Advisory Council Accomplishments

June, 2007
Donna A. Bucella, former director for the United States Terrorist Screening Center (TSC), has joined the information technology company to lead the development and implementation of the company's homeland security sector strategy. She will be vice president of Systems Government Services for Perot Systems Corporation.

Bucella's work with the TSC resulted in the first consolidation of Intelligence, Defense and FBI terrorist watch lists to identify known or suspected international or domestic terrorists and the implementation of the "no fly" list. In three short months, Bucella recruited, directed and developed a team from both the public and private sector that established a fully operational screening center with support from embassies worldwide.

Perot Systems Government Services is a leading provider of information technology, business process outsourcing and consulting services to clients in defense, national security, and civil government markets. As a major subsidiary of Perot Systems Corporation, the group has established a reputation for unsurpassed professional services performance in the Department of Defense, Homeland Security, Federal agencies and the intelligence community. Through its flexible and collaborative approach, Perot Systems integrates expertise from across the company to deliver custom solutions that enable clients to accelerate growth, streamline operations and create new levels of customer value. Click Perot Systems for additional information.

May, 2007
Kenneth E. Melson has been appointed by Attorney General, Alberto R. Gonzales, to serve as director of the executive office for U.S. Attorneys. Click here for the press release.

January, 2007
Ron Reinstein is now teaching at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University as an Adjunct Professor of Law. In December, 2006, Ron was received the “Empty Shoes Award” by the “Parents of Murdered Children” victims organization.

August, 2006
Donna Bucella will join Bank of America in the position of Business Continuity Executive effective in mid-October. Donna will lead all aspects of business continuity planning coordination and recovery efforts for Bank of America, both domestically and internationally. She will be responsible for establishing plans, policies, guidelines and practices in support of line of business and corporate preparedness and event management.

Ms. Bucella, currently works for the Department of Homeland Security heading the U.S. Terrorist Screening Center for the FBI. Previously she served in the Department of Homeland Security as director of the Southeast Area, Aviation Operation in the Transportation Security Administration, responsible for the oversight and support of security operations at 80 airports.

Ms. Bucella has more than 25 years of private and public sector experience, including senior litigation roles with the U.S. Army, U.S. Department of Justice and in private law practice.

Vahid Majidi has been named as the FBI’s Assistant Director to the National Security Branch for the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Directorate, which consolidates WMD and counterproliferation initiatives. Headed by Assistant Director Vahid Majidi, this new Directorate will study the consequences of a WMD attack, increase the level of preparedness, and coordinate the government’s response in the event of a WMD attack in the continental United States.

Prior to his post with the WMD Directorate, Dr. Majidi was at Los Alamos National Laboratory where he headed the Chemistry Division, including such strategic programs as nuclear weapons-related research and non/counter-proliferation. He previously served as Chief Science Advisor to the Department of Justice.

June 21
Marna McClendon received the Attorney Impact of the Year award from the Arizona Attorney General's office.

June 5, 2006
Judge Ron Reinstien was selected as Arizona's Justice 2006 Award winner in the “Improving Trust and Confidence in the Arizona Court System Distinguished Services Award Category.” Judge Reinstein was honored in recognition of his outstanding service to Arizona's court system and his contribution to Improving Public Trust and Confidence in the Arizona Court System. His award will be presented on June 21, 2006.

April, 2006
Judge Ron Reinstein was just named chair of the new supreme court commission on victims in the courts. Judge Reinstein was recently awarded Arizona's Attorney General's distinguished service award for 2006. Complete story at: Arizona Attorney General Honors Judge Ronald S. Reinstein

July, 2005
Valerie Stewart and Dr. Susan Zucker have written "Sharing Knowledge to Promote Justice". The article will be featured in the August issue of the Federal Lawyer.

Marna McClendon will present "Survivors View in a Capital Case" at the Association of Government Attorneys in Capital Litigation 26th Annual Conference on July 20.

Professor Paul Giannelli, is quoted in the article "The Uncertain Science of Evidence".

Professor Paul Giannelli, Case Western Reserve University School of Law, received the 2005 Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA) Legal Education Committee Award at the OSBA Annual Convention. This award is given to the law professor who has contributed most to Ohio law and the Ohio bar.

Drew Findling, appeared on Court TV, "Catherine Crier Live", regarding the Michael Jackson Case on June 15.

Gary Solis, appeared on NPR "All Things Considered" www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4703281 on June 14.