Meet the Speakers

Robert S. Howden

Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Robert S. Howden as the 116th Texas Secretary of State in July 2026. Secretary Howden previously served as a senior advisor to Governor Abbott and as his Director of Legislative Affairs. As Secretary, he is Texas’ Chief Election Officer, Chief International Protocol Officer, and Senior Advisor to the Governor for Border and Mexican Affairs. Secretary Howden served four governors and has extensive experience in business and economic policy. He led the Texas division of the National Federation of Independent Business for a decade before joining the administration of Gov. Rick Perry, first as communications director and then as a senior advisor overseeing the Governor’s Task Force on Economic Development and Growth. He is one of the primary architects of our state’s award-winning economic development incentive programs which made Texas the national leader in job creation year after year. Following those roles, he worked as a political affairs consultant. Early in his career, Secretary Howden worked for Gov. Bill Clements and at the Texas Department of Commerce. A proud Longhorn, he is a member of the University of Texas Chancellor’s Council Executive Committee, former Chairman of the Texas Exes Legislative Committee, and former member of the Texas Exes Board of Directors. Secretary Howden is committed to community service. He is a board member of the Austin Club and sat on the advisory boards of Helping Hand Home for Children and the Austin Junior League. Secretary Howden and his wife Jana are parents to three grown children and have three grandchildren. They reside in Austin.

Joseph Kopser

Joseph Kopser, Master of Ceremonies, is a technology entrepreneur, Army combat veteran, and President of Grayline Group. He co-founded and led RideScout as CEO through its acquisition by Mercedes-Benz, and today advises organizations including Capital Factory and The University of Texas, where he serves as special advisor for military and veteran affairs. Joseph served 20 years in the U.S. Army, earning the Ranger Tab and Bronze Star, and is a former member of the Army Science Board. A West Point graduate in Aerospace Engineering with a master's from the Harvard Kennedy School, he is co-author of Catalyst and a 2025 Texas Business Hall of Fame Future Legend honoree.

Mike Sherbakov

Mike Sherbakov is the Co-Founder and General Partner of The Veteran Fund, a venture capital firm investing in high-growth startups led by military veterans and focused on critical technologies including aerospace, AI, autonomy, and national security innovation. A Marine Corps veteran and former startup founder, he backs entrepreneurs building the next generation of transformative companies advancing American innovation and security. Mike founded the Veteran and Military Family Accelerator at Founder Institute, the world's largest pre-seed startup accelerator, supporting hundreds of early-stage founders. He regularly guest lectures at Stanford University on entrepreneurship and leadership. Beyond investing, he is active in philanthropic initiatives that support veterans and service-driven leadership, reflecting his broader mission of empowering builders who strengthen the nation's future through innovation.

Larry Covert

Prior MilCom; commercializing technology from defense labs | Former Gigafund GP—investor in SpaceX, Neuralink and The Boring Company | Co-Founder & Managing General Partner, Oxcart Ventures | National Security Investor.

Larry Covert is the Co-Founder and Managing General Partner of Oxcart Ventures, where he backs critical dual-use technologies advancing American national security and quality of life. His work focuses on the companies and capabilities that matter most at the intersection of defense, autonomy, advanced technology, industrial resilience, and real-world deployment. Previously, Larry served with MilCom, working to help commercialize technologies emerging from defense laboratories. He was also a General Partner at Gigafund, the venture firm associated with early investments in category-defining companies including SpaceX, Neuralink, and The Boring Company. Across investing, company building, and strategic advisory work, Larry has supported entrepreneurs turning breakthrough technologies into durable commercial and national-security capabilities. At DRON8 Summit 2026, he brings an investor's perspective on what it takes to build, fund, and scale mission-critical dual-use innovation.

Stefan Lindström

Ambassador Stefan Lindström is the Consul General of Finland in Houston. Prior to this assignment he was Finland's Ambassador of Technology with a global mandate. He is a result driven career diplomat, business advisor and networker with 20+ years of global experience in branding, business/export promotion and building successful partnerships. Mr Lindström is a specialist in geopolitics, geo-economics and analyzing paradigm changes. His passion about emerging opportunities of technology and digital drives his work. He is a member of Boardman and Partner at five venture funds. He is an energetic public speaker and performer with a proven ability to translate ideas into concrete action in a global or local set-up. Previously he worked as Consul General/Ambassador at the Finnish Consulate General in Los Angeles, as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Finnish Embassies in Lisbon, Portugal and Jakarta, Indonesia. Before that, he was the adviser to the undersecretary of state at the MFA in Helsinki, Finland and served with the Finnish missions in the USA and in India. Prior to joining the Foreign Service, Mr. Lindström worked as legal adviser for the European Commission in Brussels and as a research assistant at the London School of Economics. Mr Lindström has a Master's Degree in Economics from the London School of Economics and a Master's Degree in International Law from the Åbo Akademi University.

Alexander Fink

Alexander Fink has served as Swarmer's U.S. Chief Executive Officer since September 2025 and as President and a member of the board of directors since May 2023. He previously served as Chief Executive Officer, Secretary, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. He currently serves as a member of the board of directors of Open Press Wire, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to free and open news content, a position he has held since its founding in November 2024. Previously, Alex founded and served as Chief Executive Officer of Otherweb, Inc., a software and AI private company focused on aggregating, analyzing, and distributing content at scale from September 2021 until April 2025. At Otherweb, he oversaw the operations of a digital platform with millions of users worldwide. In addition, Alex founded and served as Chief Executive Officer of Panopteo, LLC, a private consulting company specializing in military camera, drones, and similar system and software projects from November 2015 until June 2022. At Panopteo, he oversaw 35 projects from inception to mass production. Throughout his entire career, Alex has managed engineering teams at several companies, including Zoran Corporation, Videostitch (also known as Orah), a private company focused on camera and virtual reality product manufacturing, and Ambarella, a semiconductor design company. Alex received his Bachelor of Arts in Computer Sciences from the Technion — Israel Institute of Technology in 2006 and his Master of Business Administration degree with a focus in Marketing from the University of Massachusetts Amherst's Isenberg School of Business in 2018.

Ligeia Zeruto

Ligeia Zeruto leads Government, Aerospace, Defense & International Expansion at Beyond Identity and is the Founder & CEO of Serpentine Services Group LLC. She works with a Texas A&M University research team addressing authentication and non-human identity challenges for UAVs across defense and disaster-response missions. A retired U.S. Army Intelligence Officer and decorated combat veteran, Ligeia served 23 years leading intelligence operations focused on foreign intelligence, military, and cyber targets. She was also the lead author of the original U.S. Department of Defense Joint Cyberspace Training and Certification Standards for Cyber Protection Teams. She has advised defense ministries and allied industry in Japan, Singapore, the UK, Italy, and Kuwait, and led public sector technology organizations at AWS. Among the first class of women to attend US Army Ranger School, she serves on the board of the National Military Intelligence Foundation and as Cyber Advisor to the Q-Branch/Texas Embassy Accelerator.

Rob Mark

Rob Mark leads Forge, Mach's component and contract manufacturing division, where he is responsible for building and scaling advanced manufacturing capabilities across the United States and allied nations in support of Mach and its strategic partners. Prior to joining Mach, Rob spent more than a decade at Apple in supply chain leadership roles spanning U.S. manufacturing, advanced hardware programs, and supply chain development within the Special Projects Group. He helped translate complex technologies into scalable, production-ready systems, bringing products from concept to manufacturing at scale. Earlier in his career, Rob served as a U.S. Army officer across multiple operational commands, giving him firsthand insight into the critical role a resilient industrial base plays in supporting those on the front lines. At Mach, Rob is focused on strengthening the manufacturing foundation required to rapidly produce and field next-generation defense systems. Through Forge, he is building the infrastructure, production capacity, and industrial capabilities that enable Mach's technologies to move from development to reliable, scalable manufacturing in support of the warfighter.

Ty Audronis

Ty Audronis is the CTO of Tempest Droneworx™, where he leads the development of real-time intelligence, autonomous systems, and robotics technologies. A U.S. Navy veteran, inventor, and longtime technologist, his career spans aviation, robotics, visual effects, and scientific visualization, including work with frog Design and the California Academy of Sciences. He has led multiple U.S. government R&D programs involving multi-vehicle control, airspace deconfliction, and real-time 3D situational awareness. His work at Tempest Droneworx™ focuses on giving people better information sooner—preventing issues from becoming serious problems through real-time insight.

Key Messages:
• Tempest Specializes in REAL TIME information in context
• The company began to prevent tragedies like my home town
• We define success by those we help

Maruthi Akella

Maruthi Akella is a professor of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at The University of Texas at Austin, where he holds the Cockrell Family Endowed Chair in Engineering. His research spans coordinated autonomous systems, learning, adaptation, and vision-based sensing — and his group contributed the onboard guidance algorithm for the Intuitive Machines IM-1 mission, the first U.S. moon landing in more than 50 years. A Fellow of the AIAA, IEEE, and AAS and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the Astronautical Sciences, his contributions to astrodynamics were honored in 2024 when the International Astronomical Union named asteroid 5376 Maruthiakella after him.

Anna Hammarlund Blixt

As Consul General of Sweden in Houston, Anna Hammarlund Blixt is the head of mission and leads the work in further establishing the Swedish presence in Texas. Along with offering consular services, this involves engaging in key sectors like space, energy, tech, and life sciences. Anna's diplomatic career has previously included heading the Swedish Embassy's political affairs in Washington D.C., and the Division for the EU Common Security and Defence Policy in Stockholm and earlier as First Secretary to the Swedish Mission to NATO in Brussels. Prior to her appointment as Consul General, she served as the Director and Deputy Head of Department for Disarmament, Non-proliferation and Export Control at Sweden's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Stockholm.

Terry Zrubek

Terry Zrubek is Deputy Executive Director of Texas Economic Development & Tourism within the Office of the Governor, the agency that markets Texas as one of the world's premier business and travel destinations. He supports oversight of divisions including Business & Community Development, Economic Development Finance, Tourism, the Texas Workforce Investment Council, the Texas Music Office, the Texas Film Commission and the Texas CHIPS Office. He previously served as Director of Economic Development Finance, where he oversaw the state's three main financial incentive programs — grants, loans and tax rebates — totaling more than a billion dollars, and earlier led the Economic Development Bank and the Research & Economic Analysis division. Before entering public service he worked in the private sector within a division of Fortune 500 company Newell Rubbermaid. He holds a degree in economics from Texas State University, a Master of Business Administration from St. Edward's University with a concentration in corporate finance, and has completed the Governor's Executive Development Program at the University of Texas at Austin's LBJ School of Public Affairs. A native of Taylor, Texas, he attended Taylor High School, graduating in 1993.

Drew Scheberle

Drew is the Co-Founder and Executive Director for the National Security Innovation Council. NSIC works at the nexus of military mission attraction, connection of national problem owners to Texas problem solvers and partnership with Texas to enhance national security capabilities. Drew has 25 years of senior and executive level experience at the nexus of economic, military & workforce development. Drew has served as the Executive Director for the Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives, Senior Advisor to the Texas Association of Business, 15 years as the SVP at the Austin Chamber of Commerce and as CEO of the National Center for State Scholars, an initiative of President George W. Bush. He’s led efforts to increase transcontinental air service; pass billions in road mobility and education facility bonds; state legislation to lower property taxes and improve Texas’ economic, human and physical capital competitiveness; conceive and execute initiatives to attract key projects like Army Futures Command, connect veterans to employment, increase regional college attainment rates and worked with 12 state Chambers of Commerce, Governors and higher education leaders to ensure state policies supported widespread completion of a well-rounded academic course of study.

Caleb Cienski

Caleb Cienski is the Director of Growth & Innovation at Quantum Interface. A career fighter pilot in the US Air Force, he logged over 2,100 hours in the F-16, serving alongside allies in NATO and the Pacific. He served the last nine years of his career as an instructor pilot in one of the F-16 schoolhouses, before retiring in 2026. A founding member of TMDx, the innovation unit of the Texas Military Department (TMD), he was the TMD's Innovator of the Year in 2019. In his current role, he fuses business development efforts with improvements to Quantum Interface's revolutionary technology. He lives in San Antonio with his wife and three rambunctious children.

Marcos Cervantes

Marcos Cervantes, Founder & CEO of Q-Branch, is an accomplished Army Officer with 23 years of experience specializing in technology development efforts. Having excelled in leading cutting-edge projects during his military career, Marc possesses deep expertise in government research and development (R&D) procurement. As the Managing Partner of Copperstone Venture Firm, he leverages this knowledge to identify and invest in promising startups, particularly those with a focus on innovation. Marc's strategic vision and understanding of government contracts and procurement processes allow him to guide these startups in securing lucrative contracts and establishing a strong market presence. His ability to bridge the gap between private sector innovators and government agencies has positioned him as a trusted and influential figure in the technology and defense communities. Marc's diverse skill set, passion for innovation, and extensive experience contribute to driving technological advancements, enhancing national security, and fostering economic growth.

Jessica Steinhoff

Jessica Steinhoff is President of Bidwell Solutions, a government contracting advisory firm in San Antonio. She spent 26 years in federal acquisition, most of it as an unlimited warranted contracting officer in the U.S. Air Force. Since retiring from active duty in 2022 she has supported more than 60 contract awards and over $300 million in government funding for clients across DoD, DHA, DHS, DOE, FBI, and DARPA, spanning SBIR/STTR, GSA MAS, OTA, and IDIQ vehicles. She is also a founding Partner at Q-Branch, a cross-border innovation accelerator that mentors international startup founders. She previously ran regional operations as Site Director for Capital Factory at the Boeing Center.

Scott Firsing, PhD

Scott Firsing, PhD is an aerospace and technology executive with over 20 years of experience spanning aviation, space, UAS, and dual-use innovation. He is Founder and President of Scott Sky Advisors and co-founder of Frontier Forum, with senior business development and advisory roles across the aircraft, simulation, and space sectors. He has worked for the United Nations and advised the U.S. Department of State and the White House. A former professor and author of more than 100 publications, he holds a PhD in International Politics and is a graduate of the London School of Economics.

Jonathan Josephson

Jonathan Josephson is the founder and Chief Technology Officer of Quantum Interface, the Austin-based company he started in 2012 to rebuild how people command machines. Built on vector and free-motion analysis of user input, QI's patented interface reads decision-making in real time across mouse, touch, touchless, eye- and head-gaze and robotic motion, in a single build spanning PC, mobile, wearables and XR. The U.S. Air Force named the technology "Intelligent Reality", and the engine now runs in command-and-control and intelligent dashboard systems including USSOCOM deployments and the DFW Airport Smart Dashboard. An AFWERX portfolio innovator, he presented QI's augmented and virtual reality work for the Department of Defense at SXSW in Austin in 2024. He studied engineering at The University of Texas at Austin.

Matthew Strebe

Matthew Strebe is a Senior Program Manager for Defense and Commercial Innovation at FedTech and a Field Artillery officer in the Texas Army National Guard. He is the author of "Counter-UAS for Artillery Protection: Lessons from the Russo-Ukrainian War" in the Field Artillery Journal and delivered the 2026 Army National Guard Fires Symposium keynote at Fort Sill. He has also served as a counter-UAS subject matter expert for the Michigan Army National Guard and as a UAS planner for his home unit in Texas. He is participating in a personal capacity. The views expressed are his own and do not represent the Department of War, the Texas Military Department, or his employer.

Sergiy Gnatyuk

Sergiy Gnatyuk holds Ph.D. (2011) and D.Sc. (2017) in Cybersecurity, and is a Full Professor in Computer Science (2021). Sergiy is Vice-Rector for Research and Technology Transfer at National University "Kyiv Aviation Institute", Scientific Advisor of the KAI Cybersecurity R&D Lab, and President of the Scientific Cybersecurity Association of Ukraine. He coordinates cooperation between the Kyiv Aviation Institute and international organizations (ECSO, NetworldEurope, EC Council, USAID, CRDF Global, RangeForce, ISACA, 6G-IA, PEGASUS etc). Prof. Gnatyuk participates in research projects funded by Horizon Europe, Erasmus+ Capacity Building, NATO SPS, Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia, etc. Also, Sergiy is a cybersecurity expert and consultant to the NATO CCD COE, as well as to various state and private Ukrainian and international organizations. He is a speaker, organizer of many global events (IT, AI, UAV, cybersecurity), and author of over 300 books, patents, and papers. Also, he is a visiting professor at universities in Poland, Georgia, and Kazakhstan. The topics of the papers and books are cybersecurity, AI/ML-based security, cryptography, QKD, 5G/6G security, incident response, critical information infrastructure protection, UAV, and others.

Michael W. Mosser, PhD

Michael W. Mosser, PhD is Director of the Center for European Studies at The University of Texas at Austin and Associate Professor of Instruction in the Department of Government and the International Relations and Global Studies program. A Distinguished Scholar at the Robert S. Strauss Center for International Security and Law, he served as Executive Director of UT's Global Disinformation Lab from 2022 to 2024 and as faculty liaison to the U.S. Department of State's Diplomacy Lab. His teaching and research focus on European and international security, international organizations, and the intersection of technology and defense. An award-winning educator named to the 2021 Texas Ten, he holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.