The Meridian Group is a professional services practice focusing on supporting critical Department of Defense (DoD) programs. Our team is made up of subject matter experts who have a history of providing strategic and technical support for the DoD, including drafting policy and legislative strategy, developing and executing programs, and providing scientific and analytical support to senior leaders.
Mission Statement
At Meridian, our mission is to support positive impacts to national security and military readiness through collaboration, forward-leaning expertise, and trusted practices. We are dedicated to meeting client requirements and exceeding delivery expectations.
Grant Kamins
Grant has 17 years of experience in defense policy, acquisitions, congressional Title 10 authorities, and energy resilience policy. He started his career in the financial sector and shortly after moved to management professional services. Grant’s professional experience spans varied clients as well as both small and large management professional services firms within the DC region. In 2020, Grant founded The Meridian Group supporting The Department of Navy Secretariat under Energy, Installations and Environment. His focus is at the intersection of energy security, policy and congressional statutory program execution. Grant has successfully supported the Navy with issuing policy, strategic guidance and recovering over a hundred and fifty million dollars that would have otherwise been returned to the Department of Treasury.
Leslie Irwin
Leslie has over 14 years combined experience in strategic communications, environmental policy, and coastal ocean science. As the Meridian Group’s Senior Strategic Communications Specialist, she supports the Department of the Navy Secretariat under Energy, Installations, and Environment. She previously provided strategic communications and outreach support for both the Department of the Air Force and U.S. Marine Corps. She found her passion for science, environment, and environmental communications and outreach as a Knauss Marine Policy Fellow with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and subsequently supporting the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science.
Dr. David Weinstein
David has over 15 years combined experience in coastal, marine, and water sciences, program management, environmental policy (including NEPA) and administration, and scientific communication. He most recently provided critical support to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Navy, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). David started his career in academia as a well-published coral reef scientist and geologist working globally (Caribbean, Japan, Israel, etc.) and with non-profit organizations. He earned a bachelors of science in Geology at the University of Maryland and a Ph.D. in marine geology and geophysics at the University of Miami. David supports the Meridian Group as the Water Program Manager.
Jordan Blackman
Jordan has over 20 years of experience at the cross sectors of energy, resilience, and sustainability. He has expertise in project management, strategic and program planning, energy policy, and analysis. Jordan’s clients have included the Federal Government, international organizations, and various commercial and industrial companies. He recently led teams supporting several alternative energy and grid modernization programs at the Department of Energy. Previously, Jordan originated and managed multiple utility-scale and distributed generation projects for the Army Office of Energy Initiatives. He supports The Meridian Group as a Senior Advisor for energy projects, technology, and policy analysis to help the Navy meet its resilience, security, and sustainability goals. Jordan earned a bachelors in Economics at Cornell University and a masters in Energy & Environment Policy from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.
Tyler Mar
Tyler is a Water Security Specialist at The Meridian Group with experience in strategic water resource planning, water asset valuation, and water rights investigations. Tyler joins Meridian from Zanjero, where he advised clients on comprehensive water strategy solutions and conducted water rights investigations. He also has experience in designing nature-based investment portfolios and performing deal flow due diligence on water assets for an alternative asset manager. As Meridian’s Water Security Specialist, he supports the Department of the Navy Commander, Navy Region Southwest for its water resilience program. He is focused on ensuring future water sustainability and security in support of military operations throughout the NRSW. In 2023, he received a Master of Environmental Science in Hydrology and Water Resource Management from Yale University’s School of the Environment. Tyler graduated from Union College (NY) with a B.S. in Environmental Science and has previously conducted hydrological research in Vietnam and evaluated corporate water risk challenges.
Chris Fields
Chris has over 20 years of combined experience in strategic communications and energy resilience efforts within the Department of Defense and the Military Departments. Most recently, he supported the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy Resilience and Optimization on their Installation Energy team. Chris supports the Meridian Group as a Senior Energy Specialist on the Shore Energy team under the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations, and Environment where he supports the Navy’s energy initiatives involving energy resilience conservation investment program (ERCIP) projects, conferences, and outreach opportunities.
