The AOG Team

The Asymmetric Operations Group (AOG) is a network of networks consisting of retired members of the special operations, law enforcement, and intelligence communities integrated with medical, psychological, and social scientists to create a force for good in the world.  We leverage our exceptional backgrounds and experience to solve complex problems with a truly integrated approach that crosses global and tribal barriers. By linking our “sheep dogs” with researchers and academics, we created a Tribe who know, trust, and collaborate with one another in unprecedented ways. The re-integration of our Tribe and its vast, mature, and experienced viewpoint is vital to real progress and a stable future for our Nation and its people.

  • Michael W. Kichman

    Founder & CEO

    Michael W. Kichman is a Counter Terrorism, Special Technology and Special Operations Independent Consultant with clients across Interagency and Industry.

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    His primary focus is the development of a non-profit, the Asymmetric Operations Group (AOG), that looks at innovative technological and policy solutions to challenges in the irregular, asymmetric and unconventional warfare arenas. He was a past Chair of the National Defense Industrial Association’s (NDIA) Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict (SOLIC) Board where he worked closely with United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Leadership and Industry to support the Special Operations Community. Prior to branching out on his own Mr. Kichman was a Director and Vice President at CACI focused on Special Law Enforcement and Special Operations support for over 12 years.

    While a CACI VP he also functioned as the Coast Guard's Senior Counter Terrorism Advisor in the United States Coast Guard Headquarters directly supporting Coast Guard Flag Leadership as they scoped their Post 9/11 force structure. In this capacity, he was at the forefront of the development of the United States Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security’s Counter Terrorism capabilities in the post 9/11 world. Mr. Kichman was the principal architect of the Coast Guard Maritime Security Response Team (MSRT) and the senior planner / advisor in the development of the Advanced Interdiction core competency within the current Coast Guard Force Structure; as well as a founding member of the USCG / Interagency Maritime Domain Awareness Program.

    A retired Army Special Forces Officer, Mr. Kichman, was commissioned into the Infantry in 1982 after graduation from Gettysburg College. From 1983 to 1986 he served as a Company Grade Officer at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii until qualifying for US Army Special Forces (Green Berets) in 1986. Over the course of his subsequent career in Special Operations he served in numerous Command and Staff positions across Joint and Special Operations units in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Southeast Asia. In addition to tours in various Army Special Forces units he served in an exchange tour with the US Navy SEALs; was the J2 and Deputy J3 / Special Programs / Special Technical Operations, Special Operations Command Korea; and a Senior Staff Officer at the Joint Interagency Task Force West (JIATF-West). While at JIATF-West he also deployed forward to Thailand as Commander, JTF 5 Forward supervising the training, equipping, and deployment of Thai Border Patrol Task Force 399 and the Chang Mai Intelligence Fusion Center executing interdiction operations on the Thai Burmese border.

    After 9/11 Mr. Kichman was reassigned to the Pentagon to serve on the Joint and Army Staff until 2003 when he retired from active military service. After retirement, he joined the Coast Guard as a consultant in the Maritime Domain Awareness Program developing that program’s initial Staff concept and structure. Upon completion of this task, he began work on the Coast Guard Counter Terrorism and Special Missions Program. Today he continues to work on the integration of Joint Counter Terrorism, Special Law Enforcement Operations and Special Missions capabilities across the interagency as well as focusing on bringing emerging technologies and capabilities to his government clients. He is a recognized expert in asymmetric and irregular warfare as well as the integration of law enforcement and defense or special operations into a comprehensive interagency solution.

  • Richard Seger

    Director, Law Enforcement Support

    Richard W. Seger is a retired Senior Special Agent of the U.S. Secret Service who is currently a Counter Terrorism, Counter Network, Executive Protection, Protective Intelligence, and Physical Training Consultant.

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    He has 37 years of uniquely mixed law enforcement and military experience, which he wants to continue to apply for the greater good of society. His specific interest lies in: 1) Innovative technological and policy solutions to countering threats posed by actors in the “Grey Area”, where terrorist, criminal, and insurgent activities overlap and mutually support one another, 2) The application of protective intelligence investigative and assessment principles to prevent acts of mass violence, and 3) Enhancing the capabilities and resilience of law enforcement personnel.

    Mr. Seger’s career began with service as a company grade officer in the U.S. Marine Corps Infantry. He deployed twice overseas and worked in the Training and Operations Section at the Marine Barracks in Washington, DC. Mr. Seger then spent 24 years as a Federal Law Enforcement Agent; three with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) and 21 with the U.S. Secret Service (USSS). He has extensive case agent experience in terrorism, transnational organized crime, protective intelligence, violent crime, and contraband manufacturing and trafficking investigations, which included service on the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force in Washington, DC, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement, Nigerian Fraud, and Joint Terrorism Task Forces in Baltimore, and the Iraq Threat Finance Cell in Baghdad, Iraq. He also acquired an unusual depth of experience in domestic and international undercover operations as an undercover agent, case agent, tactical team leader, and primary planner.

    In addition to his investigative experience, Seger was a member of the Presidential Protective Division, served on numerous advance teams and protective details for foreign Heads of State and other U.S protectees, and was a member of the Secret Service Counter Assault Team (CAT) and the ATF Special Response Team (SRT). He held leadership positions on both tactical teams and instructed at the ATF SRT and USSS CAT Schools. He was the Program Manager for the CAT Training Section and was a field firearms instructor in the Baltimore Field Offices of the ATF and USSS. Mr. Seger was selected to be the Lead Tactical Planner for the 2001 Presidential Inauguration, completely overhauled the CAT training program, and prepared the first codified contingency plan for a major permanently protected site.

    Mr. Seger received two major awards in his career. In 1997 he received the Tardowicz Award from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Baltimore, MD for being the “Criminal Investigator of the Year”. He was also the only federal agent in the history of the Iraq Threat Finance Cell to have been awarded by the military for his performance.

    Subsequent to his retirement, Mr. Seger was an Operational Adviser in the US Army Asymmetric Warfare Group. There he embedded with and advised U.S. infantry, intelligence, and Special Forces units in Afghanistan and the Philippine Islands. Mr. Seger then became a Team Leader with the US Army Security Assistance and Training Management Organization in Beirut, Lebanon. There he conducted a capabilities assessment, developed doctrine, created a training course, and implemented that course, for an element within the Lebanese Army.

    From 2016 to the present, Seger was the Law Enforcement Coordinator of the National Defense Industrial Association’s (NDIA) Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict (SOLIC) Board, instructed part time for the USSS, conducted a number of security assessments for individuals and organizations, and volunteered time as a school and church security advisor.

  • Bryan M. Ingram

    Director, Innovation & Special Projects

    Over the course of a distinguished career spanning a decade within the infrastructure sector, Mr. Ingram has established himself as a prominent global figure, with a particular focus on international infrastructure development.

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    His exceptional capacity to facilitate cooperation and understanding is exemplified by his extensive involvement in orchestrating diplomatic missions from the Middle East to the United States, adeptly navigating complex cultural and political landscapes.

    Mr. Ingram's sphere of influence extends to the strategic counsel he offers to numerous nations, their government ministers, and heads of state, where he imparts his nuanced insights into regenerative infrastructure practices. His resolute commitment lies in the cultivation of liberty for the betterment of humanity, a mission he ardently pursues on a worldwide scale.

    At present, Ingram presides over a substantial portfolio encompassing more than 80,000 hectares of congressionally approved tribal land in Southeast Asia, dedicated to advancing and bridging the digital divide while integrating regenerative infrastructure technologies. His recent achievement involves securing one of the four coveted congressionally approved ISP licenses, a pioneering endeavor aimed at the vertical integration of regenerative technologies leveraging artificial intelligence and robotics.

    In his most recent appointment as Chairman of the "Trees for the Capital Program" in Washington, D.C., a prestigious and award-winning initiative established under the auspices of President George H. W. Bush, in collaboration with Rotary International and the National Park Service, Mr. Ingram takes the helm in orchestrating ceremonial cherry tree plantings on the iconic National Mall. These symbolic trees, emblematic of honor and commemoration, are planted in tribute to distinguished individuals such as diplomats, ambassadors, and heads of state.

    Mr. Ingram's unwavering commitment to advancing global food security, pioneering regenerative practices, and fostering international diplomacy continues to chart the trajectory of the sector and serves as an exemplar for future innovations in international infrastructure development at the highest echelons of leadership and influence.

  • Christopher Prusiecki

    Director, Overseas Operations

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    Bio coming soon.

  • Sara Gilliam

    Director, Clinical Research

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    Bio coming soon.

  • Matthew Carpenter

    Senior Advisor, Health & Human Performance

    Chief Warrant Officer-4 Matthew T. Carpenter USMC (Retired). Matt is a decorated veteran, recognized leader, proven trainer, and businessman who proudly served our country for over twenty-five years as an active-duty Marine Infantryman and Infantry Weapons Officer (Marine Gunner).

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    A native of Perry County Pennsylvania, he graduated from West Perry Senior High School, class of 1989.

    During Matt’s military career, he served in various leadership positions within the First and Second Marine Divisions and the Marine Corps Training and Education Command (TECOM). Matt’s successful career is reflected in his numerous awards and decorations, most notably the Gunner Henry Lewis Hulbert Award for Outstanding Leadership, two Meritorious Service Medals, two Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals both with combat distinguishing “Valor” devices, five Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals two with combat distinguishing “Valor” devices, and two Navy and Marine Corps Combat Action Ribbons.

    Since retiring from the Marine Corps in 2014, Matt worked as a Civilian Federal Government employee (GS-13) serving as a contract oversight and surveillance officer for Ground Training Systems. In the private sector, Matt worked as a Program and Project Manager for Force-on-Force training systems and the Infantry Immersion Trainer. In 2021, Matt and his wife Annie founded Messer & Flint Consulting, Inc. (M&F) headquartered in Lemoyne, Pennsylvania. As President and CEO of M&F, Matt has demonstrated remarkable prowess in client acquisition and project management since 2021. His multifaceted role encompasses serving as a subject matter expert, sales representative, project manager, and business development/strategic planner. Under his leadership, M&F has secured a diverse portfolio of clients and as a pivotal subcontractor, tasked to provide direct assistance to the customer on active contracts within the U.S. Department of Defense Test Resource Management Center (TRMC), the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab (MCWL), and TECOM. Notably, M&F has also taken on a pivotal role as the lead sales representative for clients in international markets, orchestrating successful introductions of cutting-edge technology to both US and foreign military entities through hosting and leading delegations and presenting to high-ranking members of governments and militaries. Furthermore, in the summer of 2022, M&F made a strategic expansion into the Safety and Security industry. This move saw the company providing invaluable services as the Security Consultant for the Camp Hill School District in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. Additionally, Matt volunteered his expertise as the Safety and Security Subject Matter Expert for the Camp Hill Borough Emergency Management and Safety Committees, underscoring M&F's commitment to enhancing safety measures within the local community.

    Matt is the co-founder and president of the Marine Gunner Association, a non-profit 501.c.3 dedicated to the Infantry Marine and their families. Matt and Annie reside in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.

  • Joseph Osborne

    Director, Academic Initiatives

    Joseph E. Osborne is a decorated combat veteran, established academic and business executive with a proven track record of leadership and team building.

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    He has a PhD in International Conflict Management from Kennesaw State University and a Master’s in National Security Affairs from the Naval Post Graduate School. He was also the Distinguished Officer Graduate from the Special Forces Qualification Course. A retired Army Special Forces Colonel, he has served in Command and Staff positions at every level. His previous Special Forces assignments have included operations and deployments throughout Asia, South and Central America, Africa and the Middle East and include a 2-1/2-year stint as the Deputy Commander of 3d Special Forces Group where he completed three full rotations as the DCO of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force Afghanistan (CJSOTF-A). He has served as an A-Team Commander and Company Commander in the 1st Special Forces Group and as a Company Commander, Battalion S3 and Deputy Group Commander in the 3d Special Forces Group.

    While assigned to United States Special Operations Command he developed and implemented the Global Synchronization Process that focused all element of US Governmental power against the Al Qaeda Network. He was subsequently selected to establish the first Irregular Warfare Directorate in USSOCOM. During his time at USSOCOM he frequently represented the command in interagency venues, as a conference speaker / moderator, and testified before congressional committees. His culminating assignment was as the J3, Director of Operations, at Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT) where he also served as the J5, Director of Plans, Policy and Strategy.

    Following retirement Dr. Osborne joined WWC Global as a Director and Special Operations Subject Matter Expert. He was at the forefront of establishing inroads with the defense intelligence and special operations communities. He also established and managed the companies first contracts supporting U.S Operations based in Djibouti Africa. After branching out on his own, he provided independent program management support for various commercial and government client projects in the international security, investigations, and risk mitigation fields. He also supported policy and strategy development expertise, academic reviews, and research support to clients in the defense and federal space.

    Dr. Osborne returned to government service as a civilian Professor of Military and Security Studies at the Air Force Command and Staff College. During his tenure on the faculty, he instructed classes in every academic department in the College. His course resume includes -Leadership, Philosophy and Political Theory, Joint Warfighting, Joint Air Operations Planning, Military Theory, Contemporary and Emerging Warfare, Joint Campaigning, and the Capstone Wargame. He was also the institute’s principal lecturer on Special Operations and Special Operations Campaigning. As a service activity Dr Osborne led the planning phase that ultimately established a stand-alone Space Force Professional Military Education program in partnership with Johns Hopkins University.

    Since leaving the Air Command and Staff College, Dr. Osborne has been invited back to guest lecture on Special Operations and irregular warfare. He has presented similar lectures to the Space Force Command and Staff College at JHU and to the Operational Law faculty at the Air Force JAG School. His recent publications include “Who left the Interns in Charge: an examination of the 2014 Syria Train and Equip initiative”, and a book chapter on Irregular Warfare and Airpower. His latest research aims to deconstruct and examine the unique and critical aspects of the “infiltration phase” of special operations.

    Dr. Osborne is a fitness enthusiast and Jui Jitsu and Krav Maga student. He and his wife Jackie live in the mountains near Blairsville Georgia with two spoiled Rottweilers.

  • Stuart Wahlers

    Director, SOF Historical Initiative

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    Bio coming soon.

  • James Campbell

    Director, Study of Classified US Government Processes

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    James A. Campbell is a uniquely qualified Irregular Warfare (IW) and  Sensitive Activities (SA)  Independent Consultant with over 40 years’ experience developing IW policies, plans, and technologies as well as coordinating and executing, in conjunction with the interagency, federal law enforcement, and partner nations, highly successful global counterterrorism, counterproliferation, and crisis response operations to achieve national security objectives. Mr. Campbell desires to use insights and knowledge gained through his unique experiences serving in sensitive activities as well as Research & Development positions to address our most pressing national security concerns. His primary focus is developing an integrated USG process leveraging  our nation’s most exquisite intelligence programs, technologies, and operational capabilities to confront our adversaries short of conventional conflict. By more effectively synchronizing and coordinating our existing assets, we can impose costs on our nation state adversaries that reduce the risk of conventional war as well as set the conditions to win wars if required. Additionally, it enables us to confront additional national security threats, such as those posed by Transnational Criminal Organizations (C-TCO). Prior to branching out on his own, he was a small business executive supporting DHS acquisition programs-HSARPA and CBP and LEIDOS’s Combatant Commands’s Director.

     

    A retired Special Forces officer with an unusual military career, Mr. Campbell received his infantry officer upon graduating from the University of Miami in 1982.  He graduated from the U.S. Army Special Forces Qualification Course in 1987 and embarked upon a very non-standard 30-year path, serving in Special Operations, intelligence, and interagency billets. Mr. Campbell deployed on multiple operations e.g., Afghanistan, Colombia, Haiti, and Iraq, served many interagency/country teams assignments, and commanded at every rank. He advised the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA)’s Minister of Defense and Army Chief of Staff to implement a 24-billion-dollar modernization program while conducting combat operations, and assisted GIRoA to form its National Security Council system and processes. As the USSOCOM Chair at the National Defense University, he ensured inclusion of the IW Joint Operating Concept, which is now an NDS Annex, into the National War College’s and other institutions’ curricula. While at the FBI, he led the ‘sensitive activities’ portions of the FBI-USSOCOM Joint Strategic Framework and assisted in coordinating special and sensitive operations. As the SOCSOUTH J3, he established the SOF SA program responsible for preventing a NYC terrorist attack. Mr. Campbell also led USSOUTHCOM’s Plan Colombia and Operation Willing Spirit efforts to include CAP/SAP/STO planning.

     

    During his ‘civilian’ career Mr. Campbell supported a billion dollar plus program that not only provided critical equipment to the operator on time but achieved DHS’s highest business case scores two years in a row. Additionally, he led the PMO support team for the DHS HSARPA  APEX Big Analytics Engine that was the first emerging technology effort to progress through all gates and transition to a fully funded and operational program of record. Mr. Campbell also assisted with the stand-up of DHS S&T’s Silicon Valley Office (SVO).

     

    Currently, Mr. Campbell supports USSOUTHCOM’s efforts to establish and operate its J3X Integrated Operations  Division responsible for ‘Sensitive Activities’ to include the Command’s CAP/SAP/STO/ACCM elements. This is a wicked problem due to the numerous policies, programs, systems, locations, and required accesses; and complicated by various entities entrenched equities. His current responsibilities require Mr. Campbell regularly to coordinate policies, plans, and global operations designed to meet specific national security requirements. This entails engaging with GO/FO/SESs and action officers in the R&D community, OSD elements such as the Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO), and interagency elements—DHS, intelligence, and federal law enforcement plus maintaining credentials and accesses for the nation’s largest cross-cleared program.

     

    Mr. Campbell is a uniquely qualified and experienced IW and Sensitive Activities expert seeking an academic opportunity to use his experience to develop a USG process that improves our special operations, intelligence, and federal law enforcement communities’ ability to develop coordinated efforts to protect the homeland and defend our interests against our adversaries in the grey zone, that is, short of traditional armed conflict. 

  • Beatriz Maria Oliveras-Naglestad

    Director, Women in Asymmetric Operations

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    Bio coming soon.

  • Christopher Randolph

    Director, Intelligence & Information Operations

    Chris has a distinctive background that includes senior positions in combat operations, law enforcement, immigration enforcement, information technology, cyber coordination, legislative engagement, intelligence and acquisition.

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    In his 25 years of service in the U.S. Coast Guard, he served as the Information Sharing Executive, the Continuity of Government Program Director, the Coast Guard’s first State, Local, Territorial, Tribal Program Director, the Intelligence Representative the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretery, and the first Coast Guard Cyber Liaison to DHS.

    He led the Coast Guard’s National Security Cutter (NSC) Program, the largest and most successful acquisition program in the Coast Guard’s 228-year history. He drove the program through requirements development, design, construction, and ultimately to operational status. While leading this program, he developed and implemented a 30 year, $65 billion staffing, operating, training, intelligence, maintenance and information technology budget for three classes of Coast Guard ships totaling 91 hulls. Chris created more than 6,000 new positions for the new surface fleet and their global operating and support staffs.

    Chris worked his way through the Coast Guard ranks starting as a young enlisted deck seaman to ultimately commanding his own ship, circumnavigating the globe, deploying twice with the U.S. Navy to the Middle East, saving 45 lives at sea during his 16 years at sea, and serving as the Deputy On-Scene Commander of New York Harbor on 9/11, leading the evacuation of over 750,000 people.

    As the Maritime Interdiction Coordinator for the United Nations in the Middle-East, and while conducting Iraqi Leadership Interdiction Operations in the Mediterranean, Chris coordinated combat and law enforcement training with coastal and naval units from Singapore, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, UAE, Seychelles, Mauritius, South Africa, Barbados, Panama, Crete, Sicily, Spain, Canada, South Korea, France and the United Kingdom.

    After retiring from the USGC, Chris joined one of top ten fastest growing IT firms in Washington, DC as the Director for both the domestic and national security portfolios. Twice, he led the company to successfully partner with critical firms to win over $11.4 billion in contracts with DHS and the Department of Defense.

    He is the CEO of two management consulting firms with a focus on helping the private sector more efficiently and effectively engage government customers.

    Chris is a member of the Board of Directors for the OSS Society based in Washington, DC. The Society hosts the largest annual gathering of national security and intelligence executives in the nation, during its annual presentation of the Donovan Award. The Society is constructing the newest museum in DC, the National Museum of Special Operations and Intelligence in Chantilly, VA.

  • Chase Landon

    Director, Human & Combat Performance

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    Bio coming soon.