Mr. Kight began working with the Department of State in 1998, and in 2017, was promoted into the Senior Foreign Service.

Prior to being named OSAC’s Executive Director, Mr. Kight served as the Regional Director for International Programs, Western Hemisphere Affairs. His most recent overseas assignment was as Regional Security Officer at Embassy Amman, Jordan during 2013-2016, with previous assignments in Karachi, Paramaribo, La Paz, Afghanistan, and Vienna. Domestically, Mr. Kight has served in a number of positions including Antiterrorism Assistance, Career Development and the Secretary of State’s Protective Detail.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and minor in Business Administration from the Virginia Military Institute.

Claude J. Nebel became a member of the Cargill team August 2008 when he was appointed as Vice President and Chief Security Officer, Global Security. Prior to assuming these duties, Claude was Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Office of Foreign Missions, U.S. Department of State, approved by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, January 2007.

Mr. Nebel began his career with the Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DSS) in 1987 as a Special Agent assigned to the Washington Field Office, and has served in many challenging positions during his tenure. These include Regional Security Officer, American Embassy Berlin, July 2005 to 2007, Regional Security Officer, American Consulate General in Frankfurt, 2004 to 2005, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Office, 2001 to 2004, Regional Security Officer, Copenhagen, Denmark, 1998 to 2001, Special Agent, Criminal Investigative Liaison Branch, Washington, DC, 1995 to 1998, Regional Security Officer, American Embassy Tel Aviv, 1993 to 1995, Senior Supervisor for Protective Security Details for several former Secretaries of State and Site Security Manager for U.S. Consulates in Lahore and Peshawar, Pakistan, 1988 to 1989.

Claude has received several awards during his tenure with the Department of State including Group Superior Honor Awards in 2005 and 1995, Group Meritorious Honor Awards in 2004 and 1989 and Meritorious Honor Awards in 2001, 1997 and 1994. Mr. Nebel is also the recipient of the 2003 “Leadership Award” by the City of Boston, Federal Executive Board for outstanding leadership and management during the 9/11 terrorist crisis.

Prior to joining the Foreign Service in 1987, Mr. Nebel held positions as a management representative with LTV Steel Corporation, Houston, Texas, a hearing officer with the Court of Common Pleas in Pennsylvania, and was co-operator of a business in the food industry for a period of six years.

Claude holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania and a Master of Arts degree in Administration of Justice, Law Enforcement from the University of Pittsburgh. He currently is President, AISLO (Agriculture Industry Security Leadership Organization), a member of the International Security Management Association (ISMA), The American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS), the Executive Committee, Overseas Security Advisory Committee (OSAC), The “Risk” Committee, FBI Domestic Security Alliance Council, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the Diplomatic Security Special Agents Association, Greater Boston Federal Executive Board, Boston Senior Executive Board and was a member of the U.S. Attorney General’s Anti-Terrorism Task Force. Claude is married to the former Pamela Feirson and they have two sons; Michael and Gregory. They currently live in Plymouth, Minnesota.

Todd J. Brown is a special agent with the Bureau of Diplomatic Security currently serving as the Assistant Secretary for the Diplomatic Security Service. Mr. Brown began his career in security and law enforcement with the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service in 1987.

Over the course of his career, he has served in a variety of domestic and overseas assignments that focused on the management and leadership of large security programs.

Mr. Brown’s domestic assignments include Director of the Overseas Security Advisory Council, the Special Agent-in-Charge at the Washington, DC Field Office, and as Acting Assistant Director of International Programs. Mr. Brown’s overseas assignments include service as the Assistant Regional Security Officer in Islamabad, Pakistan, and as the Regional Security Officer in Amman, Jordan, Rabat, Morocco, Cairo, Egypt, as well as the Senior Site Security Manager in Baghdad, Iraq. In his most recent overseas assignment, Mr. Brown served as the Director of the NATO Office of Security in Brussels, Belgium.

Mr. Brown is the recipient of several Superior and Meritorious Honor awards from the Department of State and numerous accommodations and citations for his efforts in training foreign police and security forces in the area of counterterrorism.

In 1981, Mr. Brown received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois. In 2005, he graduated from the United States Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania and received a Master’s of Science degree in Strategic Studies. Additionally, from 2010 – 2011, Mr. Brown attended the Department of State’s Foreign Service Language Institute where he was a full-time Arabic language student.

Carlos F. Matus, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service – class of Minister-Counselor – and a native of Washington, DC, joined the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) in 1987. He has since held numerous and varied assignments throughout the world.

He began his career at the Washington Field Office, where he remained until 1987. His next assignment took him to the U.S. Embassies in Tegucigalpa, Honduras and La Paz, Bolivia, until 1993. Mr. Matus then went on to DS’ Miami Field Office, where he conducted criminal investigations. In 1995, Mr. Matus returned to Washington DC to serve as a Passport Fraud Desk Officer until 1997, and then as a Shift Leader on U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright’s protection detail until 2000. His next two assignments were at the U.S. Embassy Panama City, Panama, until 2003 and the U.S. Embassy Kabul, Afghanistan, until 2004. After Kabul, he attended the Inter-American Defense College in Washington, DC until 2005. Mr. Matus then served in Consular Affairs, assigned to the Vulnerabilities Assessment Unit until 2007, where he focused on public corruption investigations associated with the passport and visa processes. During this time, Mr. Matus also served as the acting Criminal Investigations Division Chief for DS.

From 2007 to 2009, Mr. Matus served at the U.S. Embassy in Vienna, Austria. After Austria, Mr. Matus spent some time working in DS’ Legislative Affairs Office and then served as Deputy Regional Director for Contingency Operations, focusing on Afghanistan until 2011. In 2011, Mr. Matus transferred to Protective Intelligence Investigations serving as its Director until 2016. From 2016 – 2017, he returned to the U.S. Embassy Kabul, Afghanistan to serve as the Senior Regional Security Officer. Mr. Matus served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the High Threat Programs directorate from 2017 to 2019 and currently serves as the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Threat Investigations and Analysis.
Throughout his career, he has also held temporary duty assignments throughout the world to include Haiti, Pakistan, and Brazil.

Mr. Matus is an individual recipient of the State Department’s Meritorious and Superior Honor Awards, as well as many other commendations; and was twice recognized by the U.S. Marine Corps as RSO of the Year for D Company. He was most recently awarded the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Executive.

Mr. Matus is a graduate of the University of Maryland and the Inter-American Defense College, and holds a Master’s degree in Security and Hemispheric Defense from the University of Salvador, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Frederick H. Bealefeld, III was appointed Police Commissioner of the City of Baltimore, Maryland in July of 2007 and commanded the eighth largest municipal police agency in the United States. With over three decades of service to the Baltimore Police Department, Mr. Bealefeld is credited with reducing city homicides and violent crime to the lowest levels since the 1970's. In his time as Police Commissioner, he redefined the city's crime fighting strategy by focusing enforcement efforts on violent offenders and fostering improved relationships between police and the community. Most known for his achievements in reducing overall gun violence, Bealefeld was responsible for double-digit declines in gun crime and was instrumental in the creation of Baltimore's gun offender registry and legislative advocacy efforts for tougher penalties for gun offenders. Mr. Bealefeld began his law enforcement career as a Baltimore police cadet in 1981. Throughout his thirty-one years of service, he rose through the ranks of the department and served in virtually every operational capacity.

Mr. Bealefeld retired from the Baltimore Police Department in the summer of 2012 and joined the faculty at Stevenson University and taught undergraduates in Criminal Justice courses. Since 2014 has served as Vice President and Chief Security Officer for Under Armour where he has responsibility for the development, implementation and oversight of all global security efforts for Under Armour; including personal security for UA teammates, facility and asset protection.

As Executive Director of Corporate Security, Dan Collins has over thirty years of experience in leading global security operations in over one hundred countries with the Fluor Corporation. He is responsible for security operations for all the strategic business units and the corporation in Europe, South America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

Through interfaces with U.S. Government departments and agencies, including the U.S. Department of State, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Secret Service, as well as other countries' consulates and embassies, Dan develops extensive security intelligence and strategy programs for Fluor’s post-war Iraq and Afghanistan activities as well as other high risk projects and proposals.

Dan is an expert in domestic and international investigations including fraud, theft, and embezzlement with experience in executive protection, terrorism and kidnapping, workplace violence response and prevention.

Since joining Fluor in 1988, Dan’s accomplishments including crisis response, developing the company’s international travel program, the workplace violence program, the executive protection program, implementing physical security systems, and risk mitigations with contingency planning and response.

Dan holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of South Carolina. Has received post graduate studies from Georgetown University and Northwestern University. He also received his Master’s degree in International Relations and Conflict Resolution from the American Military University. He is a member of the American Society for Industrial Security was a regional vice president, and attained the professional certification of Certified Protection Professional (CPP). Dan is also a member the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, and a board member of the South Carolina InfraGard chapter, sponsored by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Jose Freig is the Managing Director, International Government Affairs and Chief Security Officer for American Airlines. In this role, Freig oversees the airline’s corporate security and international government affairs team to include the relationship with all federal agencies focused on security. He is responsible for the airlines foreign government affairs efforts, domestic and international security programs, investigations, fraud and revenue protection, crew and operations security, and regulatory compliance. Jose oversees the airline’s relationship with foreign governments and represents American Airline’s interests and priorities before agencies under the Department of Homeland Security, including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Jose also leads American’s security and related policy development and advocacy efforts on Capital Hill and at the White House.

Prior to joining American in 2008, Freig served as the Area Director, West Region for Siemens Government Technologies in Phoenix, Arizona as the security technology and screening liaison to TSA, CBP, Department of State, airport authorities and original equipment manufacturers.

Jose is the Vice chairman of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Security Group, former Chairman of the Airlines for America (A4A) Security Council, and is a member of the Aspen Institute Homeland Security Group, international Security Management Association and Domestic Security Alliance (DSAC). He is a board member for Hostage US.

Jamie Gough serves as the Vice President of Security at Samaritan’s Purse and at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Previously, he was the Director of International Security for Samaritan’s Purse. Before joining Samaritan’s Purse, Jamie served a career in the Army. He holds a B.S. from the United States Military Academy and an M.S. from the University of California – Davis.

Patrick Hawk, Sr. Director of Corporate Security has been with Discovery Communications since Feb. 2004. His areas of responsibility are safety, security and risk management. Previously he was the Executive Protection and Security Director for Vulcan Inc./Paul Allen Group in Seattle, WA. Prior to this he worked as a private investigator and a criminal investigator in the DC area. He is a Criminal Justice graduate from the University of Maryland and holds a CPP (Certified Protection Professional) through ASIS and PPS (Personal Protection Professional) certification through the Executive Protection Institute as well as being an American Red Cross instructor since 1998.

Landes Holbrook is Brigham Young University’s Senior Manager over Global Security, Health and Safety. He provides key analysis to university administration regarding policy and procedures, conducts program security advance work, oversees international crisis management, and implements training programs for students, faculty, and staff. He serves as the university’s key contact for government, non-government, and other professional organizations working with international security, safety, travel, and health issues. He also serves on several US Government leadership councils.

Holbrook has lived in Paraguay, Spain and Mexico. He has directed BYU programs to Mexico, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and Spain.

Danny has over 25 years of enterprise risk management experience with a heavy concentration in the private/non‐profit sector. He joined the Wildlife Conservation Society in 2012 where he oversees organizational risk management, global insurance, personnel safety, global security and crisis management for a system of five urban wildlife parks in New York City and wildlife protection work in 60 countries. Prior to joining WCS, Danny completed senior risk management positions with the Catholic Mutual Group, Aon Risk Services, and Loyola University New Orleans.

Danny’s expertise is in managing enterprise risks associated with natural disasters, terrorism, transnational crime and workplace safety. He holds a Bachelors (with Honors) in Management from Albertus Magnus College and a Masters in Homeland Security Leadership from the University of Connecticut. He has completed adjunct faculty assignments at the University of Connecticut instructing graduate students in the principles of Global Enterprise Risk Management and applying same to counterterrorism, infrastructure protection, and crisis management within corporate, non‐profit and governmental entities.

Danny has been a constituent of OSAC since 2012 and recently served as Private Sector Chairman of the Europe Regional Council.

Christina Johnson is a senior security risk management professional currently serving as Global Safety and Security Director for Chemonics International with responsibility to support 6000+ employees implementing over two billion dollars in business solutions in 60+ countries. She is a subject matter expert in security policy, crisis management, risk analysis and training with significant recent experience providing security management at corporate and country-levels. She provides continuous internal security risk consulting to C-level, executive, and program leaders across the enterprise and holistically integrates safety and security into core business operations. Her global experience includes work overseas including in Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Afghanistan, Iraq, West Bank, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Kelly joined The Coca-Cola Company in 2000 following seventeen years of law enforcement and security experience in the government sector. She was elected as a company vice president in May 2015 and currently has leadership responsibility for the strategic security, information assurance, and global asset protection operations.

Kelly has global responsibility for ensuring safe and secure operations for The Coca-Cola Company’s more than 100,000 employees operating in more than 200 countries across the company’s six operating segments: Europe, Middle East and Africa; Latin America; North America; Asia Pacific; Bottling Investments Group; and Corporate. In addition, Kelly oversees information assurance which includes cyber threat intelligence, computer forensics, eDiscovery and cyber investigations. She has served in numerous roles within Strategic Security during her 18 years with The Coca-Cola Company and also served as Executive Assistant and Chief of Staff to the Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, Alex Cummings, from 2010-2012.

Prior to joining The Coca‑Cola Company, Kelly was a special agent with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, where she was one of the first twenty agents hired into the newly established agency. Kelly was also a special agent for the former U.S. Customs Service, Office of Enforcement (now known as Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Her responsibilities included managing and conducting criminal investigations, dignitary protection, anti-terrorism and foreign counterintelligence initiatives and operations.

She is a graduate of the University of Florida and the Harvard Business School, General Management Program. She currently serves on the boards of the International Security Foundation, the Domestic Security Partnership, the International Security Management Association and serves on RAND Corporations’ Advisory Council for the Center for Global Risk and Security. Kelly was voted one of 2017’s Most Influential People in Security.

Frederick H. Bealefeld, III was appointed Police Commissioner of the City of Baltimore, Maryland in July of 2007 and commanded the eighth largest municipal police agency in the United States. With over three decades of service to the Baltimore Police Department, Mr. Bealefeld is credited with reducing city homicides and violent crime to the lowest levels since the 1970's. In his time as Police Commissioner, he redefined the city's crime fighting strategy by focusing enforcement efforts on violent offenders and fostering improved relationships between police and the community. Most known for his achievements in reducing overall gun violence, Bealefeld was responsible for double-digit declines in gun crime and was instrumental in the creation of Baltimore's gun offender registry and legislative advocacy efforts for tougher penalties for gun offenders. Mr. Bealefeld began his law enforcement career as a Baltimore police cadet in 1981. Throughout his thirty-one years of service, he rose through the ranks of the department and served in virtually every operational capacity.

Mr. Bealefeld retired from the Baltimore Police Department in the summer of 2012 and joined the faculty at Stevenson University and taught undergraduates in Criminal Justice courses. Since 2014 has served as Vice President and Chief Security Officer for Under Armour where he has responsibility for the development, implementation and oversight of all global security efforts for Under Armour; including personal security for UA teammates, facility and asset protection.

Ryan B. Levison, CPP, PSP is the Director of Global Security at Iron Mountain, with direct responsibility for driving the effective implementation of global security strategy and key functional security areas, to include Physical Security, Policy and Compliance, Travel Safety and Security, and Insider Threat, in order to protect Iron Mountain’s people, assets, customer material and brand. Iron Mountain is the global leader in information management services; serving over 220,000 customers in more than 50 countries on five continents, while storing, protecting and managing some of the world’s most valuable historical artifacts, cultural treasures, business documents and medical records. Ryan has been with Iron Mountain for approximately five years, serving in several areas of the Risk organization to include, Corporate Security, Travel Security and Executive Protection, Business Continuity, and the protection of data centers, fine art and entertainment industry assets.
Prior to Iron Mountain, Ryan worked for Raytheon Company, responsible for multi-function security support, ensuring security policy compliance with Raytheon Company and the National Industrial Security Program standards, as well as serving as a subject matter expert and lead in Physical Security for the organization.
Ryan has a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University, a Master of Arts in Security Management from American Military University, and maintains board certification as a Certified Protection Professional (CPP) and Physical Security Professional (PSP) through ASIS International. Ryan, his wife Liz, and his two children reside in North Grafton Massachusetts, just outside of Boston.

Nick Lovrien, CPP, is the Chief Global Security Officer at Facebook responsible for the overall leadership of Facebook’s Global Security Organization. His team is committed to enabling the business while protecting the people, assets and reputation of Facebook's family of companies to include: Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp, Oculus, Building 8, Internet.org and Workplace.
Nick previously served as a Counterterrorism Operations Officer with the Central Intelligence Agency and held a number of leadership roles with Target Corporation prior to joining Facebook. Nick is a member of numerous professional security organizations to include ASIS International, ISMA, ISSA and The CSO Center for Leadership and Development.

As Director, Operations & Administration, Mark joined Rotary International in 2014 to lead a diverse portfolio of globally shared services. From property and facilities management for its world headquarters as well as several of its global offices to providing reservation and support services for 5,000 volunteers and staff travelers, risk mitigation comes in many forms. In addition to these areas, Mark is also responsible for Rotary’s data service needs and supply chain supporting 35,000 local clubs of 1.2 million volunteers.

Prior to Rotary, Mark was Executive Vice President for an international, non-profit educational professional society (Refrigeration Service Engineers Society – RSES) where he developed a passion for skilled trades workforce development and energy sustainability. His 20+ years with RSES provided the connections and knowledge to found Pilgrim Consulting Services and acquire Better Buildings, Inc., providing expertise in natural gas and electrical utility energy efficiency program design and policy advisement – primarily through the Western HVAC Performance Alliance (WHPA).

Though his favorite pastimes include creating memories of beautiful sunsets in Door County, WI with his wife, daughters and grand-daughters, Mark also enjoys DIY home and auto repair, and supporting various local charities.

Dan Mullin is the CSO for Fiserv the largest payment processor in the world. Dan is responsible for physical security, investigations, health and safety, crisis management and global audits. Prior to joining First Data, Dan was in charge of the Department of Investigations at Major League Baseball. Dan had oversight of the security and evacuation planning for all 30 Major League ballparks; including security planning for the All-Star game, the World Series, and the World Baseball Classic. Dan ran security operations for MLB international events in China, Japan, Mexico, and throughout South America. Dan has served a co-chair of within the DHS Commercial Facilities Sector.

Prior to joining Major League Baseball, Dan served twenty three years with the New York City Police Department, retiring as a Deputy Chief. Dan was a first responder at the World Trade Center on 9-11 and at the crash of American Airlines flight 585.

Dan is a graduate of St. John's University and New York Law School. He also received a Certificate in Management from Georgetown University. He has been an adjunct professor at Syracuse Law School, John Jay College and at Seton Hall University. He is a member of ISMA, The CSO roundtable and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

Shannon Fariel-Mureithi is the Global Security Director for Food for the Hungry (FH), a humanitarian aid organization serving the poor in 20 countries aiming to end world hunger. Shannon is responsible for organization-wide security and crisis management. She built, from conception to implementation, a global security and duty of care program. She authored two security manuals; one was translated into seven languages.

Shannon has trained focal points in over 50 international organizations in security management. She is the Chair for the Overseas Security Advisory Council working group, a US Department of State private sector department. She was the security co-chair for the Interagency Working Group for Disaster Preparedness in East and Central Africa for several years. She also sat on the United Nations security and NGO working group where she helped mobilized safety and security training for over 1,000 aid workers in Kenya. Shannon is a military veteran who served as a law enforcement specialist in the US Air Force.

Shannon served in Africa for 14 years as a humanitarian worker and missionary. Her passion for work is fueled by “doing justice” for the oppressed and poor. In her free time, she enjoys climbing things with her twin boys, biking, hiking and laughing with friends and family.

Joe M. Olivarez Jr. is the Vice President, Global Security, Resilience & Quality for Jacobs. Jacobs is a 13B business, has 53K employees and operates in over 60 countries. In fiscal year 2014, Mr. Olivarez was selected to be the first global leader in this capacity in the 60 - year history of Jacobs. His role has been to build and lead the company’s integrated global security strategy. He is responsible for assessing, influencing and assisting the Company to mitigate security and resilience risks in a dynamic international business environment. The security and resilience model include establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with the Executive and Senior Leadership Teams (SLT) to operate an intelligence driven and risk-based program. Due to his leadership he was requested by the SLT to also lead the company Global Quality team and program.

Prior to joining Jacobs Mr. Olivarez spent eleven (11) years with Baker Hughes Incorporated (BHI) where he held increasingly responsible roles. Manager of Investigations, Director of Security Global Operations and Vice President Enterprise Security and Crisis Management, Western Hemisphere. In these roles, he was the lead investigator for matters assigned to the Security Office globally. Investigations included, but were not limited to, allegations of violations of the Business Code of Conduct and criminal activities such as theft, fraud, workplace violence, conflicts of interest, drugs, kickbacks, and loss of intellectual property. His leadership led to the recovery/awards of over 30MUSD back to the corporation. In addition, he was instrumental in the transformation of the program to mature from a department to a function. His business approach to security led to the maturity of the team’s approach to enterprise security risk management, business planning, strategy development, resilience, country security programs, mergers & acquisitions processes, governance, training, recruitment, intelligence acquisition and analysis, travel risks oversight, physical security and fiscal management.

Before joining BHI, Mr. Olivarez was the Vice President of an International Investigative and Security Management Consulting Company serving a variety of corporations in the Oil & Gas, Technology, Entertainment, Transportation, Real Estate and Financial Management businesses. Mr. Olivarez spent 10 years in the government and government defense security business with General Dynamics as a Security Analyst and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as a Special Agent.

Mr. Olivarez received a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice with an emphasis in Legal Research from Stephen F. Austin State University and Master of Business Administration from the University of Houston Executive Management Program. He has successfully completed leadership programs at the Thunderbird School of Global Management, Yale Executive School of Management and is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Domestic Security Executive Academy. He is a member of ASIS International (2020 International Board Member), ASIS Chief Security Officer (CSO) Center (Past Chair), International Security Management Association (ISMA), U.S. State Department Overseas Advisory Security Council (OSAC) – Council Member and FBI Domestic Security Alliance Council (DSAC). In 2018, Mr. Olivarez was selected as the International SOS Ambassador Duty of Care Award Winner.

As Executive Vice President & Chief Security Officer at the National Basketball Association, Jerome Pickett oversees all aspects of the league’s global security operations. Prior to joining the NBA in October 2014, Pickett spent 16 years with the United States Secret Service (USSS). Most recently, Pickett served as a supervisory special agent of the Presidential counter assault team, providing global tactical
support for the President in the event of various potential threats. Prior to that, Pickett held a variety of positions and responsibilities within the USSS, from leading forensic investigations into electronic crimes, to managing protective services for the President and First Lady, to participating in search and rescue operations at Ground Zero and working with a team of USSS agents that investigated the terrorists involved in the September 11 attacks. Pickett has received numerous awards, including the U.S. Secret Service Medal of Valor for his heroic actions during 9/11. He serves as a member of the Marist College Board of Trustees as well as Vice Chair for the Department of Homeland Security Commercial Facilities Sector Coordinating Council.

Pickett earned a Masters in Homeland Security from American Military University and a Bachelors in Criminal Justice from Marist College. Pickett is currently pursuing a Masters of Business Administration with a focus in Ethical Leadership from Marist College.

As a Special Agent of the Diplomatic Security Service from 1985-2006, John served in various operational, protective and investigative positions. His service in Washington, D.C., included duty as Director of Intelligence and Threat Analysis, Director of Anti-Terrorism Assistance, and Chief of the Office of Professional Responsibility. Overseas, he served as Regional Security Officer in Russia and Switzerland, and performed extended duties in Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Hungary, Liberia and Somalia, among other assignments.

John is a recipient of the Secretary of State's Career Achievement Award and multiple Senior Foreign Service Performance awards. In 2006, he retired at the grade of Minister-Counselor, Senior Foreign Service. Before his assignment with the State Department, John served as a military intelligence officer in the U.S. Army. He holds a B.A. in Modern Languages from Widener University, Chester, Pa.; an M.A. in Spanish Language and Literature from Temple University, Philadelphia; an M.B.A from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, Ill.; and is a graduate of the U.S. Foreign Service Institute School of Russian Studies, and the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle, Pa.

John is a member of the Editorial Board of the Foreign Service Journal. His foreign languages are Spanish, Portuguese, French, Russian and German.

John Rendeiro joined International SOS in 2006 as Vice President, Global Security and Intelligence. Immediately prior to joining International SOS, he was Assistant Director for International Programs of the Diplomatic Security Service, U.S. Department of State. In this capacity, he was responsible for directing Bureau of Diplomatic Security programs protecting the Department's international facilities and personnel from the threats of terrorism, espionage and crime.

As a Special Agent of the Diplomatic Security Service from 1985-2006, John served in various operational, protective and investigative positions. His service in Washington, D.C., included duty as Director of Intelligence and Threat Analysis, Director of Anti-Terrorism Assistance, and Chief of the Office of Professional Responsibility. Overseas, he served as Regional Security Officer in Russia and Switzerland, and performed extended duties in Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Hungary, Liberia and Somalia, among other assignments.

John is a recipient of the Secretary of State's Career Achievement Award and multiple Senior Foreign Service Performance awards. In 2006, he retired at the grade of Minister-Counselor, Senior Foreign Service.
Before his assignment with the State Department, John served as a military intelligence officer in the U.S. Army. He holds a B.A. in Modern Languages from Widener University, Chester, Pa.; an M.A. in Spanish Language and Literature from Temple University, Philadelphia; an M.B.A from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, Ill.; and is a graduate of the U.S. Foreign Service Institute School of Russian Studies, and the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle, Pa.

John is a member of the Editorial Board of the Foreign Service Journal. His foreign languages are Spanish, Portuguese, French, Russian and German.

Stephen T. Saflin is the Chief Security Officer for Phillips 66. In this role he manages Global Security and Aviation for Phillips 66, a diversified energy manufacturing and logistics company.
He was appointed to the role in May 2012 and reports directly to Phillips 66 senior vice president, Health, Safety and Environment, and Projects.
Saflin has more than 35 years of security and aviation experience.
He retired after 20 years of service in the United States Army as a Military Intelligence and Aviation Officer. Prior to his appointment to his role at Phillips 66, he was the Director of Aviation Operations at ConocoPhillips.
Before ConocoPhillips, he was the Director of Global Security and Aviation for MGM Mirage.
Saflin graduated from California University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science and from Boston University with a Masters in Business Administration.

Over his career, Scott Sheafe has been characterized as a mission-focused partnership builder. At PepsiCo, his mission is to support revenue generation while protecting the corporation’s personnel, facilities, brands and reputation.

Scott joined PepsiCo in 2015 as the Chief Security Officer and Senior Vice President, Global Security.
Global Security at PepsiCo includes security risk analysis and mitigation; investigations; associate, facility and product safety; and business continuity and crisis management. Scott also has the responsibility of directing the corporation’s physical protection program for senior executives.

Scott’s primary goal is the management of a corporate security function that serves as a revenue driver and partner to PepsiCo’s global business leaders. PepsiCo’s global security team supports all business divisions via pre investment due diligence, complex investigations, financial-based business continuity and resiliency analysis, security awareness and crisis management training, associate well-being and travel support, the delivery of strategic advice, and by instilling transparency into the security budget formulation process.

Prior to joining PepsiCo, Scott served as the Global Security Director for Mars, Incorporated where he was charged with developing and implementing a Global Security Program – no program existed before he came aboard. During his tenure at Mars, Scott developed a highly respected, business relevant security program that delivered a full spectrum of services and grew into a key pillar of the corporation’s global operating strategy.

Scott’s experience also includes 15 years as a Special Agent in the U.S. Secret Service where he conducted complex financial infrastructure investigations, served as the Lead Advance agent for the 2002 APEC Summit and the 2003 G8 Summit while assigned to the Presidential Protective Division, and later coordinated the operational security plans for the 2004 Democratic National Convention and the 2008 Presidential Campaign.

Scott resides in Ridgefield, Connecticut with his wife and children.

Pete Short is responsible for all aspects of security and the coordination of crisis management programs across Ball Corporation’s global enterprise. Ball Corporation is a provider of metal packaging for beverages, foods and household products, and of aerospace and other technologies and services to commercial and governmental customers. Founded in 1880, the company employs 18,500 people worldwide.

Pete is a current council member of OSAC and sits on the Executive Working Group (EWG). He also serves as Co-Chair of the DSAC Membership and Engagement Committee. He is a member of the International Security Management Association (ISMA).

Preceding his current role; Pete was the director of program security for Ball Aerospace. He joined Ball in 2010 with 22 years of experience as a security professional in the aerospace and defense sector. He has held positions with Raytheon Company, Hughes Electronics and Lockheed Missiles and Space. Pete began his career as a uniformed security officer and volunteer fire fighter in Yosemite National Park immediately after receiving a BS in criminal justice from the University of Southern Mississippi in May 1988.

Cheryl Steele joined Starbucks in 2018 and is the interim vice president of Global Security & Resilience (chief security officer). Cheryl contributes to Starbucks success by setting the strategic direction that secures all physical assets (retail and non-retail) and ensures the safety of the workforce and customers across Starbucks 30,000+ stores in 78 global markets.

The Global Security and Resilience team serves as the functional Center of Excellence for Starbucks, providing business-focused solutions consistent with the company’s strategy. Cheryl advises the leadership team on physical security and safety-related activities and enterprise controls for Starbucks' business units, the global supply chain, joint venture and strategic licensing partnerships, and facilities worldwide. Cheryl leads a global team of subject matter experts in physical security, risk intelligence, security technology systems, crisis management, business continuity and occupational safety. Based in Seattle, the team includes partners in London, Shanghai, and Hong Kong.

Cheryl brings to Starbucks a history of strategic planning and business management. She started her career as a diplomat with the U.S. Department of State, with overseas assignments in Egypt and Jordan. As a management consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton, Cheryl’s work included engagements on counter-terrorism, U.S. Special Operations and the defense-diplomacy-development nexus, and public-private partnerships on global diplomacy and development issues. Later work with the global communications firm Fleishman Hillard and leadership of her own strategic consultancy business included engagements on crisis communications, counter-messaging and strategic planning and communications. Cheryl is a native of Massachusetts and has her MA degree from Columbia University in the City of New York.

John Voorhees joined USAID in March 2016 as the Director of Security. He was inducted into the U.S. government's Senior Executive Service on January 23, 2017 following a distinguished 28 year career in the U.S. Army serving in the Military Police Corps. His most recent military assignment was as the Deputy Commander (Chief Operating Officer) of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command in Quantico, VA. Prior to this assignment, Mr. Voorhees served as the Commander (Executive Director) for the Army's Specialized Investigations and Executive Protection unit. Mr. Voorhees holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Personnel Management and Administration from the United States Military Academy, a Master of Arts degree in Education (Organizational Training) from the University of Louisville and a Master of Science degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the National War College, National Defense University.

Matt Weilhamer joined Cummins in 2011 after retiring from the United States Army following a distinguished 22-year military career. His assignments ranged from tactical to national operations including service with the National Security Agency and National Reconnaissance Office. Matt is a combat veteran and was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service in a combat zone in 2009.

During his 6-year tenure with Cummins, Matt has been responsible for global security program development, operations, and policy. He developed and implemented security strategies and programs with a focus on employee protection, loss prevention, infrastructure business continuity, and timely crisis management response. Most notably, Matt led the development of Cummins’ global crisis response program, the global Cummins Response Center (CRC) and campus security operations concepts.

Cummins Inc. designs, manufactures, sells and services diesel and alternative fuel engines and generator sets, as well as related components and technology. Cummins serves customers through a network of 600 distributor facilities and more than 7,400 dealer locations in more than 190 countries and territories. Cummins Inc. is headquartered in Columbus, Indiana with over 55,400 employees worldwide.

Greg Wurm is the Vice President, Chief Security Officer at Anthem, Inc. In this role, he is responsible for the global security of associates and facilities, physical security programs, executive protection, security awareness, risk mitigation and safety. With over 74 million people served by its affiliated companies, including more than 40 million with its family of health plans, Anthem is one of the nation’s leading health benefits companies.

Greg has been with Anthem since 2011, having held roles managing the physical security program, site risk assessment program, security audits, security vendor management and the domestic security operations prior to being named as the leader of the department in 2014.

Prior to joining Anthem, Greg was the Vice President of Security at Centene Corporation. In this role, he had oversight for security operations, executive protection, and was a team member of the crisis management and business continuity programs.

Greg’s background is in law enforcement where he was the Chief of Police in Ladue, MO. He had executive oversight of the police department and served on the Board of Directors for the St. Louis Area Major Case Squad. Before being appointed Chief of Police, Greg spent 20 years with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, serving in number of roles including patrol commander, internal affairs, detective bureau and SWAT.

Greg holds a Master of Science degree in criminal justice and a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, the United States Secret Service Dignitary Protection Seminar, the Domestic Security Executive Academy and the Kellogg School of Management Senior Executive Leadership Program. Greg is certified by the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS) as a Certified Protection Professional (CPP). He is a member of several professional groups, including the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC), International Security Management Association (ISMA), the Domestic Security Alliance Council (DSAC), the FBI National Academy Associates (FBINAA) and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). Greg also serves as a member of the Everbridge Executive Advisory Board.

Jason Kight has been OSAC’s Executive Director since 2019. He began his career with the Department of State in 1998, and in 2017 was promoted into the Senior Foreign Service. Prior to joining OSAC, Jason served as the Regional Director for International Programs, Western Hemisphere Affairs. His most recent overseas assignment was as Regional Security Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Amman, Jordan from 2013-2016, with previous assignments in Pakistan, Suriname, Bolivia, Afghanistan, and Austria. Domestically, Jason has served in a number of positions including Antiterrorism Assistance, Career Development, and the Secretary of State’s Protective Detail.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and a minor in Business Administration from the Virginia Military Institute.

James E. Weston became Deputy Executive Director for the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) in the Diplomatic Security Service in June 2020. Mr. Weston manages all activities of the OSAC program office which is dedicated to supporting the U.S. private sector by exchanging security information, analysis and threat warnings. He previously served as Chief of the Research and Information Support Center from 2013 to 2020.

Mr. Weston regularly meets with OSAC constituents though regional conferences, chapter meetings and also supported the U.S. private sector during the 2014 Winter Olympics and 2016 Summer Olympics.

Before coming to OSAC, Mr. Weston led Diplomatic Security policy and standard development and interagency agreement coordination. He was also Executive Secretary for the Overseas Security Policy Board, the DS Firearms Policy Review Board and was Bureau point of contact for the Benghazi Accountability Review Board recommendations.

Mr. Weston previously served as Chief of the Policy Analysis Staff and Special Assistant to the DS Deputy Executive Director. Before coming to DSS, Mr. Weston was an Assistant to the Chief of Staff at the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Mr. Weston holds a B.A. from Texas Christian University and completed the prestigious National Security Executive Leadership Seminar in 2011.

Kit Bartels is OSAC’s Team Lead for Programs, Partnerships, & Policy (P3), responsible for overseeing all OSAC membership groups, governance, and outreach activities. Kit has been with OSAC since July 2019 and with the Department of State for more than 16 years. She previously managed the Fulbright Program for the Middle East and North Africa in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, serving also as the Bureau’s Chief of Staff. Earlier in her career, Kit was an Arabian Peninsula analyst with the Office of Intelligence & Threat Analysis (DS/ITA) and later worked as a Senior Program Officer in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, where she developed and managed programs to build civil society in the MENA region. Prior to her time with the State Department, Kit served as an officer in the United States Air Force, with assignments in Texas, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Washington state.

She received an M.A. in Near Eastern Studies from University of Arizona, and holds a B.A. in Linguistics from Miami University in Ohio. In her free time, Kit enjoys traveling the world (favorites: Japan, Mexico, Oman, and Sicily), swimming outdoors in the summertime, playing trivia, and baking all types of breads and desserts.

Scott Bohn leads OSAC’s Global Threat Warning (GTW) team, responsible for monitoring, analyzing, and sharing time-sensitive security information relevant to U.S. private sector operations overseas. Scott also establishes and maintains a working dialogue on international security matters with officials from across the U.S. government.
Prior to joining OSAC in 2018, Scott served in the Office of Intelligence and Threat Analysis (DS/ITA) as an analyst evaluating threats to U.S. interests in Europe and Eurasia. Additionally, he performed a rotational tour in the Department’s Office of Russian Affairs, where he worked to advance U.S. bilateral policy interests with Russia.
Scott is also a Foreign Area Officer in the Air Force Reserve, currently serving at the Pentagon. Previous assignments included tours at the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence, and the National Security Agency, among others. Scott received a B.Phil in Politics and Philosophy from the University of Pittsburgh and a M.A. in Russian and East European Studies from Georgetown University.

Lili Dalton is the OSAC Program Manager for East & Southern Africa, and has traveled to South Africa, Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Madagascar, and Eswatini during her time at OSAC. Lili also manages the Africa Regional Committee (ARC) and the Academia Sector Committee (ASC). Before joining OSAC, Lili supported the Diplomatic Security Policy & Planning Division. Prior to joining the State Department, she worked for Business Executives for National Security (BENS), a nonprofit that involves public-private partnerships in national security initiatives.
Lili earned a B.A. in International Relations from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University, with minors in Economics and Global Security. Lili is originally from Long Island, NY and has high standards when it comes to the quality of pizza and bagels. In her free time she volunteers as a mentor with the Syracuse International Relations alumni mentorship program, and College Bound, an organization that aims to ensure college completion is a reality for DC public school students. With a passion for travel she hopes to make it to Antarctica, the only continent she has yet to visit.

Michael Ferguson is OSAC's Mexico Analyst, marking the first time OSAC has dedicated an analyst position to one country. Prior to joining OSAC in July, Michael worked in Edelman’s crisis and risk practice, where he provided crisis monitoring and developed scenario plans for clients based in Latin America. Previously, he tracked instances of political violence in Latin America for two years as a research assistant for the Chicago Project on Security and Threats, and assisted with research on disinformation and human rights abuses in the Middle East in the State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.

Michael received his Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy from the University of Chicago, with a specialization in international policy and a minor in Spanish language and literature. Originally from the Chicago suburbs, Michael enjoys reading, hiking, and finding the best pizza in every city he visits.

Amber Footman is OSAC’s Program Manager covering West & Central Africa, the Africa Regional Committee, and the Faith Based Sector Committee. Before joining OSAC in May, Amber supported USAID in the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance. She has served as a Community Development Peace Corps volunteer in Ukraine (2017-2019), worked with the Department of Defense’s Suicide Prevention Office, the State Department’s International Religious Freedom Office, and the Foreign Service Institute, and interned in the State Department’s Office of the Coordinator of Assistance to Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia as a graduate student.

Amber earned Bachelors in International Studies and Russian Studies at Vassar College, and a Masters in European and Eurasian Studies at The George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs. You can find Amber watching Russian films, struggling to keep her houseplants alive, or trying different at-home workouts in her spare time.

Rebecca Gomez is OSAC’s Program Manager covering Europe Country Chapters, the Europe Regional Committee (ERC), and Women in Security (WiS). Before coming to OSAC in 2016, Rebecca worked with the Trans-Atlantic Business Council in Belgium, advocating for public-private partnership on trans-Atlantic trade and economic issues. She also worked in Madrid, Spain as a Language Assistant with the Spanish Ministry of Education.
Rebecca holds an M.A. in International Political Economy from Brussels School of International Studies at the University of Kent, and a B.A. in International Relations from Virginia Tech. She is fluent in Spanish and conversational in French.

Brandon Greenblatt has served as a Global Threats Officer at OSAC since August 2019, primarily focused on the Africa and East Asia-Pacific regions. In this role, he supports OSAC’s mission of sharing threat-related security information with the U.S. private sector overseas. Prior to joining OSAC, Brandon worked as an analyst at the FBI’s Terrorist Screening Center, a multi-agency organization and the U.S. government’s consolidated counterterrorism watchlisting component.

Brandon holds a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University, where he studied the intersection of climate change and international security.

Chad Harmon is an analyst with OSAC's Research & Analysis team. He joined OSAC in 2018 through the Presidential Management Fellows program, the federal government’s premier leadership development program for advanced degree candidates. His global portfolio includes sector-specific security issues, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies. Prior to joining OSAC, Chad served as a global health and safety specialist in academia, where he managed the travel security program for a large public university. He also spent a year teaching high school, an experience he appreciates but hopes to never repeat.

Chad holds a master’s degree in international affairs from the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Georgia Southern University. He also speaks Spanish, which he learned while living in Costa Rica, studying the language, and working at the U.S. Embassy in San José.

When he isn’t working or traveling, Chad enjoys outdoor activities, like hiking and playing slow pitch softball, and cheering on all of Atlanta’s sports teams and the Washington Capitals. His favorite activities always involve his wife, almost two-year-old daughter, and Aussiedoodle pup, Rosie. His family is looking forward to welcoming their newest addition in April 2021.

Bina (Surati) Hensel is OSAC’s Senior Analyst covering Europe. Bina has been with OSAC for six years, helping the U.S. private sector assess various risk factors in ensuring the safety of their personnel and operations abroad. As a part of OSAC Major Events team, she has also provided on-the-ground daily security assessments during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Paris, France, and the 2018 FIFA Men’s World Cup in Moscow, Russia. Using her professional and educational expertise on counterterrorism, Bina has also instructed Eastern and Central European law enforcement professionals on the theory of terrorism at the International Law Enforcement Agency (ILEA) in Budapest, Hungary.

Prior to joining OSAC, Bina worked as a Senior Manager for the Information Technology (IT) and Media & Entertainment portfolio at the U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Bina has also worked on the India team at McLarty Associates as well as the Atlantic Council. Originally from North Carolina and now resident in Atlanta, Bina holds a Master of Arts in Security Studies from Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service, and a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Sara Hovis has been the OSAC Account Manager since January, managing all administrative activities for the OSAC website as the first-line contact for the OSAC Program Office. Sara assists users with account related issues such as password resets and profile updates. She also reviews all incoming applications from new organizations and adjudicates the applications for approval, requests for missing information, or rejection.
Prior to joining OSAC, Sara worked at DSS’s Office of Personnel Security & Suitability processing security clearances, a job that brought her and her family to Virginia from their native Erie, Pennsylvania.
Sara holds a B.A. in History and Communication Studies and a M.S. in Legal Studies with a concentration in Homeland Security. She is currently working on her M.S. in Applied Intelligence from Mercyhurst University. She enjoys spending time with her family, which includes her two children, two dogs, and loving husband, and watching Korean dramas with the hopes of learning the language one day.

Liya Khan is OSAC's South & Central Asia Analyst. Prior to joining OSAC in 2019, Liya received her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, and Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Chicago. She worked for three years at the Chicago Project on Security and Threats, overseeing Department of Defense-funded research initiatives analyzing targeting methods and messaging strategies of various terrorist groups in South Asia and the Middle East.

Since joining OSAC, Liya has traveled to India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh to meet with U.S. government personnel and OSAC members to assess the security and operating environment for the U.S. private sector. Her reports for OSAC focus most prominently on the confluence of threat actors in Afghanistan and Pakistan, political violence in India, and the emergence of ISIS-affiliate networks across the region. A California native, Liya is a Warriors fan always rooting for the Lakers.

Joshua List is OSAC’s Global Security Coordinator responsible for both the South & Central Asia and Western Hemisphere. He has been a member of the Global Threat Warning (GTW) since 2016. Josh manages the dissemination of specific threat-related security information to U.S. private-sector organizations, and also acts in an interagency relationship-management capacity. In this position, he strives to develop formal and informal processes that will foster and preserve vibrant information sharing relationships between OSAC and a broad array of U.S. Government partnering agencies.

Prior to joining OSAC, Josh worked as an Operations Specialist for Diplomatic Security’s domestic Criminal Investigations Division. In this role, he provided comprehensive logistical and technical support to a nationwide program of interagency task force investigators focused on interdicting passport and visa fraud.

Josh received a bachelor’s degree from Grove City College, graduating with a major in Marketing Management.

Anna Macdonald has been OSAC’s Regional Analyst for East Asia & Pacific affairs since 2019. In this role, Anna has traveled to China, Hong Kong, Macau, Cambodia, and Singapore, including being a featured speaker at the OSAC Pan-Asia Regional Committee (PARC) Conference.

Before joining OSAC, Anna worked at the U.S. Department of State’s Taiwan desk, and before that in the private sector in Beijing, China. Originally from Austin, Texas, Anna received her M.A. in Intelligence with a specialization in China from the Institute of World Politics in Washington, DC, and a B.A. in Political Philosophy from the University of Dallas.

Benjamin Malone is a Global Threats Officer with OSAC’s Global Threat Warning (GTW) team, responsible for monitoring, analyzing, and sharing time-sensitive security information relevant with U.S. private sector operations overseas. Ben also establishes and maintains a working dialogue on international security matters with officials from across the U.S. government.
Benjamin has been with GTW for the past two years. Prior to OSAC, Benjamin worked at the FBI’s Terrorism Screening Center, where he performed watchlisting operations with FBI agents and JTTF officers around the world. Benjamin likes watches, making memes, and keeping his supervisor on his toes.

John Masusock has been OSAC’s Middle East analyst since April. Prior to joining OSAC, John supported the Department of the Army’s Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) program as a functional analyst. Originally from New Jersey, John holds a master’s degree in conflict studies at the London School of Economics, focusing his dissertation on countering terrorist financing.

Lashell Nesmith-Peterson is OSAC’s Management Analyst, providing support to the OSAC Council and program office for the past 22 years. Lashell is the mainstay in the OSAC Program Office for anything related to new employees, such as computer network access, building access, office equipment, and who and where to find anything. Lashell conducts the annual inventory of equipment for the office and facilitates large equipment maintenance. She has complete familiarity to coordinate arrangements for official staff travel to include diplomatic and official passport applications and visas for senior staff. Lashell completes the administrative and logistical arrangements for the Council sessions and the OSAC Annual Briefing, with the knowledge of long association to know where and who to go to for out-of-the-norm processes to accomplish these tasks.

Lashell brings stability to an office that is regularly changing processes and personnel while it moves forward to develop efficient and cost-effective security information and communication networks that provide the U.S. private sector with the tools needed to cope with security-related issues in a foreign environment.

Bailey Oedewaldt is a Global Threats Officer with OSAC, having shifted in June from her Program Officer portfolio covering West & Central Africa. She previously worked as a Research Assistant at the United States Institute of Peace, where she conducted evaluations on humanitarian aid and legal programs in Central Africa.
Bailey received her M.A. in Security Studies with a concentration in Intelligence Studies from Georgetown University’s Security Studies Program, and has been published in a number of journals, including Comparative Strategy. She also holds B.A. degrees in International Relations and in French Language and Literature from the University of Alabama. In her free time, she enjoys boxing, hiking with her dog, and creative writing.

John Parrotte is a Special Agent with Diplomatic Security, having joined the Department of State in 2006. A native of Florida, John has served various domestic assignments in New York and Washington, and abroad at diplomatic missions in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Dubai, UAE; Doha, Qatar; and Baghdad, Iraq. John arrived at OSAC in August to assist in bolstering Country Chapter program management, analysis, and operations.

Shari-Ann J. Peart is a Senior Program Manager and oversees OSAC’s Country Chapter program in the Middle East and North Africa, the Middle East and North Africa Regional Committee (MENA RC), and the Hotels and Lodging and Media and Entertainment sector committees. Ms. Peart is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to grow and sustain these, and other, OSAC programs.

Prior to joining OSAC in 2010, Ms. Peart was a background investigation case manager at U.S. Embassy Nairobi, a program management analyst for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, a data management team lead for the Food and Drug Administration, and a staff scientist for an environmental consulting firm. She received her bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the University of Maryland at College Park and her master’s degree in business administration from Webster University.

Marguerite Read is OSAC’s Analyst for East & Southern Africa, having joined the Research & Analysis team in May. Prior to joining OSAC, Marguerite worked at Thomson Reuters Special Services (TRSS), where she provided location-based intelligence associated with international travel for a private-sector client. She also has experience working in the international development sector, focusing on energy infrastructure development across sub-Saharan Africa for USAID and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA).

Marguerite received her B.A. in International Relations from Boston University with a focus on Foreign Policy and Security Studies in Africa. When she wasn’t in the classroom, Marguerite competed as a coxswain on the Division I BU Men’s Crew Team. In her free time, Marguerite enjoys running through new neighborhoods in DC and keeping her sourdough starter alive.

Alexandra Scott has served as the OSAC Program Manager for the Americas since September 2019. She also supports the Latin America Regional Committee (LARC) and the Energy Sector Committee (ESC). Prior to joining OSAC, Alexandra worked in the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, managing large-scale teacher exchanges and planning orientations for the Fulbright Program, and in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, where she supported youth leadership programs and counter-disinformation efforts.

She holds an M.A. from the George Washington University and a B.A. from the University of Puget Sound.

Rebecca Spingarn joined OSAC in 2016. As Strategic Advisor, Rebecca evaluates the operational efficiency of the OSAC Council and program office, and drives strategic planning and communication with OSAC leadership to ensure mission alignment and growth.

Prior to joining OSAC, Rebecca was a Strategic Operational Planner at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, evaluating U.S. national security policies and counterterrorism resources throughout the intelligence community. During this time, she concentrated on countering threat finance and emerging threats in the Horn of Africa. She has also served as an intelligence analyst on the Joint Terrorism Task Force – Guantanamo Bay, and with the Diplomatic Security Service Criminal Investigations Division, focusing on human smuggling and trafficking investigations.

Rebecca has enjoyed assignments at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya delivering advanced training to Kenyan law enforcement officers, and at the U.S. Consulate General in Monterrey, Mexico as the Project Manager to relocate to a new diplomatic compound.

Rebecca holds a B.A in International Affairs from George Washington University and a M.A. in U.S. Foreign Policy from American University.

BryAna Stearns is the Program Manager for OSAC’s South and Central Asia Country Chapters, the Pan-Asia Regional Committee, and the International Development Sector Committee. BryAna joined OSAC in February . Previously, she was a staffer for the Assistant Secretary of the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. She received her B.A. in International Studies in May 2019 from American University’s School of International Service, with concentrations in peace, global security, and conflict resolution in the Middle East and North Africa.
Outside of work, BryAna enjoys trail running, cooking dishes from different cuisines, trying new restaurants, and going to concerts (assuming we are able to do that ever again).

In December 1986, Marsha Thurman, a contract employee at the Department of State hired as a receptionist for access control to the Department and tour guide for the historic Diplomatic Reception Rooms, was temporarily assigned to provide support over the holidays to the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC). Thirty-four years later Marsha has the honor to continue to provide support to this Council.

Through the years, Marsha has been instrumental in providing support for the Council’s recommendations to create the OSAC Country Chapters program, publishing security guidelines for the private sector, the creation of the OSAC website, the growing OSAC Program Office, outreach to the non-business sectors of the U.S. private sector, and other significant contributions solidifying partnerships with the private sector. She has been the continuity to assist in expanding from the original 15 member organizations to include a current constituent membership of over 4,700 U.S. organizations with more than 17,000 representatives worldwide.

A civil servant since 1999, Marsha has learned and applied expertise from the best of the best in the private and public sector leadership to help make OSAC the premier public-private partnership for sharing information on overseas security issues.

Growing up in Southern California, Marsha’s previous work experience included the medical field, hospitality, retail, non-profit association, and volunteering at the U.S. Navy Medical Center.

Andrea Tuemmler is OSAC’s Americas Analyst, covering Canada, the Caribbean, and Central/South America. Before joining OSAC in June, Andrea spent time conducting research in Colombia about gender and transitional justice, and worked on peacekeeping and security at the United Kingdom Mission to the United Nations in New York.

Andrea holds an M.Sc. in International Relations from the London School of Economics and a B.A. in Economics and Diplomacy from Occidental College in California. Originally from Northern California, Andrea loves to read feminist literature, hike, and run.

Gregory Wahl leads OSAC’s Research & Analysis Unit (R&A, aka “the analysts”). RAU’s ten-person team is responsible for producing the analytic content on OSAC.gov and interacting with OSAC members on a daily basis. Under his leadership, R&A has produced over 1,300 original analytic reports and 1,500 Crime & Safety Reports.

Gregory has been with the State Department for 17 years, first serving as OSAC’s Senior Regional Coordinator for Sub-Saharan Africa from 2003-2007, then as Europe Team Lead for the Office of Intelligence & Threat Analysis (ITA) from 2007-2013. Gregory also helped to lead ITA’s major events coverage, and was the lead DS analyst at the 2012 Olympic Summer Games in London. This is Gregory’s 12th Annual Briefing.

Gregory holds degrees from the University at Albany and the University of North Carolina School of Law, and studied abroad in London. He has traveled to more than 80 countries, served on the DSS Council on Diversity & Inclusion, and briefed at the CIA; the FBI; U.S. European Command; and the International Law Enforcement Academies in Botswana, El Salvador, and Hungary. Originally from Grand Island, NY, Gregory is the face of the #BillsMafia in DC, as President of the Washington DC Buffalo Bills Backers.

Phil Walker manages the Major Events Program for OSAC. He is a member of the United Nations International Expert Group on Security of Major Sporting Events.

At OSAC, Phil leads a team of analysts who provide safety and security guidance to U.S. companies and organizations involved in large international events, to include the upcoming Tokyo Summer Olympics, Beijing Winter Olympics, and Qatar FIFA World Cup. He previously served as an OSAC regional analyst covering both West & Central Africa and South & Central Asia. Prior to joining OSAC, he worked at the Intelligence and National Security Alliance, Foreign Policy Magazine, and the World Affairs Council of Northern California.

Phil received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of California at Santa Barbara, and his Master of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University in Washington, DC. He also studied at Meiji Gakuin University in Japan, and the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.

Shakyra Walker has been OSAC’s Information Technology (IT) Project Manager since 2012. She is responsible for the continued design, development, implementation, operations, maintenance, training, strategic/capital planning, and life-cycle replacement requirements of OSAC.gov. She also provides direction and manages deliverables of other OSAC technology projects.

Kyra interfaces daily with software engineers, cyber security specialists, and system engineers to develop system requirements sufficient to support future demands for the recently redesigned OSAC.gov and OSAC mobile app for both iOS and Android platforms.

Prior to coming to OSAC, Kyra worked as a Senior Systems Analyst for the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) supporting over 4,000 U.S. Marshals, Deputy U.S. Marshals, and Criminal Investigators with the USMS Joint Detainee Information System (JDIS). As a Senior Analyst, she led system design, development, and training efforts for the JDIS Prisoner Operations, Judicial Security, and Investigative Operations divisions.

She also previously served as a Software Analyst supporting the Department of Education and the software development life cycle for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) system.

Kyra holds a B.S. in Global Business and Information Systems Management from Arizona State University, and has completed Microsoft Certifications as an IT Professional (MCITP) and Technology Specialist (MCTS).

Elizabeth Winter is the Communications Manager at OSAC. She works to ensure clear, consistent messaging and connectivity within the OSAC community and to promote its continued outreach throughout the private sector.

Elizabeth brings extensive experience across web, social, broadcast, radio, and print strategy at numerous organizations including the International Monetary Fund, ABC News, National Public Radio, and NGO, Women for Women International, where she created multimedia to tell the stories of women survivors of war working to build their own businesses in areas of conflict including Afghanistan, Iraq, DRC, Nigeria, and South Sudan.

Elizabeth is also the Founder and Executive Director of the Ink Well Foundation, a non-profit which provides children enduring illness and challenging home-life situations with free arts supplies and activities led by professionals in the illustration, cartooning, and animation industries.

Elizabeth holds a B.A. from Barnard College.

Andrew Ziegler is OSAC’s West and Central Africa analyst, joining the Research & Analysis team in 2019. Prior to joining OSAC, Andrew covered West Africa as a Research Analyst for the Sub-Saharan Africa team at the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), helping secure pre-project preparation services grants for infrastructure projects. He has also spent time as a corporate intelligence analyst at Kroll, as well as internship positions in the State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs Office of West Africa, and in the Political/Economics Section of the U.S. Embassy in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Andrew graduated with a B.A. in International Affairs from The George Washington University. He also spent time studying the effects of conflict in northern Uganda at the School of International Training. He is a native of Massachusetts and a proud Patriots supporter.