President – Rick Hewett
RICHARD L. “RICK” HEWETT
CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE DEPUTY UNDER SECRETARY
Office of the Under Secretary of War
for Intelligence and Security (OUSW(I&S))
In 1994, Mr. Hewett began his career as an Army enlisted Communicator, Airborne Ranger Infantryman, Logistician, Special Operations Forces (SOF) enabler, and then a civilian Human Intelligence (HUMINT) Operations Officer. He is a veteran with four military combat tours in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) with multiple Special Mission Unit (SMU), joint national and theater SOF task force assignments. As a Department of War civilian employee, he had multiple tours with the Intelligence Community (IC) in war zones and U.S. Embassy based teams conducting counterterrorism, sensitive activities, and other national security operations in politically sensitive environments across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. He held leadership positions in high-stress, no-fail environments, gathering intelligence, enabling effects, and delivering strategic advantages aligned to the National Defense Strategy (NDS) priority outcomes.
Military Decorations and Awards: Mr. Hewett’s decorations include three Bronze Star Medals, a Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and numerous joint, Army, unit, and foreign awards. His federal civilian awards include the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Commander’s and Acquisition Executive’s Project Innovation Award, U.S. Air Force Meritorious Civilian Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (Civilian), and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joint Meritorious Civilian Service Medal.
Key assignments include the 82d Airborne Division and 75th Ranger Regiment, multiple leadership assignments in a classified Army SMU and U.S. Central Command Joint Task Forces, staff positions in the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) J3X Special Activities Division, USSOCOM J3X Special Activities Division, and the USSOCOM J2X Counterintelligence and HUMINT Division. While serving in the Army, the JSOC Commander hand-selected him to be a plank owner of a new Joint Inter-Agency Task Force. As a civilian, he was selected as a plank owner of a national-level program developed by the Office of the Secretary of Defense for nuanced high-risk sensitive activities worldwide. While serving in the USSOCOM J3, he led a study, designed, and shaped USSOCOM’s future sensitive activities force generation as well as command and control to face future NDS priorities. This led to his selection as a plank owner of the USSOCOM Joint Task Force Special Reconnaissance and Enabling Command (JTF-SREC) where he dual-hatted as the Acting Civilian Executive Director and Strategic Effects Director (SED).
Education: Mr. Hewett holds three master’s degrees and is pursuing a doctorate. He is an alumni of Saint Leo University (B.A. Business Administration with concentration in Management; M.B.A. with a concentration in Entrepreneurship), Salve Regina University (M.A. International Relations), the George Washington University School of Business (Masters Certificate in Project Management), and the U.S. Naval War College (resident Senior Service College, M.A. National Security and Strategic Studies). He earned numerous government program management, acquisition, contracting, and budget certifications. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Public Policy with a National Security concentration at Liberty University and holds the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
Personal: Mr. Hewett is a dedicated family man married to Mrs. Julie Hewett, a retired Army Logistics Officer and former SOF Psychological Operations noncommissioned officer, and combat medic veteran-and veteran of operations in Kosovo and OIF. Married for over 22 years, they have 8 children (2 biological, 4 adopted, and custody of 2) and have served as foster parents and mentors through the Florida Department of Children and Families system. They founded and lead the Family and Youth Research and Education (FYRE) Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity to fortify families and help abused, abandoned, and neglected children. Mr. Hewett is a Gold Star family member—the brother of PFC Thomas Hewett who was a casualty in OIF. Mr. Hewett’s oldest son is currently at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, his oldest daughter is on an Army ROTC Scholarship at The Citadel, one son is an enlisted Infantryman in the Army, and his youngest son is in the process of enlisting into the Navy. Mr. Hewett is active in Scouting America (he and six children are Eagle Scouts), his church, the American Legion (serving in leadership roles), Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Vigilant Torch Foundation, OSS Society, Joint Special Operations Association, Global SOF Foundation, National Rifle Association (NRA), Texas State Rifle Association, the Military Order of the Carabao, and the Texas Farm Bureau.
Mr. Hewett is a dedicated family man. He married the former Ms. Julie Lamb, a retired Army Major/SOF veteran, and veteran of Kosovo, Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF) I, and OIF II. Mrs. Hewett is a 100% service-connected disabled veteran. She is extremely supportive of Mr. Hewett’s DoW career and has assumed the most important job in the world, that of “full-time Mom.” They have eight children total; two biological children together, four adopted, two legal guardianship, and are frequent Foster Parents and mentors within the Florida Department of Children and Families system. They have a very large, strong, resilient family. As such, they are also very connected to their local community and active in their church. They teach financial planning skills to local families at risk in small group settings as well as other classes.
The Hewett’s started the Family and Youth Research and Education (FYRE) Foundation in Florida, a nonprofit organization, to fortify families, encourage adoption and foster parenting to assist abused and neglected children, and grow good citizens. Through the FYRE Foundation, the Hewett’s deliver multiple programs that benefit the community, families, and youth. Mr. Hewett is an Eagle Scout, Vigil in the Order of the Arrow. They believe in demonstrating servant leadership at all levels. The Hewett family leads by example.
Secretary – Charles McBurney, Esq
Charles W. McBurney Jr. is a Florida native, having attended the public schools in Florida. He is a high honors graduate of the University of Florida where he was selected to Phi Beta Kappa, was a member of the leadership honorary Florida Blue Key and was president of the Debate team. McBurney also graduated from the University of Florida Law School where he was a member of the moot court team, and was selected to the Order of the Barristers.
McBurney served as an Assistant State Attorney for 6 years trying cases from simple misdemeanors to murder. He was responsible for obtaining record forfeitures from drug dealers of well over a million dollars.
In 1990, McBurney entered the private practice, and was a partner at Fischette, Owen, Held, and McBurney, specializing in commercial collections, commercial and bankruptcy litigation, and now also representation of homeowner and condominium association matters. In 2004, McBurney opened his own practice. He has served as an officer or director of a number of professional organizations such as the Commercial Law League of America and has achieved the highest rating among his peers for ethics and competency.
For over 30 years, McBurney has served as an officer or director of over 20 organizations in Jacksonville. He has been recognized a number of times by civic organizations, including the Small Businessman of the Year by the Southside Business Men’s Club, the Leadership Award by the First Coast Tiger Bay Club, and the Most Outstanding Chapter President Award by the Florida Jaycees.
On September 18th, 2007, McBurney was elected to the Florida House of Representatives, District 16, with 79% of the vote. McBurney was re-elected in 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014. McBurney was “term-limited” and his term ended November 8, 2016. He had the longest continuous service in the Florida House and was considered “Dean” of the House.
McBurney served as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee; and he also served on the Appropriations Committee, Rules, Calendar and Ethics Committee and Rulemaking, Oversight and Repeal Subcommittee. Among other honors, McBurney has received the 2011 Statesman Award from the First Coast Tiger Bay Club, the 2014 Champion for Children’s Rights from Florida’s Children First, 2015 Legislative Champion Award from the Florida Sheriff’s Association, 2013 and 2014 Florida Bar Legislative Award, the 2013 House Legislator of the Year, Florida’s Clerk’s and Comptroller’s Association, the 2012 and 2013 “Defender of Liberty” from the American Conservative Union, the 2016 Furtherance of Justice Award from the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association, the James C. Rinaman Jr. Public Service Award from the Jacksonville Bar Association 2016, and the Distinguished Legislative Service Award from the Florida Bar in recognition “of his outstanding leadership, statesmanship and sponsorship of legislation to significantly improve and enhance the business laws of the state of Florida.”
McBurney lives in Jacksonville with his wife Deborah, retired music teacher from the Duval County School District, in Jacksonville. He is also a deacon at South Jacksonville Presbyterian Church. McBurney is an honorary member of the San Jose Rotary Club.
Treasurer – Mr. Gabriel Wilson
Gabe Wilson has been a servant leader his entire life. Growing up in rural Colorado on a ranch he learned the meaning of responsibility, hard work, and serving. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps to become a Combat Engineer where he served the next twenty years and continued to volunteer numerous times to serve others in various charitable organizations including his church, Cub Scouts, and Boy Scouts.
His leadership skills were honed through three combat deployments to Iraq and Kuwait, Cuba, France, and Japan where he led Marine Corps operational elements. Gabe’s military awards include the Bronze Star Medal (with Combat ‘V’ for Valor), Purple Heart Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with four gold stars in lieu of the fifth award), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (with two gold stars in lieu of the third award), Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation-Navy, Navy Unit Commendation (with three bronze stars in lieu of the fourth award), and the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (with one silver star and one bronze star in lieu of the sixth award).
After retiring from the Marine Corps with 20 years of service in 2015, Gabe transitioned into a position with Banamax USA as an Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Analyst supporting Citigroup Bank. Earning the Florida Community Association Manager (CAM) license, he started his own company, Neighborly Community Management where he manages multiple Home Owner Associations (HOA) in the Brandon, Valrico, Plant City, Ruskin, Chapel Chase, and Riverview, Florida areas.
Gabe married the former Ms. Courtney Renee Johnson in 2003. They have two children, Colby and Chloe. They are active in their children’s lives, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and with their church. He is a graduate of Ashford University with a BA majoring in Organizational Management and minoring in Business.
Director & Assistant Secretary – BG (Ret) Neil Tolley
Special Forces, Rocket Scientist, Entrepreneur
Neil Tolley’s military service began in 1983 after graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point. His military career spanned over twenty-nine years working on every continent except Antarctica. It began in Fort Carson, Colorado with the Infantry. In 1985, he left the Infantry for the Green Berets. He was assigned to the 10th Special Forces Group at Fort Devens,
Massachusetts where he served until he left active duty in 1989 to pursue a civilian career.
His civilian career was as a rocket scientist with Lockheed Martin where rose from engineer to manager directing the manpower, planning, assembly, integration and test, and launch of 13 commercial communications satellites. While working for Lockheed Martin he also trained and deployed with the 20th Special Forces Group (National Guard) in Maryland.
In 1999, Neil returned to full time military duty with his initial assignment to the Special Operations Command South at Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico. His subsequent assignments took him twice to the Republic of South Korea assigned to the Special Operations Command,
Korea, United States Army Special Operations Command, and United States Special Operations Command here in Florida. He commanded the Special Operations Command and Control Element in Djibouti, Djibouti (Africa) to coordinate and oversee special operations missions and enhance the readiness of selected counter terrorism forces in seven countries on the Horn of Africa. Brigadier General Tolley’s final assignment was as the Commanding General of the Special Operations Command Korea. Neil is currently the Co-Founder and CEO of Stalwart Naval Innovation, LLC, a naval design company.
Neil is married to Caroline Perrucci Tolley and they have two children. They attend Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Riverview, FL.