WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Olive, Edwards & Cooper announced the addition of Dr. David McWhorter as a principal who will provide clients with strategic plans as they enter or expand into the homeland security marketplace. His immediate focus will be ensuring that the firm's clients are knowledgeable about the SAFETY Act (the Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies Act of 2002) and helping them through the sometimes arduous SAFETY Act approval process.
In return for meeting SAFETY Act requirements, a process which is managed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), companies receive liability protections for their anti-terrorism products and services in the event of a terrorist attack.
"Securing SAFETY Act protections is a critical first step for public and private sector companies that provide technology, products and services within the homeland security arena," notes Dr. McWhorter . In helping clients through the SAFETY Act process, he plans to thoroughly learn about their technologies and eventually develop business plans for them and educate them about DHS--and educate DHS about them.
Dr. McWhorter brings over 15 years of research and business experience to Olive, Edwards & Cooper -- one of D.C.'s most respected government relations and business development firms. Most recently, Dr. McWhorter served as the project leader on the SAFETY Act for DHS' primary contractor for SAFETY Act technical evaluations, the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA).
During Dr. McWhorter 's last several years at IDA, he led the technical evaluations of anti-terrorism products and services across a broad spectrum of countermeasures for chemical, biological, explosive, nuclear, cyber and human threats. He was also played an instrumental role in the implementation of the SAFETY Act by helping design the program's evaluation process, drafting the application kits, coordinating government procurements, and identifying Subject Matter Experts (SMEs). He also has experience in Department of Defense Testing and Evaluation programs.
" Dr. McWhorter 's knowledge of the inner workings of DHS and his involvement in the SAFETY Act will be invaluable to many of our clients exploring new technologies with homeland security uses," said David Olive , a principal and co-founder of the firm. "His unique combination of scientific expertise, business acumen and political know-how is vital to companies navigating this often complicated process."
Dr. McWhorter was personally recognized by Adm. Jay M. Cohen , DHS Under Secretary for Science and Technology, when IDA was awarded the Outstanding Contractor Support award in November 2007 .
Dr. McWhorter earned a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Virginia and a B.S. in Chemistry from Washington and Lee University.
About Olive, Edwards & Cooper
Olive, Edwards, & Cooper, L.L.C., is a Washington, D.C., government relations, and public affairs firm whose clients include Fortune 100 companies, major trade associations, and small businesses. In 2005, the firm was named one of the most influential homeland security consulting firms in Washington.
SOURCE Olive, Edwards & Cooper
