The MASY Group

Arlington, VA – The MASY Group, LLC (MASY), a premier provider of tailored defense, intelligence and advanced educational services, announces a new member of its Board of Advisors, Lieutenant General U.S. Army (Ret) Robert P. Ashley, Jr.

After over 36 years of active-duty service, Lieutenant General Ashley retired from the U.S. Army in 2020, assuming his last duty position in 2017 as the 21st Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA).   He formerly served as the Army Deputy Chief of Staff, G-2, where he was the senior advisor to the Secretary of the Army and Army Chief of Staff for all aspects of intelligence, counterintelligence and security.

Other key assignments include the Director of Intelligence, United States Army Joint Special Operations Command; the Director of Intelligence, United States Central Command; the Deputy Chief of Staff, Intelligence, International Security Assistance Force and Director of Intelligence, United States Forces, Afghanistan; and Commanding General, the United States Army Intelligence Center of Excellence and Fort Huachuca, AZ.

Lieutenant General Ashley has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Appalachian State University, a master’s degree in Strategic Intelligence from the National Intelligence University (formerly known as the Defense Intelligence College) and a master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College.

“We are equally delighted and honored to welcome LTG Ashley to the MASY team,” said Alex Anyse, MASY Group Co-Founder and Partner. “His unique wealth of defense and intelligence expertise he’ll bring to our efforts will be invaluable.”

Lieutenant General Ashley joins MASY Board of Advisors members Ms. Karyn Eliot and Major General Christopher P. Hughes, who will help strengthen and expand the company’s position in the federal marketplace. The selected board members bring a wealth of senior executive leadership experience from across the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community.

Ms. Karyn Eliot is a retired Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) senior executive with extensive experience in U.S. national security science and technology programs, intelligence operations, acquisitions, policy, and strategic industry partnerships. Ms. Eliot has a global perspective resulting from more than 20 years of leading international collaboration and engaging with Fortune 50 C-suite executives to enhance business acumen at CIA. Her assignments span the Agency and include serving as Director of Industry Partnerships and Foreign Partner Mission Manager in the Directorate of Science and Technology, Technology Lead in the Director of CIA’s Operations Group, Senior Technical Representative in the Directorate of Operations, and Deputy Director for Policy at the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). Ms. Eliot’s notable awards include the CIA Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal and the National Intelligence Exceptional Achievement Medal. Ms. Eliot was educated at the National War College and Northeastern University. She established Amplio Partners to continue supporting government and commercial engagement across the national security community, is a partner in Five Eyes Group, and serves on several advisory boards.

Major General Christopher P. Hughes retired from the U.S Army after 35 years of active-duty service and brings leadership experience from platoon to two-star command. He served as Chief of Staff to the U.S. Army Pacific Command and is the Co-Founder and first Provost of the Army University. Major General Hughes gained national recognition while commanding an Infantry Battalion from the 101st Airborne Division during the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Major General Hughes assisted in the creation of five major organizations within the Department of Defense and served as an investigator on the USS Cole Commission in 2000.

Throughout his career, Major General Hughes received many awards and recognition, including the Distinguished Service Medal (OLC), Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (2 OLC), Bronze Star (OLC), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (6 OLC), the Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Ranger Tab, Master Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Joint Staff Identification Badge, Army Staff Badge and numerous foreign Airborne Wings. Major General Hughes is the author of War on Two Fronts: An Infantry Commander’s War in Iraq and the Pentagon and a 2008 recipient of the Army Historical Foundation’s Distinguished Writing Award for Excellence in U.S Army Writing. Major General Hughes holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Northwest Missouri State University, a master’s degree in Business Management from Webster University, a master’s degree in National Strategic Studies from National Defense University and an Honorary Doctorate in Laws Degree from Northwest Missouri State University.