Join us for our upcoming Networks and Telecommunications COI Member Meeting, featuring a panel discussion by the team leading the Modernizing Federal Networks from the Campus and Beyond initiative. This is a fully virtual meeting. Register to receive event details.
Program Description
Modernizing Federal Network environments is essential to ensure that our nation's infrastructure remains resilient, efficient, and capable of meeting the demands of the digital age. By leveraging advanced technologies such as Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN), Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), Fixed Wireless, and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, we can create a network that is not only robust but also adaptable to future advancements.
Join the ACT-IAC Networks & Telecommunications Community of Interest to hear directly from industry experts on how we can support the Future Agile network of tomorrow, through modernization initiatives today.
Panelists
- Erik Hand, Director of Solutions Architecture, AT&T Federal
- Scott Andersen, Solutions Architect (formerly with Verizon)
- Phil Moser, Director of Civilian Agency Programs, Fortinet Federal
- Christopher Grindstaff, Sales Engineering Manager, AT&T
- Mohamed Hersi, Founder and Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, ACI Solutions
- Joseph Tahan, Senior Director, Business Development and Capture, Charter Communications
Speaker Bios
Erik Hand is a Director of Solutions Architecture at AT&T Federal, where he leads the Sales Engineering and Architecture Team supporting Civilian, Department of War, and Defense Industrial Base customers. During 18 years at AT&T, Erik has held a variety of technical roles, from professional services support for the US Army to leading engineering and presales support for Civilian and DHS agencies. His team is dedicated to advancing the network transformation goals of Federal CIOs by delivering resilient architectures leveraging AT&T Fiber and Wireless while overlaying managed SD-WAN, SASE, and TIC 3.0-compliant solutions.
Prior to joining AT&T, Erik served as a US Army Signal Officer with multiple deployments to Southwest Asia, where was assigned as the 22nd Signal Brigade’s Data Network Engineer. In this role, he led large-scale network transformation initiatives to modernize secure WAN communications, replacing legacy tactical systems with fiber, COTS IP systems, and VoIP to enhance capability and reliability.
Erik holds a bachelor’s degree in Geospatial Information Science with an Engineering Track in Computer Science from the United States Military Academy at West Point and has completed master’s coursework in Data Science and Analytics.
Scott Andersen is a long-time solution architect with more than 30 years of experience. He has designed solutions that span the world in a number of different industries including Financial Services, US Government, State Government, Aviation, Oil and Gas and many others.
He has helped customers modernize their application portfolios. He has helped customers design new structures around how they build and use their networking solutions. Andersen developed a toolset for mission focused application evaluation called the Enterprise Resource Triangle. Through this system customers can evaluate what and how they are building applications to meet their mission goals.
Finally, he has built and been a part of the management of two distinct Architecture Certifications over the years. Beyond certifications Andersen has published a number of articles and is now focusing on Artificial Intelligence and Hybrid Cloud.
When he isn’t focused on designing solutions, he is an avid writer, drone flyer and spends
weekend time digging trenches. Well, perhaps the golf course doesn’t appreciate the trenches but he does enjoy a good round of golf!
With almost 30 years’ experience in the IT market, Phil Moser brings cybersecurity and telecommunications networking expertise to his role as Director of Civilian Agency Programs with Fortinet Federal. He leads the professional sales team that provides trusted network security technology and services to diverse U.S. Government civilian agencies as well as their key industry partners.
Since joining Fortinet Federal in 2019, Phil’s strong commitment to customer support has resulted in delivering innovative solutions to major Federal agencies and developing strategic partnerships with new customers.
Chris Grindstaff is a Sales Engineering Manager at AT&T Federal where he leads a team of Sales Engineers supporting civilian federal agencies. His team develops communications and IT solutions that encompass a range of technologies including SD-WAN, managed security, SASE, voice over IP, trusted Internet connections (TIC), and TDM transformation.
Throughout his career Chris has collaborated with customers to identify business needs and design innovative solutions for both enterprise and government clients, leveraging his expertise in leading cross-functional teams and delivering complex network and IT solutions. Chris holds a B.S in Electrical Engineering from the University of Virginia.
Mohamed A. Hersi is a seasoned executive and technologist with over 25 years of experience delivering innovative IT solutions to federal agencies. He has led the design, deployment, and management of mission-critical infrastructure including Secure VoIP and Telepresence, SD-WAN, Network Observability, AIOps, and Data Center solutions for government agencies.
Currently serving as the Founder and Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer (CSIO) at ACI, Mohamed partners with executive leadership to develop and execute strategic business plans while engaging with clients and industry partners to identify emerging opportunities. He is committed to fostering an innovative environment that empowers teams to deliver exceptional solutions, enabling federal agencies to achieve mission success in an increasingly complex digital landscape.
Mohamed is honored to serve the ACT-IAC Community of Interest, where he collaborates with fellow members to advance the modernization and transformation of federal network infrastructure, enabling agencies to meet critical mission needs with agility and adopt transformative technologies across their networks.
Joseph Tahan is a dynamic business technology leader known for his strong business acumen and expertise in systems engineering. With a proven track record in delivering carrier-grade networking solutions, he has significantly influenced the telecommunications sector.
Most recently, Joseph served as the Director of Federal Solution Engineering at Granite Telecommunications, where he played a key role in the GSA EIS contract, designing robust solutions tailored for federal agencies. His strategic initiatives enhanced service delivery and improved operational efficiency.
Currently, Joseph is the Senior Director of Business Development and Capture at Charter Communications, focusing on the Federal Market. In this role, he drives the strategic growth of Charter’s federal initiatives, leveraging his extensive industry knowledge to identify opportunities and foster relationships within government sectors. His leadership in business development has positioned the company to successfully meet federal requirements.
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