LAURI ALMANN
Of Counsel, Aare Raig, Attorneys-at-Law
Lauri Almann is currently of Counsel at Aare Raig, Attorneys-at-Law, specializing in banking, international business transactions, project finance, arbitration and public procurement. Before joining Aare Raig, he served for more than 10 years at various top-level civil service positions. He is also heading the European Cyber Security Initiative, an Estonian based NGO focused on dealing with international challenges in the field of cyber-security.
From 2004-2008 he was the Permanent Undersecretary (kantsler) of the Estonian Ministry of Defense, having previously served also as the Legal Counsel of the Ministry of Defense and an Adviser to the Minister of Defense. Lauri Almann was part of the team that organized the response to the cyber-attacks against Estonia in 2007 and he also contributed to the establishment of the NATO Cooperative Cyber-defense Centre of Excellence in Tallinn.
While working in the Ministry of Defense, he implemented numerous large-scale armaments and infrastructure projects. He has also successfully represented the Estonian Government in various international legal disputes. He has served as a member of various government delegations for negotiations with foreign authorities and international organizations, including the delegation for Estonia's accession talks with NATO. Lauri Almann has contributed to the drafting of a number of legal acts, including Public Procurement Act, State Secrets Act, Public Information Act and National Defense Act. From 1995-1998 he served as a diplomat, working at the Estonian Embassy in Belgium and at the Consular Department of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He has also contributed to several public sector reform projects in Georgia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Afghanistan and Ukraine.
Since 1999 he has been lecturing at the Estonian Business School on Business Law and International Law. He has also lectured on International Commercial Arbitration at Tartu University Faculty of Law.
He has graduated from Tartu University Law School (Estonia) and a holds a Master's degree in International Law with distinction from the Georgetown University Law Center (Washington, DC), where he studied as a Fulbright Scholar.
He is admitted to Estonian and New York State Bar. His decorations include the National Order of the White Star, 5th Class, and Medals for Meritorious Service of the Estonian Ministry of Defense, Estonian Intelligence Service, Estonian Navy and Defense League. In 2008 he received the Annual Award of the Estonian Counterintelligence Service.
Selected publications:
John J Kelly III, Lauri Almann, eWMDs: The Botnet Peril, Policy
Review, December 2008 & January 2009, No. 152. pp. 38-50.
Private International Law. Textbook for Universities, 2003, 2005,
Co-author
Commentaries to the Penal Code. Crimes Related to Service in
Defense Forces, Tallinn, 2003
Casebook on NATO Status of Forces Agreement and Paris Protocol,
2002 (in English), Co-author
Timothy D. Bloechl
Managing Director
Worldwide Public Safety and National Security
Microsoft
Tim is Microsoft's senior executive, chief strategist and spokesperson for Public Safety and National Security markets and initiatives worldwide. He is responsible for business strategy development and execution for several public sectors including military, intelligence, homeland security, justice and law enforcement.
Before joining Microsoft, Tim served as the Director, International Information Assurance (IA) Program, and Deputy Director for IA Operations, for the United States Department of Defense (DoD). He was responsible for international military IA outreach, policy and program development, and was the department's representative for interagency, international and operational cyber security coordination. He was also the DoD co-chair for the National Cyber Response Coordination Group under the U.S. National Response Plan. He was assigned in the Pentagon Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Networks and Information Integration (OASD/NII). Prior to this assignment, from July 1999 until December 2002, Tim was a Senior Associate with Booz Allen Hamilton, providing international affairs, foreign disclosure, intelligence and military operational consulting support to the Joint Task Force-Computer Network Operations (JTF-CNO) in Arlington, VA. Before joining Booz Allen Hamilton, Tim served a 20-year career in the U.S. Army retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Commissioned into the Military Intelligence branch in 1979 from the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, Tim served in a number of command and staff assignments while on active duty. Initially assigned to the 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized), he served as the Intelligence Officer (S2) for the 1st Battalion, 29th Field Artillery; S2 for the 4th Infantry Division Artillery; Commander, H Battery (Target Acquisition), 29th Field Artillery; and Assistant G2, Training, on the 4th Division staff. Reassigned to West Berlin in 1984, he led and participated in intelligence collection operations while working for the Deputy Chief of Staff, Intelligence. Later he assumed duties as the Assistant Chief of Staff, G2 for the U.S. Army Berlin and Berlin Brigade. Upon completion of the Postgraduate Intelligence Program at the Defense Intelligence College, Washington, D.C. in 1988, he served as the Operations Officer for the National Military Intelligence Support Team (NMIST), Defense Intelligence Agency, in the Pentagon. Reassigned to Fort Lewis, Washington in 1993, he served as G2 Plans Officer, I Corps staff; Executive Officer, 502d Military Intelligence Battalion; and Deputy Commander and Executive Officer, 201st Military Intelligence Brigade. His final assignment was Chief, J2 Plans, United States Central Command, MacDill AFB, Florida. In this position he was responsible for coordinating intelligence planning support to operations against Iraq (Operation DESERT THUNDER (Spring 98) and Operation DESERT FOX (December 98)) and operations against terrorist camps and facilities in Afghanistan and Sudan in August 98 responding to terrorist attacks against U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. He also led the command's Intelligence Exchange Program with several Middle Eastern, African, and European countries.
Tim's combat tours include serving as NMIST Team Chief, United States Southern Command, Quarry Heights, Panama during Operation JUST CAUSE from December 1989 through January 1990; and as NMIST Team Chief, XVIII Airborne Corps, Saudi Arabia during operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM, August 1990 to March 1991.
Tim holds a Master of Science in Strategic Intelligence degree from the Defense Intelligence College and a Master of Military Arts and Sciences degree from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. His 22 awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit and Bronze Star. He is a 1992 graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and was awarded the George C. Marshall Award for academic excellence, graduating first in his class of 1,113 officers. Additionally, he was the first intelligence officer in the school's history designated a Master Tactician. Tim is also a 1993 graduate of the U.S. Army School for Advanced Military Studies.
Tim also serves on the Board of Directors for Global Impact, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping the world's most vulnerable people. Global Impact is the U.S. national leader in raising awareness and funds for humanitarian organizations such as Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontiéres, CARE and Save the Children providing help to people in need in virtually every developing country. Tim also serves on the Board of Officers for the U.S. Military Academy Class of 1979 and on the Board of Advisors for the Center for Strategic Decision Research.
Claire
Bonilla
As the Senior Director of Disaster Management for Microsoft Corporation, Claire Bonilla coordinates the cross-company external Disaster Management strategy spanning from humanitarian to commercial affairs and manages the global operational response and recovery program to assists lead response agencies and communities in the event of a natural disaster. The cornerstone of Microsoft's Disaster Management program is the enduring commitment to provide technology solutions and expertise to help communities become more resilient in disaster prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.
Claire has been working in the Information Technology industry for more than 10 years and has been involved in the humanitarian sphere for the past 15. Claire is driven by her passion to help reduce the consequences of disasters and the belief that Microsoft's industry expertise, familiar technologies, and wide partner network can be utilized to address some of the most difficult challenges in disaster management. Claire's extensive international experience in public and private sector partnerships drives her focus on development and deployment of disaster-related information and communications technologies that support Government, Inter-government, Non-government organizations and impacted communities in the wake of disasters. Claire and her team has coordinated over 28 world-wide response efforts to date.
In addition to her experience with the Disaster Management team, Claire's career has included experience in a myriad of industry verticals including: services, sales, operations, Customer & Partner Experience, business management, knowledge management, and managing the global asset of Microsoft Technology Centers world-wide, often utilized in disaster response and recovery efforts.
In her spare time, Claire works with non-profit organizations to enhance their business models and efficacy in the area of community outreach and assistance, as well as private/public sector partnerships.. Personal partnerships and associations include Amnesty International, HopeLink, Sierra Club, Habitat for Humanity, and many others.
Claire holds MSc degree in Political Economics of Transition & Change from London School of Economics, England and BA in Economics & German from Willamette University, OR & Universty of Munich Germany.
Claire resides in Bellevue, Washington with her husband and 3 children.
R. Michael Donlan
Managing Director
Public Sector
Asia Pacific (APAC), China, India and Japan
Michael Donlan is the Managing Director for Microsoft Public Sector in Asia Pacific (APAC), China, India and Japan. Based in Singapore, he leads a team of regional sales, technical, and marketing staff who are responsible for marketing and sales initiatives to drive technology adoption in the government, education, and healthcare sectors.
Prior to arriving in Singapore in 2007, Michael was the General Manager for Microsoft Public Sector Technology and Programs, based in Washington, D.C. Michael also served as the National Technology Officer for Microsoft Public Sector in the United States.
Before joining Microsoft in 2003, Michael served as Managing Director of Managed Services/Outsourcing at BearingPoint and as Managing Technologist for Oracle Corporation's government, education and healthcare business unit. Michael was also Chief Operating Officer and Founder of customer relationship management technology firm Advenix Communications.
Prior to joining Oracle, Michael was Chief Architect for a United States Government financial regulator, and designed and implemented database systems and enterprise networks for Fortune 500 corporations and financial regulatory organizations.
He has presented software technologies and concepts at numerous seminars and tradeshows and is active in various industry associations and institutes.
Michael lives in Singapore with his wife and two children.
Major General Brian I. Geehan
United States Army (Ret)
Major General Brian I. Geehan was born in El Paso, Texas and raised in an Army family. Enlisting in the Army in 1969, he attended the United States Military Academy Preparatory School and graduated from the United States Military Academy in June 1974. He was commissioned in the Regular Army as a Second Lieutenant in the Transportation Corps.
Upon completion of the Transportations Officers' Basic course at Fort Eustis, Virginia, General Geehan was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii where he served as a Platoon Leader and Division Movements Control Officer. Following the Advanced Course, General Geehan commanded the 62nd Transportation Company (Medium Truck) at Fort Bliss, Texas. In 1980, he was assigned to the Military Traffic Management Command as Aide-de-Camp to the Commander.
In April 1983, General Geehan was assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division, Republic of Korea, as the Commander of B Company, 2nd Supply and Transportation Battalion. Following his tour in Korea, General Geehan was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and served as the Division Transportation Officer and as the Battalion Executive Officer of the 407th Supply and Transportation Battalion (Airborne).
In July 1987, General Geehan attended the Armed Forces Staff College (Class 82) and was assigned as a Logistics Plans and Operations Officer in the Logistics Directorate, J4, United States Special Operations Command, MacDill AFB, and Florida.
Some of General Geehan's major duty assignments included Commander, 296th Forward Support Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, Republic of Korea; Assistant Chief of Staff, G-4, 2nd Infantry Division, Republic of Korea; Commander, 325th Forward Support Battalion, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; and Commander, Special Operations Support Command (Airborne), Ft Bragg, North Carolina. He attended the United States Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania in 1994.
As a General Officer, General Geehan served as the Director of Logistics and Engineering, J4, United States Pacific Command, Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii; Commander, 1st Corps Support Command (Airborne), Ft Bragg, North Carolina; Commander, U. S. Army Transportation School and Center, Ft Eustis, Virginia; and as the Director of Logistics and Engineering, J4, United States Central Command, MacDill AFB, Florida
In 2008 General Geehan led the Defense and Intelligence business unit of Indus Corporation, a Washington DC based information technology company providing information technology support and services to the US Army, US Air Force, US Special Operations Command and the Joint Staff.
In June 2009, General Geehan joined Microsoft Corporation as the General Manager of its Public Sector, Department of Defense (DoD) Services business responsible for providing information technology solutions to the United States Armed Forces, Joint and Unified Commands and Defense agencies world-wide.
Major General Geehan is married to the former Retha Terry Lester of Gilbert, West Virginia.
Paul Wilson
Regional Director
Defense and Public Safety
Public Sector, APAC region
Microsoft Corporation
Paul Wilson is the Defense and Public Safety regional director for Public Sector in Microsoft Asia Pacific. Based in Singapore, Paul supports the APAC team in the overall business performance of Microsoft Defense and Public Safety sector as well as in the execution of government programs in APAC; strategically engaging senior decision-makers within the industry, partner ecosystem and analyst community to define and execute Microsoft strategy and vision. Paul and his regional team assist national security and public safety agencies to transform their capabilities using innovative technology.
Prior to assuming his role in July 2007, Paul was the Government industry director in the Public Sector team for Microsoft APAC, where he led the regional team in assisting Government Customers in improving services to citizens and enabling their national security and public safety agencies to leverage technology.
Paul has worked in the Government and Defense industries for over 23 years. Prior to joining Microsoft, Paul held management positions in Accenture and Lucent Technologies. Paul spent 14 years serving in regional consulting and business development roles in the government, defense and public safety, and telecommunications industries, conducting business in most Asian markets. He began his career as a Signal Corps officer with the United States Army serving in positions of operations, command and as an aide-de-camp in Germany and Korea.
Paul graduated from Clarkson University, United States, with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. He graduated from Georgia Tech with a Master of Science, Electrical Engineering, and holds a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Southern California.