Meet the NUARI Team

Phil Susmann – President

Phil Susmann is the President of Norwich University Applied Research Institutes (NUARI). Mr. Susmann began his career as a Process Control Systems Engineer implementing Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems in manufacturing, food processing and industrial research and development environments.

He took this software development and control theory to Norwich University initially as a faculty member, program chair, and then Chief Information Officer. Mr. Susmann was responsible for the creation of the Cyber Security Programs and the research and development activities that became NUARI in 2002.

Mr. Susmann has also led NUARI in cybersecurity risk assessments for small and regional electricity, generation, distribution, and transmission companies. Mr. Susmann has presented at numerous regional and national conferences on critical infrastructure protection, cyber security, and response and recovery.

John A. Kunelius – Vice President

John serves as the Vice President for the Norwich University Applied Research Institutes responsible for marketing, outreach, program management, DECIDE®, and the NUARI SSC. John previously served as the Director of Admissions, Associate Dean for Enrollment Management, and Associate Vice President for the College of Graduate and Continuing Studies at Norwich University. For over 13 years, John’s experience has spanned leadership, operations, strategic planning and implementation, large-scale projects, marketing, recruiting, admissions, student/client success, student/client retention, graduate and undergraduate advising, certificates, and continuing and professional education initiatives in both for-profit and non-profit organizations. John holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota, and a Bachelor of Science degree from Southwest Minnesota State University.

Kristen Pedersen – Associate Vice President

Kristen is an Associate Vice President at NUARI managing the organization’s portfolio of Distributed Environment for Critical Infrastructure Decison-making Exercises (DECIDE®). She oversees the development and delivery of the cybersecurity and physical-threat focused exercises to test incident response protocol and improve the resiliency of various critical infrastructures. Her expertise is in strategic communication, media analysis, crisis and incident response, and complex change management. Kristen is also an adjunct professor in Norwich University’s Security Studies and Defense Analysis Bachelor’s Degree program as well as a former US Coast Guard Operations Specialist.

Jack Skoda – Associate Vice President

Jack is an Associate Vice President at NUARI and leads the NUARI SOC that processes 5TB of threat data per day and manages several other cybersecurity projects.  He has spent 35 years in the computer industry working for the United States Air Force and Navy, Fortune 500 companies, and start-ups.  During his time in industry he has worked in system and network administration, software development, testing, project management, and computer and network security.  Jack worked with the Air Force Institute of Technology Center for Cyberspace Research to build and run an award-winning cyberspace operation training program for men and women of all branches of the military and several federal agencies.  Jack continues to work in national defense as a member of the Vermont Air National Guard where he spends his weekends leading the F35 cyber mission defense team and teaching cyberspace operations.

Nathan Reddick – Outreach Director

Nathan serves as the Cybersecurity Outreach Director for NUARI. Nathan is responsible for all coordinated efforts of outreach regarding DECIDE® and the NUARI SSC. Nathan and his team are responsible for engaging & partnering with Government & Enterprise Agencies and working with different critical infrastructure industries to become more cyber resilient. Those industries include: Financial, Energy, Transportation, Manufacturing, & Healthcare. Nathan holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Marketing & Management from State University at Albany, NY.

Tom Muehleisen – Director of Cyber Operations

Tom Muehleisen, CISSP, MIPM and Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel, is a proven leader in cybersecurity. He is currently the Director of Cyber Operations for NUARI, where he designs and facilitates cyber exercises on the DECIDE® platform. He has a rich emergency management background as a National Guardsman, ranging from fighting fires to writing Washington State’s cyber response plan. His experiences as a senior leader in Army Information Operations give him a particularly deep view of adversary motivations, which he brings to DECIDE® exercises.

Karen Bates – Deputy Director NUARI SSC

Karen has worked in the cyber security field for over 20 years and joined the NUARI SOC in 2019. She holds a degree in Computer Information Systems from Franklin Pierce University with additional security certificates and coursework from Champlain College.  

Cathy Mercer – Program Manager Cybersecurity Initiatives

Cathy serves as the Program Manager of Cybersecurity Initiatives at NUARI. Her experience ranges from Software Project and Enterprise release management, Operations and Process Management, and Office Administration/support.  

Tom Paulger – Director of Course Development

Tom Paulger is a cyber-security analyst who has developed and taught numerous courses in Information Security and Assurance. He served as Battalion Commander for the Army’s first Information Operations Training Battalion, and has taught extensively in support of the National Guard two-week long Computer Network Defense Team course as well as the Incident Response Handler’s Course. Tom is currently a cyber-security subject matter expert at NUARI.

Rachel Sickler – Web Developer

Rachel Sickler is a Web Developer working on the DECIDE platform. Rachel enjoys working with clients to create experiences that meet or exceed expectations. Outside of the office, Rachel enjoys group fitness classes, cooking and baking for her friends and family, and training her chocolate lab, Java. Rachel holds a BS in Accounting and Business from SUNY Plattsburgh and a BS in Computer Science from Southern New Hampshire University.

Jakon Hays – Digital Outreach Specialist

Jakon is the digital outreach specialist for NUARI. He strategizes facilitates and executes digital and social media marketing initiatives increasing public awareness of NUARI. He has a background as a social media editor and researcher for a leading newspaper in Virginia.