Advisory Board

Karen M. Schaefer

Karen M. Schaefer held numerous leadership positions within the Central Intelligence (CIA) during her 26-year career, with overseas assignments as an operations officer in Latin America, Europe, Afghanistan and Iraq (where she served as Chief of Base). Her headquarters positions included Chief of Operations, Directorate of Science and Technology; Deputy Associate Director of Military Affairs; Deputy Chief of Counterintelligence, Near East Division; Executive Assistant to Deputy Director CIA; and Group Chief, Iran Operations Division. She also served as Director of Intelligence Programs at the National Security Council (NSC). She closed out her government career as the Associate Executive Assistant Director (AEAD) of the National Security Branch, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Director’s Senior CIA Representative

Shalonda Spencer

Shalonda Spencer is an accomplished leader who has excelled in various fields, including policy, social entrepreneurship, politics, and advocacy. With over a decade of experience in government affairs, human rights, and social justice, she provides invaluable policy guidance to government leaders and unwaveringly advocates for social and racial equity. Shalonda's contributions to foreign affairs and diplomacy have been remarkable. She raised the voice of women of color in international relations as the former Executive Director of WCAPS and she also served briefly as a Legislative Assistant for the United States House of Representatives and as a Foreign Policy Analyst for the Mennonite Central Committee. Shalonda's community organizing skills have been instrumental in various political campaigns throughout the southern borders of Mississippi, and her dedication and expertise in public service have earned her numerous awards and accolades. She is the founder of Politics for the Culture podcast and is pursuing an Executive Master's degree in International Relations with a focus on Foreign Policy at Syracuse University. Shalonda continues to dedicate herself to public service and positively contribute to society.

David

Lyon

David Lyon is a global security and intelligence executive consulting on people risk, intelligence and security issues, and geopolitical risk and strategy.. Mr. Lyon served for over a decade as an intelligence operative with the CIA's Directorate of Operations where he completed multiple overseas field tours. He has specialized training in human behavioral analysis and on-the-ground experience evaluating individuals' suitability for the most sensitive operations, often with life or death consequences. He also served as a uniformed intelligence officer with the US Navy and was an Assistant Country Director for China within the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

Dexter

Ingram

Dexter is a counterterrorism, counter weapons of mass destruction, and counter violent extremist strategist with over 25 years of experience. He's led U.S. interagency delegations to Asia and Africa focusing on nuclear proliferation deterrence. Dexter's assignments have included serving as Senior Advisor to the Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, Senior CT Advisor to INTERPOL in Lyon, France; Senior Political Advisor in Helmand, Afghanistan; Deputy Director of the State Department's WMD Terrorism effort; International Counterterrorism Fellow at the National Defense University; and as a senior liaison to the FBI and DHS.

Lauren

Buitta

Ms. Buitta is founder and CEO of Girl Security. Lauren began her career in national security in Chicago, IL in 2003 as a policy analyst with the National Strategy Forum, a nonpartisan national security think tank. In 2009 while attending law school, Lauren launched her consulting firm, Stele Consulting, which advised clients on urban security and policy challenges. In this role, Lauren managed one of the largest federal lawsuits ever filed against the City of Chicago for fair housing and related civil rights violations.

MaryJo "MJ" Thomas

MaryJo “MJ” Thomas is Director of Security at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works. She is responsible for overseeing all BIW Security functions including counterintelligence, cyber, industrial and physical plant security programs. Ms. Thomas spent much of her professional career with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Her most recent assignment was as FBI Senior Advisor to the Department of Defense for the FBI National Security branch. She was the primary interface between the FBI and the Office of Secretary Defense on national security issues which involved the FBI and she coordinated counterintelligence, counterterrorism, cyber and weapons of mass destruction matters between the two agencies. Her previous roles include Section Chief of the Counterproliferation Center in the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division.

David

Bell

David Bell is currently a Researcher with the Department of Defense (DoD). He joined the DoD in 2022 after graduating with his BA in Political Science with a concentration in Peace and Conflict Studies at New York University. While at NYU, he founded The Sycamore Institute, a 501(c)(3) focused on international security and foreign policy. David oversaw its expansion to several universities while growing the organization to over 120 volunteers. He currently serves as an Advisory Board member alongside former senior executives from the national security community. David’s previous work experience includes a research position at United States Central Command, an appointment as a non-resident Scholar with the Center for Strategic and International Studies Project on Nuclear Issues (PONI), and an internship with a foreign policy think tank in Israel. While in Israel, he researched Iranian foreign policy and Palestinian iconography. He is a certified Emergency Medical Technician with certifications in radiological emergency management and biosecurity. His research interests include radiological material security, peacebuilding, and dual-use technologies. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking, going to museums, and kayaking.