Election Security & Democracy Experts

Team

Athena

Athena Strategies is supported by experienced professionals in election security, voting rights, cybersecurity, government communications, and public policy. Together, our team brings expertise from federal agencies, state and local government, legislative affairs, and the military, united by a shared commitment to strengthening democracy.

Mike Moser

Senior Election Security Advisor

Mike Moser serves as a Senior Election Security Advisor at Athena Strategies, working at the intersection of election administration, technology, and security…

Mike Moser

Senior Election Security Advisor

Mike Moser serves as a Senior Election Security Advisor at Athena Strategies, working at the intersection of election administration, technology, and security to foster a more resilient democracy. At Athena, Mike leads specialized training initiatives on AI risk, cybersecurity governance, and election infrastructure resilience, translating complex technical threats into actionable strategies for election officials.

Mike brings deep technical expertise from his tenure as an IT Cybersecurity Specialist with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). During his time at CISA, he provided the Election Security & Resilience (ESR) team with critical guidance on incident response, security briefings, and tabletop exercises. He previously served as the Director of Election Security and Technology at the Pennsylvania Department of State, where he led the Commonwealth’s election modernization efforts.

Mike holds a B.A. in Political Science from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania and is a Certified Information Security Manager (CISM). He also serves as a Senior Advisor for the Institute for Responsive Government, and is an Election Security Consultant with the Election Security Exchange.

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Aaron Thacker

Senior Communications Advisor

Aaron Thacker is a Senior Communications Advisor at Athena Strategies, specializing in high-stakes messaging and…

Aaron Thacker

Senior Communications Advisor

Aaron Thacker is a Senior Communications Advisor at Athena Strategies, specializing in high-stakes messaging and public trust. With over two decades of experience in strategic communications and journalism, Aaron guides organizations through complex messaging landscapes, ensuring clarity and impact during critical election cycles and periods of heightened public scrutiny.

Aaron’s strategic acumen was forged through extensive military leadership, including his service as a Company Commander in the Arizona Army National Guard. In this role, he managed large, diverse teams and multi-million dollar assets, bringing a level of operational precision and disciplined crisis management that is vital to election administration. He has served as a primary advisor to senior military leaders and generals, authoring high-level speeches and shaping public messaging during nationally significant events, including the response to the January 6 Capitol attack.

Previously, the Director of Communications for the Arizona Secretary of State, Aaron bridges the gap between operational leadership and strategic storytelling. His unique background allows him to help clients navigate today’s fast-moving communications environment with authority and composure.

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Shelby Miller

Election Security Advisor

Shelby Miller is an Election Security Advisor at Athena Strategies and a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) dedicated…

Shelby Miller

Election Security Advisor

Shelby Miller is an Election Security Advisor at Athena Strategies and a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) dedicated to advancing secure, efficient, and transparent election systems. She focuses on the intersection of election operations and voter access, strengthening the integrity and inclusivity of democratic processes through a lens of rigorous process improvement.

With nearly a decade of experience, Shelby specializes in designing workflows, optimizing systems, and translating complex security concepts into practical solutions. Her work emphasizes accessibility, language access, and operational modernization, partnering with government and civic technology organizations to implement sustainable systems. By focusing on training and peer collaboration, she ensures that local and state government teams are equipped to meet modern security challenges and administrative demands.

Shelby received bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and International Studies from the University of Utah and earned her CERA certification from the National Association of Election Officials, Election Center.

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Christopher Jerrolds

Senior Advisor

Christopher Jerrolds is a Senior Advisor at Athena Strategies, where he leverages over a decade of experience at…

Christopher Jerrolds

Senior Advisor

Christopher Jerrolds is a Senior Advisor at Athena Strategies, where he leverages over a decade of experience at the intersection of government, law, and public policy. Christopher provides strategic legal and policy research and guidance to strengthen election security, democracy, and voting rights.

Christopher’s career in public service includes serving in senior roles for members of the U.S. House of Representatives and as counsel to the New York City Council. His background in government affairs and political campaigns allows him to offer a unique perspective on the legislative and legal challenges facing government officials today. He has consistently worked at the forefront of policy, helping stakeholders align their strategic goals with evolving landscapes and navigate federal and state policy and regulatory developments.

Christopher earned his J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center and holds a B.A. from Vanderbilt University. His work continues to bridge high-level policy with practical guidance to meet the day-to-day needs of government administration.

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