The Defense Alliance of North Carolina (DANC) invites you to join us virtually for the Government Relations Forum on
Wednesday, April 26 at 10:00AM
The campaign "NC Frontline of the Future" is supported by the Economic Development Partnership of NC (EDPNC) and the North Carolina Military Affairs Commission (NCMAC).
This has been an ongoing communication with our state and federal delegation, installation commands and other agencies. The Defense Alliance of North Carolina (DANC) is a recognized part of this expansive committment in North Carolina to our national defense.
Meet representatives from NC Commerce, DEFTECH, UNC System Office, Duke University and DANC and learn more about "NC Frontline of the Future" and why it is important to you!
David Kaiser, Deputy Director, Office of Science, Technology & Innovation, NC Department of Commerce
Dave manages research projects, policy analysis, and programmatic functions, writes reports, articles, and issues press releases on innovation opportunities and activities across the state, and collaborates and fosters partnerships in support of North Carolina’s efforts in the recruitment and retention of high-growth, innovative companies statewide. Dave also directs conferences, workshops, and task force meetings organized by the Office. He is also responsible for the management the social media campaign for the Board of Science, Technology, & Innovation.
Previously, Dave was a research economist at RTI International, where he conducted and managed research projects and site visit research teams, and oversaw the budget and contractual requirements for major Federal projects. His work at RTI International has been published in several academic journals and government reports. Prior to working at RTI International, he was a Research & Policy Analyst at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, where he supported research and programmatic efforts on entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic development. He has served as an evaluator for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s eMBA Soft Launch Program and as a Phase II reviewer for the National Science Foundation. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for FIRST North Carolina, a nonprofit organization created to inspire youth in North Carolina to pursue further studies and careers in science and technology and to help students acquire the knowledge and skills needed to compete in the technologically-driven global economy; on the Board of Adivsors for the Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership, which addresses the critical need for high-quality professional development for educators and is the largest STEM-focused teacher leadership program in North Carolina; and is a mentor in the LaunchAPEX program. He is a 2020 recipient of the 40 Under 40 Leadership Award by the Triangle Business Journal.
Trained as an economist, Dave has a B.S. and an M.A. in economics from Nebraska Wesleyan University and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, respectively. He and his wife, Kristin, live in Apex and have two young children.
Dennis Lewis, Director, North Carolina Defense Technology Transition (DEFTECH)
Denny is a small business owner and DANC member. He consults as the defense industry business consultant for the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina. Since 2015, Denny has also provided service to the North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC), including establishing and directing the NC Defense Technology Transition Office (DEFTECH). Denny completed an Army career followed by 14 years as an executive with defense contractors in the Washington, DC area before moving back to North Carolina in 2014 for the fifth time (4 tours at Ft Bragg). He earned a B.S. in Engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, a M.S. in Industrial Relations from Purdue University, graduate of the US Air Force War College, a Shipley trained Capture Manager, a Miller-Heiman trained Salesman, and a certified SCORE mentor.
Kathie Sidner, Director of Defense & Military Partnerships, UNC System Office
Kathie is a member of the External Relations team at the University of North Carolina (UNC) System Office, linking UNC research with military applications. She identifies and connects UNC research capabilities, scientific talent, and related expertise with defense community applied research and technology needs. She works closely with UNC campuses, the U.S. Army Research Office, U.S. Special Operations Forces and other military partners, as well as the defense industry, to help solve critical science and technology (S&T) challenges for military partners. Ms. Sidner coordinates activities of the UNC Defense Applications Group, a multidisciplinary group of UNC subject matter experts, including research programs, student projects and internships. She also works with faculty and staff at UNC campuses and the UNC System Office to increase Department of Defense sponsored research across the UNC System.
Kathie earned her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Virginia and her M.S. in Chemical Engineering from North Carolina State University. Prior to joining the UNC System, she worked in the U.S. Intelligence Community as a chemical/biological weapons and counterterrorism analyst, and supported two Army university affiliated research centers (UARCs) in nanotechnology and biotechnology while as a contractor at the Army Research Office.
Melissa Vetterkind, Assistant Vice President, Office of Government Relations, Duke University
Melissa is responsible for the development, coordination and implementation of Duke’s priorities on federal scientific research issues with the legislative and executive branches of the federal government in addition to federal policy issues related to the humanities and intellectual property. She is past chair of the Association of American Universities (AAU) Council on Federal Relations’ Steering Committee and past co-chair of the Coalition for National Security Research. She is the current co-chair of the AAU Council on Federal Relations’ Task Force on Intellectual Property-Information Technology and previously chaired the Task Forces on Defense, Homeland Security Funding, and Humanities. She is also a member of the Duke Leadership Academy Class of 2018.
Kim Kotlar, Strategic Consultant, North Carolina Defense Technology Transition (DEFTECH)
Kim recently completed a 40+ year career in public service. She first served the Nation as a Navy Cryptologic Officer and retired after 20 years of service. After a brief stint as an executive with AT&T she returned to government as a Congressional staff member where she specialized in national security and homeland security issues. Of note, she authored the first piece of legislation to create a Department of Homeland Security six months before 9-11. Subsequently, she was appointed as the first Cyber and S&T Subcommittee Staff Director of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Concurrently, she held the senior D.C. staff position for Rep. Mac Thornberry (TX-13). After nine years on the Hill, she joined the National Security Agency (NSA) as an executive and made significant contributions in a variety of assignments, including creating and implementing NSA first Civil Liberties and Privacy Office and developing a public engagement strategy in response to the Snowden leak of classified information.
After retirement from federal service, Ms. Kotlar now develops and teaches Cybersecurity policy courses at Duke University as an adjunct professor. She also is a guest lecturer on a variety of defense and intelligence topics, volunteers as a mentor for the Duke student-led Cyber Club, and teaches a course on the US intelligence Community at the Duke Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.
Tammy Everett, Executive Director, Defense Alliance of North Carolina (DANC)
Tammy accepted the position as the Executive Director of the North Carolina Defense Business Association (NCDBA), an established non-profit professional trade association since 2009. In 2019, Tammy was one of the lead executors of a merger between the North Carolina Defense Business Association (NCDBA) and the North Carolina Military Foundation (NCMF), establishing the Defense Alliance of North Carolina (DANC). In March 2022 she was board appointed as the Executive Director overseeing the finances, operations, membership and event planning. Tammy is one of the founding members of the Guardian Program for the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Braxton Bragg Chapter and is a member of the Greater Fayetteville Military Affairs Council (MAC). She was appointed an Advisory Council member of the North Carolina Defense Industry Diversification Initiative (NC DIDI) in 2017. Tammy is an active member of the task force group leading a state-wide initiative; NC Frontline of the Future.
Tammy is a proud mother of twin boys, age 22, both earning their Eagle Scout rank. Tammy is a native of North Carolina growing up in Chatham County. She currently resides in Scotland County with her husband Rob.
The Defense Alliance of North Carolina (DANC) is mission focused on growing North Carolina's defense economy in a way that creates new long-term investment opportunities.
Our vision is to improve the economy of North Carolina by leading high-impact strategic growth initiatives, provide information and networking opportunities to NC entities with defense sector interests, and positioning key organizations and senior leaders to assist in the expansion of defense-related business opportunities throughout the state. https://defensealliancenc.org/
The Defense Alliance of North Carolina (DANC) Government Relations Leaders:
David Hayden, DANC Government Relations Chair, Smith Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan, L.L.P., https://www.smithlaw.com/professionals-David-Hayden
Van Carpenter, DANC Government Relations Co-Chair, Van Carpenter Innovative Solutions, https://www.vancarpenter.com/