Meet Our Consultants

Walfred Nelson

Wally Nelson is a consultant to the firearms and explosives industries after a long, distinguished public service career, which included U.S. Army service in Vietnam and 33 years with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. In 2004, President George W. Bush awarded him the rank of Meritorious Executive for his outstanding achievements. At ATF, Mr. Nelson started as an inspector and advanced into a number of management positions in the field and at ATF headquarters, ending his civil- service career as deputy assistant director in the Office of Enforcement Programs and Services. Mr. Nelson is a recognized expert on ATF regulations and related legislation, as well as on related business practices for the firearms and explosives industries. He has a bachelor’s degree in American history from Indiana University. For the firm, Mr. Nelson uses his knowledge, experience and keen insight to provide advice on all manner of regulatory issues. He reviews and analyzes clients’ internal controls, compliance procedures and required records to pinpoint problems and propose corrective actions. Mr. Nelson also researches and answers technical questions regarding laws and regulations.

Jason Knowles

U.S. Export Control and Compliance Consultant

Jason Knowles brings an uncommon depth of ITAR and EAR understanding, awareness of related U.S. government processing, international implications awareness, and an ability to span, connect, and implement strategy to task and back across business activities related to U.S. regulatory export control and compliance. Jason is a former State Department/DDTC Senior Defense Trade Control Analyst, a U.S. Air Force retired combat veteran, and a U.S. Export Control and Compliance consultant across multiple industries. While with the State Department, Jason reviewed and audited ITAR export applications with a combined value of over $42.5 Billion for approval and/or compliance. He renovated ITAR Agreement analyst training and improved ITAR Agreement analyst review processes and tools. Also, Jason frequently spoke on behalf of the U.S. government to U.S. and foreign government officials and industry groups, and individuals. Since departing the State Department, and in addition to providing business operations services related to ITAR control, compliance, authorization advice, and services, he has developed EAR expertise to expert levels so to support business operations with multi-jurisdictional control and compliance, export authorization strategy development, assistance with implementing those strategies, and in the development, assessment, and improvement of Export Compliance Programs. Jason’s experiences and expertise include the ITAR, EAR, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), export-related elements of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) processes related to the Automated Export System (AESDirect) and Electronic Export Information (EEI) filing, in addition to training, education, planning, operations, and assessment.

Gregory Suchan

Greg Suchan is the President at Suchan International Consulting, LLC.,, following a 34- year U.S. Foreign Service career at the State Department, with foreign assignments including Mexico, London, Pakistan, Denmark and NATO headquarters. Mr. Suchan completed his service from 2000 to 2007 as deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs. Following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, he worked to provide diplomatic support for U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, obtaining base access for U.S. forces, building the international political-military coalition for the war on terrorism, and providing daily liaison with the Defense Department. From 2003 to 2007, Mr. Suchan oversaw the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, which regulates U.S. defense exports. He is an expert on the Foreign Military Sales program, the Arms Export Control Act and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. Mr. Suchan has a bachelor’s degree from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and attended the NATO Defence College in Rome, Italy. He advises the firm and its clients on foreign policy and export licensing issues, as well as on dealings with the departments of Defense and State.

Judyth LeDoux

Judyth LeDoux is a consultant specializing in the Federal Firearm and Explosive Laws and Regulations. With 34 years of distinguished service in the federal government, Ms. LeDoux provides technical expert witness and consulting services to attorneys of Federal Firearm and Explosives Licensees. Ms. LeDoux began her career with the federal government in 1988 with the Naval Investigative Service, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. She served as a Paralegal Specialist for the United States Attorney’s Offices in Orlando and Tampa, Florida, and St. Louis, Missouri, conducting legal research and writing for its Civil Division, Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force, Major Crimes and Appellate Divisions. She joined the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in 1999 as an Inspector in the field.
Throughout her 23-year career with ATF, Ms. LeDoux served as the Special Operations Officer for the Baltimore Field Division, Program Manager for Advanced Explosives Training and Branch Chief of the Industry Operations Training Branch in Washington DC, and Area Supervisor for the Cleveland Area Office. She spent the last 10 years of her ATF career serving as the Director of Industry Operations for the Columbus Field Division, with decision making and oversight of ATF’s regulatory enforcement operations in the states of Ohio and Indiana. Ms. LeDoux’s expertise encompasses education, training and the interpretation of the federal Firearm and Explosives law and regulations. With her vast knowledge and experience, she provides consulting services to firearm and explosives industry members to answer questions, conduct internal audits to assess compliance, and provide recommendations to avoid violations that could result in the revocation of a license.

Ms. LeDoux received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Central Florida, graduating summa cum laude with a major in legal studies and a minor in criminal justice.

Charles G. Perez

Charles G. Perez is a retired U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) executive with more than 33 years of experience in border security, anti-terrorism, and customs entry and exit operations across air, land, and seaport environments. He began his career in 1986 as a U.S. Customs Canine Enforcement Officer and advanced through leadership positions at major ports of entry, including El Paso, Houston, and Dallas/Fort Worth, as well as at CBP Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Mr. Perez served as Area Port Director for Houston Airports and later for the Port of Santa Teresa, New Mexico, before his final assignment as National Area Commander in CBP’s Emergency Operations Center. Since retiring in 2019, Mr. Perez has worked as a subject matter expert for private, state, and federal entities, specializing in cargo clearance, Global Entry operations, and international security training. He has contributed to U.S. Department of State Anti-Terrorism Assistance programs, helping develop and refine global training materials focused on facility security and border security operations.

Jeff Bond

Firearms/Ammunition Export Application Consultant

Jeff Bond is a subject matter expert consultant specializing in firearms and ammunition export applications, bringing over 32 years of federal government service to his practice. His career spans across critical roles within the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Commerce, where he built a strong legacy in export compliance and licensing.

For the past 11 years, Mr. Bond served with the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) as the Senior Export Licensing Officer for Firearms and Ammunition. In this role, he processed more than 13,000 export applications in which 8,000 applications were firearms and ammunition-related. He also conducted in-depth analysis for over 5,300 license determinations, supporting key federal law enforcement agencies such as CBP, ICE, FBI, and Homeland Security. His expertise led to more than 650 official commodity classifications for firearms, ammunition, and associated components under U.S. export control regulations.

Before his tenure at BIS, Mr. Bond spent 21 years at the Department of Defense, concluding his service as Administrator for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program. He was instrumental in implementing procedures and policies for over $1.1 billion in defense research investments.

Mr. Bond also brings seven years of private sector experience supporting the U.S. machine tool industry, with a focus on export classification of controlled commodities. He has served both as the Industry Chairman and later as the Designated Federal Official for the Technical Advisory Committee representing the machine tool industry.

Mr. Bond has served as the U.S. Government’s expert witness in four federal court cases related to firearms export violations. He maintains a deep technical knowledge of firearms, ammunition, and component classification under U.S. export controls and continues to support the industry in navigating complex export regulations.