Empowering the Innovators: Nurturing a Culture of Creativity and Collaboration

Lolita Horne co-leads DAU's Innovate to Win initiative which inspires and empowers the workforce to deepen their innovation skills and improve innovation readiness to address global opportunities, vulnerabilities, and threats. Over the last 20 years, Mrs. Horne has worked across industry, nonprofits, and now government where she is a proven Learning Systems Program Manager, dedicated DEI&A Counsel member, and innovation leader driving transformation, modernization, diversity, and excellence within government initiatives.  

Mrs. Horne is a PMP and holds a Master's in Information Technology from Johns Hopkins University.

David Schiff is with the National Security Innovation Network (NSIN.mil), the Secretary of Defense innovation organization whose mission is to build networks of innovators to generate novel solutions to national security challenges. David, the first Deputy Director of the Navy's innovation cell, NavalX, and founder & chairman of the Federal Innovators Salon, has spent most of his career with the Department of the Navy and the Department of Defense working to improve processes, methods, and culture for military and civilian employees to favor innovative mindsets as a strategic advantage.  He believes deeply in strengthening the relationships between civilian industry, academia, and the government to keep our nation, Allies, and the world safe and free.   

David has an MBA from the George Washington University with a focus on entrepreneurship, a B.A. from Vanderbilt University, and multiple years of training and practice in human-centered design facilitation.