Merle S. Robinson

NSMDG Staff

Retired Department of Defense analyst, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, and Time Study Engineer with broad Department of Defense experience in information technology, budget, fiscal analysis, and process improvement projects. Lead wargame designer National Security Decision-Making Game [NSMDG: DoD-like geopolitical live-action roleplay].  He has led over 500 events exploring past, present, and future geopolitical challenges and delivered over 250 presentations on historic /contemporary topics at hobby and academic venues.Outreach coordinator for Connections USA (annual multi-disciplinary military civilian wargaming convention).Co-founder of Connections Oline  (annual military civilian wargaming convention). Graduate of Military Operations Research Society Wargaming Certificate program, Defense Resource Management Course, Professional Military Comptroller School, and Defense Integrated Management Engineering Program

Capt (USN/Ret) Mark McDonagh 

Co-founder NSDMG

Co-founder of the National Security Decision Making Game NSDMG [ (NSDMG: DoD-like geopolitical live-action roleplay -1990]  Master's Degree in Physics.
Former Naval War College wargaming specialist (operator/participant in various military exercises/wargames. Specialist in submarine analysis/support.
He has led over 500 events exploring past, present, and future geopolitical challenges and delivered over 200 presentations on historic /contemporary topics at hobby and academic venues.

Jared Fishman

Jared Fishman is a veteran history teacher and game-based learning specialist from the Brunswick School in Greenwich, Connecticut. Additionally, he is the president of “20Sided Gamified, LLC”, co-founder of HMGS Next Gen, Inc, and host of the “20 Sided Gamified Podcast”. Having been honored numerous times in his career (Hackley’s Mary Lambos Award (2013), (Davidson Chair of History (2016-2020) (PELA Award- Historicon 2024), Jared is constantly innovating new and exciting ways to use games as a form of pedagogy for students and adults alike. Most recently, Jared designed an original game entitled, Challenge to Power, with the goal of helping students understand power dynamics throughout history, and the personal challenges that come with leadership. This game will be published for the general public by Pacific Sky Games, with a projected release date of Q1 2027. A lifelong gamer, Jared

is constantly learning. Since March 2023, Jared has conducted over 100 interviews with folks ranging from Richard Garfield (Magic the Gathering, King of Tokyo), Jamey Stegmaier (Wingspan), Tory Brown (Votes for Women), and Jason Matthews (Twilight Struggle) to name a few. In addition, Jared has run professional development seminars for working adults (Passaic County Cultural and Historic Affairs), and college students (Yale, SUNY New Paltz, Marist, etc), and hobbyists (Salute 2024, Historicon 2024), and professionals (Connections 2025) to rave reviews.

Kathleen Caffrey

Kathleen Caffrey is a speaker whose work bridges culture, research, and creative expression. With interdisciplinary training in anthropology, data science, archaeology, linguistics, and global studies, she uses both analytics and a broad world perspective shaped by diverse academic and field experience. Her professional training includes AI/ML, data analysis, OSINT, and modern research tools, grounded in ethical, secure, and responsible practices. She served as an Air Force Civilian at NASIC, contributing to mission-focused analysis and research in a complex global environment. A dedicated community leader, she is the Treasurer of the Women’s Wargaming Network, President of the Dayton Chapter of the Anthropological Institute of America, and an active leader in the arts and media community..

Matthew Caffrey Jr

Matthew B. Caffrey, Jr. has designed and executed wargames for, and taught wargaming to, a wide range of US Department of Defense and international organizations for over thirty years. He researched and developed major wargame concepts such as 3rd Generation Wargaming, the Caffrey Triangle and the Caffrey Pyramid. He continues his research into how wargaming has influenced the course of past wars and is influencing contemporary conflicts. A special interest is how wargaming can reduce the overall casualty rate by supporting deterrence, and if deterrence fails, by concluding the conflict speedily.

As a US Air Force strategic and operational planner, he developed the concepts of Crony Bombing and the Innovation/Strategy/Caffrey Cycle. As an organizer and leader, he is the founder of the long-running family of international Connections Wargaming Conferences. He has set up and led multiple international and government working groups engaged in wargaming, planning and analysis. He is widely published, and the first edition of his book "On Wargaming" is available from the US Naval War College Press and the US Government Bookstore (https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/newport-papers/43/) 

His new On Wargaming Second Edition is available at https://www.wargamevault.com/en/product/509376/on-wargaming-second-edition-vol-2

Scott Macmann

NSDMG Staff

Scott Macmann is a former U.S. army officer, author, editor, and publisher. His latest novel, MILITOPIA, was released on May 20th by Dragon Street Press. His writing blends military, political, social, and psychological themes, often with a touch of dry humor. His short fiction and verse have been published on three continents. He has co-produced and co-written a short-film adaptation of Franz Kafka's The Castle, which is currently in post-production. Scott is Executive Editor at Dragon Street Press, and has served as President of the Cincinnati Fiction Writers since 2022. He also volunteers with the National Security Decision-Making Game. Find out more about Scott @ www.macmann.com. 

Matt Bentz

NSDMG Staff

IT specialist, nerd and geek

Phillip Textor

Attended Origins for about a decade. I have been gaming for over 40 years and started with Tactics and Star Fleet Battles.

Gordon Bliss

Gordon Bliss is a past Chairman of the Coast Defense Study Group and serves as the current Preservation Officer.  He has been an active wargamer for more than 50 years.

Harold Paddock

Harold Paddock is an attorney and long-time student of Civil War history. He previously served as the Executive Chair of the Clermont County (Ohio) Civil War Commemoration Commission. Prior to that time, he was the organizer of a Civil War interest group of the Columbus Bar Association, which put on monthly talks on Civil War topics for bar members. He has presented talks on Gettysburg to middle school students at Heritage Middle School in Westerville, and for the public at a branch of the

Clermont County Public Library. Mr. Paddock has both his undergraduate and law degrees from the Ohio State University. He has previously presented Gettysburg: The Generals Look Back with his co-presenter Darrell Heckman at Friendship Village in

Dublin, Ohio. His most recent trip for a week at Gettysburg was in July 2023.

LoUIS DESY, JR

BS in Computer Science Technology from Central New England College, MBA/MSF from Boston College and a Juris Doctorate from Suffolk University Law School. His work experience spans 30 years in Computer IT, Computer Programming, and Accounting and Finance at two large publicly traded companies.

David G. Cox

A frequent speaker on Civil War topics and member of the Columbus Barracks Civil War Round Table.  Gary is a retired attorney and has been studying the civil war since 1968.  He was a reenactor in the 1980s and 1990s, was a founding member of the Columbus Barracks Civil War round table in 1984, and has conducted several tours of various battlefields in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia.

Darrell Heckman

An attorney and long-time student of Civil War history.

The National Security Decision-Making Game

The oldest continuously running group at Origins (since 1990)! 

Now a non-profit designed to educate the public regarding the decision-making processes of past, present and future groups/nations including but not limited to: how culture, politics, military capabilities, economics, technologies and information flow impact decision-making; how wargaming/simulation techniques provide insights for understanding such decisions; and how fictional works often illustrate such interactions.

Armchair Dragons

Organized and mustered into service in 2018, the Regiment of the Armchair Dragoons are authorized for both garrison activities (evaluation of strategy gaming material, discussion of strategy gaming topics) as well as expeditionary missions (convention programs, live-streaming of games).

The Armchair Dragoons stand ready to execute, support, and/or enable missions on behalf of the strategy gaming community.

Connections Online

CONNECTIONS ONLINE (CNX ONL) is the premier online/distributed conference for the wargaming practitioner community. We are an online conference dedicated to advancing and preserving the art, science, and application of wargaming (including business and non-war topics) by bringing together wargaming professionals and dedicated hobbyists interested in the theory and practice of wargaming for analysis, education, training, and fun.

Connections Online is part of the Connections series of international conferences, which includes regular events in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, as well as occasional events in other parts of the world.

Central Ohio Civil War Roundtable

Meetings - Second Wednesday of every month (except December) at 7:00 pm  Location: La Navona  154 N Hamilton Rd, Gahanna, OH 43230. Membership is not required to attend a meeting.

Established in 1989, the Roundtable studies all aspects of the American Civil War era with emphasis on prominent military events/personalities.  All levels of knowledge are represented within our group, we have published authors, Civil War Trust Color bearers and board members, prominent book collectors, and anyone with an interest..

Columbus Barracks Civil War Roundtable

Meetings - Third Wednesday of each month from 7:00 P.M. to 8:30 P.M (except December) at the Old Worthington Library 820 High Street Worthington, OH 43085

Coastal Defense Study Group

The Coast Defense Study Group (CDSG) is an organization dedicated to the study of seacoast fortifications. Its primary goals are the preservation and documentation of coast defense sites for current and future generations.

Historic Naval Ships Association (HNSA)

The Association is a non-profit organization whose membership is comprised of naval ship museums and memorials, individuals, businesses and organizations that all help to promote our mission of preserving and presenting historical vessels to the public.

Council on America’s Military Past, USA, Inc.

Organized to identify, locate, preserve and memorialize the military installations and units that no longer serve the role for which they were created, mounting member interest soon included other subjects including soldier’s life and customs of service.