2025 MCEC Global Training Summit Tools of the Trade: Technology’s Impact on Education

Maj. Gen. Larry R. Broadwell

Maj. Gen. Larry R. Broadwell is the Deputy Commander, Sixteenth Air Force (Air Forces Cyber), Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Sixteenth Air Force ensures the readiness of more than 49,000 personnel conducting worldwide operations by delivering multisource intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance products, applications, capabilities and resources. In addition, they build, extend, operate, secure and defend the Air Force portion of the Department of Defense global network. The command also serves as the Service Cryptologic Component, responsible to the Director, National Security Agency, and Chief, Central Security Service, as the Air Force’s sole authority for matters involving the conduct of cryptologic activities. Sixteenth Air Force leads Air Force global information warfare activities with nine wings, a technical center and an operations center. 

Maj. Gen. Broadwell received his commission in March 1996 from Officer Training School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. He is a graduate of both Undergraduate Navigator Training and Undergraduate Pilot Training, serving as a rated officer in the C-130E, F-15C and F-22. He is a veteran of operations Joint Guard, Joint Forge, Desert Fox, Southern Watch, Noble Eagle, Iraqi Freedom, Inherent Resolve and Resolute Support. 

Prior to his current position, Maj. Gen. Broadwell served as the Deputy Director for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Operations on the Joint Staff. 

Mike Morath

Appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott, Mike Morath took office as Commissioner of Education in January 2016 and was unanimously confirmed by the Texas Senate (85th Legislature) in March 2017. As Commissioner, he heads the Texas Education Agency, which oversees pre-kindergarten through high school education for more than 5.5 million public school students enrolled in both traditional independent school districts and public charter schools.

Prior to becoming the state’s Education Commissioner, Morath served on the Dallas Independent School District board of trustees for more than four years. During that time, he focused on academic improvements. And by his final year on the board, DISD had seen improvement in various areas including a rise in kindergarten readiness, math proficiency and graduation rates.

A strong advocate of public education, Commissioner Morath graduated from Garland High School in the Garland Independent School District. And thanks to the great public school education he received in Texas, he went on to earn a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, summa cum laude, from George Washington University in two-and-a-half years.

While starting his first company, Commissioner Morath was asked to teach an advanced computer science class at his high school alma mater after the previous teacher resigned suddenly. He taught through the school year until a permanent teacher was hired and remains amazed at how difficult it is to teach.

With a belief system that continually calls him to serve others, Commissioner Morath has participated in numerous volunteer activities, including church Missions Team, schools and juvenile justice facilities and serving as a mentor Big Brother. While in Dallas, he helped organize a trip to orphanages in southern India to set up clean running water systems, and volunteered at an eye clinic in rural Mexico, where he met another volunteer, Dr. Laura Vondra, who is now his wife. They are the proud parents of two daughters and two sons.

Brent Colburn  

As Vice President of Public Affairs, Brent Colburn leads a global team responsible for Microsoft’s communications efforts related to public policy, legal affairs, and social impact  This work includes efforts on the front lines of some of the most complex and diverse issues at the intersection of technology, public policy, and corporate reputation such as privacy, cybersecurity, environmental sustainability, human rights, accessibility, and corporate social responsibility.   

Brent brings a range of public sector, government, and political experience to his role, having started his career working on political campaigns, including as national communications director for President Obama’s successful re-election. His government service included stints leading  

public affairs at FEMA, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Defense.  

Following his time in Washington, DC, Brent joined the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative as their first Vice President for Communications before moving into a series of communications and government affairs roles at leading institutions of higher education.  He most recently served as Senior Vice President for Communications and External Affairs for the University of California system after holding a similar role at Princeton University.