Joshua de Salis-taylor-Sophrin
As CEO of J. de Salis-Sophrin & Associates, (JDSS) Joshua leads the commercialization of scientific discoveries emerging from federal research activities. He has over a decade of experience bridging the gap between IARPA/DARPA federal research and the marketplace, building dynamic teams, managing complex investments, developing intellectual property, and delivering returns.
His professional background also includes over twenty years (2005-present) as an independent artist and gallerist, creating and managing an extensive portfolio of music, immersive visual, lighting, dance performances and sculptural installations as well as traditional fine art and jewelry. His work includes collaborations with developers, architects, designers, and artists, such as the immersive visualization experience for David Bowie’s “Life on Mars.”
From 2009 to 2012, he served as the principal staff assistant for operations for Prince Federico Della Leonessa Pignatelli’s private office and as Director of Special Projects (Art & Fashion Group) for Pier 59 Studios, where he oversaw a range of interests related to art, fashion, international finance, government-sponsored projects, and various non-profit organizations.
Steven F. Gruel
He has represented clients in federal courts from California to New York and is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court. After starting with a litigation firm in Madison, Wisconsin in 1985, Steven F. Gruel later joined the United States Department of Justice in 1987. Working successfully for many years with the INS, he later joined the US Attorney’s office and worked in the Organized Crime & Racketeering Strike Force rising to the rank of Acting Chief in 2002 and eventually Chief of Major Crimes Section.
In addition to representing the DSTS Family Office in various personal legal and business matters, Steven serves as General Counsel to national and international companies representing interests in diverse industries headquartered in the United States, Brazil and London. Steven advises and guides a streaming start-up company called Flickvana with its offices in Connecticut, the newly formed AI company and computer chip designer called Teatro, Inc. with its offices in Washington D.C, Vermont and Texas, and the international trade business called Campo Trade with offices in San Francisco, London and Brasilia.
Steven’s 40 years of legal experience in all areas of the Law are extremely beneficial in assisting DSTS/JDSS diverse companies in the day-to-day challenges for Corporate success.
Dr. Christos Makridis
Christos serves as an Associate Research Professor at the W. P. Carey School of Business and Research Affiliate at the Global Security Initiative (both in Arizona State University), an Associate Faculty at the Complexity Science Hub in Vienna, a Digital Fellow at the Digital Economy Lab in Stanford University, a Non-resident Fellow at the Institute for Religious Studies at Baylor University, Visiting Faculty at University of Nicosia, and a policy adviser, and an entrepreneur. He is the CEO/founder of Dainamic, a technology startup working to democratize the use and application of data science and AI techniques for small and mid sized organizations, and COO/co-founder of Living Opera, a classical music multimedia startup.
Christos previously served on the White House Council of Economic Advisers managing the cybersecurity, technology, and space activities, as a Non-resident Fellow at the Cyber Security Project in the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, as a Digital Fellow at the Initiative at the Digital Economy in the MIT Sloan School of Management, a a Non-resident Research Scientist at Datacamp, as a Visiting Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, an Adjunct Associate Research Scholar at the Chazen Institute in Columbia Business School, and for years as a Senior Adviser with Gallup.
Christos’ primary academic research focuses on labor economics, the digital economy, and personal finance and well-being. He also writes frequently for syndicated outlets in the press and serves on the Council of Advisers for the National Center on Sexual Exploitation.
Christos earned a Bachelor’s in Economics and Minor in Mathematics at Arizona State University, as well as dual Masters and PhDs in Economics and Management Science & Engineering at Stanford University.