Buddy shares his wisdom with Iris as an industrial entrepreneur, business executive, scholar, public servant, inventor, and technologist.  His notable career includes years of distinguished military and public service, including time served on the National Security Council staff in the White House under Presidents Ford and Carter.  Early in his career Buddy founded Atlantic Systems Research & Engineering (ASR&E), which began his journey to the top of corporate America.  ASR&E later merged with Coleman Research Corporation (CRC) which, under Buddy’s leadership, was recognized in 1993 by Business Week as the fastest growing small, private technology company in the United States.  In 1995 Buddy led CRC’s merger with Thermo Electron Corporation.  In 2000 Buddy founded Trans Digital Technologies Corporation (TDT) and served as President, CEO, and majority shareholder until the company was acquired by Viisage Technologies.  This notable acquisition further launched Buddy to the highest corporate ranks as Viisage became known as L-1 Identity Solutions, selecting Buddy to serve as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors in the multibillion dollar corporation.  Buddy currently sits on the boards of ten other public and private companies, serves on a number of national security boards, and is deeply involved with many non-profit organizations.  He established The Beck Foundation, a foundation which has created research programs at top universities nationwide.

Shelley brings both successful business experience and tremendous wisdom to Iris.  Specializing in real estate acquisitions, dispositions, and entitlement of commercial property in both Idaho and Washington state, Shelley’s career began in 1979 as a sales associate and has culminated in her role as the owner of two commercial real estate brokerage and development firms.  Shelley strives for perfection in everything she does and has managed to achieve success in the real estate market even during the most volatile of conditions.  In 1992 Shelley and her family purchased a 15 acre site containing a nearly abandoned and dilapidated shopping center.  She organized a planner, an architect, an attorney, and real estate specialists to completely renovate and redevelop the site.  The redevelopment project filled 152,000 square feet of retail space with new vendors and established a new strategic vision for the center.  The turnaround was completed in 2013 and a successful sale of the property followed.  Besides spending her time advising Iris on business strategy, Shelley serves on the governance board for the Inland Northwest Community Foundation, a foundation with nearly $100M in assets that works for the betterment of communities in northern Idaho and eastern Washington areas.

One of Iris’ earliest investors, Mel Hall brings Iris a wealth of experience and knowledge from his lengthy career and advises on business decisions from a strategic perspective.  With a Bachelor of Industrial Engineering (Georgia Tech, 1967), a Masters in Engineering Management (University of Alaska, 1970), and with service as an officer in the United States Army, Mel successfully navigated the corporate world to become the CEO of Comprehensive Health Services, Incorporated (CHSi) in 1992.  Mel guides CHSi in matters related to corporate strategy, financial oversight, and directs all senior management. Prior to his role as CEO, Mel spent six years as Chairman of the Board at CHSi.  His time at CHSi helped him become an industry thought leader, where he recognized the need for large organizations to have a more direct role in managing the health risks and rising costs of their workforces.  Besides working in healthcare, Mel spent time in the financial services sector where he was a partner at Ernst and Young and CEO of the McLean Group, Incorporated, a financial services management consulting firm.  Additionally, Mel served on the Board of Directors/Trustees for Excelsior Mutual Funds and on the Advisory Board of Georgia Tech’s Industrial and Systems Engineering School.

Lester possesses a broad and interesting background and is Iris’ “man inside the DC beltway.”  A long-time trusted advisor and friend of Iris’ principals, Lester brings a background in law, international business, and politics to Iris.  Lester served as Secretary of Commerce for the state of Massachusetts, senior advisor to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, was an attorney for the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and was an instructor at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.  Besides founding his own law firm which conducted business with clients from France, Germany, Japan, Korea, and in the Caribbean, Lester is a published author on Africa and specializes in peace resolution activities with experience in Haiti, Guatemala, and Liberia.  His judgement has been relied on by the highest echelons of the United States government as he was chosen to vet candidates for President Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, and Secretary of State John Kerry.

Joanne brings Iris vast experience from all levels of the defense and intelligence sectors.  Joanne made her mark in the intelligence community as a member of the Senior Intelligence Service and as a career officer at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).  While at the CIA she worked as the Deputy Director for Science and Technology, serving as the principal executive overseeing the CIA’s scientific and technical program.  Her responsibilities in that role included both clandestine technical activities and Agency research and development.  Additionally, Joanne served as the CIA’s Associate Deputy Director for Science and Technology - the directorate’s second most senior position.  Joanne served nearly five years as the Deputy Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), as Vice President/Deputy General Manager of Network Systems at BAE Systems, as Chief Operating Officer of High Performance Technologies Incorporated, and as a Senior Vice President of L-1 Identity Solutions.  Joanne’s selection to fill such prestigious roles throughout her career highlights the value she brings Iris Unmanned when it comes to defense, technological, and intelligence matters.