Improving industry's mission relevancy to bring greater value, faster to our government customers.
Buck Consulting Group, LLC provides strategic advisory services designed to improve the productivity of industry and government interaction in the sales and business development process.
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Nick completed a twenty-six year Navy career where he served as a major defense acquisition program manager, Source Selection Authority and Fee Determining Official. Nick led the first ever Clinger-Cohen certification and Joint Intelligence Acquisition Board milestone for an NRO mission system. Prior to formation of the IC Information Technology Environment (ICITE) Nick architected the NRO’s IT transformation from vertically integrated systems acquisition to an infrastructure service provider, application service provider (ISP-ASP) model. Implementing a global mission IT system consolidation and new operating model across multiple organizations and legacy programs, Nick pioneered major organizational and cultural change to the way the NRO operates.
Nick was commissioned from the United States Naval Academy in 1984 and began his career with Patrol Squadron 45 in Jacksonville, FL. Flying Cold War missions in the North Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Caribbean theaters, Nick was certified as an instructor pilot and formation flight instructor. Nick was selected for Naval Test Pilot School in 1991 and completed several “first flight” tests, earning him membership in the Society of Experimental Test Pilots. He has logged over 2,500 flight hours in 50 aircraft types.
Nick became an acquisition professional in 1994. He was recognized as the Naval Postgraduate School Space Systems Engineering Distinguished Graduate in 1996, earning a Master’s Degree in Astronautical Engineering. In his first acquisition assignment, Nick transitioned a first-build signals intelligence satellite payload off the program critical path in 18 months. Nick returned to the Naval Aviation Enterprise, where he completed a 34-site, fleet-wide imagery and targeting system rollout within three years and reduced the time to generate aimpoints for precision guided munitions from 3 hours to 10 minutes. Nick realized a 90% technology transition rate and reduced cycle time from 3 years to 18 months. His program was recognized with the Assistant Secretary of the Navy’s Excellence in Acquisition Reform Award three consecutive years.
Nick served in the National Reconnaissance Office for ten years, culminating his career as the Information Technology Executive in the Ground Enterprise Directorate. Through Nick’s leadership, the NRO reduced its Ground Enterprise capital and operating costs by over $500M, doubled processing performance and reduced ground systems power, space and cooling footprint by 50%. Promoting open architecture and adopting best practices of commercial IT companies, Nick improved acquisition performance by pursuing full and open competitive source selections.
A Harvard Senior Executive Fellow, Nick has served in numerous volunteer positions including non-resident director for Navy Mutual Aid and Rear Commodore for the US Naval Sailing Association. Nick’s professional affiliations include AFCEA, INSA, the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, and USGIF, where he serves as a Working Group Co-Chair. His military decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Commendation Medal, and numerous sea-service and unit citation awards. Interests include coaching and sailing, where he has competed at the National level in one-design competition.
David Simpson
David Simpson has influenced National Defense and Homeland Security policy and provided cutting edge Information, Communications Technology and Cybersecurity solutions for over thirty years. Currently leading Pelorus Consulting Services, specializing in public safety, telecommunications, and Cybersecurity. He is also a Professor at Virginia Tech, integrating Cybersecurity Risk studies into Pamplin College of Business graduate degree programs. He previously served as Chief of the Federal
Communications Commission’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau from 2013 to 2017. As Bureau Chief, he oversaw public safety, homeland security, emergency management, cybersecurity, and disaster preparedness activities for over 30,000 commercial companies in the telecommunications sector. He worked with public and private partners and through the rulemaking process to ensure that our nation's networks are accessible, reliable, resilient, and secure, ready to meet the public safety needs of Americans during emergencies.
Admiral Simpson served as the vice director of the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) from 2011 to 2013. In that capacity, he helped lead an organization responsible for planning, developing and providing interoperable global communications for the Defense community. He also served as a senior delegate to the 2012 ITU World Radio Telecommunications Conference and to the World Conference on International Telecom (WCIT).
From 2009 through 2010, as Director for Communications and Information Services for U.S. Forces Iraq in Baghdad, he synchronized strategic and operational-level communications for U.S. Forces and assisted the Government of Iraq in building capacity for the information and communications technology sector. Simpson’s extensive career includes assignments with responsibility for networks, IT, and crisis communications for afloat and other deployed forces in the United States, Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America.
Simpson is a native of Burbank, California and a 1982 graduate of the United States Naval Academy. He earned a master's degree in systems technology from the Naval Postgraduate School. Recipient of the Navy's Copernicus Award, Federal Computing Weekly's FED 100 Award and the Next Generation 911 Institute's 2017 Government Leader Award.
Roy Apseloff
Roy Apseloff leads Apseloff Consulting, LLC, a company that advises small and large business clients on leadership, change management, government contracting, business development, and proposals, with emphasis on the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community. Mr. Apseloff has 37 years of experience with DoD and the IC, including 33 years dedicated to government service in a wide variety of collection management, Human Intelligence (HUMINT), and senior leadership and management positions, including 12 years in the Senior Executive Service. He has represented the US Government in international forums, serving as the US Head of Delegation for the Senior Intelligence Steering Group, Information Management, a Five Eyes forum dedicated to information technology (IT), information management, and information sharing. In this capacity Mr. Apseloff negotiated IT agreements and information sharing protocols governing the Five Eyes Defense Intelligence communities. Mr. Apseloff is a prolific author who has produced numerous finished intelligence products, collection strategies, Congressional testimonies, and proposal sections.
Mr. Apseloff served the past four years as a line Vice President at Six3 Systems, subsequently purchased by CACI. While at CACI/Six3 Systems, Mr. Apseloff led a P&L organization of over $50 million and 250 people, served as de-facto Client Executive for the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and E-SITE Program Manager, and participated in a wide variety of business development and proposal activities, including a leadership role on the CACI team which was one of four large businesses to win DIA’s $6 billion E-SITE IDIQ with BLUE proposal ratings across the board.
In his last government assignment, Mr. Apseloff created a new DIA organizational design for an Agency of approximately 20,000 people and a $4 billion budget. He led a team of senior executives and over 30 matrixed teams of several hundred people in creating a new DIA operating model, governance, vision, and culture. He created a Program Management Office to structure, codify, and measure the new Agency design. He prioritized Agency missions and functions; identifying overhead, middle management, and administrative areas for restructuring; and integrated collection, analysis, collection management, and S&T intelligence into Regional Centers. He was a member of DIA’s small group (6-8) executive leadership.
Mr. Apseloff served for three years as DIA’s Deputy CIO, where he led the day-to-day activities of an organization of approximately 4,000 people and a budget of approximately $1 billion. He led the consolidation of IT programs and processes and refocused the organization into an outward, customer facing organization. Mr. Apseloff led the full range of CIO functions including cyber defense, enterprise management, customer care, operations and maintenance, development and testing, and security. He reduced help desks from 14 to 2, virtualized over 200 applications, consolidated dozens of data centers worldwide into two enterprise data centers, outsourced non-core functions, and increased customer satisfaction dramatically as measured by independent surveys.
Prior to his CIO assignment, Mr. Apseloff served for six years as the Director of the National Media Exploitation Center, a Director of National Intelligence Center composed of DIA, CIA, NSA, FBI, DHS, and Defense Cyber Crime Center employees fused into one organization dedicated to processing captured terrorist media. Mr. Apseloff grew the organization from a start-up of approximately 30 people into a combat-deployed organization of over 1200 people in Doha, Qatar, and multiple locations in Iraq and Afghanistan, with a budget of approximately $250 million. He led the development and fielding of massive computer processing capabilities, computer and cell phone forensic capabilities, advanced media exploitation R&D, and a cadre of over 100 linguists fluent in dozens of languages, primarily Arabic and Farsi. Mr. Apseloff created the largest, most complex exploitation operation in the U.S. Government, which saved the lives of hundreds of U.S. combat forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, led to the demise of thousands of enemy combatants, and directly contributed to the security of the Nation by the capture of dozens of terrorists.
Prior to his service at NMEC, Mr. Apseloff was the Executive Director of the Defense HUMINT Service, leading a worldwide operational collection organization of over 2,000 people in over 200 locations and a budget of over $350 million. He led the Defense Attaché System and all Operating Bases and Detachments, and led the Defense HUMINT response to 9/11, deploying hundreds of people to Afghanistan and Iraq. He briefed dozens of DoD seniors on the need for more HUMINT and staffed the programmatic documents necessary to obtain a plus-up which more than doubled the size of the Service.
Mr. Apseloff was competitively selected for the Senior Executive Service in March 2001, to lead a joint staff of over 300 people with a budget of over $250 million. In this capacity he was responsible for all support to DoD HUMINT field operations, including manpower management, strategic planning, human resources, program and budget, logistics, security, policy development, information technology, exercise support, training, and career development.
Mr. Apseloff received a US Navy commission after completing undergraduate and NROTC studies at Cornell University. He completed 23 years active and reserve service, retiring with the rank of Captain (O-6). In addition to his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Cornell, Mr. Apseloff has a Master of Arts Degree in International Relations from Catholic University and a Master of Science Degree in National Security Strategy from the National War College. Mr. Apseloff is a recipient of the Presidential Rank Award of Distinguished Executive, the highest honor for a government civilian, the Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Executive, the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal, the DNI Seal Medallion, the DIA Award for Exceptional Civilian Service, two DIA Director’s Awards, and the DIA Diversity Award.
Gary Kessler
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Air Programs)Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition)
Mr. Gary Kessler currently serves as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Air Programs)(DASN(AIR)), where he has been assigned since October 2014. He is the principal advisor to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition (ASN(RD&A)) on matters relating to aircraft (manned and unmanned), air-launched weapons, cruise missiles, airborne sensors and avionics. DASN(Air) monitors and advises ASN(RD&A) on programs managed by the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) and affiliated Program Executive Offices (PEO).
Mr. Kessler was promoted to the Senior Executive Service in August 2006 and has over 35 years of Federal Service.
Mr. Kessler served as Executive Director for Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) from April 2010 to October 2014, responsible for ensuring that business and financial objectives were met and that the overall mission was executed in a safe and efficient manner. In his role as Deputy Assistant Commander for Test & Evaluation for Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), he was responsible for the appropriate implementation of policy and guidance of T&E matters emanating from the offices of Commander, Vice Commander, and Deputy Commander in addition to the successful execution of T&E throughout NAVAIR.
Mr. Kessler served as the Deputy Program Executive Officer for Unmanned Aviation in the Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons (PEO(U&W)) from October 2007 to April 2010. As the Deputy PEO for Unmanned Aviation, Mr. Kessler was responsible for the direction of all Navy and Marine Corps Unmanned Aviation programs including endurance, tactical, combat and joint UAV programs, and the Navy’s targets and decoy systems programs. In addition, he was the Chairman of the NATO Joint Capability Group on Unmanned Air Vehicles (JCGUAV), which oversees all aspects of NATO UAS acquisition, and collaboration of UAS issues among all NATO countries.
Mr. Kessler served as the Director for Flight Test Engineering from August 2006 to September 2007, where he served as the Chief Flight Test Engineer for Naval Aviation. He was responsible for managing and directing more than 800 engineers and engineering technicians performing integrated systems evaluation, experimentation and test across three sites within the Naval Air Systems Command.
Other assignments include: Principle Deputy Program Manager for the Precision Strike Weapons Program Office (PMA 201) (2003); E-2 IPT Lead (PMA-231) (2002); F/A-18 Deputy Program Manager for Systems Development (PMA-265) (1999); F-14 Precision Strike IPT Lead (PMA-241) (1993); Carrier Suitability Flight Test Engineer (1982).
Mr. Kessler graduated Cum Laude from the University of Maryland in 1982 with a bachelor's degree in aeronautical and aerospace engineering. He received his master's degree in business administration in 1987. He received a Doctor of Humane Letters (Honoris Causa) from St. Mary’s College of Maryland in May 2016. He is a graduate of the Defense Systems Management College, the Senior Executive Management Development Program and the Leadership Maryland Program. Personal awards include the Secretary of Defense Superior Management Award, FCT Program Manager of the Year, ANA Edward H. Heineman Award, University of Maryland Glenn L. Martin Medal and the Meritorious, Superior and Distinguished Civil Service Awards.
Kevin R. Brock
Kevin R. Brock brings a rare mix of experience from the highest levels of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Office of Director of National Intelligence, and acclaimed management consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton.
As a career FBI Agent, Mr. Brock gained extensive experience directing complex, high risk and high profile investigations. Toward the end of his FBI career, Mr. Brock was called upon when there was a need for a strategic leader to help establish a number of important initiatives. For example, he authored the founding justification documents establishing, defining, and resourcing a new Cyber Division within the FBI.
Later, Mr. Brock was named the FBI’s first Assistant Director for Intelligence where he helped start-up, establish and lead a new
Intelligence Directorate in the FBI following recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.
He was then asked to become the first Principal Deputy Director of a post 9/11 presidential initiative known as the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC). There, he negotiated, crafted, and helped firmly establish NCTC’s operational role within the Intelligence Community. Mr. Brock was recognized with the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Service to the Nation in 2006.
While at Booz Allen, Mr. Brock helped triple the growth of the firm’s federal law enforcement account over five years and significantly contributed to the firm’s strategic thinking around emerging cyber security needs. He became a sought after speaker on cyber threat trends and strategies.
In 2014, Mr. Brock founded BrockCRS, LLC where he provides senior leaders valuable perspective and advice on mitigating cyber threat related risk.
In 2015, he founded NewStreet Global Solutions, LLC, a collaboration of accomplished executives uniquely positioned to provide specific expertise to companies looking to bring leading edge technology to the public safety and intelligence communities. NewStreet helps clients optimize the visibility and impact of their solutions on the critically important operational missions of agencies within these vital communities.
Mr. Brock is a Senior Fellow for Cybersecurity Strategy at the Center for Financial Stability; a Federal Advisory Board Member for Dell EMC; and is on the Board of Advisors of a unique and fast growing software design company, Appster.
Mr. Brock is a graduate of the University of Connecticut.
Karen Diener
Ms Diener is a Senior Advisor in the Geospatial Services Industry and runs her own company, KD Geospatial Solutions LLC. Previously, she was the Vice President of Business Development for DigitalGlobe in the US Defense and Intelligence Business Unit that is responsible for ~$300M in annual revenues. She has over 26 years intelligence, defense and commercial industry experience focused on imagery and geospatial intelligence, ground stations, and commercial product integration. Prior to working for DigitalGlobe, Ms. Diener held various Vice President and Director Positions responsible for strategic initiatives, business development and program management for several defense contractors which include BAE Systems, Scitor Corporation, and Logicon. Additionally, she grew and managed two small start-up commercial businesses focused on introducing imagery into driving simulation market, and web-based imagery ground station software during the .com era that were successfully acquired by larger companies.
Developing and shaping new markets, “out-of-box” strategic planning, identifying and integrating new technologies to solve customer’s problems, and connecting the right companies and people together to accomplish these goals is what Ms Diener is passionate about. Her varied experience on both the operations and technical sides of business supports her unique ability to find new business models for high-growth, fast changing market segments focused on getting geospatial products and services to customers and end users in the most efficient and timely manner possible.
Ms. Diener was educated at the University of Minnesota and the University of Phoenix and holds a BS in Business Information Systems. She also attended the Northeastern University Executive Development Institute to study “Strategic Thinking and Global Business Perspectives”. She currently sits on the boards of 3 non-profits: Fund for Peace; University Colorado Atlas Innovation Institute; and No Barriers, Soldiers-to-Summit. Her other interests include mountain climbing, sailing, golf and traveling the world, particularly to Southern California where her two sons and two grandsons live.
JJ Eiden
J.J. Eiden brings a diverse career background supporting national security programs and operations within the US Intelligence Community (IC) totaling over 20 years. J.J. is a seasoned security professional having a broad range of experience across each of the security disciplines. He is recognized and respected within the government at various organizational levels and by his peers throughout the Community as someone who is trustworthy and passionate about his work, demonstrates a “get it done” attitude, and is open to pursuing non-traditional thinking/tactics to overcome challenges. J.J. possesses a working knowledge of the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM) and strong familiarity with all Intelligence Community Directives (ICDs), particularly ICD-705 addressing Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) construction methodologies, SCIF program administration/operations, and protections. J.J.’s strong familiarity with the IC’s organizational structure and current leadership and his firm understanding of member agency functional mission and interagency activities enable him to provide superior contractor security professional services. He maintains an extensive network of professional contacts spanning both government and private sector. J.J. is a 1994 graduate of The Citadel with a Bachelor of Arts in English.
Francis Landolf
For more than fifteen years Francis Landolf led public sector organizations responsible for delivering time critical services essential for informed military and National level decisions. The organizations he created and led performed analysis of signals, communications systems and computer networks. They also developed and deployed the processing solutions that transformed network and communications data into a form consumable by intelligence analysts. Successful prosecution of such complex missions required navigating an immensely diverse work force through a rapidly changing political, economic and technological landscape. In recognition of his accomplishments he was awarded the Exceptional Civilian Service Award by the National Security Agency in 2005 and received the Meritorious Executive Presidential Rank Award in 2004.
Mr. Landolf began his public service career at the National Security Agency in 1975 while working on a PhD in Mathematics at the University of Kentucky. He holds a BA, MS and MA in Mathematics. He completed an executive leadership program at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School and is a graduate of the National Security Leadership Course, a partnership between the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University and the Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University. He has been granted numerous awards in recognition of his technical and leadership achievements. He retired from federal service in March 2005 and joined Booz Allen Hamilton for about a year. Since then he developed his own consulting practice that advises business and government on technology strategy, change management, executive coaching and development. He is an advisor to a number of small product companies that are or have potential to address both government and commercial applications. He is also a member of the Technical Advisory Group for the Senate Select Committee for Intelligence and serves on the National Security Agency Advisory Board. He is also an advisory board member of the Cyber Incubator@bwtech.
Mike Miller
Mike Miller joined the Buck Consulting Group as an Independent consultant and the President of M4 Associates, where he has worked on Sales, Management, Negotiation and Process Training for many clients, including Cisco, BCG, Deltek, ImmixGroup, HP, Raytheon, TCS, OpenText, Juniper Networks and dozens of others. In this capacity, he has helped transform sales processes and leadership strategies, increase program capture rates, improve forecasting capabilities and increase win rates. He brings over twenty-five years of technology sales experience to this role, with nearly twenty of those years focused on the government market.
His most recent full-time assignment was as the EVP of Worldwide Sales for Digital Reasoning Systems, Inc., a leader in advanced cognitive computing, machine learning, and unstructured data analytics at massive scale. He began his association with Digital Reasoning Systems, Inc. as a formal advisor and early investor in 2001, later serving on their Board of Directors for seven years. In 2009 he became the Chairman of the Federal Advisory Group, where it was his privilege to recruit and work alongside some of the most exceptional thought leaders from government service across the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community. After working in this capacity for approximately two years, he joined as a full time employee in May of 2012 and helped craft and execute their go-to-market strategy, closing significant business for them across the government community as well as closing some of their most transformational clients across the financial services market.
Prior to that, Mr. Miller was the Vice President of Juniper Networks’ Public Sector Americas division in Herndon, Virginia. In this capacity, he was responsible for all U.S. revenue, new business development, channel partners, and customer satisfaction associated with Juniper’s Public Sector customers in the U.S. These include an extensive roster of federal agencies (civilian and defense), state and local governments, higher education and local school districts, and research institutions. He led his team to Division of the Year honors in 2008 and helped increase their Federal business from $124M in FY07 to $200M in FY09.
From 2005 to 2007, Mr. Miller ran worldwide sales operations for Appian, a leader in the Business Process Management market. During his tenure, Appian secured key strategic wins within several defense programs and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, while substantially increasing its commercial clients and partners. He also helped them to more than double their revenues during that period.
Before joining Appian, Mr. Miller was a managing principal at the Sandler Sales Institute, performing sales training and management consulting for dozens of clients in high tech markets. He also served as Executive Vice President of Sales for the Americas at Managed Objects, a leading supplier of business service management software. During his tenure with Managed Objects, he attracted world class talent to the team and helped them to more than double their client base including significant wins in the Financial Services market, the Systems Integrator community and the Federal Government. Managed Objects was ultimately acquired by Novell.
For the fourteen years before joining Managed Objects, Mr. Miller managed increasingly larger sales territories for Computer Associates (CA), where he was routinely among their highest performers as he progressed through the ranks of sales management. At CA, Mr. Miller’s sales teams consistently exceeded quota and ranked at the top of the company. Under his leadership as the Senior Vice President of CA’s Federal team, sales more than tripled in four years. When he left CA in 2000 as a Senior Vice President and General Manager of North American Sales, Mr. Miller’s team had increased annual revenues by 50% to over $1.1Billion through more effective sales execution.
Mr. Miller maintains an active Top Secret clearance and serves on several charitable Boards and Foundations. He holds a Bachelors degree in Economics from the University of Virginia, and lives with his family in Vienna, Virginia.
Louis B. Tucker
Louis Tucker is the CEO of Mission Sync LLC, a national security sector consulting firm focusing on the intelligence and special operations communities. He also serves as the President of the Foundation for Innovation and Discovery (FINND), a non-profit corporation that connects government personnel with commercial innovators, as well as hosts executive level forums designed to foster collaboration among CEOs, decision makers, and critical thinkers in the defense, intelligence and national security communities.
Louis sits on George Washington University’s Counterterrorism Task Force and on the advisory boards of several technology companies. Within the federal government, Louis advises several intelligence/defense principals. From 2007 - early 2011 Louis served as the Republican Staff Director of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI). As staff director, he led a team of legal, policy and intelligence professionals overseeing the $80B+ operations of the Intelligence Community and crafting landmark legislation like the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Amendments Act (FISAA) of 2008.
Louis is a Navy Reserve Sea, Air, Land (SEAL) Commander who mobilized on active duty from May-November 2015, to serve as the senior Special Operations advisor in East Africa, and from June-December 2009, at the request of General Stanley McChrystal to serve on his Strategic Advisory Group and in Ambassador Karl Eichenberry’s Interagency Provincial Affairs Office in Kabul, Afghanistan. Louis served from 1996-2003 on active duty as a Navy SEAL, from 2003-2004 as a Central Intelligence Agency officer overseas, and in 2005 as U.S. Senator Richard Shelby’s Chief of Staff on Capitol Hill. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1995 with a B.A. in History and earned a Master’s of Science in Strategic Intelligence from the National Intelligence University in 2006. Louis learned the importance of timing when he formed an Internet start-up company in 1995-6 and unsuccessfully tried to convince businesses that the Internet could be used to sell their products; he was 18 months too early. Louis lives in Vienna, Virginia, with his wife Jane-Anne and their three sons.
Karen Valenta
Ms. Valenta has over 30 years of management, technical and acquisitions experience in advanced technologies and programs within the Intelligence Community (IC). Having served as a Senior Intelligence Service Officer, Systems Engineer, Program Manager, Chief Information Officer and COTR throughout her career, she has extensive experience implementing mission critical hardware and software engineering systems for the IC. She has managed diversified portfolios of projects over $1 Billion. Ms. Valenta has strong program management experience and has successfully led diverse customer organizations toward effective use of innovative solutions to improve and reengineer business practices through the implementation of new processes, tools and systems. Responsibilities have included strategic and tactical planning, requirements management, contract management and program oversight (to include management of schedules, resources, tasks, deliverables and risk.) Key technical experience includes system architecture and design, computer and network operations, systems infrastructure, electronic messaging, information security, systems engineering, network engineering, software development, data management, collaboration and IT training. Ms. Valenta has extensive acquisition experience and has served on Award Fee Panels, Source Selection Panels, Cost Teams, Technical Management and Evaluation Teams. Throughout her career, Ms. Valenta has managed thousands of employees, contractors and organizations of various sizes and has lead and participated on many study teams.
Today, Ms. Valenta works as an independent consultant delivering market strategies and advisory services for IT market leaders as well as technical consulting. Additionally, she is an adjunct professor for Johns Hopkins University, Whiting School of Engineering teaching systems engineering and cybersecurity courses. Ms. Valenta is also a small business owner of a start-up company, Sweet For You Chocolates which creates personalized gourmet chocolates capturing graphics and text to deliver a specialty product line.
Ms. Valenta has a Bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University in Computer Science and Master of Science degree from American University in Technology of Management. She is a Harvard University Senior Executive Fellow as well as an Executive Scholar of the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. She has been certified by NRO in Systems Engineering Level 3, CIA Contracting Officer Technical Representative Level 3 and CIA Project Management Level 3.
Jason Lamb
Prior to founding The Hard Yards, Jason was a Vice President at The HumanGeo Group and a Product Manager at Ringtail Design. Both companies are software development and data visualization pioneers supporting national security agencies. Jason is a former Navy SEAL officer and brings more than 20 years of deep special operations and intelligence community expertise. He holds an MBA from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business with a focus on venture capital and entrepreneurial studies. Jason also earned an M.S. in the Management of Information Technology from the University of Virginia, an M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, and a B.S. in Political Science from the United States Naval Academy.
Randy Mahr
Randy Mahr is an Affiliate of Buck Consulting and President of Mahr Citadel Solutions, LLC, a management and strategy consulting firm he founded in 2016. Randy works with businesses across aerospace and defense bringing to clients 30+ years of experience gained in his service with the Naval Air and Sea Systems Commands, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, the associated Program Executive Offices, Warfare and Test Centers. He has proven subject matter expertise in Program Management, Strategic Planning, Problem Solving, and Leading Change in aviation, air, and naval surface systems.
Promoted to Rear Admiral in 2010, he finished his outstanding service to the country as Deputy Program Executive Officer and Deputy Program Director for the Department of Defense’s largest-ever manned aircraft program, the F-35 Lightning II.
Randy is a combat experienced A-6E Intruder bombardier/navigator having served in the VA-95 Green Lizards and the VA-115 Eagles, and as a tactics instructor at the Medium Attack Weapons School, Pacific.
During his career he had numerous acquisition billets, including test and evaluation manager and chief engineer for the Joint Standoff Weapon, deputy program manager for a joint Navy-Air Force research program at Wright-Patterson AFB, and chief of staff for the Program Executive Officer, Tactical Aircraft Programs. He was the first naval officer to serve as Vice Commandant, Air Force Institute of Technology.
He was the Program Manager (PMA-231) for the E-2 Hawkeye and C-2 Greyhound aircraft programs and Program Manager (PMA-251) for the Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment used aboard Navy and Coast Guard ships and Marine Corps expeditionary airfields.
As a Rear Admiral he was also Commander, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division and Assistant Commander for Research and Engineering, Naval Air Systems Command.
Randy is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy with a BS in Systems Engineering, and has an MS in Aerospace Engineering ‘with distinction’ from the Naval Postgraduate School. During his career he has received several personal and unit awards, including the Defense Superior Service Medal and Distinguished Flying Cross, as well as other professional recognitions.
Dave Whitmire
Dave Whitmire is a senior project director for Titan Management & Consulting. Dave previously held positions as a Senior Enterprise Account Executive for the National Security Group at Adobe Systems, and served as the President, Chief Executive, and Chief Operations Officer of K2 Solutions, Inc., a 45M dollar product and services company serving the Special Operations, Intelligence, and Law Enforcement communities. Dave has over 34 years of experience in strategy design and execution, organizational administration and management, and agile leadership in the US Department of Defense, intelligence, interagency, and commercial sector. Dave currently assists clients with strategy development, integration of analytic tools and methods in decision-making, go-to-market strategies, and acts as a senior mentor during operational design and red teaming exercises and seminars.
He is a graduate of the School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS), and holds a Master of Science degree from Central Michigan University in Organizational Administration, and a Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of North Carolina.
Brent “Buddha” George
Brent “Buddha” George, CAPT USN (retired) is the founder, President & CEO of Buddha George Consulting Inc. (BGCI). Brent completed a twenty-five year Navy career where he served as a major defense acquisition program manager, Source Selection Authority, and Fee Determining Official. Brent served in a wide breadth of aviation assignments to include carrier aviation, operational and developmental test and evaluation, and aircraft acquisition, production, and overhaul. During the latter part of his career, Brent served multiple tours in
sensor, payload, and spacecraft design and acquisition at the National Reconnaissance Office. Brent has extensive experience in all facets of cutting edge technology development, portfolio, and systems acquisition management. A talented communicator, collaborator, and team builder with over 16 years of aviation experience and over 20 years experience driving the state of the art in space, airborne, and ground based ISR systems. An expert in the acquisition, planning, design, development, engineering, test and evaluation, and operation of aircraft, spacecraft, complex sensor platforms and associated ground systems. Following his Navy career, Brent founded Buddha George Consulting Inc., a National Security strategic management and leadership consulting firm specializing in providing companies executive-level guidance to inspire focused and innovative solutions for Intelligence Community & Department of Defense missions.
Brent George began his Naval career by reporting to Aviation Officer Candidate School (AOCS), Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, FL, in October of 1989 and was commissioned as an Ensign in February 1990. Following completion of AOCS, he started Naval Flight Officer (NFO) undergraduate training and was designated as an NFO in March 1991. Brent next reported to training as an Electronic Countermeasures Officer (ECMO) with the EA-6B Prowler Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS), Electronic Attack Squadron ONE TWO NINE (VAQ-129), Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island, WA, in July 1991.
Upon completion of FRS training and Fleet ECMO qualification in July 1992, Brent transferred to the Lancers of VAQ-131 where he made two Western Pacific/Indian Ocean/Arabian Gulf deployments aboard USS RANGER (CV 61) (RANGER’s Last Ride) and USS CONSTELLATION (CV 64), respectively. In May 1995, Brent was assigned to the Vampires of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron NINE (VX-9) at Naval Air Warfare Station (NAWS), China Lake, CA. As a Vampire, he served as an Operational Test Director (OTD) and flight crewmember responsible for the Operational Test (OT) and evaluation of EA-6B Prowler, FA- 18D Hornet, and AH-1W Cobra systems, software, and weapons.
Brent was selected for U. S. Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS) in December 1997. In July 1998, he reported to Class 115 at USNTPS, NAS Patuxent River, MD, and following his graduation from the USNTPS curriculum, he was designated an Engineering Test Flight Officer in June 1999. After completing USNTPS, Brent reported to the Salty Dogs of Naval Strike Aircraft Test Squadron (NSATS) (VX-23) in July 1999. At NSATS, he worked as the squadron’s Aviation Safety Officer (ASO) and on a variety of Developmental Test (DT) programs for the test and evaluation of EA-6B, FA-18D, and FA-18F systems, software, and weapons.
In June 2000, Brent was selected as an Airborne Systems Flight Test Instructor for the Testers of USNTPS where he instructed in the theory and principles of systems, software, and weapons

testing for the Airborne Systems, Fixed Wing, and Rotary Wing curriculums. While with the Testers, he guest instructed for Empire Test Pilot School, Boscombe Downs, England; French Test Pilot School (EPNER), Istres, France; and U. S. Air Force Test Pilot School, Edwards AFB, CA.
In November 2000, Brent was selected as an Aerospace Engineering Duty Officer (AEDO). In October 2001, he reported to his first AEDO billet as the EA-6B Product Officer for the Pacesetters of the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Depot Jacksonville, FL. As the EA- 6B Product Officer, Brent was responsible for the overhaul, maintenance, repair, and test flight of all EA-6B Prowler aircraft. In addition he was pivotal in the implementation of Lean/Six Sigma maintenance best practices throughout the EA-6B aircraft maintenance and production line.
Brent was transferred to the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) Space Field Activity at the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), Chantilly, VA in November 2004. At the NRO, he worked in the Special Technology Group of the Advanced Systems & Technology Directorate. Brent was serving as a Program Manager for highly-classified special access programs for the Intelligence Community (IC) and Department of Defense (DoD) supporting the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT).
Brent was selected for the Secretary of Defense Corporate Fellows Program (SDCFP) in Dec 2006. In June 2007, Brent reported as a Fellow to the intelligence solutions firm of Athena Innovative Solutions, Inc. and then to the information technology and professional services firm of CACI International, Inc., both based in Arlington, VA.
In August 2008, Brent reported to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program Office (JSFPO) in Arlington, VA. He served as the Director of Mission Systems and Software Integrated Product Team Lead within the Weapon System Directorate. He was responsible for the development of all aircraft weapon system software and mission hardware, to include: an advanced avionics suite, five aircraft sensors, computers, and mission planning systems.
Brent was transferred back to the SPAWAR Space Field Activity at the NRO in April 2011. He pinned on Captain (O-6) in September 2011. He served as the Director of the Advanced Systems Office in the Advanced Systems & Technology Directorate before his retirement in June 2014.
During his 25-year career, Brent completed two Carrier Battle Group (CVBG) deployments with 291 carrier arrested landings. He accumulated over 2400 flight hours in 69 different type/model/series aircraft. His awards included the Defense Superior Service Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), Air Medal (2 Strike/Flight awards), Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3 awards), Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award (3 awards), Meritorious Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal (2 awards), Armed Force Expeditionary Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal (2 awards), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (2 awards), Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait), and the Pistol Marksmanship Medal (silver E).
Brent earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Maryland, College Park, MD, in May 1989; a Master of Science in Aviation Systems and flight research from the University of Tennessee Space Institute, Tullahoma, TN, in August 2000; and a Master of Business Administration in Aviation With Distinction (Summa Cum Laude) from Embry- Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL, in August 2005. He earned a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification in July 2008.
Brent was a member of the Acquisition Corps and Space Cadre and was certified to DAWIA Level III in Program Management; Test and Evaluation Engineering; Manufacturing, Production, and Quality Assurance; and Systems Planning, Research, Development and Engineering – Systems Engineering; and Systems Planning, Research, Development and Engineering – Science and Technology Management.
Brent is married to the former Kelly Ann Whealan of Chicago, IL. Kelly is Executive Director of Research Advancement, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Arts & Sciences and Department Chair, Social Sciences & Economics with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide, Daytona Beach, FL. They reside in South Riding, VA with their three sons, Emmett, age 18; Kiernan, age 16; and Brennan, age 14; and their dogs Eefa and Sophie.
Rhett Hernandez
Lieutenant General Hernandez retired on 1 November 2013 following 39 years of distinguished service in the United States Army. His last active duty assignment was as the first Commander of Army Cyber Command (ARCYBER), where he was responsible for the daily operations and defense of all Army networks, and when directed, conduct the full range of cyberspace operations. In addition to building a cyber force of more than 17,000 people, he led the development of a wide range of transformational concepts, plans and programs to
increase the Army’s ability to conduct Land and Cyber operations. As the Army’s lead for all cyberspace activity, he was the force modernization proponent for cyber doctrine, training, leader development, organization, materiel and people. He developed strategic direction, requirements and an acquisition approach for all cyberspace operations in the Army. Additionally, he was responsible for the Army’s full-spectrum Information Operations (IO) organization, which provides IO theory development and training to operational application across military operations.
Previously General Hernandez served as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Army Operations; Chief, U.S. Military Training Mission, Saudi Arabia; and Commanding General, Human Resources Command. In all three positions, he was involved in key issues and decisions at the highest levels. In his role as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Army Operations, he oversaw Army operations worldwide, directed Army transformation efforts, co-chaired the programming and budget board, chaired the Army network modernization board, approved and prioritized Army requirements. As the Chief, Military Training Mission, Saudi Arabia, he was the senior defense official to the U.S. Ambassador. He led the largest security assistance program in the world, oversaw the Foreign Military Sales program, strengthened the strategic military partnership and increased readiness and interoperability.
As the Commanding General of Human Resources Command, General Hernandez directed the personnel management, from accession to retirement, for all soldiers and officers. He transformed personnel services and the management systems to support an Army at war.
General Hernandez has extensive operational experience, and has held commands at each level from Lieutenant to Lieutenant General. He served as the Assistant Division Commander, Support for 1st Armored Division and oversaw the division’s deployment and logistic operations in Baghdad, Iraq. As the Operations Chief in J-39, IO, he established and directed the IO Task Force responsible for supporting the integration of Combatant Command IO plans with USG activities.
General Hernandez holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy, West Point, a Master of Science degree in Systems Engineering from the University of Virginia and a Masters of National Security Strategy from the National War College where he was named a distinguished graduate. His overseas experience includes tours in Germany, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
Currently, General Hernandez serves as the West Point Cyber Chair to the Army Cyber Institute, is the President of CyberLens, LLC and serves as a cyber expert on advisory boards.
He and his loving wife, Pat, grew up together in Palmerton, PA and were married in 1976 upon graduation from West Point. They currently reside in the DC area and have two wonderful children.
Bill “Roto” Reuter
A native of Key West, Florida, Captain Bill “Roto” Reuter was commissioned in August 1984 through the NROTC Program at the University of Florida where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aerospace Engineering.
Upon his transition from the Navy in June 2012, Roto formed R-Squared Solutions LLC, a full-spectrum consulting firm specializing in DoD/Federal industry business development, C-level coaching, and high-performing organizational development. Roto has successfully coached leadership
teams in dynamic organizations in the fields of leadership, execution and organizational health. Clients have included small and large businesses in Defense, Federal and Commercial sectors. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Orlando, Inc.(Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce) and the Florida Defense Contractors Association.
In 2007, then CAPT Reuter was selected to Command of Naval Air Warfare Center-Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD) assuming his role as Executive Officer in May 2008 and Commanding Officer from May 2010 to June 2012. During his tenure in command, Roto led the 1200 personnel at NAWCTSD through the most transformational change in its 65 year history, leading it from a Mission Funded fiscal model to a Working Capital Fund (P/L) model. He also led and instituted the Four Disciplines of Execution and the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership as part of a holistic strategy to develop people in order to advance the organization and its mission.
After being designated a Naval Aviator in December 1986 and completion of training in the F/A-18A Hornet, Roto completed deployments on the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) and USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72).
He then proceeded to the Naval Postgraduate School in July 1990. While there, he was awarded the Admiral William Adger Moffett award as the Aerospace Engineering Student of the Year for 1992. Upon graduating from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Maryland, he was assigned to numerous high-risk test pilot assignments and responsibilities. Roto was then charged with managing upgrades to the F/A-18 Program with an over $200M annual budget.
In November 1998, Capt Reuter began his second tour at the Naval Strike Aircraft Test Squadron, serving as the Ordnance Support Team Leader, F/A-18 A-D Project Coordinator and was responsible for merging the F/A-18 E/F Integrated Test Team into a single F/A-18 A-F Test Project Team, which he led until June 2002. He departed “Strike” to serve as the Executive Assistant to the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition) in Washington, D.C.
In January 2003, CAPT Reuter reported as Chief Test Pilot of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 23 (VX-23) and subsequently assumed Command in June 2004. Upon completion of his command tour, he reported to Commander Naval Air Forces and served as the Director for Aircraft Material and Engineering and
Roto has over 3,000 hours of flight time in 33 different aircraft, of which over 2,100 are in the F/A-18. He has been awarded two Legion of Merits, two Meritorious Service Medals, two Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medals and the Navy Achievement Medal. His degrees include a Masters and Post-Masters (Engineer’s Degree) in Aerospace Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School and a Masters in Business Administration from IMPAC University. He is a member of The Society of Experimental Test Pilots. He served as chairperson for Leadership Orlando (Class 80) while serving on several community boards in Central Florida.
Thomas J. Trask
Tom transitioned from the Air Force in 2017 after 33 years of service, retiring as a Lt General and the Vice Commander of United States Special Operations Command. He established and is President of SO&A Consulting LLC, providing full service consulting focused on defense industry strategy, Capitol Hill engagement, leading and managing large organizations. Tom is also a Senior Fellow with the Center of Naval Analysis, a Director for CAE USA Mission Solutions Inc., a member of the Military Advisory Board for FLIR Systems, and a member of the Professional Advisory Board for the College of National Security and Intelligence at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Tom entered the Air Force in 1984 as an Air Force ROTC graduate from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He went on to fly Rescue and Special Operations helicopters accumulating more than 3200 hours and over 50 combat missions during operations in Operation Just Cause in Panama, Operation Desert Storm in Kuwait, and numerous operations in the Balkans, Bosnia and Kosovo. Tom commanded at every level and his commands included the 20th Special Operations Squadron, the 347th Rescue Operations Group, the 58th Special Operations Wing, the Air University Squadron Officer College, and the Air Force Special Operations Command 23rd Air Force. He has extensive experience in combined and joint planning and operations serving on the Joint Staff, HQ US Central Command, HQ US Special Operations Command, and HQ NATO AIRSOUTH.
Tom’s flying career included qualification as an Instructor Pilot in the UH-1N, Aircraft Commander in the MH-60, and Instructor and Evaluator Pilot in the MH-53. He flew numerous missions supporting Special Operations Forces in South and Central America, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. He was credited with 17 lives saved to include the rescue of an F-14 pilot during Desert Storm that earned him and his crew the Mackay Trophy awarded by the Smithsonian Institution as the most meritorious flight of the year for 1991. Tom earned a Bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Embry-Riddle in Prescott AZ, and three master’s degrees in the political science arena from Troy State University in Troy AL, the Naval War College in Newport RI, and Air University School of Advanced Airpower Studies (SAAS) in Montgomery AL. He is also a Ancien of the NATO Defense College in Rome Italy.
Lloyd Rowland
Lloyd Rowland is a senior consultant, helping companies, groups, and organizations embrace geospatial intelligence as a solid foundation for national security decisions, and understand potential for new business opportunities across the Defense and Intelligence Communities.
Retired from Federal Service as the Deputy Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), Department of Defense, concluding 40 years of service to the United States. While serving as Deputy Director of NGA, formulated policy, managed agency resources, provided acquisition oversight, and led operational activities to accomplish the mission of this worldwide combat support agency.
Held other key leadership roles throughout the Agency as Chief Operating Officer, Deputy Business Executive, Director of Global Operations, Associate Deputy Director of Operations, Director of Geospatial Information, and Deputy Director of the Central Imagery Tasking Office. He also served in key leadership positions with the Defense Mapping Agency and the Central Imagery Office.
Before beginning Federal Service, served 24 years in the U.S. Air Force. During this time, he commanded a squadron in Operation Desert Storm and had various postings throughout the U.S., Europe, Middle East, and Asia. His early flying career focused on combat search and rescue, and later on reconnaissance force employment and imagery management operations. He is a Command Pilot, dual rated in fixed wing aircraft and helicopters.
Awards include the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal for combat operations, Presidential Rank of Distinguished Executive, the Director of National Intelligence Medallion of Excellence, the Secretary of Defense Meritorious Civilian Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, four awards of the Meritorious Service Medal, two Air Force Commendations, and the Intelligence Community Diversity Exemplary Leadership Award.
He earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Memphis and the University of Southern California. Professional education include Squadron Officer School, Armed Forces Staff College, Air Command and Staff College, the Air War College, the Intelligence Community Senior Leaders Program, the Intelligence Fellows Program, and the Harvard JFK School for Senior Managers in Government Program.
Serves on the AFCEA Intelligence Committee, an advisor-emeritus to the United States Geospatial-Intelligence Foundation, senior advisory groups for several companies, an outside Director on the board of Monitor Government Venture Services, an advisor to the Open-Source Software Institute, and is a consultant to several major defense companies.
Lloyd is married to Nancy Stivers Rowland. They have two sons and twin granddaughters.
Carl Stuekerjuergen
Blackstone Analytics, LLC is a sole proprietor, Limited Liability Company established within the Commonwealth of Virginia on December 9, 2013. The sole proprietor, President and CEO is Carl Stuekerjuergen, a retired CIA Senior Intelligence Service member with over 33 years of distinguished service within the United States Air Force and the CIA. Mr. Stuekerjuergen is a recognized expert in analytic tradecraft, advanced analytic methods and tools, and quantitative techniques.
Mr. Stuekerjuergen formed Blackstone Analytics, LLC to address the needs of private industry for subject matter expertise in "the nexus" of big data technologies, all source analysis, and advanced analytic tradecraft (especially in analytic methods and big data science) by providing independent consulting to companies looking to bring novel analytic services and big data technologies to the Intelligence Community, DoD, and the Federal Government.
Gary Kyle
Gary Kyle is the President & CEO of Persistent Agility, Inc. (PAI), a Veteran-Owned Small Business providing innovative business and mission solutions. He leads senior-level, independent teams that advise C-level executives and US Government senior leaders on complex strategy, business, and contracting matters. Mr. Kyle chaired an ad hoc committee of space and acquisition senior leaders that identified game changing strategic, political, and technical recommendations for a $10B national security space system. He assisted senior Pentagon acquisition leadership through insightful engagement in a National Academy of Sciences study entitled “Owning the Technical Baseline”. He served as the lead consultant for a $13.7B space system proposal for a critical national asset, ensuring the client addressed all key customer requirements. Clients actively seek Mr. Kyle for his “voice of the customer” perspectives that ensure understanding of end-user requirements and winning proposals. He collaborated with a world-class CPA firm to implement new federal business system criteria, resolve myriad Defense Contract Audit Agency discrepancies, enabling a client to win a $1B+ contract award.
Previously, Mr. Kyle served as a Principal at Booz Allen Hamilton, leading a team of 52 geographically dispersed consultants. His team provided acquisition, contracting, cost, and financial expertise for Air Force clients in the Pentagon (HQ Air Force Financial Management), HQ Air Mobility Command, and Air Force Space Command. Mr. Kyle was hand-selected by the Commander, Air Force Space Command and the Director, National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) as the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Tiger Team Business Lead. He collaborated with a cross-functional team of Air Force, NRO, and consultant executives to define future acquisition tenets for the $72B space program. Mr. Kyle also led a 60-person IT and cost team that analyzed the Air Force Chief Information Officer’s enterprise-wide efficiency initiatives, built formal business cases, and identified $800M+ savings. The Deputy CIO publicly lauded Mr. Kyle’s superb leadership and used the analysis results to brief the Air Force Council.
As President & COO, Government Solutions for USM Business System—an $11M woman-owned, and small IT business—he launched a new federal division that provided clients with electronic data warehousing and software configuration management. His division delivered 7% revenue growth in an extremely competitive market.
Mr. Kyle served as a Senior Vice President, Verizon Global Military Sales, where he orchestrated a sales professional, sales engineering, and business development team responsible for $562M in revenue. His team delivered enterprise networking and telecommunications solutions to the Department of Homeland Security, DoD, and White House Communications Agency (WHCA). As a Vice President, Defense & International Services, he led a staff responsible for delivering the highest customer service level for $900M worth of contracts, including the Pentagon and WHCA.
Mr. Kyle served as an Air Force officer in numerous high visibility assignments. He was the Air Force Secretariat Director of Acquisition Excellence where he directly improved the C-17, F-35, C-130J, ABL, SBIRS, AEHF, WGS, MILSTAR, GPS, NPOESS, and Titan IV acquisition strategies. His team staffed all Air Force major system and IT acquisition strategies valued at $178B+ for either Air Force acquisition leadership or Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology & Logistics) approval. He personally guided the Joint Strike Fighter Program Office through the $20B Systems Development and Demonstration Phase source selection process. He served as the Deputy System Program Director and Director of Contracting for the $17B EELV program, and led the $5B Development Phase negotiations, personally signing the largest dollar value Other Transaction Agreements in DoD history. He is an acknowledged expert in using sound business judgment and innovation while applying federal procurement policies.
Mr. Kyle has received numerous individual and team awards including the DoD David Packard Excellence in Acquisition Award; DoD Value Engineering Award; DoD Defense Standardization Program National Honorary Award; Air Force John J. Welch, Jr. Award for Excellence in Acquisition Management (twice); Secretary of the Air Force Contracting Award for Outstanding Strategic Acquisition Reform; Secretary of the Air Force Contracting Award for Outstanding Contribution to Competition; Space Foundation Rotary Stellar Team Award for Space Achievement; and Los Angeles Chapter of the Air Force Association Officer of the Year Award.
Mr. Kyle holds a Master of Arts in Telecommunications (The George Washington University); a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy (National Defense University); a Master of Science in Procurement and Acquisition Management (Northrop University); and a Bachelor of Science degree (United States Air Force Academy). He is a graduate of both the Defense Systems Management College Program Management Course and Senior Acquisition Course, and holds the highest DoD acquisition certifications in both Program Management and Contracting.
David J. McCue
Mr. McCue has 30+ years of operational and leadership experience across industries and firms including Fortune 150, Global 100, and privately owned firms that together span Professional Services, DIB, Technology, Healthcare, Government and Security fields – included is 6 years as the global CIO of a Fortune 175 System Integrator. He provides expertise in the development and execution of complex solutions, global operations, technology and project/business delivery transformation. David has been named one of the 150 Most Distinguished CIOs, received Computerworld’s Premier 100 IT Leaders Award, been listed in Who’s Who in America and in Finance and Business, named to the Top 25 Social Media CIOs in the Fortune 250.
Mr. McCue provides Program Advisory services and cyber security leadership as a cleared professional to commercial and defense industrial base companies. As a former integrator executive, David guides vendors in partnering with systems integrators to deliver value to both government and commercial customers. His "Security by Design" Program assists corporations in establishing corporate assurance. The program has been implemented in a Fortune 200 division to restructure their security organization and practices across the multi-billion dollar business unit. Mr. McCue also co-chairs and presents at Georgetown Law School's Cyber Institute.
Kimberly Cornwell
Ms. Kimberly Cornwell is a senior intelligence leader with 29 years of experience in the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and related private industry around intel-gathering efforts. She has operated and supported directorates in multiple areas of the Intelligence Community (IC). Buck Consulting Group clients benefit tremendously from Ms. Cornwell’s extensive and broad range of expertise with program management, systems engineering, strategic development and operations management.
Prior to joining Buck Consulting Group, Ms. Cornwell served in multiple roles at The Aerospace Corporation. Most recently, she served as senior technical advisor to the director of Mission Operations, supporting the activities and sustainment of the global enterprise operations, and assisting with all aspects of strategic planning, lifecycle project management, and budget definition and defense. Earlier at The Aerospace Corporation, Ms. Cornwell supported the SIGINT Ground Directorate, developing and deploying ground systems applications. As senior project lead, she led the Aerospace team to define and socialize a new signals intelligence ground system for the next generation. Part of that responsibility included providing sound experience to technical and cost analysis teams that were supporting complex, dynamic acquisition system development projects.
Previously, Ms. Cornwell supported the IMINT Directorate, which strengthens imagery intelligence collected via satellite and aerial photography. Earlier positions in the directorate included chief, Program Element Division, Systems Engineering Sector; and chief, Systems Engineering Branch. She also served as a legislative liaison and portfolio manager in the NRO’s Resource and Oversight Office, she advocated for the directorate to Congress and supported oversight of its budgetary responsibilities. She also developed a course for the Acquisition Center of Excellence to educate staff and contractor on the congressional budget cycle.
Ms. Cornwell earned her BS in political science/communications from James Madison University. She received her MBA certification and Program Management Professional credentialing from the American Management Association. Ms. Cornwell is a Level III Certified Contracting Officer Technical Representative, and she has completed coursework in international relations through the American Political Science Association at George Washington University and in the Computer Science and Software Engineering Graduate Program. She has completed extensive and continuous professional training in systems architecture engineering, behavior modeling and simulation, program management, earned value management systems, professional consulting, operations, and customer relations. Ms. Cornwell holds TS/SCI security clearance.
Some of her career highlights include:
29 years supporting mission(s) at the National Reconnaissance Office as a contractor, government and FFRDC
COTR/PM of world-wide deployment of software development program
Congressional fellowship via APSA with 1998-2000 Senate
Development and operations of space vehicles and ground system applications
Strategic planning & change agent for NRO operations transformation
Robert Brunngraber
Mr. Robert Brunngraber is a senior IT leader with more than 30 years of experience in the federal Intelligence Community (IC). He has an extensive background in the full life-cycle development and procurement of integrated satellite ground systems, research and technology, concept development, marketing, budgeting, requirement and specification development, procurement and negotiation strategies, contracts, product acquisition, test and integration, and operations. Buck Consulting Group clients benefit immeasurably from Mr. Brunngraber’s program management acumen and his IT application skills.
Mr. Brunngraber comes to Buck Consulting Group from a career spanning federal agencies and steadily increasing in responsibility and technical expertise. His most recent position was as assistant deputy director of National Intelligence for Acquisition within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), where he advised the DNI and principal deputy DNI on high-profile acquisition issues and managed Congressional reports and oversight for all IC MSAs. He delivered critical analysis directly to the PDDNI that was utilized to develop IC agencies’ program priorities.
Mr. Brunngraber previously served in the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA), the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), the National Security Agency (NSA), and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Responsibilities included infrastructure acquisitions, architecture and engineering, contract restructures, multi-billion-dollar annual budget oversight, and personnel management. Areas included NGA worldwide IT systems, Imagery Intelligence (IMINT), NRO spacecraft and ground processing assets, and intel integration.
Mr. Brunngraber earned his BS in computer science from the Rochester Institute of Technology and his MS in computer science and mathematics from George Washington University. He is a recipient of the Intelligence Commendation Medal and the National Reconnaissance Office’s Medal for Superior Service. He has been awarded numerous exceptional, annual, and team performance awards as well as the ODNI Award for Acquisition Excellence. Mr. Brunngraber holds Top Secret/SCI clearance with current BI and full life-cycle polygraph.
Market Strategy Workshops
Jump-start business or plan penetration of specific agency markets.
Jump-start business or plan penetration of specific agency markets. Covers in 2-days what could take 18 months to piece together independently. Get very specific on target markets, map the organizations and programs, identify key stakeholders and opportunities, and coach sales teams on how to engage specific customers. Workshop topics include initial market segmentation, agency mapping, opportunity assessment, stakeholder identification, product placement advice, pursuit strategies, and initial call planning.
Customer Focus Seminars provide in-depth understanding of agency missions, current direction, customer pain points and requirements over two half-days or a full day. Strategy Assessments review business pursuits, capture strategies, and product placement vs. target markets or programs. Strategy Assessments include a ½ day discovery with verbal subject matter expert feedback. In-depth assessments with ½ day debrief of findings & recommendations or written reports are also available. All workshops include ad hoc follow-up via email or phone for up to 30 days following debrief.
Establish & Promote your positive brand in the federal market.
There are a few ways to succeed with government customers…and many to fail. “Tools of the Trade” is a proven system for closing business and generating year-over-year revenue by establishing and promoting a positive brand in the federal market. Based on decades of experience and procurement decisions of government buyers, “Tools of the Trade” reflects how things actually get done in government acquisition. Taught by former government procurement officials, “Tools of the Trade” instills habit patterns that enable sales professionals to think, talk, and act like government customers. One-on-one coaching is available as an additional service. Workshop materials include “Tools of the Trade” presentation books and hardcopy artifacts.
Leadership best practices with direct experience driving high performance.
Buck Consulting Group’s Full Spectrum Leadershipsm program couples leadership best practices with direct experience building high performing organizations. The outcome: groups of individual contributors transformed into cohesive teams set on creating ever-increasing value. Providing Full Spectrum Leadershipsm in conjunction with Buck Consulting Group's Business Expansion Program puts the effort in complete context with our clients' tactical business objectives.
Activities Include:
› Leadership alignment and organizational health assessment
› Workforce alignment assessments and recommendations
› Creating an execution-focused, accountable organization
› Assisting leadership in managing through “inflection points” of growth
Maximize sales productivity of account executives & customer-facing engineers.
“Authentic Selling” is designed to maximize sales productivity of account executives and customer-facing systems engineers. Focusing on improving the tactical results of individual sales professionals as they engage with Government and Federal System Integrator customers, “Authentic Selling” assembles consultative sales techniques from some of the world’s foremost methodologies and tailors them for the federal government environment. “Authentic Selling” is a fully customizable two-day interactive workshop that improves rapport building and enhances soft selling skills to enhance trust, establish credibility, shorten sales cycles and increase results. Deliverables include course workbook and hardcopy handouts.
Benefit from the breadth and depth of our Affiliate expertise.
Clients leveraging Buck Consulting Group’s Advisory Services Programs benefit from the breadth and depth of our Affiliate expertise in an activity-based format. In some cases our clients need to augment their team’s understanding of a market trend or government customer. In others they need to understand whether a particular product resonates with customers. Or perhaps they are interested in how they should navigate Federal Acquisition Regulation flow downs to protect their broader business interests. By engaging the Buck Consulting Group in a retained Advisory Services engagement, clients ensure access to the subject matter expertise they need, when they need it.
Spark demand in specific markets and unlock target agencies.
12 month programs designed to spark demand in specific markets, our Market Penetration Programs “unlock” target agencies, enabling clients to gain a foothold in the market. Leveraging deep, current knowledge of government customer gaps, our affiliates provide clients the “ins and outs” of programs in order to position their value proposition against customer requirements. Increased customer awareness and program-specific pilot projects provide a foundation upon which clients can build future business.
