John Walker
Chief Strategist
Mr. Walker is a seasoned technology executive with 20 years’ experience in the national security endeavor. He focuses on transforming intelligence operations in the IC through acquisition and adoption of Artificial Intelligence capabilities. He began his career as a Weapon Systems Engineer with the U.S. Navy supporting electronic warfare missions. Upon entering the private sector, he led a practice at Deloitte Consulting delivering IT Transformation solutions for national security clientele. Before Fuel, Mr. Walker co-founded a successfully acquired engineering services firm that focused on the Amazon Web Services Ecosystem.
Mr. Nemer has over 30 years’ experience as a Communications professional working in various industries including private and government agencies, associations and advertising, with extensive experience developing and implementing integrated communication plans for internal and external stakeholders. Prior to joining Fuel Consulting, Mr. Nemer provided senior communications consulting for SAIC, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte, TMP Integrated Marketing Communications, among other industry leaders. He brings a wealth of senior level Intelligence Community-specific communications methodologies and experience driving strategic organizational direction. Mr. Nemer is proficient in developing communication and marketing, change management, and strategic planning strategies for engagements involving human capital, technical, and organizational change initiatives.
With his 43 years of professional experience, Mr. Labate brings counterterrorism analysis and data science, national technical means performance analysis, systems engineering, and mathematical modeling to Fuel's customers. Prior to joining Fuel in 2017, Mr. Labate supported major missions at the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) as a senior analyst in the Data Analytics Branch of the Directorate of Intelligence, and was at the National Reconnaissance Office as a senior signals intelligence analyst and systems engineer. Extensively published at NCTC, Mr. Labate's analyses frequently formed the bases of reports which were read by and influenced decision-makers, from law enforcement and border protection officials around the United States to senior policy-makers at the highest levels of the White House and the National Security staff. Mr. Labate was also a frequent collaborator with FBI officials nationwide on much more tactical threats.
Ms. Bobko is a seasoned technology project manager and consultant with broad expertise in assisting clients in the Intelligence Community and other federal government agencies with data management, application modernization, information management, and resource management. She spent over 25 years with Electronic Data Systems and came to Fuel Consulting to work on data analytic initiatives. She holds PMP, ITIL, Scrum Master, AWS Cloud Practitioner, and ITSM DEVSECOPS certifications.
Mr. Apigian specializes in strategic operational planning and interagency coordination. Working as a senior planner, often in close coordination with the National Security Council, he translated national security policies into plans, programs, and operations that shaped U.S. counterterrorism efforts. He developed programs to synchronize governmental activities to achieve strategic goals; created and invigorated publications and programs to improve communications among federal leaders and within collaborative communities; and served as an expert in counterterrorism and Middle East affairs. Prior to joining Fuel in October 2007, Mr. Apigian served for two decades as a career officer in the U.S. Army.
Ms. Gerhards has 20 years’ experience planning, coordinating, and implementing organizational transformation in government and corporate settings, including those relating to operational intelligence, counterterrorism, and immigration. Prior to founding Fuel, Ms. Gerhards began her career with the CIA, where she supported a variety of intelligence missions, before moving to PricewaterhouseCoopers and Electronic Data Systems, leading teams that provided strategic planning, process improvement, and organizational change management services. Since founding Fuel Consulting, LLC’s predecessor in 2003, Ms. Gerhards deployed her skills primarily in the area of counterterrorism program strategic planning and communications, including assisting in the creation of the Terrorist Threat Integration Center and its successor.