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Jonas Selim/Forsvaret
Jonas Selim/Forsvaret
H.E. Anniken Huitfeldt
Ambassador of Norway to the United States
Ambassador Huitfeldt has a long history of public service, most recently serving as Foreign Minister from 2021 to 2023. She has also held three Cabinet positions with Jens Stoltenberg’s Government. She has a longstanding career in the Norwegian Parliament, where she led its Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense for eight years. She calls Jessheim, a town close to Oslo, home. As a young adult, she studied at the University of Oslo and the London School of Economics, and she later achieved a master’s degree in foreign policy. She also worked as a researcher for five years.
Mr. Thor Vidar Indreeide
Deputy National Armaments Director, Norwegian Ministry of Defence
Thor Vidar Indreeide serves as the Deputy National Armaments Director at the Norwegian Ministry of Defence. Mr. Indreeide holds a Master's Degree from the University of Oslo in Political Science, with studies in History, and Public and International Law and Politics.
Air Marshal Paul Godfrey
Assistant Chief of Space Operations of Future Concepts & Partnerships, United States Space Force
Air Marshal Paul Godfrey currently serves as the Assistant Chief of Space Operations at the United States Space Force, based at the Pentagon. In this role, he is responsible for shaping long-term strategy and strengthening international collaboration in space capability development. A Royal Air Force officer with over three decades of service, Air Marshal Godfrey has held senior leadership roles across air, joint, and coalition commands.
Mr. Jan Erik Torp
Deputy Director General, Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI)
Jan Erik Torp is the Deputy Director General at the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI). Torp joined FFI in 1987 and has held several leadership roles, including Research Director of the Analysis Department and the Maritime Systems Department. In 2021, he became head of the newly established Strategic Cooperation Unit and was appointed Assistant Director the same year. He has also served as Chair of NATO’s Science and Technology Organization System Analysis and Studies Panel.
Mr. Dak Hardwick
Vice President of International Affairs, Aerospace Industries Association (AIA)
Dak Hardwick currently serves as the Vice President of International Affairs at the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA). In this role, he oversees AIA’s international policy and advocacy program, representing the U.S. aerospace and defense industry on issues such as defense and commercial trade, industrial cooperation, technology security, and global supply chains to stakeholders worldwide. Hardwick began his career at Headquarters, Marine Corps, as an appropriations budget analyst. He later transitioned to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, where he helped establish the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense after September 11, 2001. Hardwick also held various national security positions, including country director for Georgia and the Republic of Moldova and director for peacekeeping operations.Hardwick holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs from Indiana University in Bloomington, IN, and a Master of Public Administration from West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV.
Mr. Stephen O'Bryan
Corporate Vice President and Global Business Development Officer, Northrop Grumman Corporation
Stephen O'Bryan is the Corporate Vice President and Global Business Development Officer at Northrop Grumman Corporation, where he leads the company's business development initiatives and international growth strategies. From 2018 to 2019, he was senior vice president and chief global business development officer for L3Harris Technologies. Prior to this, O’Bryan worked for Lockheed Martin, from 2004 to 2018, where he led numerous senior strategy and business development organizations, including F-35, Rotary and Mission Systems and Corporate International. He served with the U.S. Navy as an F/A-18 pilot and Top Gun Graduate. O’Bryan holds a bachelor’s degree from Colgate University and a Master of Business Administration from Southern Methodist University.
Ms. Iris Ferguson
Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Arctic & Global Resilience, U.S. Department of Defense
Iris A. Ferguson served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Arctic and Global Resilience. In this role, she served as the principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense and senior leadership on protecting U.S. Homeland and Allies interests in the Arctic region, managed oceans policy, addressed strategic resilience risks, and ensured the Department maintained innovation advantages in strategic competition. Ferguson holds a M.A. in International Economics and Relations.
Major General Edward Vaughan
Executive Director, Joint Rapid Acquisition Cell, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense Acquisition
Major General Edward L. Vaughan serves as the Executive Director of the Joint Rapid Acquisition Cell Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense Acquisition. In this role, he leads a multidisciplinary team responsible for delivering urgent solutions to warfighters and partners. Gen. Vaughan has helt numerous leadership positions at various levels and is a command fighter pilot and polar airlifter with over 2,700 flying hours. He holds a master’s from the Air War College and served as the U.S. co-chair, with Norway, of the Arctic Security Forces Roundtable from 2021-2023.
Mr. Thomas Nygaard
CEO, Eelume
Thomas Nygaard is the CEO of Eelume, a company specializing in autonomous underwater vehicles. Before joining Eelume, he spent over 15 years at Kongsberg Maritime and Kongsberg Discovery, holding numerous leadership roles. He has extensive experience in marine robotics, financial management, and strategic business development. Nygaard has also served on multiple boards, contributing to the growth of technology-driven companies. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from BI Norwegian Business School and an engineering degree from Fagskolen Telemark.
Mr. Vegard Hovstein
CEO, Maritime Robotics
Vegard Hovstein is the founder and CEO of Maritime Robotics, a global leader and pioneer in Uncrewed Surface Vehicles (USVs) and maritime autonomy. He has 25 years experience from the Unmanned Vehicle business, and has throughout his career worked on multiple projects related to defence technology and related applications. Hovstein holds a Master of Science in Control Engineering and Flight Control Systems from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).
Mr. Rolf Skatteboe
President & CEO Kongsberg Satellite Services
Rolf Skatteboe is President and CEO of Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT), a position he has held since co-founding the company in 2002. Prior to this, he spent ten years at the Norwegian Space Agency, where he was responsible for the development of the Svalbard Ground Station. Skatteboe holds a MSc in Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, and a MSc in Geophysics. Skatteboe has also completed management programs at the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH). As President and CEO of KSAT he is responsible for the continued development of the leading Norwegian Space company which provides services related to ground station operation, satellite and mission control, and near real time Maritime situational awareness.
Col. Jeffrey Naff
USAF, Director of Foreign Comparative Testing (FCT), U.S. DoD
Col Jeffrey Naff is the Director of the Foreign Comparative Testing program within the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering in Washington, DC. Col Naff leads the effort to acquire, evaluate, and field partner nation technologies within the U.S military services, and, on behalf of the Department of Defense, acts as a liaison to Partner-Nation Governments and Corporate Entities to facilitate international technology experimentation and assessment.
Ms. Abigail Desjardins
Deputy Director Global Partnerships, Defense Innovation Unit
Abigail Desjardins is the Deputy Director of Global Partnerships at Defense Innovation Unit. She leads strategic initiatives that connect the U.S. Department of Defense with innovative ventures to address critical national security challenges. With a background in business development, operational planning, and customer success, she brings extensive experience in identifying defense-sector problems and enabling novel solution development. Abigail holds a Bachelors in International Relations from American University, and a Masters in Applied Social Psychology and Program Evaluation from Claremont Graduate University.
Mr. Adam Tarsi
International Program Manager, Irregular Warfare Technical Support Directorate
Mr Tarsi has oversight of all technical and programmatic execution of IWTSD international relationships and projects. Mr. Tarsi negotiates and manages formal bilateral relationships with Australia, Canada, Israel, Singapore, and the United Kingdom as well as working relations with France, South Africa, Japan, NATO, and non-governmental organizations worldwide. Mr. Tarsi has served as the IWTSD Chief of Staff, International Program Manager, Authorizing Office for all Information Technology, Head of Innovation, and Financial Manager.
Dr. William Greenwalt
Senior Fellow at American Enterprise Institute
Dr. William Greenwalt is a Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), focusing on the expansion of America’s defense industrial base. Previously, he served as a visiting fellow at AEI. Greenwalt has extensive experience in defense policy, having held positions in the U.S. Department of Defense and on Capitol Hill. His work centers on defense acquisition policy, industrial base issues, and technology innovation.
Mr. Kjell Kringsjå
President & CEO, Nammo Inc.
Kjell Kringsjå is the President and CEO of Nammo Inc., the U.S. based subsidiary of Nammo AS, a global aerospace and defense company. In this role, Kringsjå oversees Nammo’s operations and strategic initiatives within the United States. Prior to his current position, Kringsjå held various leadership roles within Nammo, including Senior Vice President of Business Development and Executive Vice President of the Missile Products division, where he was responsible for strategic growth and development in missile technologies. His extensive experience in the defense industry encompasses expertise in missile products, business development, and international operations.
Ms. Heather Armentrout
Chairwoman NADIC & President and General Manager, Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace, Inc
Ms. Heather Armentrout is the US President and General Manager of Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace Inc., representing the Norwegian defence contractor's activities in the United States. She joined Kongsberg from Northrop Grumman, where she held several senior leadership positions. Her assignments involved strategic investment in technology to align Northrop Grumman's solutions with the future needs of the DoD. Prior, Ms. Armentrout served as an Intelligence Fellow for the Council on Foreign Relations and has over a decade of experience in the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
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