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Meet the Team

DEFENSEWERX Headquarters Team

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Meet the Board of Directors

Board of Directors

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Teresa Harrington

Chief Operations Officer

Teresa Harrington serves as Chief Operations Officer for DEFENSEWERX, Inc. In this role, she ensures seamless implementation and exceptional team member and government partner service across key operations, projects, and initiatives for DEFENSEWERX, its innovation hubs, and its ecosystem.

Dr. Harrington brings deep expertise in strategic and business planning, operations, research, marketing, corporate strategy, STEM policy, and economic and workforce development. Prior to joining DEFENSEWERX in 2021, she led industry relations and key revenue and operations initiatives for an award-winning Inc. 1000 Hall of Fame litigation services firm and served as Chief Executive Officer for a leading Southeastern U.S. communications and economic development consultancy. Dr. Harrington has served as a trusted advisor and in leadership roles in several notable workforce and economic development, STEM, and public policy initiatives at state, regional, and federal levels. She has presented and moderated at national industry conferences and been published in national and industry media including the National Law Review, Corporate Counsel, National Law Journal, Context Florida, and Florida Trend and has served as an award-winning podcast host and producer for national audiences in areas including commercial litigation, corporate risk, science, and tech. Dr. Harrington was awarded the Go-To Thought Leadership Award for multiple consecutive years by National Law Review for her thought leadership contributions on topics ranging from commercial risk and litigation to intellectual property and innovation.

Dr. Harrington earned a Doctor of Business Administration degree through Trevecca Nazarene University and completed her dissertation on the topic of Exploring the Factors that Inhibit and Promote Small Business Owner Engagement with Federal Innovation. She earned an MBA through the prestigious Gies College of Business at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a bachelor’s degree in social sciences through Thomas Edison State University. She holds several specializations, certifications, and industry memberships and is a frequent speaker and contributor at industry conferences, panels, and thought leadership forums.

Michael B. Gray

Senior Financial Consultant for Cerberus Operations and Advisory Co. (COAC).

Mr. Michael B. Gray is a Senior Financial Consultant with Cerberus Operations and Advisory Company, a New York based private equity company, which works closely with management teams at portfolio companies, providing tailored insights into strategies, markets, and opportunities to help build stronger, more competitive businesses. Collaborating with investment teams throughout every phase of the investment lifecycle—from deal sourcing, due diligence, and negotiating definitive agreements to acquisition, integration, asset management, and exit.

Prior to joining Cerberus as a consultant, Mr. Gray was the Senior Director, Financial Systems and Transformation at ICF and the Senior Business Advisor/CFO for the Commander Air Education and Training Command (AETC) and the Commander and President, Air University (AU), USAF. Mr. Gray advised the AETC/AU Commander/Commander and President regarding organizational change, financial resource management, and technological innovation to enhance professional military education/training development. He provides other advice at the discretion of the AETC Commander.

Mr. Gray is an accomplished global leader with a 25+ track record in maximizing operational efficiencies and bottom-line growth across Fortune 500 companies. He is a recognized turnaround agent with success in leading service delivery for both government and commercial projects and known for his ability to mentor and develop high performing organization and next generational leaders.

Recruited to return to Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) in 2001 as Deputy Controller for the Applied Technology Group, he led business transformation to mature the business side of the $50M systems engineering and services business unit, delivering improvements across all areas of accounts receivables, accounting, budget control, facilities, contract, and compliance.

Immediately following this success, he was promoted to Vice President of Finance/ Business Unit Controller in 2004 for the Systems and Technology Solutions business unit, a $1B revenue organization within SAIC. In this role, he led the business unit through an aggressive M&A period, successfully directing the integration of people, contracts, and systems to achieve $6M+ in cost savings while increasing global labor utilization efficiency. During this time, he was instrumental in developing and mentoring future leadership talent for the company; many of whom were chosen for key positions in the newly formed SAIC company in 2013.

In 2012, he was promoted to Senior Vice President, Operations Finance, and hand-selected by the Chief Financial Officer to lead the strategic integration of resources and operations following SAIC’s decision to split in 2013. Here, he played an integral role in the company’s enterprise business transformation, positioning SAIC to achieve ~$20M in indirect cost savings.

Before returning to SAIC, Michael was the Owner/Agent for Gray Insurance and Financial Services, a Nationwide Insurance and Investment services provider, where he successfully reorganized a fragmented four-county region overseeing sales and resource management of a multi-line agency with ~3,000 policies in force. Under his leadership, the region consistently ranked in the Top 5 in a district of 30 agents, and in top 10% in the State of Tennessee in all lines of insurance and financial sales.

Tim Krueger

CO-FOUNDER AND PARTNER AT KFBMA

With over four decades of experience in the financial services industry, Tim Krueger is a recognized leader in wealth management. As Co-Founder and Partner at KFBMA, Tim provides strategic oversight for the firm’s vision, growth, and operational excellence. He guides key initiatives, mentors advisors, and ensures that KFBMA remains at the forefront of industry’s best practices, delivering a client experience defined by trust, innovation, and results.

Drawing on decades of experience in private wealth management, Tim combines strategic insight with deep expertise in investment planning, risk mitigation, and tax-efficient strategies. His commitment to building enduring relationships ensures that every recommendation is tailored to deliver meaningful, long-term results aligned with each client’s goals and family priorities

Tim is known for creating comprehensive, highly personalized wealth management strategies that reflect the goals, values, and family priorities of his clients. His approach combines strategic insight with a commitment to building lasting relationships, ensuring advice that drives meaningful, long-term results that align with each client’s goals and family priorities.

In 2025, Tim partnered with Cory Fosdyck, Jerry Brown, and Collin McCall to establish Krueger, Fosdyck, Brown, McCall & Associates (KFBMA)—an evolution of the highly regarded Krueger, Fosdyck & Associates team that operated under Merrill Lynch Wealth Management from 2006 to 2025.

Beyond his professional achievements, Tim is a passionate community advocate. He has emceed numerous charitable events in the Destin area and served as Chair of the American Cancer Society’s Cattle Barons’ Ball (2008–2009) and Chairman of the Safety & Public Works Committee for the City of Destin. Today, Tim continues to make an impact as a Trustee of the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation, charter sponsor of Sinfonia Gulf Coast, and supporter of the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation and Special Operators Transition Foundation. Tim also serves on the board of directors of DEFENSEWERX, the nation’s largest 501(c)(3) organization of its kind, dedicated to enabling agile innovation for government partners through a network of innovation hubs across the country.

Recognition & Honors:

Named to Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors list (2022–2025)
Named to Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams list (2023–2025)

Dr. John S. Wilcox

Vice President for Advanced Programs & Technology for Northrop Grumman.

Dr. John S. Wilcox is currently the Vice President for Advanced Programs & Technology for Northrop Grumman. He is a retired member of the Senior Executive Service. His last assignment, before retiring after 36 years of combined military and federal service, was as Director of Munitions at the Air Force Research Laboratory, located at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. In this capacity, he assisted the Commander of AFRL in strategic science and technology (S&T) investment planning across the technology directorates. He also led the combat air forces’ future weapons technology planning and execution at the Munitions Directorate, providing programmatic and technical guidance to a staff of more than 500 scientists and engineers developing air-launched conventional munitions technology. The activities of the Munitions Directorate include research on missile seekers, precision guidance, navigation and control, image processing, munitions integration, warheads, fuzing, explosives, and technology assessment methodology. Before this assignment, Dr. Wilcox served as the Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Precision Engagement from 2002 to 2009.

Before his career in civilian service, Dr. Wilcox was a Colonel in the United States Air Force and retired after 24 years of active duty, before beginning his civilian career. He began his operational flying career in the F-111 and went on to fly the Royal Air Force and German Tornado and F-4, and F-15E fighter aircraft. He is a graduate and instructor at the United States Air Force Fighter Weapons School at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. He commanded the 28th Test Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base and was the Chief of Advanced Air Supremacy while assigned to the Directorate of Requirements at Headquarters, Air Combat Command. While assigned to the Pentagon, he served as the Senior Military Assistant for Airpower in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics. His most recent assignment at the Pentagon was as the Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Precision Engagement and Director of the Joint Capability Technology Demonstration Program. During Operation DESERT STORM, Dr. Wilcox served on the Targeting Team for the strategic air campaign and was the Chief, Time Sensitive Targeting, for Operation ENDURING FREEDOM while assigned to Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. He also served as the Director for Night Fist operations in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM and the Global War on Terrorism. Dr. Wilcox was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in 2002 and was awarded the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Executive by the President of the United States in 2015, prior to his retirement from the DoD.

Dr. David R. Shaw

Provost and Executive Vice President Mississippi State University

As Chief Academic Officer for Mississippi State University, David Shaw oversees development and implementation of the university’s strategic vision, the integrity of the academic mission, and academic operations of Mississippi’s leading research university and land-grant institution. He provides direct oversight for nine academic colleges and three campuses, including the engineering partnership with Gulf Coast Community College, as well as many academic and non-academic support units. A longtime faculty member and former vice president for research and economic development at MSU, he works with the President’s Cabinet to oversee all aspects of the mission of MSU. He holds a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Cameron University in Oklahoma and a master’s and doctorate from Oklahoma State University.

Dr. Shaw joined the Mississippi State faculty as an assistant professor in 1985, with a joint teaching and research appointment. He taught undergraduate and graduate courses, and earned praise for his classroom teaching, graduate advising, publishing and ability to secure grant funding. Dr. Shaw has earned over 20 awards for his teaching, research and service. He also played an active role in the Robert Holland Faculty Senate, and in 1999, he was recognized as a William L. Giles Distinguished Professor, the university’s highest honorary distinction. He has advised and mentored numerous undergraduate and graduate students over his career. More than 20 of his Ph.D. students have become university faculty or government research scientists – helping to train a new generation. Others have served in leadership positions in industry or started their own businesses. He considers his students’ success among his most significant – and rewarding – contributions.

During his tenure as the university’s chief research officer, Mississippi State attained Carnegie Foundation R1-Very High Research Activity Doctoral University status and consistently ranked among the National Science Foundation’s top 100 research institutions. The university’s research expenditures totaled over $250 million in FY 2019, accounting for more than half of the total in research and development expenditures reported by all Mississippi institutions. Dr. Shaw oversaw a substantial expansion of the university’s international programs, with numerous partnerships in food security, aquaculture, crop production, outreach, and joint academic programs. He also worked closely with local, state, and regional economic development officials to recruit new companies to the state. Dr. Shaw previously served as the founding director of the Northern Gulf Institute, a NOAA Cooperative Institute. He also was founding director of the Geosystems Research Institute at MSU, a research and outreach institute focused on spatial technology visualization of complex datasets and computational modeling in agriculture, forestry, water resources, climate, weather and oceanography.

Dr. Shaw is a fellow of the Weed Science Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In 2017, the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program selected him for its prestigious U.S.-France International Education Administrators Program. Dr. Shaw served on the board, and chaired the budget committee, for the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative, overseeing $500M in funding provided by BP Corp in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. He recently completed a six-year appointment to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Pesticide Program Dialog Committee, one of the leading advisory boards for EPA. He also recently completed his second term as General Secretary for the American Geophysical Union, serving as the budget chair for this 60,000 member organization.

Dr. Shaw and his wife Sherri are parents of two children and four grandchildren.

The DWX Family

DEFENSEWERX Headquarters Team

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Brian Liesveld

Chief Executive Officer

Teresa Harrington

Chief Operations Officer

Bret Adams

Chief financial Officer

Tami Schultz

corporate senior manager of logistics

Joanna Gomez

Corporate Controller

Anna Beach

Corporate Operations Deputy

Kassia Finkler

Corporate Accounts Payable manager

Monika Barnes

Corporate HR Manager

Kevin Starr

corporate it manager

Andrea West

corporate hr generalist

Stephanie Bryan

corporate HR COORDINATOR

Nicholas Zeller

corporate technical support specialist

Mia Torres

Corporate Analyst – Finance & Accounting

Sharon Berry

Corporate Accounts Payable Specialist

Talle Laule

Corporate Accounts Payable Specialist

Terry Hunt

Corporate DevOps Web Engineer

Board of Directors

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Brian Liesveld

Chief Executive Officer, DEFENSEWERX

Bernard Johnson

Regional manager Corporate External Affairs, Florida power and light

Michael B. Gray

Senior Financial Consultant for Cerberus Operations and Advisory Co. (COAC)

Tere'sa Hebert

Senior Territory Manager, Exact Sciences; councilwoman, city of destin

Tim Krueger

Co-Founder and Partner at KFBMA

Garry Haase

SENIOR MANAGER FOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT WITH GENERAL DYNAMICS ORDNANCE AND TACTICAL SYSTE

Spencer Baker

DIRECTOR (retired), ACQUISITION AGILITY, US SPECIAL OPERATIONS ACQUISITION, TECHNOLOGY AND LOGISTICS CENTER

Dr. John S. Wilcox

VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADVANCED PROGRAMS & TECHNOLOGY FOR ORBITAL ATK

Dr. David R. Shaw

Provost and Executive Vice President Mississippi State University

Brian Liesveld

Chief Executive Officer, DEFENSEWERX, Niceville, Fl

Teresa Harrington

Chief Operations Officer

Bret Adams

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Tami Schultz

corporate senior manager of logistics

Joanna Gomez

Controller

Anna Beach

corporate operations deputy

Kassia Finkler

Corporate Accounts Payable msanager

Monika Barnes

HR Manager

Kevin Starr

corporate it manager

Andrea West

corporate hr generalist

Stephanie Bryan

Corporate HR COORDINATOR

Nicholas Zeller

Corporate Technical Support Specialist

Mia Torres