Robin D. Bailey Jr., MA, is the Chief Operating Officer of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one of 10 major operating divisions of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In this role, he oversees management, facilities, and operations at the Atlanta-based public health agency. Specifically, Bailey provides executive oversight for CDC’s budget; facilities design, maintenance, security, management analysis, and safety and personnel security; acquisitions, contractual assistance, and grants; information technology and security; and human resources strategy, training, and workplace development.

Bailey has more than 30 years of service in various senior level positions within the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the U.S. Department of the Air Force. As IRS’s Human Capital Officer, he provided executive leadership and direction to nearly 2,000 professionals to manage recruitment, hiring, employee development, retention, performance management, payroll, employee services, workforce relations, employee engagement, and recognition programs for more than 80,000 IRS employees.

Prior to IRS, Bailey served as Southeast Regional Administrator with the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) in Atlanta, Georgia. He provided executive leadership to orchestrate the execution of all 15 federal nutrition assistance programs that provided more than $25 billion in benefits each year through cooperating state agencies in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Prior to this position, he served as the FNS Deputy Administrator for Management and Information Technology in Alexandria, Virginia, where he provided executive oversight of information technology, human resources, contract management, and logistics and facility services. Prior to FNS, he served as Director of Human Resources Management at the U.S. Forest Service in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he led more than 600 staff who provided human resources management policy and operational services for nearly 50,000 employees.

Bailey is an Air Force veteran and served as an Air Force civilian in a wide range of leadership positions, including the Civilian Deputy and Staff Director to the 96th Air Base Wing Commander at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. In this role he co-led more than 5,000 service members in providing essential base operating support and services for more than 20,000 personnel and family dependents, six wings, and 50 associate units.

Bailey holds an undergraduate degree from Park College (now Park University), in Parkville, Missouri, and a Master of Arts degree in communications from the University of Oklahoma.

Makoto P. Braxton currently serves as the Head of Contracting Activity for the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR). The ASPR is an Operating Division within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its mission is to save lives and protect Americans from 21^st century health security threats. Mr. Braxton is responsible for all acquisition and assistance activities at the ASPR. In Fiscal Year 2023, the ASPR Contracting and Grants Enterprise executed 1,700 actions and obligated $11 billion. The overarching portfolio of acquisition and assistance instruments at ASPR is over $100 billion. The ASPR acquisition and assistance workforce totals over 800 personnel. Mr. Braxton has been with ASPR since 2017. Prior to that, he served in various positions with the Department of the Air Force, Department of the Army, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Mr. Braxton holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a major in Business Economics, from the University of Arizona. He has also graduated from the Federal Executive Institute’s Leadership for a Democratic Society. Mr. Braxton joined Federal service in 2008 and was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in 2022.

Christine Godfrey is the Associate Director for Operational Support in CDC’s Office of Acquisition Services. She began her federal career with CDC over 23 years ago and has worked in acquisitions for over 21 years. Mrs. Godfrey has supported every CDC program as in her various acquisition roles as a contracting officer, team lead, branch chief and currently as an Associate Director. In current role, she oversees acquisition policy, workforce development, government purchase card program, cross-cutting office risk mitigation and operational support. She supported every emergency operations response since Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and has led the acquisition cadre for each response since 2014 Ebola. Mrs. Godfrey received HHS Secretary’s Commendation for Exceptional Leadership and Dedicated Service to the Department and Nation during the PHE phase of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Mrs. Godfrey holds a bachelor’s degree from Oglethorpe University and a master of acquisition management from American Graduate University

Jennifer Johnson is the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Executive Director for the Office of Acquisition Policy, Legislation, Oversight & Workforce within the HHS Office of Acquisitions. In this role, she advises the HHS Deputy Assistant Secretary for Acquisitions/Senior Procurement Executive (SPE) and the Chief Acquisition Officer (CAO)/Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources on the formulation and promulgation of Department-wide policy, proposed legislation, and regulations governing the Department's acquisition programs. Ms. Johnson is also responsible for HHS acquisition workforce certification, training and development and procurement oversight and compliance programs. 

Previously, Ms. Johnson served as the Associate Director for Acquisition Policy, Oversight and Business Strategies for the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) within the Office of the Senior Procurement Executive (OSPE). In this role, she served as the chief acquisition policy advisor to DOT’s CAO, SPE, DOT Heads of the Contracting Activities (HCA), and all senior career and political leadership across the Department. Ms. Johnson served as the key official responsible for DOT acquisition policy promulgation, oversight of procurement activities, and development and implementation of Federal contracting business strategies/programs, to include category management and other President’s Management Agenda-directed priorities. 

Prior to joining OSPE, Ms. Johnson served as a Policy Team Lead, Small Business Specialist and Contracting Officer at the Federal Highway Administration. She also worked as a contracting professional in the private sector prior to joining the Federal Government. Ms. Johnson has over 16 years of experience as an acquisition professional and holds a Master of Public Administration, Bachelor of Science of Administration of Justice – both from George Mason University and a Master’s Certificate in Government Contracting from The George Washington University.

Jeffrey C. Neill is the Deputy Associate Executive Director and Head of the Contracting Activity for the Technology Acquisition Center, Department of Veterans Affairs. In this role, he supports the TAC Associate Executive Director and is responsible for providing business and contracting solutions for a variety of major information technology programs for the Department and leading a diverse staff to include the Procurement Service Directors, Operations Director, and Engineering Service Director.

Prior to joining VA in October 2023, Mr. Neill held multiple positions with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. During 2023, he was temporarily assigned as the Alternate (Deputy) Senior Contracting Official for SCO-DAL where he oversaw 18 contracting offices and 800 contracting professionals supporting the western U.S., Hawaii, Alaska, Japan, and Korea. He was dual hatted as the Regional Contracting Chief for International and Interagency Support for the Southwestern Division and Chief of Contracting for the Fort Worth District where he served as the principal procurement official responsible for managing the contracting program for civil works, military programs, and environmental restoration. In addition, Mr. Neill previously served as Chief of Contracting for the Galveston District where he re-established the contracting division in 2018.

Prior to joining the Corps, Mr. Neill served in the State of Texas and multiple Federal positions, including the Director of Contract Administration for Texas A&M University’s Center for Innovation in Advanced Development and Manufacturing, Chief of Contracting for the Eastern Business Service Center in the Agricultural Research Service, and Division Chief for Construction and Garrison Support Services for Expeditionary Contracting Command in Vicenza, Italy.

Mr. Neill holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University where he graduated from the Eisenhower Leadership Development Program and was an intern for former President George H. W. Bush. In addition, Mr. Neill has a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Texas School of Law and a Master’s Certificate in Contracting from the George Washington University. He holds an unlimited contracting officer warrant, is a member of the Army Engineer Association and National Contract Management Association, and is DAWIA and FAC-C (Professional) certified in contracting. In addition, Mr. Neill is a Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM) and Project Management Professional (PMP).

Mr. Neill is a Veteran of the U.S. Air Force where he was assigned to Minuteman III and Peacekeeper squadrons at F.E. Warren AFB in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He is married with three children and enjoys volunteering for the Brazos Valley Center for Independent Living which is a charitable organization whose mission is to promote the full community inclusion and participation of individuals with disabilities, where he has served on the Board of Directors since 2015.

Charles Worthington is a software developer and product designer who has been helping the government adopt modern digital service delivery best practices since 2013. He currently serves as the Chief Technology Officer for the Office of Information and Technology at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Charles leads efforts to improve the experience Veterans have when interacting with VA online and helps guide VA’s adoption of modern DevSecOps best practices. Since joining the Department, he has led VA’s Digital Modernization effort, including the relaunch of VA.gov as a Veteran-focused digital platform and the creation of VA’s flagship native mobile application. Charles also supports several automation efforts designed to speed VA’s delivery of services to Veterans. Prior to joining VA, Charles was a co-founder of the U.S. Digital Service at the White House. Before that, he built products for private sector clients and was a strategy consultant in the tech & telecom sectors. Charles holds a B.A. from Harvard University.

An award-winning CEO, health and workplace strategy consultant, Fran has established a 20+ year track record as a business leader, publisher, speaker and tech innovator. In 1997, Fran founded Aerobodies Inc., as a provider of workplace wellness, health tech and facilities management services for government and commercial agencies.  Under her leadership Aerobodies has developed several proprietary health technologies and program innovations.  Fran currently leads a nationwide team serving an impressive list of corporations, federal and state agencies and nonprofits. Fran earned her bachelor’s degree in communications from George Mason University and is also a certified Executive Leadership Coach through Georgetown University.  She is a nationally recognized speaker and the host of The Optimized Workplace Podcast focusing on trends and best practices affecting the employee experience and workplace culture. Fran has served as a Board Member for the National Contract Managers Association (NCMA), the Northern VA Technology Council (NVTC), the International Well Building Institute (IWBI) and is a member of the Professional Services Council.

Michelle Clark serves as the Business Development Executive for Health Programs at SAIC, leveraging over 23 years of experience in executive leadership and strategic partnerships. Formerly the Executive Director of the African American Federal Executive Association (AAFEA) and Business Lead of Strategic Partnerships at AT&T Public Sector, she is recognized as a #changeagent for her forward-thinking approach. Michelle is renowned for her influential management style, prioritizing the success and development of her team members.

In addition to her professional endeavors, Michelle navigates the challenges of work/life balance as a mid-career professional in the sandwich generation. Her unique perspective is highlighted in her chapter in the book "Leading through the Pandemic: Unconventional Wisdom from Heartfelt Leaders."

Outside of work, Michelle serves on the board of Tigerlily Foundation, a national women’s health and oncology organization dedicated to education, awareness, advocacy and hands-on support to young women – before, during and after cancer, and on the Advisory Board of 131 and Counting, dedicated to supporting women lawmakers and public policy professionals. She is also a life member of Blacks in Government and the Federally Employed Women.

Michelle earned her BA in Communications, Legal Institutions, Economics, and Government, as well as her MS in Justice, Law, and Society from American University. She holds a certification as a Project Management Professional (PMP).

Katie leads the business of IBM consulting services, across multiple operating divisions within the Department of Health and Human Services. This work includes data and AI, hybrid cloud, cybersecurity, and talent transformation. Prior to this role, Katie served as the Principal Technology Sales Leader for Veterans Affairs and Defense Healthcare, managing strategic client engagements across all of IBM’s product offerings. Katie is focused on leveraging IBM’s strengths in the areas of Data, Artificial Intelligence, Hybrid Cloud, Zero Trust, Automation, and Talent Transformation to help customers solve complex problems.

Prior to joining IBM, Katie worked for Northrop Grumman supporting an array of clients, to include: the Japanese Ministry of Defense, Navy, DISA, and US Medical Commands and Department of Veterans Affairs. Her experience also includes the work she did for various other federal system integrators over the past 18 years.    She received her Bachelor of Science from Winthrop University in South Carolina, and an MBA from Virginia Tech where she completed international studies in both Dublin, Ireland and Istanbul, Turkey. Katie has been highlighted in Signal Magazine for her hard work and has received multiple industry awards.