October 19, 2018
Cohen Group
Attn: General Counsel’s Office
500 Eighth St. NW
Suite 200
Washington, DC 20004
Dear General Counsel of the Cohen Group:
The Project On Government Oversight (POGO) is creating a Department of Defense Revolving
Door Database on its website (pogo.org), which compiles information from public resources
regarding former senior Department of Defense officials and military officers who went on to
work for government contractors, including the Cohen Group, from 2008 to the present. The
database is an attempt to track individuals when they leave the Department of Defense, and
inclusion in the database doesn’t represent anything illegal or a violation of ethics rules. I have
enclosed the findings relevant to the Cohen Group and am requesting verification or refutation of
the data from you.
Any response would be greatly appreciated, as the accuracy of this information is in the best
interest of all parties. When a precise start date was not publicly available POGO chose the first
day of the month the employee said they began working for the Cohen Group. POGO is also
interested in any related ethics opinions issued for current or former the Cohen Group personnel
in compliance with the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, Public Law
110-181, Sec. 847 and certifications of compliance as required by Defense Federal Acquisition
Regulation Supplement (DFARS) subpart 252.203-7005; 41 U.S.C. § 2105(c). Out of fairness to
the Cohen Group, please be assured that any response received by POGO will be posted on the
website along with the data if you so choose.
If you have any questions, I can be reached at (202) 347-1122 or msmithberger@pogo.org.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Mandy Smithberger
Director, Center for Defense Information

 Enclosure
Revolving Door Instances
1. Individual: Ellen Embrey
Approximate Date Joined the Cohen Group: June 1, 2010
Synopsis: Ellen Embrey was Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Health
Protection and Readiness from 2002 to 2009, and was Acting Assistant Secretary of
Defense for Health Affairs and the Director, TRICARE Management Activity from
2009 to 2010. She joined the Cohen Group in June 2010. She is also a founder and
managing partner of Stratitia, a management consulting firm that has received several
million dollars in Department of Defense contracts. According to the firm's website,
the Cohen Group's Aerospace and Defense practice "has assisted clients to compete
for and win tens of billions of dollars in contracts." In her official biography, the
Cohen Group notes Ellen Embrey "brings deep expertise in health and medical issues,
as well as a wealth of other experience gained during her extensive federal service."
Documents to Include:
http://www.cohengroup.net/our-people/ellen-embrey
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4572088-Ellen-Embrey-LinkedIn-6-618.html
http://www.cohengroup.net/practice/aerospace-defense
http://www.stratitia.com/
https://www.usaspending.gov/#/search/a555859cbf67ac66eed35596eb82780d
2. Individual: Joseph A. Benkert
Approximate Date Joined the Cohen Group:
Synopsis: Joseph A. Benkert was Assistant Secretary of Defense for Global Security
Affairs from 2008 to 2009. According to his official biography in that role his
responsibilities included "building the capability of US partners and allies; security
cooperation and foreign military sales; technology security policy and export control
matters; counternarcotics, counter proliferation and countering global threats." He
joined the Cohen Group, a defense and aerospace consulting company, later in 2009.
He has been a member of the Threat Reduction Advisory Committee since 2010.
According to their website, their Aerospace and Defense practice "has assisted clients
to compete for and win tens of billions of dollars in contracts."
Documents to Include:
http://www.cohengroup.net/our-people/joseph-benkert
http://www.cohengroup.net/practice/aerospace-defense
http://www.dtra.mil/Home/TRAC/TRAC-Members/

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