Our Team

SDS was founded by Reginald Gillis, is a retired U.S. Army Colonel and former Army Strategist, Planner, and Aviator.  He was born in Washington, DC and a native of the Northern Virginia area.  After 27 years of active service, his final military assignment was as Chief of Plans, Strategy, Plans and Policy Directorate of U.S. Central Command arriving shortly after 9/11.  That experience led to countless exchanges with the most senior officials of U.S. and international governments during the strategic planning for 23 countries in the Middle East and Central Asia, including combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and throughout the region.  As grew the SDS brand, he supported U.S. Special Operations Command and Central Command as a Senior Counterterrorism Analyst, providing advice and plan development and assessment support for a decade. 

 

He has extensive experience in the Military District of Washington, working closely at the highest levels of federal government and the private sector included: Pentagon - Office of the Secretary of Defense, Joint Staff, and Chief of Staff Army; White House - National Security Council; Department of State and other departments and agencies; Congress, and academia and think tanks. While later focused on the Middle East, earlier his military career, he specialized in European affairs and NATO.  While flying, he deployed with the 82nd Airborne to Grenada for OPERATION URGENT FURY for the rescue of American citizens, in Germany and Turkey for OPERATION PROVIDE COMFORT post OPERATION DESERT STORM, and as a battalion commander at Ft. Rucker (Novosel) of the busiest military air traffic control center supporting helicopter training for multiple Services.   

 

Reggie Gillis retired from military service in 2005 with multiple combat tours as an attack helicopter pilot and strategic planner, and a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point (BS General Engineering), University of Dayton (MS Engineering Management), and National Defense University (MS National Security Strategy).  He continues to serve his community as a volunteer for development planning, athletic coach, and golf league manager. 

Reginald Gillis II has served as President of Strategic Defense Solutions for 15 years.  His roles include organizational leadership, program/project management, business development, proposal management, corporate and regulatory compliance, quality assurance, security analysis, human resources, and administrative support. Mr. Gillis II currently serves as a contracted Program Manager for our Army Distributed Learning (DL) Diagnostic, Advisement and Research Technical (DART) contract, and as contracted Project Manager for our Operational Test Support Services contract with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Office of Acquisition Program Management (OAPM).   

 

Reginald Gillis II began his professional career supporting Northrop Grumman Mission Systems as a Test Analyst contractor.  He began working in Test & Evaluation in 2006, testing the Explosive Trace Portals (ETPs), Explosive Trace Devices (ETD), Explosive Detection Systems (EDS), advanced x-ray baggage screening systems, Whole-Body Imager (WBI) technology, Passenger Screening Canines (PSCs), biometric access systems, and Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) systems. He has led and participated in various Behavior Detection Analysis (BDA) program testing to include the Behavioral Detection Officer (BDO) Optimization, BDO Targeted Conversation Studies, BDA Natural Behavior Trials, BDA Threat Inject Testing, and BDA Inject Curriculum Training.  He has also supported the advancement in Credential Authentication Technology/Boarding Pass Scanning System (CAT/BPSS) utilized in airport screening environments throughout the U.S. and its territories.    

 

Mr. Gillis II is a graduate of George Mason University (BA Psychology) and a graduate of Liberty University (MA Management and Leadership).  Mr. Gillis II is a certified Project Management Institute (PMI) Project Management Professional (PMP), and a certified American Society for Quality (ASQ) Six Sigma Black Belt (SSBB).  Mr. Gillis II continues to work closely with our partners for growth and opportunity. 

Christina Courson has been a valuable team member with SDS for 13 years. Starting as Executive Assistant and now the Contracts Administrator, she has supported and helped SDS grow into the business it is today. Christina was born and raised in Tampa, FL and an alumni of University of South Florida where she attained a bachelor’s degree in business management.

 

Christina has in-depth knowledge of government contracting, business administration and human resources. In her professional capacity, she exemplifies dedication and a results-driven approach, consistently delivering on her commitments. Her career reflects a compelling track record in enhancing organizational performance through strategic talent management. Furthermore, Christina demonstrates an in-depth understanding of best practices in human resources and employee relations, showcasing her unwavering commitment to fostering a positive workplace culture and championing initiatives aligned with the strategic goals of SDS.

 

Christina recently relocated to Atlanta, GA (Go Dawgs!) with her family, where she is enjoying exploring her new city.

Lauren Souders serves as Executive Assistant and Testing Coordinator at SDS. Through her various professional experiences, Lauren has obtained knowledge of company onboarding and training, office management, and administration. Native to Carroll County, MD, she graduated from Towson University with a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education with a concentration in Spanish. She served as a Spanish Teacher, Spanish Curriculum Writer, Class Advisor, and Student Council Advisor for the greater Baltimore Area for nearly a decade after completing her studies.

 

Lauren Souders then transitioned her skills to community education as a Prevention Advocate for YWCA Hanover, focusing on preventing gender-based violence. As Prevention Advocate, she engaged with various community members, including law enforcement, children and youth, educators, medical professionals, and general community members, to provide education on domestic violence and human trafficking. She also designed the onboarding process and all training materials for newly hired client advocates within YWCA Hanover Safe Home.

 

In 2022, Lauren Souders transitioned into the private sector with SDS where she uses her knowledge and skills to support our services. She continues to learn and grow to advance our mission.