Shawley is an experienced executive leader with expertise across U.S government defense, national security, foreign policy, infrastructure, and development sectors. Shawley recently retired from the U.S. Army, most recently serving in defense policy and as acting senior director for Africa Policy at the National Security Council. Previously Shawley served as Commanding General of the U.S. Combined Joint Task Force in the Horn of Africa, headquartered in Djibouti.

Shawley maintains strong ties to many security communities across Africa and is a strategic advisor to multiple enterprises building out investments and operations in Africa. Shawley leverages years of experience as a principal decision maker in high risk, complex, ambiguous environments and provides rare insights into the risk calculus of private enterprises, government security, international development and nongovernment organizations, and private security stakeholders.

In addition to strategic and risk advisory roles, Shawley guest lectures at George Washington University in the National Security Studies Program, at the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy, and as a senior fellow with the Joint Forces Service College. She serves as a private and nonprofit board member, strategic advisor, corporate leadership development faculty member, keynote speaker, and executive consultant.

Shawley has a MS in Engineering Management from the University of Missouri-Rolla and a MS in National Security Strategy from the National War College.