What We Do
QuantumSafe Data Systems Inc., d/b/a QD5 Inc., is a South Dakota corporation with exclusive, irrevocable and perpetual rights to manufacture, have made, advertise, use, demonstrate, modify, assemble, market, sell, lease and sublicense products, services, software, platforms, applications, and equipment utilizing a patent-protected one-time pad (OTP) based encryption technology and quantum-safe ecosystem in the United States and numerous countries throughout the world. This OTP technology also provides the core encryption system for a new, hyper-encrypted cellphone solution designed to defeat the types of nation-state actor hacks that have corrupted numerous U.S. cellphone networks in 2024 and 2025.
Leadership and Executive Teams
Our leadership team is composed of industry experts dedicated to advancing our mission with integrity and excellence. Our executive team is focused on driving innovation while optimizing operational efficiency. This team has crafted a dynamic and exciting team environment.
Lt. General Erik C. Peterson (ret.)
Chairman of the Board, QD5
Gen. Peterson recently retired from the US Army as a Lt. General and Army Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs, responsible for the Army’s $900+ billion five-year resourcing strategy, material modernization, material requirements process, and campaign analysis. He is a seasoned strategic leader with 38 years of military experience, leading complex organizations and top elite military formations in the most demanding operations and missions.
Prior to his service on the Army Staff, Erik served in numerous leadership and command positions, deploying extensively for combat and contingency operations worldwide. Erik earned Bachelor’s Degrees in Geography and Cartography from the University of Idaho and Master’s Degrees in Business Administration (MBA) and National Security Strategy.
Daniel P. Neelon
Director, President and CEO, QD5
Mr. Neelon has been a domestic and international business lawyer for 40 years with wide-ranging experience in commercial contract and investment transactions across a dozen countries on four continents, private securities and corporate acquisition transactions involving household name companies, and representation of computer network managed service providers for many years. Mr. Neelon also has held a variety of business management roles, including as Executive Vice President and a Director of a publicly traded oil and gas exploration company.
Mr. Neelon has been designated a SuperLawyer(R) in Business Law or International Law for 18 years by Thomson Reuters.
Honorable Alan R. Shaffer
Director, QD5
The Hon. Alan Shaffer has been the Director, Washington Operations for MIT Lincoln Laboratory since April 2022. From January 2019 to January 2021, he was the U.S. Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (A&S). In 2015-2018, he served as Director, NATO Collaboration Support Office in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, coordinating and synchronizing the Science and Technology (S&T) collaboration between NATO members and partner Nations, a network of about 5,000 scientists. From 2007 to 2015, Mr. Shaffer was the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, responsible for formulating, planning and reviewing the DoD Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation programs, plans, strategy, priorities, and execution of an approximate $25 billion per year budget. From 2007 to 2009 and 2012 to 2015, he also served as the Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, effectively the Defense Department’s Chief Technology Officer.
Dr. Timothy Murphy
Director, QD5
Dr. Murphy served as a U.S. Congressman between 2002 and 2015. His committee roles included Chairman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. Dr. Murphy is a clinical psychologist and since 2017 has been the Clinical Director of Fortis Future, a multi-disciplinary PTSD treatment program for veterans, military and first responder personnel. Dr. Murphy also served in the U.S. Navy Reserve Medical Service Corps for approximately 8 years, rising to the rank of Commander. Dr. Murphy has published 3 books.
Eric “Mo” Morris
Director, QD5
Mr. Morris served over 27 years in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection as a Border Patrol Agent, culminating his career as the Director of the Office of Intelligence’s Counter Transnational Organized Crime (CTOC) Division. In this role, he led intelligence operations targeting transnational organized crime, fostering collaboration between various intelligence centers and enhancing operational effectiveness. He was also the DHS Migration Indications and Warnings Cell Director, providing critical guidance to mitigate migration crises impacting border security. Previously, he directed the Alliance to Combat Transnational Threats (ACTT) for the Rio Grande Valley Sector, executing operations against criminal organizations in South Texas. Mr. Morris holds a TS/SCI security clearance.
Victor S. Gavin
Director, QD5
Mr. Gavin specializes in information technology and undersea warfare with a focus on artificial intelligence and cyber security. Prior to joining SMI’s Senior Advisors, Mr. Gavin was at Amazon Web Services (AWS), where he served as the Head of DoD Strategic Business Development. Before his time at AWS, Mr. Gavin served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for C4i and Space from 2016 until 2018. In addition, he spent 6 years at SPAWAR including serving as the PEO for Enterprise Information Systems. Previously, Mr. Gavin was at NAVSEA where he served as both the Executive Director of PEO Littoral Mine Warfare (2008-2011) and the Technical Director of PEO Submarines (2005-2008). At the start of his career Mr. Gavin was a systems engineer at NUWC.
Mr. Gavin has a BS in Electrical Engineering from North Carolina A&T State University and a MS in Systems Engineering from Virginia Tech.
Gary Swatton
Director, QD5, and Chief Technology Officer & Chief Operating Officer, QDS and QD5
Mr. Swatton is one of the inventors and primary software developers of the Technology. He has over three decades of enterprise application development and cybersecurity experience, including in-house, commercial, and custom-built solutions across multiple sectors in a variety of high-stakes production environments.
Bill Yakamovich
Chief Information Security Officer, QDS
Mr. Yakamovich is one of the inventors and the principal network architect for the QD5 Technology suite. With over 35 years of experience, he is a distinguished expert in high-performance computing, infrastructure, and security, having developed innovative solutions for numerous Fortune 500 companies.
Mr. Yakamovich is a recognized innovator, holding several patents and patent applications in the areas of secure data sharing and message transmission. His extensive background and pioneering contributions make him a valuable leader in the field of technology and security.
Tom Costello
Chief Integration Officer, QDS and QD5
Mr. Costello brings four decades of enterprise software development, information security, enterprise software architecture, design and experience with the implementation of hundreds of enterprise software development projects within such industries as aerospace, financial, insurance, hospitality, healthcare, legal, environmental, manufacturing and as well as various government agencies.
Previous owner of an Oracle consulting & training firm for 25 years, Mr. Costello has both the business and technology acumen to manage the secure integration of QD5 technologies into third-party software and legacy systems.
Jon Catlin
Chief Architect, QDS
Mr Catlin has extensive experience developing large-scale systems for industries including aviation, finance, healthcare, police, and military. He has significantly contributed to advancing technology solutions and holds several patents in automated software testing.