Upon receiving her master’s in forensic psychology Alhamwi’s priority was to employ her knowledge in helping those who need it the most. Despite the accumulating violence in Syria she went back and started working with the International Medical Corps and other NGOs in camps across Damascus, providing counseling and therapy for Internally Displaced People.
During the past seven years Alhamwi has been living between DC and Beirut. She works with Syrian refugees in her private practice in Beirut and follows up with them remotely from DC. She has been providing internet counseling throughout the Arab world and Europe for the past two years. She also advises parents, educators, and NGOs on children’s wellbeing.
BECOMING ψ PERSON is a project she has been working on since 2019. Through integrating forensic psychology, developmental psychology, and evolutionary psychology she is creating a unique approach to combat violence, delinquency, and crime. She is developing a program that accumulates the best nurturing practices for promoting children’s optimal development; in the hope to save today’s little humans from tomorrow’s mental illness, victimization and perpetration.
He has led and executed projects for U.S. Special Operations Command, U.S. Central Command, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Peace Corps, as well as various non-governmental organizations and private companies.
As a foreign correspondent, his research and analysis has been published in the New York Times, Washington Post, Associated Press, and many other publications.
Zack has received multiple awards for his strategic initiatives, creative problem solving, and ability to manage crises.
Currently, he leads a strategy consulting firm that focuses on delivering tools to help leaders
manage risk to meet strategic goals. These tools are born from a wide-ranging background
leading strategic planning, operations, analysis, risk management, strategic communication, and program implementation in some of the world's most demanding environments. He is also a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve and combat veteran with assignments primarily in Special Operations units.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Socio-Cultural Anthropology from Arizona State University, a Master of Arts (with Merit) in War in the Modern World, War Studies from King's College London, and a Master of Science in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. Dave is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the University of Foreign Military and Cultural Studies, Red Team Leaders Course.
He is also a Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Seminar XXI Fellow in Foreign Politics, International Relations and the National Interest, Class 29. He is practiced Arabic and German and seeks to begin a Ph.D. program in the fall of 2021where his research will focus on issues of strategy. Dave is happily married and has two awesome teenagers. In his spare time, he's a practitioner of functional fitness, an avid cook, a so-so guitarist, and dreams of one day being a vintner.
As the commanding officer of the Marine Corps’ special operations regiment, he was selected to lead a multi-national task force given the mission of defeating ISIS in Iraq. He retired in 2019 as the Chief of Staff of Special Operations Command, Central (SOCCENT), the headquarters responsible for the conduct of all US special operations throughout the Middle East. While there he led the planning and execution of a campaign conducted below the level of armed conflict against a state adversary.
Since retiring, he has written a critically acclaimed memoir "When the Tempest Gathers", and a number of articles for national publications. He is on the Adjunct Faculty of the Joint Special Operations University and teaches classes on leadership, planning, ethics, command and control, mission command, risk, special operations, and irregular warfare at US military schools.
He tweets at @andymilburn8
Mr. Parnell’s Awards and Commendations include:
The Distinguished Intelligence Cross, the highest award given by CIA for extraordinary valor/heroism
The Distinguished Intelligence Star, the 2nd highest award given for voluntary acts of courage
The Wazir Akbar Khan Medal, awarded by Afghanistan President Karzai.
The Career Intelligence Medal, for distinguished career service.
Prior to serving in the CIA, Mr. Parnell spent two years as a Police officer and 11 years as an infantry officer in the United States Marine Corps, which included serving as a Company Commander with 3rd Marines and flying as an Aerial Observer in the OV-10 Bronco. Mr. Parnell graduated from Austin College in 1983 and was an NAIA All-American football player. His hobbies include; golf, CrossFit, fishing, hunting, and skiing. He is married with two daughters.
As a junior enlisted SEAL Rich excelled in the core skills of most SEALs in air and dive operations, but he also graduated as a medic from the Army’s “long course”. In line with his true personal passions, to counter Russian aggression, Rich was hyper-focused on becoming an expert in Arctic winter operations. He accrued many accreditations in telemark skiing, alpine skiing as well as operating in avalanche-prone areas. While he climbed the enlisted ranks he was also exposed to operations in the desert and jungles of the Middle East and South America, picking up the necessary survival/driving/environmental skills to operate on a global level.
Once he became a Command Master Chief he focused on achieving higher levels of education as well as working as a Senior Enlisted Advisor for strategic leaders responsible for strategic efforts. As the advisor behind the scene, he was instrumental in shaping Defense Operations and policy for US efforts as well as international relations.
Rich is a highly accomplished Tactical Operations operator, critical thinker, risk analysis manager, and seasoned advisor at the highest level. He’s at home equally in the mountains or in a suit at a business seminar.
