At Catalina Associates, Veterans Day is more than just a date on the calendar – it’s an opportunity to recognize and honor the commitment and sacrifice of individuals, past and present, who have served our nation. It’s also personal – our team is proud to include veterans who have brought their unique experiences and talents to Catalina. Their military service is from a variety of backgrounds, and has instilled in them values like integrity, teamwork, and adaptability – qualities that seamlessly align with our company’s values.

We want to give a special shout out to one of our veterans, Lloyd Thrall. Lloyd began his career by serving in the US Army for 4 years, and since then has gone on to perform counterterrorism research, foreign policy research and analysis, direct national cybersecurity programs, and advise on defense policy at the top levels of our government. In addition to his current position at Catalina, Lloyd recently completed his PhD in history at King’s College London. Lloyd’s research focuses on the US military’s initial reaction to China’s rise and the return to great power competition from 2008-2015, examining the prospects and hurdles for contemporary American military innovation. His primary sources included unpublished DoD documents, 16 previously untranslated Chinese articles about the US military, and interviews with over 60 stakeholders, including the Secretary of Defense, Deputy Secretary, PACOM commander, Chiefs of the Navy and Air Force, and general officers in the Army and Marine Corps. Lloyd passed the defense with no revisions; he and his supervisor are currently in discussion for publication with the Stanford University Press. To say that we are honored that Dr. Thrall has chosen to work with Catalina is an understatement.

All of our veteran employees have similarly impressive and storied careers, no doubt carried by the same qualities that lead them to serve our country in the first place. The diverse services they have performed, from different branches of the military to various roles within their respective services, have given our veteran team members a wealth of experiences that make us better as a company.

To everyone who has served, and especially our veteran employees at Catalina, we say thank you. Your contributions and dedication inspire us every day. Happy Veterans Day!