APEX 2026

CHDS Alumni Professional Exchange

February 17-19, 2026 at the
Naval Postgraduate School

Sessions Speakers APEX Alumni Lunch Daily Survey

Sessions

Day 1 Sessions
Tuesday, the 18th
Welcome and Opening Remarks
08:30 AM – 08:50 AM

Welcome by Dr. Gregory Bernard, Opening Remarks by Vice Admiral Ann E. Rondeau, and Workshop Overview by Elaine Jennings.

The Speed of Technology – Perspectives on Adoption
08:50 AM – 10:00 AM

Presentation by Justin Fanelli, Chief Technology Officer (Acting), U.S. Navy.

Homeland Security and the Economy of 2025 and Beyond
10:20 AM – 11:40 AM

Facilitated discussion by Owen West.

Putin’s War: Beyond Ukraine
01:00 PM – 02:15 PM

Presentation by Alex Finley, Author and former CIA officer.

Alumni Short Talk: Creative Mind as a Force Multiplier
02:35 PM – 04:00 PM

Talk by Shruti Dhapodkar, Director, San Mateo Department of Emergency Management.

Day 2 Sessions
Wednesday, the 19th
Welcome & Day Two Overview
08:30 AM – 08:45 AM

Overview for Day Two by Natalie Gutierrez, CHDS Board Treasurer.

The State of the Center – Opportunities and Information for Alumni
08:45 AM – 10:15 AM

Presentation by Gregory Bernard, Director, CHDS.

Climate Security Network – Panel Discussion
10:35 AM – 11:45 AM

Panel discussion facilitated by Dan O’Connor with panelists Katelin Wright, Kristen Fletcher, and Troy Christensen.

Alumni Short Talk: Untangling Polycrisis – Public Leadership and Complex Crisis Analysis in a Modern World
01:00 PM – 02:15 PM

Presentation by Judy Boyd.

Interoperability Considerations for Mass Gatherings/Special Events
02:35 PM – 04:00 PM

Presentation by Charlie Guddemi, Statewide Interoperability Coordinator.

Day 3 Sessions
Thursday, the 20th
Welcome & Day Three Overview
08:30 AM – 08:45 AM

Opening of Day Three by John Flynn.

Presentation of Awards & The Future of Border Security and Generative AI
08:45 AM – 10:00 AM

Awards presentation (by Elaine Jennings) followed by a talk by Rodrigo Nieto-Gomez, Faculty at NPS.

The Impact of CHDS Alumni 20 Years Later
10:20 AM – 11:45 AM

Panel discussion featuring Cathy Lanier, Pat Miller, Joe Pfeifer, and GB Jones.

The Future of Warfare
01:00 PM – 02:15 PM

Presentation by John Robb.

Alumni Short Talk: Emergency Management – The Impossible Task of this Century
02:35 PM – 04:00 PM

Presentation by Brock Long, Executive Chairman at Hagerty Consulting and former FEMA Administrator.

Day 4 Sessions
Tuesday, the 17th
Registration & Coffee Service
08:00 AM – 08:30 AM

Registration & Coffee Service with National Anthem by Velvet Piini, CHDS

Welcome
08:30 AM – 10:00 AM

Welcome and Opening Remarks by Jodi Stiles, Vice Admiral Ann E. Rondeau, and Elaine Jennings

Morning Break
10:00 AM – 10:20 AM

Morning Break

Fireside Chat on AI and Future Trends
10:20 AM – 11:40 AM

Discussion on AI and trends with Rodrigo Nieto-Gomez and Jacob Andry

Lunch
11:40 AM – 01:00 PM

Lunch at NPS on-campus dining options

Vaping/Fentanyl-Transnational Crime Hiding in Plain Sight
01:00 PM – 02:15 PM

Session with Ray Guidetti and Giacomo Sacca

Afternoon Break
02:15 PM – 02:35 PM

Afternoon Break

Panel: Legal Considerations of Federalizing the National Guard
02:35 PM – 04:00 PM

Panel discussion with Kevin McMahan, Joseph Nunn, Lisel Petis

Coffee Service
08:00 AM – 08:30 AM

Coffee Service

Welcome & Day 2 Overview
08:30 AM – 08:45 AM

Welcome and Day 2 Overview by Natalie Gutierrez

Next Gen Homeland Security: Great Power Competition in 2026
08:45 AM – 10:15 AM

Discussion on Great Power Competition with Seth Jones, Kieran Ramsey, Chris Kuhn, Lisa Woodman

Morning Break
10:15 AM – 10:35 AM

Morning Break

A New Framework for Inquiry
10:35 AM – 11:45 AM

Session with Vern Pierson

Lunch
11:45 AM – 01:00 PM

Lunch at NPS on-campus dining options

Strategic Approaches to Border Management
01:00 PM – 02:15 PM

Session with Todd Bensman

Afternoon Break
02:15 PM – 02:35 PM

Afternoon Break

CHDS Live! The New Community Engagement Tool
02:35 PM – 04:00 PM

Session with Heather Hollingsworth, Jodi Stiles, Morgan James

Welcome & Day 3 Overview
08:30 AM – 08:45 AM

Welcome and Day 3 Overview by Rosemary McDonnell

The Future of Emergency Management
08:45 AM – 10:00 AM

Session with Justin Kates, Emily Peliccia, Emily Martuscello

Morning Break
10:00 AM – 10:20 AM

Morning Break

After the Call: Creating Your Next Identity
10:20 AM – 11:45 AM

Session with Chris Hsiung

Lunch
11:45 AM – 01:00 PM

Lunch

Policy and Strategy Considerations for Growing Demand in NSSC Events
01:00 PM – 02:15 PM

Session with Clint Osborn

Afternoon Break
02:15 PM – 02:35 PM

Afternoon Break

Developing and Defending a National Cyber Border
02:35 PM – 04:00 PM

Session with Phillip Osborn

Fun Experience You’ll Love
04:30 PM – 05:00 PM

An exciting and engaging session to enhance your conference experience.