Dr. Keith Newcomer leads Valar’s strategic programming, research, and operational initiatives, ensuring that the company’s efforts are integrated and leverage the full scope of its information, analysis, and operational capabilities. With over 25 years of field research and expertise on terrorist groups in the Horn of Africa, Dr. Newcomer has a deep understanding of the region’s security dynamics.

His work includes more than a decade of collaboration with U.S. Special Operations Command and U.S. Africa Command, as well as assignments with subordinate commands in Djibouti, 5 Tanzania, Germany, and the U.K.

Dr. Newcomer holds a doctorate in International Development from The University of Southern Mississippi, where his dissertation explored strategies to dismantle embedded corruption networks in East Africa.