Rick Mix is the Founder and Chairman of Cleared Solutions. Mr. Mix formed Cleared Solutions in January 2004 with the goal of creating a senior technology consulting firm focusing on solving complex problems in the Intelligence Community. As the Founder and Chairman, Mr. Mix is currently charged with setting strategic direction, mentoring senior executives, and leading the external corporate advisory board.

Mr. Mix has a background in both technology and business demonstrated by his previous employment with Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) and Braddock, Dunn, and McDonald (BDM). Previously, Mr. Mix was a certified Oracle Designer/Developer, but has since specialized in software project management. In his career, Mr. Mix has worked in multiple industries and political environments including the Intelligence Community, Department of Defense, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), State and Local Governments, and Criminal Justice Agencies. He earned a B.S. in Finance from the Pennsylvania State University and an Masters in Business Administration from George Washington University.

Mr. Jaffe has over twenty-five years of experience in the Intelligence
 Community, Department of Defense, and Federal Law Enforcement
 Community as an intelligence analyst, plans and operations officer and manager. He has served in the private sector as senior-level consultant, COO and CEO. He has multi-agency IC experience in intelligence operations and mission supporting information technology. Mr. Jaffe has significant experience in mission IT governance including strategic planning, program management, systems engineering, systems integration, system design and architecture, technology capability development and application.

Mr. Jaffe’s career includes serving in positions of increasing responsibility including Deputy Director of Intelligence Operations at U.S. European Command. His private sector career began by serving as Senior Principal member of the technical staff at TASC in 2001. He then joined Cleared Solutions as employee number 5 in 2005 and became COO in 2006. Since then, Mr. Jaffe has developed Cleared Solutions into a 35 person, $5.5M in revenue (and growing), company. He was appointed CEO in 2010.

Mr. Jaffe earned a BS in Political Science from University of Maryland, MS in Strategic Intelligence from National Defense Intelligence College and he is a graduate of the US Air War College.

Jim Cottrell recently joined Cleared Solutions to be Chief Operating Officer, responsible for managing all of Cleared Solution programs and personnel supporting our clients. He came to the company after a 22-year career in the federal government. Jim began with what is now the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, formerly National Photographic Interpretation Center, as an intelligence analyst. Within his career, he was advanced quickly through the organization into leadership positions until he was promoted into the Senior Intelligence Service in 2008. His work supported military forces around the world, to include briefing support in Pakistan and Ethiopia. His organization was also recognized for direct contribution to the nation in Fall 2001. Jim graduated from Towson with a BA in History and from University of Maryland, Baltimore County with a MA in Historical Studies.

Don Bennett brings over 20 years of real-world, hands-on experience in the information technology (IT) field to the role of the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for Cleared Solutions Inc. He has supported clients in the military, communications, aerospace, educational, national elections, property management, financial, and insurance markets. His role as CTO is to add shareholder value through the infusion and exploitation of Information Technology (IT) in support of the suite of IT-related professional services consulting capabilities. He advises the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) on the use of technology to enhance the IT capabilities of the company in both the Federal Government and the commercial sectors. He also reinforces the vision and strategy determined by the CEO. Don is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, has a MS degree in Information Systems  from the Naval Post Graduate School and is a US Marine.

Helen Jaffe is the Director of Corporate Relations responsible for marketing, public relations and recruiting. After graduating from the United States Naval Academy, she served as a Naval Intelligence Officer, first supporting an aviation squadron, VS-29, and then as a watch officer/staff officer at Headquarters, European Command. Helen has deployed on WESTPAC 96/97 and to Kosovo in support of the KFOR. After serving, Helen worked at SAIC and then Booz Allen in a wide variety of roles including Systems Engineer, Modeling and Simulation trainer, Risk Manager, Program Manager and as SAIC’s Corporate Account Manager to DHS Science and Technology Directorate. She has been with Cleared Solutions since 2009.

Kathy Duffie is the Director of Corporate Resources for Cleared Solutions. She joined Cleared Solutions in 2009 where she currently provides management and leadership for a staff of professionals who are responsible for program finance, human resources, and contracts. Kathy received a Masters of Business Administration from George Mason University and a Bachelor of Business Administration from James Madison University. Prior to joining Cleared Solutions, Kathy provided program and contract management support to Federal and DOD customers.

Stephen Quatannens joined Cleared Solutions Inc. as a senior analyst and general counsel in November of 2007.  Mr. Quatannens received his Juris Doctor from the George Mason School of Law.  Leading into his employment with Cleared Solutions Mr. Quatannens practiced as a litigator in Northern Virginia courts for a period of 15 years, ten of which years he managed his own law practice.  Cleared Solutions looks to Mr. Quatannens for contract review, policy development, human resource support, corporate documents, and mitigation of liability.  As Vice President and Secretary of Cleared Solutions Mr. Quatannens also renders advice on business strategy, enterprise architecture, and the application of corporate resources. Mr. Quatannens is a graduate of T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria and has a B.A. in History from George Mason University.