Russell Claybrook
Chief Executive Officer

Russell M. Claybrook, CEO of Cherokee Nation Security and Defense, manages a business unit that focuses on executing both security and defense contracts. Mr. Claybrook is a physical security specialist with a focus on force protection and anti-terrorism design build since 2003. During his career, Mr. Claybrook has executed vulnerability assessments for both commercial and government facilities; i.e. Department of State, Department of Defense, Department of Justice facilities and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Specifically to the work cited in this solicitation, Mr. Claybrook worked with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection to design and build a water supply protection solution. Mr. Claybrook currently manages Cherokee Nation Defense Services which service integrated logistic services as well as aviation and weapon system sustainment services. In addition to a career focus on force protection and anti-terrorism design build projects he has been in the security and energy markets performing architectural and engineering services since early 1997.

Amy Barnett
Director of Operations

Amy Barnett has more than 40 years of experience covering all aspects of integrated logistics support of weapon systems and associated test equipment. In her previous assignments, she was a member of the Army Acquisition Corp, was the senior logistics manager providing guidance and direction to seven program offices and had consolidated management of ammunition assets and test, measurement and diagnostic equipment. She has specialized experience working with NATO and Partner for Peace countries in common logistic solutions and received numerous awards for innovative support concepts and performance based logistics. She has extensive experience with maintenance engineering management including front end analysis of weapon system support requirements and subsequent establishment of missile depot repair capability at multiple locations CONUS and OCONUS locations. Her recent experience has been on the commercial side of government contracting supporting manufacturing and service requirements of various Department of Defense agencies.

James Kell
Program Manager

James Kell has 35 years of comprehensive military and procurement experience working with Warfighters and their weapon systems in all operational and logistical scenarios. As a former Army officer, Mr. Kell understands the user’s unique concerns and specific support requirements and how to translate them into achievable strategies for success competition within the Department of Defense’s procurement processes. Since 1996, Mr. Kell has worked in an intermediary role between the government customer and the prime for several innovative contracting requirements. In this role he has provided senior management and support for programmatic, financial, security, and logistical programs across a spectrum of weapon system programs.

Katherine Thomas
Program Manager

Katherine “KC” Thomas has more than 33 years combined military and federal government experience. During her 12+ years of service in the United States Navy, Ms. Thomas had two assignments to the Navy Military Personnel Command and spent 7.5 years of her active service performing system design and development functions. She attained Chief Petty Officer in nine years and during her active service earned personal performance awards of good conduct - 3 awards, the Navy Achievement Medal and the Navy Commendation Medal. Since 1987, Ms. Thomas has held various IT positions supporting the Defense Logistics Agency, Department of the Army, General Services Administration, Department of Interior and the Department of Energy. In addition to annual performance awards, Katherine also received the SWPA Administrator’s award for performance and a special recognition award from the Secretary, Department of Energy.