TEAM

MELISSA K. DOBSON, ESQ., J.D., M.S., CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (CEO)

Ms. Dobson is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and co-founder of SEII. She has worked within the private and not-for-profit sectors serving in capacities such as Strategic Advisor for Healthway United Co., Executive Innovation Officer at Louisiana Tech University, Director, Office of Sponsored Projects, Associate General Counsel, IP & Innovation at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and Senior Corporate Counsel at General Electric Company. Recognizing the importance of leadership in large and small business, and the significance of intellectual property in driving innovative solutions, Ms. Dobson provides oversight and strategic advisement as to technology modification(s) and business alignment with funding opportunities for businesses large and small across private and federal sectors.

While focusing legal management practices in business and intellectual property, addressing cross-border legal issues at national and international levels, Ms. Dobson assists individuals, academia, small and large businesses in connecting with the appropriate resources in industry and government. She holds bar licensure with the United States Supreme Court, United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and the States of New York and Louisiana.

Most recently, Ms. Dobson’s endeavors in the private medical enterprise and the digital transformation of medicine within Air Force Research Labs (AFRL), Department of Defense (DoD) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) have been appropriately aligned with COVID-19 initiatives as well as supporting digital combat medical needs.

Formerly recognized with outstanding leadership as Senior Counsel with General Electric Company, Global Research and Healthcare, Ms. Dobson has remained connected with large corporate enterprises, medical institutions, and government agencies in technology fields ranging from medical devices, healthcare digitization, software development and licensing, to inspection technologies, aviation, defense, and cybersecurity. Ms. Dobson supports business transactions, government contracts, joint developments, licensing, app development, sourcing, and acquisitions. She has facilitated investigations and compliance initiatives across functionalities including cybersecurity. Further expertise of Ms. Dobson lies in IP (patent, TM, copyright) monetization, IP strategic growth, product clearance, litigation and negotiations globally.”

BRIG. GEN. GERALD GOODFELLOW (RET), PRESIDENT

Gerald Goodfellow, Brigadier General (retired) US Air Force, is the President of the Southeast Innovation Institute. Prior to co-founding the Southeast Innovation Institute, Goodfellow served as the Executive Director of the Louisiana Tech Research Institute and the Director of Technology Innovation at Louisiana Tech University.

Goodfellow is a 30-year Air Force Veteran who, in his last active duty military job, served as the Director of Strategic Plans, Programs and Requirements at Air Force Global Strike Command located at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. In this position he was responsible for strategic planning, and for resourcing the nation's Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile force, B-1, B-2 and B-52 bombers, UH-1N helicopters, the E-4B National Airborne Operations Center Aircraft, and Nuclear Command, Control and Communications (NC3) systems.

Goodfellow has earned three Masters degrees. A Masters of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, a Masters of Military Operational Art and Science from the U.S. Air Force Air Command and Staff College, and a Masters of Aeronautical Science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. Additionally, he is a graduate of numerous executive education programs to include: the Capstone General and Flag Officer Course at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C., the Public Policy Seminar at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington, D.C., the Leadership Enhancement Program at the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, N.C., and the Enterprise Leadership Seminar at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.

Goodfellow spent much of his career educating and training military members and civilians. He served as a professor of strategy and planning at the U.S. Army War College where he instructed Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps Officers, as well as senior U.S. Government Civilians. He’s also served as the Commander and Commandant, at the United States Air Force Squadron Officer College. As a Brigadier General he served as the Director of the Nuclear Enterprise at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), where he oversaw many aspects of the Nation’s Nuclear force, to include the Defense Nuclear Weapons School, which teaches over 170 courses to approximately 30,000 military members and security-cleared civilians each year. He also currently serves on the Board of Directors for Workforce Opportunity Services (WOS), which is located on the campus of Columbia University in New York City. WOS is dedicated to developing the skills of untapped talent from underserved communities through partnerships with organizations committed to diversifying their workforce.

Goodfellow has vast experience educating and training military members for nuclear and conventional warfare. He served as a B-1 Bomber Operations Group Commander where he directed the education, development, and training required of B-1 Bomber Pilots and Weapon Systems Officers to fly combat missions throughout the world. As a Wing Commander, he directed the education, training, and qualification of United States Air Force Instructor Pilots, future Fighter Pilots, Combat Systems Officers, and Unmanned Aerial Systems Pilots and Sensor Operators. Additionally, he was in charge of all flying and parachute training at the United States Air Force Academy.

Goodfellow is a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism in combat. For the same combat mission, he also received the General Ira C. Eaker Award for the “Outstanding Single Feat of Military Airmanship.” He also holds the World-Record for the “Fastest Non-stop Flight Around-the-World,” which he flew in a B-1 Bomber. For this World-Record flight, he was awarded the Air Force’s top aerial achievement award, the Mackay Trophy, which is on permanent display at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C., for the “Most Meritorious Aerial Flight of the Year.”

JEROME DUBOSE, ADVISOR

Mr. DuBose is a retired Air Force Chief Master Sergeant with over 30 years of operational and strategic level leadership experience. He has knowledge and expertise in Continual Process Improvement (CPI), Business Strategy, Roadmap development, Strategic Change Management, and Business Process Reengineering (BPR). Jerome's strong track record of streamlining operations and improving services while preserving the highest quality levels have helped him develop and share leadership traits with other professionals, middle-tier management, and senior-level executives.

Jerome's professional education accomplishments are extensive; he has several two-year degrees and earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration, emphasizing management. He holds Masters Degrees in Leadership and Management and Business Administration. Jerome completed executive education programs at Cornell University in Business Strategy, Change Leadership, Executive Leadership, and Executive Healthcare Leadership, and is currently a doctoral student at Drexel University.

In his last assignment in the Air Force, he served as the Regional Director of Emergency Management (EM), Headquarters Global Strike Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. In this role, he was responsible for EM planning (i.e., Hurricanes, tornado, flood, and pandemics) and response procedures for eight military installations across the country, coordinating with public safety officials, elected officials, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies. He also worked at the Air Force Nuclear Command, Control, and Communication (NC3) Center, where he created Air Force level NC3 enterprise modernization options and was pivotal in developing roadmap strategies for implementation.

JEFF FORTENBERRY, CPA

Mr. Fortenberry has worked in private and non-profit businesses over the last 23 years in various accounting roles including Chief Financial Officer and Financial Manager. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Louisiana State University (LSU) in Management, as well as, a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Louisiana (ULL).

After graduating from LSU in 1997, Jeff started working for C & C Technologies, Inc, an international survey company. At C & C, Jeff operated as a liaison between accounting and operations, and was ultimately responsible for financial statements, offline managerial reporting for the board of directors and managing a software development team to design and implement a corporate ERP software.

After 10 years of working for C & C, Jeff became CFO for a large commercial construction company located in Lafayette, LA. As the CFO, Jeff was responsible for supervising treasury, performing financial analysis, cash management and financial reporting. Additionally, Jeff also managed the company’s human resources, benefits and all corporate insurance policies.

In 2013, Mr. Fortenberry, along with a business partner, started Triad Construction Services to provide commercial construction services throughout the United States. His roles within the company expanded in 2014 when they opened a sister company, Triad Energy Services. This company initially focused on providing transportation services to the oil & gas industry in North Dakota but pivoted into the disaster recovery industry several years later. Jeff’ provided accounting and management support for this company and quickly learned how to implement protocols to stay in compliance with the DOT and DOA.

Mr. Fortenberry currently serves as a consulting CPA for Southeast Innovation Institute (SEII) to provide financial support to the non- profit entity. Additionally, Jeff’s business experience in administration allows SEII to lean on him for guidance as the company grows.

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SBIH: Small Business Innovation Hub

The Small Business Innovation Hub (SBIH) is a division of SEII that has a collaborative partnership with Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) to focus on delivering technology solutions for the United States Air Force, and specifically directly to AFGSC.

SEII enables the direct networking and sponsorship of technology solutions here to better enable the US Air Force to defend the nation.

R&D Expertise

Business Development, Intellectual Property (IP) Monetization, and Technology Commercialization to create market opportunity by providing: