Day 1
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Irregular Warfare and CounterterrorismMaren Brooks is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Irregular Warfare and Counterterrorism. With over 20 years of experience in national security, Maren has served under 3 Presidents in the National Security Council and led key initiatives at the State Department and National Counterterrorism Center.
Peter Belk, Keynote Speaker
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Readiness
Peter Belk is the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Readiness, advising on Total Force Readiness. Previously, he served as the U.S. Northern Command Deputy Director of Operations and the U.S. Special Operations Command Deputy Director for Strategy, Policy, Plans, and Concepts.
Day 2
Theresa Whelan, Keynote Speaker
Director for Defense Intelligence Collections and Special Programs
Theresa Whelan is the Director for Defense Intelligence Collections and Special Programs. Theresa is the Former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Global Security. With over 30 years in defense intelligence and policy, Theresa has advised on U.S. national defense strategy and served in multiple roles at the DOD and the National Intelligence Council.
MG (ret) James Linder, Keynote Speaker
Former Chief of Staff at U.S. Special Operations Command
MG (ret) Linder is the former Chief of Staff at U.S. Special Operations Command. He has led troops and operations globally with a career spanning from the 82nd Airborne Division to the 75th Ranger Regiment to the 5th Special Forces Group to commanding Special Operations in Africa, the Philippines, and Afghanistan. He has also served with NATO and the Intelligence Community.
