Senior Management

Ms. Marcie Baetcke joined the organization in April 2014 and currently serves as vice president, marketing. In her role, she leads development and execution of client-focused strategies and initiatives designed to meet or exceed stated growth objectives and position their brand for long-term sustainability.

Utilizing a low-cost model, targeted channels for performance marketing and brand awareness include paid search, display, landing page development and optimization, email, social media, blogs, online advertising, SEO, and content marketing and promotions. She also oversees media buying for all advertising channels including online, TV, radio, print, and out-of-home.

During her tenure, Ms. Baetcke has cultivated a data-driven marketing approach that is now embraced at all levels of the prospect funnel – from utilizing predictive technology in upper-funnel ad buying to precise targeting using available first and third-party data. She is passionate about maximizing value from emerging marketing tools and platforms and about delivering a personalized experience for target audiences.

Ms. Baetcke has over 20 years marketing experience with organizations including Gannett, AOL, and XM Satellite Radio. She is a former president of the DC Chapter of the American Marketing Association, and she is actively involved in her local community. She serves in leadership roles for her local Cub Scout Pack, Little League, and Girls on the Run Strong Girls Celebration. She earned a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Shippensburg University.

Don Cox has over 25 years of experience in technology. After serving nine years in the US Army as a Military Police Officer, he joined the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD). Don started his career in technology as Detective with MCPD and Special Agent assigned to the US Secret Service Electronic Crimes Task Force in Washington DC, investigating high-tech crimes and conducting computer forensic investigations.

Don has served in several Chief Information Officer and Chief Information Security roles throughout his career. Before APEI, he served as the Chief Information Security Officer at MEDNAX, a physician-led healthcare organization headquartered in Sunrise, FL. Before MEDNAX, Don was the Chief Information Officer at Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Agency, and held several executive leadership positions in several other government agencies, including A Board reporting to the White House and Congress, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Labor, Department of Energy, and State Department. He also served as the Deputy Chief Information Officer at Philidor Rx, Chief Information Officer at NOVA Corporation, and President of Innava Data Solutions.

Don holds and Master of Business Administration, Masters of IT Management, Graduate Certificate in Chief Information Officer Competencies, and Bachelors of Criminal Justice from University of Maryland Global College. Along with industry certifications, include CISM, Security+, PMP, ITIL, and other computer forensics and industry certifications.

Jason Dom currently serves as VP, Classroom and Campus Technical Support with American Public University System. Jason has 20 years’ experience in the field of education with a focus on technology in online higher education. His passion for education and love of technology led him to his first position with APUS in 2005 as Academic IT Coordinator. His first accomplishment was the establishment of Faculty and Classroom support organizations that help enable faculty and students to achieve their goals through the use of sound instructional technology. During Jason’s tenure with APUS he served as the functional lead for several notable university initiatives such as LMS Migration, LMS Upgrade, Mobile App Development, Carnegie Hour Calculator and the eSyllabus Tool. Jason also leads the initiative to develop the Business Relationship Management capability within the university and is the IT steward for the universities’ Business Capability Model.

Jason earned his BA in Elementary Education from Shepherd University and later earned his M.Ed. in Instructional Design from University of Massachusetts, Boston. He serves as the university representative for the IMS Global Consortium as well as Educause. Jason also holds several ITIL certifications.

Prior to working for APUS Jason was a middle school math and English teacher and part time county IT coordinator. He is passionate about his family, photography and the outdoors. On the weekends you will find him hiking, camping or traveling with his family and shooting landscape photography, preferably during sunrise or sunset.

Haleigh Forbes joined APEI in March 2022 as Vice President, Marketing and Online Experience. In her role, she leads the team managing performance-driven capabilities, such as paid media (digital and traditional), search engine optimization, conversion rate optimization, and social communities’ management.

Ms. Forbes possesses an extensive background in digital transformation with a focus on media and the customer buying process. Prior to joining APEI, Ms. Forbes spent her career helping define and deliver solutions for clients across a diverse portfolio of industries including higher education, technology, retail, beauty, and entertainment. She has helped clients like Laureate Education, L’Oréal, Tableau, and HBO transform their marketing maturity across media, measurement, technology, and creative to deliver sustainable, long-term growth.

In addition, Haleigh led her global client management team in developing best-in-class practices, perfecting processes, building strong partnerships with platforms, driving marketing transformation, and advancing thought leadership.

Ms. Forbes has also dedicated her career to addressing gender equality in the workplace, developing communities that work to educate, mentor, and inspire women to progress in their careers. She received her BA in History from George Mason University.

Ms. Jennifer Herbert joined the organization in 2015 and serves as associate general counsel and university counsel.

Prior to joining the organization, Ms. Herbert was an attorney with the international law firm Eversheds Sutherland f/k/a Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP based in their Washington, D.C. offices.

Ms. Herbert earned a B.A. degree with honors from The College of William & Mary and a J.D. degree with honors from the University of Minnesota Law School.

Dr. David Holcomb currently serves as the Chief Data Officer for American Public Education, Inc.

Dr. Holcomb brings 25 years of experience in business operations, marketing, sales, and information technology with revenue and cost center responsibilities in leading brands including Verizon, Capital One, DHISCO, Western Union, and the University of Chicago Medical Center. Through this diversity of experience, he has developed a deep appreciation for the unique perspectives and uses of data across an organization. These perspectives have allowed him to lead corporate transformations including cloud migrations, process and organizational redesign, and real-time prescriptive analytics development. Dr. Holcomb has also led data and process integrations in multiple global mergers and acquisitions.

Dr. Holcomb’s academic experience includes teaching, curriculum development, doctoral committee membership, and speaking. He has taught on-line and on-ground at the undergraduate and graduate level at multiple institutions in information management, business, supply chain, organizational behavior, and technology risk management. In curriculum development, Dr. Holcomb has redesigned coursework in supply chain and data warehousing and developed the capstone course for a bachelor’s degree in project management. Dr. Holcomb has also performed as a doctoral dissertation committee member specifically as the subject matter expert for leadership theory. He is a speaker, presenter, and writer in data warehousing, business intelligence, organizational behavior, and cyber security.

Dr. Holcomb holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Western Illinois University, Master of Science in Management Information System from Nova Southeastern University, a Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration from Touro University International, and Doctor of Philosophy in Information Technology from University of the Cumberlands.

Ms. Jessica Jackson joined American Public Education, Inc., in 2008 and held a variety of human resources positions prior to her current role of vice president, human resources.

During her tenure with APEI, Ms. Jackson has helped to build and structure the human resources department, assisting with the implementation of automation throughout all functional areas of HR. Ms. Jackson currently manages the organization’s HR systems and employee relations functions. In addition, she collaborates with organizational leadership on budget, compensation, health and welfare benefits, recruitment, training and development, and policy design and implementation.

Ms. Jackson received her master’s degree in Management with a concentration in Human Resources from American Public University and a B.A. in Psychology from Shepherd University. She holds the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification from the Human Resources Certification Institute and the Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) designation from the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM).

Ms. Jackson has previously served as an instructor for the SHRM Learning System at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College and held various board positions including president and past president for the Eastern Panhandle Society for Human Resource Management. Ms. Jackson is a 2009 graduate of the Leadership Jefferson program and a 2014 graduate of Leadership West Virginia.

Mr. Nathan Linnell joined the organization in February 2014 and currently serves as vice president, marketing intelligence. In his role, he oversees the marketing analytics and intelligence functions for the organization and its subsidiaries. This includes oversight over machine learning and AI, data management platforms (DMPs), data visualization, and forecasting for Marketing. In addition, he is responsible for ensuring the marketing organization has a solid measurement and analytics strategy in place that allows for the democratization of data and insights. At the core of his strategy is the desire to enable each marketing team member to have access to the precise data and insights required, at the exact time it is needed, in order to make informed data-driven decisions at the tactical and strategic level.

During his tenure, Mr. Linnell has led various initiatives that successfully incorporated machine learning and other advanced analytical capabilities directly into workflows. This has helped the organization effectively compete as a low-cost provider in a competitive marketplace. He has also played an instrumental role in helping the marketing organization evolve into a data-centric team where data is at the core of all levels of decision-making.

Prior to joining APEI, Mr. Linnell worked as a consultant helping B2B, B2C, and nonprofit organizations develop and execute digital marketing strategies. He was also a founding member of a team that launched one of the first social analytics products.

Mr. Linnell earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration with a minor in Economics from the University of New Hampshire an MBA from the University of Maryland.

Mr. Dan Lochner is responsible for business planning and project management for IT projects for the organization, where he manages a team of project managers and business analysts tasked with delivering service enhancements, as well as managing business expectations based on staffing and prioritization.

Mr. Lochner joined American Public Education, Inc., in 2006 as a senior business analyst. He quickly became a leader in the Information Technology department taking on more responsibility as a manager of software engineering, then director of financial systems, and, most recently, as associate vice president of financial management and HR systems.

He earned an MBA from the University of Rochester’s Simon School of Business where he was inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems from Blackburn College.

Raja Patel joined American Public Education, Inc. in January 2022 as Vice President, Software Engineering.  In his role, he is responsible for leading software strategy and planning, design and development, and support.  Raja and his teams ensure delivery of reliable, scalable, and secure enterprise software solutions and services for APEI Inc., along with its Education Units and customers.

He possesses more than 20 years of information technology experience spanning diverse verticals and brands, including Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Office Depot, Michelin, and SunTrust Bank.  He has led and supported transformational change enabled by technology for IT organizations, operations, and personnel through senior roles in architecture, integration, software development, and solution delivery.

Mr. Patel holds a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems and Operations Management from Kansas State University and a Master of Business Administration from Fort Hays State University.

Mr. Thomas Zoldos serves as vice president, brand and creative strategy. In his role, Mr. Zoldos is responsible for leading brand strategy and creative direction. He works with clients, partners, and internal stakeholders to bring their business initiatives to life in a creative way that is in line with the project’s goals and the brand strategy of the organization. He directs the work of the video production, creative services, website experience and design, and brand communications and insights teams.

Prior to joining APEI, Mr. Zoldos led other creative and user experience (UX) groups within the education space. At Hobsons, he spearheaded the global brand redesign and launch and oversaw the brand architecture and design for three different K-12 and higher education student and career success platforms.

Mr. Zoldos earned a bachelor of arts from the University of Alabama in 1996.