Mission Expertise
LTG Guy C. Swan III (Ret.)
Land Forces
LTG Guy C. Swan III (Ret.) retired as Vice President of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA). During more than 35 years of active service, he commanded at every level through Army Service Component Command. A career armor/cavalry officer, his general officer assignments included Commanding General of U.S. Army North (ARNORTH); Director of Operations for United States Northern Command (NORTHCOM); Commanding General of the U.S. Army Military District of Washington and Commander of the Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region; Commanding General of the 7th Army Training Command in Germany; and Chief of Staff and Director of Operations for the Multi-National Force-Iraq (MNF-I) during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, is a member of the Homeland Security Experts Group (HSEG) and the Council on Foreign Relations, and is a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM).
Lt. Gen. Mark "Chris" Nowland (Ret.)
Air & Space Forces
Lt. Gen. Mark “Chris” Nowland (Ret.) retired from the Air Force in 2018 as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, where he was directly responsible for all aspects of global operations, including base defense, security forces, counter-UAS, force management, weather, training and readiness across air, space and cyber fields. As the Air Force Operations Deputy to the Joint Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Nowland determined operational requirements, capabilities and training required to support national security, defense and military objectives.
Prior to his role as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Lt. Gen. Nowland served many roles in the Air Force including Commander of the 12th Air Force, Chief of Staff & Director for Strategy, Policy & Plans at U.S. Southern Command, Director of Plans, Programs, Requirements, & Assessments at Randolph AFB, and the Commander of the 71st Flying Training Wing. Lt. Gen. Nowland also serves as President & Founder of Chris Nowland LLC.
Lt. Gen. Nowland holds a B.S. from the USAF Academy, an MS from Embry Riddle, and he currently serves as a USAF Senior Mentor to junior officers.
RADM Dan "Dano" Fillion (Ret.)
Maritime Forces
RADM Daniel “Dano” Fillion (Ret.) retired from the U.S. Navy as Director of Warfare Integration (N9I) on the Chief of Naval Operations staff. His career spans naval aviation, expeditionary command, global operations, strategy, and resource planning.
He commanded Expeditionary Strike Group 3, the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp, and two helicopter squadrons: HSL-51 and HSM-41. Earlier sea duty included navigating USS Nimitz and serving as executive officer aboard Wasp.
His senior staff roles included leading global operations at U.S. Strategic Command and overseeing strategy, policy, and plans at U.S. Southern Command. He also directed the White House emergency operations center, held Pentagon assignments involving aviation research budgets and Navy financial leadership, and served as a fellow with the Navy’s Strategic Studies Group. Immediately before N9I, he led the Navy’s manpower account transition office.
Fillion holds a bachelor’s degree in business from the College of Charleston and a master’s in administration from Central Michigan University. His professional education includes Air Command and Staff College, Joint Forces Staff College, and the Navy Corporate Business Course.
Johnny Sawyer
Cyber & Intelligence Forces
Johnny Sawyer is President of the Defense Intel Alumni Association and founder/chief executive officer of The Sawyer Group, a consulting firm focused on partnering with organizations to deliver tailor-made practical defense, intelligence, and strategic management solutions.
Following a distinguished 22-year military career as a U.S. Army officer, he joined the Defense Intelligence Agency in 2001 and served in multiple positions of increased responsibility during his 20-year tenure there. In 2009, Mr. Sawyer was elevated to the Defense Intelligence Senior Executive Service. Mr. Sawyer's last assignment at DIA was as chief of staff. As the third-ranking officer at DIA, he was the Agency's chief operating officer—overseeing sixteen thousand officers and a multi-billion-dollar budget and exercising broad responsibilities to ensure continued excellence while simultaneously developing plans, process improvements, and strategies to prepare the Agency for future success.
Mr. Sawyer currently serves on the US Geospatial Intelligence Foundation Board of Directors, National Academies for Science Engineering and Medicine Army R&D Board, AFCEA Intelligence Committee, FedLearn Board of Advisors, and Black Professionals in International Affairs Board of Advisors.
Mr. Sawyer's formal education includes an MBA from Florida Institute of Technology, an M.S. from National War College, and a Master of Military Studies from the U.S. Marine Corps University.
John McGriff
Special Forces
John McGriff retired after 20 years of service in the United States Army, with the last 12 years assigned to U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC), conducting and leading global operations in complex, high-threat environments. Prior to USASOC, John served in 3rd Special Forces Group, 82nd Airborne Division, and 173rd Airborne Brigade. Across six combat and nine non-traditional deployments, he built and sustained trusted relationships with foreign defense partners and provided timely, actionable insight to support U.S. and allied decision-makers. He planned and coordinated closely with interagency and U.S. Department of War stakeholders to independently execute strategic global operations across multiple theaters and domains. In parallel, he helped translate emerging techniques and technologies into practical capability on the ground when traditional platforms fell short or posed unacceptable risk, supporting critical national security requirements and shaping strategic planning and mission development.
Raul Ortiz
Homeland Security
Raul Luis Ortiz retired in 2023 as the 25th Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol, capping a 30-year career that began on the front lines in 1991. His rise to the agency’s highest office was defined by leadership in the nation’s most critical domestic sectors and high-stakes international assignments, including serving as the DHS Attaché in Kabul and Senior Advisor in Pakistan.
As Chief, Ortiz commanded a force of nearly 20,000 agents through historic migration surges, balancing firm enforcement with a commitment to pragmatic community collaboration. Today, he leverages this deep institutional knowledge as a strategic advisor, helping government agencies modernize their approach to the evolving complexities of national security.
BG John Driscoll (Ret.)
National Guard and Emergency Management
BG John J. Driscoll (Ret.) has the expertise of 33 years of service in the Army under his belt, commanding at every rank and level. His notable activations include the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home COVID outbreak, MA Army Guard Commander for the statewide civil unrest in 2020, and leading the 20 state Task Force Capitol Grounds from January to May 2021 after the Capitol riots. In 1993, he transferred to the Massachusetts Army National Guard and served with honor, retiring in 2022 leading its 5,600 Soldiers.
A lifetime member of esteemed Veterans organizations such as AUSA, NGAUS, DAV, VFW, MOAA and the American Legion, he was honored as the 2015 Springfield MA Veteran of the Year and has served on Springfield Veteran’s Activities Board since 1999. In addition to his military and civic engagements, he lends his expertise as an independent board member for Quincy Cass Associates, and as a board member and growth advisor for Skyline NAV AI.
John holds Master’s degrees in Strategic Studies from the US Army War College and Defense Acquisition Management from American Military University, and has military awards and decorations commensurate with his rank. He resides in Springfield, MA with his wife of 33 years, Dr. Merribeth Morin.
COL Ryan Fayrweather (Ret.)
Allied Forces
COL Ryan Fayrweather (Ret.) is an accomplished international defense strategist and acquisition leader with extensive experience across the U.S. Department of Defense and global industry. Over nearly three decades, he has directed major foreign military sales programs, advanced multinational partnerships, and led teams operating across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Drawing on his background in cross-cultural engagement and proficiency in Italian and Spanish, he excels at connecting defense, diplomatic, and industrial stakeholders to deliver lasting strategic outcomes.
As Senior Vice President for International Defense at a maritime drone company, Ryan led global expansion in autonomous maritime systems, negotiating large international agreements and building strategic partnerships that advanced the integration of hybrid unmanned underwater and surface vehicle (UUV/USV) technologies. He developed standardized command-and-control frameworks for maritime drone task forces and positioned the company as a key innovator in the evolving unmanned maritime domain. He also has broad experience working across multiple defense-related domains, including air, land, and maritime systems, C4ISR technologies, and international acquisition programs.
A retired U.S. Army COL and longtime Foreign Area Officer, Ryan served as Director for the U.S. Army Security Assistance Command’s CENTCOM Region and as Chief of the Office of Defense Cooperation in multiple U.S. embassies, including Italy, Croatia, and Serbia. He brings decades of experience in international acquisition, defense cooperation, and foreign engagement that have helped shape modernization efforts across NATO and partner nations. Ryan holds master’s degrees from the Naval Postgraduate School and Sapienza Università di Roma, and completed senior studies at the Italian War College (CASD). He continues to advise emerging defense ventures and international partners on acquisition strategy, unmanned systems integration, U.S. Defense penetration, and global defense collaboration.
COL Gregg Gross (Ret.)
Defense Logistics
COL Gregg Gross (Ret.) is a subject matter expert in supply chain, logistics, and U.S. government contracting, having spent over 37 years supporting U.S. operations worldwide. During COL Gross’ time in the Army, he served as Division Chief for Sustainment and Logistics for the U.S. Army Capabilities Integration Center, the Support Operations Officer / Distribution Management Center Chief of the Expeditionary Sustainment Command in Iraq, J4 (Logistics) and J7 (Training), lead trainer for SOF Joint Training Team, lead logistics planner for U.S. CENTCOM, and a Battalion Commander.
In his time at Fluor Government Group, COL Gross acted as Supply Chain Director, Operations Director, Director for Materials, and Deputy Project Manager for Fluor Defense serving operations throughout Europe, Africa, and Central America; as a project manager he assisted the Department of Defense, the Department of State, and USAID’s response to the Ebola outbreak in Liberia and Senegal. COL Gross also led and oversaw numerous operations in Iraq & Afghanistan. COL Gross holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame, a Masters in Logistics Management from Florida Institute of Technology, and a Masters in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.
Steve LaPlante
Civilian & Intelligence Agencies
Steve LaPlante continues a 33 plus year career holding key leadership positions in both the Public and Private sector. After graduating as a Distinguished Military Graduate at Northeastern University, Steve served in the Army in Europe and completed his Company Command in the 4th Infantry Division, Ft Hood Texas. In 1998, Mr. LaPlante returned to his home State of Maine and became a City Manager. Steve then moved to the private sector where he was a Director for French power conglomerate Alstom, overseeing several major Power Plant construction projects totaling $1.5 Billion.
Shortly after 9-11, Steve was called back to active duty and was posted on the Commanding General’s staff at US Central Command Headquarters. That staff posting led to a 10-year stint as the Program Manager of the CENTCOM Counter Narcotics efforts in both Central Asia and Afghanistan, leading over 400 Subject Matter Experts and an annual budget of over $400 million. Mr. LaPlante’s portfolio included the Border Management Task Force Afghanistan, the Counter Narcotics Task Force Afghanistan, and several key programs in the Central Asian States. The projects Mr. LaPlante delivered in the Middle East and Central Asia included design build construction, IT infrastructure, border security, law enforcement training and equipping, intelligence collection and long term strategic planning.
Since leaving CENTCOM Mr. LaPlante has been a private consultant for several US and International Companies who wish to do work with the Federal Government. Considered a subject matter expert in inter-agency responses to crises, Steve lectures and consults with both Public and Private entities on matters of government planning, development projects, logistics in austere environments, and international security policy.
Brig. Gen. James R. “Cliffy” Cluff (Ret.)
Air & Space Forces
Brig. Gen. James R. “Cliffy” Cluff (Ret.) graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1991 and then attended intelligence officer training at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas. His first assignment in the Air Force was at Shaw AFB, South Carolina, as a squadron intelligence officer. In 1995 he earned his pilot wings at Columbus AFB, Mississippi, and flew multiple blocks of F-16’s in three operational assignments as well as in support of Operation Southern Watch. He has operationally flown the MQ-1, RQ-4, MQ-9 and RQ-170 RPA in various assignments and has been assigned to numerous command and staff positions. Additionally, he served in Kabul, Afghanistan, as Deputy Commander, 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force – Afghanistan and International Security Assistance Force Joint Command Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff – Air.
Brig. Gen. Cluff commanded the 432nd Wing/432nd Air Expeditionary Wing and the 17th Reconnaissance Squadron at Creech AFB, Nevada. Prior to his assignment to the Joint Staff, he served as the Director, Remotely Piloted Aircraft/Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (A2/6U/A3U), Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Arlington, Virginia. He is now the COO of Soar Beyond Specialized Consulting Services.
COL Erin C. Cluff (Ret.)
Air & Space Forces
COL Erin C. Cluff (Ret.) is a supply chain management, installation support and strategic energy leader with 25 years of experience leading, partnering, innovating, and collaborating to achieve world-class results. She is the co-founder and Managing Partner for SOAR BEYOND, LLC a specialized consulting firm located in Big Sky, MT. She has led large-scale, diverse organizations across the globe, earning a reputation as a motivational leader and decisive change agent focused on delivering innovative solutions to complex and rapidly evolving challenges. A highly trained logistician, Erin has tactical, operational, strategic planning and execution, acquisition logistics, and enterprise-level readiness, sustainment and energy experience.
Erin earned her MA in national security from American Military University and her MS in national resource strategy from the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy. She is a certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and is certified in program management and lifecycle logistics through Defense Acquisition University. Erin completed numerous executive education programs, including the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School. She has served on the National Small Business Association’s National Leadership Council and has held multiple board chairmanships and holds a Top Secret/SCI Security Clearance.
Bryan Mabry
Partner Emeritus
Bryan Mabry is the founder and Managing Director of strategic advisory firm, Vehementia, LLC. Mr. Mabry and his team focus on providing corporate and national security clients with critical information and due diligence to inform strategy, risk, investment, and strategic organizational decisions. During Mr. Mabry’s career he has spent over a decade with the U.S. government leading and managing programs in the Intelligence Community and at the Department of Defense, where he was awarded multiple commendations for valor and service. Following Mr. Mabry’s service in Government he was the Director of Special Projects at a Fortune 200 firm where he identified non-traditional growth opportunities for commercial clients, federal agencies, and special operations elements of the U.S. military; he most recently held the position of Acting Vice President of the Department of Administration & Finance as well as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).
Christine Williams
Strategy & Operations
Christine Williams is an experienced practice lead and strategic consultant with a strong track record in growth strategy, business development, and go-to-market initiatives at the intersection of business, government and technology. In addition to her work as a senior strategic advisor and business development executive at several technology companies, she was Vice President of the Defense practice at Beacon Consulting, where she advised leadership at Fortune 500 companies on strategic growth, focusing on defense, space, technology, and national security. Prior to this, Christine worked for the Defense Intelligence Agency during Operation Iraqi Freedom, leading the urban infrastructure team and serving as the DoD liaison for reconstruction.
COL Jack O’Neill (Ret.)
Engineering, Procurement, Construction
COL Jack O’Neill (Ret.) served for 30 years with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), culminating in his assignment as Director, Army Staff Office of the Chief of Engineers. He led diverse programs and projects spanning military construction (MILCON), stevedoring, civil works, counter-mine and counter-IED programs, and military bridging. COL O’Neill was previously the Executive Director of The Army Engineer Association (AEA), where he held responsibility for P&L and overall AEA support to the U.S. Army Engineer Regiment, its alumni, and its industry partners. He maintains a strong and substantial network spanning senior engineers in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard, and contacts in hundreds of private sector companies and firms that do business with the DoD engineering community.
COL Harry “Tee” Townsley (Ret.)
Engineering and Technology
COL Harry “Tee” Townsley (Ret.) served for 30 years in the United States Army Signal Corps, with assignments across multiple overseas theaters and combat deployments. His experience includes engineering, installation, and operation of strategic global communications systems supporting from the tactical level to the White House. He served as an adjunct professor in the Master’s Degree program in Telecommunications Engineering for the University of Southern Mississippi as well as the Senior Army Fellow with the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association. He was the Chief of Staff for the largest overseas Signal Command supporting all US elements stationed from Norway to Saudi Arabia as well as international military headquarters in this area. He directed major communications support to deployments in support of the Dayton Accords (Bosnia) and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (Rwanda). His last assignment was in the Office of the Chief of Staff Army as the Chief of Systems Integration and Materiel Development for the Army Digitization Office. His subsequent experience was with the Raytheon Company with R&D for sensors development and counter IED programs.
Gary S. Flood
Technology & International Markets
Gary S. Flood has spent a career working with advanced technology companies with an emphasis on early stage technology development and international business applications. Mr. Flood spent the first 25 years of his career focusing on the advancement of communications systems and over the last 17 years has focused on alternative energies with an emphasis on PEM Fuel Cell and Hydrogen energy. Specifically, Mr. Flood has served as a consultant to major Hydrogen manufacturers such as Air Liquide, Air Products, & Linde. Furthermore, Mr. Flood served as the CEO of ReliOn Inc. for 11 years.
In addition to his time in the private sector, Mr. Flood has served as an advisor to the U.S. Department of Energy’s fuel cell programs office (FCTO). Mr. Flood holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electronic Engineering from California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo.
Andrew G. Laing
Emerging Technology
Andrew Laing has worked for niche consulting firms in due diligence, government affairs, business development, and currently serves as the Director of Wolverine Mutual Insurance Company. Prior to his time in the private sector, Mr. Laing worked for the House Energy & Commerce Committee, with a focus on the Communications & Technology subcommittee.
Mr. Laing is a founding member of the Victory Six Advisors and continues to identify unique technologies to serve client and investor needs. In addition, Mr. Laing has unique market assessment, corporate development, and investment identification capabilities. Mr. Laing is a proud graduate of the University of Michigan.
Margaret “Maggie” Gross
Marketing & Communications Associate
Maggie Gross is a communications professional with a strong background in marketing, public relations, and strategic communications. She contributes a creative skill set to the team, specializing in social media campaign management, content creation, event planning, and video editing.
Maggie’s professional experience spans the social work, education, and non-profit sectors. She has worked in post-adoption support at Holt International Children's Services and supports communication efforts for Young Professionals in Foreign Policy DC.
She graduated from the Rutgers University School of Communication and Information with a bachelor’s degree in Strategic Public Communication and Public Relations.
Specialist Network
Megan Capiak
Public Relations
Megan Capiak is an experienced strategist who has spent her career working at the cross section of technology, policy, and communications. Ms. Capiak previously worked as Chief of Staff to the Founder and CEO at Invariant where she served as a liaison between the CEO and internal/external stakeholders and developed a deep understanding of the political issues that impacted the firm's 70+ clients. Prior to that, Ms. Capiak worked at Salesforce as a program manager for global public policy; she developed the company's strategy relating to federal public policy and executive engagement in Washington, D.C., while also building Salesforce's brand in Washington amongst policymakers and key stakeholders.
Prior to joining Salesforce, Ms. Capiak was an early policy and communications team hire at Uber and held multiple positions with the company during its pivotal hyper-growth years. Her last role saw her leading communications for several states in the Midwest, where she served as Uber’s primary spokesperson. Megan began her career on Capitol Hill working for Congressman Fred Upton of Michigan, in both his personal office and under his chairmanship on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Megan VanHorn
Federal Acquisitions and Contracting
Megan VanHorn is an experienced government acquisition and contracting expert with extensive experience in the federal and defense contracting sectors. She served as both a Contracting and Agreements Officer in United States Air Force, where she collaborated with various high-profile organizations, including the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, AFVentures’ Agility Prime office, the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office, and United States Special Operations Command.
Throughout her military career, Megan was recognized for her innovative approach to contract management and her ability to implement cutting-edge contracting techniques. Her work focused on enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of federal procurement processes, contributing to the strengthening of the national security framework and the Defense Industrial Base of the United States. Following her successful tenure in the Air Force, Megan transitioned to the private sector, where she continued her mission to improve servicemembers' access to essential technologies. Megan specializes in advising small and non-traditional companies in matters relating to federal acquisitions, program management, contracting, and pricing.
Dan Wagner
Government Relations
Dan Wagner is a partner at C2 Strategies and the owner of The Rox Group, both of which are government relations and strategic consulting firms with a focus on national security. With extensive experience in the Department of Defense and a deep understanding of the broader national security landscape, Dan provides informed and strategic guidance to his clients, ensuring they are well-positioned to meet the needs of their stakeholders.
Dan is a retired U.S. Army officer, where he served as the senior military advisor to the Commander of U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) for Legislative Affairs in Washington, D.C. In this capacity, he was instrumental in shaping both policy and budgetary decisions critical to national defense. His expertise was further honed during his tenure as a military fellow in the office of Rep. Mike Rogers (MI-08), then Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI).
Throughout his military career, Dan served as an intelligence officer supporting Special Forces and as a senior Joint Special Operations Command representative to the Central Intelligence Agency. His roles required a keen understanding of both operational and strategic imperatives, making him a trusted advisor in the field of national security.
In addition to his professional roles, Dan is a fellow at the National Security Institute at George Mason University, an advisor to the OSS Society, and serves as vice president of the 160th Night Stalker Association in Washington, D.C.
Matt Friesen
Government Relations
Matt Friesen is a government relations professional with more than a decade of experience advising clients in Washington, D.C. He is a partner at C2 Strategies and president of TAK Alliance, bringing experience in federal engagement and strategic advisory work to the Victory Six team.
Before joining C2 Strategies, Friesen spent more than nine years at O’Brien, Gentry & Scott. He progressed from associate to vice president, junior partner, and partner, building experience helping clients navigate policy priorities and relationships with federal decision-makers.
Friesen earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and government from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Brendan Kretzschmar
Government Relations
Brendan Kretzschmar is a partner at C2 Strategies, where he advises companies on federal policy, budgets, and government engagement. His work helps clients navigate congressional authorization and appropriations, oversight, and the development of strategies for advancing technology priorities.
Brendan has worked on defense acquisition and policy matters involving Congress, the Administration, NASA, and the Department of Defense. His experience spans research and development through procurement, with a particular focus on aerospace, satellite communications, remote sensing, and launch services.
Before joining the firm in 2013, Brendan served as a Legislative Assistant in the U.S. House of Representatives. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Colorado Boulder.
Jake Perry
Government Relations
Jake Perry is the founder and principal of Jake Perry + Partners, a government affairs and strategic advisory firm. Mr. Perry has over 20 years of political experience advising clients on process and a wide range of policies including financial services, transportation, technology and energy. Prior to launching his own firm, he served as a senior political advisor to U.S. Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, for more than a decade. Perry has also helped launch multiple PAC’s as well as served on several campaigns. Today he serves on the finance committees of Senators Tom Carper, Bob Menendez, Sherrod Brown, Bob Casey, Debbie Stabenow, Tim Kaine, Jon Tester, Brian Schatz, Joe Manchin, Catherine Cortez-Masto and Jacky Rosen. Additionally, Perry serves on the Board of Trustees for the American Council of Young Political Leaders, a nonpartisan nonprofit internationally recognized for introducing America’s rising political and policy leaders.
Matt Wise
Government Relations
Matthew Wise leads the Government Affairs activity for Victory Six. He is the founder of Wise Capital Strategy. Mr. Wise has over 15 years of experience working with and within Congress, the White House and Federal Agencies, including tenures with both the House and Senate. Mr. Wise has experience in both political and issue campaigns with extensive knowledge of how to build and guide teams to successful outcomes. During his career, Mr. Wise has worked on a wide array of issues most notably defense, trade, finance, transportation, infrastructure, and energy policy. Mr. Wise’s political activities include having served as the Coalition Finance Director for Senator John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign. Mr. Wise has helped create, organize, and manage Political Action Committees for corporations, industry associations, and non-profit organizations. Additionally, Mr. Wise has served as an advisor for political candidates for federal and state offices.
