After years as a Shareholder in one of the world's largest law firms, Ryan founded Chaintegrity, an innovative social entrepreneurship venture seeking to eradicate human trafficking in contractor supply chains. He now serves as Chaintegrity's CEO while also maintaining a sophisticated law practice as a founding partner of Ward & Berry PLLC.

Ryan is an accomplished trial lawyer recognized as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers. He has successfully handled significant cases for clients in the national security, technology, and sports/entertainment sectors. In addition to his active litigation practice, Ryan is also a Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional (CCEP). He assists companies in developing and improving their compliance and ethics programs, conducts internal investigations, and provides periodic training to clients on critical compliance topics. Ryan is experienced in handling international disputes and investigations for government contractors and multi-national corporations. His work in this area has been particularly focused on the False Claims Act (FCA), the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and personal injury claims brought by foreign citizens against U.S. contractors. Ryan has skillfully guided clients through investigations brought by federal agency IGs, Congressional investigations, suspensions and proposed debarments.

Ryan graduated from the Washington & Lee University School of Law. Prior to practicing law, he was a management consultant for the Department of Defense, and earlier served as an active duty military officer. Ryan earned his bachelor's degree from the United States Military Academy.

Now President Emeritus, Mr. Brooks serves on the ISOA Advisory Council. He also serves on the Board of the Afghan-American Chamber of Commerce, teaches as Adjunct Faculty at the University of Fiji, and shares his expertise with leading firms in the industry as an independent consultant. Mr. Brooks has testified before the U.S. Congress and the South African Parliament. He has appeared on numerous TV and radio programs including the BBC, CBS News, NBC News, Fox News, CNN International, Democracy Now!, NPR, VOA, SABC in South Africa and PBS's Lehrer News Hour. Mr. Brooks has been an Adjunct Faculty member at American University and an Academic Fellow and Research Associate with the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) in Johannesburg. He has also lectured at Georgetown University, West Point, Princeton and the Inter-American Defense College at Ft. McNair among many other academic institutions.

The surviving spouse of a Soldier, Ms. Carroll also served in the military, retiring as a Major in the USAFR. In her earlier civilian career, she served three Presidents in the White House in senior policy positions; lobbied on Defense and Aerospace issues; and was posted in Baghdad, Iraq as the Deputy Senior Advisor to the Ministry of Communications in '03-'04. She has traveled extensively to countries of conflict mentoring programs to empower bereaved survivors. In 2015, the US Department of State asked TAPS to mentor the creation of an organization in Ukraine to care for the families of their fallen, and today, TAPS Ukraine is a major national program across Ukraine offering psychosocial support and resources. Ms. Carroll has published research on "Turning War Grief Into Positive Peace" which has been presented at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy. In 2015, Ms. Carroll was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama, the highest US civilian recognition.

He also was a key participant in the drafting of the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers (ICoC), and was elected in 2010 as the representative for U.S. industry to the ICoC Temporary Steering Committee, and subsequently in 2013 to the Board of Directors of the ICoC Association based in Geneva, Switzerland.

Prior to joining GardaWorld, Mark was Associate General Counsel at Booz Allen Hamilton, where he supported defense and intelligence accounts as well as government relations efforts, meeting with members of Congress and working with various industry associations on key legislative issues. Mark also spent nine years in various roles at Triple Canopy, where he oversaw legal, contracts, compliance, and government relations matters. Mark started his career in private practice, where he spent eight years working at two leading Washington D.C. law firms, specializing in government contracting, procurement policy and legislation, compliance, and international law.

He has more than 25+ years of experience working in Congress (as a leadership staffer in both the House and Senate), at the Department of Defense (as DASD for Europe and NATO), in the aerospace and defense industry (as a VP at Lockheed Martin Corp), and in the consulting arena (as a VP at the Cohen Group). He has a proven record of success working with C-Suite executives, Cabinet officers, senior military and foreign government officials, and public policy sector leaders. He is an expert on issues regarding U.S. national security, government relations, strategic risk, European foreign policy, global aerospace and defense industry, industrial base supply chain, technology, amongst other issues. He is also active as an investor and advisor in numerous emerging technology start up efforts.

In February 2022, Dan was appointed by the U.S. Senate leadership to serve as one of sixteen Commissioners on the congressionally-mandated Afghanistan War Commission. The Commission was established in the FY22 National Defense Authorization Act to study America’s 20-year involvement in the war in Afghanistan and to assess lessons learned for future conflicts. The Commission has a three-year mandate.

Dan has been affiliated with some of America’s leading think tanks and NGOs including the Alexander Hamilton Society, the American Enterprise Institute, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and the German Marshall Fund of the U.S. He is a regular guest lecturer at leading U.S. colleges and universities. He continues to publish numerous opeds and analytical pieces on national security issues. He graduated with Honors from the University of Connecticut with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. He earned his Master of Arts degree in International Relations from Boston University.

MG (Ret) Yves Fontaine was born in La Louviere, Belgium and emigrated to the United States as a young man becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen at the age of 20. From this point, he began his unique American journey, entering the United States Army after graduation from LaSalle University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management. MG (Ret) Fontaine spent the next 36 years serving his country as a logistics officer. A native French language speaker, his formal academic training is diverse with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management from LaSalle University, a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Webster University and a second Master's Degree in Advanced Military Studies from the Army's Command and General Staff College, School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS).

Upon retirement from active military service, MG (Ret) Fontaine established Fontaine Consulting, LLC as a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) headquartered in Rock Island, Illinois where he and his company maintain an excellent relationship with the Army's Rock Island Arsenal and the local community. Fontaine Consulting, LLC provides strategic planning and logistical expertise to organizations seeking expansion and it does so with the vision of successfully achieving stated goals of the client's enterprise with integrity and quality assurance. MG (ret) Fontaine serves on numerous boards of both directors and advisors. He served on the Army War College Board, he served as a senior mentor for the US Army Mission Command Training Program.

He is married to Kathleen, who has been his counsel for the past 42 years. They have been blessed with four daughters, and seven grandchildren.

Prior to joining URC, Earl served as Executive Vice President for Programs at Creative Associates, leading the implementation of all programs across more than 30 countries. He previously served as Senior International Advisor for the global law firm, Covington & Burling, LLP, where he advised many of the largest U.S. and international companies on their investment strategies.

Before that, Earl spent more than two decades with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Confirmed by the U.S. Senate in April 2012, he was sworn in as the Assistant Administrator (AA) for the Agency’s Africa Bureau overseeing a $7 billion portfolio that provided assistance to more than 40 countries, including USAID’s largest health portfolio.

Before joining MSA Security, Gerald served on Triple Canopy's executive management team as vice president of business development and brought a balanced mix of government, law enforcement and business entrepreneurial leadership skills while directing Triple Canopy's commercial, defense and law enforcement business development initiatives. Prior to re-joining Triple Canopy in 2012, Gerald instituted over four and a half years of best practices of intelligence, asymmetric warfare and counter narcoterrorism programs at TASC/ Northrop Grumman for CENTCOM, NORTHCOM, AFRICOM and SOUTHCOM initiatives.

Gerald has worked with and provided support to a large network of commercial, defense, intelligence, law enforcement and industry-wide professionals in addition to having firsthand experience managing programs and leading teams on the ground in Iraq, Afghanistan, Honduras and other locations.

Gerald was elected to the ISOA Board of Directors in 2014 where he served as Vice Chairman. In 2015 he was appointed by the Board as Chairman where he served two Consecutive Terms. In October 2017 Gerald transitioned to the ISOA Advisory Council. In 2021 Gerald was appointed to serve as the Chairman of ISOA's Cyber, Technology, and Innovation Committee.

He is also an independent foreign policy consultant with senior leadership experience in the US Government and private sector providing advice based on his unique background in the fields of foreign policy, national security, international business development, congressional and public affairs, and international assistance programming. Mr. Grieco recently retired as Deputy Chairman of the Society for International Development-Washington Chapter, the largest trade association of the international development and humanitarian community.

He served as Assistant Administrator for Legislative and Public Affairs at USAID and managed all agency global communications, media and public affairs, as well as congressional relations through a particularly difficult period in the post-9/11 period. He served on various Inter-Agency Policy Committees and was involved in the formation of the Millenium Challenge Corporation, PEPFAR, and multiple Presidential initiatives. Previously, he served as an international government relations counsel for major multinational corporations such as Westinghouse ESG, Raytheon, General Dynamics, Hyundai, and AT&T. In all, he provided services in 25 countries. He earned a master's degree from Georgetown University’s Edmund Walsh School of Foreign Service Studies and a fellowship for graduate studies in comparative international management at Oxford University’s Templeton College. He graduated with Special Honors with an undergraduate degree from George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs.

Neelima is focused on building partnerships, and focusing on strategic investments to achieve transformational impact. A social scientist by training, Neelima has a bold vision for exploring solutions that embody women and girls, data and technology as well as leadership development in the foreign affairs community.

Neelima has received numerous awards and recognition in her professional career from organizations including News India, Entrepreneur Magazine, Brava Awards, Smart CEO, Moxie Award and has been featured in business leadership shows such as Executive Leaders Radio.

Neelima is also a member of the External Advisory Board for the Data Science & Analytics program at Georgetown University. She also serves as a Mentor for Girls in Technology.

David was previously a long-time equity partner in a top-ranked Government Contracts practice in the Washington D.C. office of Crowell & Moring LLP, one of the early, founding members of the ISOA. David represented domestic and foreign government contractors on matters before all three branches of the federal government, many of which required crisis management.

Over his career, David successfully represented defense, security, intelligence, and aerospace companies in matters involving awards and protests, internal investigations, voluntary and mandatory disclosures, Congressional investigations and hearings, false claims, suspension and debarment, and prime-subcontractor disputes. Clients called on David so solve numerous complex and politically sensitive disputes arising in foreign countries and to save billions of dollars in government contracts at risk in “bet the company” matters.

He has litigated government contract disputes and other procurement matters before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, Federal District Courts, the Government Accountability Office, the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals, the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals, and the Small Business Administration. Reflecting the trust in David’s advice, he often effectively served as an “outside” general counsel to clients.

David graduated from the University of Michigan Law School in 1988, cum laude with an academic award in corporate finance.

Howard was commissioned into the Infantry in 1986. He commanded 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment; 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment; 4th Brigade, 25th Infantry Division; Train, Advise, Assist Command-East (Afghanistan); and the US Army Military District of Washington. He served as the Deputy Commanding General of the 10th Mountain Division, and LTG(R) Howard has seen combat in both Afghanistan and Iraq.

His education includes a BS in Biology from Mercer Univ in Macon, GA and a MS in National Security Strategic Studies from the National War College at Fort McNair, DC.

His awards include the Combat Infantryman’s Badge (2d Awd), Ranger Tab, Master Airborne Wings, and Bronze Star Medal (5th Awd). He wears eleven overseas bars.

In 2005-2006 he was the third-ranking officer at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, with the title of Political-Military Counselor, providing policy advice to the U.S. Ambassador, and serving as liaison between the Embassy and the Multi-National Forces – Iraq. His final assignment as a Foreign Service Officer was as the Associate Director for International Liaison at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. Ambassador Litt served as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (1995-1998) and as Consul General in Dubai ten years prior. Ambassador Litt was the State Department’s Political Advisor to U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida (1998-2004). He served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Niamey, Niger, from 1990-93. While at the Department of State, Ambassador Litt served as the Director of the Office of Northern Gulf Affairs (Iran and Iraq), and as Desk Officer for Saudi Arabia. In addition to a tour as economic/commercial officer in Kabul, Afghanistan, in the late 1970s, he served twice as political officer in Damascus, Syria..

Among several other languages, he speaks Italian, French, Arabic, and Afghan Persian (Dari). Ambassador Litt was born in Pittsburgh, PA, and grew up in Miami, FL. He received a bachelor's degree with majors in history and French from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1971, and a master's degree in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington, D.C. in 1973. He is married to the former Beatrice Ilardi, and has two children, Barbara, and Giorgio..

He currently leads a management consulting firm based in Dubai focused on business and strategy development, marketing, and government relations in Asia, Europe, Middle East and Africa. He is a leadership and management professor at Hult International Business School and other universities. He has been featured on CNBC and in The Wall Street Journal on several occasions, and has been an expert witness before the U.S. Congress on issues affecting Americans and American companies abroad. Mac earned a Doctorate of Management in Organizational Leadership, a MA in International Policies Studies, a MA in Human Resources Management, and a BA in Mathematics. He published the Colby Award-nominated novel Desert Wind in 2021, its sequel Distal Watchman in 2022, and will release the third book in the series, Dragon Warrior, in 2023.

He is responsible for developing and maintaining a comprehensive policy framework and program support governing logistical and support operations, contractor planning, management and execution during combat, humanitarian, and disaster relief operations. He is also responsible for developing and publishing federal regulations regarding the use of Private Security Contractors (PSCs) in overseas operations. Mr. Motsek has performed these critical responsibilities since 2006.

He has over 40 years of experience in the Department of Defense, serving in civilian and military assignments. He served a dual role as Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Logistics and Materiel Readiness (L&MR) from April to July 2016 where his logistics portfolio included program support, maintenance, materiel readiness, supply chain integration, and transportation policy.

Prior to that he served as the Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Program Support (2006-2011), Deputy G-3 for Support Operations and Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Ammunition, U.S. Army Materiel Command (2001-2006); Commander, Pine Bluff Arsenal (1997-1999); and international Military Staff Officer, NATO Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium (1988-1991).

Throughout his career, Mr. Motsek has successfully led large organizations with complex missions and fiscal challenges during periods of substantial change. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army in 1974 and retired as a Colonel in 2001. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Engineering from Syracuse University and a Master of Science degree in Management from Troy State University. He is a ROTC distinguished military graduate of Syracuse University, graduate of the Army War College, Armed Forces Staff College and the Army Command and General Staff College.

His personal awards include the Department of State Distinguished Honors Award (2012), Department of Defense Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service (2011), National Security Professional Executive, Presidential Rank Award (2008), Meritorious Civilian Service Medal, Legion of Merit (2); Defense Meritorious Service Medal (3); Meritorious Service Medal (5); Joint Services Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal; Army Superior Unit Award, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (3), Senior Explosive Ordnance Disposal Badge, JCSID Badge, Ehrenkreuz (Cross of Honor) from the Federal Republic of Germany.

She has extensive experience in the defense industry and a successful track record providing innovative solutions to senior managers and general officers in the Middle East, Europe and NATO. Recent work includes publication of the Defense Support to Stabilization Guide and strategy support to the DUSD Acquisition and Sustainment office of Operational Energy and Innovation.

She has worked for three Presidents at DoD and served as senior policy advisor to the Secretary of the Army for Stability Operations and the Chief Management Officer of DoD. Ms. Schneider has also served on three business advisory boards reporting to the Secretary of Defense and was the prime mover behind the Government Performance and Results Act. She is also CEO of Entovation™ International, a global innovation and knowledge management consulting firm focused on economic development, energy innovation, governance and stabilization strategies.

Ms. Schneider recently retired from the US Army Reserve and had multiple overseas deployments, including Iraq, Republic of Georgia and Poland. She was awarded the Bronze Star and Combat Action Badge.

She received her Masters Degree from George Mason University and is working to complete her Doctorate at Grand Canyon University. She holds certifications in Knowledge Management: Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Concepts and Women Peace and Security. Ms. Schneider is on the Advisory Board of the International Stability Operations Association and a co-author in several books regarding innovation and knowledge management.

Over four decades, Schweitzer has accumulated a unique combination of establishing businesses in emerging and post conflict markets and facilitating capacity building projects throughout the world. She has amassed on-the-ground experience in over 20 countries including Afghanistan, Iraq, China, Hungary, Poland, Rumania, Turkey, Chile, Russia, Caribbean, and Central America. Schweitzer pioneered U.S.-China trade beginning in 1977 as a co-founder of Noble Trading Company.

After selling her company, Schweitzer served as the Senior Trade Advisor for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Schweitzer’s multiple responsibilities included: founding a private public partnership to promote trade between Turkey and US; creating Trade Roots, the first and only sustained national grassroots international trade education program to promote support for Congressional passage of China PNTR, TPA, trade agreements with Chile, Singapore, Australia, Morocco, CAFTA, Peru, South Korea, Panama, and Colombia; and working on the Iraq Business Initiative to re-energize U.S. investment in Iraq.

Currently, Schweitzer is the CEO of the Osage Group, an international consulting company focused on economic development in third world countries.

Schweitzer has spent a lifetime promoting women’s economic empowerment and entrepreneurism around the world.

Schweitzer is a member of U.S. Afghan Women’s Council, the Advisory Board of International Programs-University of Kansas, International Stability Operations Association Advisory Council, Board of Trustees of the Command and General Staff College Foundation, Ayenda Board of Trustees, VP of Afghan American Chamber of Commerce, and Advisory Board of Four-Star Global Security.

The Firm serves as legal counsel to US-friendly and Allied diplomatic missions, NGOs, and private firms in the development, defense, energy and aviation sectors, across a wide array of commercial and compliance matters. The firm also assists Western law firms engaged in, or contemplating litigation touching upon Afghanistan or other conflict/post-conflict areas, as well as performing outside investigations concerning critical incidents and other matters in such areas.

Mr. Scott is a member of the Steering Committee of the Overseas Security Advisory Council – Afghanistan Country Council based at the American Embassy, Kabul. He served as Chairman from 2012-2015, and as Chairman of the APPF/PD-62 Subcommittee, 2011-12.

Prior to founding the law practice in 2011, Mr. Scott served as Senior Advisor for Parliamentary Affairs (2010) to two Ministers of Interior Affairs, H.E. Hanif Atmar, currently President Ghani's National Security Advisor, and H.E. Gen Bismullah Khan Mohammadi. A retired US Marine Colonel, Mr. Scott commanded the 201st Corps Advisory Group, consisting of 300 Allied advisors operating throughout ten provinces, and as military advisor to the then-Corps Commander, General Mohammed Munir Mangal (later the Deputy Minister for Security, Ministry of Interior Affairs) from 2005-6.

Mr. Scott is an active member of the New Hampshire (USA), American and International Bar Associations and a frequent presenter (and active member) of the American Bar Association's Battlespace and Contingency Contracting Committee of the Section on Public Contract Law. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the American NGO, Iraqi Children's Foundation.

Dan represents government contractors, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), non-profit organizations, individuals and other companies in a wide variety of matters. Dan’s practice has historically been litigation-based, but has evolved with his clients’ needs to include a variety of other matters, including: representing clients in government investigations and inquiries, contract negotiations, pre-publication review, and conducting internal investigations.

Dan’s litigation practice focuses on the litigation (or arbitration) of prime/sub disputes, trade secret litigation, and other business torts. Dan has litigated or arbitrated matters nationwide, including in state and federal courts in Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, New York, Georgia, California, and Oregon.

In addition to his litigation practice, Dan provides legal and business advice and counseling on a variety of corporate matters including mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance and formation, best practices, and executive compensation. Dan is a firm believer in learning everything he can about his clients’ businesses. It is only through a clear understanding of a client’s business goals and obstacles that a lawyer can give effective advice and counsel on that client’s legal issues.

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He served as Associate Counsel to the President and Deputy Director and General Counsel of the Executive Office of the President. At the Treasury, he was the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Management as well as Deputy and Acting General Counsel. At Venable, in addition to procurement matters, Ed focuses on the movement and regulation of money and value in international business and financial services. This includes cross-border transactions, doing business abroad (or entering the US market), and developing better compliance and risk reduction programs in areas such as anti-corruption, anti-money laundering and economic sanctions. Ed serves on Venable's International Steering Committee where he is responsible for the firm's relations with law firms in various parts of the world, including the Middle East, North Africa, and the “Stans.” He is a graduate of the University of Virginia and Georgetown Law.