SFA Convention
+ May 22-26, 2023 +

Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Scott Mann is a former U.S. Army Green Beret with tours all over the world including Colombia, Iraq, and multiple tours in Afghanistan. He is a warrior storyteller and the founder of Rooftop Leadership where he shares the rapport-building skills he learned in Special Forces to help today's leaders make better human connections in high-stakes, low-trust engagements.

Scott is the author of the instant New York Times Best-Seller, Operation Pineapple Express, a third-person narrative detailing the harrowing stories of the veterans, volunteers, and Afghan Allies who navigated the US abandonment of Afghanistan in August of 2021. The Gary Sinise Foundation has also partnered up with Scott to bring his play, Last Out: Elegy of a Green Beret

to the legendary theater Steppenwolf, as well as to stages across the country in an effort provide healing to our Veterans and Families of the Fallen, as well as providing insight to our citizens on the personal cost of the longest war in our Nation’s history.

Scott’s greatest accomplishments are his family; he has three grown sons which now gives him the newfound opportunity to chase Monty, his wife of 27 years, around their Tampa home as often as possible. To learn more about Scott’s full body of work, visit ScottMann.com

Jeff Tiegs is a Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency Expert with over 25 years of service in the U.S. Army Special Operations. He has commanded units during combat operations around the globe including Panama, Iraq and Afghanistan. Jeff has a Master’s Degree from the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island and has earned numerous military decorations including the Ranger and Special Forces Tabs, Special Forces Combat Diver Badge and the Military Freefall Badge. He has also received numerous awards including five bronze stars for distinguished service during combat in Iraq and Afghanistan and a silver star award for valor during combat in Iraq. In addition to combat experience, his non-traditional assignments were influential at the policy and strategy levels of the U.S. government.

David Maxwell is a retired US Army Special Forces Colonel and has spent more than 30 years in Asia as a practitioner and specializes in North Korea and East Asian Security Affairs and irregular, unconventional, and political warfare. He is the Editor of Small Wars Journal and a Senior Fellow at the Global Peace Foundation (where he focuses on a free and unified Korea), and a Senior Advisor to the Center for Asia Pacific Strategy.

LTG David P. Fridovich is a retired Lieutenant General and Green Beret in the United States Army. He graduated in 1974 from Knox College where he was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon. He then went on to receive a master’s degree in political science from Tulane University in 1976. After graduation, LTG Fridovich was commissioned an infantry Second Lieutenant. He served as a Rifle and Reconnaissance Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, and Light Infantry Company Commander with the 172nd Light Infantry Brigade, Fort Richardson, Alaska. He was appointed Assistant Professor of Military Science at Norwich University, where he trained the Mountain Cold Weather Cadre and Rescue Team.

LTG Fridovich Commanded the Combine/Joint Special Operations Task Force in Operation Joint Forge, Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, from January through July 2000. He assumed command of the 1st Special Forces Group(AIRBORNE) in August of 2000. There, he led the Army Special Operations Task Force, Operation Enduring Freedom-Philippines, Zamboanga, Republic of the Philippines from January through June of 2002. In January of 2005, LTG Fridovich assumed duties as Commander, Special Operations Command, Pacific. He subsequently assumed duties as the Director, Center of Special Operations, U.S. Special Operations Command in 2007, and became deputy Commander in May 2010.
LTG Fridovich retired on November 14, 2011 after more than 37 years of service in the U.S. Army. At the time of his retirement, he was the senior Green Beret in the Army.

Colonel Valas is a graduate of the United States Army War College. He received his commission as an Infantry Officer from Hofstra University in 1998. He is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic Course, and the Field Artillery Captain's Career Course, the Command and General Staff College, the Special Forces Detachment Officer Qualification Course, Jumpmaster Course, and Ranger School.

His previous command assignments include 26 months as Commander of 1st Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne), where he deployed as the Deputy Commanding Officer of the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Arabian Peninsula, Manama, Bahrain; 27 months as Commander, A Company, 1st Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne), where he deployed in support of OPERATION NEW DAWN, Kirkuk, Iraq; and 27 months as Commander, ODAs 2034 and 2116 1st Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne) where he deployed in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM, Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Previous non-command assignments include service as the Senior National Guard Advisor to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Security Cooperation, Assessment Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate; State Training Officer of the Alabama Army National Guard; Group Assistant Operations Officer and Operations Officer, 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Battalion XO, 1st Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne); Battalion XO, 1st Battalion, 167th Infantry; and Infantry Platoon Leader, Support Platoon Leader, and Battalion Logistics Officer, 2d Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 10th Mountain Division.

His awards and decorations include the Bronze star Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster) the Defense Meritorious Service Medal(with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Meritorious Service Medal (with 3d Oak leaf cluster), the Army Commendation Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Afghan and Iraq Campaign Medals, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” Device and Silver Hourglass, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Multinational Forces and Observers Medal, the Senior Parachutist Badge, the Expert Infantryman’s Badge, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Ranger Tab and the Special Forces Tab.

Michael S. Repass is the Chief Executive Officer for Able Global Solutions LLC which he founded in 2013 after retiring from the Army. AGS focuses on international business development to match emerging technology and proven products with potential clients. AGS also examines trends and environments for strategic perspectives.
Mike Repass’ military career began in 1980 upon graduation from the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY. He served an infantry officer and over 30 years as a Special Forces officer. He commanded at every level in Special Forces from captain to major general. He commanded tactical units in the 5th Special Forces Group; the 1st Special Forces Group in Japan, then Commanded the 10th Special Forces Group. He commanded the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Arabian Peninsula during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM for two combat tours. He was the Commanding General for both U.S. Army Special Forces Command and U.S. Special Operations Command, Europe in successive tours.
Mike Repass received a bachelor’s degree in science from the USMA in 1980 and a master’s degree in strategic studies in 2003 from the U.S. Army War College.
His awards include: two Army Distinguished Service Medals, Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars; the Combat and Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Parachutist’s and Air Assault badges, and Ranger and Special Forces tabs. He has multiple foreign decorations, accomplishment badges, and awards from the Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Ukraine.
In his post-military life, has served as an adjunct instructor on a mobile education team working with European and African nations on national security policy education. He has worked with Ukrainian military forces since 2016 as an instructor and a strategic advisor.
A native of West Virginia, Mike Repass is married to the former Linda L. Rainey from Sheboygan, Wisconsin. They reside in Belle Isle, Florida.

Erik Prince is an American businessman, former U.S. Navy SEAL officer, and the founder of the private military company Blackwater. He served as Blackwater's CEO until 2009 and as its chairman until its sale to a group of investors in 2010. Prince heads the private equity firm Frontier Resource Group and served as chairman of the Hong Kong-listed Frontier Services Group until 2021. Prince is the son of engineer and businessman Edgar Prince, and the brother of former U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos.
Born in Holland, Michigan. Graduate of Hillsdale College. A true American Patriot.

--- ALEX QUADE ---
War reporter and documentary filmmaker Alex Quade started her career at the White House during the Persian Gulf War. She’s worked in television covering global conflicts and hostile environments for CNN, FOX, CBS, HLN, APTN and CNNI out of Frankfurt and Berlin, Germany, New York and Atlanta ( Alex Quade - IMDb ). She’s produced videos and reports for The New York Times; front page stories for The Washington Times, Military Times, and Small Wars Journal; and magazine cover features for National Guard, Communicator, and Dangerous Assignments. She’s the recipient of more than two dozen journalism awards. Among them: two national Edward R. Murrow Awards, the national Defense Media Award for her career covering special operations, an International Aerospace Media Award, group Emmy, Peabody and Columbia du-Pont Awards, and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s Excellence in Journalism Award “for her courageous reporting and honest news coverage". For more info or to contact: http://alexquade.com/ ( Alex Quade — Communications Professional )

Dr. Atalanta has spent nearly a decade working in support of the Special Operations community, with special emphasis on the Green Beret community. A sought-after ghostwriter, collaborator, and editor, the words you find on bookstore shelves, online, or in other communications from your favorite Special Operations inspirational figure may very well be hers. She publishes her own work, as well, having most recently co-authored “Meditations of an Army Ranger: A Warrior Philosophy for Everyone” with LTC JC Glick; and of her numerous viral eponymous online compositions, her essay “We Are the Useful Idiots: How Our Nation Divided Is Playing Straight Into the Hands of Our Greatest Enemies” earned the distinction of Havok Journal’s Article of the Year. She is founder and CEO of SOFXLE (www.sofxle.com), a consultancy bringing Special Operations strategies for mindset, resilience, and no-fail mission success to America’s Law Enforcement community. A trusted writer for, supporter of, and friend to the Green Beret Foundation, Dr. Atalanta owes her career in large part to the Green Berets who have opened their minds, experiences, and worlds up to her.

In her SFACON 2023 talk, “The Hidden Gifts of the Green Beret,” Dr. Atalanta shares the key life lessons she has learned from the Green Berets with whom she has been blessed to collaborate—and hopes to give back to this magnificent community of strength an awareness of the gifts that they bring to bear when they transition back to the civilian world.

You can find her at www.aliceatalanta.com, www.sofxle.com, or [email protected] .

Master Sergeant Geoffrey P. Dardia has served over 18 years in the Special Forces Regiment with 3SFG (A) as a Special Forces Weapons Sergeant (18B), Special Forces Intelligence Sergeant (18F) and as a Special Forces Operations Sergeant (18Z). MSG Dardia also served as a Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat Course (SFAUCC) Instructor, Maritime Operations (MAROPS) Instructor, and as the Fort Bragg Wounded Warrior Liaison for United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). MSG Dardia has deployed to both CENTCOM, and AFRICOM areas of operation throughout his entire career. MSG Dardia is currently serving as the 1st Special Forces Command’s Human Performance and Wellness (HPW) Senior Leader, and as the Founding Director of the META (Medical, Education, Transition, Advocacy/Awareness) Transition Program.

In 2019, MSG Dardia was asked to help stand up 3SFG(A)’s Human Performance and Wellness (HPW) Program as an initiative to un-silo care delivery teams and connect them all together as one multidisciplinary, holistic care team (THOR, Group MED, Behavioral Health, Chaplain, Military & Family Life Counselor (MFLC), and Preservation of the Force and Family (POTFF). 3SFG (A)’s HPW model has been adopted by USSSOCOM and emulated throughout the Special Forces Regiment

MSG Dardia is also a Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach and serves as a veteran advocate (trusted agent), educator, advisor, public speaker, and as guest writer for the Havok Journal where he educates and empowers people from all walks to take ownership of their health and actions. In 2012, MSG Dardia founded the SOF Health Initiatives Program for Task Force Dagger Special Operations Foundation. MSG Dardia is also part of multiple DOD/VA/Civilian advisory committees and working groups advocating for performance/lifestyle medicine to include the Uniformed Services University’s (USU) Task Force Resilience, the Total Force Fitness (TFF), and the Toxic Exposure in the American Military (TEAM), Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (PACT Act) working groups. MSG Dardia is a frequent guest on several military and health related podcasts to include USSOCOM’s SOFcast, First Special Forces Command’s Indigenous Approach, and been featured in high visibility publications such as the Men’s Health, New York Times, Army Times, Military Times, and Experience Life Magazine.