(202) 626-0089

Our Consultants

Leading Gun Rights Advocates

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.

James Reed

Jim Reed is a member of Rhoads & Reed PLLC, Attorneys at Law, in Washington, D.C. His practice concentrates on national security issues, including U.S. export controls on military and commercial products and technology. Mr. Reed advises U.S. and foreign clients on export control issues, including compliance with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, the Export Administration Regulations, and economic sanctions and embargo regulations administered by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. He has served as a U.S. Army officer and held a number of senior positions in the defense policy arena, including director of the White House Situation Room, in addition to serving for two terms on the State Department’s Defense Trade Advisory Group. Mr. Reed has a Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center, a master’s degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, and a bachelor’s degree with high honors from the University of Michigan. For Mark Barnes & Associates, Mr. Reed is a consulting counsel on export controls, helping the firm and its clients develop export compliance programs and responding to export enforcement issues at the departments of State, Commerce and Treasury.

Philip Rhoads

Phil Rhoads is a member of Rhoads & Reed PLLC, Attorneys at Law, in Washington, D.C., following 14 years of public service in export controls enforcement, including four years at the State Department as chief of compliance and enforcement for the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, and 10 years at the Commerce Department as investigative branch chief of anti-boycott compliance for the Bureau of Industry and Security. Prior to his work in the federal government, Mr. Rhoads practiced law in New Orleans, focusing on export contracting and financing. His current practice concentrates on compliance and enforcement under the Arms Export Control Act and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, including ITAR audits and advice on voluntary disclosures to State and Commerce, as well as commodity jurisdiction requests. Mr. Rhoads has a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Kentucky School of Law, a master’s degree in international affairs from Columbia University, and a bachelor’s degree from George Washington University. For Mark Barnes & Associates, Mr. Rhoads is a consulting counsel on export controls, helping the firm and its clients develop export compliance programs and responding to export enforcement issues at the departments of State, Commerce and Treasury.

Shannon Shuman-Breton

Shannon Shuman-Breton is a 17-year veteran of the firearms business and a licensed customs broker who currently serves as chief operating officer at Civil Arms Inc., a fully licensed federal firearms dealer and importer-exporter based in Windham, Maine. The company supplies international and domestic dealers, distributors, government agencies and individuals with firearms, ammunition and accessories, produced in the United States and abroad. Previously, she held a number of management positions with other leading firearms companies, including international sales manager, compliance manager, and trade services manager for a brokerage. For Mark Barnes & Associates, Ms. Shuman- Breton advises clients throughout the industry on audits and training concerning the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, the Export Administration Regulations, the DTrade electronic defense export licensing system, and the Bureau of Industry and Security’s Simplified Network Application Process Redesign, as well as on other import- export control matters.

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.

Brady C. Toensing

Brady Toensing is a partner with diGenova & Toensing. Mr. Toensing obtained his undergraduate and law degrees from Georgetown University. Prior to law school, he served as a Legislative and Special Assistant to United States Senator Warren B. Rudman. He also served as a Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Policy. He has been an attorney for twenty-five years and has represented companies, individuals and other entities in a wide range of complex civil and criminal matters, including administrative, judicial, and federal agency proceedings. These cases have involved the federal Gun Control Act, the Arms Export Control Act, the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. For Mark Barnes & Associates, Mr. Toensing is a consulting counsel on federal civil and criminal litigation, internal investigations, and corporate compliance programs.

Lawrence White

Larry White is a 39-year veteran of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, beginning as a compliance field inspector and advancing into a number of management positions in the field and at ATF headquarters, including: firearms and explosives operations specialist, area supervisor in charge of the Atlanta Office, firearms and explosives imports specialist, chief of the Firearms and Explosives Imports Branch, and firearms industry liaison/analyst. Since retiring from ATF, Mr. White is a consultant to the firearms industry and a recognized expert on ATF import control matters involving the Gun Control Act, National Firearms Act, Arms Export Control Act and federal explosives law. He advises the firm and its clients on a number of regulatory compliance issues, helping them interpret the laws and regulations as they apply to their businesses and ensure business activities are kept within the regulatory framework.
}

Working Hours

Monday - Friday: 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM

Our D.C. Location

Mark Barnes & Associates
1775 I Street NW
Suite 1150
Washington, DC 20006

Call US

Office: (202) 626-0089
Fax: (202) 626-0088