The general context of the forum

solutions for strengthening resilience in times of immense challenges

The war that Russia started against Ukraine in 2014 revealed immediately the shortage of modern high-performance weapons, equipment and machinery. Both public defense industry companies and private producers accepted the challenge of offering new effective solutions for the military.

However, the effective model of the state defense industry has not been formed so far. Such a model has to meet the numerous ​​challenges of the contemporary world. Despite its primary task of deterring threats, the defense industry is crucial for securing the trade routes. Moreover, it has to be cost-efficient, technological and competitive in the international market. After all, today the defense industry is an important  tool for building international alliances, contributing a lot to interoperability of the armed forces of the states.

This forum is an attempt to start the first public discussion on the challenges and capabilities of Ukraine’s defense industry. It will contribute to finding adequate solutions for the Ukrainian defense industry of the future.

EFFECTIVE INDUSTRY
FOR DEFENSE CAPABILITY

Location

Odesa, Ukraine

Sady Peremohy concert hall

Time

16-17 July 2021

SECURITY FORUM 2021 SCHEDULE

finding the right solutions together

Day 1, July 16, 2021

08:30 – 09:00 – Registration. Welcome coffee
09:00 – 09:30 – Opening speeches
  1. Serhiy Hrynevytskyi, the Head of Odesa State Regional Administration;
  2. Benjamin Bobbe, Regional Representative to Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Romania, Hanns Seidel Foundation
  3. Vineta Kleine, Director of the NATO Information and Documentation Centre
  4. Serhiy Kozyr, the Head of Kherson State Regional Administration;
09:30 – 11:00 – Lessons learned from war for Ukraine and the region

How has the war changed in the recent decades? The experience of military operations in Karabakh, Syria, Libya, the latest Russian-Ukrainian war – the main trends in armaments and methods of warfare. What does the experience of war mean for defense capabilities.

Moderator: Oksana Syroid, Vice President of KSE

Speakers :
1. Andriy Taran, Minister of Defence of Ukraine (Ukraine);
2. George Kent,  Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs  (USA) online tbc;
3. Yuriy Husev, CEO of Ukroboronprom (Ukraine);
4. Glen Grant, Baltic Security Foundation (UK/Latvia);

11:00 – 11:30 – Coffee Break
11:30 – 13:00 – What and how to manufacture under conditions of current threats?

How should Ukraine’s defense industry respond to existing global threats and changing war strategies? Priority directions of development of the defense industry of Ukraine.

Moderator: Bruno Lete, Senior Fellow of German Marshall Fund (Belgium);

Speakers :

  1. Taras Chmut, Founder of the Ukrainian military portal (Ukraine);
  2. Ruslan Dzhalilov, Chairman of the Board of the Ukrainian Association of Manufacturers of Arms and Military Equipment of Ukraine (Ukraine);
  3. Valentyn Badrak, Director of the Center for Army, Conversion and Disarmament Studies (Ukraine);
  4. Brittany Steward, Senior Defense Attaché of the US Embassy in Ukraine, not confirmed. (USA).
13:00 – 14:00 – Lunch Break
14:00 -14:30 – Perspectives of the development of Ukrainian anti-missile systems

Journalist: Yurii Lapayev,  Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Week magazine(Ukraine);

Public interview with Oleg Korostelev, General Director – General Designer of the State Enterprise “KKB Luch”(Ukraine).

14:30- 16:00 – Development of Ukrainian precise missile systems

Moderator: Oksana Syroid, Vice President of KSE

How has Ukraine maintained its ability to produce high-precision weapons at state-owned enterprises? How did the private sector respond to the Russian-Ukrainian war by developing high-precision weapons? What does the further development, testing and adoption of high-precision weapons in Ukraine depend on? How does the deterrent mission of high-precision weapons affect the development of industry? Are new developments and production capabilities sufficient prerequisites for the competitiveness of Ukrainian high-precision weapons?

Speakers:

  1. Yuriy Pashchenko, General Director of ISKRA Scientific & Industrial Complex SE (Ukraine);
  2. Stanislav Zavyalov, Director of Radionics LLC  (Ukraine);
  3. Artem Vyunyk, Director of Athlon Avia(Ukraine);
  4. Victor Kevlyuk, Project Management Director of Swarmly Ltd, a military expert of the Center for Defense Strategies, Colonel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine ( ret. ) (Ukraine/Cyprus);
16:00 - 17:30 – How will the Ukrainian tank of the 21 century look like?

How is the tactics of fighting on land changing? What changes do the philosophy, design or construction of armored vehicles need? Are Ukrainian producers able to meet the demand of the army? What are the biggest challenges in the armored vehicle production cycle? What are the competitive challenges for Ukrainian armored vehicles in foreign markets?

Moderator: Bruno Lete, Senior Fellow of German Marshall Fund (Belgium)

Speakers:

  1. Volodymyr Zhadan, General Designer , Kharkiv Morozov Machine-Building Design Bureau SE (Ukraine);
  2. Mykola Salamakha, Lieutenant Colonel of the Reserve of the Armed Forces, Research and Production Enterprise Energy 2000 (Ukraine);
  3. Serhiy Sobko, Colonel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (Ukraine);
  4. Serhiy Brezutsky, Chief Expert of the Analytical Department of Science Technology Ukraine LLC (Ukraine);
  5. Ray Wojcik, Senior Fellow, CEPA (Poland).
18:00 - 20:00 – Dinner. Networking

Dacha Restaurant, Frantsuzkyi bulvrd., 85, section 15

Day 2, July 17, 2021

08:30 – Welcoming coffee
09:00 - 09:10 – Opening of the second day of the forum / Summarizing outcomes of day 1
09:10 – 09:40 – Presentation, Q&A: NATO - Ukraine defense cooperation

Speaker:

Gordon Skip Davis, Deputy Assistant Secretary General of NATO for Defense Investment Division (NATO)

Moderator: Bruno Lete, Senior Fellow of German Marshall Fund (Belgium)

09:40 - 11:00 - Unmanned military vehicles in air, water and land operations

How can unmanned vehicles be used in the army today and how can they change the tactics and strategy of combat operations? How does the availability of technology shape competition in the market for the production of unmanned vehicles? How does the state shape the demand for the production of unmanned vehicles for the army and ensure its use?

Moderator: Oksana Syroid, Vice President of KSE

Speakers:

  1. Mykola Vorobyov, Director of UAV Program, State Unterprise Antonov (Ukraine);
  2. Eduard Trotsenko, Director, Infocom Ltd (Ukraine);
  3.  Oleksandr Stepura, Founder and Owner, “Skaeton” (Ukraine);
  4. Serhiy Danulyuk, Director for Development, Ukrspetsystems (Ukraine).
11:00 – 11:30 – Coffee Break
11:30 - 13:00 – Future aircraft construction and aircraft MRO in Ukraine

What are the main challenges for Ukraine in upgrading military aircraft? To what extent and why is the compatibility of national military aircraft with Allied aircraft critical? What capacities of Ukraine in aircraft construction or air service are promising for meeting domestic needs? What should be the model of interaction with allies and procurement for the needs of military aviation?

Moderator: Bruno Lete, Senior Fellow of German Marshall Fund (Belgium)

Speakers:

  1. Serhiy Drozdov, Commander of the Ukrainian Air Forces (Ukraine);
  2. Jan Sliwka, Lieutenant General, First Deputy Commander of the Polish Armed Forces (Poland);
  3. Serhiy Fil, Chief Designer for Perspective Design, State Enterprise “Antonov” (Ukraine)
  4.  Dmytro Matrunchyk, Director of the Lviv State Aircraft Repair Plant (Ukraine);
  5. Svistuyla Serhiy, Сhief Engineer, LRZ Motor (Ukraine);
13:00 - 14:00 – Lunch Break
14:00 - 15:00 – Сorporate governance of enterprises of the defense-industrial complex

What should be the peculiarities of regulating the production and procurement of weapons and equipment for the army? How are the cycles of arms and equipment production formed? How do the features of the regulation of production and procurement, production cycles affect the management of enterprises? What are the opportunities and obstacles to attract investment in the defense industry of Ukraine?

Moderator: Oksana Syroid, Vice-president of the Kyiv School of Economics (Ukraine);

Speakers :

  1. Arda Mevlütoğu, independent security expert (Turkey);
  2. Oleh Vysotsky, founder of Research and Production Association Praktiсa (Ukraine);
  3. Denis Jatsyshyn, Corporate Relation Director at U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (Ukraine/USA)
15:00 - 16:15 – Changes needed for investment attraction in defense industry of Ukraine

What are the measures aimed today at improving the efficiency of the defense industry? What should be the model of the defense industry in Ukraine? What could be the next steps to form this model?

Moderator: Olena Tregub,  Secretary General of NAKO – the Independent Anti-Corruption Commission (Ukraine);

Speakers:

  1. Roman Bondar, First Deputy Director General of Ukroboronprom (Ukraine);
  2. Oleksandr Zavitnevych, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence (Ukraine); tbc
  3. Alexander Vinnikov, Head of NATO Delegation to Ukraine (NATO);
  4. Andy Hunder, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine tbc (USA);
  5. Hlib Kanevskyi, Head, NGO StateWatch (Ukraine).
16:15 - 16:45 - Closing remarks
  1. Tymofiy Mylovanov, President of KSE, Head of the Managing Board of the state concern Ukroboronprom (Ukraine);
  2. Oksana Syroid, Vice-president of the Kyiv School of Economics (Ukraine);
  3. Bruno Lete, Senior Fellow of German Marshall Fund ( Belgium)
Farwell reception

Organizers

working to make a change together

Partners

creating a long-term impact together

Speakers

 bringing top industry experts to speak

Oksana Syroyid

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Oksana Syroyid, Vice-President of Kyiv School of Economics, Co-chair of Lviv security forum

 Oksana Syroyid is a Ukrainian politician, constitutional lawyer, lecturer, defence and security expert.  Since 2021 she holds the position of the vice-president of Kyiv School of Economics in charge of  the Public Policy and Governance Program of KSE.

She was the Member of Parliament of Ukraine of the 8th convocation and the Vice Speaker of the Parliament of Ukraine in 2014-2019. As an MP, Oksana Syroid actively worked on reform of the defence and security sector. She contributed a draft law on the Temporary Occupied by Russian Federation Territory of Ukraine, as well as worked on draft laws on judicial reform, reform of police and prosecution, decentralization and reform of the decision-making process in the Cabinet of Ministers. She also actively participated in the work of the Constitutional Commission established in March 2015.

Prior to her parliamentary and political work she was a Director of All- Ukrainian Charitable Foundation Ukrainian Legal Foundation based in Kyiv, Ukraine.

In 2004-2012 she was the National Project Manager and the Head of Rule of Law Unit (Administrative Law, Administrative Justice and Legal Education Issues) of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Ukraine.

Oksana Syroyid holds Master degree in Law from Universities of Ottawa and Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University and Bachelor’s degree in Political sciences at National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.

Serhii Sobko

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Serhii Sobko, the Colonel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Serhii Sobko is a gradute of the Odessa Land Forces Institute, the Command and General Staff Institute and the Institute of State Military Administration of the National Defense University of Ukraine, the Command and General Staff College of the US Armed Forces, Fort Levenworth. In the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine he served in the following positions: grenade launchers platoon commander, deputy chief of S-3 of the headquarters of the National Contingent in Kosovo, mechanized platoon commander, mechanized company commander, deputy commander of a mechanized battalion,  mechanized battalion commander, deputy commander of 30th mechanized brigade, 128th mountain assault brigade commander

Valentyn Badrak

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Valentyn Badrak, Director of the Center for Army, Conversion and Disarmament Studies(CACDS)

Ukrainian writer, publicist. Expert in the field of media influence and defense-industrial complex. Author of a number of books and publications in the field of motivation of human activity, personal security development, as well as state security. Since 2006 – author and co-author of a number of scientific, reference books and studies on security and defense of the state. Among the books on this topic are “Technosila”, “Ukraine’s defense industry – the locomotive of the national economy”, “Features of reforming the Armed Forces and the defense industry of Central and Eastern Europe. Lessons for Ukraine”, “Kremlin Information Front” and others. Numerical publications (over 200) became the basis for professional discussions in the field modernization of the army and defense industry. In May 2019, together with partners Serhiy Zgurts and Oleksiy Gridin became a co-founder of the Ukrainian Institute for Security Studies. He graduated from the Ryazan Airborne School, Kyiv State Linguistic University, was a student of the School of Management. J. Kennedy of Harvard University.

Taras Chmut

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Taras Chmut, co-founder of the Ukrainian military portal, Chairman of the Return Alive  Charitable Foundation

Head of the analytical department at the Return Alive Charitable Foundation. Chairman of the Board of the Ukrainian Military Center, which informs about the country’s resistance to Russian military aggression and promotes the idea of ​​defense capability. He served in the Marines for 2.5 years, was commander of the intelligence platoon of the 137th Battalion. He studied at a training center in Lithuania, an instructor. He participated in international training courses, exercises “Sea Breeze-2016”. He graduated from the Institute of Air Navigation of the National Aviation University with a degree in aerobatic navigation equipment, qualified as a researcher in the field of avionics, research engineer.

Dmytro Matrunchyk

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Director of the State enterprise “Lviv state aircraft repair plant”

1995 – 2004. Military service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

2004 – 2011. Head of the shop of the state enterprise of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Lutsk repair plant “Motor”

2011 – 2016. Deputy Production Manager of the Lutsk repair plant «Motor» SE

2016 – 2018. Production Manager of the Lutsk repair plant «Motor» SE

10.2018 – incl. Director of the “Lviv State Aircraft Repair Plant” SE

Yuriy Pachshenko

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Director of State Enterprise “Scientific and Production Complex “Iskra”

  • Yuriy Pashchenko worked at manufacturing sites and held senior positions in private and state-owned enterprises in the areas of production development, creation, development, modernization and repair of weapons and military hardware.
  • In 2009-2014 he worked as Technical Director, Deputy General Director for Development and Marketing at the Production Association Yuzhny Machine-Building Plant named after A.M. Makarov.
  • In 2014 — 2016 he worked as Deputy General Director for Production at the SE Ukroboronprom.
  • From 2017 to present, Yuriy Pashchenko has been working as the director at State Enterprise “Scientific and Production Complex “Iskra”.
  • Yuriy Pashchenko is honoured with the state award – the 3rd degree Order of Merit, the St. Nicholas the Wonderworker Order of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, and industry awards – the honorary breastplate «For Merits to the Armed Forces of Ukraine», the medal of O.M. Makarov for personal contribution to the rocket-space industry, the award of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense of Ukraine – the medal «For assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine», the honorary award of SC «Ukroboronprom» for significant contribution to the development of the defense industry of Ukraine.

Iakov Mormylo

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Iakov Mormylo – Laureate of the State Prize of Ukraine for work in Science and Technology (2015), PhD in the field of Military Science, National Security, State Border Security (2020). He began his career as a Design Engineer at SE “KMDB” after graduating from the National Technical University “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute” in 1997. Being a highly qualified specialist and a talented organizer with the necessary competences, he successively held positions of Head of Sector, Head of Department, Chief Designer and in 2015 became Director of the SE “KMDB”. Under his leadership, BTR-4E and family of vehicles on its base were created and put to production, and in July 2020 the Dozor-B was accepted for service. At present, in order to improve the technical characteristics of the equipment that was previously supplied to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, work is underway to remotorize it. Iakov Mormylo has many certificates of honor and awards for his many years of dedicated work, high professionalism, significant personal contribution to the creation of domestic armored vehicles. At this difficult time for us, the team under the leadership of Iakov Mormylo works as usual, performing complex tasks to strengthen the defense capability of Ukraine.

Denys Jatsyshyn

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Denys Jatsyshyn, Corporate Relations Director at U.S. – Ukraine Business Council (USUBC)

He is the USUBC’s primary interface regarding the development and maintenance of membership relationships, strategy, Government Relations, PR, and business development. Mr. Jatsyshyn joined USUBC in 2019 after 7-plus years in the corporate sector. From 2017-2019 he was the Head of Partner Development at EMEA and APAC at Bpmonline Inc., in this role, he was responsible for the partner business development as well as GR. From 2012-2017 he worked in different business areas, which include – energy, agriculture export, military, IT, media, and government sector. In 2014 he was a liaison officer at the European Parliament (Brussels). Mr. Jatsyshyn holds a Master’s Degree in Institute of International Relations Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and a Bachelor Degree in Law.

Tymofiy Milovanov

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Tymofiy Milovanov, President of the Kyiv School of Economics, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Ukroboronprom

He has taught at European and American universities for a long time, including the Friedrich Wilhelm Rhine University in Bonn, the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Pittsburgh. On July 7, 2016, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine elected Tymofiy Milovanov to the Board of the National Bank of Ukraine, and from October 2016 to August 2019, he held the position of Deputy Chairman of the Board. From August 2019 to March 2020, Tymofiy Milovanov held the position of Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture. In 2021, he joined the Supervisory Board of Ukroboronprom and became its chairman.

Tymofiy Milovanov graduated from Kyiv Polytechnic Institute (Management) in 1997 and Kyiv-Mohyla Academy with a degree in Economic Theory in 1999. In 2004, he received a PhD in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (USA).

During the Revolution of Dignity, together with еру leading economists of Ukraine and the world, he founded the VoxUkraine platform, which aims to increase the level of economic debate in Ukraine.

Victor Kevlyuk

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Victor Kevlyuk, Project Management Director of Swarmly Ltd, a military expert of the Center for Defense Strategies, colonel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine ( ret.)

Graduated from the Institute of State Military Administration of the National University of Defense of Ukraine in 2014, the International Institute of Management in 2019, completed course training at the University of Defense of the United Kingdom Cranfield, internship at the Ministries of Defense of Great Britain and Poland.

Viktor Kevlyuk has over 35 years of military service experience in command and staff positions, in particular in artillery units, local military authorities, and mobilization units of the General HQ of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He headed the organizational and mobilization department of the HQ operative command “West”, was the  chief of the center of planning and coordination of fire support and the center of civil-military cooperation of the Joint Operative HQ of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

He took part in the Russian war in the East of Ukraine as HQ Chief – First Deputy of Commander of the Operative- Tactical Group “North”.

One of the founders of the military reserve service of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the developer of its legislative and regulatory framework. The developer of the formation of more than ten military units, including the famous 10 mountain brigade, 53 mechanized brigade, 59 infantry brigade.

After being retired from the Armed Forces  took part in research on the defense procurements and territorial defense system conducted by the Center for Defense Strategies.

Grant

Glen Grant

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Glen Grant, Operations Director, World Trade Centre Kyiv  ( UK)

Prior to his current position Lt Col (Retd) Glen Grant, formerly British Army, worked as a defence and reform expert in Ukraine for the Ukrainian Institute for the Future. He is also a Senior Fellow in the UK Institute for Statecraft on their Building Integrity Initiative countering Russian influence. Glen graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and the Joint Staff Defence College at the Royal Naval College Greenwich. During his 37 year military career Glen commanded the UK Military Prison and an Artillery battery of 8 tracked guns. He worked on the operational and policy staffs in MOD UK, various army headquarters and Combined Air Operations Centre 5. He was Defence Attaché in Finland, Estonia and Latvia.

His key work in the last twenty years has been delivering reform and change for defence and security organisations in Europe. He has worked in the defence ministries or armed forces of fifteen European countries including Ukraine, Bulgaria and Poland. In January 2018 Glen published a groundbreaking paper on Reform of the Ukraine Military in the Kiev Post.

He has a Masters degree in the Leadership of Innovation and Change from York St John University in the UK.

Mykola Salamakha

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Mykola Salamakha, project manager for the development and production of armored vehicles simulators of the Research and Production Enterprise “Energy 2000”

He served in the Soviet Army of Ukraine in positions from tank platoon commander to deputy chief of staff of the training tank regiment-chief of the training department and in the Armed Forces of Ukraine in staff, rear and command positions from September 1992 to December 2005 inclusive. The last position is the battalion commander of the educational process, the military rank – lieutenant colonel of the reserve.

After his retirement, he cooperated with the Ukrinmash State Foreign Trade Company, worked at the Lviv Armored Plant State Enterprise, the Malyshev Kharkiv Transport Engineering Plant State Enterprise, the Scientific Center branch of the Techvoenservice State Concern, and the Ukroboronservice State Enterprise.

He graduated from the Kharkiv Guards Higher Military Tank Command School with a degree in Tactical Command Tank Troops, an engineer in the operation of wheeled and tracked vehicles in 1983.

Jan Śliwka

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Lieutenant General Jan ŚLIWKA, Deputy Commander of the General Command of the Polish Armed Forces

Lieutenant General Jan ŚLIWKA was born on 28 July 1961 in KRAŠNIK. He graduated from the Air Force Academy in Dęblin in 1985, as a supersonic fighter pilot. Initially he served as a pilot of a flight squadron at the 10th Fighter Regiment. During his service he advanced through various position including a Squadron Navigator, and Squadron Commander. Subsequently, after two years of studies at the National Defense Academy, he assumed a position of the Deputy Commander of the Regiment.

In 2000 he successfully accomplished one year studies at the Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, USA. Upon graduation he was assigned as the Deputy Commander of the 2″d Tactical Air Force Brigade. In September 2001, he was appointed as the Commander of the 2’^ Tactical Air Force Brigade. In October 2003, after accomplishing Operational Strategic Postgraduate Studies at the National Defense Academy, he was selected for a position of the Chief of Training, at the 3^ Air Defense Corps.

In October 2005, The President of the Republic of Poland promoted him to the rank of brigadier general and appointed him as the Chief of Staff – Deputy Commander of the 3’^ Air Defense Corps. In June 2006 Brigadier General Jan ŠLIWKA assumed a position of a Deputy Commander of the Coalition Air Operation Center, Finderup, Denmark.

On 16 June 2010 Minister of National Defense selected him for a position of the Commander of the Air Operation Center, which he assumed on 1 October 2010. Accordingly, in 2011 he was promoted to the rank of major general. On 1 January 2014 he was assigned as the Inspector of the Air Force at the General Command of the Polish Armed Forces. In 26 January 2016 he assumed the post of the Deputy Commander, General Command of the Polish Armed Forces. In January 2017 he became the 1″ Deputy of the General Commander of the Polish Armed Forces. In March 2020, The President of the Republic of Poland promoted him to the rank of lieutenant general.

Roman Bondar

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First Deputy General Director of State Concern “Ukroboronprom”

  • Roman Bondar is an expert in leadership development and building effective organizations.
  • For over 15 years he has dealt with search and sourcing senior executive managers, as well as with performing organizational restructurings of major Ukrainian and international companies.
  • Roman Bondar is a member and co-founder of UCGA – Ukrainian Corporate Governance Academy and Digital Transformation Institute – organizations designed to develop and promote corporate governance and digital transformation.
  • In the past he was a managing partner of the «Odgers Berndtson Ukraine».
  • Roman Bondar was appointed a Deputy Director General for Transformation by the Order of the Director General of the SC «Ukroboronprom» dated September 19, 2019, appointed First Deputy General Director.

Yuriy Husyev

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Director General of Ukroboronprom SC

  • Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine in 2014-2016: on this office he initiated and implemented radical reforms, headed the Reform Council of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, one of the authors of the «volunteer landing».
  • From July 2019, he headed the Kherson Regional State Administration, successfully implemented several «pilot projects» in various fields.
  • He began his political career in 1999. During this period, he gained business experience, worked in international and Ukrainian financial institutions.
  • He passed education programs at Harvard Kennedy School and the Aspen Institute Kyiv. He is graduated as PhD in Economics, Visiting Professor at the Nueva Granada Military University in Colombia.
  • Co-author of the «Book of Reforms», which describes the processes of transformation in Ukraine after the Revolution of Dignity 2013-2014.
  • Appointed General Director of the State Concern «Ukroboronprom» on December 3, 2020, by the Presidential Decree №532/2020.

Phillip A. Karber

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Dr. Phillip A. Karber,President of the Potomac Foundation

He was named to his current position in 2012, having been a Senior Fellow since the Foundation’s inception in 1988.

Dr. Karber is an internationally recognized authority on defense and national security matters; an accomplished business executive; and a university professor. He has prepared studies and recommendations on defense strategy for the highest levels of the U.S. government; advised many NATO governments on defense issues; headed BDM Corporation’s International Division; served as JFK International Air Terminal’s Chairman of the Board; and teaches courses in national security and military affairs at Georgetown University.

A former Marine, Dr. Karber earned his B.A. in political science from Pepperdine College, his Ph.D. in international law from Georgetown University, and certificates from Harvard’s JFK School of Government, the Wharton Business School, and the Harvard Business School.

16

Arda Mevlütoğlu

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Arda Mevlütoğlu, military industry expert ( Turkey)

 Arda Mevlutoglu has an undergraduate degree in Astronautical Engineering from Istanbul Technical University and master’s degree in Science and Technology Policy Studies from Middle East Technical University. He is currently continuing his graduate studies at the International Relations department of Middle East Technical University

Between 2004 and 2015, he had worked as a systems engineer, technology consultant and senior consultant in several firms in the defense sector in Turkey, assuming responsibilities in large number of modeling, simulation and training and aerospace projects. Since 2015 he has been working as the Vice president of defense programs of an international trading and consultancy company.

Mevlutoglu’s academic research is focused on aerospace and defense technologies, defense policies and armament programs. His works have been published as book chapters, reports, journal articles and monographs. He is a frequent commentator in international and Turkish media, and he is also giving seminars and conferences on defense technology, armament and regional balance of power issues regularly.

17

Gordon B. “Skip” Davis

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Gordon B. “Skip” Davis ,  NATO’s Deputy Assistant Secretary General for the Defense Investment Division. 

He previously served as Director of Operations, U.S. European Command in Stuttgart, Germany, Commander of Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan, and as Director of Operations and Intelligence for SHAPE in Mons, Belgium, before retiring from the U.S. Army as a Major General. Skip’s professional life has been characterized by operational and institutional military assignments interspersed with study and practice of international affairs and defense issues, primarily in Europe. Most of Skip’s career has been dedicated to NATO and European defense, including numerous assignments and operations with U.S., NATO, and UN forces in Europe, Africa, Middle East and Central Asia. Skip brings an unusual depth of practical experience and conceptual understanding of contemporary and emerging defense issues as well as executive level experience in operations, intelligence, leader development, capability development, and policy development. Skip holds an undergraduate degree in nuclear physics and graduate degrees in international business, defense and military history, and strategic studies.

18

Bruno Lété

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Bruno Lété, Senior fellow of security and defense at The German Marshall Fund of the United States in Brussels.

 He provides analysis and advice on trends in geopolitics and on international security and defense policy. He focuses primarily on the EU Common Security & Defense Policy, NATO, and developments in Central and Eastern Europe.

In 2010, Lété joined the European Union Delegation to the United States in Washington, DC, where he supported the political, security, and development section and focused on U.S. foreign policy and EU–U.S. relations. He started his career in 2007 as a program associate for the German Marshall Fund, where he helped developed GMF’s signature policy conferences such as Brussels Forum.

Lété studied at the University of Ghent in Belgium and at Collegium Civitas in Warsaw, Poland. He holds a bachelor’s in communication management and a master’s in international relations. He appears regularly in the media and is the author of frequent opinion pieces and policy briefs. In 2008 he was made a John C. Whitehead Fellow by the Foreign Policy Association in New York City.

19

Alexander Vinnikov

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Alexander Vinnikov (1977) is the Head of the NATO Representation to Ukraine since its creation  in March 2016, and Director of the NATO Liaison Office (since September 2015).

Prior to his arrival in Ukraine Alexander Vinnikov established and headed NATO’s regional  Liaison Office in Central Asia, resident in Tashkent (Uzbekistan) with a mandate covering the  five countries of the region. He has previously worked at NATO Headquarters in Brussels in both  the Political Affairs and Security Policy Division and the Defence Policy and Planning Division.

Alexander Vinnikov has also served with the OSCE in a variety of positions and duty stations,  most recently as Senior Adviser to the High Commissioner on National Minorities in The Hague.  He started his career as a researcher in international relations at Oxford University, the Geneva  Centre for Security Policy and Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

For his work in Ukraine Alexander Vinnikov has been named one of the “Top 10 most effective  foreign Ambassadors” (ranking between the German and French Ambassadors) by Ukraine’s  Institute of World Policy, based on a survey of leading government officials, MPs, journalists  and civil society experts. He has also been designated a HeForShe Champion by UN Women  Ukraine for his promotion of gender equality and the principles of the UNSC Resolution on  “Women, Peace and Security”.

A citizen of the Netherlands, Alexander Vinnikov holds degrees from Oxford University (First  Class Honours), Sciences-Po Paris and the London School of Economics.

He speaks six languages and is studying Ukrainian.

20

Ruslan Dzhalilov

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Ruslan Dzhalilov, Chairman of the Board of the Ukrainian Association of Manufacturers of Arms and Military Equipment of Ukraine.

He holds the position of the Chairman of the Board of the Ukrainian Association of Manufacturers of Arms and Military Equipment of Ukraine, which unites 117 private defense companies since 2017. Since 2019, he is also the General Director of KVP SYNERGY, which is engaged in the development of modern models of equipment, including military. In 2015-2016 he worked in the Central Office of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, where he was engaged in the development and serial supply of weapons and military equipment in the interests of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He directly organized the opening of Bogdan’s research and development work and the development of 155 mm self-propelled artillery according to NATO standards. Initiated the preparation of the Concept for the development of ground-based robotic systems.Until 2015, he served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine: He completed his service as Deputy Commander of the Highly Mobile Airborne Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for Logistics.

Oleg Vysotsky

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Oleg Vysotsky, General Director of the Private Joint-Stock Company “Research and Production Association” Practice “, Chairman of the Board of the Public Union “League of Defense Enterprises of Ukraine”.

In 1983 he graduated from the Faculty of Physics of Kyiv State University T.G. Shevchenko, also earned PhD in Physics and Mathematics (specialized in Experimental and Nuclear Physics) From 1983 to 1993 he worked at the Institute of Nuclear Research of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the Institute of World Economy and International Relations. From 1993 to present he is the founder and CEO of the Private Joint-Stock Company “Research and Production Association” Praktyka”. PJSC NGO “Praktyka” is a leading Ukrainian manufacturer of military equipment. It is the official supplier of different types of armored vehicles: light armored vehicles (Kozak-4 and Kozak-5), tactical armored personnel carriers (Kozak-2M), MRAP (Kozak-2), armored fighting vehicles 6×6 (Otaman 6×6), modernized armored personnel carriers BTR-60 and BMP-1 to the Ministry of Defense, the National Guard, the State Border Guard Service and other relevant Ukrainian ministries and institutions. In 2006 he held the position of Chairman of Derzhspozhyvstandart of Ukraine. From 2017 to present Oleh Vysotskyi is a member of the Committee on Defense Industry at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ukraine. From 2017 to present – Chairman of the Board of the Public Union “League of Defense Enterprises of Ukraine”. NGO “League of Defense Enterprises of Ukraine” was established in late 2016 to protect the interests of the private defense industry in Ukraine and to represent member companies of the League, which cover various areas of defense production. Today, the Union unites more than 60 leading private enterprises, most of which are contractors under state defence order.

Sergii Strimovskyi

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Sergii Strimovskyi – Laureate the President Prise of Ukraine for Young Scientists for work in Science and Technology (2010), candidate the technical sciences in the specialty of systems and control processes (2010). He started his career as an electronics engineer at the State Enterprise “KMDB” after graduating from the National Technical University “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute” in 2003. Being a highly qualified specialist, he successively held the positions of Head of the CAD Methodology and Data bases Sector, Deputy Head of the Electronic Chassis Control Systems, Computer Simulators and Training Tools Department and in 2020 became Head of the Organizational and Analytical Sector and Secretary of the Scientific and Technical Council State Enterprise “KMDB”. He developed systems for automatic control of the hydromechanical gearbox and hydraulic drive of cooling fans for armored personnel carriers BTR-4E, support was provided for the production of electrical equipment the chassis of the BTR-4E family of machines and a complex road traffic control system for tanks “OPLOT-T”, algorithms for automation of the enterprise were developed. Conducts scientific and technical activities in the direction of creating electronic chassis control systems for military wheeled and tracked vehicles. Currently performs exploratory scientific and technical work on the development of remote-controlled combat ground robotic complex of heavy class based on the armored personnel carrier BTR-4E and the creation of a hybrid power plant for military wheeled and tracked vehicles.

Vorobyov Mykola

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Date of birth – 13.05.1953

University Education – National Aerospace University “Kharkiv Aviation Institute”, Aircraft Engineering

Work experience at ANTONOV Company since 1976.

Positions:

  • AN-70 program director;
  • Program director for UAVs and modifications since 2015.
21

Oleg Korostelov

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Citizenship Ukrainian
Date, month and year of birth 09.11.1949
Education (name of university,

year of graduation)

Higher, Kyiv institute of Civil Aviation Engineers, 1972 
Specialty by education Electronic computing machinery
Academic qualification Electrical engineer
Academic degree Doctor of Engineering Science
Academic status Professor
Awards, honorary titles Laureate of the State Prize of Ukraine in the field of science and technology (1999),

Honored Engineer of Ukraine (2004), Order of Merit of the III degree (2008), Honorary Award of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine of the I degree (2009), Order of Merit of the II degree (2015), Award of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine – badge “Badge of Honor” (2015), Honorary Badge of the Chief of General Staff-Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine “For Merits to the Armed Forces of Ukraine” (2016), Order “For Merits” I degree (2018), awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine with the Order of the State (2020), Corresponding member of the NASU (2021)

Powers granted The order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine of June 17, 2004-rt granted power of the General Designer to create guided means of destruction,

The order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine of 21.09.2011 № 893-r granted power of the General Designer to create explosives and munitions,

The order of the Cabinet of Ministers of 08.09.2015 № 921-r granted power of the General Designer for the creation and modernization of anti-aircraft missile systems and air defense systems

Total length of work 48 years 

Since 1978 has been working at the STATE ENTERPRISE “STATE KYIV DESIGN BUREAU “LUCH”, where he worked his way up from a design engineer to a General Designer−Director General.

27

Ray Wojcik

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COL(R) Ray Wojcik, DIR, Center for European Policy Analysis, Warsaw.

Ray served in numerous command and staff assignments in the U.S./Europe, and as Army-Attaché, Poland. His career focused on transatlantic security. Coauthor: “Unfinished Business,” CEPA’s case for permanent U.S. forces in Poland.

28

Serhiy Svistyula

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Svistyula Serhiy, Chief Engineer of the MOTOR Lutsk Repair Plant SE

In 1987 he graduated from the Kyiv Institute of Civil Aviation Engineers. Honors degree;

In 2019 he graduated from the National Technical University of Ukraine “Kyiv Polytechnic Institute named after Igor Sikorsky”. Master’s degree with honors.

From 1987 to 2004 he served in the aviation of the Armed Forces of the USSR and Ukraine in engineering positions. Military rank – lieutenant colonel.

From 2005 to present – works at the MOTOR Lutsk Repair Plant SE. He worked as an engineer-technologist, deputy chief technologist, chief technologist.

32

Olexander Stepura

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Olexander Stepura, Director of AVK Skaeton LLC

In 1997, Oleksandr founded company Carbon and is still its CEO. Initially, the company was a manufacturer of telecommunications equipment. Under Alexander’s leadership and supervision, the company became a leading Ukrainian manufacturer of various equipment by 2003. From 2003 to 2012, Carbon as a general contractor completed many successful large-scale projects: several thousand cellular base stations were established, more than 700 MW of solar energy power plants were built; Carbon also automated transport payment systems in Kharkiv. Today it is a holding company that owns numerous specialized enterprises specializing in the production of innovative technologies. An investor in TehnoTable, which creates innovative jobs. Co-founder and investor of Intellogate, a company that creates solutions for payment and withdrawal of cryptocurrencies and the creation of software solutions for the fintech industry.

Bachelor of Power Engineering at Kyiv Polytechnic Institute (1988), received a doctorate in engineering (1993)

29

Serhiy Drozdov

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Serhiy Drozdov, Commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

He graduated with honors from the Chernihiv Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots in 1983, the Gagarin Air Force Academy in 1995, and the Faculty of Operational and Strategic Training of the National Defense Academy of Ukraine in 2009.

He began his officer service in 1983 as a fighter pilot in Ivano-Frankivsk.

1989 – 1993 – Commander of the Aviation Fighter Regiment in a group of Soviet troops in Germany;

1993 – 2004 – commander of the aviation unit, chief of air fire and tactical training – senior pilot of the fighter aviation division, commander of the aviation squadron, deputy commander of the fighter aviation regiment, commander of the fighter aviation regiment, deputy commander of the flight training brigade in Ivano-Frankivsk.

2004 – Senior Inspector-Pilot of the Fighter and Assault Aviation Department of the Chief of Aviation of the Main Command of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

2004 – 2006 – Deputy Commander of the Air Command “Center” for Aviation – Chief of Aviation.

2006 – 2009 – Head of the Aviation Training and Application Department of the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

2009 – 2012 – First Deputy Commander of the Air Command “South”.

From July 2012 to July 2015 – First Deputy Commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Military sniper pilot. He mastered L-39, An-26, MiG-21, MiG-29, Su-27 and Mi-8 helicopters. Total flight time over 2000 hours.

31

Serhii Fil

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Date of birth  – 09.06.1955

University Education  – National Aerospace University “Kharkiv Aviation Institute”,  Aircraft Engineering. Ph. D. in Engineering Science.

Work experience at ANTONOV Company since 1978.

Positions:

  • Head of furnishing and emergency equipment department;
  • Chief designer for advanced engineering.
33

Artem Vyunnyk

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Artem Vyunnyk,  Founder and Head of the Research and Production Enterprise “Athlon Avia”

Ukrainian entrepreneur, founder and head of the Research and Production Enterprise “Athlon Avia”, which is the developer and manufacturer of the A1-SM “Furia” – unmanned aerial system of intelligence and artillery fire adjustment, unmanned aerial system of radio reconnaissance A1-K “Cayman”, unmanned aerial system with loitering munition ST-35 “Silent Thunder”.

Laureate of the All-Ukrainian Prize of the Cabinet of Ministers “Narodna Shana” for the development of domestic economy, market way of thinking and acting, 2004. Laureate of the Prize of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine for the development and implementation of innovative technologies in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles, 2018.

Economist, lawyer. He graduated from the Faculty of Economics of Donetsk National University with a degree of master in “Production Management” and Kyiv National University. Taras Shevchenko, with a degree of master of law.

34

Eduard Trotsenko

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Eduard Trotsenko, Founder of INFOCOM LTD

Certified engineer of electrical networks and systems; Specialist in the field of automated process control systems (ACMS) with over 1,000 projects implemented in 15 countries of the world in different sectors of industry; Certified specialist in SIEMENS CNC systems with five coordinate machining; Certified design engineer in the field of civil engineering, professional in “Ensuring operational safety” and “Ensuring mechanical resistance and stability”; Expert in the field of energy distribution up to 300 kV, energy storage and accumulation, instrumentation, ACS, SCS, MES, ERP, monitoring and dispatching systems for explosive and hazardous industries; Expert in the field of design, construction and production of solar energy; Expert in the field of unmanned ground vehicles, including military applications, artificial intelligence and machine vision; Expert in the field of electric vehicles and gas stations; Expert in the development of business plans and business processes; Has patents for shale gas production and solar silicon production; He has an award “Volunteer of Ukraine”.

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Suprun Marta
Project Manager

Contact Details

Phone: +38 097 528 32 43
Email: lvivsf@gmail.com