His strengths as a team builder and crisis manager helped bring order out of chaos during combat operations and in various conflicts over the past two decades. Sam also provided vision and guidance to organizations he led, enabling them to attain new goals, create new structures and develop next generation capabilities. In addition to serving in the Middle East, he lived in Bahrain for two years, traveling extensively throughout the region and gaining key insights into the region’s culture.
Sam graduated from Auburn University with a BS in Personnel Management, earned a MBA from Averett University, and studied foreign policy at The Brookings Institution. He is currently the President of Once a Marine LLC, works as a defense consultant/advisor, and speaks at events benefitting military non-profit organizations.
Sam is also a senior advisor for Fogbow, a company that enables humanitarian operations globally.
He is married, has two daughters, and lives in Saint Petersburg, Florida.
After leaving the public sector, Eric founded Azimuth Global LLC, a consulting firm that provides strategic advisory services to Fortune 500 companies in the technology, national security, and strategic risk sectors. He serves as an operating partner with Lightspeed Venture Partners. He sits on the Board of Advisors for Intel Corporation and is an advisor to Anduril Industries Inc. and other emerging technology companies. Eric is also a Senior Advisor at WestExec, on the Board of Advisors for the Center for a New American Security, a Senior Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center, and a panel member for the Special Competitive Studies Project focused on geopolitical rivalries associated with China and Russia. Eric is an active speaker with Leading Authorities Inc. on topics related to geopolitics, leadership, and risk management. He was previously the President of Capella Federal Inc., a subsidiary of Capella Space Corp. Eric is also an Ambassador for the Third Option Foundation and the CIA Officers Memorial Foundation.
During Eric’s government career he focused on responding to trends impacting the global landscape, from his early years in CIA’s paramilitary ranks up through the senior enterprise level. This included directing traditional intelligence activities focused on—Iran’s nuclear and regional ambitions, CIA’s foreign partnerships across the Middle East and North Africa, and global competition with China and Russia—and pursuing innovative cyber, technology, and data exploitation solutions to address complex national security issues.
Eric’s last position in government was as Assistant Director of CIA for the Near East where he led thousands of officers from different career disciplines and US agencies, developed and executed multi-billion dollar budgets, and tackled acute intelligence and foreign policy challenges. As a member of CIA’s senior leadership team, he served on the Expanded Corporate Board and cultivated enduring partnerships across the US interagency and with foreign partners to ensure US national objectives were achieved. Throughout his career he was a trusted advisor to CIA Directors, Presidents, Cabinet and military officials, and members of Congress. He also participated in a range of White House strategy, policy, and resource decisions.
Eric held various leadership roles in CIA’s Near East, Counterterrorism, East Asia, and Special Activities Centers where he integrated operational, analytic, tech/cyber, digital innovation, and support components to address US national security interests at home and abroad. As a senior Operations Officer, he served overseas as a Chief of Station in two Middle Eastern countries and other senior positions in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and three conflict zones. Eric is a trusted expert across the US interagency in Middle East-related intelligence, defense, and geopolitical challenges. During his nearly 10 years in the USMC, Eric held command and staff assignments and completed deployments to the Middle East, Africa, the Balkans, Japan, and Europe.
At CIA, Eric received several honors including—the Distinguished Presidential Rank Award, Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal, CIA’s Director Award, Intelligence Medal of Merit, ODNI’s National Intelligence Medal of Achievement, Clandestine Service Career Award, and Directorate of Operations Excellence in Leadership Award. Eric holds an MBA in International Business from American University and a BA in Communications from the University of Michigan. While at Michigan, he played Division I football as an inside linebacker participating in two Rose Bowls and a Gator Bowl.
As a citizen soldier and member of the Florida National Guard, Ralph is also a retired senior law enforcement officer with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Florida, and served as the interim Chief of Police of Windermere, Florida. He excelled in bringing best practices in line and leadership positions in Patrol, SWAT, K-9, Investigations, Traffic, and Aviation.
Ralph has a Master of Strategic Studies degree from the United States Army War College and a Master of Aeronautical Science degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He holds an Airline Transport Pilot rating in Helicopters and Airplanes and is a Certified Flight and Ground Instructor.
Ralph currently works as a law enforcement and defense consultant.
Andrew, prior to joining Constellis, completed over 30 years of government service, ending his career as a Senior Intelligence Service (SIS) Executive with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Andrew served with distinction with the CIA as a career Paramilitary Operations Officer (PMOO, multiple assignments as a Chief of Station (COS) in the Directorate of Operations (DO) in both the Middle East and Europe. His career spanned the gambit of the early days of the Afghan and Iraq conflicts to Latin America, Africa, and Eastern European assignments. Andrew finished his career with service in over thirty countries, over 20 conflict area assignments, and multiple command tours, finishing his career as a COS in one of the CIA’s largest war zone stations and as Chief of Operations for the Special Activities Center (SAC). Andrew’s career covers over 30 years of leading, planning, and executing multi-faceted operations worldwide, supporting critical national security objectives.
As a retired senior executive and paramilitary officer with considerable experience leading and executing national security programs, often under difficult circumstances, Andrew is considered an expert in crisis management, operations, and leadership.
At the CIA, Andrew received the CIA’s Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal and was a two-time recipient of the Distinguished Intelligence Star for Valor. He received the Directorate of Science and Technology’s (DST) John McCone Award for Excellence in Technical Operations, the Directorate of Digital Innovation (DDI)’s Ben Franklin Award for Excellence in Communication Innovation, and a four-time nominee for the DO Excellence in Leadership Award. Andrew received his BA in History from West Virginia University and previously served with the U.S. Army’s Special Forces (Green Berets).
Dee successfully negotiated with Governments and armed groups to stop using child soldiers. In the DRC her direct face-to-face negotiations with 30 war lords led to the release of almost three thousand girls and boys from the ranks of Congolese rebel groups in a 2-year period and a remarkable decrease in new recruitment by non-state actors.
Following her early retirement from the UN, Dee is focusing on writing and consultancies in order to share her knowledge on the issues affecting children living in armed conflict. Her passion is training and inspiring people to contribute to the global agenda to stop and prevent child recruitment. Her consultancies range from provision of online training for the UN, to missions in Ukraine and Sahel countries to conduct assessments for NGOs.
Before embarking on a humanitarian career, Dee was a soap writer for Dutch TV. She earned a Master’s Degree in Writing for Film and Television.
Magdalen is both intimately familiar with the challenges of post-conflict communities in Northern Uganda, as, also, a victim of the LRA violent conflict which ended the life of her beloved brother in 1995. This experience compelled her to work for an organization that promotes reconciliation, peaceful reintegration, and prevents conflict and its reoccurrence.
In 2013, she worked closely with the department of Anthropology at Miami University Hamilton Ohio, to provide entrepreneurship training to empower female ex-child soldiers to become economically independent and self-reliant. Magdalen became a member of the Afrika Youth Movement in 2014 in order to raise awareness on violent extremism and the need to end violence against women and girls in Africa. In 2019, she also became an Intercultural Leader, an initiative of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and the BMW Group with key interest on migration and peace and security.
Her experiences and expertise include; Peace and conflict resolution, Project Planning and Management, Human Resource Management, Business Administration, Civic education, survivors’ crisis management, and environmental security and sustaining peace from reputable institutions like Uganda Management Institute, Gulu University, Miami University Hamilton, Ohio, and Sustainable Development Goal Academy.
Mr. Parnell’s Awards and Commendations include:
The Distinguished Intelligence Cross, the highest award given by CIA for extraordinary valor/heroism
The Distinguished Intelligence Star, the 2nd highest award given for voluntary acts of courage
The Wazir Akbar Khan Medal, awarded by Afghanistan President Karzai.
The Career Intelligence Medal, for distinguished career service.
Prior to serving in the CIA, Mr. Parnell spent two years as a Police officer and 11 years as an infantry officer in the United States Marine Corps, which included serving as a Company Commander with 3rd Marines and flying as an Aerial Observer in the OV-10 Bronco. Mr. Parnell graduated from Austin College in 1983 and was an NAIA All-American football player. His hobbies include; golf, CrossFit, fishing, hunting, and skiing. He is married with two daughters.
He has led and executed projects for U.S. Special Operations Command, U.S. Central Command, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Peace Corps, as well as various non-governmental organizations and private companies.
As a foreign correspondent, his research and analysis has been published in the New York Times, Washington Post, Associated Press, and many other publications.
Zack has received multiple awards for his strategic initiatives, creative problem solving, and ability to manage crises.
The hallmark of his service was leadership and command in USMC infantry, reconnaissance, and joint special operations units. He was a foreign exchange officer with the British Royal Marine Commandos and the Norwegian Army, earning him a specialty as Western Europe Regional Affairs Officer. He is a plank owner of the USMC Initial Force Contribution to U.S. Special Operations Command, Marine Corps SOCOM Detachment ONE (Det ONE), leading ‘Task Unit Raider’ in Baghdad in 2004. He commanded 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, deploying twice to the western Pacific and to Ar Ramadi, Iraq for OIF during the ‘Anbar Awakening’ in 2007 Surge. As Commanding Officer of Camp Fuji, Japan, he led ‘Task Force Fuji’ in disaster relief operations at the Sendai Airport as part of Operation Tomodachi from March to April 2011 in response to the earthquake and tsunami.
Craig has worked in the private sector, at the Nevada Secretary of State Office as the Deputy Secretary for Operations, and in U.S. government contracting. He has been Vice President of Development for PrairieFire, a start-up in the shooting sports, training, and destinations sectors. He was most recently the CEO of USA Shooting. In April 2024 he was inducted into the US Special Operations Command Commando Hall of Honor.
Craig is active in supporting hunting and veterans outreach non-profit organizations. He and his wife of 33 years reside in Colorado Springs, CO.
Through the Instant Aid projects, Jasmin created the only cafe in Kabul dedicated to feeding and educating street-working kids. Additionally, she has provided over 1 million meals in Ukraine, over 500,000 meals in Afghanistan and Pakistan in partnership with World Central Kitchen, and delivered over $2 Million of in-kind donations of infant supplies in partnership with the First Lady of Ukraine and the Ministry of Health.
Jasmin operated all mobile hygiene services for the City of Los Angeles. Her consulting agency, Radical Hospitality Consulting, worked with the Los Angeles Sanitation (LASAN) and Mayor Eric Garcetti to provide over 200,000 unique showers to those experiencing homelessness across Los Angeles County and the City. Under her purview were 13 shower trailers and 130 staff.
In 2015, Jasmin founded Lava Mae Los Angeles, the first mobile shower service trailer in the city of LA. Along with her team and private donors, she scaled the program to three trailers. During her consulting time, she consulted and supported the creation of the Hie Hie project in Honolulu.
Before Jasmin’s direct impact projects, she lived in Afghanistan, where she filmed a documentary, Generation A, about the education system in Afghanistan. Her documentary went on to have a theatrical release in four countries.
Jasmin earned a Bachelor of Journalism from Macleay College and resides in the USA with her family. Her global worldview, proven project execution, and operations experience in a series of direct roles make her uniquely qualified to lead large-scale global aid projects and teams.
Attorney General’s Honors Attorney in the Department of Justice’s National Security Division’s
Counterterrorism Section, where she collaborated on investigations and prosecutions with
numerous U.S. Attorney’s Offices throughout the country. Jacqueline also served as Counsel to
the Deputy Assistant Attorney General for National Security, where she provided high-level legal
and policy support for the National Security Division’s Assistant Attorney General on complex
and highly sensitive national security programs.
She also held several positions within the U.S. Department of Justice at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington D.C., and the Eastern District of New York, where she investigated violations of U.S. sanctions, money laundering conspiracies and related forfeitures, financial crimes, and cyber matters. Jacqueline received the Criminal Division Assistant Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in 2019 for prosecuting that case. She received additional awards from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force for several successful national security prosecutions.
After the Department, Jacqueline completed a fellowship at the Federal Reserve Bank of New
York in their Money Laundering Unit, where she investigated suspicious wire activity and
evaluated the compliance programs of financial institutions operating in the United States and
the Middle East related to sanctions evasion and fraud.
In the private sector, Jacqueline’s practiced as a litigation attorney at Morrison & Foerster LLP
in New York, where she advised clients on sensitive U.S. national security matters, internal
investigations, securities litigation, and white-collar defense.
Before her legal experience, Jacqueline worked for the U.S. Department of State at the U.S.
Embassy in Rome, Italy, and for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Beirut,
Lebanon. She has spent most of her career in public service, earning a Master’s and working at
the U.S. Department of State, The World Food Programme, the White House, the U.S. House of
Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and completed humanitarian trips focusing on food security,
water and sanitation, and economic development in Africa and Lebanon.
Jacqueline received her J.D. from Fordham University School of Law and is admitted to the New
York Bar. Jacqueline earned a federal clerkship for the Honorable Katharine H. Parker in the
Southern District of New York. Jacqueline obtained her M.I.A. in International Relations and
Public Diplomacy and B.A. in Communication and Mandarin Chinese from the University of
Southern California.
Worth is also the Deputy Chief Operations Officer for Fogbow.
Over more than twenty-seven years as a Marine, Worth performed a broad range of leadership, operations, and policy duties in combat and peace in Asia, Europe, and the Pacific Rim. After assignments in infantry, intelligence, and force reconnaissance, Worth was selected to serve as one of first members of Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command. He spent the remainder of his career as a Marine Raider assigned at all levels of United States Special Operations Command. Worth served as a direct action platoon commander in Al Anbar Province, Iraq; worked closely with members of all elements of the Afghan National Security Forces; and led the executive support team for the Vice Commander, USSOCOM in the Pentagon for more than two years. He retired in 2021.
A student of conflict, Worth earned his Juris Doctor from the Florida State University College of Law where he interned as a felony prosecutor in the 1st District of Florida, successfully prosecuting narcotics, sexual assault, child molestation, firearms, and assault cases. Worth earned his Masters of Arts in Conflict Management and Resolution from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in 2018 with a 4.0 GPA. He was the Department of Public and International Affairs Alumnus of the Year and Graduation Keynote Speaker for 2019.
Worth began freelance writing in 2018. He is published in the New York Times, The National Interest, Garden and Gun Magazine, Outdoor Life Magazine, The Bitter Southerner, and numerous other outlets all of which are available at www.russellworthparker.com. For book length projects he is represented by Peter McGuigan of Ultra Literary in New York City.
Worth lives in Wilmington, NC with his wife, Katy Lewis Parker, an attorney, his daughter, Annabelle Marie Trapier Parker, a big dog named Laurel, and a small cat named Arya. He is a hunter and angler who fortunately knows his way to the grocery store, a slow ultra-marathon runner, a sub-mediocre but enthusiastic surfer, and a notorious BBQ snob.
MGySgt May transferred to 3rd Battalion 1st Marines and was assigned to Lima company 1st platoon. During this time MGySgt May participated in his 1st West pack and Rim pack deployments. Upon returning from deployment MGySgt May was discharged from the Marines in December 1997 and reported to Golf Company 2/23 as a reservist. MGySgt May was selected for the Active Reserve program and reported to SOI at Camp Pendleton as an instructor with India company.
In April 1999 MGySgt May reported back to active duty and was assigned to Lima Company 3rd Battalion 1st Marines where he served as the guide for 1st platoon. Upon returning from his 2nd west pack MGySgt May reported to 1st Reconnaissance Battalion in February 2001 and was assigned to Alpha Company 1st platoon and deployed on his 3rd West pack as a team leader. Shortly after returning MGySgt May redeployed in support of OIF as a platoon commander with Alpha Company 5th platoon.
MGySgt May transferred to 1st Force Reconnaissance Company in September 2003 where he served as a team leader with 3rd platoon and deployed for the 5th time in support of OIF. At the end of this tour MGySgt May transferred to I&I duty with 4TH Force Reconnaissance Company in June of 2006 as the company operations chief.
MGySgt May deployed for the 6th time as a platoon commander with Echo Company 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion when his company was activated in 2008 in support of OIF. Upon return, MGySgt May was transferred to 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion. MGySgt May deployed as the Special Operations Task Force 81 current operations chief and the CJSOTF-A JOC NCOIC. MGySgt May returned from deployment and transferred on June 25 2011 to Force Reconnaissance Company I MEF where he served as the company operations chief.
Since 2013 MGySgt May has held positions as the Reconnaissance Occupational Field Sponsor and the USMC Combatant Diving Advocate for HQMC, SNCOIC of the Reconnaissance Training Company and was transferred On July 1st 2016 to 1st Reconnaissance Battalion and served as the Battalion Operations Chief until retiring on December 31st 2017.
Chris May served as the I MEF LNO for the Center for Advanced Operational Culture Learning supporting I MEF and ITX for every unit deploying overseas until April 2019.
Chris May currently serves as the Military and Tactical Sales Manager conducting business development for Under Armour covering the Central United States, founder and CEO of Brother Recon LLC, and Vice President for the Marine Reconnaissance Foundation.
Chris is also the Chief of Security for Fogbow.
He acquired additional expertise in Islamic jihadist ideology and the interconnectedness of poverty and violent extremism from living for years in Hamas-controlled Palestinian refugee camps, Muslim Brotherhood-dominated slums, and other Salafi-inspired communities — areas that are breeding grounds and safe-havens for terrorist organizations. J.D. strongly advocates that U.S. Government counterterrorism strategy should focus heavily on poverty alleviation and economic development initiatives combined with robust counter-narratives that discredit and provide alternative views to violent jihadist ideology.
J.D. has academic degrees in Arab and Islamic studies, is proficient in multiple dialects of Arabic, and has successfully been advising and training expatriates relocating to and working in the Middle East and North Africa region since the early 2000's. His diversified work experience across multiple sectors, intimate knowledge and deep understanding of Arab and Islamic culture, and proven track record of overcoming the challenges of living in a new country and culture in order to thrive professionally and personally uniquely qualify him to advise and train in ways very few others can.
Originally from Northeast Tennessee, J.D. is equally happy and at home in large Middle Eastern capitals, small town Appalachia, and on the North Carolina coast where he and his family currently reside.
Former UN Official and humanitarian affairs expert
Chris Hyslop is currently the Humanitarian Coordinator for Fogbow. Following his United States Peace Corps Volunteer service in Kyrgyzstan, he worked with humanitarian organizations and the United Nations for 25 years in Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan, Sudan, Myanmar, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Chechnya, the Balkans, China, Liberia, and Eritrea. He led response teams in conflict and natural disaster response around the world. He has expertise in a broad range of international and humanitarian issues, including Civ-Mil Coordination, human rights, the Nexus, public-private partnerships, and conflict resolution. He received his Bachelor's Degrees in Anthropology and Education. He attended the Harvard Kennedy School, where he received a Master's Degree in Public Administration.
Chris is also the Humanitarian Coordinator for Fogbow.
KEY QUALIFICATIONS
Vast experience in planning, training, conducting, and leading the full range of special operations inside and outside Declared Theaters of Active Armed Conflict to include Europe, Africa, Asia, Central and South America, and the Middle East. Expert knowledge of U.S. joint special operations techniques, tactics, and procedures.
Extensive network of contacts including military, foreign, interagency, and academic partners.
Executive level briefer with highly effective interpersonal communications skills.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Prior experience includes a successful history of numerous classified SOF operations in command, leadership, and staff assignments with United States Special Operations Command organizations. Details available upon request.
Command Senior Enlisted Leader, Joint Special Operations University 2017-2019 USSOCOM, MacDill AFB
Led, coached, and mentored, a six month, 15 person transformational working group consisting of joint military members, academics, and corporate designers in drafting a new University vision that laid the foundation for several new SOF specific educational lines of effort and courses which incorporate Design Thinking, Creative Problem Solving, Irregular Warfare, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Big Data, Cyber, Space, and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction.
Engaged and advised senior leadership from all Theater Special Operations Commands and NATO SOF Headquarters in the continued development of International SOF Non- Commissioned Officer Career Education Programs. This strategic global initiative resulted in the expansion of SOF International Educational Programs in Columbia, the Indo-Pacific region, multiple NATO countries, and Africa.
Requested as a panel speaker at the 2018 Canadian SOF Symposium in Kingston, Ontario providing an engaging presentation on “Operational Risk in Combat and the Non- Commissioned Officers role”.
Command Senior Enlisted Leader, Theater Special Operations Command Africa 2015-2017 Stuttgart, GE
Provided executive leadership to a Theater Special Operations Command (TSOC) consisting of 350 staff and 1000 deployed joint military, civilian, and coalition partner personnel in support of U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM), U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), and 20 priority U.S. Embassy Country Teams throughout Africa.
Instituted a TSOC level professional development program designed to train and educate new staff and partner forces from basic Special Operations Force design to how a Joint Staff functions daily and during conflict.
Consistently created the trusted and mature working relationships necessary to synchronize African and European Partners, the Interagency, Office of the Secretary of Defense, and Ambassadors and their Country Teams when executing strategic level operations in support of the USAFRICOM Theater Campaign Plan.
Command Senior Enlisted Leader, USSOCOM Joint Interagency Task Force 2013-2015 Washington, DC
Professionally coordinated and synchronized the strong network of Joint Military and Interagency Partners in the National Capital Region during crisis action and deliberate contingency planning in response to USSOCOM National level taskings.
Attended ACCU-Hire to provide guidance and over-site to the restructuring of the Unit’s hiring process, increasing top performer selection immediately.
Command Master Chief, Naval Special Warfare Unit TEN 2010-2013 Stuttgart, GE
Initiated the NSWU-10 manpower requirements process in establishing a 55 person Activities Manning Document, to include Basis of Issue and Facilities Design in bringing the command towards Initial Operating Capacity.
Provided tactical and operational leadership for 12 deployed Naval Special Warfare elements comprised of Small Boat Detachments, SEAL Task Units, and multiple Special Operations Liaison Elements in six priority African nations.
Selected by Naval Special Warfare Command as a charter member of the 2025 Strategic Initiatives Group, to create a vision where NSW is trained, educated, and equipped, to operate successfully in a future environment of combined, joint, interagency coordination and execution.
Deputy Force Master Chief, Naval Special Warfare Command 2009-2010 Coronado, CA
Expertly monitored and managed Naval Special Warfare senior enlisted pay and compensation charts, selection board guidance, doctrinal structure, detailing issues, career progression reviews, and the Command Master Chief Program.
Maintained a database that tracked over 700 Naval Special Warfare senior enlisted personnel helping to define priorities for approximately 900 requirements globally.
Command Master Chief, Naval Special Warfare Group ONE Logistics Support Unit 2008-2009 Coronado, CA
Mentored, advised, and trained 320 officers and enlisted personnel directly preparing three NSW GWOT deployments to Iraq supporting combat operations.
Hand selected to develop and manage the new Combat Service Support (CSS) / Combat Support (CS) NEC Qualification Program for Naval Special Warfare Group ONE (NSWG-1). Primary author of the NSWG-1 NEC Qualification Program Instruction and CSS/CS training curriculum resulting in 350 personnel receiving the new warfare designation.
Command Master Chief, SEAL Team ONE 2006-2008 Coronado, CA
Responsible for the leadership, management, tactical guidance, and operational readiness of 415 forward deployed personnel in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.
Provided critical recommendations on how to maximize the operational capabilities of an undersized staff in order to meet and exceed three lines of operations at eight separate geographic locations throughout the Anbar Province in Iraq.
Operations Master Chief, SEAL TEAM ONE 2004-2006 Coronado, CA
-Excalibur Award 2013- USSOCOM Excalibur Award recipient for demonstrating leadership, gallantry, integrity, and moral courage far beyond that of peers in the Special Operations community.
-Bachelor of Science-Management Studies Excelsior College Class of 2020.
-Project Management Professional (PMP) certified Oct 2020.
-AIARE Level 1 and Avalanche Rescue certified.
Jeremy has been published in Foreign Policy and has conducted extensive field research on topics ranging from gang violence in El Salvador to unaccompanied child migration in México. Jeremy was born and raised in Buffalo, New York and he is fluent in Spanish.
Throughout his diverse career, John’s assignments included being a Team Sight Operations Officer while serving as a Military Observer for the United Nations, a future operations planner in the U.S. Army’s I Corps, a Command Military Deception Officer for a Joint Counter Terrorism Task Force, and a Georgian advisor team commander. These assorted experiences have enabled John to approach complex problems from various perspectives to produce effective solutions.
In his final assignment in the Marine Corps, he served as the Chief of Staff for the Office of Defense Partnership at the American Embassy in Abu Dhabi, UAE where he had the privilege of developing and maintaining the U.S./UAE military relationship and assisted in coordinating the Abraham Accord.
John graduated from Texas A&M University with a BS in Geography and earned an MBA from Webster University. He has five children and currently lives with his wife and two youngest children in Abu Dhabi.
He reported to Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training in Coronado, CA, in 1999. Over the following 20 years, he led at every level, culminating in commanding a SEAL Team overseas in combat. He has served on numerous staffs as a director of operations, a strategic planner, and a special projects officer. In addition, he was a Legislative Fellow for U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), where he worked as a policy advisor on defense, foreign affairs, and veterans’ affairs issues.
Upon retirement from the Navy, Ned served as Chief Operating Officer for Wave Neuroscience, a venture-backed health tech company. He led the company’s commercial operations and revenue generation, focusing on bringing to market world-class digital mental wellness technology used to optimize brain function.
Ned is a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, the Naval Postgraduate School, the U.S. Naval Academy, and Phillips Exeter Academy. His post-graduate degrees include Master of Business Administration, Master of Arts in National Security Affairs, and Master of Science in Defense Analysis.
Douglas London, author of “The Recruiter: Spying and the Lost Art of American Intelligence,” Hachette Books, September 28, 2021, is a 34-year veteran of CIA’s Clandestine Service who retired in 2019. Mr. London spent the majority of his career overseas and served extensively across the Middle East, South Asia, the former Soviet republics and Africa, including three assignments as a Chief of Station and one as a CIA Base Chief in a conflict zone. Mr. London is also a former Marine.
In addition to his overseas experience, Mr. London served as an intelligence tradecraft instructor and was a CIA subject matter expert in counterterrorism, counterintelligence, Iran, cyber, and hostile environment operations. During his Agency service, Mr. London spoke Russian and French with professional competency, and Arabic with limited proficiency.
Since his retirement, Mr. London has taught intelligence concentration courses at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service and is a non-resident fellow with the Middle East Institute. He writes on national security topics and has been a contributor for the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Politico, Just Security, the Hill, CNN, and the Middle East Institute. Mr. London is a regular guest on CNN speaking on national security issues and has also appeared on MSNBC, Fox News, PBS News Hour, NPR, NBC, ABC, BBC, and al-Jazeera.
Travis served for more than 20 years in Naval Special Warfare. Including the Navy's Special Mission Unit conducting high risk, no fail operations all around the world. He served as a team member, leader, operations manager, and instructor.
Through partner organizations Travis now develops and tests gear for the outdoor and tactical industries and consults and trains military and Law Enforcement special mission units. He is married with four sons.
- Project Management Profession
- Cold Weather Survival Instructor
- AIARE LVL 1 and 2 certified
Alan's professional guiding experience spans across several regions in the United States, including Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Colorado, and Washington. He has also led expeditions in the European Alps, specifically in countries like France and Italy. Moreover, Alan has ventured into the Arctic regions of Norway and the Svalbard Archipelago, showcasing his ability to operate in challenging and remote environments.
In addition to his guiding work, Alan founded Mountain Guide Medical, LLC, a consultancy dedicated to serving the professional mountain guide community. His services include medical advising, risk management, pre-trip medical evaluation and consultation for clients and staff, and live telemedical assistance during guiding programs worldwide. Alan also provides oversight and teaching, contributing to the development and safety of mountain guides. He offers specialized Wilderness First Responder Recertification courses specifically tailored for mountain guides, further enhancing their skills and preparedness in emergencies.
Before dedicating himself primarily to mountain guiding and consulting, Alan worked as an Emergency Medicine Physician. He has gained a wealth of experience in the field, having practiced in various environments across the intermountain west, including Montana, Alaska, Wyoming, and Colorado. He has a passion for mountain guiding and supporting the guiding community.
Alan's educational background is extensive. He completed his Residency Training in Emergency Medicine from July 1995 to June 1998 at Kern Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, which was affiliated with the University of California at Los Angeles. Prior to that, he completed a Residency Training in Family Practice from July 1992 to June 1995 at the University of Utah, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine in Salt Lake City. Alan holds a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Science in Des Moines, Iowa, which he earned in May 1992. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Zoology from the University of Montana, which he obtained in June 1988.
Alan combination of expertise in mountain guiding, medical knowledge, and vast experience in emergency medicine make him a valuable asset to the mountain guiding community. His commitment to safety, teaching, and providing medical support ensures that clients and fellow guides are well-prepared and cared for during their mountain adventures.
Currently, he leads a strategy consulting firm that focuses on delivering tools to help leaders
manage risk to meet strategic goals. These tools are born from a wide-ranging background
leading strategic planning, operations, analysis, risk management, strategic communication, and program implementation in some of the world's most demanding environments. He is also a Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve and combat veteran with assignments primarily in Special Operations units.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Socio-Cultural Anthropology from Arizona State University, a Master of Arts (with Merit) in War in the Modern World, War Studies from King's College London, and a Master of Science in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. Dave is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the University of Foreign Military and Cultural Studies, Red Team Leaders Course.
He is also a Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Seminar XXI Fellow in Foreign Politics, International Relations and the National Interest, Class 29. He is practiced Arabic and German speaker. Dave is happily married and has two awesome teenagers. In his spare time, he's a practitioner of functional fitness, an avid cook, a so-so guitarist, and dreams of one day being a vintner.
Darren is also the Chief of Strategy for Fogbow.
A career Marine intelligence and special operations officer, he has served in a variety of command and staff positions in both operational and force development organizations in the United States and overseas. His command tours include 3rd Marine Raider Battalion and the Marine Raider Support Group, as well as command of Special Operations Command (Forward) – Central Africa, supporting African partners in counter-insurgency operations against Joseph Kony and the Lord’s Resistance Army during Operation OBSERVANT COMPASS.
Darren is also a Middle East Foreign Area Officer and served as the Marine Corps Attaché to Israel from 2006 to 2009, covering the Second Lebanon War and several major combat operations in and around the Gaza Strip. He also served on the US Roadmap to Peace Mission, an effort to coordinate Israeli and Palestinian security concerns in support of efforts at bilateral negotiations under the George W. Bush Administration.
He is a 1991 graduate with a B.S. from the United States Naval Academy and holds an M.A. in National Strategic Affairs from the Naval Postgraduate School. He is a graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School and the Defense Language Institute, and an alumnus of the National Intelligence Fellow at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence in Washington, DC.
Prior to his retirement from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Sandy was appointed by the US Attorney General as the Director leading the FBI’s Terrorist Screening Center (TSC). The TSC is an interagency enterprise responsible for keeping the American public safe by sharing terrorism-related information across the US Government and other domestic and international law enforcement and security agencies.
Prior to leading the TSC, Sandy led the Counterintelligence Branch at the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and prior to that, he led the Counterespionage Section at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. In these executive positions Sandy provided leadership and oversight to the most sensitive and complicated espionage, economic espionage, and insider threat investigations in the FBI, resulting in numerous neutralizations and convictions, as well as establishing precedence following the first Foreign Economic Espionage conviction in US history.
In founding CD4GS, Sandy brings his thirty-two years of FBI and US military experience, success, and adversarial understanding to the private sector. Through his critical leadership roles, he can leverage a multitude of resources and tailor-made options to provide safeguarding solutions to protect research and development, personnel resources, and longest-term corporate investments.
