Prominent Executives Spearheading Developments in Cloud Computing
Cloud computing technology stands at the forefront of the digital transformation efforts of many organizations, including the United States federal government. Spearheading developments in the cloud computing sector are these prominent leaders who have been pivotal in the institution and application of the technology across public and private markets.
What is cloud computing?
Cloud computing refers to the on-demand delivery of computer systems, such as servers, databases, storage software, networking analytics, and other solutions that are present and can be accessed over the internet. It’s a crucial technology amid the ever-increasing reliance of organizations in the digital landscape.
Watch out for these key leaders leading the digital transformation initiatives across various organizations and federal agencies.
Note: The following list features esteemed industry leaders selected based on a comprehensive evaluation of their accomplishments, including their strategic vision, demonstrated impact on the industry, innovative contributions, and leadership prowess. However, this is in no way an exhaustive list. The industry is filled with talented professionals making significant contributions, warranting close attention for their achievements and potential impact.
Steve Derr, Vice President of Cloud Operations and Engineering at Oracle National Security Group
As the Vice President of Cloud Operations and Engineering, Steve Derr assumes a broad spectrum of responsibilities, including cloud operations, sales, engineering, and consulting. He initially joined the company as the Vice President of Hardware Solutions in February 2013 and was later promoted to his current role in June 2017.
Derr boasts comprehensive military experience, kickstarting his professional journey as a Weapon Control Systems Specialist for the Air Force in April 1988. His 12-year career in the federal sector equipped him with the qualifications to lead private organizations in their defense-focused operations, particularly in technology and cyberspaces.
Oracle National Security Group’s Vice President of Cloud Operations and Engineering Duties and Responsibilities
Oracle National Security Group’s Vice President of Cloud Operations and Engineering leads the delivery of cloud products and services to national security and intelligence markets. Steve Derr handles a team of engineers and cloud operations personnel to ensure the highest quality solutions catered to the specific needs of their customers.
Brian Keith, National Intelligence Specialist Sales General Manager at Microsoft Federal
Brian Keith has built a reputation for leading agile data implementation, cloud strategy development, and AI integration into workflows for over three decades. He currently serves as the National Intelligence Specialist Sales General Manager at Microsoft Federal—a position he has held since October 2021.
Keith’s earliest work experience was with the Navy, where he served as a Naval Flight Officer for nine years. Following his military retirement, he became a long-time cloud operations leader for the public sector arm of IBM. Keith’s diverse background propels him to obtain key memberships for various organizations, such as Forbes Technology Council and ZenLedger.
Microsoft Federal’s National Intelligence Specialist Sales General Manager Duties and Responsibilities
Leading and establishing partnerships among government and intelligence business leaders is one of Microsoft Federal’s National Intelligence Specialist Sales General Manager primary duty. Brian Keith brings value to major government agencies and small businesses through the tech giant’s range of enterprise data, cloud, and AI solutions.
Kaus Phaltankar, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder at Caveonix
Possessing over three decades of demonstrated history in the information security industry, Kaus Phaltankar has become a renowned veteran of cloud computing. He co-founded Caveonix in May 2017, initially serving as the President and Chief Technology Officer and subsequently as the President and Chief Executive Officer in February 2019.
Phaltankar is a serial entrepreneur, building and growing several companies focusing on cloud security, enterprise risk management, cyber awareness, and regulatory compliance. As a distinguished industry leader, he holds a U.S. patent under his belt, namely high resiliency network infrastructure, issued in November 2008.
Caveonix’s Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder Duties and Responsibilities
As the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder at Caveonix, Kaus Phaltankar holds premier responsibilities for overall operations related to the development of technology products and solutions. He manages the only unified platform for hybrid multi-cloud fundamentals, covering security, compliance, and governance.
Andrew Schnabel, Vice President of Federal at Zscaler
Andrew Schnabel has been serving as the Vice President of Federal at Zscaler since March 2019. He brings with him over 25 years of professional experience in the computer software industry, where he has supported the federal government in its enterprise software, enterprise architecture, and software-as-a-service needs.
Schnabel has received excellent commendations for his acclaimed accomplishments at Arthur Andersen, BevAccess, Izodia, Unisys, EDS, NetApp, and Riverbed Technology. His work also secured him spots as a member of multiple affiliations, such as Zscaler Veterans ERG, Alliance for Digital Innovation, AFCEA NOVA Chapter, and Association of the US Army.
Zscaler’s Vice President of Federal Duties and Responsibilities
As the Vice President of Federal at Zscaler, Andrew Schnabel has a deep understanding of the cloud computing needs of the federal sector, allowing him to provide comprehensive data-centric security models. He leverages secure modern cloud technologies to strengthen remote work functions and improve the performance of various government agencies.
Melissa Palmer, President at HashiCorp Federal
Melissa Palmer boasts over 25 years of experience in her professional portfolio, leading high-performance teams in the creation of cloud computing solutions against large-scale mission and organizational challenges. She joined HashiCorp Federal as the President in November 2022.
Throughout her career, Palmer has led the digital transformation efforts of federal civilian agencies. She held senior leadership roles in VMWare, Intel Security, LookingGlass Cyber Solutions, Red Hat, Absolute Software, and Puppet, during which she received multiple recognitions, such as MVP Award, Top Producer in Public Sector, President’s Club, and more.
HashiCorp Federal’s President Duties and Responsibilities
As the President at HashiCorp Federal, Melissa Palmer heads the public sector sales by partnering with government agencies to build and improve its cloud computing capabilities. She is responsible for spearheading developments in the federal landscape to fight against cyber threats and initiate zero-trust security philosophy.
Robert J. Carey, President at Cloudera Government Solutions
Robert J. Carey is an experienced cybersecurity and cloud computing executive, culminating over 30 years of demonstrated skills in national security, information assurance, and program management. Since January 2021, Carey has assumed the position of President at Cloudera Government Solutions.
For the longest time in his professional journey, Carey held increasing roles for the Department of Defense, particularly for the Navy. Following his military retirement in 2014, he joined the commercial sector, serving in IT-focused defense enterprises, such as CSC, Vencore, General Dynamics Information Technology, and RSA Security.
Cloudera Government Solutions’ President Duties and Responsibilities
Cloudera Government Solutions’ President takes advantage of his extensive military exposure to spur growth in intelligence initiatives across government agencies. Robert J. Carey also holds the title of Vice President at Cloudera Public Sector, making him one of the leading contributors of cloud computing expertise for the federal government.
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