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.
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.
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.
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.
Ian Folau is a serial entrepreneur who has started multiple venture-backed tech startups. Serving in the US
Army for 10 years, Ian served as an intelligence officer in Afghanistan, Germany and North Carolina. He finished his military service as an assistant professor, teaching and mentoring cadets at The United States Military Academy. His two most recent tech companies, where he held roles as CEO and cofounder, were ClearMix, a company helping businesses develop and execute video content strategies, and GitLinks, an
enterprise platform that helped govern the use of open source technologies. Ian also founded LMI Ventures and led investments and startup partnerships for LMI, a federal government consulting firm.
Ian holds an MBA from Cornell University, a Master of Arts in intercultural communications and German from Middlebury College and a B.S. in systems engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point.
He lives with his wife and five kids in northern Utah and loves to coach rugby and play pickleball.
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.
Major Joey Hutto served in the United States Army for 22 ½ years. He is a native of Enterprise, AL. He completed One Station Unit Training (OSUT) as an Infantryman at Fort Benning, GA in May 1990. His first duty station was Schofield Barracks, HI. From there, he attended Special Forces Assessment and Selection and was assigned to 7th Special Forces (Airborne) in Fort Bragg, NC. He was a member of Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) 784 for nearly 5 years and was selected to be Drill Sergeant back in Fort Benning, GA. After his drill time, then SFC Hutto was reassigned to 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) on ODA 721.
In 2002, he attended Officer Candidate School in Fort Benning and was assigned as an Infantry Officer. He served in many capacities on Fort Benning and was then assigned to the 1-91 CAV, 173rd Airborne Brigade, in Schweinfurt, Germany. He finished his career assigned to the Montgomery Recruiting Battalion. During his enlisted time and officer time, MAJ Hutto was deployed into combat environments for more than 8 ½ years of his career.
He attended more than 31 Leadership and Development Schools during his career that resulted in being Honor Graduate of 14 of those schools.
His awards include; the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (3rd Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Commendation Medal (3rd Oak Leaf Cluster), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (10th Award), Armed Forces Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal (4th Award), National Defense Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon (3rd Award), Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, US Parachutist Badge, US Senior Parachutist Badge, US Master Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Expert Infantry Badge, Combat Infantry Badge, Drill Sergeant Badge, Recruiter Badge, Special Forces Tab, Colombia Expert Parachutist Badge, Honduran Parachutist Badge, Paraguayan Parachutist Badge, Dragon Gunner Qualification Badge, Life Time Member of the National Infantry Association and Recipient of the Order of the Saint Maurice CENTURION, and the Order of the Spur.
Major Hutto earned his Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice as well as his Master’s degree in Business Management (with a Concentration in Government Contracting) from Troy University. He is currently the Senior Army Instructor for JROTC at Wetumpka High School. He resides in Wetumpka, AL with his wife Michelle, they have six children.
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.
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.
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.
Lawrence Lunsford is a highly structured, take charge professional with more than twenty-four years of leadership experience in the United States Army. Lawrence served as an infantryman, rifle team leader, rifle squad leader, and airborne infantry platoon sergeant in the 101st Airborne Division, 3rd Ranger Battalion, and the 82nd Airborne Division. Lawrence also served as the First Sergeant for Anvil Troop, 1/91st Cavalry, 173rd Airborne Division in Schweinfurt Germany from 2006 to 2009. Lawrence also attended the Sergeant Major’s Academy and culminated his career by serving as Chief of the U.S. Army Warrior Leader Course for the United States Army. After retirement, Lawrence has been employed as a background investigator for various agencies of the US Government. Lawrence has a Master’s Degree in Military History, and is married to his wife Christena. They now live in South Dakota. He spends his free time working on an old jeep and making flintlock rifles.
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.
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.
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.
LTC Jason (JP) Pieri commissioned into the Armor Corps in May 1999. He initially served as a Tank Platoon Leader in the 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Battalion at Ft. Stewart, Georgia and deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina as part of Operation JOINT FORGE from 2000 through 2001. He then served as a Tank Company Executive Officer and Battalion Adjutant for the 2nd Battalion, 72nd Armor Battalion at Camp Casey, Republic of Korea.
In 2005, LTC Pieri was assigned as Squadron Logistics for 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry in Schweinfurt, Germany. He commanded C/1-4 CAV, which transitioned to C Troop, 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry (Airborne) Regiment as part of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team. He deployed his Troop to Kunar Province, Afghanistan from 2007 to 2008 during Operation Enduring Freedom. In 2008, LTC Pieri was assigned as a Small Group Instructor for the Maneuver Captains Career Course at Fort Benning, GA. He served as an SGI for 2 years and then assumed duties as Senior Instructor for the MCCC in 2008. LTC Pieri served with the United States Marine Corps from 2011 through 2013 at Quantico, Virginia, and graduated from the USMC School of Advanced Warfighting. He served as a campaign planner for ISAF Joint Command (IJC) in Kabul, Afghanistan.
LTC Pieri joined the 4th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Hood, TX in 2014, serving as Squadron Operations Officer. He was later reassigned as the Operations Officer for 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, and completed the Army’s first Armored Brigade Combat Team rotation to the Republic of Korea. LTC Pieri joined the 1st Cavalry Division headquarters staff in 2016. He initially served as the Chief of Training (G37) and was then reassigned as the Assistant Chief of Staff, Operations (G3).
LTC Pieri served as the Commander of 2nd Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment from June of 2017 until June of 2019. He served as the Fort Jackson Assistant Chief of Staff, Operations (G3) from 2019 to 2021 when he retired. He is currently the Chief of Plans and Operations for Fort Jackson’s Garrison. He has various joint and Army decorations including the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Unit Award, and Combat Action Badge.
Jason and his wife Erin have been happily married for 20 years and have a 19 year old daughter, Ellie, a sixteen-year-old daughter, Emma, and an eleven-year-old son, Jared.
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.
Jenn Shreve comes to Strategic Leaders Academy with an extensive background in social media and digital marketing. She’s an expert on LinkedIn and has a knack for finding you your right-fit clients. Jenn can help you cut through the noise with her time task and brand innovation partnership. She balances value content posts with creating new connections in order to act as your social media megaphone. Moving you from invisible to invincible! She has worked with several consultants, financial planners and promoted four books for her clients!
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.
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.