Alpha Architect Research and Education Team
Wes Gray, PhD(Bio)
CEO/CIO
Wes Gray, PhD (CEO)
After serving as a Captain in the United States Marine Corps, Dr. Gray earned an MBA and a PhD in finance from the University of Chicago where he studied under Nobel Prize Winner Eugene Fama. Next, Wes took an academic job in his wife’s hometown of Philadelphia and worked as a finance professor at Drexel University. Dr. Gray’s interest in bridging the research gap between academia and industry led him to found Alpha Architect, an asset management firm dedicated to an impact mission of empowering investors through education. He is a contributor to multiple industry publications and regularly speaks to professional investor groups across the country. Wes has published multiple academic papers and four books, including Embedded (Naval Institute Press, 2009), Quantitative Value (Wiley, 2012), DIY Financial Advisor (Wiley, 2015), and Quantitative Momentum (Wiley, 2016).
Dr. Gray currently resides in Palmas Del Mar Puerto Rico with his wife and three children.
Jack Vogel, PhD(Bio)
CIO/CFO
Jack Vogel, PhD
Ryan Kirlin(Bio)
President
Ryan Kirlin
Doug Pugliese(Bio)
Head of 1042 Solutions
Doug Pugliese
Kyle Baxter, CFA®(Bio)
Director, Portfolio Services
Kyle Baxter
Mr. Baxter is currently a Director of Portfolio Services at Alpha Architect, where he assists with operations, compliance, and accounting. He graduated with an MS in Finance from Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College in NYC and a BS in Chemistry from the University of Maryland. In addition, Mr. Baxter is a CFA® charterholder. He previously served as Assistant Director of Operations for Baxter Properties, a family real estate business, managing several commercial and residential buildings.
Jess Bost, CFP®(Bio)
VP – Strategic Partnerships & Client Success
Jess Bost
Jess is driven to create a win-win partnership culture for financial advisors in which they can grow efficient practices to scale and build relationship-focused client service models. Her respect for overall portfolio alpha derived through comprehensive financial planning serves as catalyst for her passion to help RIAs identify opportunistic areas in which they can deliver value for their investors.
Her background in CrossFit, Olympic Weightlifting, and Nutrition coaching provides a framework for teaching and supporting the long-term effects of a methodical, evidence-based, disciplined approach. Jess has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Berry College, holds a CrossFit-L1 certification, and has Series 7, 65 & 63 licenses. She is a Retirement Income Certified Professional(RICP®) and a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) candidate.
Currently residing in Augusta, GA, Jess and her husband are raising two strong little ladies. When she’s not out looking for adventures and opportunities to make memories with her people, you’ll most likely find her in the gym lifting something heavy.
Tommi Johnsen, PhD(Bio)
Consulting/Content
Tommi Johnsen, PhD
Elisabetta Basilico, PhD/CFA® (Bio)
Consulting/Content
Elisabetta Basilico, PhD, CFA®
See our consulting page for more information.
Alex Clark (Bio)
VP — Marketing
Alex Clark
In his free time, Alex is building out a gym in his garage under the delusion that will get him to work out again. When he’s not thinking about working out, Alex practices his cooking skills where he excels at using three pans when one would suffice. Alex obtained a BA in English Literature from Arizona State University. He and his wife live in a suburb of Phoenix with their son and two dogs.
Alpha Architect Operations Team (also known as ETF Architect)
Pat Cleary(Bio)
CEO ETF Architect
Pat Cleary
Sean Hegarty, CPA(Bio)
Chief Operating Officer
Sean Hegarty, CPA
Jess Leighty(Bio)
Chief Compliance Officer
Jess Leighty
Josh Russell, CFA®(Bio)
Senior PM
Josh Russell
Brian Massaro
Chief Data Officer
Brian Massaro
Yan Feng(Bio)
Portfolio Manager
Yan Feng
Rich Shaner, CFA®(Bio)
Portfolio Manager
Rich Shaner, CFA
Megan Lin(Bio)
Junior Portfolio Manager
Megan Lin
Meg Vogel(Bio)
Controller
Meg Vogel
Alexandra Clinton(Bio)
Deputy Chief Compliance Officer
Alexandra Clinton
Blair Zhang(Bio)
Director, Compliance
Blair Zhang
Catherine Donaldson(Bio)
Compliance Associate
Catherine Donaldson
Alpha Architect Strategic Advisors

Mike Pagano, PhD, CFA®(Bio)
ETF Trustee
Mike Pagano, PhD, CFA®

Daniel Dorn, PhD(Bio)
ETF Trustee
Daniel Dorn, PhD

Emeka Oguh(Bio)
ETF Trustee
Emeka Oguh

Dave Babulak(Bio)
Strategic Advisor