Advisory Board
The Advisory Board is made up of a focused group of experienced professionals and subject matter experts who provide strategic guidance, insight, and external perspective to support SAM’s growth.
By sharing independent viewpoints, the Advisory Board helps leadership evaluate opportunities and maintain a cutting-edge in innovation and development.
Cheri Nolan
Chairman
Cheri Nolan is a powerhouse when questions arise regarding how Washington, D.C. and government works. As author Deborah Halber memorialized in her book Skeleton Crew, "She's (Cheri Nolan) toiled behind the scenes for 3 Presidents and probably knew her way through labyrinthine federal government politics better than many elected officials". She is an accomplished executive who brings decades of leadership spanning senior level posts at the White House, Departments of Justice and State and 4 other Cabinet Agencies throughout her career. Known for driving major national policy initiatives from concept to completion, she has built a reputation as a strategic problem-solver, consensus-builder, and trusted advisor in high-stakes environments.
With a career defined by impact, Cheri played a pivotal role in shaping landmark efforts. Her leadership has included oversight of multi-billion-dollar federal programs, implementation of performance-driven strategies across multiple agencies, and the successful alignment of policy, funding, and operations to achieve measurable results.
A dynamic communicator and mentor, Cheri is equally recognized for building high-performing teams and cultivating organizational culture, from turning around critical State Department operations to leading national drug control and behavioral health initiatives and everywhere in between. Whether advising at the highest levels of government or producing impactful public-facing content, she brings a rare blend of policy, expertise, operational excellence, experience and mission-driven leadership to any Organization.
LTG John Caldwell, US Army (Ret.)
In addition to leading the Defense & Aerospace Center of Excellence, General Caldwell has led The SPECTRUM Group’s Army Team for more than ten years and delivers extensive military acquisition, business development, and executive leadership expertise.
Prior to joining The SPECTRUM Group, General Caldwell held senior executive positions in the defense IT services sector for QSS and Perot Government Services. In his Army career, he served as Military Deputy to the Army Acquisition Executive, with oversight of the management of Army communications and weapons systems and leadership of the 50,000-strong Army Acquisition Corps. He also served as the Commanding General of the U.S. Army TACOM, where he was responsible for the technical, logistic, and acquisition support of 70% of the Army’s ground systems.
General Caldwell serves on several boards of directors, including Puradyn Filter Technologies, and several advisory boards, including those of BRTRC, Marlow Industries, and SYNEXXUS. He previously served on boards of directors and/or advisory boards for TASER International, Plasan US, ESP, and Autoflug. He is also the President of the Board of Comfort for America’s Uniformed Services (CAUSE), a 501(c)(3) non-profit supporting severely wounded troops and their families.
Gillian Jaeger, MHA
Gillian Jaeger is the Founder, President, and CEO of Veteran Shield Medical (VSM), a veteran-led healthcare company built to connect cutting-edge medical innovation with federal healthcare missions. A retired U.S. Navy leader with 27 years of service and more than three decades of experience across military healthcare, public health systems, and managed care, she brings unmatched expertise in navigating complex clinical and policy-driven environments.
Gillian launched VSM to move promising medical technologies beyond concept—guiding them through rigorous federal validation, operational pilots, and mission-aligned deployment within agencies such as the Department of Defense and the Veterans Health Administration.
Under her leadership, VSM serves as a strategic bridge between industry and government, ensuring that new solutions are introduced responsibly, meet federal standards, and strengthen mission readiness, patient safety, and system resilience.
Brooks Tucker
Brooks Tucker is a seasoned leader at the intersection of military service, federal policy, and veterans’ healthcare, bringing more than two decades of senior leadership experience to the Advisory Council. He served as Chief of Staff at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and as Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Legislative Affairs, where he shaped engagement with Congress on critical veterans’ health and national security priorities.
A retired U.S. Marine Corps Infantry Officer with 20 years of distinguished service, Mr. Tucker combines deep operational insight with high-level legislative expertise, including time as a Senate Defense Legislative Fellow and multiple overseas deployments. A recipient of the VA Exceptional Service Medal and numerous military honors, he continues to serve through board leadership with Our Community Salutes and his 2025 appointment to the American Battle Monuments Commission.
Today, he advises organizations on healthcare technology, military health systems, and veteran policy, helping bridge strategy, service, and innovation.