TechNet Cyber 2026

Joan Ray
Combined C2 and Spectrum Portfolio Chief Engineer, PAE Command, Control, Communications Enterprise
Defense Information Systems Agency


Joan Ray is the Chief Engineer for the Combined C2 and Spectrum Portfolio at the Defense Information Systems Agency. In this role, Ray is responsible for the technical direction and engineering oversight of the portfolio, which encompasses critical programs including GCCS-J, JOPES/JPES, JCRM, OMS, EM, Citadel (DISA DevSecOps), EMBM-J, Geminis, Spectrum Sharing, and SPINE. Ray joined the Air Force at 17, immediately following high school, and was stationed at Hanscom Air Force Base, working as a Global Command and Control System-Air Force System Administrator. After leaving the Air Force, she worked at U.S. Central Command as an I3, Common Operational Picture, and JOPES J-6 Lead. Ray began supporting DISA in 2007, serving as both a contractor and a government civilian. After an initial tenure with the C2 Portfolio, she spent 10 years managing the DISN C2 for the network. Ray returned to the Combined C2 and Spectrum Portfolio in 2024, initially serving as the deputy before assuming the current role of Chief Engineer. Ray has a bachelor’s in computer science from the University of Maryland and has earned 11 professional certifications, including Linux+, Certified Scrum Master, PMP, CISM, CASP+, CCNA, AWS Certified Solutions Architect, and four Oracle certifications.

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