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Who We Are

  • Suzanne Vellacott-Collins

CEO/Founder

Suzanne founded SCG in March 1992. As the CEO, she oversees all operations and business activities to ensure they are consistent with the overall strategy and mission. Suzanne provides leadership for employees, implements policy, helps develop the business and works as part of a team to lead SCG in its operations and plan for the future. Suzanne has over 40 years of experience working in all aspects of industrial security and

is recognized as a leader in this arena. 

  • ​Melissa Swick

         President

Melissa joined SCG in 2011. In her role as President, is responsible for managing the daily operations of the company. Melissa has years of experience in matters of personnel and facility security in both the DOD and Intelligence Communities. Melissa brings to SCG previous CIA employment history and training, personnel management, and

call center management experience.

  • Chris Collins​

         Vice President

Chris joined SCG in 2016. In his role as Vice President, he helps our clients in assessing the structure of their security programs and strengthening their operations to ensure success in line with Department of Defense and Intelligence Community requirements. His primary areas of expertise include personnel clearance management, clearance crossovers, and initial clearance processing. He enjoys working with security officers who may not be familiar with the unique processes within the IC and helping them grow in their understanding and effectiveness. Chris has over 10 years of experience in training, sales, and personnel management and has served in a variety of positions for nonprofit organizations.

  • ​Crystal Armes

Crystal joined SCG in 2022 providing part-time support as she manages her successful, small business full-time. She brings to SCG almost 18 years of CIA experience as a Multi-Discipline Security Officer (MDSO). Crystal is a seasoned professional with in-depth knowledge of personnel, physical, and program area security. She also has proven track records in leadership and project management.

  • Ed Collins

Ed serves as a Senior Security Specialist for SCG. He specializes in conducting in-depth pre-screen interviews and assisting our clients with determining candidate clearance eligibility.  Ed joined SCG in 1994 after a twenty-five-year career with the Central Intelligence Agency. His experience as an Area Security Officer, coupled with extensive security clearance, adjudication, appeal, and investigative knowledge, and polygraph processes provides an exceptional level of expertise on personnel security matters.

  • Jessica Getty

Jessica joined SCG in 2022 assisting in matters pertaining to personnel security. She brings 13 years of personnel security experience and has worked for Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA). Jessica specializes in review and processing of Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing (eQIP) / SF-86, security clearances, Defense Information System for Security (DISS), adjudications, due process for military, civilian, and industry in addition to Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12. Jessica received certifications from the Center for Development of Security Excellence for both Adjudications and Due Process.

  •  Rosa Gracey

Rosa joined SCG in 2021 assisting with Personnel Security.  Rosa retired from the Air Force with over 25 years of loyal/dedicated service to the United States.  Upon retirement she traveled to Iraq for almost 3 years as a government contractor where she served as the Assistant to the SSO with Multi-National Forces in Iraq and spent time as a Biometrics Field Service Engineer in Iraq providing Biometrics support to Army operations in a joint, interagency, and multinational environment.  Rosa provides SCG with over 16 years of experience within the Military and Industry security arenas.  She has managed all aspects of the Industrial Security Program and has extensive experience with Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing (eQIP) / SF-86, Defense Information System for Security (DISS) and Access Commander Databases.

  • ​​​Dawn Thorsness

Dawn provides SCG with 25 years of aerospace and defense systems experience in aviation contracting, international negotiations, quality management systems, missile defense, business development, and proposal support drawn from Boeing, SAIC, and Lockheed Martin.  She has advised large organizations, small businesses, and nonprofits in implementing an operating structure, roles and responsibilities, and program reviews. Dawn earned her undergraduate degree from Duke University and is a member of the Washington State Bar Association.​​

  • Anna Thorsness

Anna joined SCG in 2018 providing part-time support to the company as she pursues her Criminology degree at the University of South Florida. Her primary areas of expertise include graphic art, website design, and special projects assigned by the SCG President.​

  • Rob Vance 

Rob retired from the Air Force with over 25 years of service and is a seasoned global

security professional with experiences across Law Enforcement, Antiterrorism/Force

Protection, Foreign Disclosure, Information, Industrial, and Personnel Security specialties;

managing the last four programs for the entire Air National Guard, providing support to more

than 105,000 military and civilian personnel across 213 locations throughout the 54 States and Territories. Rob was also requested, by name, to be part of the Air Force team that helped with

the development of the Defense Information System for Security (DISS). Upon retirement,

Rob provided contract support to the Defense Intelligence Agency for two years before

venturing back into the FSO/CSO world.

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