Dastagir Ahmadi is a Finance and Operations Officer at Strategic Capacity Group (SCG), providing financial, operational, and procurement support to SCG’s global portfolio of grants and programs at the headquarters and field office level. 

Mr. Ahmadi joined SCG in August 2024, bringing with him over a decade of experience in financial management, project management, and organizational development. Previously, Mr. Ahmadi served as a Program Manager at Razi Social Development Organization (RSDO) and as a financial analyst at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Mr. Ahmadi holds an MBA in Financial Management from Khazar University in Baku, Azerbaijan and a BA in Business Administration from Herat University in Afghanistan. He is fluent in Farsi.

Jimena Allendelagua joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in 2021 as a Project Coordinator in the Knowledge Management Department, supporting SCG’s monitoring and evaluation activities.

Prior to joining SCG, Ms. Allendelagua worked as an independent consultant monitoring social programs for non-profit organizations in Mexico. Ms. Allendelagua also worked at the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where she served as an Advisor for North American Affairs to the Minister’s Chief of Staff. In this role, she supported the analysis of the trade agenda with the United States and Canada and represented the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during USMCA renegotiation rounds.

Ms. Allendelagua holds a Master of Public Policy Degree from the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago and a BA in International Relations from El Colegio de Mexico, where she wrote a thesis on transnational advocacy networks. Ms. Allendelagua speaks French and has lived and studied in Japan.

Mr. Alpizar joined Strategic Capacity Group in December 2020, as a Senior Forensics Advisor supporting forensics reform for SCG’s projects in the Caribbean.

Mr. Alpizar worked in the Miami-Dade Police Department’s Crime Laboratory Bureau as a forensic scientist in the Analytical Chemistry and Forensic-DNA Biology Sections for twenty years. Subsequently he worked as a Forensic DNA Examiner for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) DNA Analysis Unit 1 in Quantico, Virginia and as Director of a private DNA-testing laboratory in Houston, Texas. He has presented expert-witness testimony in over 200 trials in the United States and internationally.  In 1992, Mr. Alpizar began to support the U.S. Justice Department’s International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP) primarily in Latin America and Eastern Europe, including as resident forensic advisor for ICITAP in Colombia for thirteen years.  As an international forensics advisor, Mr. Alpizar has been able to guide forensic institutions to achieve ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation and has developed and delivered forensic training to forensic scientists, expert witnesses, crime scene investigators, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and judges. Additionally, Mr. Alpizar has taught Forensic Biology-DNA undergraduate and graduate courses at Florida International University in Miami, Florida.  

Mr. Alpizar holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biochemistry from Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, and Personnel Administration and Training and Human Resource Development Certificates from Florida International University in Miami, Florida. Furthermore, Mr. Alpizar earned his Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification from the University of West Virginia. Additionally, he has completed a significant number of graduate-level forensic courses in forensic biology at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

Ali Anwari is a Program Procurement Specialist at Strategic Capacity Group (SCG), providing financial, operational, and procurement support to Strategic Capacity Group (SCG).

Mr. Anwari joined SCG in October 2024. He has over a decade of experience in financial management, project management, and organizational development. Previously, Mr. Anwari served as an Operations Specialist at the International Rescue Committee (IRC), as Senior Assistant to the Complaints and Appeals Analyst at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), and as a Capacity Development Officer with Advanced Engineering Associates International Inc. for a USAID energy policy project in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Mr. Anwari holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Kardan University in Kabul, Afghanistan, and a certificate in Human Resource Management from the International Business Management Institute (IBMI)and in Inventory Management from Cornell University. He is fluent in English, Dari/Farsi, Pashto, and Urdu.

Sabour Aram joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) as a Program Officer in the Knowledge Management (KM) Department in July 2024. 

Mr. Aram brings extensive experience at the intersection of program management, international development, good governance, human rights, and capacity building. Before joining SCG, Mr. Aram worked at the Solidarity Center, an organization dedicated to promoting workers' rights globally. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Mr. Aram is a published poet in Farsi.

Sabour holds an LLM from Duke University School of Law and earned his bachelor's degree in law from Osmania University in Hyderabad, India. Mr. Aram is multilingual, speaking Farsi, Pashto, and Hindi.

Jean-Marc Barattolo joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in 2019 as a Senior Police Advisor deployed to Niger in support of SCG’s Community-Oriented Policing and Academies of Excellence programs in the Sahel.

Prior to joining SCG, Mr. Barattolo served for 31 years in the French National Police and the Public Order Management Directorate. As a Commissioned Officer, he dealt with operations and high-risk interventions at various posts and functions, including Leader of the Special Protect and Arrest Unit, Operations Officer in Marseille, and Head of the support unit in Mayotte (Comoro island) 2006-2099. His fields of expertise are operations, crowd control, operational planning, and tactical training. Mr. Barattolo also served as the Head of the Training Department and deployed to two European Union Police missions in Bosnia-Herzegovina (2002-2004) and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (2005-2006).

Mr. Barattolo has also served on multiple UN Missions, including Haiti and the Central Africa Republic (CAR). In Haiti, he served as a Formed Police Unit (FPU) trainer (2010-2011) and in CAR as an FPU Coordinator (2016-2017), Deputy Commander of the Bangui Task Force (2017-2018), and Sector Commander in Bria (2018-2019). In these roles, he oversaw 1,400 officers and the protection of civilians, IDP camp security, and implementation of urgent temporary measures to fight against armed groups and insecurity.  Certified to assess FPU operational capacity prior to deployment, Mr. Barattolo conducted FPU assessments for missions in Mauritania and the Republic of Congo. In 2015 and 2016, he was selected to serve in the UN Police Division in Jordan and in Cameroon as an UN certified trainer in weapons handling, public order management, and police tactics and technics. He also trained FPU trainers from various Police Contributing Countries in English and in French. His overseas experience includes training Palestinian Special Police Forces (2010) and battalions assigned to the security of the presidential election processes in Democratic Republic of Congo (2010), Botswana (2011), Malaysia (2014), South Africa (2014), Nigeria (2015), and Senegal (2016).

Mr. Barattolo completed the French Superior National Police Academy program. He is the recipient of several awards from the European Union and the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations. He was also awarded the Haitian and Cameroonian National Order of Merit and several commendations by the French government, including the National Police Honour Gold Medal for conducting an operation to rescue hostages in CAR.

Mr. Jude Beauzier joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in September 2024 as a Project Coordinator based in Miami, Florida, to support SCG's Global Operations Team. 

Prior to joining SCG, Mr. Beauzier worked at the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince as Safety Program Coordinator, where he supported the Safety, Health and Environmental Management (SHEM) program to ensure a safe work and living environment for U.S personnel. In this role, he successfully reinforced and contributed to the DriveCam program, a safe-driving initiative that reduced risky driving behaviors and conserved resources.

Mr. Beauzier holds a bachelor's degree from the State University of Haiti. He was awarded a Meritorious Honor Award and two Franklin/Eagle Awards from the U.S. State Department during his tenure. Mr. Beauzier is fluent in English, French, and Haitian Creole.

Abderrahmane Benali joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in December 2019 as a Senior Police Trainer supporting SCG’s program in the Central African Republic (CAR).

Before joining SCG, Mr. Benali had a successful 27 year career within the Algerian Gendarmerie, occupying several leadership positions including as head of the Special Operations Regiment, and retired at the executive level in 2019. As the Head of Training of two special units and Head of the Security Office and Commander of a special regiment, Mr. Benali participated in the development of the first pre-deployment training curriculum for Formed Police Units (FPU) serving in UN peace operations as part of the African Standby Force (ASF). Early in his career, Mr. Benali served as United Nations Police (UNPOL) part-time facilitator at Ecole de maintien de la Paix (EMP) in Bamako, Mali. He also has experience leading six training courses abroad, three for the Gendarmerie of Niger in 2003 and three for the Malian Gendarmerie in 2004. In 2013, Mr. Benali was selected for the National War College in Algiers, Algeria.

Mr. Benali has numerous military and law enforcement management diplomas and certificates from several elite units, including the French Gendarmerie Special Unit (GIGN) and the Austrian National Police Special Unit (EKO COBRA). He is fluent in Arabic, French, and English.

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Paolo Bonanno joined Strategic Capacity Group in July 2020 as a Senior Police Advisor supporting community policing initiatives in the Sahel region.

Before joining SCG, Mr. Bonanno worked as public security expert for the Swiss NGO Coginta in Chad and served as public order advisor in the Police Division of the UN Department of Peace Operations. During this UN assignment, he supported the start-up phase of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), serving as Chief of Operations in Bamako, Mali, and in Bangui, Central African Republic (CAR). Mr. Bonanno also deployed to several European Union and UN missions, in both conflict and post conflict settings, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Haiti. With extensive experience in the National Police of France as Deputy Head of Operations and Head of the Personnel and Training Office, Mr. Bonanno was selected as a member of the UN Group of Experts that developed the first pre-deployment training curriculum for Formed Police Units serving in UN peace operations, working both in New York and at Fort Indiantown Gap in Pennsylvania. As a firearms, police techniques, public order, first aid, and close protection instructor, Mr. Bonanno has delivered training in Morocco, Cameroon, Botswana, Nigeria, Ghana, USA, Russia, Bangladesh, India, Guinea, Libya, Italy, Jordan, Benin, and Sierra Leone.

Mr. Bonanno was commended for his service as the first commander of MINUSCA Joint Task Force in Bangui, a unique unit composed of police officers and military staff that operated during the visit of Pope Francis to CAR in November 2015. Mr. Bonanno completed the course for commissioned officers at the Nice National Police Academy in 1994. He is fluent in French and English.

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Pascal Cuffaut joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in 2020 as a Senior Training Advisor.

Mr. Cuffaut served for 36 years in the French National Gendarmerie and Public Order Management as an Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) platoon commander specialist. As a Non-Commissioned Officer, Mr. Cuffaut dealt with Public Order Management in France and in French overseas territories (French Guyana, La Réunion island, Mayotte). He was also designated by the Ministry of International Cooperation to conduct crowd control training in Liberia and in Cameroon. Mr. Cuffaut served on multiple UN Missions, including Cambodia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Haiti and the Central Africa Republic (CAR), principally as an Individual Police Officer (IPO) providing mission induction training.  He has also conducted Selection Assistance and Assessment Team (SAAT) in numerous UN Police contributing countries, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Nepal, Russia, Kirgizstan, Ukraine, Romania, Czech Republic, Italy, Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, Senegal, and Nigeria. In Haiti and in the Central Africa Republic in 2014 and 2016 respectively, he served as a Formed Police Unit (FPU) trainer at the FPU Coordination Unit. Mr. Cuffaut is certified by the United Nations to assess FPU operational capacity prior to deployment. In 2016, he was selected to serve in the UN 

Police Division in Cameroon as an UN certified trainer in weapons handling, public order management, and police tactics and techniques. 

Mr. Cuffaut is the recipient of several French military, European Union, United Nations, and foreign medals. He is fluent in French and English.

Eszter Czeglédi joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in June 2024 as a Project Coordinator based in Budapest, Hungary to support SCG’s Global Operations Team. 

Prior to joining SCG, Ms. Czeglédi worked for the China-CEE Institute as a Project Coordinator. In this role, Ms. Czeglédi organized meetings and assisted in running international conferences focused on Central-East European countries and supported with hosting high-level delegations from China. Ms. Czeglédi has also served as a Project Manager for a start-up company, which gave her a comprehensive knowledge of enterprise development. Additionally, she has a wide scope of experience regarding bilateral cultural programs. 

Ms. Czeglédi holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations from Pázmány Péter Catholic University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Chinese Language and Business from Eötvös Loránd University. Ms. Czeglédi has also spent a semester as a scholar at Dalian University of Technology. Ms. Czeglédi is fluent in English and Chinese with a solid elementary knowledge of French.

Marco Davì joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in 2020 as a Senior Program Officer supporting community policing and capacity development initiatives in the Sahel region.

Before joining SCG, Mr. Davì worked as a consultant for the World Bank, focusing on the development of United Nations – World Bank strategic and programmatic partnerships in fragile and crisis-affected countries. Serving as a UN Security Sector Reform Officer, he was deployed in Burkina Faso, in the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), and in the United Nations Operation in Cote d’Ivoire (UNOCI). In this capacity, Mr. Davì coordinated strategic advice and institutional capacity development programs to improve accountability and democratic oversight of the security sector, including strengthening mutual trust between security providers and local communities. Prior to his peacebuilding and stabilization experience, Mr. Davì worked as an Analyst with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Albania, focusing on results-based management.

Mr. Davì holds a Master of Science in International Relations with Distinction from the London School of Economics and Political Science. From the University of Turin (Italy), Mr. Davì received a Master of Arts in International Affairs and Human Rights and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies.

Abdoulaye Dembele joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in February 2019 as a Project Coordinator based in Bamako, Mali to support SCG's projects in Mali and across the Sahel.

Before joining SCG, Mr. Dembele worked for five years as a Program Assistant for Winrock International, supervising projects in Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea. Mr. Dembele has also consulted with the World Bank on matters relating to Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in northern Mali and refugee living conditions in both Mali and Burkina Faso.  Mr. Dembele has served as a trainer at the Mali National Gendarmerie School, the Peacekeeping School of Bamako, and the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) for the United Nations Police (UNPOL). He has extensive expertise in the areas of Criminology, Military Leadership, Conflict and Operational Stress Management, and Methods of Elaborating Operational Decisions.  Further, Mr. Dembele served as an analyst with Mali’s Military Security Intelligence.

Mr. Dembele has received numerous distinctions from the Malian Ministry of Defense and Veterans Affairs. He holds an MA in Criminal Psychology and Rural Sociology from the University of Cocody, Côte d'Ivoire. Mr. Dembele is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Social and Clinical Psychology at the University of Colorado. Mr. Dembele speaks French, English, and Bambara and is proficient in Spanish.

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Dr. Andrea Dew serves as Division Head of Strategic Capacity Building Programs at Strategic Capacity Group (SCG), overseeing program management, research, and curriculum design.

Prior to joining SCG in 2022, Dr. Dew was the founding Co-Director of the Center on Irregular Warfare & Armed Groups at the US Naval War College, and the T.C. Sass Chair of Maritime Irregular Warfare. She has 20-years’ experience designing curriculum for red team scenarios and table-top workshops in the U.S. and internationally. She has published four books and multiple articles on strategic communications, irregular warfare, the Indian Ocean region, and lone-actor terrorism. Dr. Dew also lived in Japan for eight years and speaks fluent Japanese.

Dr. Dew earned a Ph.D. in International Relations with a focus in International Security Studies, International Communication, and Technology Policy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University. She holds as Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in History from the University of Southampton, UK.

Issa Diarra joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in January 2019 as a Project Coordinator based in Burkina Faso to support SCG's community policing and capacity building programs in the Sahel.

Prior to joining SCG, Mr. Diarra worked for mining companies and the African development bank program, where he focused on taxes and financials. From 1999 to 2005, he was the financial manager of Group Hage in West Africa, an organization that specializes in manufacturing building materials.

Mr. Diarra holds two Master's degrees from Thomas Sankara University, one in Accounting, Finance, and Audit and the other in Technical and Vocational Education. He is fluent in French, Moore, Dioula, Kasséna, and has some facility in Arabic.

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Elhadji Diop (EJ) joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in January 2020 as a Project Coordinator based in Dakar, Senegal to support SCG's projects in Senegal and across the Sahel.

Prior to joining SCG, Mr. Diop worked for five years as an interpreter and training coordinator for the Marine Special Operation Team in Senegal and Niger. In this role, he was in charge of the planning and execution of the Cultural Understanding and Leadership Program for U.S. Army Cadet Officers. Additionally, Mr. Diop has eight years of experience providing logistics support to the INL State Department IPPOS program, where he was in charge of supporting pre-deployment training of FPU's and IPOs in Mali, Senegal, Togo, Benin, Cameroon, and Burkina Faso. Mr. Diop has worked with the Legal Attaché office in Dakar as a Training Facilitator. He has extensive experience working for the Senegalese Government, National Gendarmerie, the National Police, and the Ministry of Defense.

Mr. Diop holds a BA in English and British Civilization Studies from Cheikh Anta Diop University. He is currently pursuing a Master of Diplomatic and Strategic Studies from the Centre d'Etudes Diplomatiques et Stratégiques Dakar. Mr. Diop has received numerous distinctions from the Senegalese Gendarmerie, the U.S. State Department, and the FBI. He is fluent in French, English, and Wolof.

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Phisut Eakampai joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in July 2024 as a Project Coordinator based in Bangkok, Thailand to support SCG's Global Operations Team.

Before joining SCG, Mr. Eakampai worked at the Australian Embassy, Bangkok and was responsible for handling visas. Mr. Eakampai has also worked as a Trade and Investment Promotion Officer at The Federation of Thai Industries, where he acted as a liaison between Thai businesses and foreign counterparts. Additionally, Mr. Eakampai spent five years working in customer service industries in Makati City, Philippines where he developed his skills in customer service and project management.

Mr. Eakampai holds a Post Graduate Diploma in International Politics from the University of Sheffield, UK, and a BA in International Relations with a Minor in Political Science from Fulbright College of Art and Science at the University of Arkansas. Mr. Eakampai is fluent in both Thai and English.

Toufiq Ekram joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in March 2023 as an Accounting Officer, providing essential accounting support for SCG’s Finance and Administration Department.

Prior to joining SCG, Mr. Ekram served as a Grants Accountant at the Northern Virginia Family Service, where he was responsible for ‍managing financial transactions and reporting for numerous federal and non-federal grants. Mr. Ekram was responsible for managing collaborative partnerships between the finance department and assigned programs, performing detailed financial analysis and reporting, and completing monthly close processes.

Mr. Ekram holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from the Fisher School of Accounting at the University of Florida. He is fluent in Bengali.

Zachary Esser joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in October 2024 as a Project Assistant supporting the Global Corrections program.

Prior to joining SCG, Mr. Esser served as a Policy Intern at the Intelligence and National Security Alliance, where he coordinated the planning and execution of events and supported program development. He also served as an External Affairs Intern at the American Enterprise Institute, supporting initiatives to build coalitions with state and local government representatives.  

Mr. Esser holds a Master of Arts in International Relations from American University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Temple University.

Rachel Fernandez joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in August 2024 as a Project Coordinator supporting SCG’s Knowledge Management Department.

Prior to joining SCG, Ms. Fernandez conducted in-depth research and wrote extensively on socio-demographic trends in the Latino community in Massachusetts, contributing to the development of data-driven policy recommendations. Ms. Fernandez also worked at the Levy Economics Institute supporting research on the measure of time and income poverty in the U.S. context by compiling summary statistics and depicting charts to showcase disparities of time deficits across gender and race.

Ms. Fernandez holds a Master of Arts Degree in Applied Economics from the University of Massachusetts Boston and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Relations from Universidad Tecnológica Centroamericana. She is fluent in Spanish and has intermediate knowledge of French.

Angela Fifer is the Deputy Director of Accounting at Strategic Capacity Group (SCG), managing a team of accounting officers within the Finance and Administration Department and overseeing day-to-day accounting operations for the organization.

Ms. Fifer joined SCG in November 2019 as the Senior Accounting Officer before she was promoted to lead the accounting team in March 2021.  Ms. Fifer has over twenty years of combined experience in financial accounting and reporting, federal government contracts and awards, and budgeting.  Prior to joining SCG, Ms. Fifer served at non-profit organizations in the Washington, D.C. area, including National Quality Forum and the National Democratic Institute.  

Ms. Fifer received a BBA in Accounting from Howard University.

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Mr. Ford joined Strategic Capacity Group in March 2024 as a technical Subject Matter Expert to support forensics reform for SCG’s projects in the Caribbean

Mr. Ford has a combined 21 years of experience in law enforcement, including 18 years in the field of forensics. Mr. Ford is an expert in forensic firearms and tool mark examination and identification and has specialized experience and training in disciplines such as crime scene examination, latent fingerprint processing, and forensic video analysis. Mr. Ford is also an experienced instructor, having delivered training courses in firearms identification, shooting scene reconstruction, crime scene investigation, and generating fired evidence for entry into the National Integrated Ballistic Identification Network (NIBIN).  Mr. Ford served as the Laboratory Director of the Oregon State Police Forensic Services Division's Southern Regional Laboratory, and served 11 of his 18 years in forensics as a section Technical Leader.  

Mr. Ford holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry from the University of Oregon. An experienced subject matter expert, Mr. Ford has published multiple articles in the Journal of the Association of Firearms and Tool Mark Examiners and is a firearm and tool mark examiner and volunteer technical assessor for the ANSI National Accreditation Board in the United States and overseas.

Antonio Freiria joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in May 2024 as a Project Coordinator within SCG’s Global Corrections Team.

Prior to joining SCG, Mr. Freiria worked as a Project Administrator at the Carnegie Mellon University Washington Semester Program (CMU/WSP) in Washington, DC. At CMU/WSP, Mr. Freiria coordinated a semester-long program for Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) students to intern and take classes in Washington, DC. In his role, Mr. Freiria managed alumni relations, organized recruitment campaigns, developed marketing materials, and coordinated with faculty and external partners.

Mr. Freiria holds a Master of Science in International Relations and Politics and Bachelor of Science degree in International Relations and Politics from Carnegie Mellon University. Mr. Freiria speaks fluent Spanish and basic German.

Julia Gerdak joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in April 2022 as a Senior Human Resources Officer, supporting benefits compliance and reporting, performance management, recruitment, and employee relations.  

Prior to joining SCG, Ms. Gerdak served as a Human Resources Generalist at Kastle Systems International LLC. In this role, Ms. Gerdak supported all areas of HR Operations including managing corporate benefits and wellness programs, handling benefits compliance and reporting, and administering performance reviews, merit, and leave of absence processes.

Ms. Gerdak holds a Master of Professional Studies in Human Resources Management from Georgetown University and a Master’s Degree in Psychology from Nizhny Novgorod State Pedagogical University in Russia. Ms. Gerdak is fluent in Russian and has elementary knowledge of Italian.

Mr. Grady joined Strategic Capacity Group in August 2023, as a Senior Police Advisor supporting community policing and forensics reform for SCG’s projects in the Caribbean.  

Mr. Grady worked in the Worcester Police Department in Massachusetts and served thirty-six years, including thirty-two years in the Forensic Service Section (FSS).  During his police career, he worked as an Investigator, Sergeant, and Lieutenant of the FSS.  Mr. Grady was the section’s first Quality Manager and instrumental in their accreditation endeavors. Mr. Grady has history assessing forensic laboratories/inspection bodies for Forensic Quality Services and now the American National Standards Institute’s National Accreditation Board to the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025 and/or ISO/IEC 17020.  Additionally, Mr. Grady has taught Intro to Forensic Science at Clark University and Becker College in Massachusetts. Following retirement from the Worcester Police Department in January of 2017, Mr. Grady began work for the International Criminal Investigation Training Assistance Program (ICITAP).  In that capacity, he provided training and mentoring to numerous state laboratories and inspection bodies throughout Mexico.  

Mr. Grady holds a Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Anna Maria College and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Clark University. Additionally, he is a Life Member of the International Association for Identification (IAI) and was certified by the IAI for many years as a Latent Print Examiner (1995) and Senior Crime Scene Analyst (1999).

Farah Guerrero is the Global Operations Team Manager at Strategic Capacity Group (SCG), managing a globally based team to plan, organize, and execute operations in support of SCG’s mission. 

Mrs. Guerrero joined SCG in July 2021 as a Project Coordinator to support the implementation of SCG’s Turn-Key Logistics project in Belize. She brings more than 20 years of diverse human resource, business, and project management experience to SCG. Mrs. Guerrero has served as a Partner at Salient Group LLP and as Executive Director for the Association of Real Estate Brokers of Belize. Mrs. Guerrero previously worked at the U.S. Embassy Belmopan, providing support to the Human Resources section for recruitment and staff actions. 

Mrs. Guerrero is a graduate of St. John’s College, Junior College. She has completed numerous training courses in strategic planning, customer service, management, and human resources and has received several awards, including a Meritorious Honor Award, from the U.S. Department of State during her tenure. Mrs. Guerrero is a Certified Services Provider through the Caribbean Export Development Agency and is their 2021 recipient of the Caribbean Lawrence Placide Services Go Global Award. She is fluent in English and has intermediate-level knowledge of Spanish. 

Hazel Harrison joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in September 2024 as a Senior Project Coordinator based in Barbados to support SCG’s Global Operations Team.

Prior to joining SCG, Ms. Harrison worked on a USAID Project as a Logistical and Administrative Specialist. In that role, she facilitated workshops, conferences, consultations and retreats throughout the Eastern and Southern Caribbean and study tours for the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and USAID to the United States. Previously, Ms. Harrison managed the Legal Bar Association in Barbados for over 13 years, arranging seminars and workshops and providing accounting, administrative and transcription skills to the membership. 

Ms. Harrison is currently enrolled in an MBA Program specializing in Events Management at Edinburgh Napier University. Ms. Harrison was awarded the silver medal of honor from the Government of Barbados for going above and beyond the call of duty during the COVID Pandemic.

Hesham Hassanein joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in July 2023 as a Project Coordinator supporting the Global Corrections Program in Sykesville, MD.

Prior to joining SCG, Mr. Hassanein served as an English and Arabic teacher at Tarbiyah Academy in Elkridge, Maryland, and as an English teacher at Pungam and Dae Chon Middle Schools in Gwangju, South Korea. In these roles, Mr. Hassanein worked on curriculum design, as well as lesson planning, organizing field trips, parent-teacher communications, and classroom organization.

Mr. Hassanein holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) and a TEFL certification from the University of Toronto in Canada. Mr. Hassanein is fluent in Arabic and has elementary knowledge of Spanish and Korean.

Patcharin Hongprapat serves as Assistant Global Operations Team Manager at Strategic Capacity Group (SCG), overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Global Operations Team based in Bangkok, Thailand and across multiple time zones to plan, organize, and execute travel and event logistics. 

Ms. Hongprapat joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in February 2022 as a Project Coordinator to support SCG’s projects in Southeast Asia. She began supporting the Global Operations Team as a team lead for event planning and execution in June 2023. Earlier in her career, Ms. Hongprapat served as a Director at N.C.C. Management & Development PCL. She has over 15 years of experience as a Professional Conference Organizer, planning international conferences from design to full logistical execution for events ranging from hundreds to thousands of delegates. She was a Manager of the Strategic Intelligence Center at Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), where she organized educational forums and meetings across the Asia Pacific region, including in China (PRC), Hong Kong SAR, India, Indonesia, Korea (ROK), Macau SAR, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.  

Ms. Hongprapat received her Master of Management Degree from the College of Management, Mahidol University and a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from Chulalongkorn University. She is fluent in Thai and English.

Kaltrina Jacimi is the Division Head of Turn-Key Logistics Programs at Strategic Capacity Group (SCG), overseeing a portfolio of projects in Haiti and Thailand, as well as Global Law Enforcement and Corrections Programs offering specialized instruction for international delegations in the United States.

Ms. Jacimi joined SCG in April 2023 as a Senior Program Officer, where she successfully managed SCG’s capacity-building program in Liberia. Prior to her tenure at SCG, Ms. Jacimi held the position of Senior Program Officer at the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), where she was responsible for shaping a multi-million grantmaking and democracy promotion portfolio in Europe and directing a diverse team of program staff. Previously, Ms. Jacimi designed security sector reform projects, organized trainings for law enforcement officials, and assessed security processes to build local capacity for Analytica, North Macedonia’s leading think tank. In this role, she closely cooperated with European thinks tanks, including the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF). Her extensive experience includes managing projects funded by U.S. Department of State, USAID, EU, and OSCE, focusing on countering violent extremism (CVE) and enhancing security sector capacity. Her research on CVE was used to inform North Macedonia’s first National Strategy for Countering Violent Extremism (2018-2022). 

Ms. Jacimi is a Fulbright Scholar. She holds a Master of Arts in Security Studies from Kansas State University and an M.A. in Diplomacy and Foreign Policy from Ss. Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje, North Macedonia. She is fluent in Macedonian, Albanian, and in former-Yugoslav languages.

Shaughan Jackson joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in September 2022 as a Senior Training Advisor.

Mr. Jackson is an experienced international trainer and advisor, supporting military, law enforcement, emergency services and protective services. He has served as an International Peacekeeping Police Operation Support (IPPOS) Team Leader and Senior Training Advisor for the Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and as a Protective Service Specialist and Paramedic in Iraq for the INL Civilian Police (CIVPOL) Program “Shark Teams” and in Afghanistan for the Department of Defence, US Army Corps of Engineers, Reconstruction Security Support Services (RSSS) Program. Mr. Jackson has also served as the Assistant Director for Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Gauteng Department of Health, Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) and as a Platoon Commander for the Johannesburg Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Public Safety Directorate. As a Reserve Police Officer, he served on the Johannesburg Flying Squad (Emergency Services Unit) for the South African Police Service (SAPS) and as a Combat Medic with the South African Medical Services (SAMS) for the South African Defence Force (SADF).

Mr Jackson is a Registered Critical Care Paramedic with the Health Professions Council of South Africa. He holds certifications in Special Weapons and Tactics, High Threat Protection Operations, Battlefield Advanced Trauma Life Support, Tactical Emergency Medicine, Aviation Health Care Provider, International Trauma Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Paediatric Advanced Life Support, and Urban Search and Rescue.

Alexandra Jones joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in October 2024 as a Project Coordinator for the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) Program.

Prior to joining SCG, Ms. Jones worked in operations and external relations for the Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, providing daily updates using open-source intelligence on conflicts in Iran, the Middle East, Russia, and Africa. Ms. Jones also served as a program assistant for the Congressional Office of International Leadership Open World Program, working directly with policy makers and professionals from Eastern Europe and Eurasia.

Ms. Jones hold a Master of Arts in Slavic Languages and Literature from the University of Virginia and a Bachelor of Arts in Russian from Virginia Tech. Ms. Jones speaks Russian and basic French. 

Lis Kabashi is a Program Officer at Strategic Capacity Group (SCG), serving as the program manager for SCG’s Turn-Key Logistics programming in Haiti.

Mr. Kabashi currently manages SCG’s Turn-Key Logistics programming in Haiti overseeing the project and coordinating with multiple INL, U.S. embassy, and national stakeholders in support of INL’s mission in Haiti and the wider region. Mr. Kabashi also managed the coordination, logistics planning, and delivery of an assessment of the Kosovo Police and the Police Inspectorate of Kosovo in 2024. Previously, Mr. Kabashi managed SCG’s Law Enforcement Expertise Program (LEEP), with responsibility for recruiting and deploying law enforcement officials and civilian experts with relevant expertise to mentor, advise, train, and deliver technical assistance through overseas deployments and domestic training activities. Mr. Kabashi managed deployments for teams to Niger, Côte d’Ivoire, Jordan, and Sierra Leone. He also managed SCG’s Global Law Enforcement Database (LEED), which includes pre-screened subject matter experts (SMEs) with a range of technical skills to support Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) programming. Prior to his promotion to Program Officer, Mr. Kabashi served as a Senior Project Coordinator and Project Coordinator on SCG’s Global Operations Team, where he supported the successful planning and execution of capacity-building events. Before joining SCG, Mr. Kabashi worked as an Executive Assistant to the Ambassador of Kosovo in Washington, D.C. and supported the Consul General of Kosovo in the UN Security Council regarding the status of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). As an Abd-El Kader Fellow at Seton Hall University, Mr. Kabashi conducted research and policy analysis for the U.S. Army Africa/Southern European Task Force.

Mr. Kabashi holds a Master of Arts in International Relations and Diplomacy from Seton Hall University and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the American College of Thessaloniki. He is fluent in Albanian and has basic working knowledge of Arabic and Greek.

Oumar Konipo joined SCG in 2017 as a Field Logistics Coordinator, supporting SCG’s portfolio of projects in  Mali and across the Sahel.

Prior to his role at SCG, Mr. Konipo worked for the U.S. Embassy in Mali, where he provided simultaneous and consecutive interpretation services for the Regional Security and Legal Advisor Offices. There he also served as a Senior Economic and Commercial Specialist, working across multiple offices and directorates on issues related to peace and governance, trade, money laundering, and economic development and growth. Earlier in his career, Mr. Konipo worked for the Government Investment Center (CEPI) as the Chief of the Small Business Assistance Division and the Chief of Projects.

Mr. Konipo received an MBA from Northeastern University and a BS in Civil Engineering from Ecole Nationale d’Ingénieurs in Bamako, Mali. He is an active member of the Lions Club International, currently serving as the District Secretary for eight countries in West Africa. Mr Konipo is the recipient of numerous awards, including two Meritorious Honor Awards from the U.S. Embassy in Bamako and a Superior Honor Award from the U.S. Department of State.

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Michael Leibold joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in October 2022 as a Site Manager to support SCG’s Global Corrections Program at the International Corrections Academy–Colorado.  

Mr. Leibold has twenty-seven years of military and corrections experience training, mentoring, and supervising security professionals and directing national level training. As a leader who worked with both military and civilian components stateside and abroad, Mr. Leibold served five years in Afghanistan as an Advisor with the Corrections System Support Program and two years working with the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan/Ministry of Counternarcotics for the U.S. Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and the INL/Kabul Counternarcotics Program. He has also served as a Learning and Development Manager, Senior Correctional Officer, and Transportation/Release Officer at a U.S. Marshals Service Facility, as a Transportation and Security Manager at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement Facility, and as Corrections Staff Instructor for the State of Arizona Department of Corrections.

Mr. Leibold has State of Arizona Correctional Officers Training Academy certifications and Department of Defense basic, advance and primary leadership certifications, as well as Department of State Civilian Police and Foreign Affairs Counter Threat training and Master Key Leadership certifications.

Dr. Ferenc Less joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in 2021 as a Senior Police Trainer for SCG’s security sector capacity building project in Liberia.

Prior to joining SCG, Dr. Less spent 30 years serving in the Hungarian Police. He started his career as a patrol officer at the Rapid Response Unit, the largest Hungarian Police Department that performs public order, police patrol activities, and operations nationwide. He participated in numerous police operations and led police units on team, platoon, and company levels. In his last position at the Hungarian Police, Dr. Less served as the Head of the Dog Handlers and Service Dog Training Centre and as Secretary of Kynopol, the EU network for service dog professionals. Dr. Less has extensive international experience, delivering public order training in Russia, Northern Ireland, Azerbaijan and Georgia for various international organizations. For the United Nations, he served as a UNPOL instructor in the Ivory Coast and developed UN Formed Police Unit pre-deployment training. Additionally, he has ten years of research, teaching, and administrative and management experience at the National University of Public Services in Budapest, Hungary.

Dr. Less holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Police Administration from the Police University of Budapest, and a Master’s Degree of Security and Defense Policy and a Ph.D. in Military Science from the National University of Public Services of Budapest. He is fluent in English and Russian.

Ibeth López Marroquin joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in October 2023 as a Project Assistant based in Guatemala City, Guatemala to support SCG's Global Operations Team.

Prior to joining SCG, Ms. López Marroquin worked in the banking, financial services, and consumer goods industries in an array of different roles such as Transitions Coordinator, Procurement Operations Assistant Manager,  and Executive Assistant, among other administrative positions. 

Ms. López Marroquin has completed training courses in free-form translation, Lean Methodology, Six Sigma and Customer Service, and is fluent in Spanish and English. Ms. López Marroquin will obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in International Affairs from Rafael Landivar University in 2024. 

Marin Mikulec joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in 2022 as a Senior Training Advisor.

Mr. Mikulec is an experienced international trainer and advisor. Since 2016, he has served as an International Peacekeeping Police Operation Support (IPPOS) Mobile Trainer and Senior Training Adviser for the Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). From 2009-2015, he served as a UN Mobile Training Team (MTT) trainer, and he completed three missions in MINUSTAH (Haiti) as a Formed Police Unit (FPU) coordinator and trainer.  As a member of an international contingent, Mr. Mikulec worked at the Jordan International Police Training Center (JIPTC) as a trainer and team leader assigned to support the training of Iraqi police officers. As a firearm, police techniques and tactics, public order management, command staff, and close protection trainer, he has delivered training in India, Botswana, Togo, Senegal, Cameroon, Rwanda, Ghana, Sri Lanka, Jordan, and Haiti. In 2014-2015, Mr. Mikulec was selected to serve on a UN group of experts to revise and develop a new pre-deployment training curriculum for Formed Police Units serving in UN Peace Operations. Mr. Mikulec has 24 years of experience in law enforcement serving in the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Croatia as an operator in the Special Police Unit, investigator in the Drug Unit, Deputy Chief of Operations in the Police Operations Center, and Deputy Unit Commander in the Intervention Police Unit.

Mr. Mikulec completed studies at the University for Physical Culture, in Zagreb, Croatia, and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Police Studies, Police Management, Criminology and Law Enforcement. He is fluent in English and former Yugoslavian languages, and proficient in French.

Sara Miranda joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in October 2024 as a Project Coordinator based in San Salvador, El Salvador to support SCG’s Global Operations Team. 

Ms. Miranda is an experienced international relations and development cooperation specialist with a proven track record in policy analysis and government coordination. Prior to joining SCG, she served as a Political Analyst at the Embassy of the State of Qatar in El Salvador, where she provided research and analysis on political, economic, and social dynamics across El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Belize. Her experience also includes key roles in the Presidency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador, where she coordinated major cooperation initiatives, advised on strategic government policies, and worked closely with international partners. 

Ms. Miranda holds a master's degree in International Cooperation, Public Policies, Programs, and Development Projects Management from the University Institute Ortega y Gasset in Madrid, Spain and a bachelor's degree in International Relations from the Autonomous University of Central America in Costa Rica. She is fluent in Spanish and English, with intermediate proficiency in German.

Elisa Montealegre is a Senior Program Officer at Strategic Capacity Group (SCG), serving as the program manager for the Global Corrections Program.

Previously, Ms. Montealegre served as a Team Lead, managing Global Operations Department teams to plan, coordinate and execute logistical support for SCG’s technical training and capacity building programs across the globe. Ms. Montealegre joined SCG in February 2020 as a Project Coordinator. Prior to her work at SCG, Ms. Montealegre served as an Account Manager for VMware, Inc. working with both the private and public sectors in Latin America. In this role, Ms. Montealegre traveled in region to support local resellers and on average exceeded sales targets by over 50 percent.  

Ms. Montealegre holds a double degree in Foreign Affairs and Latin American Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Virginia (UVA). At UVA, Ms. Montealegre was awarded two Jefferson Public Citizen (JPC) grants to support the successful implementation of a research-based mentoring program for women in Nicaragua.  Ms. Montealegre is also a Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) Program Fellow. She is fluent in Spanish.

Nataliya Morozova joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in October 2022 as a Program Officer to support SCG’s global capacity building projects and programs.

Prior to joining SCG, Ms. Morozova was a Program Manager at Language on Demand, Inc, a government contracting company providing language services to federal and commercial clients worldwide. She managed multiple, high-level projects for the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Federal Trade Commission. Ms. Morozova was responsible for developing and submitting bids to federal agencies and private firms seeking language instruction. Ms. Morozova was also responsible for recruiting, interviewing, and hiring more than 50 language instructors in more than 25 languages and for monitoring and tracking more than 100 language classes annually.

Ms. Morozova graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Affairs and received a Certificate in Leadership Principles from Harvard Business School.

As the Director of Knowledge Management at Strategic Capacity Group (SCG), Dr. Nava-Campos is responsible for managing the quality, adequacy, and technical feasibility of substantive/knowledge-based products for SCG’s global portfolio of capacity building and turn-key logistics projects.

Dr. Nava-Campos joined SCG in 2020 as a Senior Program Officer and later became Deputy Director of Knowledge Management before being promoted to Director. At SCG, her contributions include developing a MEL framework for the International Police Peacekeeping Operations Support (IPPOS) Program and integrating components of that framework into the Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs’ DevResults platform. Dr. Nava-Campos has also designed and conducted assessments on Senegal and Ghana’s capacity to train and deploy peacekeepers using instruments and methodologies later employed in Cameroon, Jordan, Rwanda, and Togo. In addition, she developed a gender mainstreaming measuring instrument used to assess Jordan and Ghana’s efforts to increase the meaningful participation of women in peacekeeping, and currently leads a task force with UNITAR aimed at implementing key recommendations from those assessments.  Dr. Nava-Campos’ experience in assessment, design, monitoring, evaluation, and learning (ADMEL) spans more than 20 years working on a wide range of evaluation projects financed by organizations like USAID, Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), Open Government Partnership (OGP), Global Development Network (GDN), and World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Her international experience as an evaluator and instructor also includes Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, and El Salvador. 

Dr. Nava-Campos has a Ph.D. in Political Science from Northwestern University, a master’s in public policy degree from Harvard University Kennedy School, and a B.A. in International Relations from El Colegio de Mexico. She is fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, and French.  

Matthew Needham is a Project Coordinator at Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) supporting Turn-Key Logistics projects in Haiti. 

Mr. Needham joined SCG in September 2023 as a Project Assistant within SCG’s Global Corrections Team. As a member of the team, he supported the planning and execution of corrections training events, including drafting and negotiating vendor agreements, providing on-site support to facilitate training, and working with international partners. Prior to joining SCG, Mr. Needham worked as a graduate fellow at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in New York as part of the Africa & MENA Public Partnerships team. At UNICEF, Mr. Needham worked with the Senior Advisor for Muslim Philanthropy on crafting an organization wide plan to better coordinate regional efforts. While there Mr. Needham coordinated closely with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) on The Global Muslim Philanthropy Fund for Children, a joint fund with UNICEF, targeting High Net Worth Individuals and Foundations for donations to development projects. 

Mr. Needham holds a Master of Arts in International Relations from The Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations & Political Science with a minor in French from Syracuse University. Mr. Needham speaks French and basic Italian.

Kitprasert Nopparat joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in October 2024 as a Project Coordinator based in Bangkok, Thailand. Mr. Nopparat is currently a member of SCG’s Global Operations Team.

Prior to his appointment at SCG, Mr. Nopparat served as a Protection Assistant at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). In this role, he was responsible for a range of duties, including conducting monthly monitoring visits at Thai Government facilities housing Rohingya Persons of Concern, providing translation and simultaneous interpretation services, collecting data to support coordination with immigration authorities and various ministries, and drafting correspondence, reports and research documents.

Mr. Nopparat holds a Master of Arts in International Law and Human Rights from the United Nations-mandated University for Peace, as well as a Master of Arts in Political Science, with a major in Global Politics, from Ateneo de Manila University. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, majoring in International Relations, with first-class honors from Chulalongkorn University. In addition to his native Thai, Mr. Nopparat is proficient in English, French, and Spanish.

Rob Price serves as Deputy Director of Programs at Strategic Capacity Group (SCG), overseeing operations for the Programs Department and managing SCG’s global project portfolio to drive strategic capacity building and deliver efficient global travel and logistical support.  In addition, Mr. Price is the Program Manager for the U.S. Department of State’s International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) program, leading a complex, international global travel and logistical support initiative.

Prior to joining SCG, Mr. Price worked at the United States Department of State (DOS) in the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Office of Antiterrorism Assistance (ATA), where he managed a global assessment and evaluation program, conducting capability assessments and monitoring and evaluation reviews on foreign high-risk countries.  The results guided the creation of strategic goals and priorities and influenced policy and program development.  Before his role with the ATA, Mr. Price managed the Department of State’s Narcotics Rewards Program for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.  This program offers rewards for information leading to the capture of high-priority international narcotics traffickers who send drugs into the United States.  Earlier in his career, Mr. Price dedicated more than 22 years to federal law enforcement as a Special Agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, retiring as an Assistant Special Agent in Charge.  His diverse roles included leadership, operational, investigative, enforcement, training, and security positions.  He managed the agency’s global security and safety programs; led the agency’s international training, professional development and leadership training, and financial training programs; and oversaw and conducted hundreds of criminal and civil investigations. 

Mr. Price holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Urban Planning from the University of Utah.

Jaimee Garduno Raigosa joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in July 2024 as a Project Coordinator for the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) Program in Roswell, New Mexico. 

Prior to joining SCG, Ms. Raigosa worked at Foxworth Galbraith as a Logistics Coordinator in charge of fleet management and in Mexico City as an Airfreight Pricing Specialist for DSV and Kuehne Nagel, where she was responsible for global airline and cargo pricing and procurement for the oil and gas, pharmaceutical, aerospace, and automotive industries for import and export lanes. 

Ms. Raigosa holds a bachelor’s degree in international business from Universidad Tecnologica de Mexico. She is fluent in Spanish and English.

Dr. Lewis Rasmussen joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) as the Director of Strategic Growth and Development in August 2024. 

Dr. Rasmussen has over three decades of experience providing strategic planning, program management and leadership, business development, technical assistance, training services, and thought leadership in the foreign assistance and development assistance arenas, focused on multi-sectoral facets of conflict transformation, community and citizen security, and stabilization. Prior to joining SCG, he served as a Strategic Advisor for development for Alutiiq, an Alaskan Native Corporation (2022-2023), and as a Director of strategic planning and business development with Tetra Tech’s International Development Services Division (2003-2022), where his work focused on the intersection of development, security, and stabilization. At Policy Studies Incorporated (2001-2003), he was the inaugural Director of the International Peace and Justice Center, which brought a social justice orientation toward global health, criminal justice, and conflict resolution programming. Dr. Rasmussen served as a Program Officer at the U.S. Institute of Peace from 1988-2000, where, among other accomplishments, he co-founded the international conflict resolution skills training program, initiated the military fellows program in collaboration with the U.S. Army War College, began the police assistance program, and was part of the team that founded the secondary and tertiary teacher training programs. He also served from 2007-2014 as a founding Co-Chair and Board Member of the Stability, Security, Transition & Reconstruction Division of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA), and has more recently been a Board Member for the NDIA Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict Division (2018-2023). He previously served as Co-Chair of the Society for International Development’s Peace and Security Working Group a decade ago and is again serving as a current Co-Chair (2024-2026). 

Dr. Rasmussen holds a Ph.D. in international relations (with an emphasis on peace, conflict, and security) from The American University, an MA in international development and international communication, and a BA in interpersonal and organizational communication. He has periodically published books, chapters, and articles on various aspects of peace, conflict, and security, and is an active member of the Society for International Development, Alliance for Peacebuilding, and the National Defense Industrial Association.

Amanda Robles López joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in October 2024 as a Project Assistant for the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) Program.

Prior to joining SCG, Ms. Robles López worked as a Public Policy Analyst for Grupo Nexos, a non-profit in Puerto Rico. From August 2023 to May 2024, Ms. Robles López researched the humanitarian and security aspects of the Haitian crisis, identifying a critical need to protect at risk-youth from gang recruitment and targeting, and designed behavioral and community-based initiatives to decrease child-related violence in Haiti.

Ms. Robles López holds a Master of Science in Foreign Service with a concentration in International Development from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Arts in Politics from the Catholic University of America. Ms. Robles López also has a Minor in Islamic World Studies, a Certificate in Intelligence Studies, and a Certificate in Refugees, Migration, and Humanitarian Emergencies. Ms. Robles López is fluent in Spanish and has intermediate proficiency in Portuguese.

DeeDee Rodriguez is a Senior Police Advisor supporting Strategic Capacity Group’s program in Sierra Leone.  

Ms. Rodriguez has 16 years of international policing experience serving with the United Nations as an UNPOL in various positions (Regional Advisor for Trafficking in Persons, Narcotics, and Missing Persons; Station Commander; Executive Officer for the Deputy Police Commissioner of Operations; Executive officer of  UNMIK Police Commissioner), the European Union Rule of Law Mission (EULEX) in Kosovo as Advisor to Kosovo Police Chief of Staff,  and the DOJ International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP) as Senior Advisor/Instructor for Anti-Trafficking in Persons Program. She recently served for three years supporting UN Police Headquarters Standing Police Capacity. Ms. Rodriguez is also an UN Certified Master Instructor for Monitoring, Mentoring, and Advising, and Capacity Building and Development. Her international police work has included deployments to Kosovo, Guinea-Bissau, Italy, Haiti, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, South Sudan, Jordan, and Sierra Leone.  Ms. Rodriquez served as a Detective First Class and a Deputy Coroner in Montana. During her time with the Ravalli County Sheriff’s Office, she earned a national certification in Computer Forensics Analysis, Child Forensic Interviewing, and an Emergency Medical Technician Certification. 

Ms. Rodriguez holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and numerous certificates. She received the Ravalli Country Domestic Violence “Courage Award” and was recognized for “Making a Difference for Women” by the Soroptimist Association.

Marcela Rodriguez Valle joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in October 2024 as a Project Coordinator for the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) program in San Salvador, El Salvador.

Prior to joining SCG, Ms. Rodriguez worked in a Spanish Production Company as an Event Coordinator, where she led a team to execute International Sports Events in El Salvador. Her experience in managing complex projects has equipped her with valuable skills in coordination and leadership.

Ms. Rodriguez is certified in Event Planning and Marketing Skills from the Universidad Católica de Chile, she also studied Fashion Design in Universidad Anahuac, México. Ms. Rodriguez is fluent in Spanish, English and has elementary knowledge of German.

Richele Rorabeck joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in May 2024 as a Project Assistant to support SCG’s Global Corrections Program at the International Corrections Academy-Colorado (ICA-C).

Ms. Rorabeck has over 20 years of experience in facility and parks maintenance and landscape design with responsibility for client relations, project design and installation, vendor contracts, and supervising crew assignments and logistics. She has years of experience in client facing and customer service roles, serving as a client manager with responsibility for contract creation, bids and estimates, and for managing customer accounts and properties. As an Account Manager, she acquired and maintained accounts and managed bilingual (Spanish/English) teams to delivery high quality services.

Ms. Rorabeck holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Horticulture with a concentration in Food Crops and Floriculture from Colorado State University. Ms. Rorabeck is fluent in Spanish.

Ruth Roy joined Strategic Capacity Group in 2017 as a Senior Police Advisor to support SCG’s projects in North Africa and the Sahel.

Ms. Roy is a retired police Inspector with over 30 years of completed service with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Throughout her career, Inspector Roy worked throughout Canada and around the globe to improve police training programs with a special emphasis on gender sensitivity and balance. As a first responder constable, she was involved in several community policing initiatives throughout Canada. Inspector Roy also created a Women’s Advisory Committee for the Commanding Officer of Nova Scotia. As the Director of Basic Training for the United Nations Mission in Haiti, she improved the Basic Training Program for the Haitian National Police and developed training for police cadets on gender sensitivity.

Ms. Roy holds a Certificate in Police Leadership from Henson College and a Bachelor of Business Administration with a minor in Management from Mount Saint Vincent University. She has received numerous honors, including the 2013 NAWLEE/Motorola Woman Law Enforcement Executive of the Year Award, a United Nations Peacekeeping Medal, the Atlantic Women in Law Enforcement’s Police Woman of the Year Award, and the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal.  

Gloria Ruiz is the Assistant Global Operations Team Manager and Shift Supervisor at Strategic Capacity Group (SCG), supporting the management of a globally based team to plan, organize, and execute operations in support of SCG’s mission.

Ms. Ruiz Gloria joined SCG in March 2021 as a Project Assistant to support the implementation of SCG’s Turn-Key Logistics project in Belize and subsequently served as a team lead for the planning and execution of logistics for SCG’s global portfolio of projects.  Prior to joining SCG, Ms. Ruiz worked in the hospitality, banking, and legal sectors. In these roles, she managed day-to-day and long-term logistics planning for events and activities. 

Ms. Ruiz holds a Bachelor of Science from the National Pingtung University of Science and Technology in Taiwan, R.O.C. She is fluent in English and Spanish.

Nannaphas Rungrueng joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in October 2023 as a Project Assistant based in Bangkok, Thailand to support SCG's Global Operations Team.

Prior to joining SCG, Ms. Nannaphas served as a Senior Program Assistant at PATH's Digital Square, Program Associate at The Aspen Institute - ANDE, and as National Consultant at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and International Trade Centre (ITC). She is an experienced event planner, has facilitated networking events, managed stakeholder relationships, and led assigned project initiatives on behalf of the organizations where she has served.

Ms. Nannaphas received her Master of Arts in International Studies from the University of San Francisco, where she conducted extensive research on microfinance and financial inclusion in Southeast Asia. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Language and Culture - International Program from Chulalongkorn University. Ms. Nannaphas is fluent in Thai and English.

Onan Sanchez joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in October 2024 as a Project Coordinator, based in San Salvador, El Salvador, to support SCG's Global Operations Team.

Prior to joining SCG, Mr. Sanchez served as a Project Manager at Tepia Co, where he was responsible for leading tech projects, implementing quality assurance processes, streamlining workflows through automation, conducting in-depth research and analysis, managing data systems, and creating reports. Additionally, Mr. Sanchez served as an Assistant Project Coordinator for the Central American and Caribbean Games San Salvador 2023. He successfully led a project involving 200+ assistants, earning a 5-star average rating from the 32 invited delegations.

Mr. Sanchez is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in technology and business management with a minor in data analysis at ESI School of Business. He is fluent in English and Spanish.

Pakin Santanan joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in March 2021 as a Project Coordinator based in Thailand to support SCG’s capacity building projects in Thailand and across Southeast Asia. Mr. Santanan currently serves as a member of SCG’s Global Operations Team.

Mr. Santanan has over ten years of experience in development, training, and event management for both public and private sectors domestically and internationally. Prior to joining SCG, Mr. Santanan was the project director for Multiple Intelligence International. In this role, he facilitated several projects and events for the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, European Union, and United Nations. During his time with Multiple Intelligence International, he coordinated with local representatives in 17 countries across Asia and Oceania. Mr. Santanan has also served as a project coordinator for AIT Extension and the Asian Institute of Technology, where he managed several international projects.

Mr. Santanan holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Thai Chamber of Commerce, Thailand and a Master’s Degree in Science from the Asian Institute of Technology, where he received a full scholarship from the Royal Thai Government. Mr. Santanan obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Science from King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Lardkrabang. He is fluent in both Thai and English.

Tamim Shams joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in July 2024 as the Finance and Operations Manager. Mr. Shams leads the SCG finance team, overseeing procurement actions, cash flow management, audit support, and headquarters office operations.

With over 12 years of experience in project finance, corporate finance, and administrative management, Mr. Shams has a robust background in various financial roles, including his most recent positions as Project Finance Analyst at Abt Global and Task Order Finance Specialist at Chemonics International. He brings both international and domestic expertise in financial management, forecasting, budget management, and administration.

Mr. Shams holds a Master of Science degree in International Development with a major in Finance from Arizona State University. Mr. Shams speaks Farsi, Pashto, and Urdu.

Dale Sheehan joined Strategic Capacity Group in February 2017 as Special Advisor for International Cooperation.

Prior to SCG, Mr. Sheehan worked in law enforcement for over 35 years, including as Assistant Commissioner, Director General of Learning and Development, and an Adjudicator and Mediator for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). During that time, Mr. Sheehan published and co-edited Police Organization and Training, Innovations in Research and Practice, and spearheaded an effort with international partners in thirteen countries to broaden the appeal of public service through policing. He also served as INTERPOL’s first Director of Police Training and Development and as Director of INTERPOL in France and Singapore. Throughout his career, Mr. Sheehan has observed and participated in law enforcement capacity building and training initiatives in over 120 countries.

Mr. Sheehan holds a BA in Sociology/Criminology/Law from Carlton University and graduated from Carleton University’s Sprott School of Business Executive Strategic Human Resources Leadership Program.  Mr. Sheehan is the recipient of numerous awards, including the St Johns Ambulance Medal, the Canadian Peacekeeping Medal, United Nations Protection Force Medal, Canada 125 Medal, Saskatchewan Centenary Medal, Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal, Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Long Service Medal, and the Member of the Order of Merit. He sits on several Canadian and international boards of directors, including Past President, Canadian Association of Police Educators, INTERPOL Group of Experts Police Training, Canadian Police Knowledge Network, and the RCMP Quarterly Editorial Board.

Anthony Slocumb joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in October 2023 as a Project Coordinator in support SCG’s Global Corrections Program at the International Corrections Academy - Colorado (ICA-C) in Cañon City, CO.

Mr. Slocumb has 15 years of experience in management, operations, logistical support, and security with both military and civilian components in the United States, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. He has also conducted training in support of security and area operations with military and international partners in Africa and Iraq. He served as an operations coordinator supporting the movement of personnel and equipment in Afghanistan. As a facility manager, Mr. Slocumb was responsible for coordinating the movement of vehicles and for product, personnel, and time management to improve operations and profitability.

Mr. Slocumb holds a Master of Science in Political Science from Liberty University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Columbia Southern University.

Andrew Smith joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in 2021as a Senior Program Officer supporting SCG’s law enforcement training and modernization programming globally.

Prior to joining SCG, Mr. Smith spent six years implementing rule of law programs for the American Bar Association’s Rule of Law Initiative, primarily in the Middle East and North Africa from both DC headquarters and field offices in Libya, Tunisia, and Morocco. He has a wide range of research and program management experience working on USG and non-USG funded programming in rule of law development and human rights, including judicial and criminal justice reform, access to justice, trafficking in persons, transitional justice, and peacebuilding and governance. He has lived and worked in Jordan and Italy in numerous capacities, and previously studied Arabic at the University of Jordan.

Mr. Smith holds a Master of Jurisprudence in Rule of Law for Development from Loyola University Chicago, School of Law, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from the University of Mary Washington.

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Patthamaphong Sonthithai joined Strategic Capacity Group in November 2023 as a Senior Project Assistant supporting the Global Corrections Program in Sykesville, MD. 

Prior to joining SCG, Ms. Sonthithai worked for international tour operators in Bangkok, Thailand. As a travel consultant, she crafted personalized itineraries covering transportation, accommodations, tours, and plane tickets in Thailand to suit the lifestyles and preferences of Latin American and Spanish clients. Thereafter, she worked as a Medical Assistant Coordinator where she managed communications with British insurance policyholders abroad, facilitating medical assistance and coordinating transportation including air ambulance. She also worked as a trainee at the Embassy of the Republic of Cuba in Thailand. Ms. Sonthithai lived in South Africa for one year as an exchange student and in Colombia for four months to study Spanish at the Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana in Medellin with a scholarship granted by the Colombian government. 

Ms. Sonthithai holds a Master of Arts in Latin American and Caribbean Studies from Columbia University. She received a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations with honors from Chulalongkorn University. She speaks Thai, English, and Spanish.

Ali Souley joined Strategic Capacity Group in 2017 as a Project Coordinator to support SCG’s portfolio of projects across the Sahel.

Before joining SCG, Mr. Souley worked as a Translator and International Conference Interpreter. He also served as the Senior Officer of the National Democratic Institute-Niger, a Trainer in English Language Teaching, and an educational consultant. Mr. Souley founded two private schools in Niamey, Niger.

Mr. Souley holds a Ph.D. certificate in Education from Ahmed Bello University (A.B.U.) Zaria, an MA in Education from the University of Leeds, and an MA and BA in English Language from the University of Niamey.

Kemal Taban is a Budget Coordinator at Strategic Capacity Group (SCG), providing budget design and management support to SCG programs worldwide.

Mr. Taban joined SCG in October 2022 as a Senior Project Assistant prior to his promotion. As a member of SCG’s Global Corrections Team, he supported the planning and execution of corrections trainings, which included negotiating and drafting agreements with vendors, providing on-site support to facilitate trainings, and communicating and collaborating with international partners. Prior to joining SCG, Mr. Taban worked as a Student Trainee at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., where he prepared regional briefs and detailed reports, maintained and facilitated communications between Washington and U.S. embassies abroad, and participated in meetings with senior-level U.S. and foreign government officials. Mr. Taban also has experience serving as a Paralegal in the fields of immigration, business, and litigation.

Mr. Taban graduated from The College of William and Mary with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and a minor in Economics. He is fluent in Turkish and has elementary knowledge of Spanish and Arabic.

Luis Viscarra joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in July 2024 as a Project Coordinator based in San Salvador, El Salvador to support SCG's Global Operations Team.

Before joining SCG, Mr. Viscarra worked across various industries, including in technology and non-profit organizations, and served as an Executive Assistant and Project Manager. He developed skills in strategic planning, operational efficiency, and data analysis.

Mr. Viscarra holds an MBA from the International School of Business, and Bachelor of Science in computer science engineering. Mr. Viscarra is fluent in Spanish and English.

Kendal Wolf joined Strategic Capacity Group in 2019 as a Senior Program Officer, leading monitoring and evaluation for SCG’s Academies of Excellence Program in Mali.

Mr. Wolf is a seasoned evaluator with twenty years of international affairs, education, and project management experience. He most recently directed evaluation at a leading non-profit institute that builds professional connections and international understanding between global policy makers and their counterparts in the Middle East. Previously, he ran a boutique consulting business for international organizations based in the Pacific Islands. Mr. Wolf has broad experience in education and evaluation, working in settings as diverse as Senegal, France, Cook Islands, and Fiji, as well as in various other locations throughout the United States.

Mr. Wolf holds a BA from Tufts University and a MALD from the Fletcher School. He also completed graduate studies in Education at George Washington University and was a Fulbright Teaching Fellow at the Université de Bourgogne.

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Jacques Worth joined Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in August 2024 as a Project Assistant to support the Knowledge Management (KM) Department.

Prior to joining SCG, Mr. Worth worked as a research assistant for the IDEAHub at the College of William & Mary. At the IDEAHub, he contributed to research for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and worked closely with the Senior Diversity and Inclusion Officer to evaluate living conditions for UNHCR employees with disabilities. He also worked as an intern for the Global Strategy Group, preparing notes, research, and client-facing communications.

Mr. Worth holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations with a minor in Economics from the College of William & Mary. Mr. Worth is fluent in French.