Managing Partner

Patrick has deep expertise in guiding companies through an inflection point of change (growth/expansion, turnaround, strategic shift, etc.).  Focusing on senior executive assignments across a variety of sectors including manufactured industrial products, industrial technology, defense/aerospace, electrical & electronic equipment, metals & mining, and consumer durables, he recruits within all of the major functions including CEO/President, Finance, Operations and Supply Chain, Sales & Marketing, Engineering, and Human Resources.

Patrick applies a rare combination of direct corporate experience with executive search experience to serve clients and partners around the globe. With a broad global corporate background, Patrick is also a sought-after advisor to senior executives, providing executive recruitment and organizational consulting services to small/mid-cap industrial clients, ranging from publicly traded to private equity and family owned.

Formerly Patrick was a Chief HR Officer for two multi-billion dollar NYSE listed companies and chief talent office for another publicly-traded company. His deep understanding of stakeholder needs in executive recruitment comes from a unique perspective gained in key roles spearheading operating company turnarounds and company-wide initiatives such as corporate strategy, goal/policy deployment, reconfiguring go-to-market models, international growth/expansion, acquisitions, and executive development and succession.

Patrick was awarded a Bachelor’s Degree in Safety Sciences from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He also completed a Corporate Executive Program at the Graduate School of Management at Rice University.

Patrick is based in Raleigh, NC

Partner

Anthony “Tony” Ference leverages over 35 years of experience with the military, civil service, and government service companies.  Tony’s experience includes command of military units and serving in critical staff roles where he assembled and led teams to solve complex problems that typically required strategic planning, organizational analysis, leadership development, and systematic execution.  His passion for organizational and leadership development and succession was strengthened through his direct experience leading two of the Marine Corps’ most senior enlisted promotion boards.

Tony retired from government service in May of 2025 after serving as Deputy Director of Facilities for MCAS Cherry Point.  He retired from the Marine Corps as a Colonel in 2018 after serving as the Logistics Director for 2d Marine Aircraft Wing, a 16,000-person organization distributed across the east coast and deployed around the globe.  Tony’s military experience includes command of Marine Wing Support Squadron 274 and multiple deployments in support of combat operations including Desert Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom.  He provided Aviation Ground Support to 3d Marine Aircraft Wing in Afghanistan and served as Commander, Task Force Morehead, where he was responsible for the Afghan National Army (ANA) Commando Training Program.  Tony was also the Assistant Chief of Staff for Logistics (AC/S G-4) at the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command, and Assistant Chief of Staff for Aviation Ground Support (AC/S AGS) with the 2d Marine Aircraft Wing.  He attended the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and served as an exercise planner with U.S. Joint Forces Command supporting NATO and USCENTCOM from 2004 to 2007.

Tony received a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from Penn State University and attended the Air Force Institute of Technology – Graduate School where he earned a Master of Science degree in Engineering & Environmental Management.

Tony is based in New Bern, NC

Partner

Ignatius “Buck” Liberto is a seasoned executive-level cybersecurity leader with extensive experience leading, developing, and implementing cybersecurity initiatives, programs, and policies in positions of increasing responsibility at the department level for the US Departments of Defense, Energy and Agriculture.

Buck is a highly recognized U.S. Marine Corps veteran awarded for his leadership during a myriad of complex training and security deployments, combat operations, and interagency engagements with partner-Nations across the globe. He retired from the Marine Corps as a Colonel in 2015 after serving as an Infantry, Force Reconnaissance, Joint Qualified, and Strategic Plans Officer. Throughout his service, he commanded and led over a dozen diverse Marine, special operations, joint, and multi-national units at increasing echelons of authority.

Following military service, Buck became the Chief of Operational Assessments and then Chief of Staff at Joint Force Headquarters Department of Defense Information Network (JFHQ-DODIN) – a component of United States Cyber Command where he was the principal advisor to the Commander to synchronize all staff functions to effectively provide global command and control of DODIN operations and defensive cyberspace operations for the DoD. He then became Director of Cybersecurity Risk Management and Compliance for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) where he was also the DOE’s enterprise Authorizing Official.  Buck was most recently the Deputy Chief Information Security Officer for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). He has directed and led all facets of IT and OT from strategic direction to management of enterprise-wide cybersecurity threat and vulnerability information – assuring mission-critical operational functionality, access and availability to information at point of impact, and protection of company assets and information.

Buck received a Bachelor of Arts degree and Master of Science in Cybersecurity Management from Tulane University. He holds a Master Certificate in Applied Program Management from Villanova University and credentialed as a Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) by ISASC in 2022.

Certifications include: CISM, Certification in Cyber Defense, Certification in Applied Program Management, Active TS/SCI w/Poly

Buck is based in Greeneville, TN

Senior Associate

Nancy O’Malley brings more than 20 years of recruiting experience to Adaptive Search Partners, specializing in manufacturing, industrial, supply chain, sales & marketing, and technology.  She has firsthand knowledge of executive search from both the corporate side of the businesses she has been a part of, as well as the consulting side.  Nancy’s focus has been across a wide range of executive disciplines to include HR, finance, marketing and operations.  Nancy takes time with clients to develop a deep understanding of cultural and management fit, as well as the technical skills and disciplines required for each unique assignment. Nancy is a tenacious and genuine “hunter,” knowing where to find talent and how to build dynamic and productive relationships with her candidates and her clients. Nancy works as an extension of the clients she is engaged with, acting as a true partner — versatile, personable, and always driving for results.

Prior to Adaptive Search Partners, Nancy ran her own recruiting company, delivering the best possible outcomes to clients who appreciated her clear communication skills, sourcing skills, and negotiating abilities.  A graduate of Philadelphia University, Nancy has held recruiting positions at ESM Digital, imc2, Teva, and Gateway Search Associates.

Nancy is based in Philadelphia

Administrative Director

Allison H. Keller serves as Business Manager of Adaptive Search Partners responsible for the day-to-day operations and accounting.  Ms. Keller is a seasoned professional with more than 30 years of experience in business management, financial management and human resources.

Prior to Industrial Search Partners, Ms. Keller served as Firm Administrator, General Manager and Director of Human Resources for prominent law firms specializing in Employment-Based Immigration Law.  Represented clients included Fortune 50 and Fortune 100 companies in a diverse array of industries, including, but not limited to, health care, finance, manufacturing, technology and education.

Ms. Keller is Certified in Office Management, member of the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) and member of the Society of Human Resource Managers (SHRM).