Scribe Team

Sophisticated. Resourceful. Savvy.

The Scribe Team provides clients personal advisory services that bring insight into the intersections among the institutions of government, business, and media.

Scribe Staff:

Joseph J. Szlavik

Partner

Joseph Szlavik served at the White House during the first Bush Administration as a policy analyst in the Office of Policy Development and as liaison with the Office of Cabinet Affairs and the Office of Legislative Affairs, where he developed an intimate knowledge of the inner workings of the Congress and the various departments of the Executive Branch. Subsequently, Mr. Szlavik took a position as special assistant in the Office of Enforcement at the U.S. Customs Service.

[more-less]Mr. Szlavik left government service to take a position at the States News Service business bureau, working closely with the Securities and Exchange Commission, following mergers and acquisitions, later joining a Washington-based international consulting firm.By 1992, Mr. Szlavik had established his own company, now known as Scribe Strategies & Advisors, which now counts business, government, and non-profit clients on four continents.

Educated at the Catholic University of America, Valley Forge Military College, and the American University, Mr. Szlavik is a member of the National Faculty of the United States Sports Academy and of the board of directors of Save the Speaker’s House, Inc., which is preserving the home of Frederick Muhlenberg, the first Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Mr. Szlavik speaks fluent Spanish, French, and Hungarian.
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Andrew R. Koch

Senior Vice President, Defense and Homeland Security

Mr. Koch heads Scribe Strategies’ Defense and Homeland Security consulting practice.

An expert on communications and the media, as well as market assessments for domestic and international defense clients, he leads Scribe’s practice in providing such services as development and implementation of strategic communications planning, media outreach support, as well as evaluation of defense companies and related government programs.

[more-less]Having held several senior positions in journalism and non-governmental think-tanks, Mr. Koch’s wide-ranging background offers clients a unique perspective on topics as diverse as homeland security, the defense industry, and aerospace developments.Prior to joining Scribe Strategies, Mr. Koch was the Washington Bureau Chief for Jane’s Defence Weekly, the leading global defense publication. During his nearly decade-long service at Jane’s, Mr. Koch headed up coverage of defense procurement, markets, and programs in the US and Western Hemisphere. He was also the primary editor for a number of international aerospace and defense policy issues.

A four-time award winner for journalistic excellence, Mr. Koch is an internationally recognized defense and national security expert as well as a frequent commentator on national security topics, and was Jane’s primary spokesperson in the US on such matters. He has appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, CNN, BBC, NPR, The Charlie Rose Show, ABC, CBS, CNBC, and dozens of other major media outlets. Additionally, he has testified as an expert witness before the House International Relations Committee and appeared in the documentary movie ‘Countdown to Zero’ which played in theatres nation-wide.

Prior to his journalistic endeavors, Mr. Koch was a senior analyst tracking strategic issues, global weapons proliferation, as well as security matters in South and Southwest Asia. He has worked at several think-tanks, including the Center for Non-Proliferation Studies in Monterey, California, and the Center for Defense Information in Washington, DC.

Mr. Koch holds an M.A. in International Affairs from George Washington University and a B.A. in International Relations from Boston University.
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Richard E. Sincere, Jr.

Senior Consultant

Richard Sincere has been a writer and editor for nearly 25 years. He is a widely published analyst of foreign policy issues and domestic political topics. His articles have appeared in newspapers, magazines, and professional journals in the United States and abroad.

Prior to joining the Scribe team in 1993, Mr. Sincere was director of international economic affairs at the International Freedom Foundation in Washington, D.C., editor-in-chief of Terra Nova, IFF’s quarterly journal of free market economic and political thought, and editor-in-chief of Sub-Saharan Monitor, a bimonthly newsletter of African affairs.

[more-less]Mr. Sincere worked in the office of public affairs at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, where he edited the Center’s quarterly newsletter, and was a research associate at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, where he specialized in U.S. defense policy and U.S.-African relations.He is the author of The Politics of Sentiment: Churches and Foreign Investment in South Africa (1984) and Sowing the Seeds of Free Enterprise: The Politics of U.S. Economic Aid in Africa (1990), as well as co-editor (with Zbigniew Brzezinski) of Promise or Peril: The Strategic Defense Initiative (1986).

In addition to his writing, Mr. Sincere has lectured at numerous colleges and universities in the U.S. and abroad, including the American University, University of Virginia, College of William and Mary, Virginia Tech, West Virginia University, Georgetown University, George Mason University, University of Stellenbosch (South Africa), and the Civil Defence Staff College (United Kingdom). He has also testified before committees of the U.S. Congress, and the Virginia and Maryland legislatures.

Mr. Sincere has appeared on hundreds of radio and television interview shows to discuss public policy issues. He has been a candidate for elected public office on three occasions and has worked on numerous political campaigns at the federal, state, and local levels.

Sincere earned a B.S. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and a M.Sc. in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
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Phillip W. Allen

Senior Consultant

Currently based in Palm Springs, California Philip Allen is a former Chief Financial Officer of the Global Networks Solutions Division of L-3 Communications Corporation in Bristol, Pennsylvania. The GNS Division provides international commercial telecom equipment and security products as well as internal R&D for other L-3 Divisions.
[more-less]Previously, Mr. Allen was President of Merchants Despatch Transportation Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Conrail, Inc. in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania. MDT provided perishable transportation, logistics, transfer facilities and railcar leasing services. Prior to the Presidency, Mr. Allen was MDT’s VP Finance and Administration, including IT and HR responsibilities.Mr. Allen started his career as an auditor for Conrail, Inc. and predecessor companies that included forensic audits.

Mr. Allen holds a BS in Accounting from The Pennsylvania State University and is a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA). Mr. Allen has completed several professional financial and managerial related courses at the Wharton School of Business (University of Pennsylvania), Temple University, and Penn State. He has also served on local governmental, economic, and community development groups.
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Scribe Worldwide Consultant Network

U.S. Consultants

Rudolph Atallah (USAF Ret.)

Chief Executive Officer
White Mountain Research LLC

Mr Atallah started White Mountain Research, a service-disabled veteran owned company, dedicated to understanding and mitigating complex global threats to human security. A native of Beirut, Lebanon and fluent in Arabic and French, Mr. Atallah’s 21-year career in the United States Air Force spanned aviation, to special operations and intelligence, to counterterrorism. Prior to his 2009 retirement, Mr. Atallah served as the Africa Counterterrorism Director and Morocco/Tunisia Country Director in the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

[more-less]Regarded internationally for his ground truth insights on African security matters, Mr. Atallah is a sought after speaker and adviser on national security, counter-terrorism, and cultural intelligence issues. He has been a featured guest on programs such as National Public Radio’s Diane Rehm Show, C-SPAN’s Washington Journal, and on the National Geographic Channel, where he discussed his involvement in African counter-piracy and the successful resolution of the 2009 Maersk Alabama incident.Over the past decade, Mr. Atallah has traveled to over 100 countries and has met with five heads of state. He has advised the Secretary of Defense and many other senior US officials on counterterrorism policy and strategy, and has served as a trusted advisor to the U.S. Department of State and numerous US embassies across Africa.

Mr Atallah assumed the position of Africa Counterterrorism Director in 2003, and was concurrently East Africa Director from 2003-2007. At the time of his retirement, he was the only Foreign Area Officer in the Air Force holding three concurrent regional specialization designations: Africa, Middle East, and Europe.

Mr. Atallah holds a bachelor of science in electrical and biomedical engineering, and a masters of science in international relations. He is a published photographer of African landscapes and indigenous peoples (www.RudyAphotography.com).
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Melissa Goulding

Freelance Media Specialist

Ms. Goulding draws from nearly two decades of experience in communications and public relations, including seven years as an independent consultant specializing in media, public relations and commercial freelance writing. She is the former US Public Relations Executive for Jane’s Information Group and spent five years at Keppler Speakers, one of America’s top celebrity lecture agencies.

[more-less]At Keppler Speakers, Ms. Goulding was responsible for Keppler’s web presence and all promotional activities for their extensive roster of public figures. She organized all print and digital media, as well as press releases, catalogs and brochures.During her time at Jane’s Information Group, Ms. Goulding was responsible for all of the company’s media and public relations activities in North and South America. Ms. Goulding single-handedly managed the US Press Centre, promoting Jane’s products and expertise in major media outlets and researching and fielding queries from journalists around the world.

Ms. Goulding currently freelances as the Press Officer of the National Association of Business Economics (NABE). She promotes NABE’s economic surveys to the business and financial press, secures media interviews for NABE’s officers and survey spokespeople, and manages the substantial media coverage of the organization’s events

Ms. Goulding’s past clients include American Independent Writers, First Call, the Harry Walker Agency, the International Institute of Forecasters, the Library of Congress, Today’s Cargo, VPP Solutions, and Woodley Park Research.

Educated at the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Ms. Goulding joined the Library of Congress where she was instrumental in publicizing a million dollar gift after graduate school. She was also responsible for the management and promotion of a lecture series featuring entrepreneurs from Fortune magazine’s list of the “Top Forty US Entrepreneurs under Age 40.” Ms. Goulding was also elected to serve on the board of directors of American Independent Writers (AIW) in July 2010, and served out a one-year term.
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Joshua T. Hartman

Chief Executive Officer
Horizon Strategies Group

Joshua Hartman is the Chief Executive Officer of Horizon Strategies Group (HSG) and was recently appointed as the Staff Director for the National Commission on Research and Development Investment in the Intelligence Community. He is also a Principal at the Center for Strategic Space Studies (CS3) and a Senior Associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, nonprofit think tanks focused on educating government and industry policy makers on the implications of rapid technology change. He sits on several corporate boards, is featured frequently in defense related publications, regularly invited to speak at national and international forums, and has testified in front of the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives. Mr. Hartman’s career has focused on development and execution of national security strategy and technology programs.

[more-less]Previous to his current activities, as Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (USD(AT&L)) and the position referred to Deputy Assistance Secretary of Defense for Space and Intelligence (DASD(SI)), Mr. Hartman was responsible for supporting the USD(AT&L) with a range of functional expertise related to Department of Defense (DOD) systems. He established and ran departmental activities on all space and intelligence acquisition programs and industrial base issues, totaling over 61 programs and $70 billion annually.Previously, Mr. Hartman served on the House Armed Services Committee as a professional staff member and developed policy regarding U.S. national security issues. He then joined the House Appropriations Committee to oversee, create and facilitate execution of the DOD budget, as well as develop national security policy and investment strategy. During that time, he was appointed staff director of the Select Intelligence Appropriations Panel, where he provided oversight for all components of the intelligence community in managing resources and developing legislative reform strategy.

In recognition of his service, Mr. Hartman has received numerous military awards, was selected by Space News as one of the top 10 individuals in 2006 “making a difference” in space around the world, and was awarded the Secretary of Defense Outstanding Public Service Award.

He began his career as an officer in the U.S. Air Force. His assignments included the Space and Missiles Systems Center, National Reconnaissance Office, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Office of the Secretary of Defense, and Naval Research Laboratory.

Mr. Hartman holds a B.S. in Space Physics from the U.S. Air Force Academy, and an M.S. with honors in Strategic Intelligence, with a concentration in Middle East/Iranian affairs, from the National Intelligence University. He also completed work in the Graduate Program of Business Administration at California State University, Long Beach. He continues to serve as a member of the Air Force Reserves.
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International Consultants

Clifford Beal

Director
Strix Consultancy

As Director of the Strix Consultancy Ltd, Clifford Beal provides strategic communications advice, and media relations skills, to the aerospace and defense industry worldwide. Based in London, Beal assists clients better understand both the general and trade media from a regional and global perspective and, to appreciate how a comprehensive PR and media relations strategy is crucial to supporting business development.

[more-less]Current and past projects have involved crisis communications planning and response; outreach to press in new and emerging markets; special events planning and thought-leadership opportunities for clients at major international venues.Mr. Beal is the award-winning former Editor of Jane’s Defence Weekly, the authoritative international news magazine. He has worked for 25 years as a defense journalist and communications professional in both London and Washington and written extensively on technology, contemporary defense issues, and military history. He is the author of two books and has been short-listed three times for journalism awards and in 2000 was named Editor of the Year by the British Society of Magazine Editors.

During his five-year tenure at Jane’s Defence Weekly, he led the publication to awards for journalistic and publishing excellence on both sides of the Atlantic. Mr. Beal has commented frequently on defense and foreign affairs matters for print, radio, and television.

Mr. Beal holds an M.A. in International Relations from University of Sussex, UK, and a B.A. in History from University of Vermont, USA.
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