Who We Are

Our company name, “The Unconventional,” says it all –a full spectrum service provider uniquely created to support our clients using unconventional methodologies. Our vision is to thrive as the most admired LREC and Tactical Training Services Vendor providing services and technology with unmatched training value and continuous innovation.

Core Values

  • Continuous Innovation & Improvement
  • Empower Our Personnel And Partners
  • Integrity & Responsibility
  • Long-Term Stewardship & Social Responsibility

Company Information

CAGE Code: 83RJ2
DUNS Number: 081215850

The Unconventional is teamed with Yorktown Systems Group as a Wholly Owned Subsidiary.

Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business
AUSA Lifetime Member
Special Forces Association Lifetime Member

Leadership

Our leadership team includes a unique combination of US Special Operations, Intelligence Community Veterans, LREC Academics and Defense Industry SMEs.

Mark Saichompoo

President and Founder

Mark Saichompoo is the President and Founder of The Unconventional (TU), a trusted provider of Language, Regional Expertise, and Culture (LREC) training and mission support services to the Department of Defense, Intelligence Community, and other Federal agencies since 2016. A retired U.S. Army Master Sergeant with over 26 years of distinguished service in the Ordnance Corps, Infantry, and Special Forces, Mark brings a unique blend of operational, instructional, and executive leadership experience to TU’s mission.

During his military career, Mark served more than 18 years in Special Forces, including seven years as a Special Forces Command Language Program Manager, where he oversaw linguist training, testing, and sustainment programs supporting global operations. His subsequent tenure in academic leadership at the University of Montana further broadened his expertise in program design, curriculum development, and adult learning methodologies.

Mark’s operational insight, academic experience, and entrepreneurial leadership have been instrumental in TU’s rapid growth and expansion across multiple mission areas. His commitment to excellence, innovation, and mission readiness continues to shape TU’s success as a premier provider of LREC and mission support services to the Defense and Federal community.

Dr. Clayton Leishman

Academic Advisor & Lead Researcher

Dr. Clayton Leishman is the Academic Advisor & Lead Researcher for The Unconventional. A retired U.S. Army Reserve officer with Civil Affairs and Military Intelligence experience as a 98G Signals Intelligence specialist trained in Russian, Dr. Leishman also brings over 20 years of civil service leadership from the Defense Language Institute English Language Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.

Dr. Leishman served as Associate Dean of Academics for the Defense Language Institute English Language Center, where he provided academic leadership for the Department of

Defense’s only English Language Training Program, training service members and civilians from the U.S. and more than 110 countries annually. He served as the Air Force subject-matter expert on the inter-agency roundtable (ILR) revision sub-committee and co-authored the 2021 ILR skill level revisions and validation study.

Dr. Leishman holds a Ph.D. in Language and Literacy from the University of South Carolina, an M.Ed. in Secondary Education from the University of Washington, and a B.A. in Russian and German Language and Literature from the University of Washington. His military education includes advanced Russian language training at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center, the DISAM Security Assistance Manager-Overseas Course, and Air Command and Staff College.

Scott Tsuda

Director, Operations and Tactical Branch

Scott Tsuda serves as the Director of the Operations and Tactical Branch at The Unconventional (TU), bringing more than three decades of distinguished service and leadership in the U.S. Army. A retired Sergeant Major with 32 years of experience, Scott’s career reflects deep expertise in Special Operations, training, and mission execution across joint and multinational environments.

Throughout his tenure in Army Special Operations Forces (SOF), Scott held multiple senior leadership positions, including Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha (SFODA) Operations Sergeant, Chief Instructor at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Training Center and School, Special Forces Company Sergeant Major, Battalion Operations Sergeant Major, and Senior Enlisted Advisor at Special Operations Command Pacific (SOCPAC). In these roles, he led diverse teams through complex global missions, advanced operational readiness initiatives, and shaped the next generation of Special Operations leaders.

At TU, Scott applies his extensive operational background and instructional expertise to drive excellence across tactical training, mission support, and operational integration. His

leadership ensures TU remains at the forefront of delivering mission-ready, operationally relevant training and support solutions to the Defense and Intelligence communities.

Nasser Manasterli

Director of Language Programs, Language Branch

Nasser Manasterli is the Director of Language Programs at The Unconventional (TU), bringing over twenty years of experience leading Language, Regional Expertise, and Culture (LREC) programs across the Defense and Intelligence communities and twenty-seven years of distinguished service in the U.S. Marine Corps Civil Affairs and Advisor communities. At TU, he oversees global LREC operations and business development initiatives, managing teams of instructors, curriculum developers, translators, interpreters, and cleared linguists supporting mission requirements worldwide. Under his leadership, TU’s FedRAMP-compliant TUTOR Virtual School Platform (VSP) has become a cornerstone of the DoD’s language-training enterprise, supporting thousands of learners through secure, ILR-aligned, and technology-integrated instruction.

A retired Marine Corps Master Gunnery Sergeant, Nasser’s operational experience spans Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia. He served as Senior Enlisted Advisor and Instructor at the Marine Corps Security Cooperation Group (MCSCG) and the Marine Corps Civil-Military Operations School (MCCMOS), where he developed Security Cooperation and Civil Affairs curricula, language sustainment programs, and COCOM-tailored advisor readiness training. As a Foreign Area Staff Noncommissioned Officer (FAS) and Command Language Program Manager (CLPM), he provided regional and cultural expertise on CENTCOM mission countries and directed linguist testing, certification, and training pipelines supporting global operations. He holds a B.A. in Middle Eastern Studies, is pursuing a Master of Education (M.Ed.), and maintains certifications in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response, Security Cooperation, Civil-Military Operations, and Language Program Management. Nasser is also an active member of the Foreign Area Officers Association, Civil Affairs Association, and the National Language Service Corps.