Dawn Sealy- President & CEO

Dawn Sealy is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Emberstone Innovations, a women-owned and Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned small business providing disciplined administrative, logistics, and training support services to government and defense organizations. She guides the company’s strategic direction and operational standards, ensuring Emberstone delivers reliable, compliant, and mission-aligned support in performance-driven environments.

With extensive experience in project management, procurement operations, and aerospace supply chain support, Dawn has managed complex programs requiring precision coordination, strict regulatory adherence, and effective supplier engagement. Her background strengthens Emberstone’s ability to operate within the structured, compliance-focused framework required in federal contracting while maintaining efficiency and accountability across every task order and support function.

A proud U.S. Navy veteran, Dawn holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, a Master’s degree in Public Administration, and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). Her military service, education, and professional certification reinforce the disciplined approach Emberstone applies to planning, execution, documentation, and performance oversight.

Through this foundation, Emberstone Innovations operates with a clear focus: to provide dependable support services that integrate seamlessly into government operations, allowing mission owners to remain focused on outcomes while Emberstone ensures the administrative, logistical, and training requirements behind the scenes are executed with precision.

Wally Calabrese- Chief Financial Officer

Walter (Wally) Calabrese is a retired United States Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant with over 20 years of distinguished service. A Service-Connected Disabled Veteran, his military career included roles in aviation maintenance, training, and operational readiness. Notable assignments included serving as an MOS Instructor, Wing ALMAT Inspection Team member, and Assistant Maintenance Chief for Marine Aircraft Group 14. His service was recognized with the Air Medal with Combat “V,” Navy Commendation Medal, and three Navy Achievement Medals. After retiring in 2007, Wally transitioned to higher education, serving as Dean of Craven Community College’s Havelock Campus, overseeing campus operations and fostering student success.

Wally later led strategic operations for an SDVOSB from 2021 to 2025, managing government contracts and leading proposal development efforts. He secured a major $11 million contract supporting Fort Cavazos, Texas, demonstrating his leadership and expertise in government contracting. As one of five co-owners of Emberstone Innovations, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, Wally combines military discipline, government contracting knowledge, and strategic planning to deliver tailored, reliable solutions. He holds degrees in Professional Aeronautics and Pastoral Theology and is also a Catholic Deacon, dedicated to service both professionally and personally.

Andrew Thornton- Chief Compliance Officer

Andrew (Andy) Thornton is a retired United States Marine Corps First Sergeant with over 20 years of service. His service was distinguished by leadership roles spanning 7 countries on 3 continents. His assignments included Signals Intelligence Analyst/collector, Cryptologic Support Analyst, Marine Security Guard Detachment Commander, and Company First Sergeant. He was awarded the Meritorious Service medal, three Navy and Marine Corps Commendation medals, Joint Service Achievement medal, and a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medal for his service.

After retiring Andy utilized the skills, drive, and attention to detail that the Marine Corps instilled in him to become the Human Resource Manager for another SDVOSB where he was responsible for all HR matters for over 300 employees across the United States and her territories. In addition to his role as the HR Manager, Andy authored proposals, priced contracts and was part of the development team for the company.

Today Andy is serving as a Vice President of Emberstone Innovations, a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, a business founded with excellence in mind to deliver the highest quality service to our clients.

In addition to his distinguished military and professional career Andy spends his free time serving the local community at Veterans of Foreign Wars post in New Bern, North Carolina. He is currently the Jr Vice Commander of VFW post 2514.

James Masterson- Chief Growth Officer

James Masterson is a retired U.S. Army Sergeant First Class with over 20 years of distinguished service specializing in Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) operations. Throughout his military career, he served in key leadership roles including Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant, and Senior Small Group Leader, and was recognized with induction into the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club and the Sergeant Audie Murphy Award for exceptional leadership and mentorship. His extensive experience as an instructor, trainer, and operational leader instilled the discipline, accountability, and mission focus that define his civilian success.

After retiring from the Army, James transitioned into the private sector where he quickly advanced in both utility and defense contracting environments. As a Project Controls Manager in the water and wastewater utility industry, he lead project-level controls for large-scale capital programs—overseeing budgeting, scheduling, financial reporting, and regulatory compliance to ensure reliable infrastructure delivery. He also served as a Director of Support Solutions at a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), managing proposal development, business growth initiatives, and operational performance for defense contracts.

In his current role as Chief Growth Officer and Co-Owner of Emberstone Innovations, James drives corporate strategy, business development, and federal acquisition initiatives. He combines deep technical insight with a strong background in leadership and program management to advance mission-focused solutions across defense and civilian sectors. He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Western Governors University.

Cregg Sealy- Chief Operating Officer

Cregg Sealy is a co-owner and Chief Operating Officer of Emberstone Innovations, responsible for operational execution, contract performance, and service delivery in support of federal customers.

A New York native, Cregg served in the United States Marine Corps in multiple infantry billets, including roles as a Marine Corps Recruiter and certified Weapons Instructor. He deployed with the 24th and 26th Marine Expeditionary Units and completed multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, participating in noncombatant evacuations, convoy security, direct action operations, mobile training team assignments, and embedded operations with host nation forces.

Following his military service, Cregg continued supporting U.S. national security interests as a contractor in Afghanistan, Lebanon, Kosovo, and Jordan with organizations including Blackwater, MPRI/L3Harris, American Systems, GardaWorld Federal Services, and Triple Canopy.

From 2020 to 2025, he served in senior leadership roles within an SDVOSB firm, including Project Manager, Programs Manager, Contracts Manager, and Director of Government Contracts, contributing to company growth through capture planning, proposal development, and contract execution in support of military training and security operations.

At Emberstone Innovations, Cregg brings over two decades of combined military and government contracting experience, ensuring disciplined, compliant, and reliable performance across all service areas.