Our Team
Saber Six foundation
Board of Directors
Hari Achuthan is the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of each of ACO Investment Group (ACO) Convalt Energy, Oxaio Networks and DigiCollect. ACO is the parent investment holding company of its portfolio companies including Convalt Energy, Oxaio Networks and DigiCollect. Convalt Energy founded by Hari Achuthan, is a vertically integrated renewable power company that develops, owns and operates solar, waste to power, wind, energy, power transmission and EV charging. Convalt is currently active in the United States, S.E. Asia, India and Africa. Convalt is in the process of constructing a solar panel manufacturing plant in Watertown, New York potentially making this plant the second largest solar module manufacturer in the United States.
In 2009, Hari was selected as one of the emerging leaders at Credit Suisse Asset Management and named one of the “Rising Stars in Public Pensions” by Money Management Letter. During his tenure at Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, the firm was consistently ranked as a top provider of pension strategies and transition management services. Hari has a B.S. in Applied Economics from Hofstra University and was a member of the Hofstra Football team from 1991 – 1994.
He has volunteered with the Jacksonville Police Athletic League and has been a frequent guest lecturer at Louisiana State University School of Business. Hari has also authored a series of papers on the transition management industry which have been published in Institutional Investor and Pensions & Investments.
Steve is the Chief Operating Officer of Lux Capital, a venture capital firm based in New York City and Silicon Valley with $4 billion AUM, investing in emerging science and technology companies at the outermost edges of what’s possible.
Prior to joining Lux, Steve was Senior Operating Executive and Global Head of the operating Initiatives Group at Cerberus Capital Management, a $60 billion private investment firm
headquartered in New York City.
Steve is passionate about his family, building and fixing things, adventure and curing cancer.
Geoff Dietrich is a tax attorney and the Managing Partner of the law firm Cantley Dietrich LLC. Geoff focuses his practice on tax compliance for complicated transactions and consults nationally with CPA and financial planning firms on specific aspects of their clients’ needs in the areas of the Taxation, Asset Protection, and Business Planning.
Geoff co-authors many of his law firm’s scholarly articles published nationwide in top law reviews and journals and is ranked in the top 10% downloaded authors on Social Sciences Research Network (SSRN).
Geoff graduated from the United States Military Academy (West Point), then obtained his J.D. degree from Brigham Young University Law School where he served as Managing Editor of the BYU Law Review. Geoff is completing a Masters of Law (LLM) in Taxation from Loyola Law School (Los Angeles) with an expected graduation in 2023. Prior to practicing law, Geoff served as an officer in the U.S. Army Infantry with combat deployments to Kuwait and Iraq. In his spare time, Mr. Dietrich has competed in Half and Full Ironman Triathlons and open-water swim events.
Greg Kaplan is an entrepreneur, a disrupter, an innovator, and most importantly, a doer of good.
Greg is currently SVP at Newfront, a tech-enabled brokerage, where he leads the Retirement Services business.
Prior to Newfront, Greg was the VP of Strategic Finance and Operations at Specialized Bicycles where he had broad responsibilities across Treasury, Global Real Estate and Facilities, Operations, Planning, and Logisitics.
Prior to Specialized, Greg spent nearly a decade at Mircosoft as a capital markets expert overseeing $100B+ in financial assets.
Greg is passionate about family, philanthropy, health and wellness, building community, and making the world a better place.
Greg earned a BBA from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business and is a CFA Charterholder.
Nicole Kauss is currently a Contracts Manager with Amentum and the COO of Strategic Leaders Academy. She previously worked for the Department of Defense for 15 years, where she most recently was the Chief Operating Officer of the South and Central Asia mission. She is a former Intelligence Community leader who has deployed numerous times and excels in high pressure situations in challenging environments. She holds a B.A. in Spanish and International Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a M.A in International Security from The George Washington University.
Dee Dee Kiesow is a non-profit Executive Director with 30+ years of experience in fundraising and community engagement. She uses her passion for enrolling donors by inspiring joyful giving to elevate and transform those in need. Dee Dee excels in fund development, strategic partnerships, vision and engagement, Board management, and developing pathways to bring grass roots to greatness.
Working on a regional and national scale, Dee Dee possesses in-depth knowledge and experience in leading both the complex day-to-day operations of an organization as well as guiding its vision, growth, and financial reserves. Dee Dee is also a benefit auctioneer and raises tens of millions for numerous organizations using her Six Figure Fundraising Framework®. She holds a B.A. in Radio/TV Journalism from San Jose State University. Her speaking engagements range from keynotes to numerous college lectures inspiring young adults to consider careers in the non-profit sector. Dee Dee lives in San Jose, California is honored to join the Saber Six Foundation team and looks forward to bringing joyful outcomes to the 800 through the power of love.
Retired Colonel Chris Kolenda has left military service but continues to serve the military community in other ways. Today he runs Strategic Leaders Academy, a consulting firm that helps veterans and their family members build meaningful, joyful, and profitable businesses. In 2007-08, he led 800-paratroopers in eastern Afghanistan. Six of his paratroopers were killed in action, dozens wounded, and every one of the 800 combat veterans have been deeply affected by the war. They all served and sacrificed so Americans could pursue their dreams peacefully and safely. Chris created the Fallen Hero Honor Ride to raise awareness and funds to honor their service. He has also written and been featured in several books about his experiences, including his latest, Leadership The Warriors Art.
Christina Krych is an Operations Director with 30+ years of experience in conducting logistics and operations in military, non-profit, and for-profit sectors. Christina enjoys activating teams to achieve greatness while realizing organization’s stretch goals. She focuses on the details and on building strong internal and external relationships to create successful, resilient organizations. Her career is supported by a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations from Norwich University, Military College of Vermont and a Master’s Degree in International Studies from University of Denver.
Christina served 23 years in the U.S. Army, supporting three separate infantry divisions as a logistician. As a military operations planner, she supported the 3rd Infantry Division’s SFOR peacekeeping rotation in Bosnia-Herzegovina from 2001-2002. She and her team delivered critical life sustaining support to 1st Infantry Division’s soldiers in Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2004-2005. During that time, she supported 1-4 Cavalry Squadron soldiers, many of whom would subsequently deploy to Afghanistan as 1-91 Cav/TF Saber, the 800 combat veterans supported by Saber Six Foundation. After her operational assignments, Christina was trained as a European Foreign Area Officer and assigned as a political-military specialist to embassies in Warsaw, Poland and London, UK to cultivate vital senior level intergovernmental relationships with our NATO partners.
Following military retirement, she gained experience in non-profits, a venture-funded early stage start up, and as a small business owner. She won over $50M in grants to foster community health and social support programs. She primarily lives in beautiful Manitou Springs, Colorado with her family where she finds peace and restoration by hiking, mountain biking, and trail running in the breathtaking Rocky Mountains and part time in Toruń Poland, her husband’s hometown. She is honored to join the team at Saber Six Foundation to foster positive outcomes for the 800 combat veterans and their families who were deeply affected by their wartime service.
Jason Lederfine has lived in the Memphis area for 12 years, currently living in Collierville. After serving in the Army and deploying to Iraq (2004) and Afghanistan (2010) he left active duty and found a job in Memphis. Jason continued to serve in the Army reserves until his enlistment ended in 2013. He served a little over 10 years, lived overseas for 3.5, deployed twice and conducted over 200 combat missions.
Jason is currently an Operations Manager for Brother USA in Bartlett TN and have been working here for about 6 years. He oversees around 100 employees for the Technical Services Department. He’s over the returns (inbound) department and refurbishment of used material for resale.
Jason also works for Cage Fury Fighting Championships (www.cffc.tv) as a General Manager. They are a regional Mixed Martial Arts company that is currently broadcast on UFC Fight Pass. They do around 14-18 shows a year around the country and are considering one of the biggest feeder leagues to the UFC.
He is currently on the Board of Directors for the Collierville Citizens Police Association and is very active in the Military community. Jason’s main focus the past few years is supporting programs that provide mental health support for Veterans to reduce the number of suicides each year. He is a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5066 in Collierville and was previously on their Board of Directors. He is also a life member of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association Chapter 18-6 and served on the Chapter Executive Board for 4 years as the Public Information Officer. Jason previously volunteered as a walk on wrestling coach at Germantown and Houston High School and currently assists at Bartlett High School as an announcer for their wrestling team. He is currently a jiujitsu blue belt under Robby Beard at USA Karate in Bartlett.
Jason has helped raise over $20,000 for Veterans funeral services and non-profit organizations that support efforts to reduce Veteran suicide.
Mary McCormick has been the executive director of the Rotary Club of Milwaukee since 2002. Mary is very proud of the work of Rotary including the leadership roles it has played in important a community and global initiatives Milwaukee Rotary Centennial Arboretum, Live @ the Lakefront, the summer music series at Discovery World and the Greater Johnsons Park Initiative.
Mary spent 16 years at First Wisconsin/Firstar in marketing and strategic planning and served as a consultant to numerous not-for-profit organizations. She is active the community and served in leadership roles on several boards including Wellpoint, Milwaukee Women inc., the Professional Dimensions Charitable Fund and the Columbia College of Nursing.
She is a graduate of Georgetown University and the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. She and her husband, Tim Hawks, live in Shorewood. They have four grown children and five fabulous grandchildren.
Teresa is the Chief of Staff & Sr Manager of Fraud Programs at Adobe, Inc. based in the Washington DC office. Digital Fraud & Consumer Protection is a global team designed to detect, mitigate and prevent internal and external fraud. Beyond the typical investigations and fraud prevention framework, her team uses a mix of engineering, computer science, threat intel, investigations and data analysis to develop a wholistic fraud prevention and consumer protection program with a combination of technical and traditional techniques. Spanning both public and private sectors, Teresa has decades of experience in program and project management, GTM business strategy, client advocacy, and operations, driving results and strengthening customer loyalty. Teresa spent 20 years working in the areas of the areas of Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy Technologies, working for global energy and sustainability consultancy firms and investor-owned utilities. As Senior Manager of Local Customer Experience at Pacific Gas and Electric Company, she served the local leader for Silicon Valley, addressing the needs of over a million customers.
A Navy veteran, Teresa currently serves as an Advisory Board Member of Veteran Launch, and as an Advisor to the Board of VetSec. She is a former national board member of the Elite SDVOB Network where she led efforts to qualify, recruit and expand service-disabled, veteran-owned businesses across the country. Teresa also serves as an advisory board member for several start-up companies in the energy and clean-tech space.
Teresa is a Planning Commissioner for the City of Annapolis, and a former member of the California State Board of Occupational Therapy. She holds a Master’s Degree in Public Affairs from Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs, and a dual Bachelor’s degree in Business Management & Marketing. Teresa is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Cybersecurity and Risk Management at Georgetown University.
David Roller serves as the Board’s Legal Advisor. David grew up in Miami, FL. He started classes at West Point just a couple weeks before 9/11, and fought in both Afghanistan and Iraq as an infantry officer and Paratrooper. After serving in the U.S. Army, he attended law school at the University of Miami School of Law, then worked at a large, international law firm before he went in-house with a large defense contractor. He now works for a tech startup in Tampa, FL, where he lives with his wife and two children.
Karen Seitz founded Fusion Partners in January 2010, a global advisory and private placement firm (associated with BTIG). In May 2018 Karen formed her own broker dealer, Fusion Partners Global LLC. The firm raises capital for private companies and alternative investment fund managers globally from institutional investors.
Prior to founding Fusion Partners, Karen worked at Goldman Sachs & Co from 1997-2009. During that time, she led the Pensions, Endowments and Foundations Group for North America, serving as a liaison between the largest strategic institutional investing clients of the firm and the various divisions of Goldman Sachs. Karen became Managing Director in 1999 and a Partner in 2004. From 1995 – 1997, she was VP of Strategic Marketing and Business Development at Morgan Stanley & Co. Prior to Wall Street, for almost 10 years, Karen worked for GE Company (1986) and then GE Capital (beginning 1990).
In addition to running her broker dealer, Karen serves on six non-profit boards, as follows: the Board of Directors of The Saber Six Foundation (2022); the Board of Trustees of Iona University (2020); Vice Chair of the Museum of American Finance (2015); Center for a New American Security (2019); buildOn (2012); and The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation (2005).
Karen earned a BS degree from Iona University and an MBA from the University of Chicago.
David Shuler co-founded Y2X, a technology-driven investment platform, in January, 2018. Prior to Y2X, he was Managing Director with Blockchain startup itBit /Paxos, where he was responsible for building the company’s exchange and settlements business and developing strategic relationships. He was Managing Director, Alliance and Venture Management of CME Group Inc., where he managed the company’s investments in new businesses and strategic partnerships, including joint ventures, global alliances and other growth initiatives. Before joining CME Group, Mr. Shuler served as Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff for NYSE during the company’s transition to a public company, as well as through the merger of NYSE and Euronext. Mr. Shuler previously held leadership roles at Goldman Sachs & Co. in New York and Japan, and he spent over a decade as a diplomat in the U.S. State Department, including postings in Osaka, Japan, Thessaloniki, Greece, and Washington, DC. Mr. Shuler received a bachelor’s degree in government from Dartmouth College. He is fluent in Japanese, Spanish, and Greek.
Saber Six foundation
Board of Trustees
Mr. Steve Church joined the Army in Dec of 2000 enlisting as a Combat Engineer. While on a Corporal recruiting assignment in 2003 in Salt Lake City, Mr. Church read that the 173rd Airborne had conducted a combat Airborne jump into Iraq. This inspired Steve to go to Airborne training and change his MOS to Fire Support Specialist. In 2004 Mr. Church was assigned to the 173rd Airborne BDE in Vicenza, Italy. Mr. Church spent 8 years in the 173rd where he deployed four times to Afghanistan. Mr. Church served under then LTC Kolenda, Commander of 1-91 CAV TF Saber during OF VIII in Nuristan province. In 2012 Mr. Church decided to exit active military duty to become a DA civilian in Italy. His first position was the Standards of Training Commission Manager in the Mission Support Element. While serving as a DA civilian, Mr. Church was also in the US Army Reserves and deployed again to Afghanistan. Upon his return, Mr. Church took a position in Grafenwoer, Germany as the Deputy of Operations for the Combined Arms Training Center. In 2017 Mr. Church and his wife decided to move to Tampa, FL where he entered cooperate America. After 18 months, Mr. Church decided civilian life was not for him and decided to become a security contractor with Triple Canopy and was assigned as the Ambassadors personnel security in Kabul Afghanistan. After the fall of Kabul, Mr. Church went back to Italy working for the Department of the Army as is currently serving as the lead exercise planner for African Lion Tunisia spoke. Geoff co-authors many of his law firm’s scholarly articles published nationwide in top law reviews and journals and is ranked in the top 10% downloaded authors on Social Sciences Research Network (SSRN).
Geoff graduated from the United States Military Academy (West Point), then obtained his J.D. degree from Brigham Young University Law School where he served as Managing Editor of the BYU Law Review. Geoff is completing a Masters of Law (LLM) in Taxation from Loyola Law School (Los Angeles) with an expected graduation in 2023. Prior to practicing law, Geoff served as an officer in the U.S. Army Infantry with combat deployments to Kuwait and Iraq. In his spare time, Mr. Dietrich has competed in Half and Full Ironman Triathlons and open-water swim events.
Chris Doneski is Director of Business Development and Army Customer Requirements and Advocacy for the Electronic Systems sector within BAE System. His office is located in Austin, Texas. Prior to joining BAE Systems, Chris served 27 years in the US Army. As an Armor officer, he served in Armor, Cavalry, and Airborne Infantry units. His assignments included several years in the Combat Training Centers (NTC & JMRC), III Corps and Fort Hood Headquarters, and Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR). He has deployed in assignments from Assistant S3 to Squadron Executive Officer and Brigade Chief of Operations. Before retiring, Chris served as the Chief of Staff of III Corps, and the Deputy Director for Operations CJTF-OIR. After the Army, Chris was a consultant in Austin and was Co-Founder and President of the Texas Defense Innovation Forum (TDIF). TDIF is a nonprofit established to help educate and connect the defense establishment with the greater Texas innovation community.
Chris earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Caldwell University and a MBA from the University of Maryland, University College. He is also a graduate of the Command and General Staff College and the US Army War College. He received a Master’s in Security Strategy from the Army War College.
As Director of Army Programs- Army Futures Command, Chris’ primary area of responsibility is business development working with Army customers at AFC headquarters in Austin.
Additionally, he has responsibilities working with Fort Sill, Fort Hood, and Picatinny Arsenal.
He works closely with BAE Systems’ business areas to provide expertise regarding customer emerging requirements, technology development, and competitive responses to critical Army technology needs. He is heavily involved in the Austin Defense ecosystem working with all DoD components (AFC, AFWERX, DIU) as well as startups, traditional, and non-traditional defense partners. Founder of Texas Defense Innovation Forum, Austin Defense Council, and Balcones Chapter US Armor & Cavalry Association.
Chris is lives in Georgetown, TX with his wife and daughter. He enjoys spending time with his family and playing golf.
Theresa was born in Bay City Michigan, birthplace of Madonna. When not enjoying sky club or early morning swim practices Theresa participated in other after school activities such as paint with pride, where local high school students volunteer to paint run down houses within the community. Theresa also began giving blood with the American Red Cross while in high school and she continues to do this today. She has also recently begun volunteering for the American Red Cross helping with Disaster Recovery. She served two tours to Afghanistan while in the US Army. Her first deployment was 15 months as a 50 cal. gunner. Her second deployment was 12 months as a mark 19 gunner. After the military she attended Ferris State University where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. She has taken the LSATFlex in the hopes of attending law school one day. In the meantime of chasing her goals she likes to spend time with her poodle terrier mix, Cali, who is her best friend. They like to go on as many camping adventures as possible throughout the beautiful state of Michigan.
Larry Gonzales is an Army veteran who served with multiple units to include the 173 rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team in Schweinfurt, Germany. In addition to his Military Operation Specialty as a Mechanic, Mr. Gonzales served in various roles to include being positioned as an Equal Opportunity Liaison to ensure fair treatment in the ranks and a Family Readiness Liaison to assist with soldiers and their families with operational, logistical and administrational situations. Upon transitioning from the United States Army in Fort Belvoir, Larry certified as an accredited Veterans Service Officer with AMVETS to assist veterans and their families with claims in Manassas, Virginia.
Mr. Gonzales currently works in the Supply Chain and Logistics Department for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority in Washington DC. He is appointed in Dulles, Virginia with a team that assist with planning, developing and recording of all activity with customers. His skills include critical thinking and problem solving under pressure.
Mr. Gonzales has lived in Alexandria, Virginia since 2013 and has been involved with local chapters enriching lives with Team RWB as an Athletic Director and voted on as an Executive Committee member with the American Legion Post 24 and has earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Information Technology from the University of Phoenix. Personal goals that Mr. Gonzales strives for, is to build and improve personal relationships to help others by sharing resources that he’s invested in and to show professionalism and be mindful when helping others. His achievements include building relationships and working with various organizations to bring communities together.
Mr. Gonzales hobbies include hiking, reading, training for ultra-marathons, volunteering and watching wrestling on tv.
SFC (R) Joel A. Herman is a Defense Contractor in support of the Joint Staff, J7, Joint Knowledge Online (JKO) Division, Suffolk, Va
Prior to serving as a Defense Contractor, Mr. Herman served as a Sergeant First Class in the United States Army. He has served in numerous Army units throughout his 22 year career to include combat deployments to Iraq with the 3rd Infantry Division and in Afghanistan with 1-91 CAV, 173rd Airborne Brigade in 2007-2008. His last assignment, prior to his retirement from active duty, was serving as an Observer Trainer for the Joint Staff, J7, Deployable Training Division.
Originally, from Pocahontas, IA, SFC (R) Herman enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1994 as an Infantryman and served on active duty until his retirement in 2016.
Joel currently resides in Newport News, Va with his wife of 25 years Jennifer, and is an avid endurance runner, loves to participate in CrossFit and study American History.
SFC (R) Sherman Jones who goes by his nickname Ryan is a Transportation Maintenance Coordinator with CES Power LLC based in Memphis, TN.
Ryan served as a Sergeant First Class in the United States Army from 1994 to 2018 with several organizations throughout his career. Most Notably 2-69 Armor in the 3rd Infantry Division during Operation Iraqi Freedom 1 in 2003, 173rd Airborne BDE with Bulldog and Anvil Troop 1-91 CAV during the OEF VII-VIII deployment 2007-2008 and with the 1-4 CAV in the 1st Infantry Division during Operation Inherent Resolve 2014 –2015 in Jordan and surrounding allied countries.
Ryan has also had the honor and privilege to serve as a Drill Sergeant, Reconnaissance Course Instructor and ROTC Instructor at Colorado State University. He was also inducted as a member of the prestigious Sergeant Audie Murphy Club in 2013.
Ryan is originally from Logansport, Indiana, but currently lives in Fort Mitchell Alabama. When he has free time, he likes to spend it with family and friends as time permits. He enjoys the outdoors, target shooting for sport and watching movies.
Ted is a career Soldier. After joining the US Army at 17, Ted went on to serve for 26 years in the active Army retiring as a Sergeant Major (E-9). Much of Ted’s career was spent in Ranger and Airborne assignments participating in combat operations in Panama, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Ted has led and managed in small organizations composed of 4 team members up through leading and planning operations at the Joint Multinational Training Command, Europe which serves over 45,000 US military personnel as well as NATO and allied partner countries across Europe. He culminated his time in Europe as a Strategic Planner and Chief of Future Operations in the largest overseas training support center in the US DoD while assigned at Grafenwoehr Training Center, Germany.
In the private sector Ted has managed sales accounts at Atlantic Diving Supply (ADS) with a territory covering Europe and parts of Africa. During this time he was allowed maximum autonomy to travel, build customer bases, and develop sales strategies to accomplish a team annual sales goal that exceeded 15 million USD. Most recently, Ted worked as a private military contractor on the Arabian Peninsula. While living and working in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Ted assisted the UAE Presidential Guard and GCC as a Training Team Lead and Company Grade Advisor. The challenges of leading a multinational and multicultural training team proven to be the capstone of a diverse and extremely rewarding military career. He considers himself an expert in cross cultural communications and team building in austere environments.
Ted has graduated all courses that would be expected of a Ranger Senior Non-Commissioned Officer to include the US Army Sergeants Major Academy Class 56. His other accomplishments include a bachelor’s in liberal studies, Cum Laude from Excelsior College. He has completed the US DoD civilian employee Basic and Mid-Level Supervisor Courses and the ADS Inc Sales Manager Course. He is happily married and has 2 adult sons. His hobbies include reading and studying history, writing, open water boating, and as much travel as opportunities allow.
Ted currently resides near Tampa, Florida.
John Page is a Social Worker with the VA Healthcare System with the Military to VA (M2VA) transition program. As the M2VA transition patient advocate (TPA) he is the primary point of contact for veterans from the post 9/11 Gulf War era within the VA Healthcare System in Middle Tennessee. The TPA independently provides targeted interventions and psychosocial assessments to Military Service Members and Veterans to facilitate their access to health care and resources through the VA Healthcare System; to improve the psychological stability and environmental needs of this complex population.
Mr. Page was formerly a Social Worker with the Vanderbilt University Medical Center providing case management support for social, emotional, and environmental issues that impact Neurology/Stroke/Neurosurgery patients and their families ability to optimally benefit from comprehensive care. Additionally, he was the R2 Performance Center Manager at Ft Campbell and the R2 Eastern Regional Mentor. In this capacity he was employed by Magellan Federal, who was contracted by the HQDA G1, Army Resilience Directorate to provide Ready and Resilient resources to the Army. He served as an Army Infantry Officer for over 23 years in various positions of responsibility at the MACOM through company level, in Airborne, Ranger and Air Assault units, with 3 combat tours to Afghanistan.
Mr. Page holds a bachelor’s degree from University of Louisville in Sociology and a master’s degree from Tennessee State University in Social Work. He volunteers with several veteran organizations, while residing with his family in Nashville.
My name is Karen Pfeifer and I am a Gold Star Widow and mother of two amazing daughters, Peyton and Trinity. My husband, PFC Christopher F. Pfeifer, was one of 6 paratroopers in the 191-CAV, 173rd Airborne Unit (Task Force SABER) who were killed while serving a deployment in Afghanistan. He was injured on August 17th , 2007 and by some miracle was able to be stabilized in the field, transported to Germany where he was stationed, and then transported again to Brook Army Medical Center in San Antonio where he underwent many surgeries and procedures in an attempt to save his life. Despite his many doctors and surgeons’ best efforts, he succumbed to his injuries on September 25th , 2007. I had been 8 months pregnant with our daughter, Peyton, at the time of his injury and was 9 months at the time of his passing. I decided to be induced immediately so that I could travel to his hometown in Nebraska where he wanted his services to be held.
A native of New York State, David Spencer’s career in the United States Army spans more than twenty years. As a Field Artillery soldier and officer as well as an Army Strategist, his tours have spanned multiple locations in the United States, Europe, and Asia.
David has an undergraduate degree in Finance from St. Bonaventure University and three national security-related master’s degrees from the Naval Postgraduate School, the US Army School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS), and the US Army War College. He has written or collaborated on numerous articles related to artificial intelligence, US government interagency collaboration, effective communications, security cooperation, Wounded Warrior care, and others.
His volunteer work includes serving as a Cub Scout Den Leader, as well as a teacher or coach for grade-school basketball, chess, and soccer.
A native of New York State, David Spencer’s career in the United States Army spans more than twenty years. As a Field Artillery soldier and officer as well as an Army Strategist, his tours have spanned multiple locations in the United States, Europe, and Asia.
David has an undergraduate degree in Finance from St. Bonaventure University and three national security-related master’s degrees from the Naval Postgraduate School, the US Army School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS), and the US Army War College. He has written or collaborated on numerous articles related to artificial intelligence, US government interagency collaboration, effective communications, security cooperation, Wounded Warrior care, and others.
His volunteer work includes serving as a Cub Scout Den Leader, as well as a teacher or coach for grade-school basketball, chess, and soccer.
Nate Springer is a retired Army Colonel who served three combat tours to both Iraq and Afghanistan. He commanded at the company, battalion, and brigade levels. Today Nate and his family live in the shadow of Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado Springs, where he serves as the President and CEO of the Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado.
Saber Six Foundation
Board of Advisors
Michèle Flournoy is Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Center for a New American Security (CNAS).
She served as the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy from February 2009 to February 2012. She was the principal adviser to the Secretary of Defense in the formulation of national security and defense policy, oversight of military plans and operations, and in National Security Council deliberations. She led the development of DoD’s 2012 Strategic Guidance and represented the Department in dozens of foreign engagements, in the media and before Congress.
In January 2007, Ms. Flournoy co-founded CNAS, a non-partisan think tank dedicated to developing strong, pragmatic and principled national security policies. She served as CNAS’ President until 2009.
Previously, she was senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies for several years and, prior to that, a distinguished research professor at the Institute for National Strategic Studies at the National Defense University (NDU).
Ms. Flournoy was a member of President Obama’s Intelligence Advisory Board and CIA Director John Brennan’s External Advisory Board, and is currently a member of the Defense Policy Board, the Council on Foreign Relations, and the Aspen Strategy Group, and a Senior Fellow at Harvard’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. She also serves on the boards of The Mitre Corporation, CSRA, Amida Technology Solutions, The Mission Continues, Spirit of America, and CARE, and is a Senior Advisor at the Boston Consulting Group.
Ms. Flournoy earned a bachelor’s degree in social studies from Harvard University and a master’s degree in international relations from Balliol College, Oxford University, where she was a Newton-Tatum scholar.
Jeh Johnson’s career has been a mixture of public service and private corporate law practice; he has served in three presidentially appointed Senate-confirmed positions.
Johnson was Secretary of Homeland Security from December 2013 to January 2017. Johnson is now a partner with the law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, LLP, resident in the firm’s New York and Washington, DC offices.
As Secretary of Homeland Security, Johnson was the head of the third largest cabinet department of the U.S. government, consisting of 230,000 personnel and 22
components, including TSA, Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Services, U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Coast Guard, the Secret Service, and FEMA.
In three years as Secretary of DHS, Johnson is credited with management reform of the Department which brought about a more centralized approach to decision-making
in the areas of budgets, acquisition and overall policy. Johnson also raised employee morale across the Department.
In October 2016, Johnson and the Director of National Intelligence issued the statement of the U.S. government publicly accusing the Russian government of attempting to interfere with the U.S. election.
Prior to becoming Secretary of Homeland Security, Johnson was General Counsel of the Department of Defense (2009-2012). In that position, Johnson is credited with being the legal architect for the U.S. military’s counterterrorism efforts in the Obama Administration.
In 2010, Johnson also co-authored the report that paved the way for the repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell by Congress later that year. In his book Duty, former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates wrote that Johnson “proved to be the finest lawyer I ever worked with in government – a straightforward, plain-speaking man of great integrity, with common sense to burn and a good sense of humor.”
In his final days as General Counsel of the Defense Department, Johnson delivered the first of his two notable addresses at the Oxford Union in England, entitled “How Will the War Against al Qaeda End?,” which received international attention and acclaim.
In October 1998, Johnson was appointed by President Clinton to be General Counsel of the Department of the Air Force, and served in that position until January 2001. Earlier in his career, Johnson was an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York (1989-1991), where he tried 12 cases and argued 11 appeals in three years. Johnson is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He is a graduate of Morehouse College (1979) and Columbia Law School (1982), and the recipient of nine honorary degrees.