Prior to earning my MBA from the European School of Economics, my undergraduate studies included Computer Science and European Languages. My Master's degree was personally awarded by Nicholas Negroponte from MIT and Nobel Prize Laureate Michael Spence at the distinguished Villa Erba on Lake Como, Italy. My Thesis and Business Development Project focused on Knowledge-Based Economies and Emerging Markets, and the extensive academic work was later nominated for the highly coveted Department of Economics Research Award (DERA). My professional background includes a broad range of experience, in both commercial industry and private sector. I'm a seasoned professional with extensive experience as Department Director and Information Systems Security Officer with Major Army Commands such as AMC, 5th Signal, and 3rd COSCOM, where I proudly served mission-critical roles to support the war on terrorism, disaster recovery, and humanitarian relief missions.