Principals

			U.S. Army Principal Debra Dawson U.S. Army PEO STRI 12350 Research Parkway Orlando, FL 32826-3276 debra.a.dawson.civ@army.mil
Ms. Debra Dawson is the director of strategic communications and industry engagement for the U.S. Army’s Program Executive Office Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI). With more than 20 years of experience in strategic communications and public affairs as both a Soldier and Army civilian, Ms. Dawson has served in many roles throughout her career. Prior to her current position, Ms. Dawson served as the strategic communications leader and advisor the Director, Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center, on strategic engagements, supervisory public affairs specialist for Program Executive Office Soldier handling media on sensitive/ controversial issues at Headquarters, Department of the Army level and many other duties, and as the public affairs assistant for the Deputy Secretary of Defense, Pentagon, Washington, DC. Ms. Dawson looks forward to getting the PEO STRI story out and letting everyone know what is that they do.
			U.S. Navy Principal Kent Gritton Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division 12211 Science Drive Orlando, FL 32826-3275 john.m.gritton.civ@us.navy.mil
Kent Gritton is the Director, Special Projects at the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD). Kent retired from active duty after a 28-year career in the U.S. Navy where he flew EA-3B Skywarrior, EP-3E Orion, and P-3 Special Mission aircraft and held a variety of staff and command positions. He has performed a variety of assignments while attached to NAWCTSD in support of Team Orlando and LVC for Training. Prior to assuming his role as the Navy I/ITSEC Principal, Kent was instrumental in the development and implementation of two key Special Events at I/ITSEC: the Serious Games Showcase & Challenge and Operation Blended Warrior.
			U.S. Marine Corps Principal Carol Byers-Bendle MARCORSYSCOM PM TRASYS 12211 Science Drive Orlando, FL 32826-3275 carol.bendle@usmc.mil
Carol transitioned into Government service as an acquisition professional after a very successful career in the graphic arts/printing field. Her undergraduate work was completed at Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York. Supporting Marine Corps System Command, Program Manager Training Systems, she worked her way up the ranks from financial analyst to assistant project manager, project/program analyst to as supervisory position as program team lead, during which time she earned her Master’s degree in Procurement and Acquisition Management with a Certificate in Government Contracting from Webster University, St. Louis, MO. In her current role as Future Technology Integrator, she is responsible for identifying emerging technologies that can be used within current and emerging training systems requirements. She mentors team members on the use of non-traditional acquisition methods to get required technologies into the hands of Marines faster than utilizing the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) based processes.
			U.S. Air Force Principal Heath Morton Air Force Training System Technical Advisor Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) heath.morton@us.af.mil
Heath Morton is the Training System Technical Advisor for AFLCMC. He has over 20 years of experience in simulation, serving as the Air Force’s technical representative for over 15+ platform/types of training systems and multiple training networks. Heath also has over 10 years working with NTSA and the I/ITSEC community. This is his second year as the Air Force I/ITSEC principal.
			OSD Principal Frederick C. Engle Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Readiness 4000 Defense Pentagon, Rm 1E537 Washington, DC 20301-4000 frederick.c.engle.civ@mail.mil
Mr. Engle is the Director, Military Training, in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Readiness, Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD). In this role, he oversees the development of policies and plans for military training and training capabilities. His responsibilities include Service and joint training policy, cyber training policy, training capability modernization, and enabling access to the land, air, and sea live training domains. He co-chairs the planner-level Defense-wide Military Training Capabilities Group. During the 2021 transition of administrations, he served as the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Education & Training.