Our People
JHNA takes pride in the talent, expertise, and professionalism of its people. The members of our team each have proven track records of delivering results for our clients. We believe that our personnel are the best in the business and can assist our clients in exceeding their program goals.
Below is a sample of some of our key personnel.
John Northrop, President
John is the President and Founder of JHNA, Inc. He provides the overall strategic guidance for JHNA. He has provided management oversight and led capability and requirements analysis on several DoD Advanced Technology Development (ATD) efforts including Future Force Warrior, systems and sub-systems of the Army FCS program, and a number of multi-phased ground and air unmanned system ATDs. He is a proven people and organizational goal-oriented leader with a well documented ability to manage, motivate and inspire groups ranging from a large, culturally diverse workforces to smaller, technical professional staffs. John’s expertise extends to:
•Developing Force structure (i.e., Army) requirements and organizational design;
•Developing and assessing advanced Army and Joint War fighting concepts;
•Determining and developing requirements for operational systems;
•Writing technical documents including ICD (MNS), CDDs (ORDs) and CRDs;
•IPT facilitation of advanced technology concepts development; and
•Wargaming and Black Hat planning, facilitation and post event analysis.
His undergraduate degree is from the United States Military Academy at West Point and he has a master’s degree in Organic Chemistry from Georgia Tech.
Ian Northrop
Chief Financial Officer
Ian Northrop is the Chief Financial Officer of JHNA, Inc. Prior to joining JHNA, Ian had various roles in both the public and private sectors, domestically and internationally (working in Australia for over four years). His industry experience includes defense, wealth management, financial services, media, and transportation.
Ian’s work in the private sector has primarily entailed management and strategy consulting to small and large companies as well as management of small businesses. His consulting work includes helping both businesses develop and implement business plans and strategies. He has significant experience in business strategy and planning, post-merger integration, operating model design, transformation, and implementation. His major efforts include assisting a struggling large wealth management firm develop an entirely new business model, implementing the business strategy, and then managing the new business. He has helped a financial services firm integrate a large wealth management business as part of a merger. He has helped smaller firms, ranging from financial planning practices to consumer goods companies, utilize the concept of leverage to become more efficient and productive as well as understand ways to improve their day to day operations.
Prior to his work as a consultant, Ian served as a Military Intelligence Officer in the US Army. Ian is a graduate of the Harvard Business School and the US Military Academy at West Point.
Gregg Carswell
Director of Business Development
Gregg currently serves as JHNA’s Director for Business Development. As such, he leads the development and growth of new business relationships and develops and maintains key relationships with existing clients and partners. He previously provided Systems Engineering expertise to the Director, Systems Engineering in the Office of the Secretary of Defense in the acquisition of unmanned aircraft systems. Prior to joining JHNA, Gregg was chief engineer for several aerospace companies providing aircraft prototyping and subsystem development services for the defense and scientific industry. During his career in the U.S. Air Force, he served in positions in flight test, program management and intelligence. Gregg received a BS in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Tennessee, an MS in Mechanical Engineering from California State University, and an MS in Technical Management from Johns Hopkins University. He is a graduate of the French Test Pilot School (EPNER).
Dave Bearden
Advanced Concept Development and Requirements Analysis
Dave has been with JHNA for over six years and works in several of JHNA’s business areas including concepts development, requirements analysis, and test design, support and execution. Some of the major efforts he has worked on include Future Force Warrior (Operational Test and Evaluation), concept analysis and studies for Metal Storm, and capability and requirements analysis for SOURCE and IMOPAT ATO USG TARDEC, requirement analysis for FVLI for USG AMRDEC, and capability analysis for UACO, AATD. He gained firsthand knowledge of military operations as a career infantry officer in the U.S. Army. He spent the last half of his military career as a member of the Army acquisition corps where he worked in all facets of the military acquisition process. He managed Soldier equipment programs, wrote and oversaw capability requirements as a combat developer, and was the user representative for several new equipment programs. Dave is a graduate of the United States Military Academy and the Naval Post Graduate School.
William Huff
Advanced Concept Development and Requirements Analysis
Bill is a JHNA Senior Associate and leads operational concepts development. He has developed operational concepts, vignettes, and operational architectures for a variety of industry and government customers including: Future Force Warrior Advanced Technology Demonstration, FCS Autonomous Navigation System, Unmanned Autonomous Collaborative Operations Army Technology Objective (ATO), GoldenEye 50 and Excalibur Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, the Metal Storm Active Protection and Crowd Control Systems, Intelligent Ground Systems, Tank Automotive Research Development Engineering Command in the area of operational concepts and requirements analysis including deriving and synthesizing desired military capabilities and operational requirements for two ATO, and Aviation Missile RDEC dealing with the Future Vertical Lift Initiative.
Bill served in a variety of command and staff positions during a 30-year Army career, retiring as a Colonel. Operational tours were with the 3rd Armored and 82d Airborne Divisions, and the 197th and 193rd Separate Infantry Brigades, where he commanded the 5th Battalion 87th Infantry, Task Force Wildcats, during the invasion of Panama, Operation Just Cause. Staff Tours included teaching ROTC and serving as a Operations Research Systems Analyst at the Infantry Center, USSOUTHCOM, and on the Secretary of the Army’s Staff, where as the Chief of Analysis, ASA(ALT). His last assignment was in Riyadh as the Deputy Program Manager Saudi Arabian National Guard Modernization directing the modernization of the national headquarters staff. His military schooling includes Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Command and General Staff and Air War Colleges. His undergraduate degree is from VA Tech and his graduate degree is from Clemson University.
Brendan O’Donnell
Advanced Concept Development and Requirements Analysis
Brendan served on active duty in the United States Marine Corps as an AH-1W “SuperCobra” attack helicopter pilot and has extensive experience in operations, maintenance, training, program management, and military operations. After leaving active duty, Brendan worked for the technology and management consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH). There he supported the United States Coast Guard’s Office of Aviation Acquisitions and was recognized with a BAH Team Appreciation Award and a Letter of Appreciation from the USCG. He has broad experience helping acquisition program managers develop requirements, draft acquisition documents, and interface with prime contractors. He also has experience developing Life Cycle Cost Estimates used to support investment decisions.
Brendan has a B.A. in International Studies from American University in Washington, D.C. and an MBA from the University of Virginia’s Darden Graduate School of Business. He is DAWIA Level III – equivalent certified in Life Cycle Logistics and Level II – equivalent certified in Program Management.
Jason Fritz
Advanced Concept Development and Requirements Analysis
Jason served on active duty in the U.S. Army as a cavalry officer for over 6 years, including three tours of combat duty in Iraq. He served as a tank and scout platoon leader, troop executive officer, squadron adjutant and brigade lead planner. After leaving the Army and before joining JHNA, Jason worked for both small and large consulting firms, providing multiple services for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Department of State, Department of Justice, Department of the Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and Department of the Army. These services included technical and planning support for information technology programs, policy and research support, expertise on counterinsurgency and stability operations, and war gaming and experimentation. Jason supports JHNA’s Advanced Concept Development and Requirements Analysis team. He focusses primarily on command and communications relationships, ground-combat element integration, and expertise on current and future combat environments, from strategic, tactical, and technological perspectives. Jason graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics.
Jim Waldeck
Systems Engineering Support
Jim is a Senior Associate and leads the JHNA team in support of OSD, Director of Systems Engineering (SE). Jim is also consulting in support of Director, Systems Engineering to provide OSD SE oversight of Major Defense Acquisition Programs. He provides technical expertise and advice in support of program support reviews, technical documentation development and approval, and major program acquisition decisions. Jim has experience with JHNA developing operational concepts, requirements, and architectures in support of the Future Force Warrior and Unmanned Autonomous Collaborative Operations ATOs. Jim also has program management office experience from the Joint Biological Point Detection System, whose activities were highly accelerated after the 9/11/01 attacks. Jim served his Army career in the Field Artillery with operational assignments with the 3d Armored Division, the 82d Airborne Division, and the Southern European Task Force. Jim also served in TSM-RAMS, OPM-SANG, and ATEC/AEC. Jim’s undergraduate degree is from the United States Military Academy at West Point, and his graduate degree is from Central Michigan University.
Jack Clifford
Systems Engineering Support
Jack has been with JHNA since 2005. He has experience in program management, requirements, architecture and training. He is currently consulting for a Department of Defense customer providing systems engineering support oversight for major defense acquisition programs, including submarine, submersible and surface programs. Prior to joining JHNA, Jack completed a career in submarines. This was followed by a stint as a stockbroker, then Director of Operations and Chief Operating Officer for environmental companies. Jack is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, and has completed post-graduate work in systems management. He is a certified Nuclear Propulsion Engineering Officer, Submarine Operations Officer, and commanded a Program Management Office for the Trident Submarine program.
Brad Snowden
Systems Engineering Support
Brad currently provides Systems Engineering expertise and supports oversight of Major Defense Acquisition Programs in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Systems Engineering (ODASD(SE)). His specific area of focus is the acquisition of unmanned aircraft systems. Prior to joining JHNA, Brad served for 23 years in the U.S. Army as an operational aviation officer and experimental test pilot. He has in-depth experience in systems engineering, technical project management, rapid prototyping, developmental test and evaluation, aviation operations, and risk management. Brad has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point and an MS in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School.
John E. Quackenbush
Systems Engineering Support
After completing a distinguished aviation career in the U.S Army, John has consulted as a systems engineer for both industry and the government for the past six years. John has in-depth experience in operations, concepts, requirements, systems engineering, anti-terrorism, and interagency coordination. He has led a team of engineers converting operational concepts and system level use cases into functional requirements and system performance specifications for a major commercial entity. He has also worked for government customers providing systems engineering and program analysis support. John is currently consulting for a Department of Defense customer providing systems engineering oversight of major defense acquisition programs. John has an engineering degree from the United States Military Academy.
Larry Schluderberg
Systems Engineering Support
Larry is currently employed by JHNA providing systems engineering support to OUSD AT&L developing Integration Risk Assessment Criteria and tools to be used by Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAPS) for self evaluation of program integration risk and by OUSD AT&L Systems Engineering to provide Program Support Reviews of DoD MDAPS. He retired from Raytheon in 2007 after 28 years as a Systems Engineer for Hughes Aircraft, Martin Marietta, and Raytheon where he conceptualized, designed , built, tested and delivered Naval C2 and Combat Systems, Intelligence gathering and processing systems, and Joint C2 and Situational Awareness systems. He has provided system engineering services to Alliant Techsystems, and Trident Systems Inc. Larry retired, as a Captain Select, from the U.S. Naval Intelligence Reserve in 1994 having served in intelligence billets for CINPACFLT, JICPAC, and USCINCPAC. Larry served as Sonar Officer, DCA, and Torpedo Fire Control Division Officer on fast attack submarines and as Strategic Weapons Officer on Fleet Ballistic Missile submarines. He is a certified Nuclear Propulsion Engineering Officer and a certified Poseidon C3 Strategic Weapons Officer. He has a BS in Weapons Systems Engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy and a MS in Electrical Engineering from California State University, Fullerton.
Jim Ward
Developmental Test and Evaluation
Jim is an action officer supporting the OSD, Director of Developmental Test and Evaluation. In this capacity he provides critical technical expertise and advice in support of acquisition decisions through program reviews such as assessments of operational test readiness, and directed technical reviews. Jim has extensive experience with the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security, in both the private and public sectors, working in a range of roles to include: Concepts Development and Requirements Analysis: Systems Engineering Integration; Program Management; Modeling Simulations and Analysis; Developmental Test and Evaluation; and Force Development. Jim served as an Air Defense Artillery officer in the US Army retiring as a Colonel in 2001. Jim is a graduate of the US Military Academy, the US Army War College, and the Defense Systems Management College.
Bo Scott
Technology Integration and Training
Bo retired from the Army as a Sergeant First Class with over 22 years of service. He served in a several positions within the Army Recruiting Command. He learned to leverage his familiarity with video gaming communities and video game architecture to enhance his unit’s productivity in recruiting, and was tapped by the America’s Army game project early in the development of the 2nd generation of the America’s Army Future Soldier Trainer (FST) to provide input for the expansion of the pilot program. When he retired on 2006, Bo started his consulting career by crafting the user requirements piece of the redesign of the FST, then developing the fielding plan, New Equipment Training program, and eventual nationwide implementation of the FST and other America’s Army game recruiting assets. Since its inception, the gaming integration team has grown to include expert recruiters representing all five recruiting brigades. His background includes 13 years of extensive experience in USAREC where he held a variety of positions to include Station Commander, Recruiter Trainer, Guidance Counselor. Bo Currently serves as the Program manager for the FST operational and technical support team for USAREC.
Jeffrey S. Best
Technology Integration and Training
Jeff retired as a First Sergeant from the United States Army in 2008 after 23 years of service and soon after began working for JHNA as a Technology Integrator and Trainer. His background includes 13 years of extensive experience in USAREC where he held a variety of positions to include Station Commander, Company First Sergeant, Battalion Master Trainer, Battalion Operations OIC and NCOIC. His last assignment was the S3 Operations Officer for the Dallas Recruiting Battalion. Jeff currently provides technical and operational support for the Americas Army and Future Soldier Trainer assets by integrating these assets into recruiting exhibits to leverage technology and meet recruiting missions. Jeff is currently attending the of the University of Management and Technology, completing his B.B.A. He also completed numerous military leadership and technical courses during his tenure in the Army.
Rob Lee
Technology Integration and Training
Rob is currently the Deputy for JHNA’s team that advises USAREC on the Recruiting and Integration of the Americas Army Game assets into recruiting marketing initiatives and recruiting operations. Rob retired from the US Army in 2005 after 21 distinguished years of service where he primarily focused on recruiting and training and leading recruiters. His assignments included Field Recruiter, Station Commander, Battalion Master Trainer, and Brigade Senior Trainer and Schools NCO where he gained several awards as a superior recruiter and trainer. Rob is a graduate of the US Army Air Assault Course, Basic Recruiting Course, Station Commander Course, and the Advanced Non-Commissioned Officer Course. He lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with his wife Deb and their 4 children, Anthony, Adam, Andrea. Their 4th child, Aften, is currently residing in Corpus Christi. On his off time Rob enjoys spending time with his four grandchildren.
Kevin Byington
Technology Integration and Training
Kevin retired from the Army as a Sergeant First Class with over 20 years of service. He then began working with JHNA as a Technology Integrator and Trainer. His background includes over 12 years of experience working with the United States Army Recruiting Command. Positions include: Recruiter, Station Commander, Recruiting School’s Instructor/Writer/Developer, Evaluator, and Division Chief of the Recruiting Evaluations Department. Kevin currently provides technical and operational support for the Americas Army and Future Soldier Trainer assets. He assists by integrating these assets into recruiting exhibits which leverage technology and meets the recruiting mission. Kevin attends Mountain State University where he is completing a Bachelor of Science Degree in Organizational Leadership. He also completed numerous military leadership and technical courses during his Army career.