Mr. Riki Ellison is the Founder and Chairman of the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance; a non-profit organization launched in 2002 with a singular purpose and mission to drive for the deployment, development, and evolution of missile defense. Mr. Ellison has been involved with missile defense since 1980, being introduced to it by then Governor Ronald Reagan’s Senior Defense Advisor, Dr. William R. Van Cleave. Since its founding, the organization has grown to over 20,000 members across the world and has emerged as the top lay expert voice on missile defense in the world. Mr. Ellison has been in attendance of over 277 missile defense tests, visited 693 U.S. and allied missile defense bases and platforms, and has advocated for missile defense in all 50 states and 28 countries.

Amongst the achievements of Mr. Ellison is the creation and building of two historic missile defense and veteran public memorials. One memorial is located at Vandenberg AFB in California, honoring President Ronald Reagan, and the other is located at the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii, dedicated with the late Senator Daniel Inouye. Mr. Ellison was awarded the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara in December 2011 and the German Air Force Air Defense Missile Badge in October 2018. Mr. Ellison also established the annual “Missile Defender of the Year Award Ceremony.” These awards are given to the best United States missile defense soldier, sailor, airman, and national guardsmen from each of the military services involved with missile defense. There have been 70 DOY events hosted in seven countries that have recognized 872 DOY Awardees from 18 different nations since 2011 as the Missile Defender of the Year in their respective branch and region.

On June 15, 2021, Mr. Ellison and MDAA, in partnership with the University of Southern California’s Price School of Public Policy and Viterbi School of Engineering, created the USC SHIELD Executive Program. The 8-month-long program began on September 24, 2021, and is designed to ignite a Critical Thinking cauldron and cadre of missile defense leaders across the spectrum on the intersection of public policy and engineering in making the nation and the world a safer place. There are now two completed SHIELD programs with 55 graduates between the two cohorts, with the most recent class having presented their capstone projects and received their certificates in late April 2023.

On April 12th, 2022, Mr. Ellison and the MDAA board of directors wrote its first capstone effort to reform U.S. missile defense roles and responsibilities for the rapidly evolving era of great power competition. The report titled “U.S. Missile Defense: An Overview of Past, Current, and Future Roles and Responsibilities” outlines how and why the roles and responsibilities of the Services, Combatant Commands, and the Missile Defense Agency must change, and change soon.

In 2006, Mr. Ellison founded the Youth Impact Program for disadvantaged and at-risk youth in our nation’s inner cities. There have been 44 Youth Impact Programs in 15 of our nation’s major cities and major universities. The Youth Impact Program has been recognized twice by the United States Congress in Senate and House Congressional Resolutions for its overall achievements, innovation, and impact. In 2022, the Youth Impact Program implemented its first program for girls. Since the beginning, YIP has impacted 3,693 at-risk youth, 793 NCAA athletes, 164 public school teachers, 169 U.S. Marines, 126 U.S. Army Soldiers, and 38 U.S. Air Force Airmen. Students who attended our 2022 programs on average increased their Stem scores by 40%, language art scores by 27%, and mathematics by 22%.

Mr. Ellison was also involved in supporting wounded warriors of the United States military, and those with traumatic brain injury. In 2011, Mr. Ellison brought the National Football League and the United States Army together on TBI that resulted in a partnership announced in 2012 by the Commissioner of the NFL and the Chief of the United States Army.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Ellison played professional football for 10 years as a starting middle linebacker with the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders, winning three Super Bowl championships. He was the first New Zealander to play in the NFL and the first New Zealander to win a Super Bowl. In 2017, Mr. Ellison was inducted into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame. Mr. Ellison played college football at the University of Southern California, winning a National Championship and two Rose Bowls following a State High School Football Championship in Arizona. Mr. Ellison earned a Bachelor of Science degree in International Relations with a graduate emphasis on Defense and Strategic Studies from the University of Southern California in 1983. Mr. Ellison attended the National Security Seminar at the Army War College in 2009 and 2020 and the National Security Seminar at the Air War College in 2011. Mr. Ellison also attended the University of Notre Dame, where he attended a Business Management and Entrepreneurial program in 2013.

Service and athletics were ingrained in Mr. Ellison’s life. His grandfather, Ned Ellison of New Zealand, was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal in 1935 and was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1938 for his achievements in medicine. Ned’s brother (Mr. Ellison’s grand uncle), Thomas Ellison, was the first captain of the New Zealand Representative Rugby Team in 1893 and also played on the New Zealand Native Football Team from 1898-99.

 Air Cdre Andy Martin is currently the RAF’s Deputy Director for Air Capability and Programmes, and the Air Capability lead for Integrated Air and Missile Defence.

Martin is a Qualified Air Defence Weapons and Tactics Instructor (QWI) and an Electronic Warfare Instructor. His early career included operational tours as an Air Defence pilot, an Air Defence Operational Conversion Unit Instructor, and as a Staff Instructor on the Air Defence QWI Course. These were followed by tours as the Deputy Commander of the Tornado F3 Air Defence Operational Evaluation Unit, and as Officer Commanding Number 8 Squadron, operating the RAF’s E-3D Sentry as part of the NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force.

Martin has completed operational deployments as the Chief of Combat Operations in the US Central Command Combined Air Operation Centre, and as Commander of the UK’s 904 Expeditionary Air Wing at Kandahar Air Base in Afghanistan.

Martin’s initial staff tours were at the J5 Plans Division and the UK Permanent Joint Headquarters and the MOD’s Operation Directorate. These were followed by roles as Deputy ISTAR Force Commander, and as Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff for Combat Air Capability, with the latter role covering Air Defence and Attack, ISTAR, Synthetic Training, Airborne Command and Control, and Air Battlespace Management functional areas. Martin also served as the Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force at NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen, Germany.

Martin completed his Advanced Staff training at the Canadian Forces’ College, Toronto, gaining a Masters in Defence Studies, and is a Distinguished Graduate of the US National War College in Washington DC, at which he gained an MSc in National Security Strategy. Martin was awarded the OBE for his achievements in Command of Number 8 Squadron, and received NATO Meritorious Service Medals for his work during each of his 2 tours within the NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force.

Brigadier General Frank J. Lozano is the Program Executive Officer (PEO), Missiles and Space, Redstone Arsenal, AL. He is responsible for the development, production, fielding, sustainment, and international program aspects for assigned missile and space systems. BG Lozano assumed his current position August 2022.

BG Lozano assessed into the Army Acquisition Corps in 2001 and graduated with an MBA from the University of Texas at Arlington. He served with Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control in Grand Prairie, TX as part of the Training With Industry (TWI) program.

After completion of Command and General Staff College, BG Lozano was assigned as the Assistant Product Manager for Project Manager Soldier Weapons, PEO Soldier, followed by an assignment as an Ammunition and Demolition System Acquisition Manager for the Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and the Army Research Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM).

In 2008, BG Lozano was assigned as a Department of the Army System Coordinator (DASC) for Tactical Missile Systems and Ballistic Missile Defense Systems. BG Lozano was selected to be a Special Assistant for the Army’s Vice Chief of Staff, GEN. As the Special Assistant, he provided insight, advice, and counsel on Army acquisition programs crossing many different functional capability areas.

BG Lozano commanded the Product Management Office for Soldier Protective Equipment, PEO Soldier from 2011 until 2014. Afterwards, he was assigned to the Joint Staff, J-8 Capabilities and Acquisition Division. Upon graduation from the US Army War College, BG Lozano was assigned as the Project Manager for the Lower Tier Project Office, PEO Missiles and Space from 2017 until 2020, followed by an assignment as the Integrated Fires and Rapid Capability Office PM. From April 2021 to May 2022 BG Lozano served as the ASA(ALT) Chief of Staff.

BG Lozano’s operational and combat experience include deployments to Bosnia, Kuwait and Iraq. His awards and decorations include the Parachutist Badge, Ranger Tab, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, the NATO Service Medal, the Army Staff Identification Badge, and the Joint Staff Identification Badge. He is certified in Program Management; Contracting; System Research; Planning and Engineering; and System Test career fields.

BG Lozano is married to the former Anne E. Yesconis of Dallas, TX and has three children: Olivia, Jackson, and Nicholas.

 Colonel Coton studied at Cranfield University (Bachelor of Engineering and Master of Science),
King’s College London (Master of Arts) and is a graduate of the Higher Command and Staff
Course. He was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 2001, initially serving as a Troop
Commander in an AS90 Regiment on operations in Bosnia. Following a year as an instructor at
the Army Training Regiment Pirbright, and having completed the All Arms Commando Course, he
was posted to 29 Commando Regiment. Here he served as both a Fire Support Team
Commander and Naval Gunfire Forward Observer. He spent most of 2006 in Helmand Province
on Operation HERRICK 4 and 5, deploying first as FST Commander and later as the commander
of an Operational Mentor and Liaison Team, leading indigenous troops in the fight against the
Taliban. After a short stint as Adjutant of an Air Defence regiment, Colonel Coton was promoted to
Major and attended both the Intermediate Command and Staff Course and the Battlespace
Technology Course at Shrivenham.
On the staff, Colonel Coton has been employed as a Military Advisor at Dstl, as SO2 People and
Training on the General Staff in MoD, and as SO1 Capability Plans in the MoD’s Finance and
Military Capability directorate. Colonel Coton deployed on Operation SHADER in Northern Iraq in
2016, where he coordinated activity between the Iraqi Army and Kurdish Security Forces during
the liberation of Mosul. On promotion in 2020, Colonel Coton was employed as Assistant Head
Concepts in the Army Headquarters, where he delivered the Army’s new Land Operating Concept.
Colonel Coton commanded an airborne artillery battery between 2011 and 2014, first supporting 1
Royal Irish Battlegroup in their preparation for Op HERRICK 18, and later forming part of the Air
Assault Task Force with 3rd Battalion the Parachute Regiment. In 2017, Colonel Coton was
selected to Command 16th Regiment Royal Artillery, a Rapier Air Defence Regiment. He now
commands 7th Air Defence Group.
Colonel Coton is married to Emma who is an Occupational Therapist. They have two daughters,
Isabelle, and Phoebe. These days, Colonel Coton largely lives life vicariously through his children,
but still enjoys all things mountaineering and is an avid armchair rugby fan

 Dr Arun Kumar Arumugam was born in Penang, Malaysia. After completing his secondary education in Malaysia, he moved to the UK to pursue an undergraduate degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering and subsequently, a PhD in Wireless Personal Area Networks from the University of Bristol.

Arun’s industrial experience spans over 13 years in Defence & Security and 5 years in the Space sector. He is the Director of Business Development for two companies, Advanced Protection Systems (APS) based in Gdynia, Poland and a SAR satellite space start-up, Eycore. He is also the Founder and Director of StrategyConsults Limited in the UK. Arun was a recipient of the Robinson Research Fellowship from the Institution of Engineering & Technology (IET), holder of the Chester-Saal Award from the IEEE, USA and is a Working Group member of Space Scotland (formerly the Scottish Space Leadership Council).

Mr. Riki Ellison is the Founder and Chairman of the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance; a non-profit organization launched in 2002 with a singular purpose and mission to drive for the deployment, development, and evolution of missile defense. Mr. Ellison has been involved with missile defense since 1980, being introduced to it by then Governor Ronald Reagan’s Senior Defense Advisor, Dr. William R. Van Cleave. Since its founding, the organization has grown to over 20,000 members across the world and has emerged as the top lay expert voice on missile defense in the world. Mr. Ellison has been in attendance of over 277 missile defense tests, visited 693 U.S. and allied missile defense bases and platforms, and has advocated for missile defense in all 50 states and 28 countries.

Amongst the achievements of Mr. Ellison is the creation and building of two historic missile defense and veteran public memorials. One memorial is located at Vandenberg AFB in California, honoring President Ronald Reagan, and the other is located at the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii, dedicated with the late Senator Daniel Inouye. Mr. Ellison was awarded the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara in December 2011 and the German Air Force Air Defense Missile Badge in October 2018. Mr. Ellison also established the annual “Missile Defender of the Year Award Ceremony.” These awards are given to the best United States missile defense soldier, sailor, airman, and national guardsmen from each of the military services involved with missile defense. There have been 70 DOY events hosted in seven countries that have recognized 872 DOY Awardees from 18 different nations since 2011 as the Missile Defender of the Year in their respective branch and region.

On June 15, 2021, Mr. Ellison and MDAA, in partnership with the University of Southern California’s Price School of Public Policy and Viterbi School of Engineering, created the USC SHIELD Executive Program. The 8-month-long program began on September 24, 2021, and is designed to ignite a Critical Thinking cauldron and cadre of missile defense leaders across the spectrum on the intersection of public policy and engineering in making the nation and the world a safer place. There are now two completed SHIELD programs with 55 graduates between the two cohorts, with the most recent class having presented their capstone projects and received their certificates in late April 2023.

On April 12th, 2022, Mr. Ellison and the MDAA board of directors wrote its first capstone effort to reform U.S. missile defense roles and responsibilities for the rapidly evolving era of great power competition. The report titled “U.S. Missile Defense: An Overview of Past, Current, and Future Roles and Responsibilities” outlines how and why the roles and responsibilities of the Services, Combatant Commands, and the Missile Defense Agency must change, and change soon.

In 2006, Mr. Ellison founded the Youth Impact Program for disadvantaged and at-risk youth in our nation’s inner cities. There have been 44 Youth Impact Programs in 15 of our nation’s major cities and major universities. The Youth Impact Program has been recognized twice by the United States Congress in Senate and House Congressional Resolutions for its overall achievements, innovation, and impact. In 2022, the Youth Impact Program implemented its first program for girls. Since the beginning, YIP has impacted 3,693 at-risk youth, 793 NCAA athletes, 164 public school teachers, 169 U.S. Marines, 126 U.S. Army Soldiers, and 38 U.S. Air Force Airmen. Students who attended our 2022 programs on average increased their Stem scores by 40%, language art scores by 27%, and mathematics by 22%.

Mr. Ellison was also involved in supporting wounded warriors of the United States military, and those with traumatic brain injury. In 2011, Mr. Ellison brought the National Football League and the United States Army together on TBI that resulted in a partnership announced in 2012 by the Commissioner of the NFL and the Chief of the United States Army.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Ellison played professional football for 10 years as a starting middle linebacker with the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders, winning three Super Bowl championships. He was the first New Zealander to play in the NFL and the first New Zealander to win a Super Bowl. In 2017, Mr. Ellison was inducted into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame. Mr. Ellison played college football at the University of Southern California, winning a National Championship and two Rose Bowls following a State High School Football Championship in Arizona. Mr. Ellison earned a Bachelor of Science degree in International Relations with a graduate emphasis on Defense and Strategic Studies from the University of Southern California in 1983. Mr. Ellison attended the National Security Seminar at the Army War College in 2009 and 2020 and the National Security Seminar at the Air War College in 2011. Mr. Ellison also attended the University of Notre Dame, where he attended a Business Management and Entrepreneurial program in 2013.

Service and athletics were ingrained in Mr. Ellison’s life. His grandfather, Ned Ellison of New Zealand, was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal in 1935 and was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1938 for his achievements in medicine. Ned’s brother (Mr. Ellison’s grand uncle), Thomas Ellison, was the first captain of the New Zealand Representative Rugby Team in 1893 and also played on the New Zealand Native Football Team from 1898-99.

Tom Goffus was appointed as Assistant Secretary General for Operations in January 2022. He advises the Secretary General on strengthening defense capabilities of NATO partners, preparing NATO for the defense of Alliance territory, and responding to crises. In October 2023, Tom Goffus was appointed as NATO Secretary General's Special Coordinator for Counter-Terrorism.

Prior to joining the NATO International Staff, he served as Policy Director on the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for European and NATO Policy, National Security Staff Director for Strategic and Eastern European Affairs, and Senior Military Advisor for European and Eurasian Affairs at the State Department. He graduated from the United States Air Force Academy, was commissioned in the Air Force, and flew the F-15, T-6, and T-37 aircraft.

Major General Joel L. “Joker” Carey is the Director of
Operations, Strategic Deterrence, and Nuclear Integration,
Headquarters United States Air Forces in Europe and Air
Forces Africa, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. General Carey
oversees a directorate staff and the 603rd Air Operations
Center providing integrated air and missile defense,
aeromedical evacuation, space and cyberspace operations,
aerial refueling, weather, combat aerial delivery, operational
support airlift and distinguished visitor airlift, intelligence,
surveillance and reconnaissance, and precision strike in the
European and African Commands.
Maj. Gen. Carey was commissioned as a distinguished
graduate of the ROTC at Baylor University in 1992. He has
served in numerous positions at the squadron, group, wing,
numbered air force, major command and Joint Chiefs of Staff
levels. His assignments have included command of an
operational fighter squadron, vice commander of two air
expeditionary wings and commander of three wings, including a
flying training wing, air expeditionary wing and large combat
wing. He has deployed in support of operations Deliberate
Force, Provide Comfort, Northern Watch, Southern Watch,
Enduring Freedom, Freedom Sentinel and U.S. Air Forces
Central Command’s Theater Security Package. Prior to his
current position, he was the Deputy Chief of Staff Operations,
Headquarters Allied Air Command, Ramstein AB, Germany.
Maj. Gen. Carey is a command pilot with more than 3,200 hours in the F-15C/D, A-29, F-111, EF-111, MC-12W,
C-208, T-38C and F-15E aircraft, including more than 180 combat missions.

 Brig. Gen. Dr. Eng. Michal MARCINIAK is a graduate of the Faculty of Armament and Aviation of the Military University of Technology, majoring in mechatronics, specializing in aircraft and helicopter accessories.

In 2000, he began his professional service in the 36th Special Transport Aviation Regiment as a key engineer, and in the following years he performed duties as a key commander, service chief and section chief. In the years 2008-2010, he served in the Department of Supply of the Armed Forces as a senior specialist of the Foreign Service Branch, where he served until the formation of the Armament Inspectorate. In the Armament Inspectorate, he held the positions of head of the Armament Programs Department and deputy head of the Aviation Technology Headquarters.

In the years 2017-2021, he served as the Plenipotentiary of the Minister of National Defense for the acquisition and implementation of the WISLA system into the Polish Armed Forces.

On January 1, 2022, by decision of the Minister of National Defense, he was appointed Deputy Head of the Armament Agency and at the same time Plenipotentiary of the Minister of National Defense for the Construction of the Integrated Anti-Aircraft and Anti-Missile Defense System.

By decision of the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, he was appointed to the rank of brigadier general. He received the act of appointment on August 14, 2023 from the President of the Republic of Poland in the courtyard in front of the Presidential Palace.

During his military service, he systematically improved his professional qualifications during many specialized courses and training, including: postgraduate studies at the National Defense University in the field of Aviation Management and a course at the Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management in the United States. Moreover, in 2019 he obtained a doctoral degree in the field of engineering and technical sciences, in the discipline of mechanical engineering, in the field of aviation technology operation

For very good results in the implementation of official duties, he was awarded the Gold Medal "For Merits to National Defense" and the Silver Medal "Armed Forces in the Service of the Homeland."

 Major General (Ret) “Corky” Corcoran served over 31 years in the United States Air Force (USAF), most recently as Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations at USAF Headquarters (HQ) in Washington D.C.

Prior to this assignment, Corky commanded the USAF Warfare Center at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, leading a team of ~13,000 personnel at 54 locations across 21 different states responsible for conducting operational test of weapons systems, developing relevant, repeatable tactics for employment of weapons systems, and conducting advanced training for USAF, joint, and international partner forces.

Corky commanded at the Squadron and Group level, and twice at the Wing level. In addition to his final assignment on the HQ USAF staff, he also served in HQ staff positions at Air Forces Central Command, North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s Allied Air Command, and United States Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa.

Corky is a 1992 graduate of the USAF Academy, 2000 graduate of the USAF Weapons School, and a 2011 graduate of National War College. During his career he amassed over 3,200 flight hours, including >440 combat hours, primarily in the F-15 Eagle and F-22 Raptor.

 LTC Tanel Lelov started his military service in Estonia Defence Forces in 1999 as conscript in Pärnu Single-Infantry Battalion. After his conscription he started studying in Estonian National Defence College which he graduated in 2003 as 2nd Lieutenant started his service as air defender in Air Defence Battalion.
He has served in various positions starting as Platoon Leader and ending as Battalion commander (June 2017 – August 2022). One deployment to Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, Operation Enduring Freedom as battle captain in Jul 2008 – Feb 2009. Starting from 1st January 2023 he serves as Chief AMD in Estonian Division headquarters.

Arne Nolte was born, 07.November 1977 in Bad Harzburg, Germany. He lives with his wife,
Dr. Sandra Nolte in the Lake of Constance area, Germany. They have two daughters.
He is the currently the Head of Marketing Ground Based Air Defence for the Business Unit
GBAD of Diehl Defence, Überlingen. He has the lead for several acquisition campaigns
worldwide where Diehl Defence acts as supplier of GBAD missile system or delivers complete
Very Short to Medium Range Air Defence Systems.
Prior to his current position, Mr. Nolte worked as Marketing Manager and leveraging
operational expertise and combining this with the capabilities of the provided GBAD systems
Mr. Nolte also had the role as a Project Manager GBAD Operations to design and develop
tactics, procedures and operational concepts.
Arne Nolte joined Diehl in 2011 after twelve years of active service in the German Air Force as
air defence officer. Arne Nolte is still active in the reserve. He graduated 2005 in economical
engineering from the German Armed Forces University in Hamburg.
In the following military career he was trained and served as a tactical control officer with the
Patriot weapon system, served as deputy unit commander and XO of a Patriot fire unit. His
last position was Mission Director in the German SAM Wing Command Post SAMOC where he
planned and coordinated the engagement operations for several subordinated Battalions of
various GBAD systems. He is trained as NATO tactical evaluator. He has worked with several
NATO partners in multinational joint and combined exercises and served abroad.

 Bogusz Madej is a policy officer in the Integrated Air and Missile Defence Section of the Defence Investment Division of the NATO International Staff. In that capacity, he is responsible for a wide range of politico-military issues concerning NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence, including matters related to hypersonic weapons.
Before joining NATO International Staff, Mr. Madej worked for the Polish Permanent Delegation to NATO, where he was covering: nuclear policy, integrated air and missile defence and CBRN defence. Earlier, he worked in the International Security Department and the Missile Defence Bureau of the Polish Ministry of National Defence, where he was responsible i.a. for the politico-military aspects of NATO BMD and the Polish-US cooperation on Air and Missile Defence, including on the deployment of the US Aegis Ashore and Patriot systems to Poland.

 I studied Electronics with Telecoms in Southampton, Karlsruhe and Paris. Following a 6-month placement on experimental WiFi Signal Processing at Motorola Labs in Paris, I graduated into a job market which forced a career jump from Telecoms to Radar. I worked for 13 years on radar sensors and Integrated Naval Systems at Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine in South-West London, and then joined Kelvin Hughes Ltd in Enfield as Chief Engineer, taking over the role of Design Authority for SharpEyeTM radar sensors. I was involved in the sale and integration into the Hensoldt Group of Kelvin Hughes Ltd from 2017, and was promoted to CTO in 2020, with the challenge of charting the technological path for UK product lines. My work duties include collaborations with academia and defence industry partners, and supporting sales and BD in offering Hensoldt Group products and solutions to the UK defence market. I had 3-years of Army Officer Training at University, have an interest in the evolution of Science and Technology in Human Civilisation and love an adventure - for example I sailed to Antarctica on a yacht in 2013.

Mr. Riki Ellison is the Founder and Chairman of the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance; a non-profit organization launched in 2002 with a singular purpose and mission to drive for the deployment, development, and evolution of missile defense. Mr. Ellison has been involved with missile defense since 1980, being introduced to it by then Governor Ronald Reagan’s Senior Defense Advisor, Dr. William R. Van Cleave. Since its founding, the organization has grown to over 20,000 members across the world and has emerged as the top lay expert voice on missile defense in the world. Mr. Ellison has been in attendance of over 277 missile defense tests, visited 693 U.S. and allied missile defense bases and platforms, and has advocated for missile defense in all 50 states and 28 countries.

Amongst the achievements of Mr. Ellison is the creation and building of two historic missile defense and veteran public memorials. One memorial is located at Vandenberg AFB in California, honoring President Ronald Reagan, and the other is located at the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii, dedicated with the late Senator Daniel Inouye. Mr. Ellison was awarded the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara in December 2011 and the German Air Force Air Defense Missile Badge in October 2018. Mr. Ellison also established the annual “Missile Defender of the Year Award Ceremony.” These awards are given to the best United States missile defense soldier, sailor, airman, and national guardsmen from each of the military services involved with missile defense. There have been 70 DOY events hosted in seven countries that have recognized 872 DOY Awardees from 18 different nations since 2011 as the Missile Defender of the Year in their respective branch and region.

On June 15, 2021, Mr. Ellison and MDAA, in partnership with the University of Southern California’s Price School of Public Policy and Viterbi School of Engineering, created the USC SHIELD Executive Program. The 8-month-long program began on September 24, 2021, and is designed to ignite a Critical Thinking cauldron and cadre of missile defense leaders across the spectrum on the intersection of public policy and engineering in making the nation and the world a safer place. There are now two completed SHIELD programs with 55 graduates between the two cohorts, with the most recent class having presented their capstone projects and received their certificates in late April 2023.

On April 12th, 2022, Mr. Ellison and the MDAA board of directors wrote its first capstone effort to reform U.S. missile defense roles and responsibilities for the rapidly evolving era of great power competition. The report titled “U.S. Missile Defense: An Overview of Past, Current, and Future Roles and Responsibilities” outlines how and why the roles and responsibilities of the Services, Combatant Commands, and the Missile Defense Agency must change, and change soon.

In 2006, Mr. Ellison founded the Youth Impact Program for disadvantaged and at-risk youth in our nation’s inner cities. There have been 44 Youth Impact Programs in 15 of our nation’s major cities and major universities. The Youth Impact Program has been recognized twice by the United States Congress in Senate and House Congressional Resolutions for its overall achievements, innovation, and impact. In 2022, the Youth Impact Program implemented its first program for girls. Since the beginning, YIP has impacted 3,693 at-risk youth, 793 NCAA athletes, 164 public school teachers, 169 U.S. Marines, 126 U.S. Army Soldiers, and 38 U.S. Air Force Airmen. Students who attended our 2022 programs on average increased their Stem scores by 40%, language art scores by 27%, and mathematics by 22%.

Mr. Ellison was also involved in supporting wounded warriors of the United States military, and those with traumatic brain injury. In 2011, Mr. Ellison brought the National Football League and the United States Army together on TBI that resulted in a partnership announced in 2012 by the Commissioner of the NFL and the Chief of the United States Army.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Ellison played professional football for 10 years as a starting middle linebacker with the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders, winning three Super Bowl championships. He was the first New Zealander to play in the NFL and the first New Zealander to win a Super Bowl. In 2017, Mr. Ellison was inducted into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame. Mr. Ellison played college football at the University of Southern California, winning a National Championship and two Rose Bowls following a State High School Football Championship in Arizona. Mr. Ellison earned a Bachelor of Science degree in International Relations with a graduate emphasis on Defense and Strategic Studies from the University of Southern California in 1983. Mr. Ellison attended the National Security Seminar at the Army War College in 2009 and 2020 and the National Security Seminar at the Air War College in 2011. Mr. Ellison also attended the University of Notre Dame, where he attended a Business Management and Entrepreneurial program in 2013.

Service and athletics were ingrained in Mr. Ellison’s life. His grandfather, Ned Ellison of New Zealand, was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal in 1935 and was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1938 for his achievements in medicine. Ned’s brother (Mr. Ellison’s grand uncle), Thomas Ellison, was the first captain of the New Zealand Representative Rugby Team in 1893 and also played on the New Zealand Native Football Team from 1898-99.

 Dick van Ingen was born in Oosterbeek, the Netherlands, on 6
November 1966. After serving as a conscripted NCO with a Royal
Netherlands Army infantry unit, he transferred to the Royal
Netherlands Air Force, where he followed guided missile officer
training. During his first operational assignment he was deployed
to Israel as a Patriot Tactical Control Officer during the Gulf War of
1991. This was followed by several operational and staff positions,
all related to air and missile defence and air command and control.
At the Air Force Staff his tasks included writing operational
requirements within the air defence and air transport domains.
From 2004 to 2006, Major Dick van Ingen attended the Lehrgang
für den Generalstabsdienst und Admiralstabsdienst National at the
Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr (the advanced staff course at the
German staff college), after which he was promoted to the rank of
lieutenant colonel. Subsequently, he served for two years as NATO
staff officer for defence planning and as project officer for missile
defence policy with Allied Command Transformation. From 2008 to
2011, he was Section Head with the Operational Policy Department
in the Defence Staff at the Netherlands Ministry of Defence, where
his tasks included reorganising the Netherlands armed forces’
ground-based air defence and fire support capability.
After his promotion to the rank of colonel, Dick van Ingen attended
the Royal College of Defence Studies in London from September
2011 to August 2012. In addition to this course, he successfully
completed his Masters of International Security and Strategy at
King’s College London. From September 2012 to September 2015,
Colonel van Ingen was Head of the J5 branch of the Defence
Staff’s Directorate of Operations. In this role, he was responsible
for the operational planning of the foreign missions of the
Netherlands armed forces (including the Patriot mission in Türkiye,
a multidisciplinary contribution to UN mission MINUSMA, the
first operational deployment of HNLMS Karel Doorman during the
Ebola crisis and the deployment of F-16s in the Middle East).
From September 2015 to July 2018 Colonel van Ingen was
Commander of the Air Operations and Control Station Nieuw
Milligen. In this role, he was responsible for military air traffic
control and fighter control in the Netherlands airspace.
While being Commander AOCS, Colonel van Ingen was deployed
for six months as the contingent commander of approximately 500
Dutch military personnel within the UN mission MINUSMA in Mali.
As the Director of Integral Policy while in the rank of air
commodore, he advised the MoD’s most senior administrative and
political leaders, while maintaining interdepartmental contacts and
contacts with decentralized authorities on behalf of the MoD on
a multitude of political administrative topics. In this role, he was
also responsible for requirements regarding defence materiel and
infrastructure in the Defence Materiel Selection Process. Prior to
his current assignment, as Military Representative of the Kingdom
of the Netherlands to the NATO and EU Military Committees, he was the Deputy Commander of the Royal Netherlands Air Force and also Chief of Staff of the Royal Netherlands Air Force Staff.
Dick van Ingen is married to Bianca, who is a teacher in special
secondary education. They have two daughters.

 Brig. Gen. Dr. Eng. Michal MARCINIAK is a graduate of the Faculty of Armament and Aviation of the Military University of Technology, majoring in mechatronics, specializing in aircraft and helicopter accessories.

In 2000, he began his professional service in the 36th Special Transport Aviation Regiment as a key engineer, and in the following years he performed duties as a key commander, service chief and section chief. In the years 2008-2010, he served in the Department of Supply of the Armed Forces as a senior specialist of the Foreign Service Branch, where he served until the formation of the Armament Inspectorate. In the Armament Inspectorate, he held the positions of head of the Armament Programs Department and deputy head of the Aviation Technology Headquarters.

In the years 2017-2021, he served as the Plenipotentiary of the Minister of National Defense for the acquisition and implementation of the WISLA system into the Polish Armed Forces.

On January 1, 2022, by decision of the Minister of National Defense, he was appointed Deputy Head of the Armament Agency and at the same time Plenipotentiary of the Minister of National Defense for the Construction of the Integrated Anti-Aircraft and Anti-Missile Defense System.

By decision of the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, he was appointed to the rank of brigadier general. He received the act of appointment on August 14, 2023 from the President of the Republic of Poland in the courtyard in front of the Presidential Palace.

During his military service, he systematically improved his professional qualifications during many specialized courses and training, including: postgraduate studies at the National Defense University in the field of Aviation Management and a course at the Defense Institute of Security Assistance Management in the United States. Moreover, in 2019 he obtained a doctoral degree in the field of engineering and technical sciences, in the discipline of mechanical engineering, in the field of aviation technology operation

For very good results in the implementation of official duties, he was awarded the Gold Medal "For Merits to National Defense" and the Silver Medal "Armed Forces in the Service of the Homeland."

 Mark Montgomery is the Senior Director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation and a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. He also serves as the Senior Advisor to the Chairmen of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, and was previously the Executive Director. From 2017 to 2018 he served as Policy Director for the Senate Armed Services Committee under the leadership of Senator John S. McCain. In this position he coordinated policy efforts on national defense strategy, capabilities and requirements, defense policy and cyber issues.

Mark completed 32 years in the U.S. Navy as a nuclear trained surface warfare officer, retiring as a Rear Admiral in 2017. His flag officer assignments included Director of Operations (J3) at U. S. Pacific Command; Commander of Carrier Strike Group 5 embarked on the USS George Washington stationed in Japan; and Deputy Director, Plans, Policy and Strategy (J5) at U. S. European Command. He was selected as a White House Fellow and assigned to the National Security Council, serving as Director for Transnational Threats from 1998-2001.

Mark graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and Oxford University, and completed the U.S. Navy’s nuclear power training program.

 Major General (Ret) “Corky” Corcoran served over 31 years in the United States Air Force (USAF), most recently as Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations at USAF Headquarters (HQ) in Washington D.C.

Prior to this assignment, Corky commanded the USAF Warfare Center at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, leading a team of ~13,000 personnel at 54 locations across 21 different states responsible for conducting operational test of weapons systems, developing relevant, repeatable tactics for employment of weapons systems, and conducting advanced training for USAF, joint, and international partner forces.

Corky commanded at the Squadron and Group level, and twice at the Wing level. In addition to his final assignment on the HQ USAF staff, he also served in HQ staff positions at Air Forces Central Command, North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s Allied Air Command, and United States Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa.

Corky is a 1992 graduate of the USAF Academy, 2000 graduate of the USAF Weapons School, and a 2011 graduate of National War College. During his career he amassed over 3,200 flight hours, including >440 combat hours, primarily in the F-15 Eagle and F-22 Raptor.

Brigadier General Maurice O. Barnett assumed command of 10th Army
Air Missile Defense Command on 12 July 2022. Prior to assuming his
current position, Brigadier General Barnett served as the Deputy
Commanding Officer for the U.S. Army Cadet Command of Ft. Knox,
Kentucky.
Brigadier General Barnett, a native of Gary, Indiana, received his
commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Air Defense Artillery Corps
upon graduation from Indiana University in 1994. He is also a graduate
of the Air Defense Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Combined
Arms Services Staff School, Command and General Staff College, and
Marine Corps War College. He holds a Master of Strategic Studies
from the Marine Corps War College and a Master of Science degree in
Kinesiology from Indiana University.
Brigadier General Barnett has held a variety of leadership and staff positions throughout his
career. His initial assignment was with the 4th Infantry Division, Ft. Hood, Texas, where from
1995 to 1998 he served as a Stinger Platoon Leader, Battery Executive Officer, and Battalion
Logistics Officer in the 1st Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery. From 1999 to 2001, while at Ft.
Drum, New York, Brigadier General Barnett served as Assistant Operations Officer and Charlie
Battery Commander, 3rd Battalion, 62nd Air Defense Artillery.
Following battery command, Brigadier General Barnett participated in the Army’s Advanced Civil
Schooling Program and attended Indiana University. Upon completion of his studies in Indiana,
he assumed duty as an instructor in the Department of Physical Education at the U.S. Military
Academy, West Point, New York.
In the summer of 2007, Brigadier General Barnett moved to Heidelberg, Germany, and
subsequently deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, where he served as the
Training Officer for the counter-improvised explosive device task force, Joint Task Force
Paladin. Brigadier General Barnett served as the Operations and Executive Officer for the 5th
Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery, in Kaiserslautern, Germany. From 2010 to 2012, he served
as the Senior Air and Missile Defense Analyst and Branch Chief for the Middle East and North
Africa Office, Defense Intelligence Agency.
In 2012, Brigadier General Barnett returned to Ft. Hood, Texas, where he served as the
Commander of the 1st Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment and the Deputy
Commanding Officer for the 69th Air Defense Brigade. Following battalion command, Brigadier
General Barnett moved to the U.S. Army Human Resources Command at Ft. Knox, Kentucky,
where he served as the Air Defense Artillery Branch Chief from 2015 to 2017. In July of 2018,
he assumed command of the 30th Air Defense Artillery Brigade in Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. In June
2021, he served as the Executive Officer to the Director of the Army at Headquarters,
Department of the Army, Washington, D.C.
Brigadier General Barnett’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star
Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service
Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Parachutist
Badge, and the Air Assault Badge.

Mr. Riki Ellison is the Founder and Chairman of the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance; a non-profit organization launched in 2002 with a singular purpose and mission to drive for the deployment, development, and evolution of missile defense. Mr. Ellison has been involved with missile defense since 1980, being introduced to it by then Governor Ronald Reagan’s Senior Defense Advisor, Dr. William R. Van Cleave. Since its founding, the organization has grown to over 20,000 members across the world and has emerged as the top lay expert voice on missile defense in the world. Mr. Ellison has been in attendance of over 277 missile defense tests, visited 693 U.S. and allied missile defense bases and platforms, and has advocated for missile defense in all 50 states and 28 countries.

Amongst the achievements of Mr. Ellison is the creation and building of two historic missile defense and veteran public memorials. One memorial is located at Vandenberg AFB in California, honoring President Ronald Reagan, and the other is located at the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii, dedicated with the late Senator Daniel Inouye. Mr. Ellison was awarded the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara in December 2011 and the German Air Force Air Defense Missile Badge in October 2018. Mr. Ellison also established the annual “Missile Defender of the Year Award Ceremony.” These awards are given to the best United States missile defense soldier, sailor, airman, and national guardsmen from each of the military services involved with missile defense. There have been 70 DOY events hosted in seven countries that have recognized 872 DOY Awardees from 18 different nations since 2011 as the Missile Defender of the Year in their respective branch and region.

On June 15, 2021, Mr. Ellison and MDAA, in partnership with the University of Southern California’s Price School of Public Policy and Viterbi School of Engineering, created the USC SHIELD Executive Program. The 8-month-long program began on September 24, 2021, and is designed to ignite a Critical Thinking cauldron and cadre of missile defense leaders across the spectrum on the intersection of public policy and engineering in making the nation and the world a safer place. There are now two completed SHIELD programs with 55 graduates between the two cohorts, with the most recent class having presented their capstone projects and received their certificates in late April 2023.

On April 12th, 2022, Mr. Ellison and the MDAA board of directors wrote its first capstone effort to reform U.S. missile defense roles and responsibilities for the rapidly evolving era of great power competition. The report titled “U.S. Missile Defense: An Overview of Past, Current, and Future Roles and Responsibilities” outlines how and why the roles and responsibilities of the Services, Combatant Commands, and the Missile Defense Agency must change, and change soon.

In 2006, Mr. Ellison founded the Youth Impact Program for disadvantaged and at-risk youth in our nation’s inner cities. There have been 44 Youth Impact Programs in 15 of our nation’s major cities and major universities. The Youth Impact Program has been recognized twice by the United States Congress in Senate and House Congressional Resolutions for its overall achievements, innovation, and impact. In 2022, the Youth Impact Program implemented its first program for girls. Since the beginning, YIP has impacted 3,693 at-risk youth, 793 NCAA athletes, 164 public school teachers, 169 U.S. Marines, 126 U.S. Army Soldiers, and 38 U.S. Air Force Airmen. Students who attended our 2022 programs on average increased their Stem scores by 40%, language art scores by 27%, and mathematics by 22%.

Mr. Ellison was also involved in supporting wounded warriors of the United States military, and those with traumatic brain injury. In 2011, Mr. Ellison brought the National Football League and the United States Army together on TBI that resulted in a partnership announced in 2012 by the Commissioner of the NFL and the Chief of the United States Army.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Ellison played professional football for 10 years as a starting middle linebacker with the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders, winning three Super Bowl championships. He was the first New Zealander to play in the NFL and the first New Zealander to win a Super Bowl. In 2017, Mr. Ellison was inducted into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame. Mr. Ellison played college football at the University of Southern California, winning a National Championship and two Rose Bowls following a State High School Football Championship in Arizona. Mr. Ellison earned a Bachelor of Science degree in International Relations with a graduate emphasis on Defense and Strategic Studies from the University of Southern California in 1983. Mr. Ellison attended the National Security Seminar at the Army War College in 2009 and 2020 and the National Security Seminar at the Air War College in 2011. Mr. Ellison also attended the University of Notre Dame, where he attended a Business Management and Entrepreneurial program in 2013.

Service and athletics were ingrained in Mr. Ellison’s life. His grandfather, Ned Ellison of New Zealand, was awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal in 1935 and was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1938 for his achievements in medicine. Ned’s brother (Mr. Ellison’s grand uncle), Thomas Ellison, was the first captain of the New Zealand Representative Rugby Team in 1893 and also played on the New Zealand Native Football Team from 1898-99.