Phoenix Challenge in Atlanta Was a Great Success

The June 2023 Phoenix Challenge in Atlanta at the Georgia Technology Research Institute (GTRI) was a great Success!

The Phoenix Challenge is a series of events the Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS) leads on behalf of the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy to elevate the importance of cross-government collaboration in addressing challenges to operations in the information environment. Ultimately, the goal is to accelerate success for Operations in the Information Environment and the National Defense Strategy. The Information Professionals Association is extremely proud to be a part of this important conference series.

From 20 June – 25 June 2023, the U.S. Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (Office of Information Operations Policy) held the second Phoenix Challenge Forum for 2024 in Atlanta. The conference focused on “Applied Research and Priority Solutions for Action in the Information Environment.” The event’s theme focuses on identifying and addressing the most salient challenges facing governments, private sector, and associated international institutions & organizations today.

This Phoenix Challenge is an outcome-based conference and workshop series intended to drive knowledge collaboration and solutions across Defense and Security Organizations, Academia, Private Sector and International Partners to address complex issues related to Cognitive Security, Information Competition & Conflict, and Malign Influence.

Noteworthy speakers and panelists at the GTRI Phoenix Challenge included:

  • Honorable Heidi Shyu, Undersecretary of Defense for Research & Engineering (virtual, pre-recorded)
  • Dr. William H. Robinson, GTRI Deputy Director for Research for the Information and Cyber Sciences Directorate (ICSD)
  • Dr. Benjamin Knott, Director of Research, ARLIS
  • Mr. Todd Breasseale, Office of Information Operations Policy
  • Mr. Neill Tipton, Director for Defense Intelligence, Collection and Special Programs
  • Elizabeth Chamberlain, USAF A2A6
  • RDML Mike Brown, OPNAV/N2N6
  • Russ Meade, Executive Director Marine Corps Information Command
  • COL John Angelo, Director, Army Information Advantage Program Office
  • Daniel Kimmage, Principal Deputy Coordinator at DoS Global Engagement Center
  • Joe Miller, Deputy Commander, United States Army Special Operations Command
  • LTG (R) Doug Lute
  • Wasim Khaleb, CEO, Blackbird AI
  • Josh Haecker, CEO PREDATA
  • Tom Afferton, President, Peraton Cyyber Mission Sector
  • Brian Murphy, Managing Director, Logically
  • Joe Logue, CEO, Two Six Technologies
  • Lt Gen (R) John Bansemer, Director Cyber AI Project, CSET, Georgetown University
  • Dr. Adam Russel, Director AI Center, USC
  • Dr. Andrew Puryear, Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics (AIDA) Division, National Security Directorate at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
  • Dr. Clayton Kerce, GTRI, Division Chief, Advanced Research in Computing and Artificial Intelligence, GTRI
  • LtGen (R) Dennis Crall
  • Dr. Andy Whiskeyman, ARLIS

The Information Professionals Association is also very grateful to our corporate and conference sponsors, without whom we could not pursue our mission:

  • AM, LLC
  • Blackbird AI
  • Colsa
  • Crescent Bridge
  • Deft9 Solutions Inc
  • Deloitte
  • Fraym
  • Graphika
  • Influence Apps, Inc
  • Jacobs
  • Logically AI
  • MeltWater
  • PeakMetrics
  • Peraton
  • PreData
  • Premise
  • Research Innovations Inc
  • Two Six Technologies