Speakers

Multi-certified, Information Technology (IT) leader with 30+ years in civilian and military environments. Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of and experience with sound IT portfolio management and recognized technical expertise to understand strengths and weakness of current and future IT portfolio. Continually tapped to address complex issues related to portfolio management; most recently assigned as Product Line Leader for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) cybersecurity portfolio. Proven leadership including implementing forward-thinking, innovative programs, including the first-ever Texas National Guard Cyber Unit. Well regarded expertise in relevant IT laws, regulations, policies, and procedures. Have led and directed multisector teams with as many as 600 personnel; strategically overseen $360M in resources, and consistently delivered high value, enterprise level projects on time and on budget.

John W. Boerstler currently serves as the Head of Public Sector at Ipsos Public Affairs. Prior to his role at Ipsos, John served as the Chief Experience Officer at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In this role, John provided oversight of the qualitative design and quantitative survey capabilities housed within the Veterans Experience Office and worked collaboratively within VA’s leadership to help achieve greater access and health outcomes for Veterans. Prior to his appointment at VA, he served as the Chief Executive Officer of Combined Arms, a disruptive technology company that ensures the social determinants of health (SDOH) are uniquely addressed for underserved populations.

John is also a recipient of both the Eisenhower and Marshall Memorial Fellowships, having traveled globally to compare and develop military to civilian reintegration systems. As the first Marshall Prize recipient, John completed a 3-year project in Ukraine to assist in the development of their Ministry of Veterans Affairs – the first of its kind in Europe. John is a native Texan who served honorably in the U.S. Marine Corps as an infantry unit leader in the Iraq War and in East Africa. He holds a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Houston and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Texas A&M University and teaches a course on Customer Experience at Georgetown University.

Montae Brockett is the Deputy Chief Information Officer and Chief Information Security Officer for the District of Columbia Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF). In this dual leadership role, he directs enterprise-wide IT modernization and cybersecurity strategies that safeguard critical Medicaid operations for more than 300,000 residents. Montae oversees initiatives spanning cloud migration, advanced data warehouse modernization, and continuous compliance programs built on NIST 800-53, HIPAA, and CMS guidelines.

His leadership has been pivotal in aligning technology infrastructure with federal and District mandates while enabling secure, data-driven decision-making across health care programs. Montae is widely recognized for his expertise in enterprise architecture, IT governance, and risk management, with a strong track record of implementing scalable and resilient solutions in complex government environments. He has designed governance frameworks that integrate advanced analytics, vulnerability management, and compliance automation, ensuring that DHCF maintains a proactive stance against evolving cyber threats.

Benjamin Koshy serves as the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for the Indian Health Service (IHS), an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In this critical role, he is responsible for safeguarding the comprehensive health service delivery system that serves approximately 2.6 million American Indians and Alaska Natives across 574 federally recognized tribes in 37 states.

Mr. Koshy's career at the IHS spans several years, demonstrating a deep commitment to public service and cybersecurity. He began his journey in 2009 as a help desk analyst, gaining foundational insights into IT operations. His dedication and expertise led him to join the security team as an information systems security officer, and he later spearheaded the agency's incident response efforts before ascending to the CISO position.

Prior to his current role, Mr. Koshy also contributed his expertise as a consultant with Deloitte, where he provided cybersecurity support to a diverse portfolio of federal and commercial clients. This experience has equipped him with a broad understanding of cybersecurity challenges and solutions across various sectors.

Academically, Mr. Koshy holds a Master of Science in Cybersecurity and a Master of Business Administration, reflecting his comprehensive understanding of both the technical and strategic dimensions of information security. He is also a highly certified professional, holding several IT security certifications including the (ISC)² Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and EC-Council’s Certified Network Defense Architect (CNDA).

Mr. Koshy received the (ISC)² Global Achievement Award in 2022 for his contributions to cybersecurity. He was also included in Becker’s Hospital Review 2025 "CISOs and Chief Privacy Officers to Know" list.

Kaitlin Klaum is a dynamic leader in the technology space, currently serving as a Senior Solutions Engineering Manager at Box, where she leads the U.S. Public Sector team supporting Federal, State, and Local government agencies. With over 13 years of experience spanning sales engineering, business development, and strategic communications, Kaitlin brings a deep understanding of how to align technical innovation with mission-driven outcomes. Kaitlin is passionate about empowering teams, streamlining agency operations, and driving inclusive, forward-thinking solutions across the public sector.

Craig Swanson is the Director of Federal Health at Google Public Sector, where he partners with federal agencies like HHS, VA, and DHA to accelerate their digital transformation. He equips them with advanced, commercially-proven Cloud, Cyber, and responsible AI technologies, empowering the federal health workforce to leverage data and AI for real-time operations and improved decision-making. His work is focused on countering sophisticated threats, enabling agencies to improve equitable access to healthcare, strengthen public health infrastructure, secure the nation's medical supply chain, and advance critical biomedical research and science.

A results-oriented technology leader with over 26 years of experience, Craig has a proven record of helping federal agencies modernize with innovative and resilient solutions, without disrupting their critical missions. Prior to joining Google, he served as a Vice President of Digital at Booz Allen Hamilton. In this role, he was instrumental in establishing the firm's Digital Practice, leading its Cloud and AI portfolios, and reimagining the strategic partner program to deliver highly-differentiated solutions for missions of national importance.

Craig holds a Master of Science in Information & Telecommunication Systems from Johns Hopkins University, a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Mary Washington College, and a certificate in Economics of Blockchain & Digital Assets from the Wharton Executive Program.