Leadership:
NSAWW’s leadership team brings unparalleled, front-line experience in the homeland and national security fields, drawn from senior-level involvement in law enforcement, transportation and border security, preparedness and response, counterterrorism, international security, homeland defense, business development, marketing and brand development, business capture, and mergers and acquisition. In addition to strong relationships with government, business leaders and decision-makers, we understand the complexities of the homeland and national security landscapes and what it takes to succeed.
Courtney B. Banks, CEO
In her role as Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Banks draws on her extensive experience and expertise to expand clients’ business opportunities in the fields of national and homeland security worldwide. Prior to establishing NSAWW, Ms. Banks served as Vice President of Homeland Security for Raytheon Company, where she and her team were responsible for growing Raytheon's Homeland Security business to over $1Billion, doubling their revenues in her first year. Before joining Raytheon, Ms. Banks was Director of Homeland Systems Solutions for Lockheed Martin Systems Management, where she was responsible for business development, marketing, and management strategies. Ms. Banks’ career also includes service as Assistant for Global Terrorism Issues in the Department of Defense’s Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict during the Clinton Administration. Ms. Banks has also worked at the Department of Justice, the White House, and as Director of Force Health Protection for the Gulf War Illness Task Force for the Department of Defense. She has a Master Degree in National Security Studies from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in military history from the University of Pennsylvania. Ms. Banks has also attended the executive business programs for Raytheon Company and for Lockheed Martin Corporation at the University of Chicago Business School and Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University. She has extensive international business experience to include in the Middle East, Eastern and Western Europe, Asia and the Far East.
E-mail: cbanks@nsaww.com
With three decades of experience across two federal law enforcement agencies, Mr. Brown brings unparalleled insight and expertise to the team at NSAWW. Prior to joining the firm, he served a distinguished career with the Federal Air Marshalls, retiring in 2009 from his position as Director of that agency and Assistant Administrator for Law Enforcement at the Transportation Security Administration. Prior to his time there, he served 25 years with the United States Secret Service, where he culminated his career as Assistant Director and Chief Financial Officer for the Office of Administration. Mr. Brown is also a former Marine, Vietnam veteran, and recipient of the Purple Heart. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.
E-mail: dbrown@nsaww.com
Mr. Probst brings considerable expertise to NSAWW from his prior experience as a private consultant focused on advising government and Fortune 100 business leaders on the issues of terrorism, political warfare, and infrastructure vulnerability. However, Mr. Probst has served most of his 30-year career with the Central Intelligence Agency and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Mr. Probst’s work at the Department of Defense primarily addressed the future terrorist threat and the development of strategies, tactics and policy initiatives to more effectively counter it. He also co-authored a provocative major study, titled Terror-2000: The Future Face of Terrorism. Before joining the Department of Defense, Mr. Probst served 20 years with the Central Intelligence Agency working in both the Directorate of Operations and the Directorate of Intelligence, where he focused on the issues of terrorism, insurgency, and political violence.
E-mail: pprobst@nsaww.com
Mr. Erim brings more than three decades of business development and international project management experience to NSAWW. His work in recent years has specialized in the homeland security, public safety and defense contracting sectors. Mr. Erim most recently served as the CEO of Polimatrix, Inc.; a subsidiary of Homeland Security Capital Corporation. Polimatrix provides solutions in the radiation and nuclear detection, identification and measurement market. Prior to his work at Polimatrix, Mr. Erim served as President of AfterGlow Technologies; a subsidiary of Defense Holdings, Inc. AfterGlow specializes in providing safety systems to commercial buildings in New York City. Prior to his work at AfterGlow, Mr. Erim founded and served as President and CEO of First Renaissance Ventures (FRV). FRV provides merger and acquisition, finance and advisory services to clients in the defense and commercial technology sectors. Prior to his time at FRV, Mr. Erim co-founded American Legal Systems (ALS), a legal computer systems firm. ALS provided high-end database services to Fortune 100 law firms, corporate clients, and the U.S. Government (ALS was subsequently purchased by CACI). Mr. Erim is a licensed attorney and received J.D. from the American University, Washington College of Law and B.A. in from the Pennsylvania State University. Mr. Erim serves on the boards and advisory groups of a number of businesses and is a member of the National Military Intelligence Association. He is Chairman of Americans for Strong National Security; a nonpartisan, political networking and fundraising nonprofit organization.
E-mail: merim@nsaww.com
Ms. Pickworth is the Chief Operating Officer of Nat’l Security Associates WorldWide (NSAWW). As COO, Ms. Pickworth manages the day-to-day activities of NSAWW and is responsible for the strategic, tactical, and short-term operations management of the firm. She has a keen strategic mind and a long history of assessing and improving upon the operations, policies and procedures of the organizations for which she has served, both in the US and Australia. Prior to joining NSAWW, Ms. Pickworth served as head of Operations and Communications for Raytheon’s $1B+ USD Homeland Security division. Under her operational leadership, Raytheon was included in the “Top 100 DHS Contractors” for 2006 by Government Security News; named one of the “Top 10 Rising Companies” in Homeland Security in 2007 by HS Today; and won Frost and Sullivan’s “Homeland Security Company of the Year” for 2007. Also while at Raytheon, she was responsible for the oversight and co-creation of the company’s $2M USD corporate advertising campaign for the company’s Homeland Security division. That advertising campaign won Washington Technology magazine’s coveted Reader’s Choice Award in May 2006. Previously, Ms. Pickworth served as Vice President of Operations & Event Planning for the Young Entrepreneurs’ Organization (YEO), a global association representing business owners aged 40 and under, all of whom founded, own and/or lead companies that average $25M+ USD in annual revenue. Ms. Pickworth has lived or worked in more than a dozen countries in North America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region. She holds a Bachelors of Science from James Madison University.
E-mail: kpickworth@nsaww.com
Mr. Moore brings over 33 years of experience in site security and personal protection to NSAWW. He has an intimate knowledge of the latest investigative technologies, explosive and technical countermeasures, CBR countermeasures, fixed site physical security and major event management. Prior to joining NSAWW, Mr. Moore served as Deputy Assistant Director for the United States Secret Service (USSS) where he managed former presidential details, the Dignitary Protective Division, and the Special Operations Division. Mr. Moore has also served as Special Agent in Charge in the Technical Security Division of the US Secret Service. During his tenure as SAIC, he was responsible for all Secret Service Technical Security and Countermeasures programs deployed at the White House Complex and other key designated protective sites. Mr. Moore oversaw and managed the Secret Service technical security protective advances for the President of the United States, the Vice President, visiting heads of state, presidential candidates and others. Mr. Moore is an accomplished speaker and instructor regarding VIP protection and protective site security. Mr. Moore holds a BS in Administration of Justice from American University. He is a past recipient of the Presidential Meritorious Rank Award for outstanding leadership.
E-mail: jmoore@nsaww.com
Mr. Bruner is a specialist in capital formation, due diligence, risk management, and commercial and competitive intelligence. He served for 27 years in the Operations Directorate of the Central Intelligence Agency. During his CIA career, Mr. Bruner specialized in Middle East operations and speaks Arabic (he attended the State Department’s Foreign Service Institute in Beirut). Among his assignments: Chief of Station, Baghdad (1979-1981); Chief of Station, Algiers (1985-1989); Chief of Station, Tunis (1992-1994); and Chief of Station, Palestine (based in Tel Aviv) (1994-1996). Previously, he served as Deputy Chief of Station in Beirut (1983-1984), and as an Operations Officer in Cairo (1975-1978) and in the Yemen (1973-1975). Mr. Bruner also served as Deputy National Intelligence Officer for the Middle East and South Asia (1996-1997). After retirement from CIA, Mr. Bruner served as Senior Manager at the Middle East policy consulting firm of C & O Resources (1997-2004) and as Operations Director for Diligence LLC, a Washington-based investigations company (2004-2005). At Diligence, Mr. Bruner was responsible for coordinating investigations on a wide range of subjects, from due diligence to support for the Iraqi Independent Investigation Commission (the Volcker Commission).
E-mail: wbruner@nsaww.com
Mr. Kestenbaum is an expert on the Middle East specializing in capital formation, due diligence, risk management and commercial and competitive intelligence. He was Director of Business Development for The Lincoln Group, Middle East Director for Diligence LLC, and Business Development Director for C & O Resources following a distinguished 25-year career as the leading Middle East specialist in the U.S. Foreign Commercial Service. His service included tours in Riyadh, Baghdad, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Jakarta, and Regional Director for Africa, Near East and South Asia at the Department of Commerce in Washington. He also served a tour as Commercial Liaison Director in the Office of the U.S. Executive Director to the World Bank. Prior to joining the Government, Mr. Kestenbaum worked for NBC News as Bureau Manager, Field Producer and Radio Correspondent in Beirut and Cairo. He has done post graduate studies at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, has a MA from the American University in Cairo and a BA in Arabic Studies from the State University of New York at Binghamton.
E-mail: ckestenbaum@nsaww.com
Mr. McEleny has over 40 years of experience in homeland security and law enforcement, and joins NSAWW after several years as a private consultant to a Fortune 100 firm. Mr. McEleny served as Deputy Director of the U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) during 1996-2003, after serving as the Principal Assistant Director for Investigations during 1993-1996. Prior to working at NCIS, Mr. McEleny completed a highly distinguished career of over 20 years in the U.S. Secret Service, including assignments as the Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge of the Vice Presidential Protective Division, and as the Deputy Assistant Director of the Secret Service’s Office of Investigations. Mr. McEleny’s experience also includes work as a Deputy Program Manager for Lockheed Martin Systems Management, supporting the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Chief Security Officer as the subject matter expert for all law enforcement matters.
E-mail: jmceleny@nsaww.com
Mr. Parker brings over 30 years of supervisory experience in national security and homeland security to NSAWW. His experience entails several years as a private consultant and a full-time employee for Fortune 100 companies, to include Raytheon and Lockheed Martin. While in these jobs, Mr. Parker specialized in the areas of strategic planning, security projects, and international and domestic business development. Prior to his work in the private sector, Mr. Parker completed a highly successful career of 25 years in the U.S. Secret Service, including assignments to the personal security details for President Carter and President Reagan.
E-mail: jparker@nsaww.com
Mr. Spaeth, has a unique combination of sales, marketing and financial expertise, and his career has focused on the development and management of expansion strategies and profitability for emerging growth companies. He was president of the Amber Alert Portal, the primary Amber Alert interface for law enforcement for 11 states. He was also president of the web portals Earth 911, and Pets 911, companies he took over during bankruptcy, and successfully re-capitalized under new ownership. As a venture capitalist, he worked with both Arch Development Corporation, devising the strategic startup of Everyday Learning Corporation (Inc. 100), and also worked with Walnut Capital on entertainment ventures that included Filmstar, AllPayments, & Twentieth Century Fox. He has held executive level positions in venture-backed companies such as Proformix Inc., Home Cellars, Exhibitor Relations, and Filmcorp Kft. Through his own companies, his fund raising has led to involvement in excess of $100 million of contributed capital. Mr. Spaeth holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, and a BA from the University of Michigan.
E-mail: rspaeth@nsaww.com