Combining Expert Process with Expert People
Our Leadership Team
Erik Brine
Chief Executive Officer
Erik Brine is the CEO for Brackish Consulting, LLC. He has served as the Director of Defense R&D Initiatives and Operations at the University of Rhode Island since May 2021 following two years as the founding Executive Director of the National Institute for Undersea Vehicle Technology (NIUVT), a partnership between academia, industry, and government built to accelerate the research, development, and transition of key enabling technologies. Prior to this he spent over four years at the White House as a Defense Science and Technology Program Examiner for the Office of Management and Budget. Erik’s additional federal service includes positions in the Offices of the Under Secretary of the Air Force for International Affairs at the Pentagon, the State Department, and in the Senate in the office of Tim Kaine (D-VA). Over a 24-year military career, he flew C-5, C-17, and C-21 aircraft and served at every level, from the flight line to the Pentagon serving three Secretaries of Defense in OSD Public Affairs. Colonel Erik Brine most recently served as the Vice Wing Commander of the 514th Air Mobility Wing at Joint Base MDL leading over 2300 airmen. In the private sector, he led Security Cooperation and Partnership Programs for the Perduco Group, a Dayton-based Operations Research and Data Analytics solutions firm. Erik holds a Master of Policy Management from Georgetown's McCourt School of Public Policy, a Master of Science in Logistics from the Air Force Institute of Technology, a Master’s of Arts in Strategy and Security Studies from the Naval War College and a Bachelor’s degree in Physics from Boston University. Additionally, Erik remains heavily involved in veteran advocacy groups and his local community.
Robert Raymond
Chief Operating Officer
Rob Raymond joined Brackish Consulting after retiring from the Air Force as a Colonel following a 24 year career that included assignments as a Commander, staff officer, F-16 instructor pilot, and weapons officer. He has extensive experience in Joint Operations and Planning, Security Cooperation, Airpower Employment, and Legislative Affairs. Rob’s military career spanned multiple regions, including duty in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, Israel, South Korea, and throughout the European theater. Additionally, as a legislative liaison while stationed at the Pentagon, he was responsible for developing and implementing strategies for Congressional engagement in support of over 30 procurement programs including the F-35. During his time at Headquarters United States European Command he served as a Joint operations planner focused on multilateral coordination across Geographic Combatant Command seams and contingency planning focused on the
Eastern Mediterranean and Levant regions. Rob later led the Command’s Office of Defense Cooperation-Support Division. He most recently entered the private sector as Chief Operating Officer for Nautilus Defense, an engineering firm specializing in advanced textile-integrated systems for defense, medical and commercial applications. Rob is a graduate of the United States Air Force Weapons School (F-16 Division), holds a Master’s Degree in Strategic Intelligence from the National Defense Intelligence College, a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies from the Air War College, and a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Boston University.
Steve Engberg
Senior Program Manager
Steve Engberg serves as the Senior Program Manager for Brackish Consulting. Throughout a 22-year Air Force career, Steve served as a Commander, security cooperation officer, educator, and fighter pilot in multiple regions, including Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. He has considerable experience educating and coaching large multi-disciplinary teams, planning and overseeing large-scale operations and programs, and formulating sound strategies for preparing and allocating multimillion-dollar budgets and equipment inventories. As a security cooperation officer at the US Embassy in Seoul, Steve advised the U.S. Ambassador on allied air power capability requirements critical to theater security while managing the Republic of Korea Air Force’s $7.5B foreign military sales portfolio. Steve concluded his military career as a faculty member at the United States Naval War College, where he developed and delivered Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff-approved Joint Professional Military Education instruction and taught a graduate-level course in policy analysis pertaining to national security decision making. Additionally, he served as the National Security Affairs department’s Capstone Exercise Deputy Course Director and curriculum development team lead. Steve was a command pilot with over 2000 hours in the F-16, T-38, and T-37. He holds a Master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the United States Naval War College, a Master’s degree in Operational Art and Science from Air Command and Staff College, a Master’s in Business Administration from American Public University, and a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and language minor (Mandarin) from the United States Air Force Academy.