Staff Directory

Welcome to Our Staff Directory

Joel Smith 
President
Phone: (855) 707-5309
Email: jsmith@usaerospacedefensegroup.com

​​Joel Smith is the President of U.S. Aerospace Defense Group, a certified Veteran owned company providing consultation services and insurance solutions to the aerospace and defense industry, government contractors, and government agencies. He is a widely-respected business professional and executive with a successful record of leading companies in the aerospace and defense industry. Joel has been a vital leader in the space, aerospace, and DoD industry supporting programs to include: COSMIC-2, F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, Lockheed Martin Space Systems - Satellite redesign, NASA Space Station programs, and DoD CARB programs.

Both a visionary leader and hands-on manager, he chaired numerous Proposal Committees and Engineering Change Boards for aerospace and defense programs. Earlier, Joel Smith spent 23 years in program management, procurement, contract management, negotiations, and auditing in the aerospace industry. He managed over $150 million in annual sales and was a liaison to the Department of Defense and key manufacturers within the aerospace and defense industry.

Joel holds a Master of Business Administration from Belhaven University and a Bachelor of Commercial Aviation from Delta State University. As a Lean Six Sigma Expert and a C.A.S.E auditor, he has served as an advisor to government and private contractors and manufacturers. Joel is also a commercial multi-engine pilot. He is a 23-year Veteran of the U.S. Military serving in Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom.

For many years, Joel and his wife have been active leaders for local and national charitable organizations.

Shane Michelli
Partner

Phone: (855) 707-5309
Email: sm@usaerospacedefensegroup.com

​​​In addition to being the CEO of Cannon Clay, Shane also operates Antler Ridge, his private family office, and is a partner in a Chicago IL based multi-family office/ private equity firm.

He started his career in the independent retail industry and transitioned to corporate retail where he found himself in an executive role with a Fortune 50 retailer. He used the knowledge gained in this consumer centric environment to lead two international multi-brand consumer products conglomerates. Shane has extensive experience corporate strategy, business development, infrastructure, logistics, importing, and mergers and acquisitions. Additionally, Shane has led world class manufacturing facilities and supplied products to the automotive and medical industries as well as the US Military. As an investor and portfolio manager Shane has identified companies for acquisition and piloted the due diligence process.

Shane’s multi-family office/private equity group operates as TNE Management and has holdings in manufacturing, infrastructure, consumer goods, hospitality, commercial real estate, technology, and consulting. During the TNEM portfolio buildout Shane was focused on sorting through opportunities and focusing on those that not only needed capital but also could benefit from strategic relationships.

Shane specializes in business development, strategic management, mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations, negotiations, multi-generational companies, infrastructure creation, and brand revitalization.

He obtained his MBA from Alliance Manchester Business School in Manchester, England, studied towards his Doctor of Business Administration at Fox School of Business, Temple University and is currently pursuing his PhD in Public Policy at Liberty University, Helms School of Government. Shane obtained his Six Sigma Black Belt and Lean Sigma Certifications from Villanova University.

Shane is a Board Member for Vertigo, True North Enterprises, and Three Sixty Eight. He serves as Strategic Partner to Integrated Strategy Group and US Aerospace Defense Group.

Shane is married to his best friend, Stephanie. They have two sons, Michael and Easton and two grandchildren, Hayden and Grayson. They currently reside in Chicago, IL.

Heath Shuler​
Partner

Phone: (855) 707-5309
Email: ​hshuler@usaerospacedefensegroup.com

Heath currently serves as a Senior Advisor to Baker Hostetler, one of the nation’s most respected law firms.

Heath has a unique and distinguished career as a Fortune 250 corporate executive, a Member of Congress, a successful business entrepreneur, and as an NFL quarterback. He is a well-known strategic communications professional and inspirational speaker on topics ranging from leadership, crisis management, government relations, policy development, analysis, and advocacy.

Heath served as the SVP, Federal Governmental Affairs for Duke Energy Corporation where he structured a successful government relations program for the company’s diverse business units. He managed a team of Directors engaged in policy development, analysis, advocacy, and strategic planning. He also identified and leveraged trade associations, coalitions, third-party allies, and consultants to favorably affect legislation and regulations.

As a Member of Congress from the 11th Congressional District in North Carolina, Heath was the Democratic Caucus Senior Whip, National Prayer Breakfast Co-Chair, Blue Dog Coalition Administrative Co-Chair and Coalition Whip, Co-Chair of Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Caucus, Founder and Co-Chair of Professional Sports Caucus and Founder and Co-Chair of Gateway Caucus for communities around National Parks. He served on various Committees: Budget; Small Business; Transportation and Infrastructure; Natural Resources and was Chairman of Subcommittee on Rural Development, Entrepreneurship and Trade. Heath worked on the 2008 Farm Bill and the 2010 Dodd- Frank Financial Reform Legislation Conference Committees.

His entrepreneurial expertise includes real estate, property development and management as well as directing innovative patent-winning technology and software as the CEO of My Health Card. Heath is a sought-after speaker, covering inspirational to leadership topics for corporations such as Dish Network, Walmart Corporation, U.S. Cellular, Marsh & McLennan, MasterCraft Boats, Toyota and Hyundai. He hosted the “Sunday Sports” Talk Show and “Football Finals” Talk Show on WIVK Radio in Knoxville, TN.

Heath was an NFL quarterback for the Washington Redskins, where he was a first round, third pick overall in the 1994 NFL draft. Heath was named team captain of the New Orleans Saints and also played for the Oakland Raiders. He had a standout collegiate career as a quarterback at the University of Tennessee, where he was honored as the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy, the SEC Football Player of the Year, and a Second Team All American. In 2009, Heath was inducted as a SEC Legend.

Heath holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

He is a Board Member for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Political Affairs, Eblen Charities/Heath Shuler Foundation and Friends of the Smokies. He previously served on the boards of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, University of Tennessee Athletic Board, Boys & Girls Club of America and United Community Bank. Heath is married to his high school sweetheart, Nikol. They reside in Asheville, NC and have two children,

Navy, who attends Christ School, and Island, who is a student at Carolina Day School.

Jim Murphy
Partner​

Phone: (855) 707-5309
Email: jmurphy@usaerospacedefensegroup.com

He currently also serves as a Senior Advisor to Baker Hostetler, one of the country’s most respected law firms.

Jim previously served as President and Managing Partner at DCI Group, one of the country’s largest independent public affairs firms. During his 15 years of association with DCI, he provided strategic and management consulting advice to some of the country’s leading corporations and trade associations. His client work spanned the telecommunications, gaming, financial services and sugar industries, among others. In his capacity as President, his management responsibilities oversaw DCI’s Finance and Accounting, Legal and HR functions.

From 2002 to 2007, Jim headed up DCI’s national network of grassroots, PR and government affairs consultants – a team that grew to 1,100 nationwide. From 2008 through mid-2012, he ran the day-to-day operation of the firm, which grew to 160 employees.

Jim left DCI in June of 2012 to run the Republican National Committee’s Independent Expenditure campaign on behalf of Romney for President – a $45 million dollar paid media effort in battleground states. Most recently, Jim served as National Political Director for Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. Prior to joining DCI, Jim led JLM Consulting, serving both political and corporate clients from 1987 through2002.

He was a senior advisor to Bob Dole’s 1988 and 1996 presidential campaigns and managed floor operations at 3 consecutive national GOP conventions (1996, 2000 and 2004). From 1987 through 2002, Jim was engaged inover 60 national, statewide and congressional elections, including U.S. Senators Bob Smith and Al D’Amato and Governors Lincoln Almond and Dick Snelling.

On the corporate side, his clients included GTECH, a leading global lottery provider; Vermont Yankee, a nuclear power plant; and KCS Energy, a NYSE oil and gas exploration company.

Before launching JLM Consulting, his experience included serving as Deputy Political Director at the National Republican Senatorial Committee from 1985 to 1986, and a six-year tenure with U.S. Senator Gordon Humphrey (R-NH), where he worked as his Executive Assistant on the Hill and campaign manager of his reelection in 1984.

Jim graduated cum laude from Harvard College in 1978 with a B.A. in Economics. Jim and his wife Liz live in Lexington, Virginia. They have three children – Christine, Jimmy and Caroline.

Jeff Lee
Partner

Phone: (855) 707-5309
Email: jlee@usaerospacedefensegroup.com

​Jeff presently runs a division within state government and understands intimately the drafting, implementation, and enforcement of regulatory policy. He is far from a government ‘insider,’ however.

After many successful years in consumer product and B2B sales and sales management, Jeff returned to school and obtained a JD from Mississippi College School of Law, graduating with high honors. He began his second career in a boutique real estate litigation firm and later added government regulatory compliance experience in both securities and nonprofits.

His diverse legal experience also includes defending government entities and officials in civil rights litigation and working with startups in capital formation. Jeff is a member of the state bars in Mississippi, Illinois, and Louisiana.

In addition to his sales and legal experience, Jeff has worked at the highest levels of management and operations, including leading the turnaround of several distressed consumer products companies.

He is an inspiring speaker, but is also a great listener. Jeff specializes in identifying the best type of business organization for a company’s needs, navigating regulatory and compliance legal hurdles, and in encouraging developing leaders and maximizing their potential.

Jeff has been married to Shelley since 1999, and they have one son, Grant. The Lees live in

Mississippi.

Michael Clark​
Partner

Phone: (855) 707-5309
Email: ​mclark@usaerospacedefensegroup.com

​Mr. Clark has 20 years of insurance industry experience. Most Recently he served as the Head of the Aviation Business Unit at QBE, reporting directly in to the North American Board. He and the team founded the Aviation Division there as a de novo greenfield endeavor in 2011 and quickly moved the business unit into a market leading position in both general aviation and aviation workers’ compensation, becoming the 3rd largest underwriter of workers’ compensation in the aviation sector by the end of 2014 and one of the largest players in the North American corporate and commercial aircraft and airport insurance space. While at QBE, he worked with various partners to found the IFBOA workers’ compensation safety group dividend program which became the largest and most successful program of its type in the aviation sector.

Prior to QBE, he served for 10 years as a Senior Vice President for Old Republic Aerospace, where he led the Special Risk Division, overseeing all underwriting activity for public entity aircraft, airports and aviation workers’ compensation.

At Old Republic he led the underwriting team that was responsible for the creation of the NBAA workers’ compensation safety group dividend program which quickly grew into one of the largest and most prestigious programs of its kind in the industry (the National Business Aviation Association, NBAA is the largest civil aviation interest group in the world, responsible for the 4th largest industry trade show of any nature in the United States).

Mr. Clark has an undergraduate degree in Political Science and is a 2008 graduate of the Thunderbird School’s top ranked European Based Executive MBA Program. He is a former U.S. Marine, an avid runner and an aviation enthusiast. He lives in Atlanta Georgia with his three daughters and his wife of 17 years.

​Philip Wagner
Partner

Phone: (855) 707-5309
Email: pwagner@usaerospacedefensegroup.com

​Philip A. Wagner, Chief Marketing Officer - Mr. Wagner brings with him over 20 years of commercial aviation insurance underwriting and program administration experience with some of the most respected names in the aviation insurance marketplace, including AIG and Old Republic Aerospace.

While working on his Risk Management degree at the University of Georgia he got to know the aviation business from the ground up while working as a line technician at Briscoe Field (KLZU) in Lawrenceville, GA. He is a 1996 graduate of the University of Georgia’s Risk Management and Insurance program. He currently resides in Birmingham, AL where he oversees Plimsoll’s carrier relations and placement strategy.
(855) 707-5309
1888 Main Street Ste C185
Madison, MS 39110
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