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Board of Directors

Don Côqayohômuwôk Chapman

Don Chapman serves as an executive leader for the Native-owned JH Capital Group which focuses on waste, fraud, and abuse detection and debt acquisition/collection. His consulting practice Uncas Consulting Services LLC provides policy, outreach, and technical support to the three tribal representatives selected to the White House National Ocean Policy Task Force on Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning.

On October 8, 2009, Don received an expert appointment to the US Department of Commerce and subsequently was appointed on November 5, 2009 by Secretary Gary Locke as the first Senior Adviser on Native American Affairs, Office of the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

At the Department of Commerce, Chapman was charged with helping implement the Secretary’s ambitious agenda to directly improve the economic profile of Indian Country through both economic business development and policy implementation activities. He coordinated the Tribal Consultation Policy implementation across all of the Commerce agencies and bureaus including NOAA, EDA, ITA, and NTIA, as well as serving as the Secretary’s top tribal liaison and Indian Country policy and economic development lead. These responsibilities included for working directly with the White House DPC and CEQ as well as all other federal agencies on tribal economic and policy issues on behalf of the Secretary.

Chapman is a member of the Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut and has made a career in working as a senior executive for numerous tribal companies, outreach entities, and engineering management.

Prior to his appointment, Chapman served as a senior executive manager with the Wyandotte Tribal Corporation, and for two Alaska Native Corporations Chenega Advanced Solutions & Engineering and TKC Communications. Prior to his tribal business experience, Chapman worked in the private technology sector as applications engineer in the Ericsson Cell Phone Design group and General Dynamics Optical Engineering Group (Advances Technologies Group), as a owner/partner in the technical manufacturer’s representative group Mechtronics Sales, and as VP of Professional Electronics Co., Inc which designed and reverse-engineered military defense electronic systems.

Don currently serves on the Board of Advisors at NativeOne Institutional Trading and First Nations Experience (FNX), a 24/7 high definition (HD) multiplatform digital media vehicle of all Native programming launched on September 25, 2011 by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians of Southern California.

Chapman is a graduate of Norfolk Collegiate, and is currently studying information systems management and public policy at University of Maryland University College. Don, his wife Holly, and the two sons Matthew and Christopher make their home in Leesburg, Va.

Gary Silversmith, Esq.

Mr. Silversmith's areas of expertise lie in federal contracting, environmental litigation, financial advisory engagements, workouts, dispositions, valuations, and preservation of national historic landmarks. Mr. Silversmith assists the NMLEA in a variety of areas, from consulting on financial matters to contract review. In addition, Mr. Silversmith has afforded the Academy the use of the historic Presidential Yacht, Sequoia, for special events and meetings.

Since 1991, Mr. Silversmith has served as President and owner of P&L Investments, an asset management, investment, and advisory company that has acquired over $100 million in distressed assets.  P&L Investments and its affiliates have served as financial advisors on the sale of loans, for example, in 1999 an affiliate of P&L Investments served with KPMG as the financial advisor to the Small Business Administration (SBA) for the SBA's first sale of loans ($400 million) and again for the SBA's third and fifth sales of loans.  As President and owner of two Brownsfield's investment and remediation companies, Mr. Silversmith recently received significant positive publicity for the successful remediation and rejuvenation of a 22-acre PCB-contaminated Brownsfield site in suburban Philadelphia. The site is reportedly the first Superfund site in the country to receive State and EPA approval for conversion to a residential usage.

Prior to starting the aforementioned entities, Mr. Silversmith served for three years as a Senior Asset Marketing Specialist selling loans and real estate for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC). He holds a BS in Accounting, a JD, and an MLT.

Honorable Scot Faulkner

Was the Chief Administrative Officer of the U.S. House of Representatives. His business-based reforms rebuilt the integrity of House operations, generating cumulative savings of $4.5+ billion. These reforms became a model for the operation of 44 national parliaments and were named one of the Top 100 Innovations in American Government by the Ford Foundation and Harvard University. Faulkner’s bestselling memoir on the reforms, “Naked Emperors”, is used in universities around the world for its vivid insights into the Legislative Process.


Was the Deputy Associate Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration. He chaired the Executive Branch response to the PanAm 103 terrorist bombing and presided over the first International Summit on Aviation Security after the September 11 terrorist attack.


Private sector experience includes serving as Global Practice Leader for the American Management Association and Vice President of Philip Crosby Associates. He led strategic transformation for major global corporations, among them ConAgra, Hershey, and the Australian-New Zealand (ANZ) Bank.

Led strategic planning and innovation for Dubai Ports and Customs, increasing operational effectiveness, reducing cargo inspection and clearance times, and increasing contraband detection capabilities.

Earlier, was Director of Personnel for the Reagan Campaign, served on Reagan’s Presidential Transition and the White House Staff. Held executive positions at the Federal Aviation Administration, the General Services Administration, and the Peace Corps. His public sector accomplishments are recognized with 26 management awards, four letters of commendation from the President of the United States, and numerous international medals and commendations.


His columns are published in The Sunday Guardian of India, The New York Times, The New York Daily News, The Washington Times, The Washington Examiner, Newsmax, and Politico. He provides on-air commentary for ABC-Australia, NPR, PBS, VOA, and talk radio.

Earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from American University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Government from Lawrence University.  Studied at the London School of Economics and Georgetown University.  Guest lecturer at the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland and Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

 

Scot Faulkner was the first Chief Administrative Officer of the U.S. House of Representatives.  He oversaw a $1 billion annual budget and all nonlegislative operations, which served 14,000 employees and 3 million tourists. His business-based reforms rebuilt the integrity of House operations and saved over $148 million.  His reforms became a model for the operation of 44 national parliaments around the world and were named one of the Top 100 Innovations in American Government by the Ford Foundation and Harvard University.

 

Mr. Faulkner was the National Director of Personnel for the Reagan Bush Campaign.  He went on to serve in the Presidential Transition and on the White House Staff.  During the Reagan Administration, Mr. Faulkner held executive positions at the Federal Aviation Administration, the General Services Administration, and the Peace Corps.  He chaired the Executive Branch response to the PanAm 103 bombing, and chaired the first international summit on aviation security after September 11.  His accomplishments have been recognized with 26 management awards and four letters of commendation from the President of the United States.

 

Mr. Faulkner earned a Masters Degree in Public Administration from American University and a Bachelors Degree in Government from Lawrence University.  He studied at the London School of Economics and Georgetown University.  Mr. Faulkner was a guest lecturer at the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland and at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.  He serves on the boards of numerous corporations and foundations including: Appia Wealth Management, African Art Museum of Maryland, World Trade Partnership, Kinexum Pharmaceuticals, Peimex Trucking, the University of Maryland’s Center for Leadership Innovation and Change (CLIC), the Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership, and the George Washington Institute of Living Ethics.

John F. Lewis, Jr.

John Lewis was appointed Assistant Director in Charge of the National Security Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in February 1997, where he oversaw and managed the FBI’s Counterintelligence, Counter-terrorism programs and National Infrastructure Protection Center.  Previously he served for 3 years as Inspector-Deputy Assistant Director for Operations, for the National Security Division.  During this timeframe, he also served as Chairman of the International Association of Chiefs of Police Committee on Terrorism, Chairman of the National Counterintelligence Policy Board reporting to the National Security Advisor, and member of the NATO Special Committee on Security, headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. 

 

While in the FBI, served in a variety of positions both as an investigator and management. He also served as a Commissioner, on the National Commission on Terrorism.

 

John entered the FBI as a Special Agent in 1969 following service in the U.S. Marine Corps where he attained the rank of Captain and served in Vietnam. 

 

He is a 1987 graduate of the National War College in Washington, D.C.  Following that assignment, he was appointed Director of Counterintelligence and Security Countermeasures Programs for the National Security Council staff under Presidents Reagan and Bush. 

 

He holds a BA from American University in Government and Public Administration and an MA in Criminal Justice from George Washington University, both in Washington, D.C.

 

In September 1998, he began employment with Goldman Sachs & Co. headquartered in New York City in a newly created position as Global Security Director, establishing a global security network. John has also served as the Emergency Management Director for the Town of St. James in North Carolina.

Richard H.L. Marshall, Esq.

Mr. Marshall is the Vice President of Cyber Programs at Trident FSI and is a nationally and internationally recognized thought leader on cyber related issues.  He has extensive leadership experience in formulating growth strategies, integrating policy, culture and training with technology issues, building relationships and delivering lasting results. He is also a strategic thinker who knows how to lead and very importantly, knows where to lead.

He previously was a member of the Senior Cryptologic Executive Service (SCES) and the Defense Intelligence Senior Executive Service (DISES). Prior to joining Triton FSI, he was the Director of Global Cyber Security Management, National Cyber Security Division, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) by special arrangement between the Director, National Security Agency (DIRNSA) and the Secretary of DHS. Within DHS he directed National Cyber Security Education Strategy; and the Software Assurance; Research and Standards Integration; and Supply Chain Risk Management programs.

Mr. Marshall was previously the Senior Information Assurance (IA) Representative, Office of Legislative Affairs at the National Security Agency (NSA) where he served as the Agency's point of contact for all NSA Information Security (INFOSEC) matters concerning Congress. He devised the IA legislative strategy, helped shape the passage of the revised Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and was the Comprehensive National Cyber Security Initiative (CNCI).

In 2001, Mr. Marshall was selected by the Cyber Advisor to the President to serve as the Principal Deputy Director, Critical Infrastructure Assurance Office (CIAO), where he led a team of 40 dedicated professionals in developing, coordinating and implementing the Administration's National Security for Critical Infrastructure Protection initiative and the National Cyber Security Strategy to address potential threats to the nation's critical infrastructures. 

From 1994 to 2001, Mr. Marshall served with distinction as the Associate General Counsel for Information Systems Security/Information Assurance, Office of the General Counsel, National Security Agency. In that capacity, Mr. Marshall provided advice and counsel on national security telecommunications and technology transfer policies and programs, national security telecommunications technical security programs, the National Information Assurance Partnership, the Common Criteria Mutual Recognition Arrangement, legislative initiatives and international law. Mr. Marshall was the legal architect for the Joint Chiefs of Staff directed exercise "Eligible Receiver 97" that spotlighted many of the cyber-vulnerabilities of our nation's critical infrastructures and helped bring focus on this issue at the national leadership level.

Mr. Marshall graduated from The Citadel with a B.A. in Political Science; Creighton University School of Law with a J.D. in Jurisprudence; Georgetown School of Law with an LL.M. in International and Comparative Law; was a Fellow at the National Security Law Institute, University of Virginia School of Law in National Security Law; attended the Harvard School of Law Summer Program for Lawyers; the Georgetown University Government Affairs Institute on Advanced Legislative Strategies and participated in the Information Society Project at Yale Law School and in the Privacy, Security and Technology in the 21st Century program at Georgetown University School of Law.

Robert Wells, Board President

Mr. Wells has served in law enforcement for twenty-three years. A former Special Agent with United States Coast Guard Investigative Service, Mr. Wells served in an undercover capacity in numerous successful drug investigations. He has been involved with protective operations afloat during the 1984 Presidential campaigns, as well as for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth of England with the Royal Yacht, HMY Britannia.


As a master instructor at the U.S. Coast Guard Training Center, Mr. Wells taught maritime law enforcement and port security operations. Later assigned to the port security training detachment, Mr. Wells trained Coxswains on the  NAPCO Raiders in Tactical Boat Operations for deployment to Desert Shield/Storm.  In 1993 Mr. Wells joined the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center as a lead instructor in the Physical Techniques Division. While there, he was asked to assist with instruction and course design for the Marine Training Division.


Mr. Wells completed a Coast Guard Reserve tour with the International Training Division where he assisted developing nations (Haiti, Bulgaria, Uganda, and Republic of Georgia) build their Coast Guards and maritime law enforcement divisions. Mr. Wells also instructed for the USCG Training Center’s International Maritime Officers Course (IMOC) which trains officers from around the world in various aspects of the United States Coast Guard's missions.


Mr. Wells founded Wells and Associates, an international law enforcement and security consulting and training company that provides physical, technical, and training expertise with an emphasis on the maritime community.  Mr Wells has provided security training to the British Embassy since 2000.  He is a faculty advisor for the international scholar laureate program on diplomacy, Australia 2008 and China 2009.  He has lectured at the Naval War College on Coast Guard and Port Security operations. Mr Wells had consulted for MPRI on Maritime and Police training issues in São Tomé e Principe, and Equatorial Guinea. The National Maritime Law Enforcement Academy is headquartered in Washington D.C.

Steve Cowper, Esq.

In 1986 Steve Cowper was elected as the sixth Governor of Alaska. He managed the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill crisis on behalf of the State of Alaska and played a major role in opening up the Soviet (now Russian) Far East for international trade. For his administration's active role in reviving the Alaskan economy and creating a surplus in the state budget, Cowper was named one of America's top ten governors by the publisher of USA Today.

Steve Cowper began his professional career as a maritime attorney in Norfolk, Virginia, but soon moved to Alaska where he was an Assistant District Attorney and later in private practice as senior partner in Cowper & Madson, in Fairbanks. He served in the Alaska House of Representatives in 1975-1978, and was Chairman of the House Finance Committee and Chairman of the Alaska Lands Committee. In 1977-1978 Cowper was one of the Alaska representatives to the Law of the Sea Conference.  Mr. Cowper also served as Chairman of the Alaska Permanent Fund, a public investment trust which today has a value of $28 billion and is regarded as the best-managed public fund in the US.

After his term as governor, Cowper was a visiting fellow at the New York-New Jersey Port Authority in 1991. He served from 1995 to 1998 as President of the Northern Forum, an organization of 23 northern regional governments from 10 nations, which is officially recognized by the United Nations. He was Co-Chairman of the Pacific Rim Fisheries Conference in Beijing in 1994 and again in Tokyo in 1997. Cowper is a board member of the Northeast Asia Economic Forum, affiliated with the East-West Center in Honolulu.

 

Since 1991 Cowper has been CEO of Steve Cowper & Associates, of Anchorage, Alaska, and Austin, Texas, a group which advises companies and governments on energy-related initiatives. In 2004 his firm was chosen as an official adviser to the government of Sao Tome and Principe, an island country off the coast of West Africa. He has also served as a contractor to the US government on infrastructure projects located in other nations. He is a frequent speaker at international conferences on large energy infrastructure projects, and has authored articles on the same.

Woodrow F. Clookie, USCG Ret.

A graduate of the FBI National Academy and with his 45-years in local, state, and federal law enforcement, Mr. Clookie offers a unique perspective from both the military as well as the civilian side of law enforcement and counterterrorism.  Recently retired from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) as an Intelligence Specialist, he served as the NCIS liaison to both the U.S. Department of State and its Office of Foreign Missions and the National Security Agency.  Mr. Clookie served as a member of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Port Security Committee the Pentagon’s Overflight Security Committee.  Prior to NCIS, Mr. Clookie retired from a 25-year service in the U.S. Coast Guard as a Senior Special Agent with the Coast Guard Investigative Service. During his tenure with the Coast Guard, he performed extensive port security duties while assigned to shore and afloat units.  Mr. Clookie is the recipient of two Coast Guard Achievement Medals and two Coast Guard Commendation Medals.

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