Military Expertise Applied to Defense Contractor Compliance

Amira founded Kieri Solutions after 16 years securing U.S. Navy and DISA networks. During her time with the Defense Department, she designed critical military networks, led change management for NMCI (a million-seat network serving the Navy and Marine Corps), and architected a worldwide secure cloud solution for DISA. In 2014, she deployed to Afghanistan to perform a network migration at a NATO hospital. Amira is a Certified Lead CMMC Assessor and Provisional Instructor who has trained more than 400 assessment professionals. She co-founded the C3PAO Stakeholder Forum and serves as chief editor of CMMCaudit.org. She holds an MBA in Project Management, CISSP, CISA, and PMP certifications.

Mark brings 30 years of experience working with consulting companies supporting IT and cybersecurity initiatives. Having served in operational, sales, and customer service leadership roles, he approaches clients with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and solutions impacting their businesses today. Mark serves as President of Kieri Solutions and is responsible for the health of our team and the satisfaction of our clients. During his career, Mark has held Microsoft, Cisco, Citrix, and ITIL certifications and has been a contributing team member in the achievement of COBIT and SOC2 certifications.

Logan is a retired U.S. Navy Submarine Officer with over 24 years of experience developing, protecting, and assessing information security programs in the Department of Defense. As a Lieutenant Commander, he was responsible for information security policies, incident response, risk management, change management, access control, and continuity of operations. At Kieri, Logan is a Certified CMMC Assessor who leads gap analyses and serves in a quality role for assessments performed by other team members. He is also leading content updates to the Kieri Compliance Documentation. Logan holds a Master of Science in Information Assurance from Oklahoma State University and is a CISSP.

Jonathan’s technical background extends nearly 30 years, from municipal networks and ISPs to monitoring and troubleshooting high-security Navy networks with DISA and the NNWC Battle Watch Captains as part of Cyber Defense Operations Command. In each role, security has been paramount, and his insight into federal government thinking helps guide his understanding of CMMC’s goals. Jonathan is a Certified CMMC Assessor who specializes in cloud solutions and CMMC Reference Architectures. He serves as Kieri’s technical lead and plays a primary role in keeping the company CMMC Level 2 compliant. He holds Security+ and CCNA certifications.

Thad is a subject matter expert in information and communications security with more than 30 years of experience. He has hands-on experience configuring systems for CMMC compliance with a specialty in Microsoft 365 GCC and GCC High, Azure Government engineering, and secure tenant design. He has served as an Information Assurance Manager III with a focus on Risk Management Framework and government accreditation. Thad is a Certified Lead CMMC Assessor specializing in compliant systems design and architecture. He holds a CISSP and an MS in Information Security and Assurance from Norwich University.

Lia brings four years of experience securing small businesses to NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC Level 2 in a practical yet compliant way. Her experience spans cloud environments including Microsoft GCC-High and AWS GovCloud, wired and wireless networking, Windows Server administration, endpoint detection and response, SIEM management, backups, and physical access control systems. At Kieri, Lia maintains the company’s own CMMC Level 2 compliant information system and is further developing the Kieri Reference Architecture. She knows what starting at step zero feels like and leads with compassion and energy.

Erik brings over 30 years of IT experience in the engineering and manufacturing realm, from automotive to military and aerospace applications. For the first half of his career, he focused on product development while always maintaining IT responsibilities. This led to his full transition into IT, with the last eight years focused on information security and cybersecurity aligned with DFARS compliance. At Kieri, Erik specializes in assisting manufacturing clients with implementing NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC compliance. His experience operating across multiple industry verticals gives him a practical understanding of what manufacturers face when building a compliance program.

Susan Heng combines expertise in project management, IT systems, and cybersecurity to drive success at Kieri Solutions. She has led initiatives across financial, government, and private sectors, ensuring projects are executed efficiently through collaboration, precise documentation, and proactive risk management. Her approach integrates proactive risk management, resource planning, and continuous process improvement to support scalable, compliance-driven solutions.

Prior to joining Kieri Solutions, Susan served as a Cybersecurity Specialist, partnering with MSPs, MSSPs, and consultants to align IT operations with NIST SP 800-171, CMMC, and FedRAMP requirements. Having been on the other side of the table, she understands firsthand how organizations seeking assessment feel navigating compliance challenges, which enables her to provide practical, empathetic guidance throughout the process. Her contributions strengthened security frameworks, advanced employee awareness, and supported seamless migrations into Microsoft Commercial, GCC, and GCC High environments.

She draws on deep IT management experience to deliver tailored technical solutions, maintain audit-ready documentation, and support high-throughput client ecosystems with precision and agility. Her project leadership spans requirements gathering, milestone tracking, and cross-functional coordination ensuring alignment between business goals and technical execution.

She earned her Master of Science in Information Technology with a concentration in Cybersecurity from Capella University. She holds certifications in CompTIA Security+, Microsoft Azure Fundamentals, and is recognized as a CMMC Certified Professional (CCP) T3.

Matt Albers brings over 15 years of Federal Government experience to his role in
cybersecurity, where he leads Kieri’s assessment efforts with precision, insight, and a
deep understanding of operational realities. He holds the CISSP (Certified Information
Systems Security Professional), CompTIA Security+, and Certified CMMC Professional
(CCP) credentials, underscoring his deep technical knowledge and commitment to
cybersecurity excellence.

In 2023, Matt transitioned into the cybersecurity domain by joining the Defense
Industrial Base Cybersecurity Assessment Center (DIBCAC), applying his government
expertise to one of the defense sector’s most pressing challenges: protecting sensitive
data in an increasingly complex threat landscape. At DIBCAC, Matt conducted rigorous
NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC assessments for defense contractors across the country.
His work provided firsthand visibility into the compliance roadblocks organizations faces.
Those roadblocks range from interpreting nuanced requirements to implementing
sustainable security controls. His role demanded not only technical accuracy, but also
the ability to assess systems holistically, balancing regulatory expectations with practical
constraints.

Now at Kieri, Matt serves as our CMMC Assessment Manager and Lead Certified
CMMC Assessor (CCA), guiding clients through the intricacies of cybersecurity
compliance. He draws on his extensive assessment background and professional
certifications to help organizations strengthen their defenses, align with evolving
standards, and build lasting resilience. His experience at DIBCAC makes him an
invaluable resource for both Kieri and the organizations we support, offering clarity,
credibility, and strategic

As a strategic partner and executive leader, Paulette specializes in driving transformative growth and delivering high-impact business solutions across the B2B landscape. With a career defined by building sustainable revenue streams and high-performing teams, she serves as a bridge between complex organizational challenges and scalable, results-driven outcomes.

Paulette’s approach is rooted in a deep understanding of the modern sales ecosystem. She excels at navigating high-stakes environments, where her ability to align innovative Go-to-Market strategies with unique client objectives creates immediate and lasting value. By focusing on transparent communication and strategic foresight, she ensures that every partnership is built on a foundation of trust and measurable success.

At the core of her leadership is commitment to operational excellence. Paulette leverages a data-backed methodology to optimize sales pipelines and refine service delivery, ensuring that clients receive a seamless, sophisticated experience. Whether spearheading market expansion or revitalizing key accounts, she remains dedicated to helping organizations achieve their most ambitious growth milestones through collaboration and disciplined execution.