Our Team: Deep Experience, Innovative Minds, Entrepreneurial Spirits

David Thompson is the founder of RBX Solutions, building on more than 15 years of experience at the highest levels of Washington, DC. He began his public service in the George W. Bush White House and later became a top executive at a prominent DC based consulting firm where he cultivated deep networks across Capitol Hill and the federal government. David's strategic work has helped secure billions of dollars in funding for clients across multiple sectors and advance cutting-edge solutions that benefit government, industry, and academia.

David’s is known for his ability to cast bold, forward-looking visions for his clients—helping them define not only where they want to go, but how to get there. Indeed, RBX Solutions was founded on the principle of solving hard problems clients face by approaching engagements from a different perspective to achieve success.  He specializes in translating high-level strategic goals into actionable, phased tactical plans that drive measurable outcomes over time. With a unique talent for building trust and alignment among key decision-makers across government, industry, and academia, David helps clients navigate complexity, break through institutional barriers, and ultimately achieve success by turning vision into execution.

David has co-founded, developed and led major initiatives at the nexus of cybersecurity, education, and national security, among many other areas.  Recently, he helped architect, co-found and serve as Co-Executive Director of the Carolina Cyber Network (CCN)—a pioneering workforce development ecosystem uniting more than 20 colleges across North Carolina. The network focuses on closing the cyber talent gap while hardening the digital infrastructure of the state, serving as a national model for state-level cyber readiness and education collaboration.  CCN has been called out by the White House, the NSA and other state governments and federal agencies multiple times as the most successful cyber workforce ecosystem model in the country.

David’s expertise has been called upon by both Republican and Democratic administrations on both a federal and state level. He has worked closely with the White House and the National Security Council under multiple presidents, helping to author the National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy under President Biden, and now contributing to its revision under the Trump administration.  He also works closely with the Intelligence Community, particularly the NSA, on cybersecurity related issues.

He currently serves on the Board of the Military Cyber Professionals Association (MCPA) and sits on various boards of prestigious colleges and universities across the country, advising institutions on national security, defense and intelligence matters, cyber workforce development, and strategic partnerships.

Over the years, David has built and led high-performing teams across diverse industries—cybersecurity, defense, intelligence, homeland security, healthcare, education, affordable housing, international ventures, and more. His value lies in understanding the "formula of government"—how decisions are made, where influence can be applied, and how to drive strategic outcomes at scale. His experience in the defense and intelligence communities gives him a unique ability to uncover opportunities often missed by traditional approaches.

In addition to his deep ties in government, David maintains strong relationships in the private equity, foundation, and nonprofit worlds. He thrives on solving complex, multi-stakeholder challenges by bringing together leaders from industry, government, and academia under one roof.

Now based in his hometown of Charlotte, David enjoys being highly active in his church and other philanthropic endeavors across the state, spending time outdoors and with his children, working on his cattle farm in Western NC, and making the most of everything the great state of North Carolina has to offer.

Lisa is an Emmy-nominated, Peabody Award winning producer and expert in the fields of media and communications. Her role at RBX encompasses all campaigns involving media outreach and relations, guest/media bookings, book tours, producing, crisis communications, legislative testimony preparation, and media training for CEOs and C-suite executives.

Lisa and RBX were integral in the development of NewsNation’s flagship shows The Donlon Report and Banfield, spending three years at the helm of the shows’ story development and booking operation. Lisa and RBX are heavily involved with the booking operation of Piers Morgan Uncensored. For both these outlets, RBX has delivered marquee guests ranging from Priscilla Presley’s first interview since the death of her daughter Lisa Marie Presley, Jay Leno, Bill Maher, Jordan Peterson, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Sean Penn, Ben Shapiro to Kyle Rittenhouse’s second interview directly following his acquittal.

Prior to joining RBX Solutions, Lisa spent nearly two decades at CNN where she was a producer for multiple top-rated shows. She was a producer for CNN’s flagship, highest-rated, and longest running show, Larry King Live. Following Larry King Live, she was asked to stay at the network to produce and help launch both CNN Primetime shows, Piers Morgan Tonight/Live and CNN Tonight with Don Lemon.

For all three shows, Lisa was responsible for show content planning, negotiating, securing and producing exclusive high-profile interviews with international heads of state, celebrities, politicians, newsmakers and authors, including Justice Antonin Scalia, President Jimmy Carter, Tony Blair, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, President Hugo Chávez, Libyan Leader Moammar Gadhafi, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Secretary Condoleeza Rice, Secretary Robert Gates, Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Mick Jagger, Janet Jackson, Ingrid Betancourt, Jack Kevorkian, among many others. Additionally, Lisa was the primary contact and producer for all publishing houses and responsible for securing all book interviews for all 3 shows.

During her tenure at CNN, she was nominated for a News Documentary Emmy Award for Outstanding Breaking News Coverage for her work on the Manchester Concert Attack, and was a recipient of the 2005 DuPont Award for her coverage of the Tsunami Disaster in South Asia as well as several Peabody Awards for her work in 2005 on Hurricane Katrina, 2008 for the Presidential Primary Campaigns and Debates, and in 2010 for the Gulf Oil Spill. She has also been a News and Documentary Emmy Judge since 2007.

Lisa is actively involved in multiple local and national charities, including serving as a board member and officer for SBT Foundation, Inc. (started by her brothers) which provides Christmas gifts to children in need and supports other efforts helping children such as the Levine Children’s Hospital’s Child Life Program as well as WNC Hurricane Response Efforts. She holds a B.A. from The University of the South, Sewanee and an M.B.A. from the University of Florida. When not working on client interests, Lisa enjoys spending as much time as possible with her family and on the water in anything that floats.

Joseph is a research scientist with over a decade of experience at top rated institutions. Joseph's work in research labs that were receiving hundreds of millions of dollars in research funding provide him a unique ability to understand all issues related to research integrity. In 2019, Joseph successfully won his multi-year legal challenge to Duke University where he witnessed violations in a research program that led to the largest False Claims Act settlement in US history. Joseph now uses his experience and skill sets to make sure other universities don't fall prey to violations that cost the institution hundreds of millions in costs and irreparable harm to their brand identity and prestige. Joseph has a Master's in Science and and Masters of Business Administration. He's a co-author on 7 peer reviewed manuscripts in the area of lung biology and genetics.

John is a national leader in False Claims Act litigation, where whistleblowers uncover and report fraud against the government. John litigates cases throughout the country involving procurement fraud, health care fraud, medical device fraud, and grant fraud. John is the founder and Chair of the Federal Bar Association Qui Tam Section and a frequent writer and speaker on FCA topics.

John is also an experienced litigator in the criminal law arena. He has served as both a prosecutor and defense counsel in a variety of federal and state actions, including contested trials involving attempted murder, law of war violations, complex classified litigation matters, negligent homicide, crimes against children, drug offenses, firearms offenses, and theft of government property.

John served as a judge advocate in the U.S. Marine Corps. He prosecuted and defended Marines and Sailors in courts-martial and deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan to advise commanders on the law of war. John is a Major in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.

In addition to his work in the civil enforcement and criminal fields, John has a special interest in science policy. He is a contributor to the blog Retraction Watch and has published in The Scientist. He advises researchers and academics in research administration issues. John earned his J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law and later graduated from the U.S. Naval Justice School.

After a successful career in the private sector, including leadership roles in sales and profit center management, Roger made a mid-career move into public service. His initial foray began with a presidential campaign, after which he joined the staff of Congressman Patrick McHenry, who represented North Carolina’s Tenth Congressional District. During Roger’s tenure, Congressman McHenry served in several prominent roles, including Chief Deputy Whip, Ranking Member and later Chair of the House Financial Services Committee, and Speaker pro tempore of the House in October 2023.

As the Congressman’s primary liaison to local governments, elected officials, business communities, educational institutions, and civic organizations throughout the district, Roger built a reputation for effectively navigating the intersections of federal, state, and local government to deliver solutions for constituents and organizations throughout the state. His deep experience in public engagement, policy, and intergovernmental coordination proved invaluable in each iteration of the different district boundaries.

Following the Congressman’s retirement in January 2025, Roger joined RBX Solutions to apply his extensive government relations and problem solving experience in service of the firm’s clients.

A native of Florida, Roger moved to North Carolina over 40 years ago. He attended high school in Asheville, followed by a gap year as an exchange student at Clifton College in Bristol, England, before earning his degree in Economics from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem. He spent a decade in Raleigh before returning to the beauty of the Western North Carolina mountains, which he calls home.

Roger remains active in his church community, enjoys traveling—especially to the UK—and takes full advantage of the many festivals and cultural events in Western North Carolina.

Lawrence Young serves as Senior Consultant and Principal Investigator for RBX Solutions on a cybersecurity project funded by the National Security Agency (NSA). Lawrence has a long track record of advising, consulting, and performing various management and strategic  functions for companies in high tech, energy efficiency/sustainability, medical devices, including operational Start-ups, turn-arounds, reorganizations, and next round funding.

Previously Vice President of Premier Holding, a publicly traded company whose mission is to acquire and grow complementary businesses in the energy and sustainability industries, as well as medical devices and services, software development and smart  building technology companies. This included being the Acting Engineering Lead for  Nexalin, a Class 2 medical device, planning and supervision of the buildout of a medical  lab, and Manufacturing Lead for Energy Efficiency Experts, where he was deeply  involved with R&D, international patent protection, logistics, sales, etc.

At Premier he performed candidate company evaluations for investment consideration, financial evaluations and plans, business plans and strategies for PPMs, mergers, spin outs and up-listing; he also supported SEC reporting and compliance, shareholder  communications and stockholder meetings as well as writing press releases and other  documents.

He was previously President and CEO of Active ES, Inc., which designed and marketed award-winning energy management technology worldwide.

With decades of experience in strategic sales growth, international business operations, high technology, training, energy efficiency, turn-arounds, next stage growth, M&A, and expansion, Mr. Young formed Talent Investors with his business partner to identify  businesses to acquire, turn around, and grow for eventual sale. Targeting the burgeoning  field of energy management; one project was Active ES, Inc., which was sold to Premier  Holding in 2012, where Mr. Young was asked to join their leadership. (The name Talent  Investors comes from the parable of the talents.)

In 2007, he was selected to be his alma mater's Entrepreneur in Residence where he worked with the Lyle School of Business to speak at major events, press conferences, university classes, etc. In 2010, he was selected as an Outstanding Alumnus during CSU  Fresno’s centennial anniversary. 

Mr. Young’s professional career has taken him throughout the United States, the U.K., Australia, and Mexico. His career includes Technology Training Corporation, a high technology/aerospace/defense seminar and conference development company where he  served as head of operations in Australia and then in Mexico City, reorganizing those  profit centers, and as the Director of Engineering, Manufacturing and Management topics  worldwide, after having worked on software and military topics. 

His experience includes Infotec Commercial Systems, a high technology training company specializing in Software Developer and Engineer training for the major software products. He served as Regional Director, Vice President, and President. The  leadership team grew the company from 4 branches to over 30 profit centers, with hundreds of sales reps., ultimately receiving awards from Novel, Lotus, Microsoft, and  others with each of their version of the best training provider (many world-wide). The  company expanded to online training, Courseware development, and Software  development under his tenure. The company built and sold the student testing software  for ACT, the competitor to SAT. He served on Microsoft’s Online Institute Advisory  Board and at various times lead corporate operations, due diligence for M&A, new  business ventures such as on-line training, courseware development, Etc., ultimately  serving as President and CEO.

Mr. Young’s early career had him travel to over 100 colleges and universities providing leadership, organization, character, and other training to underclassmen and alumni, and running large conferences and seminar, where he also presented, and has published  articles in three different industries. 

He received his BA in film from California State University, Fresno.