About Us
About Us
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President
Gadsden “Ed” Rule LSM ’18 (2023)
President
Naval Systems, Inc.
Gadsden “Ed” Rule grew up in Northern Virginia, earning a bachelor’s of business administration from William and Mary. After two years as a salesman and entrepreneur, he joined the United States Navy and served 20 years as a supply corps officer and acquisition professional, earning an MBA from the University of Georgia. Rule transitioned from the Navy to a consultant position with Booz|Allen|Hamilton in 2000. He joined a start-up in 2002 as chief operating officer, then co-founded Naval Systems, Inc. (NSI) in early 2004, serving as its president ever since.
Rule is a father of four grown sons. He married his former college sweetheart, Sally Harwood, in October 2016. Rule also serves on the board of directors of The Patuxent Partnership.
Vice President
Thomas Clark LSM ’18 (2023)
Executive Vice President
The MIL Corporation
Thomas Clark is the executive vice president for the MIL Corporation’s Rapid Engineering, Integration, and Prototyping Solutions (REPS) Sector. He is a program manager and project management professional with over 30 years of progressive engineering and technical services and business operations management experience, primarily focused on Command, Control, Computers, Communications, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) systems.
Clark was educated during his five-year enlistment in the United States Navy where he received his information system technician rating and multiple technical certifications in information technology and systems administration. He also holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
Treasurer
Joan Thorp, LSM ’18 (2023)
Assistant Chief of Accounting
Charles County Government
Joan Thorp graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. She worked for Calvert County Government for over 13 years in the Department of Finance and Budget. In 2019, Thorp was hired as the assistant chief of accounting for Fiscal & Administrative Services, Charles County Government.
Thorp is a former president of the Scientists Cliffs Association and the Southern Maryland Chapter of the Maryland Association of CPAs. She is a member of several professional organizations including the AICPA and national GFOA. Thorp currently plays clarinet with the Southern Maryland Community Band. She currently resides in Port Republic with her husband, John. The couple has three grown daughters.
Secretary
Joe “Mort” Mortenson LSM ’16 (2023)
Colonel (Retired)
United States Marine Corps
Colonel Joe “Mort” Mortensen, USMC (Ret.) is a native of Albion, Nebraska. Mortensen enjoyed a 29-year Marine Corps career retiring in May 2009. He served in a wide variety of leadership positions that included commander, Naval Test Wing Atlantic and commanding officer, and chief test pilot, Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 23. After his Marine Corps career, Mortensen joined United States Federal Civil Service. He retired from federal service in July 2020.
Mortensen received an interdisciplinary Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Master of Science degree in aviation systems from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. He is a graduate of the United States Naval Test Pilot School and completed a fellowship with the Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies.
Immediate Past President
Mary Beth Cook, LSM ’17, LMD ‘19 (2023)
Director, Planning & Zoning
Calvert County Department of Planning & Zoning
Mary Beth Cook was born and raised in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown, Cook began her civil engineering career at a private engineering firm in Silver Spring, Maryland. She moved to Calvert County in 1990 and was hired as an engineer IV by the St. Mary’s County Public Works Department. This led to her first position with Calvert County Government.
Cook’s career with Calvert County spans more than 28 years. She is currently the director for the Department of Planning & Zoning. Cook resides in Calvert County with her husband. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, running, biking, and kayaking.
Basia Bartczak, LEAP ’20 (2024)
Advisory
Computer Scientist
Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division
Basia Bartczak is the team lead for Architecture Management Integration Environment (AMIE) and the Common Development Environment (CDE) at NAWCAD. Her primary role is leading a team in the development and sustainment of enterprise tools that reduce costs and increase interoperability between modeling and simulation assets.
After earning her master’s in computer science from the University of Tulsa in 2015, she launched her career as a cyber test engineer. Kenney enjoys volunteering with organizations dedicated to inspiring young girls to reach their full potential such as The Dream Queen Association; Girls on the Run; and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics – Inspiring the Next Generation (STEM-ING). She spends mostly of her free time exercising, cooking, and spending quality time with family.
Chris Breedlove LSM ’18 (2025)
Chief of Zoning Enforcement
Calvert County Department of Planning & Zoning
Born in Washington, DC and raised in Waldorf, Maryland, Christopher Breedlove developed a fascination with public safety at a young age. He began his career with the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) Police in 1999 and promoted to the rank of sergeant before retiring on disability in 2010.
Breedlove has spent over a decade with Calvert County Planning & Zoning as the chief of zoning enforcement. He also serves as an emergency services instructor for the University of Maryland, Maryland Fire Rescue Institute and supports the Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department as a firefighter.
Breedlove holds a degree in fire science. He is a graduate of Leadership Southern Maryland Class of 2018 and a 2021 Leadership Maryland grad. He is married with one son. He enjoys camping and training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and MMA.
Lisa Clark LSM ’14 (2024)
Principal Account Delivery Executive State & Local Government
Microsoft Corporation
Lisa Clark was raised in Northern Virginia and attended Virginia Tech. She moved to Maryland when she was recruited by BG&E to work at Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant. Clark’s professional experience also includes Oracle Corporation, Spalding Consulting in Lexington Park, and Teradata Corporation. She recently accepted a position with Microsoft Corporation. Clark is an LSM ’14 graduate and previously served on the Southern Maryland Navy Alliance board.
Outside of work, Clark has been involved in and supported local dance with the Southern Maryland Modern Dance Collective. She completed yoga teacher training in 2010 and has been active with the local yoga community. She and Ray reside in Hollywood, Maryland on Cuckold Creek, enjoy boating, travel, cooking, and recently adopted a golden retriever puppy named Fenimore.
Phil Fickes LSM ’20 (2024)
Sr. Manager, Global Military Sales & Strategy
Bell Flight
Phil Fickes is a Bell senior manager for Global Military Sales & Strategy and oversees Bell’s foreign military sales (FMS) business development with the Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, Maryland, and the Defense Security Cooperation Agency and Navy International Programs Office in Washington, DC.
Prior to joining industry, Fickes served as an officer in the US Marine Corps for over 25 years. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in aerospace engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, Illinois; an MS in management and MBA from the University of Maryland University College in Baltimore, Maryland; and is a graduate of George Washington University’s National Security Studies Program.
John Greely LSM ’11
Vice President, Operations
MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital
John Greely, FACHE, has worked in various leadership roles for 15 years at MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital. As vice president, he is responsible for overseeing MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital’s Pharmacy; Imaging, Cardiology & Neurology; Patient Transporters; Laboratory Services; Rehabilitation Medicine; Nutrition; Facilities; Security and Environmental Services. Prior to taking on the VP role, Greely was the director of Decision Support/Performance Improvement/Health Information Management. In this role, he facilitated various committee and performance improvement initiatives throughout the hospital.
Greely is a graduate of St. Mary’s College of Maryland and earned a master’s degree with a concentration in finance from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland. He is a life-long resident of St. Mary’s County and is actively involved in the community.
Christa Hood LSM ’18 (2022)
Audit Principal
Askey, Askey & Associates, CPA, LLC
Christa Hood was born in Kittanning, Pennsylvania. She earned a Bachelor of Science in international business with a minor in Spanish from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She went on to earn her MBA in marketing and a post-baccalaureate certificate in accounting.
After moving to Southern Maryland, Hood joined the Young Professionals Initiative where she met her husband in the group’s run club. She has worked as an audit manager at Askey, Askey & Associates, CPA, LLC for several years and was recently promoted to director of audit services. Outside of work, Hood spends time traveling with friends and family, running, and reading.
Rick Steinmetz LSM ’20
Partner
The Law Offices of Baldwin, Briscoe & Steinmetz, P.C.
Richard Steinmetz was born and raised in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. He received a BA in political science from East Stroudsburg University and earned his law degree from Catholic University (DC). He has been practicing law for over 15 years, first as an associate at Andrews, Bongar, Starkey & Clagett, P.A. and, currently, as a partner at Baldwin, Briscoe & Steinmetz, PC in Lexington Park.
Steinmetz is married, has two daughters, and resides in La Plata. He is a member of the Leonardtown Rotary Club and South Potomac Church in White Plains, Maryland. He is an avid runner, likes to read, and has a wide variety of literary interests, mostly encompassing history and biographies. He also enjoys activities with his family and playing with his dogs.
Angela Walters Small LSM ’16 (2024)
Director of Communications and Public Information Officer
College of Southern Maryland
Angela Walters Small is the public information officer and director of communications for the College of Southern Maryland. Prior to this role, she was a public information specialist for Calvert County Government. Small holds a B.A. degree in communications from the American University.
A 25-year resident of Calvert County, Small has more than 30 years of communication experience. Proceeding her work with CSM and Calvert County Government, Small was the manager of strategic leadership support and site contract lead for OMNITEC Solutions, a defense contractor at NAS Patuxent River. In that role, she served as the lead speechwriter and supported all leadership communication efforts for the commander of Naval Air Systems Command.
Samuel C.P. Baldwin, Jr., Esq. LSM ’16, Past President
Senior Partner & Founder
The Law Offices of Baldwin, Briscoe & Steinmetz, P.C.
Lee Capristo LSM ’11, Past President
Director of Publications
St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Mark De Luca LSM ’10, Past President
Systems Engineer
Holmes-Tucker International, Inc.
John Felicitas LSM ’13, Past President
Retired Educator
Robin Finnacom LMd ’98, Founding Board Member
Coordinator, St. Mary’s County, Nonprofit Institute
College of Southern Maryland
Tom Jarboe LMd ’06, Founding Member & Past President
President & CEO
AIRtec, Inc.
Bert Johnston LMd ’07, Past President
Aerospace Defense Consultant
Johnston Consulting
Dolores Martin LMd ’06, Founding Member & Past President
Retired Healthcare Professional
Cathy Meyers LMd ’98, Past Treasurer
Executive Director
The Center for Children, Inc.
Patrick Murphy LMd ’06, Founding Member & Past President
Director & Lead Managing Counsel
Robert Half | Protiviti | Protiviti Government Services
Wilson Parran LMd ’99, LSM ’09, Founding Board Member
Retired Deputy County Administrator
Matt Scassero LMd ’07, Past President
Director
UMD UAS Test Site
Linda Vassallo LMd ’07, Past President
Deputy Counter Administrator
Calvert County Government
Susan Mudd Vogel LSM ’09, Past President
Chief Development Officer
Melanoma Research Foundation
Mary Washington LSM ’09, Founding Board Member
Member
Board of Education, St. Mary’s County.
Ray Wernecke LMd ’06, Founding Member & Past President
Senior Advisor
PSI Pax, Inc.
Harriet Yaffe LMd ’01, Founding Board Member
44425 Airport Road, Suite 220
California, MD 20619
44425 Airport Road, Suite 220
California, MD 20619
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 524
Leonardtown, MD 20650
Alumni Login
44425 Airport Road, Suite 220
California, MD 20619
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 524
Leonardtown, MD 20650
Alumni Login
© 2021 Leadership Southern Maryland