- Kirsten Davies, chief information officer of the U.S. Department of Defense, will deliver a keynote address at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Digital Transformation Summit
- Davies brings extensive experience in cybersecurity leadership, enterprise technology modernization and digital transformation across global organizations and federal government
- The 2026 Digital Transformation Summit will gather government and industry leaders to examine how emerging technologies are driving mission innovation, operational resilience and federal IT modernization. Secure your spot now!
The Potomac Officers Club, the nation’s premier GovCon events organization, is excited to announce that Kirsten Davies, chief information officer of the Department of War, will deliver a keynote address at the 2026 Digital Transformation Summit on April 22 at the Hilton McLean in Virginia.
The Department of War Chief Information Officer is one of the most influential technology roles in the federal government, especially for contractors, governing how the entire defense enterprise manages IT, data, cybersecurity and digital modernization at scale.
The event will bring together top federal officials, technology innovators and GovCon leaders to explore the most pressing priorities and challenges in federal digital transformation driving acquisition efforts and shaping innovation.
Why Is the 2026 Digital Transformation Summit a Must-Attend Event for GovCon Executives?
Digital transformation is rapidly reshaping how federal agencies deliver services, manage data and secure critical systems. The 2026 Digital Transformation Summit will provide government and industry leaders with an essential platform to explore these evolving priorities.
At the event, Davies will provide a high-level perspective on how the federal government is modernizing its digital infrastructure, adopting emerging technologies and building resilient cyber defenses. Her keynote will offer attendees an inside look at the evolving technology priorities shaping federal agencies and the defense community.
The summit will highlight the technologies and strategies driving modernization across federal agencies, including enterprise IT modernization initiatives, cybersecurity frameworks and zero trust architectures, artificial intelligence and advanced analytics adoption, cloud migration and data-driven decision making, and public-private collaboration in federal technology innovation.
Through keynote addresses, panel discussions and networking opportunities, the summit will provide actionable insights into how agencies are implementing digital capabilities to support mission-critical operations.
For GovCon executives and technology providers, the Digital Transformation Summit offers a unique opportunity to better understand federal technology priorities and future contracting opportunities in the digital transformation space.
Who Is Kirsten Davies?
Kirsten Davies is an accomplished leader in cybersecurity, enterprise risk management and digital transformation, helping organizations navigate complex technology challenges while protecting critical systems and data.
As the Pentagon’s top technology leader, Davies is responsible for guiding enterprise-wide IT strategy, strengthening cybersecurity across the department and advancing digital modernization initiatives that support national security missions.
Prior to her role in DOW, Davies served as the chief information security officer for Unilever and The Estée Lauder Companies, two of the largest consumer goods enterprises, and served as a top security executive at Barclays, Hewlett-Plackard and Siemens. In these roles, she focused on strengthening cyber resilience, securing global technology infrastructure and enabling organizations to adopt new digital capabilities safely and effectively.
Davies is also the founder of the Institute for Cyber, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing cybersecurity education and digital safety.
Davies’ appointment to the office reflects the Department of War’s continued focus on modernizing its digital capabilities and strengthening cyber defenses in an increasingly complex threat environment.
What CIO Davies Will Discuss in Her Keynote?
During her keynote address at the 2026 Digital Transformation Summit, Davies is expected to explore how federal agencies can accelerate digital transformation while maintaining strong cybersecurity protections and operational resilience.
Her keynote is expected to address several key topics shaping the future of government technology and receiving federal investment, including:
- How DOW is spending their $66 billion technology budget
- Strengthening enterprise cybersecurity across federal systems
- Implementing zero trust architectures and modern security frameworks
- Modernizing legacy IT systems to support evolving mission needs
- Leveraging artificial intelligence, automation and advanced analytics
Davies will also provide insights into how the Department of War is approaching digital modernization and how government agencies can harness emerging technologies to support mission readiness and national security.
Why Kirsten Davies’ Keynote Is Critical for GovCons
For government contractors and technology providers, Davies’ keynote will offer valuable insight into the technology priorities shaping the federal landscape.
As chief information officer of the Department of War, she plays a central role in defining digital strategy across one of the largest IT ecosystems in the world, and the department with the largest IT budget.
Her perspective will help industry leaders better understand:
- War Department IT modernization priorities
- Cybersecurity requirements and emerging threats
- Opportunities for technology partnerships with federal agencies
- Future trends shaping the government technology market
These insights enable GovCon executives to align their innovation strategies with the evolving needs of the Department of War, and the federal government more broadly.
Why Should I Attend the 2026 Digital Transformation Summit?
For government contractors and technology providers, the summit will offer many valuable insights into the technology priorities shaping the federal landscape.
- Pain points: Get the inside scoop on top challenges and concerns faced by agencies during their digital transformation to inform your products or solutions.
- Spending insights: Hear directly from government buyers about their spending priorities for key emerging capabilities in AI, interoperability and more for FY 2026 and beyond.
- Q&A sessions: Get your pressing questions answered by speakers, with Q&A sessions closing each keynote and panel.
- 1:1 access to government buyers: Meet face-to-face with government officials after their presentations or during networking breaks.
- Networking: Connect with other ambitious GovCon executives — they could be your next teaming partner or expert.
What’s the Agenda for the 2026 Digital Transformation Summit?
The 2026 Digital Transformation Summit will include panel sessions featuring high-ranking government speakers on topics such as:
- Operationalizing AI-enabled innovation at the speed of relevance
- The digital backbone of defense modernization, mission engineering at scale
- Operationalizing AI in high-security federal environments
- From policy to practice, digital transformation and responsible AI Across the Federal Enterprise
- How modern case management, data, and AI powers mission delivery
Hear from our lineup of government speakers (with additional speakers still to come):
- Director of Digital Engineering, Modeling and Simulation in DOW, Daniel Hettema
- Chief Digital and Information Officer of the Department of Transportation Pavan Pidugu (pending confirmation)
- Customs and Border Protection’s Deputy Executive Director of OIT’s Border Enforcement Management Directorate Christopher Dearie
- Deputy Program Executive Officer of the Space Systems Command, Col. Scott Klemper
- Deputy Assistant Secretary for Budget, Finance, Grants and Acquisition at the Department of the Interior Andrea Brandon
- Deputy Director for Space of Space Force Col. Jonathan McCall
