Putting People First
by protecting indoor air
Our Mission
to provide clean indoor air & environmental solutions that are all-inclusive, scientifically based, sustainable, resilient, and provide the highest level of indoor air quality services.
Our Vision
to become a global leader in creating healthy indoor environments through education, consulting, testing services, and innovative products.
Meet the team
Dr Paul H Nelson,
MD, MPH, FAsMA
CEO, Co-Founder
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Col (Ret) Paul H. Nelson, MD, MPH, grew up in Oxford, Mississippi. Paul received his bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Mississippi and commissioned through commissioning through the Air Force ROTC program as a Second Lieutenant. He then earned his medical degree from the Uniformed Services University (USU) School of Medicine in 1993. Boarded in Family Medicine and Aerospace Medicine, Paul ("VooDoo") retired from the Air Force after 31 years in uniform in the fall of 2020, after supporting a variety of operational missions including fighters, trainers, tankers, tactical airlift, weather reconnaissance and aeromedical evacuation, in both in-garrison and deployed settings. In his capacity served as the Senior Flight Surgeon at multiple locations, and in collaboration with senior support personnel, he led an interdisciplinary team of physicians, public health, bioenvironmental engineering, and physiology professionals integrated with safety personnel to mitigate risk while optimizing support for operational missions.
His military career culminated as the Air University Surgeon, serving for 5 years as the senior medical officer at the Air Force’s leadership development center. Here he maintained his practice of aeromedical and clinical medicine, but also taught international security studies, and additionally researched and taught in the areas of individual and organizational resiliency and effectiveness, disruptive innovation and organizational change within bureaucracy, strategic messaging.
Over the year prior to retirement, he brought together a hand-selected interdisciplinary team across the Air Force, Joint, defense, and civilian sectors to develop a strategy to win the War on COVID and protect against future bio-threats we face. Early on in the pandemic he and his team recognized that solutions were complimentary and additive to traditional health approaches, which led him into domains not usually encountered by practicing clinicians and Public Health professionals, including ventilation science, bench and applied science, governmental affairs, business principles, finances, and strategic communications.
Paul has always been a lifelong learner and maintains his dual boards in Aerospace and Family Medicine after retirement from the Air Force and from clinical practice. He is a lifelong member as well as a Fellow of the Aerospace Medicine Association, a diplomate of the American Academy of Family Medicine, a lifetime member of the Air and Space Forces Association. Finally, he served as a member of the Order of the Daedalians, the nation’s premier fraternal organization of military aviators. For his last two years on active duty, Paul served as the Flight Captain of Founder’s Flight One, leading the nation’s oldest Flight in a combined effort of partnership to bring aviation to underprivileged youth.
Since retirement, Paul and Betsy, his wife of 32 years, have returned home to Oxford and co-founded Shared Air Solutions Consultants LLC, Mission-Next LLC, and the Mission-Next Foundation, a 501c3. Here they continue their family's service commitment by working with great people to do good things that matter to others. As Betsy says, all of us have a responsibility to “leave a place better than we found it.”
Together Paul and Betsy are committed to helping to build better communities and a stronger nation with a diverse group of individual and organization collaborators. They believe that together we can come together and work in areas that we can all agree on while helping ensure the promise that is America for all of her citizens, paying it forward to the incredible young people who will soon take our place. They together work to make safe air a basic human right for all citizens of the world through the SAFE ASAP Council, Safe Air For Everyone, Advocates for Safe Air Policy.
Full Curriculum Vitae available upon request.
James “Jay” Burks,
MBA, MS, MA, FACHE
COO
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James J. Burks, MBA, MA, MS, FACHE (“Jay”) is owner and principal officer of James J Burks Consulting LLC, a verified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business. He also serves as Chief Operating Officer, Shared Air Solutions Consultants, LLC. As an Air Force veteran with a passion to serve others, Jay leverages three decades of healthcare, leadership, and management experiences to produced superior results in complex federal and commercial environments.
Jay’s consultancy has supported clients ranging from start-ups to established national firms, as they pursue their goals — whether guiding an executive team through change management processes, crafting and reviewing business development and contract capture strategies, mentoring leaders in their professional journeys, coming alongside a leadership team as an interim executive, and even more. He helps organizations navigate their challenges in healthcare delivery, operations, leadership development, talent management, organizational design, fiscal management, policy development, governance, strategy, contingency preparedness and response, and risk communications.
For twenty-six and one-half years, Jay served in the U.S. Air Force as a Medical Service Corps officer, culminating as a Brigadier General and the Air Force Surgeon General’s senior healthcare administrator and chief of resources, strategy, and talent management. In his final assignment, Jay oversaw a $6.2 billion annual budget to support 43,000 staff and over 2 million patients in the Air Force’s 76 medical facilities worldwide. He was also the Surgeon General’s executive champion for High Reliability Operations Leader Development. Jay completed multiple Pentagon tours to include Chief of Staff to the Defense Department’s senior healthcare official; served as a field operating agency administrator; supported TRICARE contract source selection and oversight for two decades; led healthcare delivery as a medical facility administrator (CAO), deputy commander (COO), and commander (CEO); chaired Air Force Medical Service and Military Health System governance groups; and deployed to Afghanistan as an advisor to the Afghan Army.
After the Air Force, Jay transitioned to an executive leadership role in a $1.3 billion regional not-for-profit integrated delivery system as a Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. He guided the operations of two regional flagship hospitals – the health system’s clinical and financial engine with 520 beds, a Level II Trauma Center, and net patient service revenues of $650 million. Jay led, managed, and provided governing oversight during the safe and effective implementation of the system’s new electronic medical record. He was selected by the system Chief Executive Officer as physician dyad partner on a highly successful perioperative governing body. Jay was also designated by the Chief Executive Officer to serve on the boards of two for-profit/physician-led clinical joint ventures.
A talented communicator, Jay has written and spoken extensively on topics he is most passionate about: the leader’s role in growing a just culture, leader development, talent management, ethical leadership, diversity and inclusion, and designing values-based and value-focused organizations. As a RAND executive fellow, Jay co-authored published studies on patient flow, disaster planning, Air Force physician/dentist compensation, and economic, clinical, and readiness factors impacting Air Force medicine. Jay has also been an executive mentor and guest lecturer to leadership symposia. And he has led strategy planning and implementation from corporate to operating levels.
Jay has served on myriad governing bodies. From 2015-2018, he served on the ACHE and Foundation of ACHE Board of Governors; from 2010-2013, on the Council of Regents; and for over 20 years, on four local chapter boards and nine national committees. Jay previously served on the board of directors of the American Red Cross Blue Ridge Chapter. From 2015-2018, he chaired the Air Force Fisher House Fund Board of Directors, managing a $50 million portfolio to support families of ill or injured service members. And from 2016-2021, Jay served as an inaugural board member of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center Research Hospital Board of Directors, advising on patient safety culture for the NIH Director and Clinical Center Hospital CEO. Jay currently serves on the board of directors and as treasurer of the Brigadier General Donald Wagner Perpetual Scholarship Fund, a 501(c)(3) corporation; and with his wife, serves on the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Patient and Family Member Advisory Council.
Jay holds an undergraduate degree from Furman University and master’s degrees from the University of South Carolina, George Washington University, and Air University. Board certified in healthcare management, Jay is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE).
Peng “Peter” Lee, BS, MS
CTO, VP Application Science and Engineering
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Peng “Peter” Lee is trained in the field of Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Building Science, and Indoor Air Quality. Lee served as an Applied Research Scientist at the National Center for Physical Acoustics (NCPA) for 13 years. He designed various highly advanced acoustical systems for the detection of insects, including termites, and numerous other destructive pests. In this capacity, he was recruited to assist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's "Operation Full Stop," a project aimed at combating imported Formosan subterranean termite infestations in New Orleans' French Quarter district.
He is recognized as the nation's premier experts on infrared/acoustic detection of wood-destroying insects. In addition, his research experience and contributions include noise and vibration control, grain/nuts quality control, remote sensing, sensor design, non-destructive testing and energy/safety/health inspections of residential and commercial buildings. Lee has published and presented numerous research papers and has consulted for numerous governmental groups, departments and agencies including NASA, UN-World Bank-China EPA, USDA, United States Custom Service, United States Forest Service and USAID. In addition, Lee has consulted for private businesses including Whirlpool, Oreck & Regina, Emerson Electric, and among others. He is passionate in the field of Indoor Air Quality due to personal experience.
Lee co-founded HomeSafe Home Services, the nation's pioneer in infrared home inspections, termite detection, and Indoor Air Quality control in 2002. Additionally, he is a state Certified Commercial Building Energy Auditor, Certified Indoor Environmentalist (CIE), Certified Indoor Thermographer Contractor (CITC). He owns 13 patents and has several pending patent applications thus far, many related to, indoor air quality inspections, noise control in HVAC system, infrared and acoustic building inspections/building rating, and termite detections/behavior modification.
Lee came out of retirement to work collaboratively with others who share the vision of Safe Air For Everyone, regardless of where they live or what their station in life.
Full Curriculum Vitae including patents and publications available upon request.
BETSY NELSON, M.ENG
VP of Governmental Affairs, Co-Founder
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Betsy is a highly experienced professional with work experience in various sectors including private, non-profit, philanthropy, and volunteer work. As the Vice President for Governmental Affairs at Shared Air Solutions Consulting, Betsy has demonstrated her ability to connect the needs of society with governmental policy to ensure a better and sustainable future. She is committed to ensuring that communities, local and national governments collaborate with philanthropy, academia, and business to ensure a better future for all.
Betsy has served as a field coordinator for a nationwide non-profit that aims to provide access to sustainable transportation for all Americans. She is a firm believer in investing in people and infrastructure to make local, state, and regions competitive, leading to private investment, a well-trained labor pool, and a sustainable and livable region. She co-led a national campaign that ensured continued access of three rural states to critical passenger rail infrastructure for economic development and growth. This resulted in the preservation of a critical transportation corridor and a state of the Senate bipartisan vote of 94-0 in support of a national transportation network.
At Shared Air, Betsy identifies opportunities to bridge government funding streams with on-the-ground projects. She has helped draft policy recommendations for clean indoor air as a critical basic human right and dignity. She believes that by adding “Clean Air” to the well-described “Food-Water-Energy-Cyber” nexus, we can protect people and critical infrastructure sectors against all possible natural or man-made threats.
Betsy brings passion and personal energy commitment to each project she tackles. After her husband's retirement from the Air Force, Betsy and Paul co-founded the Mission-Next Foundation, a 501c3 dedicated to helping high-performing vets and their families effectively transition back into civil society. She remains active in her community and has served as the local Rotary Club President, coordinating philanthropy, including ensuring disadvantaged youth have holiday gifts and cheer for the Christmas season.
“We are all the same – moms and dads, sons and daughters, sisters and brothers – we all want the same. We want enough food on the table, a roof over our heads, and the best education for our kids. I believe we all strive to leave this world better than we found it for our children, grandchildren, and the many generations to follow.”
Betsy and Paul are proud parents of daughter Lacy, son Matthew, and a rescues Chihuahua Bean (Adopted Christmas Eve, 2010 from the Gulfport Humane Society).
MARK ERVIN, MD
VP of Clinical Integration and Chief Physician Scientist
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Mark Ervin is a 1988 graduate of Duke University and received his medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine in 1992. In 1997, he completed a general surgery residency at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center in San Antonio.
Dr. Ervin retired from the Air Force as a Colonel with over 28 years experience as practicing general surgeon, flight surgeon and health care leader. His leadership and clinical experience includes several headquarters positions at Air Force Air Mobility Command, Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) and Special Operations Command, Europe, as well as Element and Division Chief positions at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and Hurlburt Field. During his time at Landstuhl, Col Ervin flew frequent CCATT missions in Europe and the Middle East evacuating critically injured casualties. Col Mark D. Ervin is the 59 Medical Wing Chief of Operational Medicine. He is responsible for oversight of 43 USAF Pilot Units that modernize and innovate advanced resuscitative, surgical and critical care wartime solutions for casualty and evacuation care from the point of injury on the battlefield all the way to definitive care at U.S. based military medical centers. He is also an Air Force Subject Matter Expert on advancing autonomous patient care, evacuation on unmanned vehicles and austere surgical teams supporting special operations. As a General Surgeon, Col Ervin provides inpatient and outpatient surgical care at Wilford Hall Ambulatoy Surgical Center and Brook Army Medical Center.
Dr. Ervin retired as the 59 Medical Wing Chief of Operational Medicine where is was responsible for oversight of 43 USAF Pilot Units that modernize and innovate advanced resuscitative, surgical and critical care wartime solutions for casualty and evacuation care from the point of injury on the battlefield all the way to definitive care at U.S. based military medical centers. He is also an Air Force Subject Matter Expert on advancing autonomous patient care, evacuation on unmanned vehicles and austere surgical teams supporting special operations. He also served as a senior physician – scientist exploring innovative new concepts and technologies to improve the health and safety to deployed warfighters. Dr. Ervin transitioned a number of the concepts he developed for improving the sterility of air and surfaces in deployed tent hospitals into strategies to mitigate risk of COVID infection in military health care, training, operations centers and other critical military infrastructures. He co-authored the far-reaching doctrinal thesis on incorporating military air defense concepts to combat a microscopic airbased threat – “A Multi-Layer Air Defense to Protect Critical Infrastructures”. His experience with developing employment concepts for continuous tent hospital microbiologic reduction drove his understanding and development of what is now the doctrinal foundation of the “Active Pathogen Scavenging” strategy layer for multi-layer air defense for clean air.
Dr. Ervin brings a 28+ year history of developing innovative and transformative integrated systems to solve some of the toughest of health and operational problems such as turning cargo aircraft in to flying operating rooms, bringing trauma rooms capability to point of injury or building an ebola patient transport system from scratch in 3 days. As Vice President of Application Research and Chief Physician Science for the Shared Air Solutions team, Dr. Ervin (and his company, Op Med Specialist, LLC) provides experienced guidance in the employment of multiple defensive and offensive strategies / technologies to provide clients with clear air solutions/prescription custom designed to mitigate health risks while maximizing clients’ productivity and mission success. Dr. Ervin also serves as President of Op Med Specialist, LLC, which supports Shared Air Solutions in providing global and individualized data based, objective assessments of the impact of clean air technology on the health, productivity and economic recovery.
OSHAWN JEFFERSON
VP of Strategy Communications
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“We can study the thoughts of mankind or become the thoughts that mankind study. What you have to say matters, your concepts, your creativity is just what the world is waiting for let’s unlock our potential together.”
Oshawn is a cultural change catalyst, influencer, thought leader, activist, catalyzer of concepts and creative, and a future author. He is a provocateur not afraid to have the difficult conversations and known devising and implementing strategies that integrate cultural diversity, inclusion and equity, unlock intellectual curiosity, competitive intelligence and creativity into individuals, teams and organizations.
He is a 23-year military veteran and founded of Deal Solution Group, LLC., in 2017. Deal Solutions specializes in professional coaching, executive leadership and communication strategy at the intersection of scholarship and interdisciplinary thinking. His team leverages exploratory problem solving to facilitate concepts for innovative and sustainable solutions for individuals, teams, communities, organizations or businesses.
Oshawn serves as the political advisor and communication strategist at Mission Next, LLC, where he leads his team in devising and implementing strategies for their shared air solutions project. His team advocates and consults with scientist, industry, academia and politicians to being clean air initiatives and best practices for underserved communities, homes and businesses worldwide.
Oshawn truly believes that helping people to fix what they complain about is his “passion and calling.” Dubbed a thought leader in the field, for the past 10 he has impacted over hundreds of organizations and thousands of individuals with his thought-provoking message, and his unique approach to teaching and sparking critical thought.
Oshawn is a master strategist with experience in strategic planning, change management, diversity, information disorder, organization development, training and facilitation, complex adaptive systems thinking, PESTLE Analysis, critical thinking and qualitative and quantitative research methods. He has extensive experience in working with senior leadership teams to drive organizational change.
He had the honor of training more that 11,000 leaders as communication education manager for the Center for Strategic Leadership Communication at Air University and Senior Course Instructor at the Defense Information School at Fort Meade, Md.
Oshawn Jefferson is also active in communities across the united states. He serves as the chief strategist and board member for The B.R.I.D.G.E. Development Center, a nonprofit focused on mentoring youth in the Washington, D.C. area. He is a political advisor to the principle for Oasis of Hope Foundation, a nonprofit serving underserved communities in Prattville, Alabama. He is also a member of the Selma Jubilee Bridge Crossing National Committee, serving as co-chair for the education committee symposium for social change. In 2021, he helped create the first virtual bridge crossing to keep the 56-year event running during the Covid-19 crisis.
Oshawn is an active member of Black Church Pac, Public Relations Society of America, Moe 4 Life Foundation and is certified in Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging for All.
AMANDA JO “AJ” BRAND, MS
Director of Marketing and Public Relations
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Amanda Jo Brand is a two-time graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi (Southern Miss). She earned a bachelor’s degree in Entertainment Industry (Media Production) and was an involved intern with the University Communications office, worked on several crews to broadcast games for Southern Miss Athletics, and graduated with High Honors. She earned the Top Master’s Student award while earning her master’s degree in Mass Communication.
After her formal education, Amanda Jo spent three years working in Higher Education, including as an Admissions Counselor. She helped revamp the social media accounts and marketing outreach strategies in that role that are still being used by USM’s admission’s office. Using her leadership background, she acted as Executive Director of the Mission-Next Foundation in its first year. During this time, she helped the foundation form a Board of Directors, led the application process for the foundation to receive its 501(c)(3) status, and organized operations so that the foundation’s operations are financially independent from the donations it receives from the public. After being hired by Shared Air Solutions Consultants, Amanda Jo was voted in as Secretary of the Board of Directors and continues to serve in that capacity.
On the side, Amanda Jo continues to work with small businesses to help with their marketing, website, and graphic design efforts. Additionally, she is a certified private pilot and is continually training to earn more pilot ratings. She is active in groups supporting women in aviation, inspiring the next generation of aviators, and supporting their local communities.
MADI ERVIN
Director of Business & Administration
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Born in San Antonio, Texas, Madi grew up both abroad in Germany, and in the United States in the Florida panhandle. She graduated from Lindenwood University in Missouri with degrees in Psychology and Fine Arts. Since graduating, she has worked as an assistant and coordinator for companies in the science and medical fields. Her tasks were widespread; assisting on executive projects, organizing community outreach and company social functions, and developing numerous new procedures to improve the flow of all aspects of the business, to name a few. In the early months of 2020, she headed the company culture switch to a fully remote-based environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Madi enjoyed a brief career switch and worked as a Residential Tech and Counselor in a group home for developmentally and disciplinary challenged children, aged seven to fourteen. While there, she was solely responsible for crisis de-escalation and the care and safety of the children under her care. Through this, she realized she wanted her future career path to be in alignment with her core values: helping others and making the world a better place.
After spending 10 years in the St. Louis area, she returned to San Antonio, and joined the Shared Air Solutions Consultants team as Director of Staff in the summer of 2021. Not only helping others through their work, but also giving people the confidence to make good decisions through scientifically sound and thoughtful information; SASC is helping people return to a sense of normalcy in a post-COVID World. This, coupled with the ability to be a part of a diverse team comprised of brilliant, compassionate individuals is why Madi is proud to assist the SASC team as well as their current and future clients.
Our ethos
WE BELIEVE PEOPLE MAKE GOOD DECISIONS WHEN THEY HAVE THE RIGHT INFORMATION
Our team of physician-led application and bench scientists, communication and governmental affair specialists, and regulatory and compliance specialists and strategists use a holistic view of indoor air quality and pathogen control based upon the best available science. We believe that we are better together than we are working individually.
We encourage and focus on making the best, science-based decisions that improve health and makes economic sense using traditional public health guidance. We believe in short-term investments that reap rewards long term. Our approach is multi-layered in both its process and implementation.
In short, we must invest in protecting the air we breathe. There is no single product or process that can do this.
While we don’t endorse one supplier or technology, we will work with anyone who endorses the following:
Conducts themselves with integrity and is in alignment with our core values
Acknowledges there is no silver bullet for pathogen control
Supports implementation of a multilayered air defense model including education, optimization of air handling systems, and targeted investments
Makes no outlandish claims or promises about their technology
Are willing to be completely transparent with their test data while acknowledging limitations of their research
Works with third party independent organizations to validate their testing
Embraces continued research in air technologies and standardized reporting
Works with us to provide customers a cost-effective strategy that they can afford
Clean air is a basic human right and a matter of human dignity and equity. Investment in clean air is a vital investment for society in decades to come and in the people who will lead it. As society leans into smart cities, energy efficiency, and carbon output, clean indoor air must be a core part of the conversation.
Our Services
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-Helping build upon clients current investments in ventilation and technology
-This can include an in-person or virtual building survey, and room by room inspection and prescription, or more general recommendations
-Explain tradeoffs and limitations of different investments to help customer make the best decision
-Pre and Post implementation surety inspections
-Sustainment strategy
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-C-Suite and leadership
-Medical and Public Health professionals
-Building and facility maintenance and custodial personnel
-General population
