Two Careers Built Inside the System
The SCC Group is a veteran-owned strategic advisory firm headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. Our principals bring a combined 45+ years of military and federal service — including assignments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill, and at U.S. embassies in Latin America — to every client engagement.
Celine T. Combs
Principal & HR Strategy Lead
"Over 28 years of military service — as both a noncommissioned officer and an officer — taught me that the most complex organizations run on people, relationships, and clear communication."
Celine Combs is a senior military leader whose career has spanned executive human resource management, strategic communications, and policy coordination at some of the most consequential addresses in national security. Currently serving as Executive HR Manager for the Army National Guard at the Pentagon, she manages workforce operations and HR strategy for 10,000 personnel with a $50M annual budget.
As Director of Strategic Communications for the National Guard Bureau CounterDrug Office, Celine developed and executed national communication strategies, oversaw a team of 15 specialists across 8 states, and directed communications for a $5M program. Her background also includes diplomatic service as an Assistant Political-Military Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Montevideo, Uruguay, where she managed a $20M defense research portfolio and coordinated international security initiatives across 10 agencies.
Celine's advisory work draws on deep expertise in talent development, organizational resilience, and communicating complex government programs to diverse audiences.
Steven C. Combs
Founding Partner & Principal
"24 years as an Air Force officer — including service at the Pentagon, Capitol Hill, and U.S. embassies in Uruguay and Chile — give me a vantage point I love sharing with clients."
Steven Combs is a retired Air Force Colonel with a track record of executing complex, high-stakes initiatives across the Department of Defense, Congress, and industry. Throughout his Air Force career, he operated at the intersection of strategy, policy, and operations — leading large-scale programs, advising senior decision-makers, and delivering outcomes in highly constrained, politically sensitive environments.
He served as an Air Force Fellow in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he managed defense and veterans' affairs portfolios for a senior Member of Congress — translating operational realities into actionable policy and influencing legislative outcomes across the national security landscape.
In parallel, Steven led major acquisition and security cooperation efforts throughout Latin America, including oversight of a $660M defense program, where he synchronized government, military, and industry stakeholders to deliver critical capabilities to foreign partners.
Today, Steven is the co-founder and Managing Principal of The SCC Group LLC, where he advises clients on federal growth strategy, defense market positioning, and executive engagement. He also serves on the boards of Operation Encore and the Patriot Legacy Foundation, continuing his commitment to leadership and service.
Principles That Guide Every Engagement
We take on a limited number of clients so we can give each engagement the full weight of our attention and relationships.
Integrity First
Our value rests entirely on the trust of our network. We will never put a client relationship ahead of our credibility — or yours.
Substance Over Salesmanship
We don't traffic in connections alone. Every recommendation we make is grounded in knowledge of how federal programs are funded, shaped, and executed.
Long-Term Thinking
Federal opportunity is a multi-year endeavor. We build strategies — and relationships — that compound over time.