FREEDOM TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED - Key Persons
Ms. Darcy Swain Walsh has 20 years of expertise in the telecommunications sector, providing subject matter expertise to solve complex spectrum challenges facing our nation. Darcy specializes in bridging engineering and policy, with a focus on developing evidence-based, data-driven policy, regulation, and strategy that supports whole-of-nation solutions. She supports customers from a holistic perspective, assembling diverse teams to analyze policy and regulation, economic, political, and technical aspects of spectrum challenges.
Darcy has worked for clients across the Federal government in the areas of emerging spectrum technology, commercial wireless (e.g., 5G), spectrum sharing and coexistence, testing and evaluation, spectrum relocations and auctions, policy, regulation, and strategic planning.
Prior to joining FTI, Darcy was a Senior Principal at The MITRE Corporation, a not-for profit company that operates Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs). She led internal strategy and investment on spectrum and 5G, held various leadership positions, and supported customers across the Federal Government.
Darcy is a past Board member of the Wireless Innovation Forum (WInnF) and past vice-Chair of the IEEE DYSPAN-SC 1900.5 working group on Policy Language and Architectures for Managing Cognitive Radio for Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA) Applications. She holds a B.S. in Integrated Science and Technology from James Madison University and a M.S. in Electrical Engineering from The George Washington University.
Martha is a Policy Associate who launched her career at a trade association for the financial services industry where she did research on cybersecurity, AI crediting, internal/external fraud and privacy. Martha also interned on Capitol Hill for Representative Lloyd Doggett (TX-35) and did research on a variety of issues such as public charge and prescription drug cost coverage. In addition to internships, Martha has been an organizer and worked at a nonprofit focused on healing communities and freeing child soldiers in Central Africa most impacted by violence and exploitation caused by conflict.
Martha holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of North Texas, where she also studied Arabic, and a Master of Public Policy from George Mason University, with a focus in Terrorism, Anti-Money Laundering, Transnational Crime and Corruption. Outside of FTI, Martha is a community organizer with interests in the Horn of Africa and canvasses for local and national candidates.
Job Titles:
- of Counsel
- Adjunct Professor at Notre Dame Law School
Mr. Brian P. Nicholson has offered strategic, policy, and legal advice on national security, emerging technology, and international matters with impacts in the public and private sectors. He has led teams in domestic and international settings on sensitive, high stakes matters with significant media interest.
Brian held various positions assisting the government and private sector clients concerning law, policy, and international affairs as a leader, advisor, and advocate. He previously served as Trial Attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of International Affairs, in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and as an attorney at a large international law firm.
While on active duty, he served embedded with U.S. Special Operations Forces deployed to the Middle East, as military defense counsel for the lead defendant in the 9/11 death-penalty case at Guantanamo Bay, and as the senior prosecutor for the Military District of Washington, which includes the Pentagon and global intelligence agencies.
Brian is an Adjunct Professor at Notre Dame Law School in the Intensive Trial Advocacy program, and at the Judge Advocate's Legal Center and School located on the University of Virginia's campus in Charlottesville, VA.
Mr. Christian Kuzdak is a policy professional with an extensive background in telecommunications, spectrum, and regulatory issues. His work experience includes administrative and regulatory legal research at the National Nuclear Security Administration, immigration law research and support, and business strategy and product development at an EdTech startup. Since joining FTI, Christian has worked on numerous projects covering a diverse array of subjects including 5G, administrative law, national and international spectrum policy, federal legislation, and more.
Mr. Kuzdak received a J.D. from the George Washington University School of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review and graduated with Honors. He simultaneously received an M.A. in American Foreign Policy from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, where he was a member of the SAIS Review of International Affairs. He is a graduate of the University of Central Florida.
Job Titles:
- SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
- Strategic Consulting Services and Expert
Mr. Colin Alberts has for several years provided strategic consulting services and expert advice to federal agencies, including the White House, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Commerce, to support their telecommunications policies and related mission requirements, including research, evaluations, studies, analyses, reports, business policy and regulatory development assistance, and strategy formulation in domestic and international policy forums. In 2019 this included his selection as the COO for a 130+ member U.S. diplomatic legation, responsible for senior-level policy and political advisories to the U.S. Head of Delegation, management of internal delegation organization, and communications, development and execution of the Delegation's external communications and media relations, and representation on the Core Delegation in development of U.S. negotiating strategy and other preparations, and coordination and organization of the Delegation's bilateral and multilateral outreach.
Mr. Alberts joined FTI after returning from assignments in Iraq where he worked to create, sustain, and improve an independent telecommunications and media regulator - the first of its kind in the Middle East. Additionally, Mr. Alberts worked towards improving the climate for private investment and public-private cooperative ventures in the telecoms sector. His responsibilities for the U.S. Government (Defense and State Departments, and USAID) also included drafting advanced telecommunications laws and regulations, and negotiating complex agreements including license tenders and internet registration operations.
Prior to his deployment to Iraq, Mr. Alberts worked in leading telecommunications law firms in Washington, D.C. including Swidler & Berlin and Blumenfeld & Cohen, where he worked on issues related to the Telecommunications Act of 1996, including nationwide deployment of xDSL networks, fiber-optic network consolidation, interconnection, and network unbundling. Mr. Alberts also developed business and legal strategies for international telecommunications operators. He has represented clients before the FCC, other federal and state regulatory bodies, and federal and state courts.
Mr. Alberts is a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School and is admitted to the bar in New York and the District of Columbia. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Boston University.
Job Titles:
- Engineer
- SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
Mr. Gordon (Bill) Crandall has been a radio frequency (RF) engineer for over 50 years in both the public and private sector with extensive experience in frequency management including frequency assignment, system certification, technical standards, policy and procedures, and interference prediction and resolution. He worked for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for 28 years and served in various leadership positions in the Spectrum Engineering and Analysis Division and the Spectrum Support Division within the Office of Spectrum Management. Mr. Crandall was the Chairman of the Frequency Assignment Subcommittee of the Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee. Mr. Crandall was also the lead NTIA member of the U.S. delegation where he developed and fostered agreements with Mexico concerning the allotment and use of three government frequency bands along common border areas.
Prior to his work at NTIA, Mr. Crandall worked for a DOD contractor in the field of electromagnetic compatibility where he worked on various interference prediction and measurement support projects.
Mr. Crandall received his Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from the University of Maryland.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
Mr. Jay Chauhan is an attorney with more than 20 years of work experience in the telecommunications and technology industries. He specializes in national wireless spectrum policy, defense, legislative, public safety, broadband funding, and technology issues. His diverse background and skill set allows him to advise clients on a wide range of legal, policy, and regulatory matters.
Job Titles:
- LEGAL ASSOCIATE
- Policy Associate
Mr. John Bush is a policy associate with a background in legal research, analysis, and politics. His work experience includes legal research with a George Washington University Law Professor, Change Management analysis at Accenture Federal Services, and national security and intelligence internships in several federal agencies. As a legal associate, Mr. Bush works on a variety of telecommunications law projects, including research on the geopolitical implications of domestic and international spectrum policy.
Mr. Bush is a law student at The George Washington University Law School and a candidate for an M.S. in Data Analytics at Johns Hopkins Advanced Academic Programs. He received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia in 2017.
Mr. Matthew Brown is a Policy Associate with a background in international security. His experience includes multiple extensive research projects on counter-terrorism and political violence. He also has a strong background in teaching. After working for several years as a tutor, he taught English as a Second Language in the United States and in Russia, and continues to teach English as a Second Language to Ukrainian humanitarian parolees in the United States.
Mr. Brown holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and History from the University of Chicago. He also studied international security at Sciences Po - Paris and completed a Master of Science degree in Conflict Studies at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Mr. Ivey has over 20 years of expertise as a leader, problem solver, crisis manager, and trusted advisor in multinational environments, with relationship-building experience on six continents. Before his career in the private sector, Mr. Ivey served in the U.S. Navy as a surface warfare officer and an attorney in leadership positions ranging from the tactical to the strategic level. Highlights include assignments as Director of Legislation & Policy at the Department of the Navy Office of Legislative Affairs, Chief of Plans & International Law for U.S. Special Operations Command, and senior legal counsel for a multinational carrier strike group.
He holds a B.S. (honors and merit) from the U.S. Naval Academy, a J.D. from Boston College Law School (cum laude), where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Boston College International & Comparative Law Review, and an LL.M from Harvard Law School (Dean's scholar).
Mr. Ivey has been recognized with the Legion of Merit, the St. Thomas Moore Award (one of Boston College Law School's highest honors), and the Navy & Marine Corps Association Leadership Award.
Job Titles:
- Legal Associate
- Strategic Advisor / Legal Associate
Mr. Matthew Vaught is a Legal Associate with a background in national security. He served in the U.S. Army for seven years, including five years as a Special Forces Communications Sergeant in Okinawa, Japan. While serving in a specialized tactical team, his experience included extensive work in threat analysis and technical communications throughout Asia. Mr. Vaught has performed as a lead tactical instructor for foreign and domestic military personnel in diverse locations. Additionally, he has served as a lead communications planner in situations ranging from training instructions to combat missions. Mr. Vaught was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, NATO Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, and Combat Infantry Badge.
Before coming to FTI, Mr. Vaught interned at the U.S. General Services Administration, Office for the General Counsel, where he provided research, analysis, and memoranda for clients on issues relating to government contracts. He also currently serves as a Journal Member for The George Washington University Law School's Public Contract Law Journal.
Mr. Vaught is a 2013 University of California, San Diego graduate and a member of The George Washington University Law School class of 2024.
Job Titles:
- Engineering and Policy
- Engineering and Policy Associate
Mr. Owen Crandall has work experience including in support of the federal government process for the review of telecommunication systems and certification of spectrum support, where he has reviewed NTIA preliminary assessments of government agency requests for system review. With his participation in this process, Mr. Crandall has become familiar with the regulations and procedures provided within the NTIA Manual, gained insight into the process of managing the electromagnetic spectrum on a national scale, and studied the mechanics of radio waves. More specifically, his reviews included telecommunication system conformance to the national table of frequency allocations, transmitter emission spectrum requirements, technical standards, and rules and regulations applicable to system operations in proposed frequency bands.
Mr. Crandall has successfully completed the requisite course of study for a bachelor's degree in mathematics and has one semester remaining for his bachelor's degree in computer science. Mr. Crandall is expected to graduate from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in May 2022.
Job Titles:
- Radio Frequency Spectrum Engineer
- SENIOR SPECTRUM MANAGER
Mr. William (Mike) Doolan has been a Radio Frequency Spectrum engineer for over 30 years. At FTI, he has provided support to the National Telecommunication Information Administration's (NTIA) Spectrum Services Division and to NOAA's U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System to assist in obtaining licensing for oceanographic radars.
Mr. Doolan worked for NTIA's Office of Spectrum Management for 23 years in both the Spectrum Engineering and Analysis Division and the Spectrum Support Division's System Review Branch (SRB). In the SRB he conducted many reviews of requests for spectrum certification and conducted analysis of proposed new Federal radio systems at various stages of development. With the SEAD, he worked on many FCC Rulemakings, Notices of Inquiry, and Reports and Orders on such topics as RFID, UWB and GPS. He served as the Vice-Chair of the IRAC's Technical Subcommittee. He developed engineering algorithms and helped develop service rules for the 71-76, 81-86, 92-95 GHz bands as well as the web-based frequency coordination program.
Mr. Doolan also worked for other contractors in the private sector including the Illinois Institute of Technology Research Institute in support of the DoD Electromagnetic Compatibility Analysis Center.
Mr. Doolan holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland.
Job Titles:
- Information Systems and Cyber
- Information Systems and Cyber Associate
Ms. Chandler Haugh has experience communicating and implementing policy and technology improvements based on client-specific needs and resources. Ms. Haugh has supported clients in both the private sector and government, developing operational strategies to best suit their security and training needs. She has extensive experience in cybersecurity, information systems, and organizational management.
Ms. Haugh received her B.A. from the University of Rochester.
Ms. Elena Dejaco is a Legal Associate with an extensive background in Computer Engineering. Her work experience includes working in Qualcomm's radio frequency (RF) engineering team on robust testing practices. She also spent time on Qualcomm's semiconductor chip team where she worked on many 4nm physical design challenges. During the Covid-19 pandemic, she worked with Battelle Technologies to set up a decontamination process for N-95 masks so that front-line workers would be protected. At FTI, she works on numerous projects including 6G, global spectrum policy, and federal legislation.
Ms. Dejaco expects to receive her Juris Doctor from the George Washington University School of Law in May 2023. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh in 2020.
Job Titles:
- Electrical Engineer
- Spectrum Engineering Associate
Ms. Elise Hamilton is an electrical engineer and has worked primarily in radio frequency spectrum engineering. She worked at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for five years, in the Systems Review Branch (SRB) of the Spectrum Services Division. There, she reviewed Federal agency requests for certification of spectrum support and wrote preliminary assessments of her findings of conformance or non-conformance to the NTIA Manual standards and policies. As an SRB subject matter expert, Ms. Hamilton assisted with the development and improvements to the Equipment Location - Certification Information Database (EL-CID) and EL-CID Online (ECO), the database tool that NTIA and the Federal agencies use to submit and assess the agencies' certification requests.
Prior to working at NTIA, Ms. Hamilton worked for a research and development engineering company, developing ground penetrating radar sensors to support the Department of Defense (DOD).
Ms. Hamilton received her Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineer from the University of Virginia.
Ms. Janice Obuchowski is President, CEO, and founder of Freedom Technologies. She has held several leadership positions in the United States government and the private sector. She was appointed by President George H.W. Bush and confirmed by the Senate to serve as Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information at the Department of Commerce (NTIA), where she led Executive Branch advocacy for passage of spectrum auction legislation. She was also appointed to be United States Ambassador to the 2003 World Radiocommunication Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, where she successfully spearheaded the U.S. push for international Wi-Fi adoption. Earlier in her career, Ms. Obuchowski held several positions at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), including Senior Advisor to the Chairman. She was also an executive at NYNEX (now Verizon) and practiced private antitrust law.
Ms. Obuchowski serves or has served on several boards of directors, including Qualcomm (NASDAQ), Stratos Global (formerly a Bell Canada subsidiary, TSE), CSG International (NASDAQ), Inmarsat (LSE), and Orbital ATK (NYSE).
Job Titles:
- OFFICE MANAGER
- Office Manager, Facility Security Officer and Executive Assistant to Janice Obuchowski
Ms. Kay Hawkins serves as Office Manager, Facility Security Officer and Executive Assistant to Janice Obuchowski. She has been with FTI for 30 years. Ms. Hawkins manages our office as well as providing sole administrative support to FTI's professionals in the areas of spectrum management and wireless communications, including mobile technology broadband trends, spectrum engineering, and domestic and international regulatory policy. Prior to joining FTI, Ms. Hawkins worked for numerous law firms both in Washington, DC and Birmingham, Alabama as a legal secretary and executive assistant. She worked for Verner Liipfert in DC, Maynard Cooper & Gale in Birmingham, and Berkowitz Lefkovitz in Birmingham, among others. Ms. Hawkins has worked in various industries along the way, including in medical, construction, labor associations, and in engineering, law, and consulting firms. Ms. Hawkins provides an extensive array of office management and administrative background with over 40 years of experience.
Ms. Lauren Blechschmidt is a student at the Georgetown University Law Center with a background consisting of both legal and policy experience. Her experience includes interning for the United States Agency for International Development, where she tracked and briefed international policy developments, while also drafting and editing public press releases. Additionally, she has experience interning at a law firm where she assisted attorneys in multiple practice areas with research, drafting, and editing.
Ms. Blechschmidt received a bachelor's degree in political science from Baylor University in 2022. She expects to receive her Juris Doctor from Georgetown Law in May 2026.
Job Titles:
- VICE PRESIDENT
- Member of the District of Columbia Bar
Ms. Moriah Mensah has worked in consulting, policy, and advisory roles throughout her career, most recently serving as an Executive Level Staff Consultant for the Directorate of Training and Readiness, Department of the Air Force. Her past experience includes conducting legal research, advising government clients with respect to startup programs, and working with a think tank on a variety of legal and policy matters at the local, state, and national levels.
Practiced at analyzing primary source material, editing others' work, and revising personal research in response to changing facts and data, Ms. Mensah has worked on policy issues ranging from housing to broadband deployment in addition to conducting research in both Constitutional Law and Virology. She is motivated and critically minded, committed to excellence and the constant development of a diversified and integrated knowledge base.
Ms. Mensah is a member of the District of Columbia Bar with a broad range of experience in understanding and breaking down complex concepts across a variety of fields and disciplines. She received her J.D. from Howard University School of Law and holds a bachelor's degree from the College of William & Mary.
Ms. Yaegy Park is a student at the Georgetown University Law Center with an extensive background in violin performance and pedagogy with a Bachelor's and Master's from The Juilliard School. Her experience includes cultivating relationships with public schools and hospitals in NYC by directing interactive concert programs for diverse audiences. She is also an active teacher with experience in the classroom as well as private instruction. During the pandemic, she organized a Black Lives Matter online benefit concert bringing together over 30 musicians worldwide
Before coming to FTI, Ms. Park interned at an IP-focused law firm in NYC where she focused on copyright registration, and at the Superior Court of Maricopa County where she drafted motions and bench memos for the Criminal Court.
Currently, at Georgetown Law, she is a Research Assistant for the Center on National Security.