Owl Evolution Summit:
Where Leaders Shape Decision Advantage
The summit brought together leading minds—from government, industry, and research—to tackle the challenges of modern defense. High-stakes scenarios, candid debate, and breakthrough ideas defined the day, revealing how collaboration, agility, and technological trust are essential to outpacing tomorrow’s threats.
This unique gathering advanced a shared vision: secure, accountable decision-making at the speed of the mission—powered by informed partnerships and a relentless focus on innovation.
Experience the Highlights of the Owl Evolution Summit
Watch exclusive keynote moments and panel discussions from the 2025 event. Delve into expert insights on mission-critical decisions, next-generation cyber strategies, and the operational realities of modern defense.
Scroll down to explore video highlights and see how leading voices are shaping the future of security and resilience.
Securing the Future:
Rethinking Cyber Defense at Machine Speed
Scott Orton, CEO of Owl Cyber Defense, opened the summit with a strategic look at what it takes to stay ahead in a world where digital and physical threats are deeply entwined.
He challenged attendees to move beyond debates about AI safety, urging focus on the practical need for AI-secure architectures. As milliseconds now define security outcomes, Orton emphasized shifting human oversight from tactical response to strategic guidance—enabling AI-driven controls for real-time resilience. This vision positions trusted, mission-shaped cyber defense as the decisive advantage for today’s complex landscape.
Author’s Briefing:
The Threats Behind the Fiction
Carolyn Ford and Steve Stratton, award-winning author, former Green Beret, and White House Communications Agency veteran, led a briefing uncovering the real-world threats behind Operation Skipjack—and explored why fiction could serve as our best early warning system.
Powering Decision Advantage at the Edge
When every second counts, mission outcomes depend on the speed and reliability of information. Whether on a forward-deployed battlefield, inside critical infrastructure, or across contested digital networks, trusted real-time data is crucial. As AI, cloud systems, and high-velocity information flows redefine decision-making, this panel tackles the essential challenge: enabling secure, resilient decisions at the edge—no matter where that edge exists.
The Intelligence Dilemma:
Making AI Safe for National Security
As artificial intelligence moves from concept to mission-critical reality, every organization faces the challenge of not just adopting AI, but containing its impact.
The panel made clear that while AI delivers speed, scale, and strategic advantage, it also reshapes risk—introducing new vulnerabilities at machine-speed. Whether used in the field or the boardroom, unmanaged AI now threatens not just technical infrastructure but national security and public trust itself. The future belongs to those who secure AI with guardrails, accountability, and pragmatic governance—making safety a discipline, not just a debate.
Snapshots from the Owl Evolution Summit 2025
Step inside the Owl Evolution Summit 2025: Operation Decision Advantage. From immersive briefings to high-stakes scenario exercises, these images capture the energy, insights, and connections that defined the event. See leaders from government and industry in action, explore hands-on demonstrations, and get a sense of the mission-focused experience that made this year’s summit unforgettable.
Summit Related Resources
Tracy (Trac) Bannon
Senior Principal/Software Architect and DevSecOps advisor at MITRE
Tracy Bannon: Passionate Architect! Tracy (Trac) Bannon is a Sr Principal with MITRE Labs. She is an accomplished software architect, engineer, and digital transformation advisor across commercial and government clients. She thrives on understanding complex problems and working to deliver value at speed. She’s passionate about mentoring and training and enjoys community and knowledge-building with teams, clients and the next generation. Trac is a long-time advocate for diversity in technology, helping to narrow the gaps as a mentor, sponsor, volunteer, and friend. Ms. Bannon is a featured industry speaker, blogger, author, and accomplished podcaster including 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 and 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝟱𝟬𝟱! 𝗗𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁.
Carolyn Ford
Global VP, MARKETING
Carolyn brings over two decades of experience as a marketing leader in global high-tech firms, with 15 years focused on public sector marketing. Carolyn entered the cybersecurity space in 2009 with Raytheon Cyber Products, where she held multiple roles and communicated the vision of secure information sharing and insider threat strategies to government agencies. In 2021 she established Dynatrace’s public sector marketing team. She also spent several years as a product manager in the technical and online industries and ran her own consulting company, as an instructional designer and trainer for over a decade. Carolyn is the creator and host of the successful podcasts “To the Point Cybersecurity” and “Tech Transforms,” that engage with thought leaders in industry and government to discuss critical issues. “To the Point Cybersecurity” was named one of the top 30 Federal IT influencers in 2019 and 2020 by FedTech magazine.
Mark Montgomery
Senior Director of the Center on Cyber and Technology
Innovation at FDD and Executive Director of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission
Mark Montgomery serves as the Executive Director of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission. He most recently served as Policy Director for the Senate Armed Services Committee under the leadership of Senator John S. McCain. In this position he coordinated policy efforts on national defense strategy, capabilities and requirements, defense policy and cyber issues. Mark served for 32 years in the U.S. Navy as a nuclear trained surface warfare officer, retiring as a Rear Admiral in 2017. His flag officer assignments included Director of Operations (J3) at U. S. Pacific Command; Commander of Carrier Strike Group 5 embarked on the USS George Washington stationed in Japan; and Deputy Director, Plans, Policy and Strategy (J5), at U. S. European Command. He was selected as a White House Fellow and assigned to the National Security Council, serving as Director for Transnational Threats from 1998-2000. Mark graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history. He subsequently earned a master’s degree in history from Oxford University, and completed the U.S. Navy’s nuclear power training program.
Daniel O’Donohue
LT. General US Marine Corps (Ret) SVP Strategic Programs, Owl Cyber Defense
LtGen, USMC (Ret.) Dan joined Owl after serving as the Commanding General of the Marine Forces Cyberspace Command, the first Deputy Commandant for Information (responsible for all USMC Cyber, Intelligence, Information and Space capabilities), and, most recently, the Joint Staff Director who designed, developed, trained, educated and adapted the Joint Force for 21st Century warfare. As the Director of Marine Corps Capability Development, he led requirements for all USMC ground programs and the Commandant’s Force Structure Review for the 21st Century Marine Corps. As an infantry leader, Dan led a main effort Task Force in the attack into Iraq, stabilized the second largest Iraqi province, served as the Operations Officer for Afghanistan, and commanded the 1st Marine Division, the USMC’s largest.
Scott Orton
CEO, Owl Cyber Defense
Scott Orton brings in-depth defense industry experience to the role of Owl’s Chief Executive Officer. Scott has an extensive background in anti-tamper and has managed programs developing and fielding the latest in secure processing technologies for militarily critical weapon systems. Prior to joining Owl Cyber Defense, Scott led Mercury Systems’ edge processing business and held multiple roles with Raytheon.
Christopher D. Roberti
Senior Vice President for Cyber, Space, and National Security Policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Steve Stratton
Retired Green Beret, Author, Cybersecurity Expert
Steve Stratton started his military career at the White House Communications Agency supporting the needs of President’s Ford and Carter, Vice President’s Rockefeller and Mondale and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. His work took him around the world introducing him to new cultures, ways of thinking, and the various agencies tasked with projecting and protecting American interests abroad. The jump to the US Secret Service was an easy transition but after several years and an election campaign, Steve left for the commercial sector.
Steve was awarded his Green Beret in 1986. From the 80’s through 2000 he deployed with 20th Special Forces on counter-drug and training missions in the SOUTHCOM region. His civilian contractor time includes support for USCENTCOM, USSOCOM, and several intelligence agencies. Today he is retired but advising cyber security companies that support the warfighter and intelligence community. When he is not writing, you can find him mountain biking, trout fishing, or hunting in Colorado. His first novel, Shadow Tier, was named a 2023 Bronze Medal winner by the Military Writers Society of America.
Irby Thompson
Vice President, Kudu Dynamics
Irby Thompson is a recognized leader in offensive & defensive cybersecurity with over 20 years of experience protecting mission-critical aerospace and defense platforms. He led Pikewerks (acquired by Raytheon), founded Star Lab (acquired by Wind River), and co-founded OP[4] (acquired by Kudu), bringing resilient anti-tamper and software protection technologies such as Electronic Armor®, Titanium®, and the Aggressor® intelligence platform to market while advancing “secure by design” practices across the DoD ecosystem.