The Technology Advancement Center (TAC), a cybersecurity nonprofit driving small business and academic engagement, STEM and workforce development opportunities, and proof of concept innovation, is pleased to welcome newly appointed members to its Board of Directors. Playing an important role setting the organization’s strategic direction and enforcing resource development efforts, board members also serve as advocates for the nonprofit, promoting TAC’s mission to the community and its stakeholders.
One of TAC’s key pillars is to help the U.S. government and industry partners gain access to the types of innovative products and solutions needed to advance their cybersecurity capabilities, as well as serve as a partner to small business, non-traditional entities, and academic communities. With deep expertise across government, the military, and education, the board’s combined leadership experience will support TAC’s continued efforts to execute its vision.
To date, TAC has allocated over $100 million to small businesses, enhancing economic development by assisting the small business ecosystem in bringing innovative, cutting-edge technology to market. TAC has also hosted over 40,000 people through its doors for critical events that support cybersecurity industry collaboration, and has trained thousands of students and military personnel.
“In my tenure working in the technology sector, I can confidently say TAC’s Board of Directors is one of the most impressive collections of leaders this industry has to offer,” said Gregg Smith, CEO of TAC. “As individuals, each board member’s resume is filled with as much public and private sector experience as you could hope to bring to these roles. Together, this roster of board members will ensure TAC continues to enable innovation and generate much needed opportunities for small businesses and future members of our technology workforce.”
The TAC Board of Directors
- Tom Sadowski, Executive Director, Maryland Economic Development Corporation – Sadowski is an economic development expert with over 30 years of experience in creating and executing strategies that foster business growth and innovation. Most recently, as Vice Chancellor for Economic Development at the University System of Maryland, Sadowski successfully cultivated government and industry research partnerships, talent development, and entrepreneurship initiatives.
- Chris Hollifield, Senior Consultant, RAIN Defense + AI and Secure Halo – Hollifield is a U.S. Army veteran and intelligence expert with over 25 years of military experience. During his time as the Special Advisor to Commander of the US Cyber Command and NSA, he provided council on cyber effects operations/policy, AI integration, capability development strategy, and partnerships.
- Jennifer Bodensiek, Chief Development Officer, Junior Achievement of Greater Washington – Bodensiek has over two decades of strategic leadership experience bringing together boards of directors, management teams, and business and education communities to fuel economic and workforce pipelines — starting with our youth. Jennifer also serves on the Maryland Governors Workforce Development Board and has previously held roles at JA Worldwide and Johns Hopkins University.
- Dr. Linda Singh, Owner and Chief Executive Officer, Kaleidoscope Affect LLC – Dr. Singh is a seasoned executive with over 30 years of leadership experience. Previously served as the Interim Executive Director and CEO of TEDCO, she supported the growth of early-stage technology and life sciences companies to fuel economic development. Before becoming the Adjutant General and Cabinet Secretary for Maryland Military Department, she retired from a global consulting company after 21 years of service. During her 38 years of service in the Maryland National Guard, she worked with senior level officials developing country strategies under the Department of Defense State Partnership Program.
- David Tohn, Chief Executive Officer, BTS Software Solutions – Tohn is a retired Army Colonel with over 24 years of leadership and strategic planning experience in cyber operations. He last served in uniform as the NSA’s Afghanistan-Pakistan Mission Manager, synchronizing both SIGINT and CYBER operations in each theater. Prior to joining BTS, he led the transfer of advanced speech-to-text technologies from academia, creating a successful start-up company.
For more information about TAC, including details about upcoming events and opportunities to network with the industry, please visit https://thetac.tech/.
About Technology Advancement Center
Technology Advancement Center (TAC), formerly MISI, is a cybersecurity nonprofit fueling the people and technology needed to solve critical cybersecurity challenges. The TAC’s three pillars of focus include: small business and academic engagement, STEM and workforce development, and proof of concept innovation. Through collaboration with small businesses, academic researchers, and non-traditional members of the cybersecurity community, TAC serves as an intermediary and helps connect U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) and the U.S. government to the innovative products and solutions needed to advance the nation’s cybersecurity capabilities.
The Technology Advancement Center runs programs out of two nationally acclaimed Defense Mission Accelerators with over 100,000 square feet of space that serve as non-government-owned or operated independent facilities to provide cyber national mission forces and partners with continuous innovation in cyber capabilities: TheLink and DiscoveryX. Visit thetac.tech to learn more.
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