BEACON GLOBAL STRATEGIES - Key Persons
Prior to joining BGS, Mr. Richwine worked as a Senior Program Associate at the International Republican Institute (IRI), where he managed U.S. government-funded programs in the Western Balkans aimed at combatting foreign malign influence. He was also a Program Assistant at the Eurasia Foundation (EF), where he supported anti-corruption programming in Central Asia and Ukraine. Mr. Richwine completed internships at the Razumkov Centre in Kyiv Ukraine, and at Luminae Group in Washington, D.C., and he prior served as a teacher in under-resourced schools in Philadelphia.
Mr. Richwine graduated from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) with an M.A. in European & Eurasian Studies and international Economics. He also graduated from Saint Joseph's University with an M.S. in Secondary Education and a B.A. in Political Science and International Relations.
Admiral James Stavridis is one of the most broadly accomplished Naval Officers in recent U.S. history. In his over thirty years of service, he rose to the rank of four-star Admiral and held some of the most prestigious commands around the world.
He most recently served for four years as the 16th Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, and the Commander of United States European Command from 2009-2013. Following his military career, Admiral Stavridis served as the 12th Dean of The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.
As the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, from 2009 to 2013, Admiral Stavridis oversaw coalition military operations in Afghanistan, Libya, the Balkans, Iraq, as well as counter-piracy missions off the coast of Africa and significant cyber activity. In addition to these responsibilities, he served as Commander of the United States European Command, overseeing 100,000 Department of Defense employees in 51 countries, including Israel and Russia.
Prior to his role as Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, Admiral Stavridis was Commander of the United States Southern Command from 2006 to 2009, making him the longest serving Combatant Commander in recent U.S. history. He was responsible for thousands of troops stationed across Latin American and the Caribbean and helped reshape the organization into an interagency, private-public model of "smart power".
In the course of his Naval career, Admiral Stavridis served as the Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of the Navy and the Secretary of Defense. He was a strategic and long-range planner in the offices of the Chief of Naval Operations and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He also led the Navy's premier operational think tank for innovation, "Deep Blue", immediately following the attacks of 9/11.
Admiral Stavridis is a recipient of the Battenberg Cup for commanding the top ship in the Atlantic Fleet, as well as the Navy League John Paul Jones Award for inspirational leadership. He has earned more than 50 U.S. and international medals and decorations, including 28 from foreign nations.
Admiral Stavridis is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, earning a B.S. in Literature in 1976. He earned a PhD and MALD in International Relations from The Fletcher School at Tufts University in 1984. While at Tufts, he was awarded the Gullion Prize as the top student in his class. His current focus is on geopolitics, cyber, innovation, the arctic, and leadership. His TED Talk on smart power has received over 600,000 views.
Alicia Chavy joined Beacon Global Strategies LLC in July 2019.
Prior to joining Beacon, Ms. Chavy was a Research Assistant at the Center for Security Studies at Georgetown University, where she supported Dr. Bruce Hoffman. She also served as an intern at the Conflict and Stability Operations Bureau at the State Department, covering political violence, violent extremism, migration, and human rights issues in the Western Hemisphere. Ms. Chavy was also an intern at Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), where she worked on security sector assistance, stability operations, and NDAA reforms issues.
From 2015 to 2017, Ms. Chavy worked as a Compliance Analyst at Kroll Associates, where she conducted high stake corporate investigations and reputational projects on international security and geopolitical issues, including corruption, money laundering, and fraud. Prior to her work at Kroll, she interned at The Asia Group, Public Law and Policy Group (PILPG), Hudson Institute, American Foreign Policy Council (AFPC), and Hilton Corporate.
Ms. Chavy holds a B.S. in Foreign Service and a M.A. in Security Studies from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, focusing on terrorism and substate violence.
Alicia Hernandez serves as the Senior Accountant at Beacon Global Strategies, leveraging her extensive expertise in small business bookkeeping and accounting. With a strong proficiency in accounting operations, automation, and financial reporting, she brings invaluable insights to her role.
Commencing her career in public accounting, Ms. Hernandez made a seamless transition to the private sector, specializing in supporting government contractors. Throughout her career, she has dedicated herself to collaborating with small businesses, enhancing and streamlining their internal accounting processes to meet professional standards.
A graduate of Strayer University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Alicia also holds the designation of Maryland Notary Public.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Chief of the Command
Andrew Hire joined BGS in June 2018
Andrew Hire has previously served as Chief of the Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I) Branch in the National Security Division of the White House's Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The duties of this Senior Executive Service position included: evaluating the efficacy of the $70+ billion intelligence enterprise; drafting national security legislation; arbitrating interagency resource and regulatory disputes; representing OMB at Principal and Deputies Committee meetings of the National Security Council (NSC); and managing the White House's efforts to ensure that the Budget Control Act-imposed funding reductions were tailored to have the least detrimental impact on the President's intelligence priorities.
While leading the C4I Branch, Mr. Hire co-chaired the Senior Information Sharing and Safeguarding Steering Committee which is responsible for identifying and resolving insider threats and security vulnerabilities in classified IT networks across the federal enterprise. Through this effort and his oversight of the Intelligence Community Information Technology Environment initiative, Andrew collaborated closely with the Federal Chief Information Officer, Federal Chief Information Security Officer, and the President's Cybersecurity Coordinator.
In late 2017, Mr. Hire managed OMB's efforts to satisfy a statutory mandate in the FY 2017 National Defense Authorization Act to assess and report on the leadership, management, and organization of DOD space programs. The report examined the issues of scattered authorities, conflicts of interest, and lack of a consolidated space cadre; evaluated the pros and cons of various organizational arrangements, including the establishment of a Space Corps, new defense agency, and special operations model; and contained a series of recommendations to improve various deficiencies in the current framework.
Andrew Makridis joined Beacon Global Strategies LLC as a Senior Advisor in March 2023
Andrew Makridis retired from the Central Intelligence Agency at the end of 2022 after four years as its Chief Operating Officer-the number three position at CIA-culminating a thirty-seven year career at the center of the key national security challenges facing our nation.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Partner
- National Security Leader
The Honorable Andrew Shapiro is a Founder and Managing Director of Beacon Global Strategies LLC.
Mr. Shapiro has been a national security leader for over twenty years, with experience at the Department of State, Congress, and in the Department of Justice. Mr. Shapiro has overseen major U.S. policy decisions and served as an advisor to senior officials on U.S. foreign policy and national security matters. As a Managing Director, Mr. Shapiro advises clients in the areas of aerospace, defense, geopolitical risk, finance, energy and public affairs. From 2009-2013, Mr. Shapiro served as the Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs where he revitalized and deepened political-military partnerships at home and abroad, and promoted record setting foreign military sales creating thousands of jobs in the United States while contributing to the security of key U.S. partners. As the longest serving Senate-confirmed Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Mr. Shapiro managed our security relationships with partners in the Middle East, identifying opportunities for improved relations with some partners while reducing risks when they arose. He deepened U.S. political-military talks with India and Brazil and made key contributions to the U.S. pivot to Asia by leading an increase in military sales and transfers to U.S. partners including Taiwan, Japan, and Indonesia. Before being confirmed as Assistant Secretary, Mr. Shapiro served as a Senior Advisor to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Prior to joining the State Department with the Secretary, he served from 2001-2009 as Senator Clinton's Senior Defense and Foreign Policy Advisor. He also served as a member of the Obama-Biden Department of Defense Agency Review Transition Team before shifting to Secretary of State Clinton's confirmation and transition team once she was officially named. During the 2000 Presidential Election Campaign, Mr. Shapiro served on the Gore-Lieberman campaign as the Briefing Book Director for Vice Presidential Candidate Joseph I. Lieberman. After Election Day, he served as an attorney with the Gore/Lieberman Recount Committee during the post-election litigation in Florida. Previously, Mr. Shapiro was counsel to the Justice Department's International Competition Policy Advisory Committee, and was an associate at the Washington, DC law firm Covington & Burling. He received a B.A. cum laude with honors distinction in Diplomatic History from the University of Pennsylvania and a joint law/master's in international affairs degree from Columbia University where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. Mr. Shapiro is the recipient of the Department of State's Distinguished Honor Award, Gold Star Wives of America Appreciation Award, and the National Guard Association's Patrick Henry Award. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the International Institute of Strategic Studies. He also serves on the New Leadership Council of the Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA).
Andy Boyd was a Senior Intelligence Service (SIS) officer in Central Intelligence Agency's Directorate of Operations(DO). His most recent assignment was Director for the Central Intelligence Agency's Center for Cyber Intelligence (CCI) which is responsible for intelligence collection, analysis, and operations focused on foreign cyber threats to US interests. This position required regular interaction with DCIA, the White House, Congress, and senior officials from DoD, FBI, DHS and an array of foreign partners' senior officials from across the globe.
Andy has experience leading worldwide intelligence operations and has in-depth knowledge of geopolitics, cyberoperations and policy, and security practices and risk mitigation. He is a respected thought leader within the USG cyber and intelligence communities with expertise in cyber threats, intelligence collection, covert action, counterterrorism, counterintelligence, cyber operations and strategic analysis.
Prior to his role as Director of CCI, Andy served as Chief of Operations, Counterterrorism Mission Center (CTMC). He led global counterterrorism operations against multiple global terror organizations via USG unilateral operations and jointly with multiple international partners. Andy was personally involved with many of the most consequential counterterrorism operations of the past decade.
Prior to his service in CTMC, Andy served as a Chief of Station (CoS) in a country in the Middle East leading the full scope of U.S. intelligence operations in an austere combat zone including operations, security and force protection of the CIA work force. Andy likewise served as a Deputy Chief of Station and an Acting Chief of Station of a large CIA Station in theMiddle East. In addition to leading the CIA work force at multiple CIA field locations, Andy represented DCIA and other USG leaders to numerous foreign partners.
In 2010-2012 Andy led the CIA work force in HQS and the field engaging in critical intelligence operations to informpolicy-makers regarding the "Arab Spring" revolutions across North Africa. He represented CIA in high level policymeetings in Washington up to and including Oval Office engagements with the President and his staff.
Prior to joining CIA, Andy served for a decade as a US State Department Foreign Service Officer (FSO) at the U.S. Embassies in Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Tunisia, Iraq and Syria. Andy served as an active duty U.S. Air Force intelligence officer from 1993-1999. He has a B.S. in History from the U.S. Air Force Academy, an M.A. in International Relations from Catholic University, and a M.S. in Strategic Policy from the National War College.
Angela McPhaul joined Beacon Global Strategies in November 2019
Prior to joining BGS Ms. McPhaul worked for Microsoft Corporation as an Administrative and Events Coordinator where she managed event logistics and scheduling. During her time at Microsoft Corporation she was also responsible for vendor engagement, and facility management.
Ms. McPhaul received a B.S. in Biobehavioral Health and a minor in Psychology from The Pennsylvania State University.
Job Titles:
- Chief of Staff
- Vice President of Operations
Ashley Barry joined Beacon Global Strategies LLC in February 2017.
Prior to joining Beacon, Ms. Barry served as the Deputy Chief Management Officer with the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB). In that role, Ms. Barry supported the Board's administrative agenda by assisting the General Counsel with drafting policies and procedures, and supporting the Chief Financial Officer with budget formulation and execution. She also served as the Internal Controls Officer tasked with ensuring achievement of the Board's objectives in operational effectiveness and efficiency, reliable financial reporting, and compliance with laws, regulations, and policies.
In addition to her work with the PCLOB, Ms. Barry served as the Chief Clerk of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI), where she oversaw and directed the Committee's daily activities, managed the support staff, and maintained administrative responsibility of the Committee's budget.
She joined the HPSCI staff in February 2007 as the Deputy Security Director and in January 2008 became the Minority Research Assistant. Ashley was promoted to Chief Clerk in January 2011. Prior to joining HPSCI, she served as a Staff Assistant for the Office of House Security from 2006 to 2007.
Ashley graduated from St. Mary's College of Maryland in 2004 with a B.A. in Biology.
Mr. King advises a range of clients with key national security and technology capabilities on go-to-market strategy, stakeholder engagement, as well as policy and budgetary matters. Before joining Beacon, Mr. King served as the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC) Deputy Chief Financial Officer at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). In this role he advised IC leadership on the allocation of the $60B+ National Intelligence Program budget against U.S. intelligence priorities, leveraging strong working relationships with colleagues across the IC, the Department of Defense (DoD), the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and Capitol Hill.
Before ODNI Mr. King served in a range of senior White House roles, including as Chief of OMB's Defense Operations, Personnel, and Support Branch for five years. In this capacity he led a team of experts overseeing the programs, funding, policies, and legal authorities that support U.S. military operations, personnel, security assistance, and other activities around the globe. Mr. King played a pivotal role in successfully enacting a once-in-a-generation military retirement reform, and led OMB's efforts to secure congressional support for a range of critical DoD budget proposals.
Mr. King previously served as Special Assistant to the OMB Director, managing OMB's front office and coordinating the cross-agency analysis that undergirded the Administration's successful protection of priority Executive Branch programs during the 2010-2011 budget negotiations with Congress. He also worked as OMB's top staffer on Central Intelligence Agency issues, during which time he helped protect priority investments from sequestration-driven funding cuts, as well as on U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan during the surges in each country. In addition, Mr. King worked for two years in the front office of OMB's National Security Division, which oversees funding for DOD, the IC, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the National Nuclear Security Administration.
Mr. King also served as Director of Strategic Planning on the National Security Council (NSC) staff. In this role he focused primarily on aligning resources to the Obama Administration's Asia Rebalance initiative, and provided direct support to NSC leadership engagements with foreign counterparts and the media.
Mr. King was a member of the Federal Government's Senior Executive Service and the Senior National Intelligence Service, and served during three presidential transitions. Prior to joining the Federal Government as a Presidential Management Fellow, he worked for three years as a contract negotiator at Raytheon Company in Los Angeles and Boston. He holds a M.A. in International Relations from Yale and a B.B.A. in International Business and a Minor in Spanish from the George Washington University.
Job Titles:
- Senior Advisor
- Director of the Asia Program at the German Marshall Fund
Bonnie Glaser joined Beacon Global Strategies in October 2022
Bonnie S. Glaser is director of the Asia Program at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. She was previously senior adviser for Asia and the director of the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Ms. Glaser is concomitantly a nonresident fellow with the Lowy Institute in Sydney, Australia, and a senior associate with the Pacific Forum. For more than three decades, Ms. Glaser has worked at the intersection of Asia-Pacific geopolitics and U.S. policy.
From 2008 to mid-2015, she was a senior adviser with the CSIS Freeman Chair in China Studies, and from 2003 to 2008, she was a senior associate in the CSIS International Security Program. Prior to joining CSIS, she served as a consultant for various U.S. government offices, including the Departments of Defense and State. Ms. Glaser has published widely in academic and policy journals, including the Washington Quarterly, China Quarterly, Asian Survey, International Security, Contemporary Southeast Asia, American Foreign Policy Interests, Far Eastern Economic Review, and Korean Journal of Defense Analysis, as well as in leading newspapers such as the New York Times and International Herald Tribune and in various edited volumes on Asian security. She is also a regular contributor to the Pacific Forum web journal Comparative Connections. She is currently a board member of the U.S. Committee of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific and a member of both the Council on Foreign Relations and the International Institute for Strategic Studies. She served as a member of the Defense Department's Defense Policy Board China Panel in 1997. Ms. Glaser received her B.A. in political science from Boston University and her M.A. with concentrations in international economics and Chinese studies from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
Brandon Eldridge joined Beacon Global Strategies in April 2023
Prior to joining BGS, Mr. Eldridge was a Global Contracts Manager for Janes Group. There, he led Janes Group's contracting efforts in the United States and support globally serving regions including North and South America, EMEA, and APAC. Mr. Eldridge also worked in a legal role, supporting the company through government contracting, compliance, and business development. In this role, Mr. Eldridge drafted and negotiated various agreements with external partners worldwide and engaged with internal and external stakeholders to develop creative solutions around contracting and legal hurdles to ensure lasting business relationships.
Previously, he held various positions serving as a Contracts and Compliance manager in the software, staffing, and health insurance industries.
Mr. Eldridge holds a Juris Doctorate from Widener Commonwealth Law School and certifications in Business Advising and Negotiation. In 2020, Mr. Eldridge also received the American Bankruptcy Institute Medal of Excellence for his academics in the field.
Prior to joining BGS, Mr. Nilsson served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Defense Trade Controls in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs from October 2015 to December 2017. In this role, he managed the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) and provided overall policy guidance regarding the transfer of defense technologies to other countries through commercial defense trade, and served as one of the key links between the State and Defense Departments in this issue area. Mr. Nilsson also served as the Director for Non-Proliferation-Export Controls on the National Security Council (NSC) at the White House from September 2008 to October 2015. He had the NSC export control portfolio for dual-use items and the export and import control portfolio for munitions items. His primary responsibility was for the Administration's Export Control Reform (ECR) Initiative for the NSC and the National Economic Council and he served as the chair of the White House Export Control Reform Task Force. Mr. Nilsson served as Chairman of the Operating Committee (OC) for Export Policy at the U.S. Department of Commerce, a type of administrative judge, hearing cases involving proposed exports or re-exports of dual-use items that require an export license. Prior to his Chairmanship, Mr. Nilsson held a series of positions at the Department of Commerce, including Deputy Director of the Foreign Policy Controls Division, Acting Director of the Office of Strategic Trade and Foreign Policy Controls, Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration, and acting Deputy Assistant Secretary on behalf of the Assistant Secretary for matters related to the management and administrative functions.
Prior to joining BGS, Ms. Preston was the Director for Policy and Projects at Business Executives for National Security (BENS). There, she led BENS' projects related to workforce development, organizational transformation, and real property management. In this role, Ms. Preston engaged government partners and public sector stakeholders to create initiatives designed to strengthen and expand the nation's national security talent pool and network.
Previously, she served at the US Agency for Global Media Office of Policy and Research, the US Department of State Office of UN Political Affairs and was a congressional affairs intern for U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin.
Ms. Preston holds an MA in Security Policy Studies from the Elliott School of International Affairs at the George Washington University and a BA in International Studies and Spanish from the Joseph Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver.
Carter Clelland joined Beacon Global Strategies in August 2023. Prior to joining Beacon full-time, Carter Clelland worked as an Analyst for BGS in 2022 and 2023. From 2020 to 2022, Mr. Clelland served as a research assistant for LTG H.R. McMaster at the Hoover Institution in Stanford, California. Under LTG McMaster's leadership, he led research projects on global health, emerging technologies, security dynamics in Northeast Asia, and People's Republic of China investments in Latin America.
Concurrent with his undergraduate studies, Mr. Clelland served as a fellow working on logistics and strategic communications at U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM). At INDOPACOM, he researched military construction projects, optimized data analysis software, and briefed senior leadership weekly on Indo-Pacific security trends. In 2022, he worked in Stuttgart, Germany as an operations fellow for U.S. European Command (EUCOM) where he investigated global energy flows and the impact of economic sanctions on Russia.
Mr. Clelland graduated from Stanford University, with distinction, with a B.A. (Honors) in International Relations and International Security Studies, focusing on the Indo-Pacific region. He holds an M.A. in International Relations with specializations in the European Union and international economics from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington, D.C. and Bologna, Italy. Mr. Clelland is proficient in Spanish, Italian, German, and Russian.
Prior to working at BGS, Ms. King worked as a communications consultant at the American Task Force on Lebanon, a non-profit in Washington, DC working to strengthen the U.S.-Lebanon relationship. Previously she worked as the Communications Director at the Council of American Ambassadors.
Ms. King graduated from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) with an M.A. in International Relations, focusing on Conflict Management and International Economics. At SAIS, she focused on rebel governance dynamics and counter-terrorism policy. Ms. King graduated with a B.A. in International Relations from Syracuse University during which time she interned as a Research Assistant at the Middle East Institute and Foundation for Middle East Peace in Washington and the Harry S. Truman Research Institute in Jerusalem.
Prior to joining Beacon, Ms. Lee was Communications Manager at the Korea Risk Group in Seoul, South Korea from 2016 to 2019, where she oversaw the company's communications and media relations strategy, and covered a wide range of North Korea issues including the country's nuclear program, sanctions evasion and enforcement, denuclearization efforts, bilateral relations, and refugees. Ms. Lee also monitored affairs on the Korean Peninsula as an intern at the Seoul branch of the International Crisis Group.
Concurrent to her graduate studies, Ms. Lee was an intern at the State Department Bureau of Global Public Affairs. She also served as a consultant for BRAC International to evaluate the success of an empowerment and livelihood program for young women in Tanzania throughout the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Ms. Lee holds a B.A. in International Studies from Yonsei University Underwood International College, and an M.A. in International Relations, focusing on Conflict Management and International Economics from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington D.C. Ms. Lee is currently a Young Leader at the Pacific Forum.
Job Titles:
- Senior Advisor
- Chief Information Officer for the U.S. Department of Defense
Mr. Deasy is a highly skilled and successful Global Chief Information Officer who has led large complex organizations across multiple industries including, Aerospace, Automotive, Conglomerates, Oil & Gas, Financial Services and Government. He has led Technology for a number of large multinational corporations and most notably while at the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) led the largest and most complex technology organization in the world. Dana has significant international business experience working oversees in both Germany and the United Kingdom.
While serving his country as Chief Information Officer for the U.S. Department of Defense, Dana was the primary advisor to the Secretary of Defense for all matters of information management including space systems, critical satellite communications, nuclear command and control, spectrum, cyber, artificial intelligence solutions and developing advance technology innovation for the war fighter. He managed a budget of over $47B and a workforce of over 100,000 technologists. He led the largest ever teleworking response during COVID and served on a number Government wide taskforce, including securing the 2018 U.S. Elections. He was recognized for his service by receiving the highest civilian service awards from both the DOD and NSA.
Prior to his move to Government, Dana was the Global Chief Information Officer and Managing Director at J.P. Morgan Chase. He provided overall leadership for JPMC's Global Technology organization comprised of over 44,000 employees and contractors with an annual budget of $9.6B across all areas of the bank including JPMC's retail, wholesale and asset and wealth management businesses.
Earlier at BP, Dana served as the Global Chief Information Officer & Group Vice President and provided overall leadership for BP's Global Technology organization comprised of over 10,000 employees and contractors with an annual budget of $3.5B. Additionally, he managed BP's Indirect Procurement function ($9B annual spend) and Global Real Estate function ($1.5B spend).
Dana has held a number of board positions, including Smartrac (Avery Dennison company), IBM Advisory Board, Hewlett Packard Advisory Board, Siemens Business Services and Columbia University Board of Continuing Education. For a number of years, Dana has served as an Executive in Residence at Columbia University
Dana holds a Master of Business Administration from National University, San Diego CA and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Southern California.
Mr. Shedd was named Acting Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency in August 2014 following four years service as Deputy Director. Until January 2015 he led the Defense Intelligence Enterprise workforce comprised of more than 16,500 military and civilian employees worldwide. This workforce spans the Defense Intelligence Enterprise within the Department of Defense with an intelligence mission and/or function, plus all their stakeholders involved in creating, sustaining and enhancing mission capacity.
Mr. Shedd served from May 2007 to August 2010 as the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Deputy Director for Policy, Plans, and Requirements, where he was responsible for overseeing the formulation and implementation of major Intelligence Community (IC) policies across the full spectrum of issues, from information sharing and IC authorities to analytic standards, among others. In particular, he led the review of Executive Order 12333, the foundational U.S. intelligence policy, which was revised by President George W. Bush in July 2008. Additionally, Mr. Shedd developed and implemented a National Intelligence Strategy, published in August 2009 for the IC and led all strategic planning efforts to determine future intelligence priorities for the Community and the Nation.
From May 2005 to April 2007, Mr. Shedd served as Chief of Staff and, later, Acting Director of the Intelligence Staff to the Director of National Intelligence. Prior to the creation of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Mr. Shedd held intelligence policy positions at the National Security Council (NSC) from February 2001 to May 2005. He served as the NSC's Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Intelligence Programs and Reform. Mr. Shedd has been directly involved in the implementation of intelligence reform stemming from the 9/11 Commission report in July 2004, the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, and the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Commission's report to the President in March 2005.
Between 1984 and 1993, Mr. Shedd served overseas in the U.S. Embassies in Costa Rica and Mexico. Mr. Shedd has also held a variety of senior management assignments at the Central Intelligence Agency, including Chief of Congressional Liaison.
Mr. Shedd is also on the Government Advisory Board of Dataminr, a social media "big data" company that broadly services the Federal Government.
Mr. Shedd holds a B.A. from Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania and a M.A. from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service in Latin American Studies. Mr. Shedd was born in Bolivia and grew up in Latin America.
Diane Rinaldo joined Beacon Global Strategies LLC in March 2019
Ms. Rinaldo is one of the country's leading authorities on 5G, telecommunications supply chain security, privacy, and Internet governance. Prior to joining BGS, Ms. Rinaldo served as Acting Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information. During her time at NTIA, Ms. Rinaldo directed the Administration's efforts on privacy; testified in the House of Representatives and Senate on 5G and Internet security issues; served as a principal advising the White House and Congress on 5G and supply chain; as well as other successes in education and deployment of Internet access around the world.
Prior to her Executive Branch service, Ms. Rinaldo served on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, where she focused on Congress' landmark cybersecurity legislation, the Cybersecurity Act of 2015. She also served as Congress' oversight and budget monitor for the National Security Agency and the defense network systems, and as Deputy Chief of Staff to Congressman Mike Rogers as his top technology policy staffer.
Ms. Rinaldo also spent time in the private sector as the Director of Government Affairs and cyber policy for SAP, and as a Vice President at a top consulting firm in Washington, DC.
Recognized for her work on cybersecurity, Rinaldo was awarded the Executive Women's Forum's 2016 Influencer of the Year award; was named one of the top ten people in Washington, D.C. impacting cyber legislation; and has consulted on movies and television.
She earned a bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Maine and an Executive Certificate from Harvard University for Cyber Studies.
Job Titles:
- Senior Advisor
- Vice President and General Manager for Jacobs
Doug Wolfe joined BGS in February 2018
A recognized federal government leader, Mr. Wolfe served 33 years with the CIA, his last position being Deputy Director of the Science and Technology Directorate. Prior to that role, he served as Chief Information Officer (CIO) at the CIA from 2013 to 2016, in charge of Agency Information Technology (IT) vision and strategic direction, along with advising the Intelligence Community (IC). Throughout his career, Mr. Wolfe held multiple CIA positions, among them were Deputy Director for Acquisition, Technology, and Facilities at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI); Deputy Director of the Office of Global Access (OGA), and program manager overseeing the end-to-end system acquisition of an innovative new source and method for the Intelligence Community.
Mr. Wolfe is currently a Vice President and General Manager for Jacobs. He served as the CEO of BlackLynx from March 2018 until November 2021 when Jacobs acquired BlackLynx, an industry leader in delivering high performance computing and cloud infrastructure services to the government. He holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Southern California, and a master's degree in system engineering from Virginia Tech.
Dr. Osterholm is Regents Professor, McKnight Presidential Endowed Chair in Public Health, the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, a professor in the Technological Leadership Institute, College of Science and Engineering, and an adjunct professor in the Medical School, all at the University of Minnesota.
In November 2020, Dr. Osterholm was appointed to President-elect Joe Biden's 13-member Transition COVID-19 Advisory Board. From June 2018 through May 2019, he served as a Science Envoy for Health Security on behalf of the US Department of State. He is also on the Board of Regents at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.
He is the author of the New York Times best-selling 2017 book, Deadliest Enemy: Our War Against Killer Germs, in which he not only details the most pressing infectious disease threats of our day but lays out a nine-point strategy on how to address them, with preventing a global flu pandemic at the top of the list.
In addition, Dr. Osterholm is a member of the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) and the Council of Foreign Relations. In June 2005 Dr. Osterholm was appointed by Michael Leavitt, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to the newly established National Science Advisory Board on Biosecurity. In July 2008, he was named to the University of Minnesota Academic Health Center's Academy of Excellence in Health Research. In October 2008, he was appointed to the World Economic Forum Working Group on Pandemics.
From 2001 through early 2005, Dr. Osterholm, in addition to his role at CIDRAP, served as a Special Advisor to then-HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson on issues related to bioterrorism and public health preparedness. He was also appointed to the Secretary's Advisory Council on Public Health Preparedness. On April 1, 2002, Dr. Osterholm was appointed by Thompson to be his representative on the interim management team to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). With the appointment of Dr. Julie Gerberding as director of the CDC on July 3, 2002, Dr. Osterholm was asked by Thompson to assist Dr. Gerberding on his behalf during the transition period. He filled that role through January 2003.
Previously, Dr. Osterholm served for 24 years (1975-1999) in various roles at the Minnesota Department of Health, the last 15 as state epidemiologist. He has led numerous investigations of outbreaks of international importance, including foodborne diseases, the association of tampons and toxic shock syndrome, and hepatitis B and HIV in healthcare settings.
The author of more than 315 papers and abstracts, including 21 book chapters, Dr. Osterholm is a frequently invited guest lecturer on the topic of epidemiology of infectious diseases. He serves on the editorial boards of nine journals, including Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology and Microbial Drug Resistance: Mechanisms, Epidemiology and Disease, and he is a reviewer for 24 additional journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine, the Journal of the AmericanMedical Association, and Science. He is a frequent consultant to the World Health Organization (WHO), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Department of Defense, and the CDC. He is a fellow of the American College of Epidemiology and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA).
Dr. Osterholm has received numerous honors for his work, including an honorary doctorate from Luther College; the Pump Handle Award, CSTE; the Charles C. Shepard Science Award, CDC; the Harvey W. Wiley Medal, FDA; the Squibb Award, IDSA; Distinguished University Teaching Professor, Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, UMN; and the Wade Hampton Frost Leadership Award, American Public Health Association. He also has been the recipient of six major research awards from the NIH and the CDC.
Elizabeth Bujwid joined Beacon Global Strategies in July 2023 as an Associate. Prior to joining Beacon, Ms. Bujwid worked as the Geopolitics Lead and as an Analyst on NBCUniversal's Cyber Threat Intelligence team. During her almost five years with the company, Ms. Bujwid specialized in geopolitical risk and threat actor analysis and supported several of NBCUniversal's flagship events, including the FIFA World Cup and Olympic Games.
Ms. Bujwid holds a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service and Master of the Arts in Security Studies from Georgetown University, where she focused on Technology and Indo-Pacific Affairs.
Prior to joining BGS, Ms. Hemingway was a Senior Associate at Twenty Kemp Strategies, where she led digital strategy and marketing for clients in politics, journalism, law, healthcare, and data analytics.
Previously, Ms. Hemingway worked as a Research Assistant for Dr. Michael Pillsbury, Senior Fellow and Director for Chinese Strategy at the Hudson Institute. She also completed a U.S. Grand Strategy Internship at the Hudson Institute. In 2021, Ms. Hemingway served as a Political Affairs Intern in the Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions at the United Nations. Earlier, Ms. Hemingway founded and acted as Editor-in-Chief at Ensemble Magazine, an online publication for international news and culture.
Ms. Hemingway graduated with an M.A. (Honors) in International Relations from the University of Edinburgh, with a year abroad at Sciences Po Paris. She is a candidate for an M.A. in Security Studies at Georgetown University, concentrating in U.S. National Security Policy and Asian Studies.
Ambassador Eric S. Edelman retired as a Career Minister from the U.S. Foreign Service on May 1, 2009. He is currently Distinguished Fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments and Hertog Distinguished Practitioner in Residence at the Philip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. From 2009-2013 he was a senior associate of the International Security Program at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the United States Institute of Peace. In 2010 he served on the Congress's Independent Panel to review the Quadrennial Defense Review and in 2013-2014 he served on the National Defense Panel.
Ambassador Edelman has served in senior positions at the Departments of State and Defense as well as the White House where he led organizations providing analysis, strategy, policy development, security services, trade advocacy, public outreach, citizen services and congressional relations. As the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (August, 2005-January 2009) he oversaw strategy development as DoD's senior policy official with global responsibility for bilateral defense relations, war plans, special operations forces, homeland defense, missile defense, nuclear weapons and arms control policies, counter-proliferation, counter-narcotics, counter-terrorism, arms sales, and defense trade controls.
He served as U.S. Ambassador to the Republics of Finland and Turkey in the Clinton and Bush Administrations and was Principal Deputy Assistant to the Vice President for National Security Affairs. In other assignment he has been Chief of Staff to Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott, special assistant to Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Robert Kimmitt and special assistant to Secretary of State George Shultz. He also had assignments in the State Department Operations Center, Prague, Moscow, and Tel Aviv, where he was a member of the U.S. Middle East Delegation to the West Bank/Gaza Autonomy Talks.
He has been awarded the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service, the Presidential Distinguished Service Awards and several Department of State Superior Honor Awards. He has been awarded the Order of the White Rose by the government of Finland and the Legion d'Honneur by the French government.
He received a B.A. in History and Government from Cornell University and a Ph.D. in U.S. Diplomatic History from Yale University.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Adjunct Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute
Eric Sayers joined BGS in January 2018
Prior to joining BGS, Mr. Sayers was a consultant to the Commander's Action Group at U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) where he served as Special Assistant to the Commander. In this capacity, he advised Admiral Harry Harris on strategic engagements and special initiatives in the Indo-Pacific theater and Washington D.C..
From 2014-2016, Mr. Sayers served as a Professional Staff Member with the majority staff of the Senate Armed Services Committee, where he managed the Asia-Pacific/Pacific Command policy portfolio and advised Chairman John S. McCain (R-AZ) on regional security issues. During his time on the Committee he staffed numerous Congressional Delegation (CODEL) trips to the Indo-Pacific region, including Japan, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Singapore.
Prior to working on the SASC, he served as Defense Policy Advisor to Congressman J. Randy Forbes (R-VA) from 2011-2014. In this capacity, he led Rep. Forbes' personal office national security and defense policy duties related to his work as Chairman of the House Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee (2011-2012) and Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee (2013-2014).
Before working on Capitol Hill, Mr. Sayers was a resident Sasakawa Peace Foundation Fellow at the Pacific Forum CSIS, where his research focused on the U.S.-Japan alliance and maritime security and naval strategy in Asia. As part of this research effort, he spent 9 months traveling throughout Japan, China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Mr. Sayers is an Adjunct Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. He is a term-member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Mr. Sayers holds an M.Sc. in Strategic Studies from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) in Singapore and an M.A. and B.A. in Political Science from The University of Western Ontario.
Job Titles:
- Senior Advisor
- Counsel for Intelligence Policy
Ms. Frances Townsend is an Executive Vice President at MacAndrews and Forbes Incorporated. Prior to Joining MacAndrews and Forbes in 2010, Ms. Townsend was a Corporate Partner with the law firm Baker Botts, LLP.
Ms. Townsend served as Assistant to President George W. Bush for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism and chaired the Homeland Security Council from May 2004 until January 2008. She previously served as Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for Combating Terrorism from May 2003 to May 2004. Most recently, Ms. Townsend provided consulting services and advice to corporate entities on Global Strategic Engagement and Risk as well as Crisis and Contingency planning. Ms. Townsend is an Analyst for CNN and has regularly appeared on network and cable television as a counterterrorism, national and homeland security expert. She has received numerous awards for her public service accomplishments.
Prior to serving the President, Ms. Townsend was the first Assistant Commandant for Intelligence for the U. S. Coast Guard. Before that, Ms. Townsend spent 13 years at the U. S. Department of Justice under the administrations of President George H. W. Bush, President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush. She served in a variety of senior positions including Counsel to the Attorney General for Intelligence Policy. Ms. Townsend began her prosecutorial career in 1985, serving as an Assistant District Attorney in Brooklyn, New York.
In 1988, she joined the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York where she focused on international organized crime and white-collar crime cases. In 1991, she worked in the Office of the Attorney General to assist in establishing the newly created Office of International Programs, the predecessor to the Executive Office for National Security. In December 1993, she joined the Criminal Division where she served as Chief of Staff to the Assistant Attorney General and played a critical part in establishing the Division's international training and rule of law programs.
From November of 1995 to November of 1997, Ms. Townsend was Director of the Office of International Affairs in the Criminal Division, which serves as the U. S. Central Authority for extradition and mutual legal assistance, and works with the Department of State in the negotiation of international law enforcement treaties. In November of 1997, Ms. Townsend was appointed as Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division, where she oversaw international law enforcement and training matters in the Criminal Division, and acted as an Advisor to the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General on international law enforcement policy.
In March of 1998, Ms. Townsend was appointed Counsel for Intelligence Policy, managing matters related to national security policy and operations for the Department of Justice. In this capacity she headed the office of Intelligence Policy and Review, an office that provides legal advice and recommendations to the Attorney General and the Department of Justice regarding national security matters, reviews executive orders, directives and procedures relating to the intelligence community and approves certain intelligence-gathering activities, especially those matters related to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
General Wilson is a retired 4-star U.S. Air Force General with over 39 years of military service. Prior to joining BGS, he served as the 39th Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force. As the Vice Chief, General Wilson managed the organizing, training and equipping of over 685,000 active duty, Guard and Reserve Airmen, helping direct strategy, policy, acquisition, technology, personnel and risk management. He helped manage the planning, programming, budgeting and execution of the Air Force's $205 billion annual budget. General Wilson also served on the Joint Requirements Oversight Council setting the acquisition requirements for the Department of Defense. He was widely acknowledged as the driving force for embracing both innovative technology and new thinking to include the startup of AFWERX, a U.S. Air Force program which expands technology, talent and transition partnerships for rapid and affordable commercial and military capabilities. General Wilson was also the catalyst behind the U.S. Air Force/M.I.T. AI Accelerator partnership to advance and improve Air Force operations while also addressing broader societal needs.
Prior to joining BGS, Mr. Gerstell served as the general counsel of the National Security Agency (NSA) and Central Security Service (CSS) from 2015 to 2020. He has written and spoken widely on issues at the intersections of technology and national security. Prior to joining the NSA, Mr. Gerstell practiced law for almost 40 years at the international law firm of Milbank, LLP, where he focused on the global telecommunications industry, and served as the managing partner of the firm's Washington, D.C., Singapore, and Hong Kong offices. Mr. Gerstell served on the President's National Infrastructure Advisory Council, which reports to the president and the secretary of homeland security on security threats to the nation's infrastructure, as well as on the District of Columbia Homeland Security Commission. Earlier in his career, he was an adjunct law professor at the Georgetown University Law Center and New York Law School. A graduate of New York University and Columbia University School of Law, Mr. Gerstell is a Senior Advisor (Non-Resident) with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) International Security Program, serves on the Future of Encryption Committee for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine and is an elected member of the American Academy of Diplomacy and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He is a recipient of the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal, the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service, and the NSA Distinguished Civilian Service Medal.
Prior to joining BGS, Ms. Johnson was an associate director at the Atlantic Council's Global Energy Center, where she provided staff support to the center's director and chairman and developed programs in the U.S. and globally. She has also held positions at Energy for Growth Hub and the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies in Washington, DC.
Ms. Johnson received a B.A. in political science from Furman University and an M.S. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service.
Hans Kuppers joined Beacon Global Strategies in June 2023
Prior to joining Beacon Global Strategies, Mr. Kuppers worked as a policy intern at the Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA), where he supported events, policy advocacy, and policy discussions centered around acquisition, DEI issues, and security policy reform. He also supported the intelligence and National Security Foundation (INSF) in their scholarship program and multimedia campaigns. Prior to working at INSA, he worked as a research intern for the National Association of Counties, where he conducted nationwide research on the impact of COVID funding in local communities, and supported efforts to promote collaboration between local government at the NACo legislative conference.
Mr. Kuppers graduated from the American University School of International Service with an M.A. in International Affairs: Global Governance, Politics, and Security. He also graduated from the College of William & Mary with a B.A. in international relations.
Prior to joining BGS full-time, Mr. Byrne worked as an Analyst for the Scowcroft Group, and also as an Analyst for BGS in 2019. From 2015-2018, he also led media efforts at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, a Washington think tank focused on the Middle East. In 2012, Mr. Byrne served as a policy research intern with the National Security Network.
Mr. Byrne graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.A. in English and minor in Political Science. While an undergraduate, he spent one year in Malaysia, where he studied at Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang and worked for a public relations firm in Kuala Lumpur. Mr. Byrne graduated from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), where he was a Dulaney & Wendy Glen Fellow, with an M.A. in International Economics and Strategic Studies, and a minor in International Political Economy.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President
- Naval Flight Officer
Prior to joining BGS, Mr. Kanapathy was a career military officer and foreign affairs practitioner focused on the Indo-Pacific region. From March 2018 to July 2021, Mr. Kanapathy served on the White House's National Security Council staff as Deputy Senior Director for Asian Affairs and Director for China, Taiwan, and Mongolia. In this capacity, he advised the President and National Security Advisor and led US government interagency policy development and implementation on US relations with China and Taiwan, covering diplomatic, military, cyber, health, technology, investment, and other related issues.
As a military attaché at the American Institute in Taiwan from 2014 to 2017, Mr. Kanapathy represented US interests and advised top US and Taiwanese officials on cross-Strait military and security issues. During this time, he worked closely with the US Indo-Pacific Command, informing and shaping relevant operational contingency plans and key leader engagements.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Kanapathy was competitively selected as a Marine Corps Foreign Area Officer study fellow; following graduate education and language school, he spent 14 months conducting research throughout China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia. Mr. Kanapathy later led the development and implementation of the Marine Corps' global security cooperation strategy and policies at the Pentagon. In this role, he provided strategic guidance for building partner defense capacity and interoperability, including through arms sales, training, advising, and industry cooperation.
As a Naval Flight Officer, Mr. Kanapathy accumulated 2500 flight hours, served three years as a F/A-18 instructor at the US Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN), and completed five deployments to the Middle East and Western Pacific. He was certified as a Joint Qualified Officer, Joint Foreign Area Officer, Joint Forward Air Controller (Airborne) Instructor, and Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Instructor.
Mr. Kanapathy holds a M.A. (with Distinction) in East Asia security studies from the Naval Postgraduate School, a B.S. in physics and economics from Carnegie Mellon University, and an A.A. and diploma (with Highest Honors) in Chinese-Mandarin from the Defense Language Institute. Among other decorations, he has been awarded the Air Medal, the Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat "V", and the Defense Superior Service Medal. Mr. Kanapathy is an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, a Senior Associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and a Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. He is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Prior to joining BGS, Mr. Colligan worked as a Government Affairs Senior Associate at the Raben Group LLC, a public affairs firm. Before his work with the Raben Group, he worked as a litigation assistant at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, focusing on complex litigation and regulatory compliance issues. Mr. Colligan was a fellow at the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy (ACS).
Mr. Colligan graduated from American University with a B.A. in International Studies and a minor in History. In 2020, he earned a Master of International Public Policy in American Foreign Policy from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Vice President for Strategy & Business Development at IronNet Cybersecurity
Jamil N. Jaffer is an Advisor to the firm.
Mr. Jaffer currently serves as Vice President for Strategy & Business Development at IronNet Cybersecurity, a startup technology firm founded by former National Security Agency (NSA) Director Gen. Keith Alexander (ret.) and former National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) Director Matt Olsen. Mr. Jaffer also serves as the Founder of National Security Institute and as an Adjunct Professor of Law and Director of the National Security Law & Policy Program at the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University. Mr. Jaffer is also a Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution, is affiliated with Stanford University's Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC), and recently served as a clerk to Justice Neil M. Gorsuch of the United States Supreme Court.
Prior to his current positions, Mr. Jaffer served as the Chief Counsel and Senior Advisor for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC)., where he worked on key national security and foreign policy issues. Before joining SFRC, Mr. Jaffer served as Senior Counsel to the House Intelligence Committee (HPSCI) where he led the committee's oversight of NSA surveillance, NRO, and NGA matters, as well as intelligence community-wide counterterrorism matters.
In the Bush Administration, Mr. Jaffer served in the White House as an Associate Counsel to the President, handling Defense Department, State Department, and Intelligence Community matters.
Prior to the White House, Mr. Jaffer served in the Justice Department as Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for National Security, where he focused on counterterrorism and intelligence matters. For his work, Mr. Jaffer was awarded the Assistant Attorney General's Award for Special Initiative and was among the group of lawyers awarded the Director of National Intelligence's 2008 Legal Award (Team of the Year - Cyber Legal). Mr. Jaffer also served in other positions within the Justice Department, including in the Office of Legal Policy.
Mr. Jaffer was also involved in private practice at Kellogg Huber, a Washington, DC-based litigation boutique, as a policy advisor to Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), and as a staff member or senior advisor on a number of political campaigns, including two presidential campaigns and a presidential transition team.
Mr. Jaffer has published multiple op-eds and academic articles, and is the co-author of a book chapter with former CIA Director Gen. Mike Hayden on ISIS, al Qaeda, and other international terrorist groups in Choosing to Lead: American Foreign Policy for a Disordered World (2015), and a book chapter on surveillance in the ABA's Law of Counterterrorism (2011).
Mr. Jaffer also serves on the Board of Directors for the Center for Intelligence Policy and the Board of Advisors for the Concordia Summit.
Mr. Jaffer holds degrees from UCLA (B.A., cum laude), the University of Chicago Law School (J.D., with honors), and the United States Naval War College (M.A., with distinction).
Jason Spizer joined Beacon Global Strategies in July 2023. Prior to joining Beacon, Mr. Spizer worked at Global Business Reports as an industry analyst and project director, where he evaluated and produced investment climate reports across three continents. His work included examining taxation and legal frameworks, political risks, and the strength of support sectors and emerging technology for mining and biotechnology companies.
Concurrent with his work at Global Business Reports, Mr. Spizer steered research, due diligence, and crafted investment memoranda on space and deep tech startups for a venture capital syndicate.
Mr. Spizer received his B.A. in International Relations and Economics from the University of Arizona, and holds an M.A. in International Relations and International Economics from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). During his time at SAIS, Mr. Spizer conducted research and published documentary photography on Yazidi IDPs in Iraq.
Jeremy Bash - Founder, Managing Director
Job Titles:
- Founder
- Managing Director
- Partner
- Member of the Board of Directors for the Truman Center for National Policy and for the International Spy Museum
Jeremy Bash is a Founder and Managing Director of Beacon Global Strategies LLC.
Mr. Bash has spent the past 20 years advising national leaders and chief executives on a range of strategic, management, legal, and policy issues. His clients include America's leading companies in the areas of tech, defense, finance, security, and aerospace.
In addition, Mr. Bash is a recognized expert on national security affairs, having served as National Security Analyst for NBC News and MSNBC where his commentary provided analysis on defense issues, intelligence matters, the Middle East, China, Russia, North Korea, U.S. counterterrorism operations, cybersecurity, and current counterintelligence investigations.
He served as Chief of Staff in two national security departments or agencies: first as Chief of Staff to the Director of the CIA (2009-2011) and as Chief of Staff to the Secretary of Defense (2011-2013). As a senior advisor to Leon E. Panetta in both roles, Mr. Bash worked on a number of key initiatives, including the creation of a new defense strategy, formation of two defense budgets, the drawdown of two wars, counterterrorism operations, a new cyber strategy, and a range of sensitive intelligence operations. He traveled with Secretary Panetta to more than 50 countries. From August 2010 to May 2011, he was a member of the CIA's senior management team overseeing the operation that killed Osama Bin Laden.
At the Pentagon, Mr. Bash managed the Office of the Secretary of Defense, an entity with 2,500 employees and a budget of $4 billion.
Mr. Bash is a Member of the Board of Directors for the Truman Center for National Policy and for the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC.
From 2004-2008, Mr. Bash served in a variety of roles on Capitol Hill, including Chief Counsel to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and as a senior national security advisor to Congresswoman Jane Harman. In 2008, he was a member of the Obama-Biden transition team.
Mr. Bash practiced law at O'Melveny & Myers LLP, where his practice focused on litigation, high-profile investigations, and strategic counseling to CEOs of several publicly traded companies.
In 2000, Mr. Bash was the Defense and Foreign Policy Director of the Presidential Campaign of Vice President Al Gore. He was a member of Gore's legal team during the 36-day recount in Florida.
In 2000, he served as an Associate with Fontheim International, one of the preeminent consulting firms advising major corporations on trade policy, business social responsibility, and political risk.
He is a recipient of the Department of Defense's Distinguished Public Service Medal, the CIA Director's Award, the Distinguished Intelligence Medal, and the Donovan Award from the National Clandestine Service. In 2010, Time Magazine named Mr. Bash one of the nation's Top 40 Civic Leaders Under 40.
In 2017, Mr. Bash served as a member of the Congressionally-directed panel on the Roles and Responsibilities of the National Intelligence University.
In 2022, Mr. Bash was named by the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee to serve as a Commissioner on the Afghanistan War Commission, the bipartisan Congressionally-created panel to write the definitive history of America's 20-year war in Afghanistan.
Mr. Bash is a regular speaker and presenter at the CIA Director's Leadership Seminar, the U.S. Army Senior Leadership Course for General Officers, and at various programs at Harvard Law School, Georgetown University, and the Panetta Institute for Public Policy.
Mr. Bash graduated from Georgetown University, magna cum laude, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He earned his law degree from Harvard Law School, where he graduated cum laude and was an editor of the Harvard Law Review
Mr. Darby is a nearly 39-year veteran of the U.S. Intelligence Community, primarily in the National Security Agency (NSA)/Central Security Service (CSS), culminating in serving over four years as the NSA/CSS Director of Operations (DO). Prior to assuming the DO position, which oversees all of NSA's collection, code-breaking, analysis and production of signals intelligence (SIGINT), he led some of NSA's most difficult missions, including Counterterrorism, Cybersecurity Operations, and SIGINT analysis and production on all geographic and transnational missions. He managed a budget in the billions, drove development and use of advanced technologies, and in multiple positions led thousands of globally distributed civilian and military personnel providing intelligence support for military, diplomatic, cybersecurity and law enforcement operations.
Starting his career as a Russian language analyst, Mr. Darby served in a variety of field and operations management positions at NSA and abroad. He spent over a decade following 9/11 in various leadership positions in NSA's counterterrorism and counterproliferation missions, to include serving as NSA's Chief of Counterterrorism during the Osama bin Laden operation. Other key senior leadership assignments include serving as NSA's Chief of SIGINT Analysis and Production and the Deputy Chief of Cybersecurity Operations.
Mr. Darby is a graduate of Carleton College, where he majored in Political Science/International Relations with a Concentration in Russian Studies.
Prior to joining Beacon, Mr. Green spent more than eight years working as an advisor and committee staff member on Capitol Hill, where he helped to develop nine National Defense Authorization Act and three annual defense appropriations bills. During his time on Capitol Hill, Mr. Green has worked at the forefront of high profile international security issues, ranging from Afghanistan to Ukraine, and on functional issues such as irregular warfare and information operations. He has extensive experience developing and implementing strategies for senior elected officials, bringing together the executive and legislative branches with industry and academia on pressing national security matters.
Most recently, Mr. Green served as the Defense Policy Advisor to United States Senator Jeanne Shaheen, leading her defense and intelligence work on the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Defense. Previously, he served as National Security Advisor to United States Representative Jason Crow, serving as his designee to the House Armed Services Committee and leading the Congressman's work on defense, intelligence, foreign policy, civil space, and veterans affairs matters. From 2015 to 2019, Mr. Green served as Special Assistant on the Senate Armed Services Committee under Ranking Member Jack Reed, where he supported special investigations and led work on the Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Organization.
Before serving on Capitol Hill, Mr. Green worked as a contractor for the Department of Defense in Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics from 2013 to 2015, supporting oversight of and engagement with Federally Funded Research and Development Centers and University Affiliated Research Centers. He also supported Major Defense Acquisition Program information reform efforts to better leverage completed studies to expedite program timelines. He also served as an intern on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and for United States Senator John Kerry.
Mr. Green earned a Master of Public Policy, with an emphasis in National Security Policy, from the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University. He also attended the University of Delaware, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts, with a concentration in United States Foreign Policy, a specialization in the Middle East and North Africa, and a minor in Islamic Studies with Arabic.
Josh Kirshner joined Beacon Global Strategies LLC in November 2013.
Throughout his career, Mr. Kirshner has worked on a wide variety of international security issues, including arms sales, intelligence, counterterrorism and WMD proliferation.
From 2009-2013, he was the Special Assistant for Political-Military Affairs to the Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security. He was the Under Secretary's principal advisor on arms sales, including unmanned systems. He also served as the Under Secretary's Special Assistant for International Security and Nonproliferation, and was a key contributor to both the President's Nuclear Security Summit and the creation of the Secretary of State's Office of the Coordinator for Cyber Issues.
As a Professional Staff Member on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence from 2007-2009, Mr. Kirshner focused on HUMINT, terrorism and the Near East/South Asia. In this capacity he traveled extensively to the Middle East and Europe, and authored a report on the threat of and efforts to prevent a WMD attack on the homeland. In addition, he was responsible for oversight of the intelligence activities of the Departments of State, Treasury, and Energy, including the National Labs.
In 2006, Mr. Kirshner was a part of then-Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's national security team, supporting the Senator's efforts on the Senate Armed Services Committee and working on issues ranging from foreign policy, to trade, to appropriations.
He also served at the State Department from 2000-2005, holding positions in the Nonproliferation and Counterterrorism bureaus. In the former, he was part of the teams responsible for the successful elimination of Libya's nuclear weapons program and shutting down nuclear procurement networks worldwide. In the days after 9/11, he worked to prevent terrorist attacks in sub-Saharan Africa, and later, the Middle East.
Mr. Kirshner graduated from Yale University with an M.A. in International Affairs, including coursework in the law and business schools. He graduated from Binghamton University, cum laude, with a B.A. in Political Science.
Ms. Grundman was previously an early employee at IronNet Cybersecurity, a technology startup. At IronNet, she managed early customer engagements and strategic alliances, and assisted in the design and growth of the business development and customer success functions.
Prior to IronNet, Ms. Grundman oversaw the cybersecurity portfolio at Business Executives for National Security (BENS), working closely with government partners. She has also practiced cybersecurity, data privacy, and corporate law.
Ms. Grundman received a B.A., with honors, in political science from Grinnell College, and earned her law degree from Boston College, where she graduated cum laude.
Kaitlyn Garman joined Beacon Global Strategies LLC in March 2017.
Prior to joining BGS, Ms. Garman worked in the Office of the Secretary of Defense as Confidential Assistant to the Secretary of Defense and his Chief of Staff. For both roles, she prepared and presented daily briefing materials, and provided research in support of implementing the strategic initiatives of the Secretary. She also traveled with the Secretary on official trips, including into conflict zones. For her contributions, she received the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service
Prior to her work with the Secretary of Defense, she worked as a research analyst at a major defense contractor, focusing on international security and legislative affairs.
She has also interned for the White House and for the 2008 Obama for America presidential campaign.
Ms. Garman graduated from Gettysburg College, magna cum laude, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She later earned a Masters of Arts in International Affairs from Georgetown University.
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer
- Managing Director
Job Titles:
- Chief Human Resources Officer
Job Titles:
- Senior Business Development Associate
Job Titles:
- Business Development Associate
Job Titles:
- Business Development Associate