Management Team
James Ryan – President
James is a cyber defense practitioner and author with over 15 years of experience delivering results for US federal agencies and critical infrastructure companies. His consulting engagements include 1) transforming the security program at an agency in DOE from an F to an A FISMA grade within 1.5 years, 2) defining a draft segment architecture with EDS and NASA which has now evolved into the Federal ICAM segment architecture, and 3) executing the first commercial PIV implementation (predates PIV-I and will align with PIV-I). James currently participates in the ITSCC, CertiPath, and TSCP communities; key bodies with a focus on government-industry collaboration on cyber security topics.
James holds a BSEE and MSEE from Virginia Tech, where he graduated summa cum laude. He is also a certified enterprise architect (CEA), Project Management Professional (PMP), and Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).
Michel Thiry – Secretary
Michel Thiry has over 35 years worldwide professional experience and has worked in many cultural environments. He is recognized as a worldwide authority in strategic applications of project, program and value and has supported the development and implementation of a number of strategic programs for large multinational organizations, including their restructuring as Project-Based Organizations (PBO). For the last 15 years, Michel has provided his expertise to major organizations, in various fields, including construction, financial, pharmaceutical, IT and IS, telecom, water treatment, transportation (air and rail), local government and others.
He is a regular Keynote Speaker for major International events and Seminar Leader for PMI® SeminarsWorld since 2001. He has written and lectured widely in International forums, both at the Academic and Practice levels. In addition to his book “Value Management Practice”, published by the PMI®, he has written a number of book chapters in prominent PM books. His book “Program Management” was published in August 2010.
Michel was elected PMI Fellow for his continued contribution to project management and in 2007 he was nominated Fellow of the Association for Project Management. In 2008, he was awarded a Life Achievement Award by the Canadian Society of Value Analysis.
Kenneth Bahn, Ph.D. – V.P. of Marketing and Treasurer
Kenneth is the creator of the MBA InfoSec program at JMU. This program was the first of its kind in the US and was chosen as one of the top 20 online programs in the country by U.S. News and World Report. Dr. Bahn has over 33 years of experience as a Marketing Professor. He has published over 60 manuscripts in the top Journals of Marketing.
He has taught at Bosie State University, Virginia Tech, University of Texas at Arlington, and is currently at James Madison University. He is currently providing consulting to the University of Fairfax focusing on Doctoral degrees in Information Security and Information Assurance.