Risk Management Professionals 

Mr. Kurt Klingenberger, CHS-IV, PCP

Kurt is our Vice President for our Risk Management Services and he has an extensive and varied background in security that spans international coalition operations to domestic homeland security and infrastructure protection. His career of nearly 30 years as an Air Force officer included flight operations, teaching and instructing, staff assignments at the highest level of the Pentagon and NATO headquarters, as well as command assignments with substantial force and installation protection oversight responsibilities. Kurt has extensive crisis response planning and operational experience and leads our continuity of operations practice. Following his military career, Kurt was a Director in the Office of Infrastructure Protection at the Department of Homeland Security before starting his own consulting firm, K-Berg, LLC. He holds a current DoD Clearance.

Ms. Amy E. Hutchens, JD, CCEP

Amy serves as Watermark’s General Counsel and Vice President of Compliance and Ethics Services.   After graduating from Johns Hopkins University and Vanderbilt University School of Law, Amy served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney and an Air Force Judge Advocate for 11 years before beginning her civilian career as in-house counsel to a large and diverse government contractor. She has federal criminal and civil litigation experience, as well as extensive experience advising executive management on compliance and ethics matters. Amy is certified by the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics as a Compliance and Ethics Professional (CCEP). She has developed, implemented, audited and managed all aspects of compliance programs to ensure they meet the rigorous requirements of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines and the Federal Acquisition Regulation. She has experience assessing risk, drafting internal policies, training employees at all levels, developing codes of conduct, and establishing monitoring and investigative protocols to maximize value and effectiveness in compliance programs. Amy has a passion for helping organizations do right by their shareholders, employees, clients, customers and communities, and in doing so mitigate the business risks associated with ethical and compliance failures.  

Mr. Danny Stover

Danny is a Senior Security Analyst with over 36 years experience in developing, planning and executing security operations. He has conducted security assessments of commercial seaports and maritime operations, as well as government facilities. Danny has conducted security risk assessments for several Department of Defense installations and most recently instructed a course in security risk management program for the Air Force. Instruction for this course focused on the risk elements of local intelligence preparation, information requirements, asset criticality, threat analysis, and vulnerability identification and mitigation. Danny also consulted on a technical review of the security planning for the new World Trade Center in New York City. His experience is wide ranging and includes conducting and evaluating nuclear security operations and planning, anti-terrorism planning and operations, information protection, and law enforcement operations. Throughout his career, Danny has worked closely with representatives of several European nation militaries and various Department of Defense agencies. Danny is a certified training instructor and holds a DoD security clearance. 

Ms. Stephanie A. Cherrier

Stephanie serves is an Army Surface Distribution and Deployment Command Senior Anti-Terrorism Support Analyst. Stephanie was commissioned as an Air Force Security Forces Officer in 2001, and has experience managing and overseeing a wide variety of law enforcement, security services, antiterrorism and emergency response and management programs. Prior to her commission she spent 6 years as a Mounted Patrol Park Ranger. Her experience includes law enforcement, security force operations oversight and management, and anti-terrorism program management and development. Stephanie holds a DoD security clearance. 

Mr. William P. (Bill) Delaney, PMP

Bill has over 34 years’ experience in every aspect of security, law enforcement and force protection, especially leadership, planning, nuclear security and project management. He retired from the U.S. Air Force as a Colonel with almost 33 years’ service. He is a three time commander (two nuclear commands) with an impeccable record of excellence and a combat proven planner. His last assignment before retiring was the Principal Deputy for Nuclear Surety, Office of the Deputy Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Matters, the senior nuclear security officer in the Department of Defense.

Since retiring, Bill was nuclear surety task lead and led a stable of nuclear professionals at SAIC to successfully develop nuclear security policy at the DoD, Service and MAJCOM levels and built an enviable nuclear skills training program. Each of his projects came in ahead of schedule and below budget.

He’s continually sought out to help craft strategic plans, draft policy documents, training courses and consult on contemporary nuclear surety and emergency management issues. He’s authored current DoD, Air Force and Air Force Global Security Command nuclear security policy, the DoD Personnel Reliability Program (PRP) policy, and the DoD Nuclear Security Roadmap. Bill also built the Defense Nuclear Weapons School (DNWS) PRP course, the 8th Air Force Aircraft Generation course and co-authored the DNWS Nuclear Security course.

 He is a certified Project Management Professional, a qualified and experienced nuclear command and control officer and nuclear weapons courier.

Mr. Aaron M. Shapiro

Aaron has over 12 years of progressive consulting experience for government and commercial clients in the areas of counterproliferation, counterterrorism, homeland security, emergency preparedness, and environmental protection. Specific expertise includes developing and implementing risk assessments, strategic planning, crisis management, conducting training and exercises, and providing advice, analyses, and program management support. Aaron currently serves as a Senior Strategic Analyst supporting the Operations and Nuclear Support Directorate of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. Aaron has a bachelor's of science degree in Psychology and posses a Department of Defense Security Clearance.

Mr. Robert W. (Bob) Lee

Bob served for nearly 28 years in the United States Air Force, including 26 years of commissioned service. His first 12 years involved compiling 3000 hours of operational and test flying as a B-52G and H models Instructor Radar Navigator. The next seven years were spent in Department of Defense acquisition of strategic bomber offensive avionics, nuclear and conventional ordnance, and two years as the B-2 Stealth Bomber Test Manager. Bob’s final USAF years were spent as a Squadron Commander and Command Detachment Director of Operations for Rapid and Advanced Concept Test and Development. His post-military career includes working as a Directed Energy High Power Microwave (HPM) and High Energy Laser (HEL) Weapons Test Capability Project Manager, GPS Senior Program Analyst fielding the GPS Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) security architecture and satellite Flex Power capabilities to U.S. Combatant Commands.

Bob possesses a Biology Pre-Medicine baccalaureate degree and an Aeronautical Science Masters’ degree. He is currently a member of the Air Force Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) and possesses a Department of Defense Security Clearance. 

Ms. Kerry L. Carfagno

Kerry serves Watermark as a Technical Editor. Kerry graduated from the University of Mary Washington in 2010 with a B.S. in Biology. She completed multiple writing intensive classes throughout the course of her studies. She also served as her team's portfolio editor during a term in AmeriCorps NCCC. 

Mr. Gene Earley

Gene is a system security engineer and an expert in industrial security matters. With program management experience in over 150 special access and conventional programs, Gene has developed a reputation as the "go to" expert for FAR and NISPOM issues. He has deep experience with disaster response operations, to include Terrorism Consequence Management and Chemical-Biological-Radiological and Nuclear and Explosive (CBRNE) incident and consequence management. Gene holds myriad special diplomas and certificates, and has a current DoD clearance.

Mr. Wayne Messner

Mr. Messner’s career in aerospace operations, federal security system acquisition, industry program management and private consulting practice spans over 40 productive years. He had a distinguished twenty-four year tour in the United States Air Force, which included twelve years dedicated to the nation’s early initiatives in missile and space operations with the remainder in key assignments involving electronic systems research and development. A highly successful director of multiple nuclear security acquisition programs valued in excess of $1 billion, Mr. Messner is skilled in all aspects of systems program management which includes advanced research & development through deployment and sustainment. Following his retirement from uniformed service he provided top-level management support to major defense contractors and several government agencies both as a senior manager and consultant specializing in the R&D and acquisition of Communications and Electronic Physical Security systems for worldwide applications. Federal government agencies supported included Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Department of State, General Services Administration, Department of Transportation and Department of Homeland Security. Most recently he directed 8-years of highly successful military and commercial security contracts activity, with P&L responsibility for a 150 person security system integration division of a major defense contractor. Mr. Messner is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and has advanced academic degrees from The Pennsylvania State University in R&D Management and Business Administration. He also is a member of the Executive Board on the National Defense Industrial Association’s Homeland Security Division and holds a current Department of Defense security clearance.

Ms. Terri Stover

Terri has more than 27 years experience managing and overseeing a wide variety of law enforcement, security protective services and emergency response and management programs. Her wide experience includes guard force operations oversight and management, school security policy and operations, and anti-terrorism program development. She is a certified instructor and holds a DoD security clearance.

Mr. Ed Johnson

Ed has 40 years of executive experience in military, corporate, and international security settings. He has worked with a wide cross section of employees from back rooms to board rooms on areas ranging from executive protection to petrochemical risk management. An expert trouble shooter, leader and speaker, Ed has a MS in Forensic Science and BA in Social Sciences. He is a graduate of the 107th session of the FBI National Academy.

Mr. Bulan “Dave” Davis

Mr. Davis completed a 24 year Air Force career of security beginning as an Airman guarding high priority resources at base level and concluding as the Chief Deployment Division at the Electronic System Division (now 642nd Electronic Systems Squadron). As the Chief Deployment Division, he was responsible for managing, planning, designing, installing, testing, training and maintaining security systems for all Air Force weapons systems. As the Director of Security Programs for Fortune 500 company, Mr. Davis developed and managed security evaluation and review programs for the Environmental Protection Agency at all ten (10) Regional Offices to include establishing appropriate security for active Superfund Sites. Mr. Davis served as the Task Leader for the Threat Reduction Support Center’s (TRSC), Nuclear Weapons Safety and Security Division (NWSS), Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), directing and managing a security team comprised of multiple companies providing security and engineering services to the eligible states of the Former Soviet Union (FSU). The focus of this effort was to provide security systems expertise to the Russian Ministry of Defense (MOD) to enhance the safety and security of Russian nuclear weapons storage sites and nuclear weapons while in transit to dismantlement sites. He coordinated with the Secret Service identifying appropriate security measures to be implemented for the White House office for a Drug Free America. Mr. Davis managed over 100 personnel responsible for the design, integration and installation of the $70 million dollar comprehensive security countermeasures in the Integrated Security and Identification System (ISIS) program for the Headquarters Department of Defense, Pentagon. Mr. Davis has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and a Masters Degree from Ball State University. He is member of the Air Force Security Forces Association (AFSFA) and ASIS International. He holds a current DoD Clearance.

Mr. Robert Rose 

Bob is a Quality Improvement and Lean Subject Matter Expert and has been involved in the fields of quality and productivity improvement for more than 35 years. As well as being a Master Six Sigma Black Belt Bob holds BS and MS degrees in Industrial Engineering, and is both a Registered Professional and Certified Quality Engineer. Bob has extensive experience in implementing quality and process improvement methodologies throughout a wide range of industries. As an adjunct faculty member of the University of New Haven Engineering Graduate School Bob has taught courses in Quality and Productivity Improvement, Experimental Design and Advanced Topics in Statistics.

Mr. James (Jim) Mecsics

Jim is a nationally recognized security, law enforcement and business continuity expert. His experience covers over 37 years of both operational and staff experience in both the government and civilian business sectors. He recently retired as president from Covenant Homeland Security Solutions, a $56 million dollar company specializing in high end security officer and canine contracts with the federal government. During his tenure, Covenant increased its’ profitability by 61 % while increasing contract value by 56%. Prior to that, Jim was a Senior Security Analyst for Science Applications International Corporation where he served as the principal consultant to the Assistant Under-Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Matters on nuclear weapon security and risk management. Upon his retirement from the United State Air Force (USAF) in 2002, he became the Chief, Security Officer and Vice President, Global Security for Equifax. In that position he was responsible for global oversight (over 6 countries in Europe and South America) for security operations including employee safety, workforce protection, information assurance, executive protection, physical, data, operational security and business continuity/resilience. He was a key advisor to the Federal Trade Commission on identity theft. Jim retired from the USAF in the rank of Colonel serving as the Director of Security for the Air Force Space Command, United States Space Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command. In that position he oversaw security and law enforcement policy and operations for space operations (to include lift and NASA shuttle support) and the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile fleet and their associated nuclear assets. He was the driving force that changed the USAF protective philosophy from compliance to a risk management approach. His expertise was recognized at all level of government to include briefing our National Command Authority at the White House. Jim’s extensive military career covers a diverse career to include commanding units at all levels from squadron to wing level. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree from Monmouth University as well as a Master of Science from Nova Southeastern University. Jim has attended the FBI National Academy (145th Session), the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Program, the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management for Police as well as Harvard University’s Leadership for the 21st Century Program. He is Certified in Homeland Security Level V (highest level) as well as being a Certified Forensic Consultant. Jim is a past Council Chairman and Council Member Emeritus with the American Society for Industrial Security, a Life Member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Police Executive Research Forum.

 

Mr. Ron Gorsline 

Mr. Gorsline is the founder of Secure Ocean Service, LLC and has focused specifically on inter-modal transportation security issues. Mr. Gorsline is a twenty year veteran of the US Navy SEAL Teams with a wide array of training and operational experience in Maritime Security Operations. He has worked as close personal protection for high level VIPs conducting surveillance and counter surveillance training and operations for various US Government Agencies. He has testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Government Reform, Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations on the topic of International Maritime Security as it relates to Cruise Ship Crimes as an expert witness for the government. Additionally, he has carried out ship security vulnerability assessments in accordance with ISPS and MTSA regulations writing ship security plans for several passenger cruise lines and container shipping companies. Mr. Gorsline has provided training to SWAT Teams in the cities of Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Hampton, Portsmouth and Newport News Police departments in Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) operations. He has also assisted in the training of Maryland’s Calvert County Sheriff’s SWAT team in support of the Cove Point LNG Platform. As a Surveillance Detection Instructor he worked as part of the Diplomatic Security Program while a contractor for International Training Inc. He provided training to host nation nationals in the art of finding and identifying persons conducting surveillance in preparation to carryout acts of aggression against US Diplomatic Corps personnel and US facilities worldwide. He applied his talent mainly in South America, Eastern Europe, Africa, Middle East and Caribbean. He is a graduate of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Force Protection and Anti-Terrorism program. He has conducted surveys on ports, port facilities and vessels in the commercial arena. Mr. Gorsline studied and certified at the Maritime Institute of Technology & Graduate Studies (MITAGS), as a Company, Port and Ship Security Officer. Additionally, Mr. Gorsline is a Commonwealth of Virginia Registered Private Investigator. Mr. Gorsline has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Management from Saint Leo University. He has also completed studies in various Certificate Programs for International Ports, and Harbors Management in Admiralty Law (Old Dominion University); International Aviation Safety and Security Executive Managers (George Washington University) and holds a Certificate in Counter-Terrorism and the Asset Threat Spectrum from World Institute for Security Enhancement.