Edan Antoine
Edan Antoine joined R3 in 2015 as the project lead for the U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Executive Steering Committee where he assisted the community in developing their Charter outlining the roles and responsibilities of the major stakeholders across the operational commands, the science and technology organization, and the Center for EOD and Diving. Following this assignment, he served as the Deputy Project Manager supporting the Coastal Riverine Force (CRF) involving initiatives standardizing the force-wide training and readiness manual, force-wide tactics, techniques, and procedures, warfighting operating procedures, and training scenario exercise packages. When he assumed the role as Program Manager, the CRF transitioned to the Maritime Expeditionary Security Force (MESF). His cross-functional and geographically dispersed team focused on the development of MESF warfighting products that provided standardized processes and procedures geared toward major combat operations.
He retired from the U.S. Navy as a Commander after 23 years of service; first as a surface warfare officer for three years and then 20 years in the EOD career field. During this time, he held leadership positions in the continental United States (CONUS) and outside the continental United States (OCONUS) Navy component commander and numbered fleet commander staff positions, Naval Special Warfare Command, and an EOD Group. His last duty assignment in uniform was the Naval Mine and Anti-Submarine Warfare Command, now Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC). While there, he served as the Director of Mine Warfare Training and Assessments with a cross-functional team of EOD, surface, and aviation warfighting experts. Prior to this, Edan served as the Director of Future Operations for Commander, THIRD Fleet, where one of the primary lines of operation was maritime homeland defense/security involving key partnerships with U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area and Canadian Maritime Forces Pacific.
Throughout his EOD career, Edan served in leadership roles across operations, plans, and training organizations in support of combat and humanitarian operations. Among his awards during this period are the Meritorious Service Medal (6), Navy Commendation Medal (6), Navy Achievement Medal (2), and various campaign and unit medals.
Edan earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry degree from the United States Naval Academy and holds a Master of Arts in Management from the University of Redlands.
Chris Merwin
Chris Merwin joined R3 as a Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Program Manager in 2022. In this role, Chris manages a diverse team that provides training, logistics, and staff support to Navy EOD units and Underwater Construction Teams. He retired from the Navy as a Captain after 29 years of service. He commanded EODMU TWELVE, deploying the unit to Iraq in support of Counter IED efforts in 2009, and EOD Group ONE where he was responsible for advancing the Expeditionary Mine Countermeasures concept and developing the Navy EOD Leadership Continuum.
Throughout his EOD career, Chris served in leadership roles at every level: Damage Control Assistant on USS BEAUFORT (ATS-2), Diving and Salvage Officer at Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit ONE, Officer in Charge of a Mine Countermeasures detachment at EODMU SIX, deploying to the Arabian Gulf, Operations Officer at EODMU TWO and EOD Group TWO, Executive Officer at EODMU FIVE, deploying to Iraq as the Officer in Charge of the Combined Explosive Exploitation Cell (CEXC) for Task Force Troy. He served as an EOD Staff Officer on the Joint Staff and at the US Pacific Command and as the Officer in Charge of the Mine Warfare Division at the Surface and Mine warfare Warfighting Development Center. His awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation, and Navy Achievement Medal.
Chris earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of South Carolina and holds a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College.
Dave Mummert
Dave Mummert joined R3 in 2013 to support curriculum development of the Underwater Post Blast Investigation course for the NSWC IHEODTD Technical Support Detachment, now known as NSWC Indian Head Division Expeditionary Exploitation Unit ONE (EXU-1) located in Indian Head, MD. This course was developed in coordination with the DoJ FBI Counter-IED (C-IED) Unit, and NSWC Carderock to train U.S. and foreign military and law enforcement divers to utilize tactics techniques, and procedures supporting maritime exploitation in response to events similar to the USS Cole. In 2014 he was selected as the EXU-1 Program Manager and has continued to build a team of geographically dispersed and on-site subject matter experts (SME) providing CONUS and OCONUS services to EXU-1. His many responsibilities include the development of COAs for the COR and EXU-1 leadership to adjust program scope and schedule to meet the government’s dynamic requirements in support of multiple operationally and program-focused Performance Work Statement (PWS) tasks while retaining and synchronizing all existing tasks.
Prior to coming to R3, Dave worked for A-T Solutions for over four years gaining experience in the DoD contracting world. He provided contract support to numerous DoD and DHS programs performing duties including Program Manager, Curriculum Development, Instructing, Technical SME, business development support, proposal assistance, and writing. These programs include the NAVSEA PMS 495 Assault Breaching System (ABS) foreign material acquisition program; CIED Field Service Representative for a classified program; Master Training Specialist/Curriculum Developer, and Instructor for an Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence & Security program to provide C-IED training to the Slovakian Armed Forces during multi-week engagements in Slovakia; and Program Manager/EOD SME for a US Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) Joint Warfighting Center program to develop an EOD Sustainment Skills computer-based training course teaching basic EOD TTP.
Dave retired from the U.S. Navy after 20 years of service as a Master Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technician (NEC 5337). He served in a wide variety of assignments including Marine Mammals, EOD operations and training, and joint special operations. His tours of duty included assignments at EODMU FOUR as a primary marine mammal handler; EODMU TWO providing EOD support during Second and Sixth Fleet deployments, and USMC Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team (FAST) Company; EODMU TEN directing operations and training; EOD Training and Evaluation Unit TWO instructing Mine Countermeasures, and Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical containment, RSP and decontamination; EODMU FIVE providing EOD support to Naval Special Warfare Unit ONE, Seal Team FIVE, 1st Battalion 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), and as EOD liaison officer to Special Operations Command Pacific (SOCPAC) assisting with the development of EOD and SOF integration TTP; and Naval Special Warfare Development Group (NSWDG) supporting RDT&E of WMD CP TTP and equipment. Dave is a graduate of the University of the State of New York Regents College.
Ken Normand
Ken Normand joined R3 in 2010 and currently manages three distinct R3 Programs: Civilian UXO Risk Mitigation (including maritime cable laying support operations); International Counter IED training (recent projects for both Italy and Canada) and the Joint Service EOD Pipeline Training Program via R3 prime contracts supporting EOD and Diving instructor requirements at both Naval School EOD and Naval Diving Salvage Training Center (NDSTC). Ken retired from the U.S. Navy after 22 years of service as a Master Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician. He served at a wide variety of assignments including overseas mobile units and emergency response shore detachments in the Philippines, Guam, and Panama City, Florida. His initial tours of duty included diving, demolition, explosive research and development, parachuting and emergency response to WWII unexploded U.S. and Japanese ordnance during assignments in the Western Pacific. He served as Air Operations Officer and Readiness and Training Leading Chief where he was responsible for all facets of parachuting and air mobility operations at EOD Mobile Unit FIVE. He completed combat deployments in both Operation Desert Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom. In OEF, he was a member of the Combined Explosive Exploitation Cell (CEXC) providing weapons technical intelligence capability while executing a deliberate theater-wide counter-IED campaign against anti-coalition militia, al-Qaeda and Taliban forces. He collected and exploited technical intelligence and forensic evidence from hundreds of IED incidents.
His personal decorations include the Bronze Star and the Combat Action Ribbon. Mr. Normand holds an Associate of Arts in Weapons of Mass Destruction Preparedness and a Bachelor of Arts in Homeland Security from American Military University. Mr. Normand was also a Master Training Specialist, High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) Freefall Jumpmaster, Static-line Jumpmaster, and Helicopter Rope Suspension Training (HRST) Master Instructor. He had extensive experience with homemade explosives (HME) and has attended the most demanding HME courses available at our national laboratories. Ken’s final assignment on active duty was lead instructor for IED training at the joint service Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal where he instructed all prospective EOD technicians in basic skills required to safely defeat the enemy’s use of IEDs.
Jerry Shelton
Jerry Shelton joined R3 as a Program Manager in 2013. In this role, Jerry leads a dispersed team of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) MAJCOM and Flight Support Technicians providing contract support to EOD units at Air Force installations worldwide. He retired from the Air Force as a Chief Master Sergeant after 30 years of service in the EOD career field. During this time, he held tactical and strategic EOD leadership positions at all levels of the Air Force and the joint environment. His last duty assignment was Ninth Air Force (U.S. Air Forces Central), the air component of United States Central Command. While there, he served as Command EOD Functional Manager, advising senior leaders on EOD matters and overseeing manning, training, and equipping of deployed EOD forces. Prior to this, Jerry served as EOD Superintendent, Detachment 63, representing Air Force interests at the Naval EOD Technology Division as a member of the Military Technical Acceptance Board (MTAB).
Throughout his EOD career, Jerry served in leadership roles at home station and while deployed in support of multiple combat and humanitarian operations. Among his awards during this period are the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Air Force Combat Action Medal, and Humanitarian Service Medal. Additionally, he was named the top graduate at the Naval Senior Enlisted Academy, Class 122, where he earned the coveted Peter Tomich Leadership Award.
Jerry earned a Bachelor of Science in Management degree from the University of Maryland University College and holds a Master of Arts degree in Education and Human Development from George Washington University. Jerry is a member of the International Association of Bomb Technicians & Investigators (IABTI), United States Bomb Technician Association (USBTA), and the Academy of Management, and he volunteers as an Event Ambassador with the EOD Warrior Foundation.
Marc Tranchemontagne
Marc Tranchemontagne manages R3’s support to the interagency and programs in the National Capital Region, including support to the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, DHS Office for Bombing Prevention, and FEMA. Since joining R3 in 2010, he has worked with a variety of clients, such as the Navy’s Expeditionary Exploitation Unit ONE, PMS-408, OPNAV N957, PMS-408, and JIEDDO, supporting them with capabilities-based assessments, requirements generation, mission analysis, doctrine development, curriculum development, and training. He has published articles in Joint Forces Quarterly, Proceedings, and other professional journals.
Marc retired from the Navy after more than 21 years of service as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) officer. He served in a wide variety of assignments including diving and salvage, EOD, legislative affairs, joint special operations, and teaching graduate-level, joint professional military education as a military professor. His initial tours of duty included diving, salvage, and EOD assignments in the Western Pacific and Europe. He served as the Executive Officer at the Navy Experimental Diving Unit conducting research and development related to diving physiology and test and evaluation of hyperbaric systems.
Marc is a graduate of Norwich University, the Naval War College, and the Joint Forces Staff College.