China business strategy expertise

Alan Kohler joined Pamir after a successful career at the FBI where he led the agency’s Counterintelligence Division as Assistant Director.  Alan held leadership positions in the counterintelligence, cyber, and counterterrorism programs during his career, including chief of the Eurasian Section and Assistant Legal Attaché in London.  He also served on the Evidence Response Team and took part in the FBI’s response to the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon.  

Alan is a recipient of the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service, the FBI Director’s Award for Outstanding Counterintelligence Investigation, and the Exceptional Achievement Medal from the Director of National Intelligence.

He is a Rutgers University graduate with B.S. and M.S. degrees in ceramic engineering.

A Chinese linguist by training, James Mulvenon is a leading international expert on Chinese cyber, technology transfer, espionage, and military issues. He received his B.A. in China Studies from the University of Michigan, studied Communist Party History at Fudan University in Shanghai, and received his M.A. and Ph.D. in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles, completing a doctoral thesis on the Chinese military’s international business empire that was published in 2000 by Routledge Press as Soldiers of Fortune.

Dr. Mulvenon has spent the last thirty years building teams of Chinese linguist-analysts to support the objectives of a wide range of government, military, and commercial customers. In 2013, he co-authored Chinese Industrial Espionage, which is the first full account of the complete range of China’s efforts to illicitly acquire foreign technology, and contributed multiple chapters to China’s Quest for Foreign Technology: Beyond Espionage, which was published by Routledge in September 2020. Dr. Mulvenon is regularly invited to address senior government, military, and commercial audiences on China topics, and his comments have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and other international media outlets.

With over 35 years of compliance, governance, and international commercial transaction experience, Danielle is a recognized policy, oversight, and best practices Subject Matter Expert for the DoD/U.S. Intelligence Community. Danielle’s focus is ensuring that all services and solutions are compliant with the law and applicable customer policy directives and instructions.

Leah brings a wealth of data research and analysis skills to her Pamir role of developing new data collection and research tools — experience honed in her many years as a Chinese language analyst at the National Security Agency. She has also worked to support government and military customers and as an open-source expert in the private sector.

Her cultural familiarity with China and fluency in the language comes from time spent as a resident on the mainland, including studying at Peking University, and over two decades of intensive Chinese-language familiarization. She holds a BA in Chinese from the University of Michigan and a MA in International Affairs from the George Washington University.

Jonathan is an expert in Chinese technology, military capabilities, and strategic analysis, with over a decade of experience leading language-enabled analyst teams. He holds a B.A. in China and Asia-Pacific Studies from Cornell University, an M.A. from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, and Chinese Flagship language certification from Brigham Young University. Mr. Ray has published on China's advancements in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, robotics, and its capabilities in nuclear, space, cyber, and naval domains.

Mr. Ray served as the Director for Security and Foreign Affairs at the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, an independent agency created by Congress to monitor and investigate the national security implications of the U.S.-China economic relationship. In this role he led analysis of China's cyber activities, Taiwan policy, and response to the war in Ukraine, and briefed the Commission's findings and policy recommendations on Capitol Hill. He has also developed research methodologies, data collection strategies, and analytical products for several organizations, including the Center for Intelligence Research and Analysis, National Defense University, the Center for Nonproliferation Studies, and a commercial due diligence firm.

Silka is an experienced researcher and team leader specializing in China’s technological landscape and its implications for U.S. commercial and national security interests. She has led the development of intelligence products for U.S. corporations and government clients, with her research spanning China’s AI sector, talent acquisition strategies, and evolving regulatory frameworks in both China and the U.S. Her work integrates rigorous analysis with strategic insight, and she has directed cross-functional teams of linguist-analysts, engineers, and subject matter experts to build proprietary databases and deliver high-impact research.

Proficient in Mandarin, Silka has lived and studied in China, gaining firsthand experience of its cultural and political environment. She holds a BA in Chinese and English from Macalester College and a graduate certificate in Chinese Studies from the Hopkins-Nanjing Center, a joint program of Johns Hopkins SAIS and Nanjing University.