ACT 1 Mission Partners
DIETER BAREIHS
TSC/ACT-1 Contract Manager, Brig Gen, USAF (Ret)
Dieter E. Bareihs joined ACT1 Federal in support of the Ted Stevens Center on 27 Dec 2021. Prior to supporting the Stevens Center, he served as the U.S. Deputy Director at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. He retired in 2018 as a Brigadier General, after serving more than 29 years in the United States Air Force. General Bareihs received his commission in 1989 and graduated as a distinguished graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy. He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Weapons Instructor Course and is a command pilot with more than 3,000 flight hours in various aircraft.
While on active duty, General Bareihs served in a number of operational, command and staff assignments including as Senior Defense Official/Defense Attaché, U.S. Embassy, London, Senior Executive Officer to the Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force, Commander, 80th Flying Training Wing, Chief of Staff of the Air Force Fellow with duties on the Joint Staff Pakistan-Afghanistan Coordination Cell, Director of Operations U.S. Air Forces Central, Al Udeid AB, Qatar, and as F-16 Instructor Pilot, Flight Examiner, Flight Commander, Chief of Weapons and Tactics, and Safety Officer, at various locations, including twice at Eielson AFB, Alaska. In his final active-duty assignment, General Bareihs served as Director Plans, Programs, and Analysis, United States Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa where he participated in the Headquarters Air Staff study which laid the foundation for the inaugural Air Force Arctic Strategy.
He holds master’s degrees in Engineering Management, Military Operational Art and Science and in National Resource Strategy.
His USAF biography is available at:
https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/581228/dieter-e-bareihs/
JASON “OLAF” ROE
TSC/ACT-1 Media and Comms Specialist, Petty Officer, USCG (Ret)
Jason “Olaf” Roe is the Media and Communications Specialist for the Ted Stevens Center. As part of the ACT1 team serving the Center, Mr. Roe provides graphic design, media, IT coordination, and web-design support. Prior to supporting the Ted Stevens Center, Mr. Roe served as the Associate Director and Senior Research Professional for the Arctic Domain Awareness Center (ADAC), a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Center of Excellence in Arctic Maritime Research, hosted by the University of Alaska. During his tenure at ADAC, Mr. Roe assisted in the management of a nationwide network of research teams focused on a diverse range of Arctic issues including GIS systems, communications, underwater robotics, oil and ice modeling and detection, and pollution mitigation strategies. Mr. Roe retired from the U.S. Coast Guard in 2019 after 20 years of service, more than 10 of which involved operations planning of Search and Rescue (SAR), Maritime Environmental Response, and Maritime Law Enforcement operations in Alaska and the U.S. Arctic region.
TONY SMITH
TSC/ACT-1 Events Program Manager
Tony Smith is an Event Program Planning Manager with the Ted Stevens Center. He holds a BA in International Studies from American University (Class of 2017) and an MA in Security Studies from Georgetown University (Class of 2022). He is a former Army infantryman with the 1st Infantry Division and is now a US Army Reserve Engineer officer. He joined the TSC team after 18 months on Capitol Hill as the Military Legislative Assistant to Congressman Mike Gallagher (WI-08). While working for Rep. Gallagher, Tony helped design and write the Arctic Security Initiative that passed into law under the FY22 NDAA.
DR. KATHRYN FRIEDMAN
TSC/ACT-1 North American Arctic Policy Specialist, Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies, US Department of Defense
kfriedman@act1federal.com
Kathryn Bryk Friedman is the North American Arctic Policy Advisor at the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies and a Global Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (Canada Institute). Friedman is a recognized foreign policy expert on North America, specifically the US-Canada relationship, with experience in security, borders, trade, migration, and transboundary water governance. Her strategic advice to senior-level government officials includes advising the US Embassy Ottawa; US Consulate General Toronto; Embassy of Canada to the United States; Canadian Consulate Generals New York, Chicago and Seattle; the Government of Northern Ireland; and the Cabinet Office of the United Kingdom. She also has worked with The Nature Conservancy and the Alliance for the Great Lakes on strategies for strengthening water diplomacy and governance.
Kathryn is an experienced negotiator, mediator and conflict resolution specialist, who has designed processes and led Track 1.5-4.0 diplomatic efforts. She currently is leading a Water Diplomacy 4.0 initiative in collaboration with the German Foreign Ministry and the German-American Fulbright Foundation. Kathryn also has served as a Fulbright Fellow (Germany) and an Abshire Inamori Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC. Kathryn is approached frequently to provide guest commentary in the media, including PBS, NPR, The Hill, CBC and Bloomberg News. Kathryn clerked for two appellate judges and is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. She is a Leadership Circle member of Foreign Policy 4 America. Kathryn has a Ph.D. with a concentration in international relations and J.D., magna cum laude, with a concentration in international law.
MATTHEW WEE
TSC/ACT-1 Senior Event Program Planner, Human Domain Solutions ACT-I, Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies
mwee@act1federal.com
Matthew Philip Wee took care of Marines, traveled to foreign countries, and implemented procedures as a Personnel Administration, Training & Operations, and Security Cooperation/Foreign Affairs specialist. While in the Marine Corps, he was stationed in California, Bahrain, Germany, Burkina Faso, North Carolina, Washington D.C., and Virginia. He also visited Kuwait, Iraq, France, Japan, Norway, Senegal, Djibouti, and Georgia. After 20 years of Active-Duty service in the United States Marine Corps, he transitioned to the Fleet Marine Corps Reserve. Matthew recently completed a HillVets House Defense Fellowship supporting Armed Services and Veterans issues for Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland who is part of Washington State’s 10th Congressional District. Matthew is currently in Washington, D.C., and supports the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Studies as a Senior Event Program Planner. He has an Associate’s, Bachelor’s, and Master’s in Business Administration and multiple certifications and certificates.
BETH COPES
Participant Programs Manager
ECopes@act1federal.com
Beth Copes is the Participant Programs Manager at the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies. A dynamic professional, Beth has over 20 years of years of program management experience working in support of various federal clients and national public health organizations within the National Capital Region as well as the Tidewater area of Virginia. Engaging and energetic, she excels at fostering relationships with stakeholders at all levels & works to ensure program participants are well satisfied with their experience, regardless of event size. Everyone matters or no one matters! A graduate of High Point University, Beth went on to complete her Masters in Business Administration during her 12-year tenure with Lockheed Martin.
XEREX SANTELLA
TSC/ACT-1 Program Support Services Specialist
Rex Santella is a Christian, husband, father, and retired US Air Force Airman with over 20 years of service. He was born and raised in Manila, Philippines until he moved to California in 2001. He completed a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management and an associate degree in Fitness, Recreation and Service Management. During his Air Force career, he was stationed in Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, served two tours at Osan Air Base Republic of Korea, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey. Rex is passionate about coaching and developing highly efficient teams by facilitating team building workshops and professional development classes. As a certified True Colors Facilitator and John C. Maxwell 360 Degree Leader Instructor, he led countless workshops and classes through the years. Rex and his family are now based in Anchorage, Alaska where he devotes most of his time off duty broadening his faith, leading the church’s music ministry, spending time with his wife and two daughters, playing basketball, running, outdoor exploration, composing music and drafting ideas for his future publications.
CONNOR N. KEESECKER
Deputy Registrar
Connor Keesecker joined the Ted Stevens Center team in December 2022 as a contractor with Act-1 Federal. Prior to coming to the Ted Stevens Center, he served as the Communications and Research Associate for the Arctic Domain Awareness Center, a DHS Center of Excellence hosted by the University of Alaska Anchorage. He previously worked on economic development and community issues with non-profits in Anchorage.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from the University of Alaska Anchorage. Born and raised in Alaska, and currently resides in Anchorage.
MARTIN KENNEDY
Web Developer
Martin J. Kennedy joined the Ted Stevens Center on November 4th 2022. Prior to coming to the Ted Stevens Center, he was the principal developer and art director at MK Digital. Mr. Kennedy has held several roles as a software engineer and has led teams on building large scale applications.
He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from William Paterson University with a concentration in digital design.
