
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.


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.