Matthew zames biography

Rear Admiral (Ret.) Danelle Barrett was an Academy Securities’ Geopolitical Intelligence Group Member as well as an Advisory Board Member.

Danelle Barrett was a retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral. She has over 30 years of proven leadership expertise in innovative cyber, digital transformation and telecommunications strategy development, and global operations. As an admiral, Ms. Barrett served as Director of Current Operations at U.S. Cyber Command and assumed duties in 2017 as the Navy Cyber Security Division Director and Deputy Chief Information Officer on the Chief of Naval Operations staff. In her last position in the U.S. Navy, she led the Navy’s strategic development and execution of digital and cyber security efforts, enterprise information technology improvements and cloud policy and governance for over 700,000 personnel across a global network. She is one of less than 200 women in history to achieve the U.S. Naval rank of admiral.

Rear Admiral Barrett was a graduate of Boston University with a Bachelor of Arts in History where she received her commission as an officer from the U. S. Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps. She holds a Master of Arts in Management, National Security Strategic Studies, and Human Resources Development. She also earned a Master of Science in Information Management. Ms. Barrett has several military decorations including the Defense Superior Service Medal, Women in Technology Leadership Award, and the Executive Women’s Forum Women of Influence Award. She has published 40 articles on cyber, technology, innovation, and leadership. Her book, “Rock the Boat: Encourage Innovation, Lead Change and Be a Successful Leader” was released in June 2021.

Lieutenant General (Ret.) Vincent R. Stewart was an Academy Securities’ Geopolitical Intelligence Group Member as well as an Advisory Board Member.

Lieutenant General Stewart served in the United States Marine Corps for over 35 years. He most recently served as Deputy Commander, U.S. Cyber Command. Prior to this assignment, Lieutenant General Stewart served as the 20th Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency.

A native of Chicago, Illinois, by way of Kingston, Jamaica, Lieutenant General Stewart graduated from Western Illinois University, earning his commission in 1981. He has served as an armor officer and subsequently as a signals intelligence and intelligence officer, commanding at every level. Lieutenant General Stewart earned master’s degrees in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, Newport, R.I. and in National Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, Washington, D.C.
Lieutenant General Stewart’s military decorations include: the Defense Superior Service Medal; the Legion of Merit with one gold star; the Bronze Star; the Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star; the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, with two gold stars; the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal; the Combat Action Ribbon; the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal; and various unit awards.

Lieutenant General Stewart retired from the U.S. Marine Corps at the Marine Barracks Washington on April 5, 2019.

William Wright was an Academy Securities’ Board member.

Born and raised in Lincoln, Nebraska, Mr. Wright graduated from Duke University Law School and received his CPA at the age of 25. While a law student, Bill taught managerial accounting at Duke to the Business School students, using the Wall Street Journal as his textbook. After graduating law school and becoming a third-generation lawyer in his family, he moved back to Nebraska to work for his father’s firm, Cline Williams, Wright, Johnson and Oldfather. He later started AMCON Distributing, a company that distributed beer and convenience store goods, which he grew into a successful publicly traded (NYSE) company.

Mr. Wright was Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of AMCON Corporation, in addition to being a founder and senior partner at Wright, Rembolt, Ludtke, Milligan & Berger. He was a Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors with the Nebraska Industrial Finance Authority (NIFA) and served as a personal consul to the Governor of Nebraska in that role.