NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 19, 2025--
Academy Securities, the nation’s first Post-9/11 veteran owned and operated investment bank, today announced the addition of Shelby Pierson to its Geopolitical Intelligence Group. The Academy GIG consists of 35 US and UK Admirals & Generals, former NASA Astronauts, and former CIA/FBI Leadership. Academy has been advising clients for over a decade and is the preeminent Advisory on geostrategic risk to the markets.
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Shelby Pierson joins Academy after over 25 years in the national security community including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). Most recently, she served as NGA’s Director of Analysis, overseeing a $400M global intelligence portfolio and leading over 6,000 personnel. Prior NGA roles included Acting Director of Operations, Deputy Associate Director of Operations, and Deputy Director for Source Operations & Management. At ODNI, she served as National Intelligence Manager for Russia/Europe/Eurasia and as the Election Threats Executive. She also helped drive a $2B modernization effort embedding AI/ML, automation, and governance standards into mission workflows.
“Shelby’s impact across the intelligence community is extraordinary,” said Academy’s Chairman and CEO Chance Mims. “Her leadership in major national security missions and large-scale modernization efforts brings invaluable perspective to our team.”
Ms. Pierson commented on joining the firm: “In a geopolitical landscape that is shifting by the day, thoughtful expertise matters more than ever. I look forward to supporting Academy Securities and its clients as they navigate what is both an exciting moment and a challenging one.”
Ms. Pierson holds a B.A. in International Affairs from Lewis & Clark College and completed executive education in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. Her leadership has been recognized with two Presidential Rank Awards, the NGA Director’s Medallion, and multiple ODNI awards for intelligence excellence.
“Shelby has spent her career driving outcomes on the nation’s most complex intelligence challenges,” said Academy’s Vice Chairman Phil McConkey. “That depth of experience will significantly strengthen our Advisory Board.”
About Academy Securities
Academy Securities is a FINRA registered Broker Dealer and a preeminent veteran owned investment bank with strengths in capital markets, asset management, public finance, geopolitical intel, fixed income, and equity trading. Leadership and staff have had intensive military training prior to entering and gaining in-depth financial services experience in global capital markets. We are mission driven with a high ethical code, a solid sense of accountability and strive for excellence in the pursuit of our clients’ success. Academy is our nation’s first post-9/11 veteran owned and operated investment bank and is certified as a DVBE, SDVOB, and MBE. The firm has a strong top and middle tier client base served by a national platform with offices in New York, Chicago, San Diego, Chapel Hill, Louisville, Austin, Dallas, Sacramento, and West Palm Beach. Information about Academy Securities is available at www.academysecurities.com.
Shelby Pierson
NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks rose in morning trading on Wall Street Friday and further trimmed losses from earlier in the week for several major indexes.
The S&P 500 jumped 0.7%, adding to gains made on Thursday.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 259 points, or 0.5%, as of 11:06 a.m. Eastern. The Nasdaq jumped 0.9% and is now slightly higher for the week.
Technology stocks with an focus on artificial intelligence once again led the market. Nvidia jumped 2.6% and Broadcom rose 1.4%.
Oracle rose 6.7% on news that it, along with two other investors, had signed agreements to form a new TikTok U.S. joint ventur e. Oracle, Silver Lake and MGX each get a 15% share in the popular social video platform, ensuring that it can continue operating in the U.S.
Company earnings and how companies are performing amid tariffs and inflation were a key focus for Wall Street.
Nike slumped 8.7%, as the impact from tariffs overshadowed an otherwise strong quarterly profit report. Frozen potato maker Lamb Weston fell 23.8%, despite also beating Wall Street's profit and revenue forecasts.
Winnebago Industries jumped 12.3% after turning in profits and revenue for its latest quarter that easily beat analysts’ estimates.
Homebuilders dropped following a report showing that home sales slowed from a year earlier for the first time since May. Lennar lost 2.3% and KB Home fell 8.3%.
A survey from the University of Michigan showed that consumer sentiment in December improved slightly from November, but is deeply diminished from a year ago.
“Despite some signs of improvement to close out the year, sentiment remains nearly 30% below December 2024, as pocketbook issues continue to dominate consumer views of the economy,” wrote Surveys of Consumers Director, Joanne Hsu.
Consumer confidence has been weakening throughout the year as persistent inflation squeezes consumers. The job market is also slowing while retail sales weaken. Business and consumers are also worrying about the continued impact of a wide-ranging U.S.-led trade war that has targeted key partners including China and Canada.
The latest inflation update on Thursday revealed a surprise cooling of prices in November. The Labor Department reported that its consumer price index rose 2.7%. But economists quickly warned that those numbers were suspect because they’d been delayed and likely distorted by the 43-day federal shutdown.
Inflation is still above the Federal Reserve's 2% target. The central bank cut its benchmark interest rate at its most recent meeting. It has been concerned about the slowing job market hurting the economy. But cutting interest rates could add more fuel to inflation, which could also stunt economic growth.
The Fed has maintained a cautious stance about interest rate policy heading into 2026 and Wall Street is mostly betting that it will hold steady on rates at its next meeting in January.
Treasury yields rose in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.13% from 4.11% late Thursday.
Japanese stocks rose after the Bank of Japan raised its benchmark interest rate to its highest level in 30 years. In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 gained 1%, leading the rise across Asia's key markets. Markets in Europe also gained ground.
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AP Business Writer Matt Ott contributed.
Trader Jonathan Mueller works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Medline Industries signage is displayed outside the Nasdaq MarketSite, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Trader Vincent Vincent Napolitano, surrounded by holiday decorations, works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Specialists Alex Weitzman, left, and Meric Greenbaum work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
People walk in front of an electronic stock board showing Japan's Nikkei index at a securities firm Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
People stand in front of an electronic stock board showing Japan's Nikkei index at a securities firm Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
A person walks in front of an electronic stock board showing the market indexes of Shanghai, Tokyo and New York Dow at a securities firm Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
A person walks in front of a chart showing Japan's Nikkei index at a securities firm Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
