Our Board
A key to our success is having an incredibly strong board with deep domain expertise and passion for helping to develop the next generation of professionals.
Christopher Johnstone
Director
Christopher B. Johnstone is senior adviser and Japan Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Prior to joining CSIS, Mr. Johnstone served in government for 25 years in a variety of senior positions with a focus on U.S. policy toward Japan and the Indo-Pacific.
Johnny Sawyer
Director
Johnny Sawyer is founder and chief executive officer of The Sawyer Group, a consulting firm focused on partnering with organizations to deliver tailor-made practical defense, intelligence and strategic management solutions. Following a distinguished 22-year military career as a U.S. Army officer, he joined the Defense Intelligence Agency in 2001 and served in multiple positions of increased responsibility during his 20-year tenure there.
Michael Lyden
Director
Mike Lyden, TAG’s Vice President of Threat Intelligence, oversees the TAG Threat Exchange. Mike spent 17 years as a member of the U.S. Intelligence Community, where he most recently served as the Senior Intelligence Officer and Associate Director for Intelligence Management for the Department of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI), a federal law enforcement organization.
Anne Steen
Director
Anne specializes in advising executives and emerging leaders who understand that thriving in a global economy and tech-oriented culture means evolving ahead of change. An established leader in the nonprofit sector, Anne developed her deep expertise by leading large and small teams through challenging situations in their respective organizations.
Our Staff
Expertise. Insight. Experience.
Michael Cassidy
Founder & Executive Director
Michael enjoys two-decades of experience working across the Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community in various analytical, operational, program management and leadership coaching roles.
Erin (Creasy) Ferree
Chief Engagement Officer
Since 2004, Erin has coached and consulted with passionate public servants, emerging leaders, career pivoters and discerning hiring managers, with a special emphasis on the Washington D.C. area & US Government and international affairs talent markets.
Our Coaches & Trainers
Krystin Borgognone
Foreign Affairs
During her eleven-plus years at the Department of State, Krystin has worked on high-profile, complex and sensitive U.S. programs including the Merida Initiative with Mexico; U.S. re-engagement with Burma; Afghanistan and Pakistan; Plan Colombia, and the Central American Regional Security Initiative.
Melissa McDonough
Private Sector Analysis
Melissa began her career with multiple defense contractors supporting the Intelligence Community. She then joined the growing security and intelligence community in Los Angeles. Melissa has held positions at Walt Disney and SpaceX, Universal Music Group, and Airbnb.
Kit Thomson
Public Sector Analysis
After 9/11, Kit followed a call to serve & make an impact on national security. She was previously a senior analyst with DIA’s Asia-Pacific Regional Center, the Joint Staff’s Afghanistan-Pakistan Task Force during OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM & served as the Deputy Defense Intelligence Officer for Cyber.
