Washington, D.C. – October 31, 2024 – DGA Group, an expert-led advisory firm, and its foundational partner, Albright Stonebridge Group, announces that John S. Kolasheski, Halimah Najieb-Locke and CK Cheruvettolil have joined as Senior Advisors.
Lt. General John S. Kolasheski (Ret. USA) joins the firm after a distinguished 35-year career in the U.S. Army, most recently as the 3-star Commanding General of U.S. Army V Corps, where he led key operations in Eastern Europe following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Previously, he commanded the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley, Kansas, where he was responsible for the well-being of over 40,000 Soldiers, military family members, and civilian employees. With extensive experience from tours in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Europe, Mr. Kolasheski now serves as a Senior Mentor for NATO and advises technology and innovation companies. He is based in North Carolina.
Halimah Najieb-Locke brings extensive experience across the executive and legislative branches of the U.S. government, focusing on resilience and scalability in the commercial and defense sectors. Most recently, she served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Industrial Base Resilience at the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), where she led the publication of the DoD’s first-ever National Defense Industrial Strategy (NDIS) and the stand up of the inaugural Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC). She serves as a Vice President at a technology company and as an Adjunct Professor at the Georgetown University Walsh School of Foreign Service. She is based in Washington, D.C.
“John’s experience leading Army operations during major geopolitical shifts equips him with unparalleled insight for clients facing complex international challenges,” said Spencer P. Boyer, Partner and lead of DGA’s National Security, Defense, and Aerospace practice. “Likewise, Halimah’s deep expertise in defense and industrial strategy, along with her leadership in shaping key national security initiatives, will undoubtedly benefit our clients in the defense sector. Their combined expertise enhances our capacity to provide exceptional support to clients in the National Security, Defense, and Aerospace sectors.”
CK Cheruvettolil is a global technology and innovation strategist with more than 20 years of experience in the health sector. He previously led the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s digital health and artificial intelligence (AI) strategy, focusing on its investments in India, Nigeria, and Cambodia. Before that, Mr. Cheruvettolil consulted for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control, where he co-authored the national implementation plan for the Environmental Public Health Tracking Network. He serves as an advisor to the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology and has previously provided guidance to the World Bank on the digitization of vaccine certificates during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Cheruvettolil is based in Seattle, Washington.
“CK’s leadership and deep expertise at the cutting edge of digital health and AI offers unparalleled insights into emerging technologies and global health strategies,” said Dan K. Rosenthal, Managing Partner of DGA-Albright Stonebridge Group. “Further, with CK’s background in East Asia and the Pacific, clients will benefit from his nuanced understanding of regional dynamics, enabling them to address unique challenges and seize opportunities effectively.”
“We are proud to welcome these three distinguished experts to our team,” Mr. Rosenthal added. “Their deep expertise will strengthen the firm’s capacity to help clients navigate evolving challenges and secure opportunities in an increasingly complex landscape.”
About DGA Group
DGA Group is a global advisory firm that helps clients protect – and grow – what they have built in today’s complex business environment. We understand the challenges and opportunities of an increasingly regulated and interconnected world. Leveraging the experience and expertise of Albright Stonebridge Group, a leader in global strategy and commercial diplomacy, and a deep bench of communications, public affairs, government relations, and business intelligence consultants, we help clients navigate and shape global policy, reputational and financial issues. To learn more, visit dgagroup.com and albrightstonebridge.com.