Commercial Tech Panel 

Aditi Kumar

Defense Innovation Unit  |  Former Principal Deputy Director 

Aditi Kumar is the former Principal Deputy Director of the Defense Innovation Unit within the U.S. Department of Defense where she led efforts to acquire commercial technologies at scale. Prior to joining DIU, Aditi served as the Senior Advisor to the Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment, leading efforts related to industrial production expansion and acceleration. Aditi was previously the Executive Director of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School. She also led the Belfer Center’s Economic Diplomacy Initiative, focused on research and expertise at the intersection of international affairs and economic policy. Aditi immigrated from India when she was nine. 

Chip Walter

Marlinspike  |  Managing Director

Chip brings a combination of unmatched private enterprise and public sector expertise. He is a recognized expert in the Intelligence Community for leveraging start-up technology and bringing innovative initiatives to impact a wide array of mission areas within the Federal government. Chip’s previous work experience includes roles as a Senior Director of NGC Ventures program, lead for CIA’s innovation and sourcing strategy from the venture capital and startup community via In-Q-Tel and Senior Executive and Director of Congressional Affairs at the CIA. Chip is a Naval Aviator. His senior operational tours included command VP-1 and CTF-67. Additionally, he deployed to Afghanistan as an advisor to General David H. Petraeus.

Josh Marcuse

Google Public Sector  |  Director of Strategic Initiaitives

Josh Marcuse is the Director of Strategic Initiatives for Google Public Sector. He is also an advisor or board member to several nonprofits, defense startups, and investment firms, including Capital G, the Defense Advisory Board of Bessemer Venture Partners, Aalyria, and the Center for Strategic & International Studies. Josh has 20 years of experience in defense modernization, including serving as the founding executive director of the Defense Innovation Board. Josh is the founder or co-founder of three non-profits: Globally, Young Professionals in Foreign Policy, and the Federal Innovator Network. 

Tom Huntley

REGENT Craft  |  Vice President, Government Relations and Defense

Tom Huntley is the VP of Government Relations and Defense for REGENT, where he oversees all aspects of federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, and international affairs and defense business development. Prior to REGENT, Tom served as detailed senior staff on the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee, overseeing $80 billion federal appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security. A 22-year veteran of the Coast Guard, Tom served as a Jayhawk helicopter instructor and examiner - logging over 4000 flight hours. Tom also served as the Shipbuilding Budget and Program Director. He holds a Master of Public Policy from Princeton University, an MA in Political Science from American Public University, and an MBA from NYU-Stern.

Molly Hassell

[ Moderator ]

Harvard Business School

Molly is a first-year Harvard MBA student with previous work experience at SpaceX and in Aerospace & Defense VC. She is also a graduate of both Dartmouth and Oxford, and is a Special Operations veteran with seven combat deployments.