TEAM

Meet the People of The Chertoff Group

Our principals have worked closely together for years, as leaders of the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, the National Security Agency and the CIA.

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We’ve seen each other under pressure – the kind of pressure most people would never want to see, with thousands of lives or even the whole nation’s security at stake, with no time to spare and usually with limited information. We came through it together. And the United States came out stronger.

We reorganized the country’s disaster response system, so we’ll never again see anything like the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. We vastly improved interagency communications, so federal and local agencies won’t be in the dark about who’s doing what. We developed a whole new approach to border security and counterterrorism, and since 9/11 not a single person has died from a terrorist attack within our borders.

We came to know each other under the most trying circumstances. We came to trust each other with our lives. We work incredibly well – together – under pressure. And once you get to know us, you’ll understand how valuable we can be to securing the future of your organization.

 

Michael Chertoff

Co-Founder and Chairman

As Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from 2005 to 2009, Mr. Chertoff led the country in blocking would-be terrorists from crossing our borders or implementing their plans if they were already in the country.
He also transformed FEMA into an effective organization following Hurricane Katrina. His greatest successes have earned few headlines – because the important news is what didn’t happen. more >>>

 

Chad C. Sweet

Co-Founder and CEO

Chad Sweet is the Co-Founder and CEO of The Chertoff Group, a global advisory firm and investment bank exclusively focused on the security sector. Mr. Sweet formerly served as the Chief of Staff of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Prior to becoming Chief of Staff of DHS, Mr. Sweet worked as an investment banker at the firms of Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs as well as served in the CIA's National Clandestine Service. more >>>

 

Jayson Ahern

Principal

On January 2, 2010, Jayson P. Ahern retired from 33 years of federal service to both the U.S. Customs Service and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. At the time of his retirement, he had served for nearly a year as Acting Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and was responsible for securing, managing and controlling our Nation’s borders. more >>>

Charles Allen

Principal

At DHS, Charles E. Allen developed the department’s intelligence architecture, integrated its intelligence activities and ensured that they were continuously aligned with the department’s evolving priorities. He also accelerated and expanded the department’s processes for sharing intelligence with state and local security and law enforcement officials. more >>>

Jay Cohen

Principal

Innovative problem solving and science and technology have always been among Jay M. Cohen’s strong points: Early in his naval career he mastered Nuclear Power Training and later commanded a nuclear submarine. He followed that with stints as a senior member of the Nuclear Propulsion Examining Board for the U.S. Atlantic Fleet; command of a major surface ship, Director of the Navy Y2K Project Office; and Chief of Naval Research. more >>>

Richard Falkenrath

Principal

Dr. Richard A. Falkenrath is a Principal with The Chertoff Group, where he advises clients on a broad array of homeland and national security issues relating to counterterrorism, law enforcement, physical and digital network security, and risk management.   In addition, he is Contributing Editor at Bloomberg News; a Shelby Cullom and Kathryn W. Davis Adjunct Senior Fellow for Counterterrorism and Homeland Security at the Council on Foreign Relations;  more >>>

Michael Hayden

Principal

As Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, General Hayden was responsible for overseeing the collection of information concerning the plans, intentions and capabilities of America’s adversaries; producing timely analysis for decision makers; and conducting covert operations to thwart terrorists and other enemies of
the US. more >>>

Graham Love

Principal

Graham Love retired as Group Chief Executive of QinetiQ
in November 2009 after a career with the company and its predecessor organisations spanning nearly 20 years, and including 2 privatisations, 2 highly successful private
equity partnerships, and an IPO which saw the UK’s previously government owned defence research agencies transformed into a major international company listed
in the FTSE 250. more >>>

John Reid

Principal

Dr. John Reid has dedicated his career to public service serving as a Member of Parliament for 23 years, half of which were in service as a Government minister. He is
often described as one of the most experienced Cabinet ministers in modern times having held more ministerial posts at the Cabinet level than any other politician in
recent history. more >>>

Jeffrey Runge

Principal

Dr. Runge has decades of clinical, research, leadership and administrative experience. In addition to seven years as the head of two government agencies with as many as 1000 employees and contractors under his direction, he brings nearly 30 years of experience as an emergency medicine physician. Until 2001 he practiced and taught in North Carolina’s busiest emergency department and trauma center, while performing research in injury prevention, trauma care, and emergency service delivery. more >>>

Paul Schneider

Principal

As Deputy Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security, Paul Schneider managed day-to-day operations of an organization with approximately 220,000 employees and an annual budget of $52.6 billion. Earlier, as Under Secretary for Management, he was responsible for the department’s financial management and for the procurement and management of such mission-critical assets as information technology systems, facilities and equipment. more >>>

Mark Weatherford

Principal

Mark Weatherford is a Principal at The Chertoff Group and advises clients on a broad array of cybersecurity services. As one of the nation’s leading experts on cybersecurity, Mr. Weatherford works with organizations around the world to effectively manage today’s cyber threats by creating comprehensive security strategies that can be incorporated into core business operations and objectives. Prior to joining The Chertoff Group, Mr. Weatherford served as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s first Deputy Under Secretary for Cybersecurity within the National Protection and Programs Directorate. more >>>

David Veness

Principal

Sir David Veness served as Under-Secretary-General of the UN Department of Safety and Security from its creation in 2005 until June 2009. This role carries responsibility for UN operations globally. Prior to this appointment, he was Assistant Commissioner (Specialist Operations) New Scotland Yard from 1994-2005. more >>>

 

Larry Castro

Managing Director

At the National Security Agency (NSA), Larry Castro served as the NSA/Central Security Service Representative to the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a post he held since the Department’s creation in March 2003. He served concurrently as NSA’s Coordinator for Homeland Security Support. In this latter role, Mr. Castro led the development of the Agency’s Homeland Security Support Strategy, which complements and fully supports the National Strategy for Homeland Security more >>>

Cindy Farkus

Managing Director

Since first joining DHS in 2007, Ms. Farkus served in several key positions including DHS Acting Assistant Secretary for International Affairs as well as Assistant Administrator for the Office of Global Strategies and Assistant Administrator for the Office of Intelligence at TSA. During her time as the DHS Acting Assistant Secretary, Ms. Farkus ensured that strategic international relationships stayed on track during the early stages of the presidential transition, a critical time for those partnerships. more >>>

Nathaniel Fogg

Managing Director 

Mr. Fogg comes to the Chertoff Group after two and a half years serving in a senior operating role at FEMA where he was instrumental in restructuring the agency and improving its response and recovery capabilities in the wake of the federal response to Hurricane Katrina. He was significantly involved in the development and execution of successful evacuation and sheltering plans for Louisiana and Texas during Hurricanes Gustav and Ike in 2008, and numerous other effective responses to natural disasters and emergencies around the country. more >>>

Adam Isles

Managing Director 

Adam Isles brings tremendous experience from both the public and private sector to help clients identify and execute appropriate risk management strategies which help protect a company’s most critical assets and operations while mitigating today’s most concerning threats. more >>>

Jason Kaufman

Managing Director

Jason brings to The Chertoff Group over twelve years of investment banking and private equity investing experience, exclusively focused on middle market defense and government services companies.  During his career, he has advised on over 50 merger, acquisition, private placement, and corporate divestiture transactions worth over $2.5 billion in deal value. more >>>

William Marshall

Managing Director

Mr. Marshall brings to the Chertoff Group a broad base of expertise in intelligence and cyber-related matters after nearly 35 years of service at the National Security Agency/Central Security Service (NSA/CSS), where he held a variety of senior leadership, management, and analysis positions in support of the U.S. Intelligence Community and Department of Defense. more >>>

Jim Pflaging

Managing Director

Mr. Pflaging has over 25 years of Silicon Valley experience including 15 years as President/CEO of venture-backed, cyber security and data management companies.  He has grown companies from pre-revenue to over $100 million and led divisions of Fortune 500 companies valued at $150 million or more.  Mr. Pflaging has raised over $100 million in financing from a variety of venture, debt, and strategic sources and built operations in the Americas, Asia, and Europe. more >>>

Nicolle Rippeon

Managing Director

Nicolle Sciara Rippeon joins The Chertoff Group from ABM LLC, an advisory services firm specializing in supporting the government’s implementation of border security and immigration programs as well as technology modernization projects.  She also worked with both large and small companies in developing and pursuing federal strategies in the homeland security market space. more >>>

Bennet Waters

Managing Director

Dr. Waters has a successful record of senior leadership experience in a variety of public, private and federal government settings. He specializes in developing, implementing and optimizing entrepreneurial strategies that balance the need to minimize risks with maintaining the flow of commerce. more >>>

Brian M. White

Managing Director

Mr. White, based in San Francisco, leads the global advisory services business for The Chertoff Group. In this capacity, Mr. White works with a wide range of clients that are seeking a new strategic direction to achieve growth objectives in government and critical infrastructure markets.  He also leads the San Francisco office, where the primary focus is on cyber security and innovative technology.  In this role, Mr. White works with large and small technology companies and equity investors that are looking to bring innovative products and services to the market. more >>>

Prescott Winter

Managing Director

Dr. Winter brings an in-depth understanding of the technology needs of the intelligence community and commercial industry.  He was most recently Chief Technology Officer for Public Sector Security within
the Enterprise Security Unit at Hewlett Packard.  Dr. Winter also spent more than 27 years at the National Security Agency, including service as the Associate Deputy
Director of National Intelligence for Information Integration. more >>>

 

Debbie Eng

Senior Director

Ms. Eng joined the Chertoff Group in July of 2009 after three years of serving at the Department of Homeland Security both in the Secretary’s office and at the operational level.  As part of Secretary Michael Chertoff’s staff, Ms. Eng oversaw and coordinated department-wide responses to every directive and policy issue that originated from the White House, including the National Security Council and the Homeland Security Council. more >>>

 

Katy Montgomery

Senior Director

Katy Montgomery joins The Chertoff Group as a senior public affairs advisor focused on creating thoughtful and strategic communications plans to help clients be prepared and navigate through both anticpated challenges and unpredictable events.  During her career, she has served as a strategic communications advisor and spokesperson for senior government officials at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, The White House, and U.S. Department of Education. more >>>

Elizabeth Carter

Director

Elizabeth Carter joined the Chertoff Group after serving as the Plan Manager for Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) for the New York City Office of Emergency Management, where she was responsible for the development of hazard-specific emergency plans to respond to Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) incidents. In this capacity,
she worked closely with New York City agencies and other
regional municipalities to foster interagency coordination
and spearhead collaborative efforts to develop WMD
playbooks and protocols. more >>>

Ryan Hoffman

Director

Ryan Hoffman serves as Senior Associate at The Chertoff Group in the firm’s M&A Advisory practice. With seven years of exclusive focus in the Defense, Security, and Government Services industry, Mr. Hoffman bings extensive investment banking experience in both private and public sell-side assignments, corporate divestitures, public equity raises, and buy-side transactions for clients operating in the defense, intelligence, C4ISR, and government services markets. more >>>

Lauren Lotko

Director

With a background in equity research and demonstrated commitment to improving national security, Ms. Lotko brings the knowledge and capabilities to enhance our clients’ ability to do well financially, while doing good for the public. Before joining The Chertoff Group, Ms. Lotko worked as an equity research associate at BayStreet Research providing quantitatively driven analysis on the wireless communications and video games sectors more >>>

Jason Mayer

Director 

Jason Mayer joins The Chertoff Group from the Central Intelligence Agency where he worked to identify and counter threats from our most dangerous adversaries.  Now at The Chertoff Group, he uses his in-depth understanding of today's security challenges to deliver solutions to help boardrooms and company leadership manage their risk in an increasingly dynamic security environment.   more >>>

Jeannette Smith

Chief of Staff

Ms. Smith joined The Chertoff Group in 2010 as a Special Assistant where she supports the Group’s Co-founders, Secretary Michael Chertoff and Chad Sweet. Ms. Smith
uses her experience from the White House and from
small business development to cultivate and maintain internal operation processes, provide scheduling and administrative support, and lead the overall team
support for the firm. more >>>

Alison Williams

Director

Alison Williams joined The Chertoff Group in 2012 after serving as the Transportation Security Administration's representative to U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), one of the U.S. Department of Defense's geographical combatant commands.  As one of approximately forty non-Department of Defense officials at AFRICOM,  more >>>

Ben Dower

Senior Associate

Ben Dower provides strategic consulting and M & A advsiory services to clients across the national security sector. Prior to joining The Chertoff Group, Mr. Dower was an Associate at BB&T Capital Markets  | Windsor Group, the Defense and Government Services investment banking group of BB&T Corporation. While at BB&T Capital Markets | Windsor Group, Mr. Dower advised companies serving the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and intelligence community in mergers and acquisitions transactions. more >>>

Marjorie Chelius

Associate

As an Associate at The Chertoff Group, Marjorie Chelius uses her research and analytical skills to help clients achieve their growth objectives. Ms. Chelius is involved with a wide range of projects that deliver strategic support to clients both domestically and internationally. more >>>

 

Paul Davis

Associate

As an associate at the Chertoff Group, Mr. Davis helps companies achieve their strategic objectives by
leveraging our expertise in the security and defense markets. Prior to joining the Chertoff Group, Paul Davis completed graduate studies in international affairs in Canada where he was involved in North American trade
and defense issues. more >>>

 

 

Ryan Frew

Associate

Ryan Frew serves as an Associate at The Chertoff Group.  Mr. Frew is experienced in supporting sell-side assignments for middle-market firms in the aerospace, defense, and government services technology markets.  He has advised and closed transactions with more >>>

 

Joseph T. Zimring

Associate

As an Associate at The Chertoff Group, Joe Zimring supports growth, risk management and financial strategy execution across a variety of domestic and international engagements. Mr. Zimring is a confident writer with deliverable drafting and project development responsibility.  more >>>

Shelly Achaibar

Special Assistant

Ms. Achaibar uses her global experience and expertise from the Financial Services industries, Bio-tech and Emerging Markets to cultivate and maintain internal operation processes, provide scheduling and manage administrative support, and lead the overall team support for the firm. more >>>

Sarah Elizabeth Andrews

Special Assistant

Ms. Andrews joined The Chertoff Group in 2012 as a Special Assistant. White House and Congressional internships, in addition to her work experience in communications, helps her to provide support to the Group’s Co-Founders Secretary Michael Chertoff and Chad Sweet. more >>>

 

Veronica Gilbert

Senior Financial Accountant

Ms. Gilbert joined The Chertoff Group in July of 2011 as the Senior Financial Accountant where she oversees the internal accounting functions of the company.  She has extensive experience working in this financial capacity at manufacturing firms, banking institutions, and franchise corporations. more >>>

Heather Henson

Special Assistant

Ms. Henson joined The Chertoff Group in August 2012 after twelve years of serving at the Department of Homeland Security both in the Secretary's office and at the operational level.  As part of Secretary Michael Chertoff's staff, Ms. Henson oversaw, coordinated, and gave the daily operational briefings to the Secretary, Deputy Secretary, Chief of Staff, and numerous other senior staff and advisors.  more >>>

George Schinkel

Chief Compliance Officer, Financial and Operations Principal, Chertoff Capital, LLC

Mr. Schinkel joined Chertoff Group in 2010 as part of the management team of Chertoff Capital, LLC the broker-dealer subsidiary of Chertoff Group, LLC. Mr. Schinkel has over 25 years experience in the financial services industry having held a variety of management level positions including Chief Compliance Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Executive Officer with several international
banking groups. more >>>

Eddy Shaposhnikov

Special Assistant

Eddy Shaposhnikov joined The Chertoff Group in June 2012 following his graduation from the University of California, Berkeley, with a B.A. in History. Mr. Shaposhnikov interned previously with the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as a trade association dedicated to offshore energy development. more >>>