From September 2006 to September 2007, Managing Partner Ollen Richey, served as the primary Marine Corps representative and, for six months, chairman, of a senior-level working group in direct support of Joint Chiefs of Staff strategic dialogue.  The Council, comprised of roughly a dozen senior officers representing the four services, united some of the military’s brightest strategic thinkers.  Supported by the Joint Staff, but strictly independent, the Council conducted deep-dive analysis to inform reexamination of the strategies for the conduct of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and frame alternative courses of action for consideration by the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

From June 2006 to December 2007, Managing Partner Jack Sotherland served as the Naval Forces CENTCOM Plans, Policy and Theater Security Cooperation Assistant Chief of Staff and aggressively engaged Gulf Cooperation Council states as well as former Soviet Union nations to expand CENTCOM’s exercise and engagement program.  Mr. Sotherland developed a highly sophisticated exercise matrix maximizing the effectiveness of the significant assets located throughout the region.  Dual-hatted as the N-5 and Director, Friendly Forces Coalition Center, he planned, organized, and integrated the efforts of a large, focused team of senior US and allied naval experts from 15 nations to ensure consistent and cohesive engagement during a period of high regional tensions.  Additionally, he ensured the assignment of US liaison officers to high-interest nations so that DOD efforts directly contributed to continued stability and transparency within the region.

From January 2009 to June 2011, Managing Partner Steve Penn served as a Special Assistant to President for Legislative Affairs on the National Security Council (NSC) with primary responsibility for coordination of national security policies with Congress.  During Mr. Penn’s tenure, two major national security decisions had especially momentous implications for US foreign policy—the withdrawal of US combat forces from Iraq and the comprehensive Afghanistan-Pakistan strategy.  Each of these decisions required extensive interaction with and approval by Congress.  As the President’s lead for NSC Legislative Affairs, Mr. Penn was responsible for preparing senior White House officials, including the President, for congressional engagement to secure the support and funding necessary for plan implementation.

From early 2017 through mid-2018, Managing Partners Steve Penn, Ollen Richey and Jack Sotherland formed the core of a small Riyadh-based team of senior functional experts tasked with assessing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s comprehensive plan to progressively transform its Ministry of Defense and statutory services.  Mr. Penn served as the on-site program manager with overall responsibility for multiple lines of effort and client relationship management; Mr. Richey was the study leader, primary author, and lead for senior leader support; and Mr. Sotherland provided subject matter expertise and deep analytical support for a broad, multi-disciplined portfolio.  It was a complex, challenging, and resource-constrained undertaking, resulting ultimately in a substantive assessment and set of actionable recommendations that continue to frame the Ministry’s ongoing military reform andtransformation efforts.

From January 2002 to July 2006, Managing Partner Steve Penn served as a Special Assistant to the Combatant Commander, USEUCOM/Supreme Allied Commander, NATO and was responsible for legislative and communication coordination with stakeholders at OSD, the Joint Staff, Components and the EUCOM staff.   Mr. Penn’s efforts ensured development of a seamless communication plan in support of the Commander’s initiatives to realign and transform US forces stationed in Europe as it moved from the Cold War's bipolar containment policy to a strategy of engagement.  A key element of his approach was direct engagement with Members of Congress and the relevant oversight committees to build support and secure necessary funding.  These efforts contributed to the streamlining of NATO’s Command Structure and the creation of an expeditionary capability that eventually led to the deployment of NATO forces to Afghanistan.

From March 2011 to March 2014, Managing Partner Jack Sotherland served as the Naval Attaché, US Embassy Manila, Republic of the Philippines, advising the US Ambassador, DATT, and Philippine naval and coast guard forces on relevant naval issues.  Operating during a period of intense operational tempo due to increasingly contentious interactions between the PRC and many of ASEAN’s member nations, Mr. Sotherland engaged Philippine and US government officials at the highest level, providing advice and expertise that protected both US and Philippine interests.  As the direct representative of SECDEF, SECNAV, CNO, and INDO-PACOM, PACFLT and 7THFLT commanders to the Philippines on all naval matters, he facilitated numerous high-level engagements of key personnel and US ship visits.  These engagements provided direct tangible support to one the US’ strongest allies in the region, and reassured ASEAN of US willingness to maintain a continuous presence.

From late 2019 to early 2021, Managing Partner Ollen Richey, served as the program manager and primary author for a project assisting Libyan Government of National Accord efforts to reform its defense and security sector and set the conditions to begin armed formation disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR).  Mr. Richey integrated the efforts of a small team of senior US functional experts and high-ranking Libyan counterparts to collaboratively define the current state of statutory defense and security sector elements.  The effort informed the composition of a highly regarded roadmap outlining in detail the progressive actions necessary for reconstitution of essential capabilities.  The undertaking was complex, time and resource-constrained, and challenged by the difficulties associated with a country that, at the time, was still in the midst of a long-running civil war.

From July 2008 to December 2008, Managing Partner Steve Penn served as the Military Assistant to SEMERS and worked directly with the Israeli Defense Force and Palestinian Authority to advance the Two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.  When negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians faltered, the US sought to revitalize the peace process by undertaking measures that would provide the Palestinian Authority greater autonomy, improve economic conditions, and allow Palestinian forces to assume a greater role in their own security.  The cornerstone of this effort became known as the Jenin Initiative which linked economic development to security sector reform and demonstrated that such cooperative measures could lead to real change and provide the impetus to restart negotiations on the Two-State solution.  

From December 2007 to October 2009, Managing Partner Jack Sotherland served as the Deputy Commander and Commander (Commodore PHIBRON TWO).  He deployed with his forces as a three-ship amphibious ready group (ARG) to the SIXTHFLT and FIFTHFLT AORs.  The primary combat power of this expeditionary force consisted of its embarked units: a USMC air combat element; battalion landing force; and logistical elements referred to as a MAGTF—a balanced combined arms task organization structured to accomplish a wide range of missions.  Assigned as CENTCOM’s Theater Reserve, the ARG was poised to rapidly pivot from peacetime missions to deploying credible all-arms combat power.  Over a seven-month period, numerous training events and complex exercises were conducted with NATO, regional navies, and Coalition forces in the Mediterranean, Red and Arabian Seas, and the Arabian Gulf, and involved combined and disaggregated operations over a vast geographical expanse.