BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//ChamberMaster//Event Calendar 2.0//EN METHOD:PUBLISH X-PUBLISHED-TTL:P3D REFRESH-INTERVAL:P3D CALSCALE:GREGORIAN BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20250804T163000Z DTEND:20250804T180000Z X-MICROSOFT-CDO-ALLDAYEVENT:FALSE SUMMARY:2025 Leaders in Space & Missile Defense Luncheon DESCRIPTION:***UPDATED SPEAKER LINE-UP***\n\n\n\nJoin us for an inspiring and informative luncheon event spotlighting women leaders in Space & Missile Defense. \n\n \n\nThe Leaders in Space & Missile Defense Luncheon\, presented by the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber's Women's Business Council (WBC)\, will feature a keynote address followed by a dynamic panel discussion with distinguished professionals who are shaping the future of defense through their leadership\, innovation\, and dedication.\n\n \n\nOur featured speaker will share insights into her personal career path in defense\, offering reflections on pivotal moments\, challenges overcome\, and the evolution of leadership in a high-stakes industry.\n\n \n\nFollowing the keynote\, a panel of accomplished women from both government and support contractor roles within the Defense industry will explore key topics\, including:\n\n\n Navigating a career in defense and transitioning into space and missile defense\n What makes working in and for the government both uniquely challenging and deeply rewarding\n The mindset\, skills\, and experiences that align best with success\n Defining and developing effective leadership within your fields mission\n The vital role of support contractors in strengthening the defense enterprise\n Leading with clarity and resilience in times of uncertainty\n\n\nThis event is an opportunity to gain valuable career and leadership insights\, network with professionals across the defense community\, and celebrate the achievements of women advancing national security.\n\n \n\nKEYNOTE & PANELIST\n\n\n\nVirginia "Ginny" Perkins\n\nMDA Chief Engineer\n\n\n\nMs. Virginia W. Perkins is the Chief Engineer of the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) since her appointment to the Senior Executive Service (SES) in 2024. In this role\, she is responsible for developing and implementing robust engineering processes\, ensuring rigorous engineering controls\, and providing independent assessments of high-risk events and engineering efforts. These efforts enable the development of a reliable and sustainable Missile Defense System\, safeguarding the United States\, its deployed forces\, allies\, and friends from missile attacks in all phases of flight.\n\n\n\nPerkins' career spans over two decades\, beginning as a Junior Software Engineer on an International Space Station payload for NASA. She transitioned to the defense industry\, working as a programmer and systems analyst on the Extended Air Defense Simulation. In 2010\, she joined the civil service as the Lead for Analysis and Reporting of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Flight Test Program\, where she assessed test objectives for multiple flight tests\, including the THAAD's Initial Operational Test and Evaluation\, Flight Test THAAD (FTT)-12\, and the first operational flight test of the Missile Defense System\, Flight Test Operational (FTO)-01.\n\n\n\nPerkins has held various leadership positions throughout her career\, including Acting Division Chief\, System Software\, for the THAAD Systems Engineering Directorate\, where she successfully delivered the first version of the THAAD software to the field and implemented over 10 software version upgrades\, enhancing capabilities such as debris mitigation and remote launchers. In 2018\, she was appointed as MDA's Director of Software Engineering\, leading the transition to agile software development and establishing a partnership with the National Air and Space Agency to develop a centralized software independent verification and validation program.\n\n\n\nPrior to her current role\, she served as MDA's Deputy Chief Engineer\, Director for Cyber Engineering\, and Director for Test Chief Engineering. Her expertise and dedication have been instrumental in shaping the Agency's engineering and software development processes.\n\n\n\nPerkins is a native of Pell City\, AL and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Jacksonville State University and a Master of Science degree in Engineering Systems from the Naval Postgraduate School.\n\n \n\nPANELISTS\n\n\n\nSharn Rice\n\nDeputy Product Manager supporting Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems\n\nPEO Missiles & Space\n\n\n\n\nDr. Angelia Walker \n\nActing Deputy Director of Engineering and\n\nDirector of Spacecraft and Vehicle Systems Department (Retired)\n\n\n \n\nMODERATOR\n\n\n\nJami Peyton\n\nCEO\n\nCanvas X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

\n***UPDATED SPEAKER LINE-UP***
\n
\nJoin us for an inspiring and informative luncheon event spotlighting women leaders in Space &\; Missile Defense. \;
\n\n
 \;
\n\n
The Leaders \;in Space &\; Missile Defense Luncheon\, presented by the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber'\;s Women&rsquo\;s Business Council (WBC)\, will feature a keynote address followed by a dynamic panel discussion with distinguished professionals who are shaping the future of defense through their leadership\, innovation\, and dedication.
\n \;
\n\n
Our featured speaker will share insights into her personal career path in defense\, offering reflections on pivotal moments\, challenges overcome\, and the evolution of leadership in a high-stakes industry.
\n \;
\n\n
Following the keynote\, a panel of accomplished women from both government and support contractor roles within the Defense industry will explore key topics\, including:
\n\n\n\n
This event is an opportunity to gain valuable career and leadership insights\, network with professionals across the defense community\, and celebrate the achievements of women advancing national security.
\n\n
 \;
\n\n
KEYNOTE &\; PANELIST
\n\n

\nVirginia "\;Ginny"\; Perkins
\nMDA Chief Engineer
\n
\nMs. Virginia W. Perkins is the Chief Engineer of the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) since her appointment to the Senior Executive Service (SES) in 2024. In this role\, she is responsible for developing and implementing robust engineering processes\, ensuring rigorous engineering controls\, and providing independent assessments of high-risk events and engineering efforts. These efforts enable the development of a reliable and sustainable Missile Defense System\, safeguarding the United States\, its deployed forces\, allies\, and friends from missile attacks in all phases of flight.
\n
\nPerkins'\; career spans over two decades\, beginning as a Junior Software Engineer on an International Space Station payload for NASA. She transitioned to the defense industry\, working as a programmer and systems analyst on the Extended Air Defense Simulation. In 2010\, she joined the civil service as the Lead for Analysis and Reporting of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Flight Test Program\, where she assessed test objectives for multiple flight tests\, including the THAAD&rsquo\;s Initial Operational Test and Evaluation\, Flight Test THAAD (FTT)-12\, and the first operational flight test of the Missile Defense System\, Flight Test Operational (FTO)-01.
\n
\nPerkins has held various leadership positions throughout her career\, including Acting Division Chief\, System Software\, for the THAAD Systems Engineering Directorate\, where she successfully delivered the first version of the THAAD software to the field and implemented over 10 software version upgrades\, enhancing capabilities such as debris mitigation and remote launchers. In 2018\, she was appointed as MDA'\;s Director of Software Engineering\, leading the transition to agile software development and establishing a partnership with the National Air and Space Agency to develop a centralized software independent verification and validation program.
\n
\nPrior to her current role\, she served as MDA'\;s Deputy Chief Engineer\, Director for Cyber Engineering\, and Director for Test Chief Engineering. Her expertise and dedication have been instrumental in shaping the Agency'\;s engineering and software development processes.
\n
\nPerkins is a native of Pell City\, AL and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Jacksonville State University and a Master of Science degree in Engineering Systems from the Naval Postgraduate School.
\n \;
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PANELISTS
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\n\n
Sharné\; Rice
\nDeputy Product Manager supporting Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems
\nPEO Missiles &\; Space\n\n
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\n\n
Dr. Angelia Walker​\;
\nActing Deputy Director of Engineering and
\nDirector of \;Spacecraft and Vehicle Systems Department (Retired)
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 \;
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MODERATOR
\n\n
\n\n
Jami Peyton
\nCEO
\nCanvas
\n
\n\n
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\n LOCATION:Embassy Suites by Hilton Huntsville UID:e.2112.17544 SEQUENCE:3 DTSTAMP:20260507T225338Z URL:https://cm.hsvchamber.org/events/details/2025-leaders-in-space-missile-defense-luncheon-17544 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR