Our Team

Matt Albence, Managing Principal

Matt is a highly-accomplished senior executive with nearly three decades of experience and demonstrable success leading organizations responsible for complex transnational criminal investigations, public safety, border and internal security, and trade/commerce. As the former Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he led the nation’s preeminent global investigative agency with critical, wide-ranging authorities essential to the safety and security of the United States. He is a proven leader with a sustained track record of delivering strategic change, building coalitions, and producing positive results in a continually evolving and incredibly complex and high-profile operational environment. Matt’s apolitical leadership successfully guided the agency in safeguarding the nation’s border, travel, trade, financial and immigration enterprises from national security, public safety, and cyber-enabled threats. 

Throughout his career, Matt received numerous awards and accolades, earned for his efforts on the street working cases, to those stemming from his steadfast leadership and commitment to his people and his mission.  He is a recipient of the Presidential Rank Award, the country’s highest civil service recognition, and the DHS Distinguished Service Medal, the highest service award granted by the Secretary, in recognition for exceptionally distinguished and transformational service to strengthen homeland security.

Alysa D. Erichs, Principal

Alysa is a Principal with GrindStone and serves as the national spokesperson for United to Safeguard America from Illegal Trade (USA-IT), of which GrindStone is a founding member.  USA-IT is a public-private sector partnership developed to protect Americans’ security and prosperity from black market organized criminal enterprises.  Alysa retired as the Executive Associate Director for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the largest investigative component within the Department of Homeland Security. HSI’s investigative and enforcement initiatives and operations target cross-border criminal organizations that exploit America's legitimate trade, travel, financial and immigration systems for their illicit purposes.  

Throughout her career with HSI, Alysa held numerous headquarters leadership positions, to include overseeing the Operational Technology and Cyber Division, which directly supports HSI’s investigative, law enforcement and information sharing programs, and facilitating major advancements in technology used to combat crime; Unit Chief for the Illicit Finance and Proceeds of Crime Unit within the Financial, Narcotics and Public Safety Division; and Acting Deputy Assistant Director for the Financial, Narcotics & Public Safety Division. She also held multiple senior field leadership positions, to include serving as the Special Agent in Charge of HSI Miami and Dallas, and Supervisory Special Agent assigned to the HSI New York El Dorado Task Force.

Rebecca Adducci, Principal

Rebecca is a Principal with GrindStone and has served in this capacity since 2021.  Rebecca retired after over 33 years with ICE and its legacy agency, U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).  As the former Enforcement and Removal Operations Detroit Field Office Director, she oversaw immigration enforcement operations in the states of Michigan and Ohio, managing a budget of over $15 million, and a staff of approximately 200 law enforcement officers and 30 support personnel.

Prior to serving as Field Office Director, Rebecca held senior leadership positions both in the field and at ICE headquarters, to include managing international operations, serving as ombudsman, and managing congressional and public affairs.  Rebecca was frequently called upon to direct special projects and lead through transitions and changes of administrations.

During the first 20 years of her career, Rebecca held positions as special agent and senior special agent with the investigative divisions of the former INS and ICE, what is now Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). In this role, she promoted into successive specialized leadership assignments, to include the Joint Terrorism Task Force.