Join us for an Inspiring Evening!

Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023

Time: 4:00 PM (Eastern Daylight Time)

Location: 2015 South Water Street, Philadelphia, PA19148

Calling all aspiring leaders! You’re invited to an unforgettable evening dedicated to empowering and inspiring the next generation of leaders. This event aims to provide a platform for people from all walks of life to come together, share experiences, and ignite the spark within.

First 50 registered will receive a FREE copy of Vice Admiral Sandra Stosz, USCG (ret), author of “Breaking Ice & Breaking Glass, Leading in Uncharted Waters”

Keynote Speaker

• Vice Admiral Sandra Stosz, USCG (ret.), author of “Breaking Ice & Breaking Glass, Leading in Uncharted Waters”

Fireside Chat with Defense Industry Leaders

• Ms. Jill Thijs, PMP, Noblis MSD – Director, Resilience and Sustainability

• Ms. Robin Kime, Booz Allen Hamilton, retired NAVSEA Sr. Product Support Manager

• Ms. Jamie Gates, NSWCPD Branch Head DDG-51/DDG(X) Land Based Test Site Manager

Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to connect with military and civilian leaders, gain valuable insights, and be inspired to chase your dreams fearlessly. Mark your calendars and get ready to be inspired!

Sponsorships Available

Sponsorship opportunities are now available for this event. Increase your company’s visibility while gaining the opportunity to engage with key women leaders in our industry by sponsoring this event. View sponsorship form by clicking here, or email akorn@ndieng.com for more information.

Speaker Bios:

Vice Admiral Sandra Stosz, US Coast Guard (ret.)

Admiral Sandy Stosz started out in the US Coast Guard as an ensign serving on polar icebreakers, conducting national security missions from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Her forty-year career is filled with leadership lessons gleaned while breaking ice and breaking glass as the first woman to command an icebreaker on the Great Lakes and to lead a US armed forces service academy. Along the way, Sandy served for 12 years at sea, commanding two ships, and led large Coast Guard organizations during times of crisis and complexity. She finished her career as the first woman assigned as Deputy Commandant for Mission Support, directing one of the Coast Guard’s largest enterprises. She has lectured widely on leadership, and has been featured on CSPAN and other media outlets. In 2012, Newsweek’s “The Daily Beast” named Sandy to their list of 150 Women who Shake the World. She volunteers in leadership roles for several organizations and runs Sandra Stosz, LLC. Sandy enjoys hiking, swimming, birdwatching, beachcombing, and spending time with her family.

Ms. Jill Thijs, PMP, Noblis MSD – Director, Resilience and Sustainability

Jill Thijs is the Director of Resilience and Sustainability at Noblis, a non-profit, mission-driven Federal government contractor. She leads a department comprised of scientists, engineers, and project management professionals in all aspects of Environmental, Energy, and Life Sciences for the Department of Defense and other Federal Agencies. She previously worked with McKean Defense as a Project Manager and Division Manager supporting Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division (NSWCPD), and Product Manager Army Watercraft Systems (PM AWS). She received her master’s degree in project management from George Washington University and her bachelor’s degree from SUNY Maritime College in Marine Environmental Science with concentrations in Biology, Oceanography, and Meteorology, as well as a USCG Third Mate Unlimited Tonnage License. She is a certified OSHA Maritime instructor, a licensed Project Management Professional (PMP), and a Board Member for National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) Delaware Valley Chapter. Jill has over 20 years of technical management and leadership with a focus on delivering innovative solutions to the federal government.

Ms. Robin Kime, Booz Allen Hamilton, retired NAVSEA Sr. Product Support Manager

With over 30 years of experience leading product support efforts across the Navy, Ms. Robin Kime continues to make contributions to DoD. Her expertise includes program management and acquisition life cycle product support management for shipbuilding programs and major weapon systems for both the U.S. Navy (USN) and U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). Ms. Kime’s experience includes serving as a Branch Head at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Senior Systems Analyst at Portsmouth Navy Shipyard, and the designated Product Support Manager for two Acquisition Category (ACAT) 1 Programs. Ms. Kime has led multiple efforts involving federal fiscal management, acquisition logistics integration for ship and weapon systems procurement and modernization. From validating a $60M annual budget for repair spares including initial outfitting and contingency items to OPNAV N4 to the approval by Commander Surface Forces to lead all areas in the creation of a test / repair facility at a Naval Warfare Center. While completing a Pentagon tour, Ms. Kime validated proposed Ship Alterations reductions and successfully defended costs associated for key alterations for the Director of Programming, OPNAV N8. Currently, Ms. Kime is a Product Support Subject Matter Expert and capability lead for Booz Allen Hamilton, applying her senior level technical expertise to USN and USCG programs.

Ms. Kime has Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) Level III Certifications in Program Management and Life Cycle Logistics. She holds a DAWIA certification in Industry Relationships with U.S. Navy, Darden School of Business in 2018. U.S. Navy certification in Executive Program Management from University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 2012. She received a Master of Science degree in Public Administration from Indiana University in 2005. Ms. Kime has received the Navy Civilian Meritorious Service Award and the Admiral Stan Arthur Award as the U. S. Navy Civilian Logistician of the Year.

Ms. Jamie Gates, NSWCPD Branch Head DDG-51/DDG(X) Land Based Test Site Manager

Ms. Jamie Gates serves as the Land Based Engineering Site (LBES) Enterprise Program Manager for Surface Ship Test & Program Division for Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division (NSWCPD). She is responsible for the program management and execution of four major test sites at NSWCPD: DDG-51 LBES, DDG(X) Land Based Test Site (LBTS), FFG-62 LBES, USV LBES.

Before her current position, Ms. Gates served in various leadership and test site positions at NSWCPD. She served as the first line supervisor for DDG 51 LBES. Prior she served as the DDG-51 Flt III Program Manager, as the first line supervisor for the Life Support and Ventilation Branch, and as a Site Production Lead for the Compatibility Test Facility. Her time in these positions has allowed for additional opportunities to collaborateand foster innovation across the entire organization.

Ms. Gates began federal service in 2012 as a chemical engineer with NSWCPD supporting in-service engineering, design, and alterations for Submarine Life Support systems. Ms. Gates holds a Master’s Degree in Systems Engineering from Pennsylvania State University, a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology, and a Bachelor’s of Chemistry from Seton Hall University. Additionally, Jamie has numerous certificates including a Public Administration Certificate from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and a Leadership Certificate from Pennsylvania State University.