Speaker Bio

Dr. Marina Theodotou is the Executive Director of the Center for Frontier AI Security. In this role she leads mission-driven solutions for senior leaders charged with AI-First missions and tackling complex challenges at the intersection of national security, AI, and organizational change. As Executive Director of the Defense Innovation Board of the United States Department of War, she directly advised the Secretary of Defense on defense innovation strategy, influencing billion dollar decisions and delivering 150+ actionable recommendations with 40% adoption rate within 18 months. With over 30 years of global experience leading transformative initiatives across defense, banking & finance, education, and consulting in the Americas, EU, and the Middle East she led teams with a winning track record in automating scaling digital solutions to support growth and driving multimillion dollar decisions leveraging customer data. Dr. Theodotou is an award-winning speaker, author, and thought leader in innovation and defense. A distinguished graduate of the University of South Carolina with bachelor's (Magna Cum Laude) and master's degrees in Economics, Dr. Theodotou holds a doctorate in Organizational Change and Leadership from the University of Southern California.