Advisory Boards
Alongside UF’s leading minds and researchers, FINS has also partnered with several captains of industry and government professionals intent on aiding us in our mission to address evolving national security concerns with applied AI and data science. The FINS Strategic Advisory Board (SAB) brings together professionals with over 30 years of comprehensive experience in matters of national defense and security. While our Technical Advisory Board (TAB) boasts seasoned, active business specialists that allow FINS to successfully navigate public, private, and federal sectors.
STRATEGIC ADVISORY BOARD
Walter P. Adams
Chair of the FINS Strategic Advisory Board (SAB) & Chief Executive Officer, EVI Holdings
Walter P. Adams
Mr. Walt Adams is a seasoned and highly successful business development and service delivery professional with 25 plus years multi-national experience in federal, international, and commercial markets. He has in-depth knowledge and experience in Federal Civil, DoD, DHS, and Intelligence Community procurement and source selection practices including capture planning and managing proposal responses for large-scale GWACs, IDIQs, BPAs, small business set asides, sole source, and single award bids.
Mr. Adams has deep subject matter expertise in telecommunications, netcentric IT systems, systems administration, and network security. He also has extensive experience qualifying and pursuing international business, including C4ISR support in Saudi Arabia, nuclear engineering support for Poland, cellular and fiber network deployments in Cambodia, as well as global network and IT strategies for multinational pharmaceutical conglomerates in Europe, Latin America, Middle East, and Asia Pacific.
In 2021, Mr. Adams founded EVI Holdings is an investment holding company consolidating the urgent and emergent care industries, becoming a major force in determining their futures by consolidating high quality urgent care clinics and independent freestanding emergency departments while continuously improving services for customers every day.
Over the course of his career Mr. Adams developed his extensive domestic and international experience working for companies such as Teligent, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), and James Martin Strategy. In addition, he has developed key business alliances and worked with numerous Fortune 100 companies such as Leidos, SAIC, GDIT, Lockheed Martin, General Motors, DirecTV, Deloitte Consulting, Warner Lambert, Schering Plough, the Navy Exchange, Nippon Telephone and Telegraph (NTT), and Motorola. Mr. Adams is a veteran of multiple technology and services startups, both organic and venture backed. These startups include Teligent, iKimbo, iSavvix, Airak, and Praxxs. In addition, Mr. Adams is the former president of the Broadband over Power Line Industry Association (BPLIA).
Walt earned both his B.S. in Applied Mathematics and in Computer Science from the University of Florida.
Ben Amaba
Dr. Ben Amaba is a distinguished leader renowned for his exceptional contributions to engineering, technology, and leadership. A Fellow of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE)—one of the highest honors in the field—Dr. Amaba’s visionary impact is globally recognized. As a licensed Professional Engineer in multiple states, he further distinguishes himself with certifications in Production, Operations, and Inventory Management (APICS®), LEED® Accreditation (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design), and Corporate Strategy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Dr. Amaba’s career is as diverse as it is transformative. He has held leadership roles across industries, including serving as Chief Technology Officer at IBM and Founder of Anology Solutions, LLC. His commitment to advancing education and professional excellence is evident in his service on the boards of prestigious institutions, including the University of Miami, University of Houston, University of Central Florida, and the National Society of Professional Engineers. He currently contributes as a board member of Perfect Planner, LLC, and the Operations Science Institute.
A thought leader at the nexus of engineering, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies, Dr. Amaba created the Process Activity Flow Framework®—a groundbreaking system integrating requirements, design, architecture, simulation, and application development. His ingenuity is exemplified by patents in Energy Optimization and Machine Learning Models for 5G Self-Optimizing Networks, cementing his legacy as an innovator in both industry and academia.
Beyond his professional achievements, Dr. Amaba holds a blackbelt in both Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Tae Kwon Do. Dr. Amaba is a passionate advocate for philanthropy and STEM education. He is featured in Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen’s Giving 2.0, which highlights his dedication to expanding STEM opportunities and advancing career pathways for underrepresented groups.
Dr. Amaba’s academic credentials reflect his multidisciplinary expertise. He holds a Ph.D. in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the University of Miami, an M.S. in Engineering and Operations, and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering.
Randall Culpepper
President, Parley Tent, LLC, a company focused on solving complex issues in the National Security and Defense Industrial Base arena through engagement with National Security and Department of Defense Customers. Spent 32 years in DoD acquisition community and another 10 years supporting two Fortune 500 Industrial Base providers. Retired USAF Program Executive Officer managing $26B annual Air Force combat support portfolio. Industry roles after government service with Raytheon and Leidos focused on ISR mission platforms, aerospace supply chain reliability, and defense manufacturing strategy. Holds two key Masters degrees, one a Master of Arts in Administration of Logistics Systems, and the second a Master of Science in National Security Resource Strategy.
Jeanne C. Foster
Ms. Jeanne Foster established her consulting practice after a career at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) that spanned over three decades and included positions across the Intelligence Community (IC), Department of Defense (DoD), and the National Security Enterprise.
Most recently, Ms. Foster served as Deputy Director Chief Information Office (CIO) and Information Technology (IT) Services of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). Ms. Foster directed NGA’s mission and enterprise software and IT development, acquisition, and operations with a multi-billion dollar annual budget and workforce of several thousand people. She transformed NGA’s technical architecture, shifting it from a stove-piped, workflow-centric paradigm to a modern cloud-based, data-centric construct.
Known as a transformational leader, Ms. Foster served concurrently as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Director of the Office of Mission Resources (OMR) at the CIA, where she managed the Directorate of Science and Technology (DS&T) workforce, budget, and support functions. She also led a broad array of technically-focused offices as the CIA restructured to modernize into its current Mission Center construct. As Director of the Office of Technical Readiness (OTR), Ms. Foster led the DS&T’s worldwide Technical Bases managing hundreds of Technical Intelligence Officers (TIOs) deployed throughout the world.
Ms. Foster served as the Director of the Office of Development and Engineering (OD&E) and the Director of the Special Communications Office (SCO) at the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) concurrently. She worked to grow and develop the cadre of DS&T engineers and program managers who acquired, launched, and operated the next generation overhead satellite systems and the ground and communication architectures. Ms. Foster delivered multiple special communication systems in support of special operations by establishing critical partnerships across the IC and DoD.
She is a Level III Program Manager and holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice.
John Mulligan
Mr. Mulligan is a 39-year veteran of the U.S. Intelligence and National Security Community, primarily the National Security Agency (NSA)/Central Security Service (CSS).
Prior to joining the National Counterterrorism Center, he was responsible for the NSA’s overall counterterrorism program. His role included integrating NSA capabilities with other US government agencies to detect and disrupt terrorist threats around the world.
Mr. Mulligan began his career as an intelligence analyst and served in a variety of field and operations management positions. While serving oversees in his role as a Senior Representative, he championed development of data analytic technology to discover and disrupt terrorist networks. His many recognitions include being awarded the National Intelligence Sustained Superior Service Medal and the Presidential Rank Award, for Meritorious Executive Service.
A native of Chicago, John received his B.A. from the University of Notre Dame and an M.B.A. from the University of Florida.
TECHNICAL ADVISORY BOARD
David Balser, PMP
Mr. David Balser is an accomplished Business Development Strategist with 30 plus years of cross-functional leadership and executive experience. He specializes in capture management, pursuit, growth strategy, program management for managed services and integrated enterprise solutions. He also provides strategic advice to small businesses to include socio-economically disadvantaged businesses such as Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), VOSB, Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB), and others.
Mr. Balser focuses on integrated strategic solutions that directs capabilities within enterprise technology, Multi-Domain Operations (MDO), communications, information technology through managed services and solution-oriented constructs. He develops strategies, shapes technical and acquisition requirements, develops architecture solutions, builds pursuit and execution teams delivering complex integrated solutions for large, complex, multi-faceted programs within the DoD and Intelligence Community, Federal Civilian, and Federal Health agencies.
He brings broad experience in delivering full spectrum next generation multi-domain integrated C5 Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR) solutions, airborne, space, land, maritime, & cyber collection platforms and Production Exploitation and Dissemination (PED) capabilities to deliver actionable data using integrated AI/ML; telecommunications and enterprise information technology systems; RF products & services; Foreign Military Sales/Foreign Military Financing (FMS/FMF) and international Direct Commercial Sales (DCS).
Mr. Balser participates with several industry organizations such as Association of the United States Army (AUSA), National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA), Global SOF Foundation (GSOF), and Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association (AFCEA) to develop and maintain partnerships throughout the global defense apparatus. In addition, Mr. Balser participates as a mentor and growth coach to numerous executives across the commercial and federal market places.
He holds a B.S. in Business Administration Production Operations Management from the University of Central Florida and an Associate of Arts degree in Business Administration from Eastern Florida State College. Mr. Balser is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) through the Project Management Institute (PMI).
Gary White
Gary White is an award-winning innovation executive and the Founder & Principal of Mapportunity, LLC, a government-focused advisory firm that helps organizations break into the federal market with smart funding strategies, resilient partnerships, and practical acquisition pathways. He works with startups, Fortune 500s, VCs, accelerators, and federal agencies to navigate SBIRs, OTAs, sole-source opportunities, and hybrid acquisition models that deliver real results.
Mr. White’s career includes leadership as an executive at the General Services Administration (GSA), senior innovation roles in the U.S. Air Force, and extensive experience in global research strategy and startup development. He has launched federal innovation programs, co-developed commercialization frameworks, and advised everyone from stealth-mode founders to major industry players on how to move faster, secure funding, and stay mission-aligned.
A retired military officer, he has served in Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, ENDURING FREEDOM, NOBLE EAGLE, and counter-narcoterrorism missions, and held strategic roles in the Offices of the Secretaries of Defense and Air Force as well as consulting for the intelligence community. He also co-managed his family’s small business, The Van Stand, fabricating surveillance and tactical vehicles for the FBI, CIA, Army and SWAT teams, to name a few. Mr. White comes from a family legacy of military and intelligence service dating back to the Revolutionary War.
Mr. White holds a master’s degree in international relations from Harvard University and is a graduate of the Senior Executive Fellows program at Harvard Kennedy School. He lives in the Washington, D.C. area with his wife and their three daughters, all dual citizens of the United States and Italy.