Advisory Council
Lieutenant General (Ret.) Robert Ashley
Lieutenant General Robert Ashley (Ret.) served as the 21st Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) through October 2020. With over 36 years of service, he has served as the Army Deputy Chief of Staff, G-2, the Director of Intelligence, United States Army Joint Special Operations Command; the Director of Intelligence, United States Central Command; the Deputy Chief of Staff, Intelligence, International Security Assistance Force and Director of Intelligence, United States Forces, Afghanistan; and Commanding General, the United States Army Intelligence Center of Excellence and Fort Huachuca, AZ. As a career Army military intelligence officer, Bob has completed assignments worldwide and within the US, including commanding at the company, battalion, squadron, and brigade levels with combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan as a squadron, brigade commander, and J-2. His commands include the 206th Military Intelligence Battalion, Fort Gordon, GA, Intelligence Squadron, Office of Military Support, Washington, DC, and the 525th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade (Airborne), XVIII Airborne Corps. Bob has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Appalachian State University, a master’s degree in Strategic Intelligence from the National Intelligence University (formerly known as the Defense Intelligence College) and a master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College.
Carl Guerreri
Carl Guerreri is the President, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Electronic Warfare Associates, Inc. (EWA), a company he founded in 1977, specializing in electronic warfare, radar, simulators, tagging and sensing and cyber security hardware and software for both the United States Government and commercial customers. Prior to founding EWA, Carl held numerous positions, both management and technical, all related to the fields of intelligence, radar, electronic warfare and communications, command and control. He was commissioned in the U.S. Army Signal Corps in 1962, is a graduate of the Harvard Business School OPM program, and received his Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering from Norwich University. Carl has been a senior member of The Conference Board and Chairman of its Executive Council, and he has appeared as an expert witness before the House Subcommittee on Government Management, Information and Technology and the House Armed Services Committee. He previously served as a member of The National Academies’ Board on Army Science and Technology. He is also a Trustee Emeritus of Norwich University, a life member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), a life member of the Association of Old Crows, is a registered Professional Engineer (retired) and is a member of Tau Beta Pi. Carl has been awarded numerous patents all related to the field of electronics and electronic warfare. In November 2018 The Association of Old Crows awarded him The Joseph W. Kearney Pioneer Award in recognition of his pioneering work in the field of Electronic Warfare.
Colonel (Ret.) Robert Harms
Col. Robert Harms (Ret.) has served for the past twelve years within the U.S. Intelligence Community as a Senior Executive in the Defense Intelligence Senior Executive Service. As an Army Intelligence officer, Bob served as the Senior Intelligence Officer at the Company, Battalion, Brigade, and Task Force-Levels; commanded a Special Forces Intelligence Detachment and Field Station Korea; and served in numerous Staff Officer positions in the Special Operations, Infantry, and Senior Army Staff levels. His military assignments have taken him to: Korea, Germany, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, and numerous state-side locations. Bob graduated from Norwich University, Northfield Vermont and the National Defense University’s (NDU) Industrial College of the Armed Forces (ICAF).
Pete Hatfield
Pete Hatfield has over forty-five years of Executive Business Development positions with the likes of Digital Equipment Corporation, Cray Research, Inc., Northrop Grumman, and AECOM all in service and support to the U.S. Intelligence Community. He has been an advisor to several IC-centric small businesses in addition to holding executive positions in industry organizations such as a two term President of the National Security Agency AFCEA Chapter. Commissioned as a Military Intelligence Officer, Pete worked as an Electromagnetic Engineer for the Army Security Agency and received a Bachelor’s of Science in Physics from Norwich University. He is an avid hiker and cyclist.
Heather Jackman
Heather Jackman is a retired senior executive with 28 years of federal government experience as an acquisition professional, culminating in her role as the Deputy Procurement Executive at the Central Intelligence Agency where she guided its acquisition strategies. Over her career, she built collaborative industry partnerships to solve acquisition related issues and generate options for doing business more efficiently. Having worked in multiple overseas locations and procured a wide variety of commodities, Heather's acquisition experience is extensive and extremely diverse. She is known for developing innovative solutions to complex government requirements, and she will leverage that expertise to advise Xelevate leadership on how best to optimize its acquisition strategies.
Brian Raymond
Brian Raymond is currently serving as Vice President of Business Development at Global Guardian, an industry leading international Security firm. Brian is a retired senior operations officer from the Central Intelligence Agency with 21 years of decorated service where he is a recognized Counterterrorism and Crisis Response Expert. Brian started his career after graduation from Norwich University in the US Navy Seal teams with both active/reserve service and retired after 23 years after as a Commander. Brian is well versed in real world drone operations and integrated or had direct oversight of many UAS platforms, large and small, to conduct operations globally. His current firm employs drones to support client security operations in active security overwatch roles, surveys or in crisis response.
Major General (Ret.) Frederick F. Roggero
Major General (Ret.) Roggero is the President & CEO of Resilient Solutions, Ltd., an unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) safety and security company. He has broad leadership experience in aviation in the government, the defense industry, and in the non-profit community. He has been a member of the Unmanned Aviation Safety Team (UAST) since 2017 and served on the UAST Steering Committee while leading the Safety Assurance Working Group from 2019-2021. Roggero has testified to the he House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency regarding the safety and security implications of operating small Unmanned Aerial Systems in domestic airspace. His recent publications include a chapter in Springer International Publishing’s, “The Handbook of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles,” entitled, “Building Safety and Security Cultures in a Drone World.” Roggero is a FAA commercially rated pilot with over 4,000 flight hours in 22 different types of military aircraft. Before retiring from active duty, Roggero served as the Air Force’s Chief of Safety, the Director of Operations for Air Mobility Command, and, as the Chair of the Department of Defense’s Commercial Airlift Review Board. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame (B.A.), the University of Southern California (M.A), and has completed executive programs at Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and the University of California, Berkeley. Roggero is the Chairman of the Royal Air Force Museum American Foundation and is a Trustee on the Air Force Museum Foundation Board.
Phil Soucy
Phil Soucy is Co-Founder and Chairman of Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. (MTSI). MTSI is an Alexandria, Virginia based aerospace engineering services company. Prior to co-founding MTSI in 1993, Phil served for 20 years with the US Air Force in a wide range of operational and high technology flight test positions. Phil received his Bachelors of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Norwich University in 1973 and has master degrees in Systems Management from the University of California (1977), and in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Idaho (1987). He is also a graduate of the US Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base. Phil is also an active general aviation pilot and aircraft owner. He is an instrument rated pilot with commercial single and multi-engine pilot certificates. He also holds an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certification.
Chief Charles L. Werner (Emeritus-RET)
Chief Charles Werner is a 47 year public safety veteran starting his career as a volunteer in 1974. He then spent 37 years as a career firefighter with the Charlottesville Fire Department, the last ten years as fire chief. Upon retirement, Charles served two years as technical advisor and acting deputy state coordinator with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. Chief Werner has served in numerous leadership roles at the local, state, national and international levels. He presently serves as the director/founder of DRONERESPONDERS Public Safety Alliance, chair – Virginia Secure Commonwealth UAS Sub Panel, FAA certified Remote Pilot, Virginia Fire Chiefs Technology Advisor, the IAFC Technology Council and member of the Virginia CIT Unmanned Systems Advisory Board. Chief Werner is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine, a contributor to Urgent Communications, Domestic Preparedness Magazine, sUAS News, FireRescue1, Editorial Board – Crisis Response Journal, Editorial Advisor – Carolina Fire & EMS Journal, Industrial Fire World Magazine, Homeland Security Today Magazine and other publications with a combination of over 500 nationally published articles, webinars, podcasts and national presentations.
Louis Wise
Lisa Ellman
Lisa Ellman chairs the Global Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Group at the global law firm Hogan Lovells, where she’s a leading public policy lawyer focusing on domestic drones, urban air mobility (UAM) and other emerging technologies. She serves as Executive Director of the Commercial Drone Alliance, an independent non-profit organization led by key figures of the commercial drone industry. Lisa is widely recognized as one of the “world’s foremost authorities on drone and law.”
Lisa’s focus is expanding the commercial drone and UAM industries. She also focuses on UAS security efforts. Lisa co-founded the Domestic Drone Security Summit Series, bringing together national security agencies with industry to explore collaboration opportunities around drone security.
Throughout her career, Lisa has worked to bridge government policymaking and business innovation. Lisa has held a variety of positions at top levels of the executive branch at the White House and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Lisa led DOJ’s effort to develop policy that would govern the use of UAS in the United States and participated in the federal interagency group tasked with integrating UAS into the National Airspace System.
Lisa's opinions are often featured in publications and news broadcasts such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, Associated Press, Fortune Magazine and others. Lisa was featured in Fortune magazine's “Most Powerful Women” series for her efforts to develop policy to govern drone use in the United States.
The Honorable James "Hondo" Guerts
Secretary James Geurts, known to most as Hondo, is known for abilities to rapidly field emerging technologies, deliver outcomes at scale, inspire teams, and develop diverse talent. Most recently, he performed the duties of the Under Secretary of the Navy, where he served as the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Management Officer for the Department of the Navy and was responsible for the effective global business operations of the over 1 million person/$200B+ US Navy and US Marine Corps team. After his unanimous Senate confirmation in 2017 and until 2021, he served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development & Acquisition, where he was responsible for overseeing a budget in excess of $140B annually. Before coming to the Navy, Hondo served as the U.S. Special Operations Command Acquisition Executive during a period of unprecedented operational tempo worldwide. Beginning his career as an officer in the U.S. Air Force and retiring as a Colonel after 22 years of service, he is the founder of SOFWERX, Naval X, and the Ghost Mentor Program, all of which have been emulated across the DoD and other Federal agencies as a means to drive innovation into large public sector organizations. Hondo has been recognized nationally and internationally by private and public institutions for his leadership, innovation, and service including award of the Navy’s Distinguished Public Service Medal (twice), the Federal Times Vanguard Award for Executive of the Year, the United States Special Operations Command Medal and Colors, the French Legion d’ Honneur (Knight), the Presidential Rank Award, the William Perry Award, the Rylander Award, the Raduege Award, and the Defense Superior Service Medal. His innovative practices have been documented and referenced in numerous books and publications, including an active Harvard Business School case study and CNN specials. Hondo is an endurance sport enthusiast, having completed multiple Ironman races, marathons, and endurance swims.
Brett J. Feddersen
Brett J. Feddersen is the President at AccelerātUM, where he is responsible for the company’s executive leadership, direction, and all aspects of operations and efforts to advance uncrewed mobility, security, and innovation. Prior to joining AccelerātUM, Brett was a member of the Senior Executive Service (SES) in the U.S. Government.
As the Acting Director for National Security Programs and Incident Response at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), he led the Agency’s intelligence, crisis management, emergency response, law enforcement, and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) security programs.
Prior to joining the FAA, Mr. Feddersen served in the Department of Defense, leading the development and implementation of strategies, plans, and policies related to counterterrorism, transnational organized crime, threat finance, cybersecurity, and countering violent extremism.
At the White House, Mr. Feddersen served as the National Security Council’s Director for Transportation and Border Security where he led the nation’s efforts to development and implement national-level security programs like the first framework to counter-UAS and publishing an Executive Order promoting the economic competitiveness in the domestic use of UAS, while safeguarding privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties.
Brett has served in several high-profile executive positions, including as the Senior Advisor for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff’s efforts in Pakistan and Afghanistan, Special Assistant for Warfare to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Counter-Narcotics and Global Threats, and the Senior Advisor to the Commander of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force in Afghanistan.
As an aviation and intelligence officer in the U.S. Army, Lieutenant Colonel Feddersen planned, executed, and led both ground and air combat operations in the Balkans, the Middle East, and South Asia. As an experienced air mission commander and pilot-in-command, he has commanded both Attack Reconnaissance and Air Assault units.
Mr. Feddersen began his career in public service as a Pennsylvania State Trooper with assignments as a patrol officer, undercover narcotics detective, homicide detective, and helicopter pilot in the Bureau of Emergency and Special Operations.
Lieutenant General (Ret.) Jon M. Davis
Jon served in the Marine Corps for 37 years. He flew primarily the AV-8 Harrier, but also FA-18s, F-5s and all USMC helos, Tilt rotors, and C-130s. Jon also served two tours at Ft Meade, the first as Deputy Commander Net Warfare and later as the Deputy Commander CYBERCOM. Jon’s last tour was a Deputy Commandant for Aviation. He is the Chairman and CEO of ADADEN Inc – an immersion data center company, and Chairman of Rolls Royce North America.
Trevor Hough
Trevor Hough is a national security policy executive with deep operational expertise on defense and intelligence tech evaluation and implementation. Trevor retired from the U.S. Army in 2022 after spending most of his career in Special Operations units- including serving at levels ranging from Special Forces Company to commanding a Special Operations Intelligence Brigade. Trevor started his Army service by enlisting as an Infantryman in 1993 and entered active duty as a Armored Cavalry officer in 1996.
His career included: Intelligence Community assignments at the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency; commanding the Joint Special Operations Command Intelligence Brigade; two years at the White House working for Vice President Pence and then on the National Security Council Staff; Counterterrorism Branch Chief on the Joint Chiefs of Staff J2, and serving in several Special Operations and Armored Cavalry units. He earned a BA from Norwich University and a MS degree from the Naval Postgraduate School. Trevor is originally from Lake Placid, NY, is married, and they have two children. He is the founder of the ADK Group, a consulting and advisory firm supporting small start-ups to larger publicly traded companies offering cutting edge technology in national security and space.
Annette L. Redmond
Annette L. Redmond served as State Department's Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for Intelligence Policy and Coordination (IPC) in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) through December 2023. She directed the development, coordination, and implementation of a broad range of intelligence operations and counterintelligence activities. DAS Redmond provided strategic direction to the Department of State’s support to the Intelligence Community and foreign policy oversight of sensitive intelligence operations. She joined the Department of State in September 2017, as the Director of the Department’s newly created Technology and Innovation Office (TIO) and served as State Department’s Intelligence Chief Information Officer (CIO). Annette previously served in the IC and Department of Defense (DOD) for more than 30 years both as a retired Army officer and senior civilian. She served as the Senior Executive Service Army’s Intelligence CIO responsible for global Intelligence Information Management/ Information Technology (IM/IT) capabilities for over 57,000 Intelligence military, civilian, and contractor professionals. She earlier served as the Enterprise Advisor to the Commanding General (CG) of US Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM). There she provided senior intelligence operations expertise and advice on national, joint, coalition, and Army Intelligence requirements, and also served over 21 years as an Army Military Intelligence officer. Annette led intelligence operations as a JTF J2 deployed to Israel. She ran the G-2's Army Intelligence Master Plan developing the strategy, MI force structure, capability requirements and annual TAA and CJB submissions. Annette commanded at multiple levels and was the Executive Assistant to 3 Joint Staff J2s. She completed assignments worldwide leading analysis elements, driving operational intelligence at tactical and strategic echelons, command, and staff elements, always driving to mission success. Her duties and accomplishments have cut across many facets of intelligence operations and information technology, data management and system interoperability.
Ms. Redmond holds a BA in Criminal Justice from Norwich University, an MS in Strategic Intelligence from the National Intelligence University, and Chief Information Officer (CIO) and numerous professional certificates. She served as an advisor on the Defense Science Board Summer Study and has numerous awards and decorations including the 2023 Public Service Award.