Open Source Summit North America | LF Events
Open Source Summit is the premier event for open source developers, technologists, and community leaders to collaborate, share information, solve problems, and gain knowledge, furthering open source innovation and ensuring a sustainable open source ecosystem. It is the gathering place for open-source code and community contributors.
Michael Henry is a distinguished technology leader with extensive experience bridging Department of Defense requirements through the adaptation and implementation of free and open source solutions (FOSS). As the Chief of Information Technology for the Secretariat of the Air Force, Studies and Analysis, he provides strategic vision and technical leadership that shapes the future of Air Force information systems.
Michael Henry's Contributions
As the Crossfunctional Integration Lead of the Applications Category for the Air Force’s Advanced Battle Management System, Michael has been instrumental in developing next-generation command and control capabilities through open source integration. His leadership has enabled seamless data flow across previously siloed systems, significantly enhancing the military’s ability to execute Joint All-Domain Command and Control operations.
Michael is the co-founder and creator of YodaBox, which has evolved to become the edge cloud node of record which is now known as EdgeOps at Platform One, the Air Force’s DevSecOps Platform. This groundbreaking technology has revolutionized edge computing capabilities for the Department of Defense, enabling secure deployment of mission-critical applications in highly contested environments.
A lifelong hacker and maker at heart, Michael brings his passion for innovation to everything he does. Outside his professional role, he pursues ambitious technical projects including making furniture, building robots, building race cars, and constructing experimental aircraft—applying the same creative problem-solving approach that has defined his government service. He actively experiments with various radio technologies and satellite communications, pushing the boundaries of connectivity in diverse environments all through automation.
His impact on national infrastructure extends beyond defense systems. In 2013, he developed the groundbreaking arrival-departure window for the Federal Aviation Administration, which mitigated midair collisions in terminal areas at major airports throughout the United States National Airspace System (NAS). These critical safety measures have been codified as regulation in the air traffic control procedures 7110.65 and continue to protect millions of travelers daily in the world’s busiest airports.
Throughout his career, Michael has championed the adoption of Linux-based systems across critical defense infrastructure, successfully developing statements of work that balance security requirements with the benefits of open source collaboration. As a strong believer in all things automation through open source, he advocates that government should be the largest contributor to open source technologies—not just a consumer. His expertise in navigating complex procurement regulations has enabled numerous defense projects to leverage community-driven innovation while maintaining the highest standards of security and compliance.
Insights at Open Source Summit North America 2025
At the Open Source Summit North America 2025, Michael will share insights on creating effective edge clouds that align with both defense and commercial retail operations alike. By adopting open source principles, the government and open source communities can work together to enhance national security capabilities to build a stronger and more resilient future.
Other Industry Leaders
Anne leads program development in Google’s Open Source Programs Office (OSPO). The Program Development Team helps teams at Alphabet develop, contribute to, and release open source software with an eye towards strategy, sustainability, and the spirit of the Open Source Definition. The Program Development Team works across domains, from cloud to data analytics to gaming to security.
Phil is the Head of Ericsson Software Technology (EST), where he leads a passionate group of engineers developing open source software across a wide range of projects including Linux, OpenStack, Kubernetes, and ONAP among many others.
Jessica Forrester is a Distinguished Engineer and the Chief Architect for AI Catalyst Engineering, focusing on adoption of new technologies into the Red Hat AI product portfolio. She was an early contributor to Red Hat OpenShift, Kubernetes, and its related communities. She has led many cross-functional engineering teams at Red Hat across AI, hybrid cloud services, and Kubernetes / OpenShift Container Platform.
Jim’s career spans three of the largest technology trends to rise over the last decade: mobile computing, cloud computing and open source software. Today, as executive director of The Linux Foundation, he uses this experience to accelerate innovation in technology through the use of open source and Linux.
At The Linux Foundation, Jim works with the world’s largest technology companies, including IBM, Intel, Google, Samsung, Qualcomm, and others to help define the future of computing on the server, in the cloud, and on a variety of new mobile computing devices. His work at the vendor-neutral Linux Foundation gives him a unique and aggregate perspective on the global technology industry.
Jim has been recognized for his insights on the changing economics of the technology industry. His writing has appeared in Businessweek, Wired, and other top technology journals, and he is a regular keynote speaker at industry events. He advises a variety of startups, including Splashtop, and sits on the boards of the Global Economic Symposium, Open Source For America, and Chinese Open Source Promotion Union.
