Speaker Bios
Speakers of the GSC Events in 2007
Keynote Speaker at the Grand Final in London:
Sir Richard Dearlove
Former Chief British Secret Intelligence Service
Sir Richard Dearlove served as Chief (known as 'C') of the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) from August 1999 until his retirement in July 2004. For the preceding five years he was Director of Operations and, from 1998, Assistant Chief. As Director of Finance, Administration and Personnel he also oversaw the move of SIS into its Headquarter Building at Vauxhall Cross in 1994. He is a career intelligence officer of thirty-eight years standing and has served in Nairobi, Prague, Paris, Geneva and Washington as well as in a number of key London-based posts. Sir Richard took up the Mastership of Pembroke College Cambridge on 1 October 2004. He is also a trustee of Kent School, Connecticut, Honorary Fellow of Queens' College Cambridge, a member of the International Advisory Board of AIG, senior Adviser to the Monitor Group and Chairman of Ascot Underwriting.
Keynote Speaker at the Grand Final in London:
Honorable H. Lee Buchanan
Former Assistant Secretary for Research, Development and Acquisition
United States Navy
The Honorable H. Lee Buchanan, PhD, former Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition, responsible for all research development and procurement of defense systems for the Navy and the Marine Corps. Dr. Buchanan also served as the Deputy Director of the Defense Advanced Research Agency (DARPA) in the role of Chief Operating Officer for the central Research and Development organization for the Department of Defense. There he directed a multibillion-dollar program of basic and applied research conducted by industry, universities and national/military laboratories.
Keynote Speaker at the Grand Final in London:
Lt. General (Ret) USAF Kenneth A. Minihan
Former Director
National Security Agency (NSA)
Lt. General Minihan is a Managing Director of Paladin and is focused on the development and implementation of new investment opportunities for Paladin's Homeland Security Fund. Prior to joining Paladin, Lt. General Minihan was the 14th Director of the National Security Agency (NSA)/Central Security Service. While at the National Security Agency, he was instrumental in the definition and implementation of the National Information Assurance Program. During his military service, Lt. General Minihan developed extensive experience in making new technologies operational and implementing leading edge services and products in a competitive environment where lives were often at risk. Lt. General Minihan has a B.A. Degree from Florida State University, a M.A. Degree from the Naval Postgraduate School, and has completed executive development programs at the University of Illinois and Harvard University. Among his awards and decorations are the National Security Medal, the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Bronze Star, the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal, and the Legion of Merit.
Keynote Speaker at GSC Washington:
Jay M. Cohen
Under Secretary for Science & Technology
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Department of Homeland Security, Under Secretary for Science and Technology, Jay M. Cohen is a native of New York. He was commissioned in 1968 as an ensign upon graduation from the United States Naval Academy. He holds a joint Ocean Engineering degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Master of Science in Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture from MIT. His early Navy assignments included service on conventional and nuclear submarines. From 1985 to 1988 Cohen commanded USS HYMAN G. RICKOVER (SSN 709). Cohen was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral in October 1997 and reported to the Joint Staff as Deputy Director for Operations responsible to the President and DoD leaders for strategic weapons release authority. In June 1999, he assumed duties as Director Navy Y2K Project Office responsible for transitioning all Navy computer systems into the new century. In June 2000, Cohen was promoted in rank and became the 20th Chief of Naval Research. He served during war as the Department of the Navy Chief Technology Officer (a direct report to the Secretary of the Navy, Chief of Naval Operations and Commandant of the Marine Corps). Responsible for the Navy and Marine Corps Science and Technology (S&T) Program (involving basic research to applied technology portfolios and contracting), Cohen coordinated investments with other U.S. and international S&T providers to rapidly meet war fighter combat needs. After an unprecedented five and a half year assignment as Chief of Naval Research, Rear Admiral Cohen retired on February 1, 2006. Under Secretary Cohen was sworn in to his current position at the Department of Homeland Security on August 10, 2006.
Keynote Speaker at GSC Munich:
Dr. Hansjörg Geiger
Former President
Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND)
(German Federal Intelligence Service)
Hansjörg Geiger was born 1942 in Brünn (Mähren). After completing his law-degree at the University of Munich in 1969, Dr. Geiger joined Siemens as an independent scientist in its electronic data processing division. In 1972, he joined the administration of the Bavarian State Government where he worked in the data processing department of the Staatskanzlei. Following on in 1974, Dr. Geiger became a state prosecutor at the Landgericht München I and one year later he advanced to become a judge at the Amtsgericht Munich. He then returned to work in the Bavarian government in 1977, first in its Justice Ministry and then in its data protection administration. In 1990, he became a director of the federal administration for the documents of the intelligence services of the former German Democratic Republic (Gauck Behörde). In 1995 he was promoted to the President of the Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz (Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution) and in 1996 he became President of the Bundesnachrichtendienst (Federal Intelligence Service, BND). After his presidency at the BND, he assumed the position of Germany's State Secretary for the Ministry of Justice. In December 2003, Dr. Geiger retired from the government and was awarded an honorary professorship from the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University in Frankfurt where he has been teaching constitutional, European and international law.
Keynote Speaker at GSC Asia:
Tan Peng Yam
Deputy Chief Executive (Technology)
Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA)
Mr Tan Peng Yam, a Director of Cap Vista Private Limited, is currently the Deputy Chief Executive (Technology) of Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA). In this capacity, he oversees technology management, research and development, international cooperation, industrial capability development and systems architecting of defence systems. Mr Tan is a member of the Temasek Laboratories at Nanyang Technological University Management Board, the Temasek Laboratories at National University of Singapore (NUS) Management Board and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research Thematic Strategic Research Panel. He also co-chairs the Advisory Board of SONDRA, a joint research laboratory involving Supelec, ONERA, NUS and DSTA Research Alliance. He also serves on the board of directors of DSO National Laboratories, Singapore Air Show and Events Private Limited, Advanced Technology Research Centre Private Limited, Singapore Israel Industrial Research and Development Foundation, and Building Construction Authority.
