Leadership
John Boyert
PRESIDENT
As the President, John oversees all of the company’s major operational functions, programs, contracts, and partnerships. He is responsible for the overall growth, performance, and delivery of ATHENA’s initiatives. In addition to this, John personally oversees, participates, and trains instructors in the Training branch of the company, teaching his personalized style of tactics acquired through years of real-world experience.
John left Active Duty with the US Army in 2008, in which he served his entire career with the 75th Ranger Regiment in a variety of roles in 3rd Battalion, and the Ranger Reconnaissance Detachment. He served with distinction in numerous functions and, following the events of September 11, 2001, John served in multiple combat deployments in support of the Global War on Terrorism, to include spearheading both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. In total, John led and executed over 500 successful combat patrols in both Afghanistan and Iraq, while also coordinating with US Interagency Task Forces and multi-national special operations forces. Among John’s many combat accomplishments, John also successfully designed a range of innovative training programs for the 75th Ranger Regiment and Special Operations community that are still used today.
In 2008, John worked as the Chief Counterinsurgency Instructor for a Defense contracting company. It was in this capacity that John developed several training programs for soldiers deploying in support of OEF and OIF. The programs allowed deploying soldiers to train in various combat skills to prepare for the ever-changing insurgency tactics in Iraq and Afghanistan. These programs included basic battle drills, convoy operations, fire and maneuver operations both as a team and individual, marksmanship, urban operations, close quarters battle, and IED defeat. As a certified instructor in all of these areas, John not only taught soldiers deploying into combat, but also taught others to become proficient instructors.
John’s military education and schooling include numerous advanced special operations tactical combat shooting courses and has obtained instructor certification in Advanced Marksmanship Carbine and Pistol, Advanced Close Quarters Marksmanship (ACQM), and Close Quarters Battle (CQB). John also attended a variety of high-risk Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) courses for both peacetime and wartime as well as several Army Combatives programs. Additionally, he is a graduate of the following military courses: Ranger School, Scout Swimmer, Military Free Fall, Jumpmaster, Airborne, Joint Forward Controller, Joint Fires Course, Special Operations Spotter Course, and various other courses.
His awards and decorations include: Bronze Star (2), Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (2), Army Achievement Medal (6), Army Good Conduct Medal (4), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Arrowhead (2), Afghanistan Campaign Medal (2), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (2), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal (3), Combat Action Badge, Master Parachutist Badge with Combat Jump Star, and German Parachutist Badge.
PRESIDENT
As the President, John oversees all of the company’s major operational functions, programs, contracts, and partnerships. He is responsible for the overall growth, performance, and delivery of ATHENA’s initiatives. In addition to this, John personally oversees, participates, and trains instructors in the Training branch of the company, teaching his personalized style of tactics acquired through years of real-world experience.
John left Active Duty with the US Army in 2008, in which he served his entire career with the 75th Ranger Regiment in a variety of roles in 3rd Battalion, and the Ranger Reconnaissance Detachment. He served with distinction in numerous functions and, following the events of September 11, 2001, John served in multiple combat deployments in support of the Global War on Terrorism, to include spearheading both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. In total, John led and executed over 500 successful combat patrols in both Afghanistan and Iraq, while also coordinating with US Interagency Task Forces and multi-national special operations forces. Among John’s many combat accomplishments, John also successfully designed a range of innovative training programs for the 75th Ranger Regiment and Special Operations community that are still used today.
In 2008, John worked as the Chief Counterinsurgency Instructor for a Defense contracting company. It was in this capacity that John developed several training programs for soldiers deploying in support of OEF and OIF. The programs allowed deploying soldiers to train in various combat skills to prepare for the ever-changing insurgency tactics in Iraq and Afghanistan. These programs included basic battle drills, convoy operations, fire and maneuver operations both as a team and individual, marksmanship, urban operations, close quarters battle, and IED defeat. As a certified instructor in all of these areas, John not only taught soldiers deploying into combat, but also taught others to become proficient instructors.
John’s military education and schooling include numerous advanced special operations tactical combat shooting courses and has obtained instructor certification in Advanced Marksmanship Carbine and Pistol, Advanced Close Quarters Marksmanship (ACQM), and Close Quarters Battle (CQB). John also attended a variety of high-risk Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) courses for both peacetime and wartime as well as several Army Combatives programs. Additionally, he is a graduate of the following military courses: Ranger School, Scout Swimmer, Military Free Fall, Jumpmaster, Airborne, Joint Forward Controller, Joint Fires Course, Special Operations Spotter Course, and various other courses.
His awards and decorations include: Bronze Star (2), Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (2), Army Achievement Medal (6), Army Good Conduct Medal (4), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Arrowhead (2), Afghanistan Campaign Medal (2), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (2), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal (3), Combat Action Badge, Master Parachutist Badge with Combat Jump Star, and German Parachutist Badge.
Susan Cho
CHIEF OF INTERNAL OPERATIONS
As the Chief of Internal Operations, Susan supports and provides guidance towards company initiatives and is responsible for developing and expanding operational activities with the objective of maximizing growth and profitability within the company. She develops strategies and policies aligned with organizational goals while implementing improved processes and management methods to generate higher return on investments and workflow optimization.
Susan served with distinction as a US Army Intelligence Officer, specializing in Tactical Intelligence. She supported conventional military and elite Special Operations units, working closely with US Intelligence Agencies and other National intelligence services while serving in combat in Afghanistan and while supporting operations in Colombia. In addition, she has worked closely with US and foreign law enforcement and law enforcement agencies in criminal targeting and has successfully helped find, fix, and capture numerous individuals involved in narcotrafficking, terrorism, weapons proliferation, and other criminal activities. While serving on Active Duty, Susan also held numerous leadership roles, directly responsible for the training and development of over 230 personnel.
Susan holds a B.S. in Foreign Languages with a concentration in Mechanical Engineering from the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point.
CHIEF OF INTERNAL OPERATIONS
As the Chief of Internal Operations, Susan supports and provides guidance towards company initiatives and is responsible for developing and expanding operational activities with the objective of maximizing growth and profitability within the company. She develops strategies and policies aligned with organizational goals while implementing improved processes and management methods to generate higher return on investments and workflow optimization.
Susan served with distinction as a US Army Intelligence Officer, specializing in Tactical Intelligence. She supported conventional military and elite Special Operations units, working closely with US Intelligence Agencies and other National intelligence services while serving in combat in Afghanistan and while supporting operations in Colombia. In addition, she has worked closely with US and foreign law enforcement and law enforcement agencies in criminal targeting and has successfully helped find, fix, and capture numerous individuals involved in narcotrafficking, terrorism, weapons proliferation, and other criminal activities. While serving on Active Duty, Susan also held numerous leadership roles, directly responsible for the training and development of over 230 personnel.
Susan holds a B.S. in Foreign Languages with a concentration in Mechanical Engineering from the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point.