CSCI Executive Director of Business Development Accepts Model Chapter Award on Behalf of AFCEA-IN
CSCI’s Executive Director of Business Development, Miranda Pannell, recently accepted the Model Chapter Award on behalf of AFCEA’s Indiana chapter (AFCEA-IN). Ms. Pannell and former AFCEA-IN President Jeremy Miller, CEO of Lionfish Cyber Security, represented the chapter during AFCEA’s TechNet Cyber Conference in Baltimore, MD.
Founded in 2021, AFCEA-IN aims to create forums for Indiana’s government, military, industry, and academic communities to collaborate on enhancing and aligning technology in the critical areas of defense, security, cyber, and intelligence. AFCEA-IN is one of over 130 AFCEA International chapters worldwide.
Having previously served as Vice President, Ms. Pannell was elected President of the organization in January 2024 and has been Summit Chair for AFCEA-IN’s annual Innovation and Technology Summit (AIITS) since 2022. In its two years, AIITS has featured speakers from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), as well as other agency and industry leaders.
Of the chapters that received the Model Chapter Award, the majority have been established for over thirty years. Notably, AFCEA-IN managed to attain this recognition in just three years – a testament to the chapter’s rapid growth and impact.
“Most AFCEA chapters are based in areas with significant government, military, and industry presence. Here in Indianapolis, we have a smaller pool of Federal agencies and industry providers. Still, our chapter managed to secure over 100 individual members and many corporate members in just our first year,” Ms. Pannell explained. “I can safely say much of our success and continued growth is thanks to our dedicated board, who have pushed AFCEA-IN within Indiana’s defense and STEM ecosystem. Because of their hard work, we can provide multiple networking, education, and recertification opportunities throughout the year, all in support of Department of Defense agency IT missions.”
Former AFCEA-IN president Jeremy Miller (pictured left) echoed these sentiments, highlighting the collective efforts that led to this achievement. “Receiving the Model Chapter Award is a testament to the incredible dedication and hard work of our AFCEA-IN team. From day one, our mission has been to forge a collaborative environment where military, government, industry, and academia can come together to advance technology within defense, security, cyber, and intelligence. This recognition, achieved in just three years, underscores our commitment to creating a resilient and innovative tech community here in Indiana. Together, we’ve built a strong foundation that will continue to support and grow our national and state’s defense ecosystem. It has been an honor to lead such a passionate and driven group.”
According to Ms. Pannell, AFCEA-IN has even more ambitious goals for 2024. “This year’s AIITS is projected to be even bigger and better than previous years. We are curating an agenda focused on a diverse range of technology, with notable speakers from industry, government, and academia,” she said.
“We also plan to put more energy into building emerging leaders here in Indiana by hosting events specifically designed for those interested in furthering their careers in the public sector,” added Ms. Pannell. “Our focus will be on strengthening Indiana’s defense landscape by facilitating networking and education, promoting internships, and providing scholarships to students in STEM fields.”
If you’re interested in joining AFCEA or being part of AFCEA-IN’s leadership team, please reach out to Ms. Pannell here or here for more information. Follow AFCEA-IN on LinkedIn.