Training simulator to prepare mariners for navigation and shiphandling
Dr. Egli preparing international students for a tabletop excercise
Innovative solutions to optimize container shipping and supply chains
Cardinal Headings was launched in 2011 as a professional consulting and strategic advisory firm, focused on leadership development, national security, homeland security, maritime security, counterterrorism, and cyber security services.
Building on this foundation, in 2019, we expanded to include systems engineering, international consulting, critical infrastructure resilience, business continuity, sustainability, transportation innovation, and organizational transformation.
Inspired by this experience, we are now solving unique market challenges by leveraging advanced technologies to provide engineering production and material science solutions:
Joining materials to precise standards by tooling and pattern making to customer specifications, assembly, dipping, and coating to form a hard shell, de-waxing & firing to prepare for firings, casting into molds, knockout from castings, finishing & heat-treating, testing & inspection to meet tolerances, and shipping to customer.
Integrated design with laser 3D scanning by collecting data from a real-world object or environment and analyzing the shape and appearance. The data can then be used to construct digital 3D models. After all relevant information has been collected and recorded, the data is used to create computer-aided design (CAD) drawings for analysis and development.
A technique to produce objects from a digital 3D or CAD model with an “additive process” and materials joined under computer control, typically adding one layer at a time; manufacturing a wide variety of components for design with very few geometric limitations.
Computer Numerical Controller (CNC) machining is a manufacturing process where pre-programmed computer software dictates the movement of programmed factory tools and machinery, and can be used to control a range of complex machinery, including grinders, lathes, mills, and routers to produce high-quality metal or plastic parts.
Joining materials to precise standards by tooling and pattern making to customer specifications, assembly, dipping, and coating to form a hard shell, de-waxing & firing to prepare for firings, casting into molds, knockout from castings, finishing & heat-treating, testing & inspection to meet tolerances, and shipping to customer.
Integrated design with laser 3D scanning by collecting data from a real-world object or environment and analyzing the shape and appearance. The data can then be used to construct digital 3D models. After all relevant information has been collected and recorded, the data is used to create computer-aided design (CAD) drawings for analysis and development.
A technique to produce objects from a digital 3D or CAD model with an “additive process” and materials joined under computer control, typically adding one layer at a time; manufacturing a wide variety of components for design with very few geometric limitations.
Computer Numerical Controller (CNC) machining is a manufacturing process where pre-programmed computer software dictates the movement of programmed factory tools and machinery, and can be used to control a range of complex machinery, including grinders, lathes, mills, and routers to produce high-quality metal or plastic parts.
pumps, valves, flanges, fittings, impellers
couplings, gears, compressor parts, housing
water treatment facilities and supply stations
mechanical, modernization, advanced systems
rapid delivery, maintenance & repair parts
National Security 
Systems Engineering 
Material Science 
Cyber Security 
Maritime Security 
Strategic Planning 
Transportation Innovation 
Program Management 
Homeland Security National Security Systems Engineering Material Science Cyber Security Maritime Security Strategic Planning Transportation Innovation Program Management Homeland Security Dr. Egli is CEO of Cardinal Headings, LLC, specializing in engineering services, maritime security, leadership development, and national security. He served at the White House on the National Security Council as Director for Counterterrorism & Global Counternarcotics and was senior advisor to the President for hostage rescue policy. He currently serves as Senior Advisor to the Minister of Defense in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and previously supported the Minister of Interior, developing their Homeland Security and cyber Security strategy and supporting Border Guard transformation.
He was Senior Advisor for Counterterrorism and Defense Operations at the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard in Washington, DC; and previously served in the Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) at Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico; and was National Security Advisor for Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, specializing in Homeland Security, Infrastructure Resilience, Cyber Security, and Systems Engineering. He is the former President and Co-Founder of Hyperloop Advanced Research Partnership (HARP), exploring next-generation high-speed transportation systems.
As a career Coast Guard officer, he served in operational leadership conducting search & rescue, homeland security, and maritime law enforcement missions. He also served at NORAD/U.S. Northern Command in Colorado Springs as Chief of Future Operations (J35), and Senior Maritime Advisor to the Combatant Commander.
Dr. Egli graduated from the Coast Guard Academy, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. He received graduate degrees from George Washington University and National Defense University, a doctoral degree from University of Colorado (Denver), and is a distinguished graduate of the Naval War College. He is a graduate of Harvard University, Kennedy School Executive Education Program. Academically, he served as adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University Carey School of Business and Whiting School of Engineering; and was Distinguished Professor at the Colorado Technical University and University of Colorado, teaching Homeland and Cyber Security.
He is the author of “Beyond the Storms: Strengthening Homeland Security and Disaster Management to Achieve Resilience” and co-authored “Hyperloop: The Future of High-Speed Transportation.” He has appeared on ABC, CNN, FOX News, C-SPAN, and NPR to address national security, international affairs, and hostage rescue policy.
Malek is a seasoned Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Manufacturing Expert with extensive experience in building and managing multi-million-dollar engineering services organizations. His leadership spans across engineering services, program management, and strategic sales at all enterprise levels. With a successful track record in the Middle East—including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain—as well as Europe and the United States, Malek brings a global perspective and a diverse market portfolio. As COO, Malek specializes in streamlining operations, optimizing production processes, and driving manufacturing excellence. His expertise includes Investment Casting Manufacturing, CNC Machining Services, Reverse Engineering Design, and Additive 3D Manufacturing, with a proven ability to deliver innovative solutions that meet complex industry demands. During his tenure at KSB SupremeServ, a German-owned company, Malek successfully led the sales and service team to achieve significant company milestones. By implementing strategic market expansion initiatives, he increased market share and generated over $10 million in annual revenue. He pioneered the introduction of reverse engineering and 3D printing technologies to repair non-KSB equipment, broadening the company’s service portfolio.
Additionally, he established a high-quality spare parts supply chain for non-KSB pumps, enhancing customer satisfaction and positioning the company as a comprehensive engineering solutions provider. In his role with Cardinal Headings, Malek leverages his extensive manufacturing and engineering expertise to deliver dynamic, integrated production capabilities. He focuses on developing and executing strategic business plans, establishing key partnerships, and expanding market reach in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and the United States. His ability to align engineering services with business objectives ensures sustainable growth and measurable results for the organization.
With a career defined by innovation, leadership, and operational success, Malek is a driving force in transforming manufacturing operations and scaling engineering service business to new heights.
Brian most recently served at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory as a systems engineer, maritime researcher, and program manager. His recent focus included unmanned systems, including unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), and unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), assessment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, transport and resilience modeling and simulation (M&S) for military logistics, surface and sub-surface support vessels for Special Operations Forces (SOF) operations, USV sea test design, and autonomous vessel testing.
He is a maritime security, commercial shipping, and operational resilience Subject Matter Expert (SME); has supported engineering M&S of transport networks, immersive training simulators, maritime domain awareness, critical infrastructure resilience, and security of high-valued assets. He led M&S efforts to support infrastructure resilience analysis and served as project manager for waterside security R&D. He has also worked on remote sensing, image processing, and geospatial technologies for application to planning, infrastructure development, research, and training.
As a Merchant Mariner, Brian served as a deck officer on various sea-going vessels, including container, roll-on/roll-off, tankers, bulk carriers, break-bulk, offshore support, and ferries, responsible for navigation, maneuvering, cargo handling, lifesaving, communications, and systems maintenance. He has taught shipping operations, designed strategies to improve maritime operations and port security through use of geospatial technologies, and simulation-based performance analyses.
Brian has a Master of Science degree in Imaging Science & Engineering from New York University, Bachelor of Science in Nautical Science from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, and completed the doctoral coursework for Applied Ocean Science from University of Delaware.
Annemarie is a graduate of University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. She served as a Research Chemist and Materials Science Engineer at the National Aeronautical & Space Administration (NASA), Langley Research Center at Langley Air Force Base, Langley, Virginia. She later served in the same capacity working as an independent contractor for Lockheed Martin Corp.
Her areas of research included engineering application of advanced material science solutions, focused on polymers, polyimides, and acetylene-terminated carbon composites, seeking innovative solutions for advanced adhesives to support the NASA Space Shuttle Program. During her assignment to NASA Langley Research Center, she was awarded a Government Patent as co-inventor for development of a unique engineering solution by developing an advanced high-temperature composite adhesive to address tile instability challenges and structural failures of Space Shuttle tiles during atmosphere re-entry.
Dr. Egli is the author of “Beyond the Storms: Strengthening Homeland Security and Disaster Management to Achieve Resilience,” and co-authored “Hyperloop: The Future of High-speed Transportation.”
He has appeared on ABC, CNN, FOX News, C-SPAN, and NPR to address National Security, Cyber Security, and Hostage Rescue Policy.
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