The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation – GoDaddy “Matching Challenge” Raises Money to Help Injured Service Members via the Semper Fi Fund

Semper Fi Fund, The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation and GoDaddy have announced the results of their two-month matching challenge. Thanks to GoDaddy, Bob and Renee Parsons and the hundreds of individual supporters who gave to the Semper Fi Fund this holiday season, the campaign raised an unprecedented $5 million - more than double the initial goal.

The Potomac Institute has made numerous donations to the Semper Fi Fund, including a $25,000 check in 2013, representing proceeds from sales of "Al Gray, Marine: The Early Years."  Gen. Al Gray, the 29th Commandant of the Marine Corps, is the Chairman of Potomac Institute’s Board of Regents as well as a Senior Fellow, and he is also the Chairman of the Semper Fi Fund’s Board of Directors.  Gray,  Scott Laidig (the book’s author and a Marine Vietnam Veteran), and Potomac Institute’s CEO Mike Swetnam presented the check to Karen Guenther, President, CEO and Founder of the Semper Fi Fund; and Bob Bowlin, Semper Fi Fund treasurer.

“Al Gray, Marine” is the first volume in a biography series of the former Commandant and is available on Amazon.com (click here).    Proceeds from sales of the book go to The Semper Fi Fund.

Since 2004, Semper Fi Fund, and its program America's Fund, have provided immediate financial assistance and lifetime support for injured and critically ill members of the post 9/11 U.S. Armed Forces and their families. The Semper Fi Fund's streamlined structure keeps overhead very low, 6%; they are also one of three veteran charities to receive an "A+" rating from The American Institute of Philanthropy, and a "Four Star" rating from Charity Navigator.   The Semper Fi Fund has given more than 67,000 grants totaling more than $85 million to over 11,000 service members and their families.

Schmorrow Brings Capabilities in Research, Technology, and Intelligent Systems Across Array of Applications

Expertise in national security research brings a new Senior Fellow to the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies.  Dylan Schmorrow, PhD, is the Chief Scientist at Soar Technology (SoarTech) where he is leading the advancement of research and technology tracks to build intelligent systems for defense, government, and commercial applications that emulate human decision making in order to make people more prepared, more informed and more capable.

Potomac Institute Chairman and CEO Michael Swetnam welcomed Dr. Schmorrow, recognizing his contribution in many areas of research.  “The scope of his knowledge in medical research, applying policy and technology to national security issues, his ability to collaborate with key agencies – this is the kind of expert that helps deepen and broaden our Institute in the vital fields that we aggressively study and explore.”

Dr. Schmorrow is one of the nation’s leading experts on national security research, technology, and policy related to information technology, medical research, and human performance applications. He led numerous initiatives that transformed promising technologies into operational capabilities and he successfully transitioned several significant prototypes to operational use. He has extensive experience collaborating with all of the DoD Services and Components, the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Homeland Security, the Intelligence Community, and other federal agencies, as well as partner nations and international organizations.

Retired Navy Four-Star Admiral Has Experience with Defense, Security, Strategy, and Infrastructure Issues

The Potomac Institute welcomes ADM Robert J. Natter, (USN, Ret.), as a member of the Board of Regents and as a Senior Fellow.

ADM Natter is President of R.J. Natter & Associates, LLC, a nationwide consulting and advocacy firm specializing in corporate and defense strategy.  Clients have included the State of Florida Governor’s Office; McDonald's Corporation; Lockheed Martin Corp; Microsoft Corp; IBM Corp; DLA Piper Rudnick US LLP; Vornado Realty Trust; Embraer North America; Sumitomo North America; and myriad other U.S. and international corporations. 

Admiral Natter is Chairman of the Board of G4S Government Solutions (GS), a premier U.S. provider of security and infrastructure support solutions for customers with complex requirements in highly regulated industries. G4S GS is a U. S. government security-cleared commercial nuclear security business and is an independent operating unit of G4S plc. He also serves on the Board of Directors of BAE Systems, Inc, a U.S. subsidiary of BAE Systems plc.

Mike Swetnam, Potomac Institute’s CEO and Chairman, welcomed the experience and leadership ADM Natter brings to the Science and Technology Policy-focused think tank.

“As we start another year filled with challenges and opportunities facing our government, the defense arena, global security and more, having ADM Natter’s depth of knowledge and experience will enable us to ensure our work reflects the best that is known on the subjects we so carefully research and write about,” Swetnam said.  “We are fortunate to have the skills and expertise of this respected military leader as we delve further into serious issues that are the topics of debates at the highest levels."

     In 2003, Admiral Natter completed a distinguished 41-year Navy career as Commander of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, the first Commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command, the first Commander of all U.S. Navy and Coast Guard homeland defense forces under the newly created Northern Command, and the Commander-in-Chief of the NATO Western Atlantic Command.  At that time the Atlantic Fleet consisted of over 160,000 Sailors and Marines, 162 ships and 1,200 aircraft, as well as 18 major shore stations.

     Admiral Natter’s military decorations include the Silver Star Medal, four awards of the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal with Combat V, Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V, Navy Achievement Medal with Combat V, and the Purple Heart among others.  His personal honors include the 1998 Order of the Rising Sun Medal by the Emperor of Japan; the 1998 Order of National Security Medal from the President of the Republic of Korea; the 2003 Ellis Island Medal of Honor, and the 2004 Distinguished Sea Service Leader of the Year by the Naval Order of the United States.  Natter has earned Masters degrees in Business Management and International Relations, and he is the fifth recipient of the Naval War College Distinguished Graduate Leadership Award.

   In 2012 Natter assumed Chairmanship of the US Naval Academy Alumni Association Board of Trustees, representing about 55,000 living graduates. He is also on the Board of the National Navy SEAL Museum.

U.S. Marine Corps Career included Joint Force Development Directorate Work Building Operational Concepts, Doctrine

The Potomac Institute is proud to add a new Board of Regent member and Senior Fellow with significant military operational expertise and proven leadership and management.  LtGen George J. Flynn, USMC (Ret.), joins the Institute following a distinguished career of more than 38 years in the U.S. Marine Corps.  Decades of practical experience and graduate level education in national security and international affairs are reflected in an extensive record across a broad spectrum of defense operations. 

Potomac Institute Chairman and CEO Michael Swetnam reinforced the vital importance of Flynn’s depth of experience in national security, education, and mission performance.

“I deeply respect LtGen Flynn’s military career and the leadership, insight and innovation he brings to the Potomac Institute family,” Swetnam said.  “With the increased focus on our nation’s security in our science and technology policy work at the Institute, we are fortunate to have his guidance and support.”

While on active duty, LtGen Flynn created the Joint Force Development Directorate while at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, managing more than 2,000 people and a $1 billion organization that developed new military operational concepts, doctrine and training.  He supervised all elements of the Combatant Commander exercise program, which provides staff training and evaluates the mission performance of the largest military command organization in the United States.  He also developed policy for and provided oversight of all professional military education.  As Deputy Commandant of the Marine Corps for Combat Development and Integration, LtGen Flynn determined future requirements for all equipment, training, personnel, facilities, and supporting activities of the Marine Corps. 

His role as the Deputy Commanding General, Multi-National Corps, Iraq, involved leading combat operations and providing direction supervision of support activities of more than 50,000 service members and civilians, while conducting operational planning and execution to enable coalition operations, including extensive interaction with United Kingdom and Coalition Special Operations Forces.  LtGen Flynn supervised and provided oversight, policy and guidance for Marine Corps training as the Commanding General, Marine Corps Training and Education Command.  As Chief of Staff, U.S. Special Operations Command, LtGen Flynn supervised all support requirements for a 2,000-person organization, responsible for the planning, direction and financial execution of the headquarters. 

He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and has several Masters Degrees in National Security and Strategy, and International Relations.