advisor of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Since joining in June of 2021, she has led FinCEN’s support to the FDIC FinCEN Digital Identity Tech Sprint, U.S. UK Privacy Enhancing Technologies Prize Challenge, and digital identity-focused Innovation Hours.

Previously, she served as project coordinator for Treasury’s $10 billion American Rescue Plan Capital Projects Fund. Kay received the Meritorious Service Award for her service as Senior Policy Advisor to the Counselor to the Secretary of the Treasury, where, among other things, she worked with him and the Federal Reserve to design and implement the $600 billion Main Street Lending Program. Kay also helped formulate the design and implement a system-scale digital cash transfer plan to boost economic growth with the Counselor, and advised the Deputy Secretary on digital payments. Kay first served Treasury as a Senior Financial Analyst on European banks, and then as an Economist and Asian Digital Payment and Identity Expert.

Before joining Treasury, Kay was Managing Director at a large U.S. financial institution in London. Kay is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies, Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, and the University of North Carolina.

Zack Martin is a trusted advisor for clients across the cybersecurity ecosystem. Zack brings experience in the digital identity, cybersecurity, healthcare information technology (IT), and payment markets to the Privacy Group. A Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), he has in-depth knowledge of identity and access management (IAM), authentication, biometrics, and public sector challenges with identity systems. Prior to joining Venable, Zack advised clients of a global consulting firm on cybersecurity, digital identity, and policy. As an IAM and cybersecurity policy advisor, he has helped clients in the public and private sectors navigate cybersecurity procedures and solve digital identity challenges.

Accomplished scientific research/program management professional with 10+ years of service to the United States Government (USG), recognized for demonstrating vision, persistence, and drive in the creation and management of advanced research programs in biometrics and identity science. Recognized Subject Matter Expert (SME) in biometrics and identity intelligence; invited to brief the Director of National Intelligence, Congressional staffers and science advisors, Defense Science Board, Army Science Board, and Intelligence Science Board on matters pertaining to biometrics and identity intelligence.

Duane Blackburn helped establish and serves as the science & technology lead for MITRE’s Center for Data-Driven Policy, which brings objective, nonpartisan insights to government policymaking. The center leverages the data and insights gained from MITRE’s sponsored (primarily FFRDC-based) and independent projects to help guide the development of national-level policies and strategies so that they are evidence-based, actionable, and effective. He previously served in MITRE’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer, where he coordinated corporate-level transformational research, established the MITRE Challenge program, and enhanced the strategic approach of our independent research program.

Prior to joining MITRE, Mr. Blackburn was an Assistant Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), where he was responsible for the homeland security, law enforcement, and identity S&T portfolios for both the Bush and Obama administrations. He led the development and implementation of government-wide S&T strategies on a variety of subjects through the National Science and Technology Council, and influenced the conceptualization and oversight of national policies and federal systems throughout the formative stages of the nation’s homeland security enterprise. He is a longtime consensus-builder and mentor in the field of biometrics and identity, having led federal activities as the community matured into serving a foundational role in critical homeland and national security operations. Mr. Blackburn has also held R&D program manager positions in the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the National Institute of Justice, and the DoD’s Counterdrug Technology Development Program Office.

Mr. Blackburn holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering from Virginia Tech. He was a finalist for a 2002 Service to America Medal and established and led an interagency team that received the 2009 National Intelligence Certificate of Distinction. He was one of twelve individuals whose leadership approach was studied by the Partnership for Public Service to identify the critical attributes found within the nation’s highest-performing public servants.

He is a founding member of GAO’s Polaris Council, which advises their Science, Technology Assessment, and Analytics team on emerging issues facing the Congress and the Nation and is also a member and past chair of the advisory board for the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Virginia Tech.

Ben has been at AFCEA for nearly 20 years and was selected as its first Manager of Homeland Security in October 2012. In addition to managing several defense, national security, and technology events, he also oversees AFCEA's Cyber and Homeland Security Committees. Outside of the office, Ben is an avid cyclist, having twice ridden the length of the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal Towpath from Pittsburgh to Washington as part of AFCEA's Cycle for STEM educational fundraiser. He also serves on the Trails and Blueways Council, an advisory committee which provides guidance to the Prince William Board of County Supervisors on the development and maintenance of a county-wide system of trails and streams.