Meet The Team

Colonel (Retired) Ross E. Davidson Jr founded Chieftain Elite Consulting following his retirement from the US Army in 2019. He and his team specialize in Program Management, Leader Training and Development, and aiding clients with strategic and operational planning, and mission execution solutions for successful business operations. Chieftain’s team of highly skilled professionals provide program management support and specialized research and analysis for National Defense programs. Ross has worked with multiple clients on projects ranging from advanced technological solutions for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms; Organizational readiness programs; Training Exercise design and delivery; Counter-UAS detection, early warning and neutralization; and Commercial construction business operations and program management. Ross is a national defense professional with over 31 years’ experience in joint & combined arms warfare - both Conventional and Special Operations Forces. He is an expert in all related aspects of mission command systems, effective organizational design, and operations – intelligence integration. He also has extensive experience in enhanced AI system design and cyberspace warfare, and has led multiple industry collaborative development efforts in this area over the past several years. He is a combat Veteran with multiple tours of duty in Iraq during the Global War on Terror, where he served as a Special Operations Task Force Commander, and as the Chief of Staff for the United States Special Operations Command’s senior Joint Special Operations Task Force in Afghanistan. Under Ross’ leadership, Chieftain has emerged as a leading provider of tailored and scalable training and education programs supporting organizational workforce development programs with a succinct focus on elevating leadership capabilities through knowledge and awareness. Chieftain is spearheading a regionally aligned National Security talent development project, and continues to develop and deploy undergraduate and Defense Civilian courses related to National Security, Defense Acquisition, Leader Professional Development, and AI Integration. Ross was commissioned into the United States Army as an Infantryman through The Ohio State University’s Army ROTC program, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration, and represented Ohio State as an NCAA student athlete, earning three letters in men’s Varsity Lacrosse. In 2024 he was inducted into The Ohio State University ROTC Hall of Fame in recognition of his leadership and extensive service to the nation.

Ron Minty is the CEO and founder of Paragon Leadership and Management Solutions, LLC. He and his team specialize in assisting clients with developing high performance teams as the foundation for their strategic and operational success, with a succinct focus on effective business management solutions and leadership development programs. A 24-year United States Army combat Veteran and senior leader, Ron has commanded at every echelon from Platoon to Battalion and special mission Joint Task Force. He has led front-line combat formations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Korea, giving him highly sought-after skills to develop strategic plans to achieve national objectives and execute those plans in joint interagency tactical operations. Throughout his global operations career, Ron has worked with numerous agencies to include the Central Intelligence Agency, Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Department of Homeland Security. Ron graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Life Sciences with an emphasis in Nuclear Engineering. Upon graduation, Ron accepted his commission as an Infantry officer. As a dedicated life-long learner, Ron earned a Master of Business Administration in 2020. In 2023, Ron completed a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership (MSOL) with a concentration in Strategic Innovation and Change with a concurrent graduate certificate in Organizational Development from the University of Denver. Ron is a transformational leader focused on developing people to surpass their potential through effective guidance and inspiration while contributing to the team’s objective and support of the organizational strategy.

Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) John B. VanHook is working as a member of Chieftain Elite Consulting, LLC as the Senior Development Operations Manager. Prior to his Chieftain career, John served for 37-years in the US Army where he proved and distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious service in a progression of positions of great importance and responsibility, culminating as the Facility, Construction, and Transformation Chief of Engineering, Eighth Army, Republic of Korea for over a five-year period. As the Facilities, Construction, & Transformation Chief, John was responsible for managing the Army’s portion in the execution of the largest construction program in the history of the Department of Defense; the completion of over 250 major construction projects/valued at over $17B. John was also responsible for the strategic development, synchronization, & integration of transformation & re-stationing initiatives that ensured optimal force postures across the Korean peninsula in support of US & ROK bilateral agreements & operational plan requirements. Prior to Korea, John served as a Special Operations Advisor and Joint Planner for Special Operations Joint Task Force Afghanistan (SOJTF-A) for over a four-year period. As a Special Operations Advisor John was the Joint/Combined Military Advisory Group’s Director in advocating Afghanistan Special Security Forces initiatives and operational capabilities to the Afghanistan Ministry of the Interior and Ministry of Nation Defense Senior Leadership and to provide the Special Operations Commander analysis of Afghan Governmental atmospherics and institutional development issues. He was also responsible for the implementation of the US Special Operations and Drug Enforcement Agency Counternarcotics Planning and Execution with the Afghanistan National Interdiction Unit resulting in over 500 metric tons of narcotics destroyed valued at over $5B. John transitioned to the Afghan Local Police Special Operations Advisory Cell Director in advocating Afghan Special Security Forces initiatives and operational capabilities to the Afghan Leadership which had oversight to train, man, equip, and pay of over 30,000 Local Police across the country of Afghanistan. As a Special Operations Joint Planner, he was the Combined/Joint Basing, Enabler, and Retrograde Planner and Director of the SOJTF-A CJ5 Basing Team which supported the first Divisional Level Special Operations Combatant Commander's Operational requirements during a critical phase of the Afghanistan Campaign; the withdraw and retrograde of over 10,000 Coalition Troops in four Brigade formations from over 120 Special Operations Forces locations within the Afghanistan Theater of Operations. He led, directed, and produced base closure planning, supporting enablers requirements, and retrograde drawdown recommendations which informed the Commander and Components, as well as Adjacent/Higher Commands of Special Operations force posture. John’s civilian education includes a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Texas Christian University in 1995, a Master of Arts in International Relations from Webster University in 2008, and a Master of Arts in Strategy and Planning from the Army Command and General Staff College in 2009.

Mike Hooke is a highly experienced leader with a diverse background in project and program management, event coordination, and musical performance. Throughout his career, Mike has successfully led teams, managed budgets, and executed complex initiatives. Mike's expertise in event management is evident in his work with high-profile events, including Presidential State funerals, NFL Super Bowls, and the Invictus Games. He has a proven ability to coordinate logistics, scheduling, and execution of events, ensuring their success and exceeding client expectations. He is also a talented musician, with experience performing in a variety of venues, including the Tomb of the Unknowns, NASCAR races, and major university ceremonies. Mike brings over 30 years of hands-on experience in education and non-profit organizations, coupled with 21 years of progressive experience in project and event management, customer relations, and organizational leadership. He has a proven track record of developing and implementing effective strategies for driving organizational growth and success. His exceptional support to the NMSU Physical Science Laboratory’s CREW and DCTCx programs was instrumental in the development and deployment of the EliteMC platform, which has fundamentally transformed their business operations in support of Department of Defense programs. Mike holds a Master's Degree in Management from George Mason University, which instilled in him the importance of business practices and project management within a non-profit organization. He is currently working on his Ph.D. in Strategic Leadership from the Liberty University School of Business. Mike's artistic and creative nature has enabled him to excel at planning, developing successful business and marketing strategies, and mentoring the next generation of leaders. He retired as a senior leader and award-winning musician from the prestigious US Army Band following 26 years of active duty service.

Major General (United States Air Force, Retired) Buck Elton is the QinetiQ (US) Senior Executive Vice President for Defense and also serves as the US Special Operations Forces Strategic Advisor for QinetiQ. As a recently retired United States Air Force Major General, Buck brings over 31 years of experience with the Department of Defense, and provides extensive insight for United States Government Agencies and International Partners. He has joined QinetiQ to provide the leadership and experience essential to efforts to grow partnerships with United States Special Operations Command, the Department of Defense, and other Federal Departments and Agencies that require high performance national defense expertise. Buck retired after 31 years of service with a stellar career culminating with his assignment as the Director of Operations / J3 for the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). During his military career, he commanded US Air Force units at every echelon, to include the United States Air Force Special Operations Component Command. He brings extensive senior leader experience in the United States Special Operations Command and a wealth of knowledge following a distinguished career highlighted as the Commanding General of U.S. and NATO Special Operations Forces in Afghanistan, as well as the Deputy Commanding General of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). Buck has commanded at the squadron, group and wing levels, and led his units in multiple combat and contingency operations for joint force operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Haiti. He has also served as the Deputy Director of Special Operations and Counterterrorism on the Joint Staff. He is a Command Pilot with 4,300 flying hours in MC-130, C-130 and MQ-1 aircraft. Buck holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the United States Air Force Academy and a Master of Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle University. Buck leverages his extensive national security and leadership expertise to provide senior executive leadership coaching and mentoring. Buck and his wife, Karen, live in Medford, Oregon.

Brigadier General Patrick R. Michaelis (Ret., USA) serves as President of Sandboxx, where he leverages his extensive leadership experience in military operations, strategic planning, and accessions to guide the organization's growth and strategic direction. In this capacity, BG Michaelis oversees initiatives aimed at strengthening Sandboxx’s role in supporting military personnel and their families, enhancing user engagement, and expanding partnerships with the Department of Defense. His distinguished military career, marked by key leadership roles including Commanding General at the Army Training Center at Fort Jackson and Deputy Commanding General for the U.S. Army Recruiting Command, uniquely positions him to advance Sandboxx's mission of fostering connectivity and support within the military community. His previous assignments include: Commanding General, United States Army Training Center, Fort Jackson, SC, and dual-hatted as the Deputy Commanding General, Center for Initial Military Training; Deputy Commanding General (Operations) for the United States Recruiting Command at Fort Knox, KY; Deputy Commanding Officer (Maneuver) for the 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, KS; Commander, Mission Command Element, Operation Atlantic Resolve, United State Army Europe; Executive Officer to the Under Secretary of the Army; Commander of the 2nd Recruiting Brigade, Redstone Arsenal, AL; G3 (operations officer) for the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, KS, and as the Chief of Staff to the commander of the combined Joint Forces Land Component Command – Iraq (CJFLCC-I) in support of Operation Inherent Resolve in Baghdad, Iraq; Commander of the 8th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 2-2 Stryker Brigade, where he had operational responsibility of Kandahar City, Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom 12-13; Special Assistant to the Vice Chief of Staff, Army; Operations Officer of the 1st Ironhorse Freedom 06-08; Executive Officer and Operations Officer for 1st Squadron, 7th U.S. Cavalry; and as the Battle Command and Chief Knowledge Officer for the 1st Cavalry Division during Operation Iraqi Freedom II. BG Michaelis received a Bachelor of Arts in History from Texas A&M University; a Master’s in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and a Master’s in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College, specializing in strategic planning. His military training and education also includes the Armor Officer Basic and Advanced Course, Scout Platoon Leaders Course, Cavalry Leaders Course, Combined Arms and Services Staff School, Command and General Staff College, Airborne, Air Assault, and Ranger School. BG Michaelis has served in various other command and staff positions, to include Assistant Professor, United States Military Academy at West Point, NY; Ground Troop and Headquarters Troop Commander for the 1st Squadron, 7th U.S. Cavalry at Fort Hood, TX; Tank and Scout Platoon Leader, Troop Executive Officer, and Assistant Operations Officer, 1st Squadron, 4th U.S. Cavalry, Schweinfurt, Germany and Operation Joint Endeavor. He lives in Middleburg, Virginia, and is married to the former Bonnie Elizabeth Tate of Weaver, AL. They have four children: Molly Gudding and Hannah Fallin, Madeleine and Madison Michaelis.

Meaghan C. Mobbs, PhD, is an experienced nongovernmental, policy and political leader. She’s a graduate of West Point, holds a Masters in Forensic Psychology from George Washington University and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Columbia University. A Tillman Scholar and George W. Bush Veteran Leadership Scholar, she was a Presidential appointee to the United States Military Academy - West Point Board of Visitors and is a current Gubernatorial appointee to the Virginia Military Institute Board of Visitors. She has advised numerous state and national decision-makers on defense, national security, military family policy, and health-related issues. In this capacity she’s chartered relationships with the US Government, multi-national governments, and non-governmental organizations. Her most recent humanitarian and diplomatic efforts directly contributed to the development of a unique humanitarian aid frontline implementor concept which resulted in the validated precision delivery of aid in hard-to-reach areas of Ukraine. She is a Senior Fellow at the Independent Women’s Forum where she writes and comments on national security, foreign policy, and defense. Meaghan is known for her research into understanding the unique psychosocial stressors of service during a time of war and has frequently published on this topic. She is a former paratrooper and combat veteran who serves on the Board of multiple organizations dedicated to assisting service members in the transition to civilian life.

Eric Crider (Retired, US Army) is the Defense Acquisition Course (DCTCx) Moderator. Eric’s background includes diverse leadership, academic, and training positions supporting peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance, and counterinsurgency operations across the globe, culminating in teaching defense management processes and systems to Army Colonels at the US Army War College. Eric Crider received a BS in accounting and an MBA from Georgia College. He attended the Army War College (AWC), received a Master of Strategic Studies, and then joined the AWC teaching staff as the director of administrative studies. In 2021, Eric joined the Army Strategic Education Program as a content developer, synchronizing the execution of a course designed to prepare newly selected Brigadier Generals for their new levels of responsibility. Eric is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in American Studies at Pennsylvania State University. His academic interests lie in defense management, executive leadership, public history, and material culture.

Josh is a Data Scientist with 15 years of experience across multiple functions of the data stack. He is skilled in over 20 data technologies and three programming languages and specializes in simply conveying complex concepts. With experience from “Big Data” engineering to machine learning, he knows what it takes to get your infrastructure to AI. Before working as a consultant, Josh enjoyed technical experience in a diversity of industries, including real estate analytics, ESG Innovation, and non-profit impact optimization. Josh is an experienced AI and Data Strategist with experience driving data innovation in a Big Four Firm. Along with a Certificate in Conversational AI from UC Irvine, Josh holds two Master's Degrees from the University of Denver: an MBA focused on Data and Analytics and a Master’s in Finance. Additionally, he has a Bachelor’s from the United States Military Academy. Josh is a combat veteran who led a Cavalry platoon in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Dr. Warren Hearnes has held numerous roles in optimization, machine learning (ML), and artificial intelligence (AI), with over 30 years of experience applying these technologies to solve complex business challenges. Most recently, he joined two ventures, OptiML AI and Sportslytx, where he applies his expertise to address problems in industry and sports and to educate executives on optimization, ML, and AI. He previously served as Chief Data Scientist at Best Buy, where he led a large team of data scientists and spearheaded the development of the company’s AI strategy. His leadership resulted in scalable AI/ML solutions that improved operational efficiency, reduced costs, and drove revenue growth across the enterprise. Throughout his career, Warren has crafted AI and ML strategies that meet critical business needs. At Cardlytics, he developed AI/ML platforms that enhanced the company’s revenue-generating algorithms, propelling it from start-up through IPO. At The Home Depot, he directed CRM analytics, creating predictive models for customer segmentation, churn, and lifetime value, while optimizing marketing campaigns. At UPS, he led projects in fraud detection and pricing optimization, saving millions and improving operations. At Lucent Technologies, he used mixed-integer programming to optimize inventory management and production planning. Warren is a veteran of the U.S. Army, where he graduated from both Airborne and Ranger Schools and held leadership roles within the field artillery branch. He holds a BS from West Point (1989), and an MS and PhD from Georgia Tech (1999). His research focused on reinforcement learning for robotic control, funded by the National Science Foundation and NASA. Warren actively volunteers with the Institute for Operations Research and Management Science (INFORMS), serving as VP of Technology Strategy on the Board of Directors and co-chairing the AI Integration Committee for the 12,000+ member organization. While at Best Buy, he was a member of the National Retail Federation’s AI Working Group. He also serves on analytics advisory boards for graduate programs at Georgia Tech and Emory University in Atlanta.

James “Jimmy” Hendricks is a visionary Data Science and Engineering Executive with over 20 years of progressive leadership experience in advertising technology, retail, and enterprise data management. With a passion for solving complex technical challenges, he specializes in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Advanced Analytics to drive innovation and business growth. Most recently, Jimmy served as Senior Director of Data Science at Best Buy, where he spearheaded large-scale data initiatives, optimized data-driven decision-making, and enhanced analytics infrastructure. Before that, he was Director of Data Engineering and Analytics at The Coca-Cola Company, where he led transformative data strategies to improve operational efficiency. During his tenure as Vice President of Data Science and Business Intelligence at Cardlytics, Jimmy was pivotal in refining deep learning-based automated data cleaning platforms, increasing merchant transaction accuracy to 99%. His leadership extended to launching and managing an offshore data science team, significantly enhancing scalability and reducing operational costs. Jimmy’s expertise spans machine learning, data processing, cloud computing (AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure), big data infrastructure (Hadoop, Spark, Kafka), predictive analytics, and CI/CD deployment strategies. His technological proficiency has driven many key innovations to improve business efficiency and scale growth. Before stepping into executive roles, Jimmy gained extensive hands-on experience in development, data engineering, predictive analytics, and enterprise reporting at AutoZone, DataTrend, and NRC, Inc. His career began in the United States Navy, where he served with forces afloat on the Atlantic and Pacific onboard two nuclear submarines. There, he developed a strong foundation in technical problem-solving and operational efficiency. Jimmy holds an MBA in Technology Management and a BS in Information Science from the University of Phoenix. He has also earned multiple industry certifications, including AI, Machine Learning, Cloudera Data Science, and Software Quality Engineering.