Meet Our Expert Advisory Board
Our expert advisory board is your gateway to unparalleled expertise in defense, manufacturing, and technology. These leaders, with decades of experience, guide our strategies and ensure success. Their insights and proven track records are instrumental in driving innovation and achieving our goals. Partner with us and benefit from the knowledge and strategies of an expert advisory board committed to excellence.
Vice Admiral William French USN (retired)
Vice Admiral William French, USN (Ret.) serves on the Board of Advisors for Bishop Ascendant, bringing decades of distinguished military leadership, governance experience, and strategic vision to the organization. Following a decorated career in the United States Navy, he provides high-level guidance to support Bishop Ascendant’s growth, long-term initiatives, and core mission.
Throughout his naval service, Vice Admiral French led complex operations, managed large-scale executive organizations, and oversaw critical infrastructure and strategic planning. His extensive background in institutional leadership, operational excellence, and mission-focused decision-making makes him a vital voice on the advisory board.
At Bishop Ascendant, Vice Admiral French collaborates with executive leadership to offer objective insights, refine strategy, and foster sustainable development. His battle-tested leadership and dedication to service play an integral role in steering the organization toward achieving its key strategic milestones.
Major General Bradley D. Spacy USAF (retired)
General Spacy has over 30 years of experience in the US Air Force leading complex organizations from small unit to global enterprise, in peacetime and combat operations. He is a six-time commander, having commanded two squadrons, a Mission Support Group, two Wings, and the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center. He held numerous key staff positions at all levels of the Air Force and Joint Staff and was the Air Force Liaison to the US Senate.
General Spacy has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Fresno State University in California, a Master of Science Degree in Education from the University of Southern Mississippi, he was a National Defense Fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies and a Senior Executive Fellow at Harvard. He is a published author and fitness innovator.
Since his retirement, General Spacy has been active in commercial industry as a CEO, Board Member and Consultant. General Spacy has been married to his wife Lisa for 36 years and they have two married daughters and twin grandchildren.
Captain Brendan Gray USN (retired)
Integrity always matters in business. "The supreme quality of leadership is integrity." Dwight Eisenhower.
Brendan Gray was formerly the President and Chief Operating Officer of HALO Maritime Defense Systems. Prior to joining HALO, he was the Vice President of Global Operations for Interactive Data Corporation, a global provider of financial market data, analytics and related services to financial institutions, active traders and individual investors. He was responsible for the organization alignment of the Operations and IT departments, operational strategy, and Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery operations across the globe.
A graduate of the US Naval Academy, Brendan served with distinction for thirty years as a Naval Aviator; his last five years as the Deputy Commander for Navy Region Europe, responsible for the security, force protection and the day-to-day operations of all US Navy bases in Europe. He has extensive experience in forging international partnerships, having organized and led a multi-national, multi-discipline team from 5 countries and 4 major defense contractors that established requirements for and initial design of the P-8A (new U.S. Navy aircraft).
Captain John Carter Ph.D., P.E. USN (retired)
Captain John P. Carter, PhD is the Founder of CoreX, where he serves as an executive partner and strategic advisor to funded deep-tech founders and leadership teams across space, nuclear, energy, AI, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing.
Capt. Carter specializes in helping technical founders navigate the transition from breakthrough innovation to commercial scale without becoming the bottleneck of their own enterprise. CoreX provides a pragmatic suite of growth infrastructure—including founder coaching, executive alignment, high-velocity business operating systems, and direct access to fractional CxO leadership, regulatory, safety, and capital networks.
Prior to founding CoreX, Capt. Carter served over 30 years in the U.S. Navy Submarine Force, leading teams in high-consequence, zero-fail nuclear submarine environments. He brings this battle-tested standard of operational excellence, clarity, and decision quality to the business world—enabling technical leaders to build durable, high-performing organizations capable of rapid, sustainable growth.
Lieutenant Colonel Staff Infantry Ibrahim Al Faouri JAF (retired)
Ibrahim Al Faouri is a self-motivated professional with over 20 years of experience in the Jordanian Armed Forces, holding a strong background in military science, risk management, and operation management. He possesses two Bachelor's degrees from Mutah University (2003 and 2017) and is currently pursuing a Master's in risk management.
His experience includes roles as a Business Development Manager at Azimuth Defense LLC, where he managed contracts and identified new opportunities within the Jordanian Armed Forces, and an Operation Manager role at Key Communications for Marketing Ltd., focusing on customer service and supply chain management. He has a proven track record of working with international teams and expanding business relationships with government representatives.
LCDR Tony Reid, USN (Ret.), GS-15 (Ret.)
Lieutenant Commander Tony Reid, USN (Ret.), GS-15 (Ret.), DON LEO (Ret.) serves on the Board of Strategic Advisors for Bishop Ascendant Inc., bringing over three decades of operational, security, and public sector expertise. With a background spanning active naval service, senior federal civil service, and specialized law enforcement, he provides critical guidance on government relations, public sector procurement, and the deployment of physical security solutions across naval and port infrastructure.
LCDR Reid’s career includes 20 years of active-duty service as an operational U.S. Navy officer, followed by a distinguished tenure in the Senior Federal Civil Service, culminating at the GS-15 level. As a designated Department of the Navy Law Enforcement Officer (DON LEO), he managed complex security frameworks, base resilience initiatives, and physical safeguard operations.
At Bishop Ascendant, LCDR Reid collaborates with executive leadership and board colleagues to help accelerate modular maritime defense capabilities, force protection solutions, and physical barrier architectures to fleet and critical infrastructure operators worldwide.
Dr. Anthony Jones
Dr. Jones founded Intake Works LLC which focuses on developing advanced materials and technical approaches to draw seawater into desalination facilities while leaving the fish in the sea.
Dr. Jones holds a doctorate in oceanography from the University of Hawaii, masters in Biology from San Diego State University, and a BA in Zoology and Marine Biology from UC Berkeley.
Dr. Jones has extensive international experience in the fields of ocean mining, marine renewable energy technology development water purification and desalination
