Board of Advisors

Peter Dinsmore has over 35 years of experience in cybersecurity. Most recently he was the Chief Engineer of the Cyber Operations Branch at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab. His primary work focus is threat-based cyber risk assessment. At JHU/APL he led the .gov Cybersecurity Architecture Review (.govCAR) for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. He also led the model team for OUSD Acquisition and Sustainment for the Cyber Maturity Model Certification effort. Previously he was the Deputy CTO for Mission Assurance and the Technical Executive for the Development and Business Center at the Defense Information Systems Agency. There he was responsible for the overall technical direction within the Center. He created and led the NIPRNet/SIPRNet Cyber Security Architecture review (currently known as DoDCAR), co-sponsored with the DoD CIO and the National Security Agency. That work pioneered the concept of threat-based cyber risk assessment.

Prior work at JHU/APL included managing the Cyber Missions Branch and he was the Principal Investigator for the Cyber Measurement and Analysis Center, JHU/APL’s response for DARPA’s National Cyber Range. Mr. Dinsmore has experience in multi-level operating systems, cryptographic systems, network security products, cyber experimentation and cybersecurity portfolio management. He started his career with Bell Laboratories, and has also worked at Trusted Information Systems, Network Associates, McAfee, and SPARTA.

He holds a B.S. in Computer Engineering from Lehigh University and an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University.

Mr. Richer retired in November 2005 from the Central Intelligence Agency as the Associate Deputy Director for Operations (ADDO). As the ADDO, Mr. Richer was responsible for leading the Clandestine Services’ worldwide collection and operational efforts with specific focus on national security priorities and threats. He brought to that position more than twenty years service focused on national collection and operational priorities, the Middle East and the war against terrorism. During his years of service he developed unique relationships with key foreign officials and leaders; particularly in the Middle East and South Asia.

Prior to his assignment as the ADDO in 2004, Mr. Richer was the Chief of the Near East and South Asia Division, responsible for Clandestine Service Operations throughout the Middle East and South Asia. In that leadership role, Mr. Richer directed the Clandestine Service’s roles in the prosecution of the war in Iraq, reinforced critical relationships with foreign governments and intelligence services on issues of national importance throughout the Middle East and South Asia, and participated in national security policy deliberations.

Throughout his service with the CIA, Mr. Richer developed close and productive relationships with his United States military counterparts; particularly in the area of Special Operations, the Central Command and the overall war against terrorism. His close ties to the U.S. military were built upon his military service. Mr. Richer enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1972. He was commissioned in 1978 from the enlisted ranks after participation in the Marine Corps Enlisted Commissioning Education Program (MECEP) and served on active duty until October 1983. During his commissioned service he served as a rifle platoon commander, battalion adjutant, Weapons Company Commander and as a recruit series commander. He was recalled to active service in 1991 for Operation Desert Storm where he served as an intelligence officer. He completed his service with the Marine Corps, while in the reserves, in 1997.

Mr. Richer has been awarded numerous awards and commendations from a number of foreign governments. Additionally during his Agency career, he has received commendations and awards to include the Intelligence Commendation Medal in both 1993 and 1996; the Director's Award in 2004 and in March 2006, Mr. Richer was awarded the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal.

After retirement from the CIA in November 2005 he joined Blackwater USA as the company’s Vice President of Intelligence. In January 2007 he assumed duties as the Chief Executive Officer of Total Intelligence Solutions. In February 2008 he left Total Intel to pursue private interests.

Mr. Richer currently consults on Middle East and National Security issues, assists in an advisory position and is a senior partner with International Advisory Partners.

Tom McDonough is an experienced board member and operating executive with more than 35 years of management experience in the enterprise software and cybersecurity industry. He has managed both public and private companies through rapid revenue growth, international expansion, venture financing, initial public offerings, and mergers/acquisitions. Tom has extensive operational expertise and a consistent track record of building and optimizing the performance of Go-To-Market teams that generate predictable revenue and profitable growth. Tom’s experience and leadership skills have contributed to the value creation of more than $5B in shareholder wealth through two IPO's and four acquisitions at four different companies.

Tom currently serves on the Board of Directors of several cybersecurity companies as well as an advisor to a number venture capital and private equity firms. Tom holds a B.A. in Economics and an MBA in Finance from the University of Notre Dame.

Mike Persechini joins Interpres as the Senior Vice President of Sales. Mr. Persechini brings 25 years of Cybersecurity experience to the Interpres team specializing in developing and transforming high growth early stage companies. As a sales leader Mike has focused on building and scaling highly functional sales organizations and leading the expansion of go-to-market teams. Mike has spent the last several years executing comprehensive customer acquisition strategies and growing revenue from sub $1M to $75M.

Prior to joining Interpres, Mike served as Senior Vice President of Global Sales at Hunters leading revenue growth initiatives from Series A to Series C funding. Mr. Persechini has previously held roles as Area Vice President of Sales at Verodin, which was eventually acquired by FireEye/Mandiant, and as Area Vice President of Sales at Lancope (acquired by Cisco).