DoD Workshop: Smarter Learning & Development for Defense Agencies

Joseph DiPietro, Ph.D., PMP, serves as the Chief of Academic Technologies at National Defense University (NDU) in Washington, D.C. He and his team oversee the day-to-day operations and professional development for digital learning systems and educational software applications across all NDU components (e.g., the National War College, the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, the College of Information and Cyberspace, etc.). Joe is a former public school teacher, instructional designer, and university professor with a passion for all things educational technology-related. He has over 16 years of experience in managing the planning, delivery, support, and evaluation of online, blended, and face-to-face learning experiences in federal, private sector, postsecondary, and public education environments. Joe began facilitating online professional development in 2004 and taught his first online course in 2006. He has made mastering his craft the focus of his work, and his areas of interest focus most keenly on the fields of professional development, project management, and instructional design.

Greg Frederick is an Academic Technology Specialist at the National Defense University. He has over 20 years of extensive experience in the Education/IT field administrating, developing, and programming e-learning content for the U.S. Government. Mr. Frederick has leveraged several Learning Management, Student Information, and Lecture Capture Systems over the years. However, he has worked exclusively with Blackboard Learn for the past 10 years and is a Blackboard Certified Trainer and Certified System Administrator. Greg was awarded Blackboard's Catalyst Award in 2011 and was elected to the inaugural class of Blackboard MVPs in 2013. Greg is the former Chair of the Military Education and Training Blackboard User Group (METBUG) and currently serves as VP of the Government Sector for the Federal Government Distance Learning Association (FGDLA) since 2012. Mr. Frederick has a BS from Christopher Newport University and a Master's Certificate in the CIO Program from National Defense University's College of Information and Cyberspace.

Mike Jacobs works for the Information Technology Directorate at the National Defense University (NDU). He is part of the Academic Technology Team which supports NDU's academic mission through use of learning strategies and technologies. He has worked in the field for over 10 years, with extensive experience with Blackboard Learn, instructional design, graphic and web design, and multimedia creation. Mr. Jacobs earned his BFA in 2d & 3d Animation from The Savannah College of Art and Design and his M.Ed. in Instructional Design and Technology from George Mason University.

Floyd is currently the Chief of Innovative Learning at the DoD’s Defense Intelligence Agency. In this capacity, he oversees the Agency’s instructional design, instructional media, learning analytics, and learning management systems’ staff and resources. Floyd began his career in elementary education but has spent the last almost 15 years supporting various learning functions throughout the United States defense intelligence enterprise.

Grant E. Springer is currently Practice Director for Knowledge Systems, serving as the lead Blackboard functional and technical analyst, consultant, and system administrator for the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). As the liaison between the Success Factors and Blackboard learning management systems for DIA’s integration across various applications including Blackboard, PeopleSoft, KZO, Success Factors LMS, he focuses primarily on data integration architecture and configuration for the Blackboard system. 

Timothy D. Harfield, PhD is Senior Product Marketing Manager for Analytics at Blackboard Inc. A philosopher by training, Dr. Harfield has published and presented widely on how learning analytics can be used in a variety of contexts to promote student success in a way that is compatible with humanistic values. Prior to joining Blackboard in 2016, Dr. Harfield served as Project Director in the Office of Enrollment Management and Student Success at Georgia State University, and as a Fellow with the University Innovation Alliance.