Our Director of Research is the primary point of contact for all reports and research projects for The Potomac Advocates. Polina Oglesby is a 2023 graduate of Texas Christian University with a B.S. in Political Science, graduating Magna Cum Laude. Polina was recognized for her academic excellence as a McDorman Honors Scholar and Honors Laureate. She has a passion for community service.

Brian Hibbeln joined PRASAM as a Principal in 2021. Brian’s three decades in the Department of Defense and the US Intelligence Community have earned him accolades for his ability to unite people, funding and advanced technologies to benefit warfighters and give the U.S. a competitive edge on the battlefield. Today, he is a sought-after strategic advisor to policy institutes, technology associations and growth-minded technology firms that rely on his recommendations to guide their way forward. Read more.

Andrew Wood is a Principal at Potomac Advocates. Andrew retired from the United States Air Force in July 2023 after over 30 years of service as a career Intelligence Officer. His last USAF assignment was at the Pentagon working as a command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) liaison to the Senate and House Congressional Appropriations Defense Subcommittees. Read more.

Kristopher Breaux is a Principal at Potomac Advocates, a leading consulting firm specializing in defense, intelligence, space, science, and technology, based in Washington, D.C. Before joining Potomac Advocates, Kris was a Group Vice President and Program Manager at Oracle, where he built and led the company’s Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability Program Management Office. Read more.

Wil Nichols joined PRASAM, LLC in 2005 and serves as the Director of Finance. She manages all financial activities, including accounting, billing, reconciling, budget development and tracking, reporting on revenue, and disbursement of funds. Read More.

Emily Hale joined the Potomac Advocates with over 18 years of experience in the intelligence and national security community. She has demonstrated success supporting small and large businesses, national agencies, and non-profits achieve success with both legislative and executive branch goals. Read more.

Lieutenant General David A. Deptula (Ret.) is a highly decorated military leader, transitioning from the U.S. Air Force in 2010 after more than 34 years of distinguished service. He is one of the world’s foremost experts on military aerospace issues—a pioneer in conceptualizing, planning, and executing national security operations from humanitarian relief to major combat. Read more.

Richard A. Shook retired in 2014 as a Major General in the United States Air Force Reserve after more than 36 years of decorated Air Force service. The same year, Gen. Shook retired from his position in the USAF Civil Service, where he served as the mobilization assistant to the Chief of the Air Force Reserve. Read more.

Bobby W. Smart is a retired member of the Senior Executive Service (SES) with 44 years of experience with U.S. and Allied military forces. Prior to his retirement in August 2015, Mr. Smart was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition Integration). Read more.

David M. Van Buren is CEO of Crossroads Management, a new Business Strategy and Program Development firm with operations in the Washington, D.C. metro and Charleston, SC. Mr. Van Buren sits on multiple Boards of Directors and consults for high technology as well as internationally owned firms. Read more.

General Joseph M. Martin is a retired U.S. Army Four-Star Officer. Before retiring in August 2022, Gen. Martin most recently served as the 37^th Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army, responsible for running a 1.3-million-person global organization with an annual operating budget of $173 billion. Read more.

Lieutenant General Raymond Palumbo (Ret.) is a leading defense strategist, problem solver, and team builder who supports a broad range of public, private, and philanthropic organizations. Mr. Palumbo is the founder and senior partner of Venturi Solutions LLC, a firm that delivers winning solutions in the aerospace, defense, intelligence, and IT sectors. Read more.

Barry J. Pike is a consultant for U.S. national security and defense businesses, and is the President & CEO of Pike Defense Consulting, LLC. He retired from the federal government in 2020 after a 36-year career as a Department of the Army Civilian. Read more.

Wilson “Al” Shoffner retired from active duty in March 2020 after serving 32 years in the United States Army. Before his retirement, Mr. Shoffner was the Commanding General of the Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill. Read more.

Vice Admiral John Terence “Terry” Blake (Ret.) served more than 37 years in the United States Navy, retiring in 2013. He most recently served as the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Integration of Capabilities and Resources (OPNAV N8). As the Navy’s Chief Financial Officer, he was charged with planning, programming and executing the Navy’s Budget. Read more.

William P. Bray is the principal consultant and owner of W.P. Bray Consulting, LLC. He serves as a Special Government Employee (SGE) and member of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Aerospace Space Advisory Panel (ASAP), which provides oversight and feedback to the NASA Administrator and Congress for all NASA manned flight programs and missions. Read more.

Jack Czerwinski is an experienced public policy expert and advocate on a wide variety of defense and technology matters. Read More

Dr. Arun Seraphin is the Executive Director of the Emerging Technologies Institute (ETI) at the National Defense Industrial Association. In his role, he leads a nonpartisan institute that focuses on advancing technologies crucial to the future of national defense. Read more.

Mr. Alan R. Shaffer is the Director, Washington Operations for MIT Lincoln Laboratory. Previously, he served as the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (A&S) until January 2021. Read more.

Anthony Tether served as director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) from June 18, 2001, until February 20, 2009. Read More