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DISTINGUISHED EXPERIENCE

Global Guardian's Leadership team is comprised of highly experienced former military special forces operators, federal security personnel and seasoned business professionals. The blend of backgrounds ensures both a high level of subject matter expertise on security matters and duty of care requirements that come with an international corporate footprint.

20+

Average Years of Professional Security Experience on Executive Management Team and Board

100+

Combined Years of Business Experience on Executive Management Team & Board

150+

Combined Years of Military, Law Enforcement & US Intelligence Leadership experience on Advisory Board

Our Leadership Team

Our clients’ safety is our sole mission. Our team is dedicated to providing world-class service and brings decades of experience to ensure you receive industry-leading protection.

Executive Management

Dale Buckner

Chief Executive Officer

Dale Buckner

Chief Executive Officer

  • 24 year US Army Veteran, Colonel (Retired)
  • Extensive Intelligence, Counter-Terrorism and Special Operations experience
  • Commanded 5 organizations including an Infantry Reconnaissance Platoon, Special Forces Scuba Team, Special Force Counter-Terrorism Team, a Special Forces Counter-Terrorism Task Force, and a Special Troops Battalion
  • Numerous combat and classified deployments including Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Colombia, Cuba, El Salvador, Chile, Panama and Haiti
  • Quoted in CNN, Politico, NPR, The Hill, Bloomberg, Conde Nast Traveler, and other major media outlets
  • BS, Mansfield University; MPA, Central Michigan; MBA, TUI University; Masters Certificate, Cornell; Senior Fellow, Tufts University (Fletcher School)
Mark Post

Chief Operating Officer

Mark Post

Chief Operating Officer

  • Chief of Operations, South and Central Asia Mission Center, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
  • Deputy Division Chief, Africa, Directorate of Operations, CIA
  • Chief of Station, the Balkans, the Caucasus, and Africa, CIA
  • Deputy Chief of Station, South Asia
  • 26 years of service in the Directorate of Operations, 15 years deployed overseas, CIA
  • BA, Washington State University
Willem Straatman

Chief Financial Officer

Willem Straatman

Chief Financial Officer

  • Previously Head of Finance at Basin Holdings, a global industrial holding company
  • Investment banking experience with Deutsche Bank in New York
  • BA Economics, University of Chicago
Mark Street

Chief Information Officer

Mark Street

Chief Information Officer

  • Former EVP of Technology at the Bay Club Company
  • 20+ years of Technology experience
  • Bachelors of Electrical Engineering (Hons)
John Casterline

General Counsel

John Casterline

General Counsel

  • 16 years of experience providing counsel on all aspects of business operations
  • Previously served as General Counsel to Arch Amenities Group, the nation’s leading amenity management firm
  • Former outside counsel to dozens of business clients from an array of industries
  • Member, Virginia State Bar
  • J.D., University of Virginia
Spencer Livingston

Chief of Staff

Spencer Livingston

Chief of Staff

  • Global Guardian's Chief of Staff
  • Operational and business development executive at Basin Holdings
  • Business development experience at Pine Brook Road Partners and Blackstone
  • BA, Harvard University
Shannon Scully

Vice President, Marketing

Shannon Scully

Vice President, Marketing

  • Former Vice President of Marketing at The Bay Club Company
  • Founder, Footprint MKTG – Marketing consultancy specializing in hospitality, wellness, travel, leisure, and sport services
  • BA, University of California Berkeley
Pat Flynn

Vice President of Sales

Pat Flynn

Vice President of Sales

  • 25+ years of enterprise sales and sales leadership experience
  • Currently serving as Global Guardian’s Global Head of Sales
  • Prior roles include Senior Vice President North America for Clumio Inc and Vice President East for MongoDB
  • BA Business Economics and Political Science, Brown University

Andrew Vanderburg

Chief Business Technology Officer

Andrew Vanderburg

Chief Business Technology Officer

  • Chief Business Technology Officer

  • 18 years of security experience, including time spent as an integrator, compliance manager, service manager, operations manager and Vice President

  • Prior to joining Global Guardian, served as a Senior National Account Manager for five of his security companies' largest clients, which included four Fortune 500 companies

Angie Grandizio

Senior Vice President, Corporate & Government Solutions

Angie Grandizio

Senior Vice President, Corporate & Government Solutions

  • 6 years, Security for Department of State, Federal Reserve, USDA, US Treasury, Department of Homeland Security
  • 2 years, Account Manager, International Monetary Fund 
  • 16 years, Washington Post, Market Strategy & Product Development 
  • BA, Hollins University
Brian Raymond

Executive Vice President, Client Risk Management

Brian Raymond

Executive Vice President, Client Risk Management

  • Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Senior Operations Officer (Retired)
  • 21 Years in the Directorate of Operations, Recognized Counterterrorism and Crisis response expert
  • Commander US Navy Reserve Retired, (SEAL), 23 years
  • B.S. Norwich University
Shelly Weisenfeld, M.D., M.P.H.

Medical Director

Shelly Weisenfeld, M.D., M.P.H.

Medical Director

  • Medical Director for Global Guardian
  • Over 27 years of experience in emergency medicine in both community and academic institutions
  • Boarded in Family Medicine
    • Speciality: Emergency Medicine 
    • Status: Diplomat 
  • Boarded with National Board of Physicians and Surgeons
  • Master’s in Public Health from San Diego State University
  • Medical Degree from University of Alabama School of Medicine
  • Member of the International Society of Travel Medicine
  • Extensive world travel in five of the seven continents
Chuck Costanza

Executive Vice President, Client Engagement

Chuck Costanza

Executive Vice President, Client Engagement

  • 30 years of global experience in government and the private sector
  • Nearly 2 decades as an expatriate in Europe and the Former Soviet Union
  • Former senior advisor at the US Department of State; provided strategic assessments of how climate will shape America’s security, to include emergent geopolitical threats
  • 18 years as Managing Director of GHG Strategy, a boutique risk advisory firm with clients spanning Fortune 500 to startups
  • Senior Project Manager at ICF Consulting and the World Bank
  • BA, College of the Holy Cross; MA, Harvard University
Mike Haley

Executive Vice President, Business Operations

Mike Haley

Executive Vice President, Business Operations

  • US Navy with Seal Team Six (Retired)
  • Special Operations Programs Officer with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (Retired)
  • Extensive experience across the risk spectrum, with specific expertise in crisis management, travel risk management, executive protection and overall risk consulting
  • Previous roles include:
    • Senior Director G4S Corporate Risk Services, Eastern Region
    • Senior Program Manager, Lockheed Martin (Strategic National Stockpile) at the Center For Disease Control (CDC)
    • Special Advisor, Assistant Secretary for Public Health Emergency Preparedness at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) 
    • Counter-Terrorism Advisor, Los Angeles Port Police (LAPPD)
    • Security Specialist, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
    • Vice President of Operations, SecurAmerica, LLC
  • BA, Loyola University, Maryland

Katrina Henry

Vice President, Accounting

Katrina Henry

Vice President, Accounting

  • CPA, State of Florida
  • M.B.A. with a concentration in Accounting, Auburn University at Montgomery
  • B.B.A. in Accounting, University of Texas at San Antonio
  • Accounting Background - Banking, Government Accounting, Tax Accounting
  • Military Family Member - Spouse of CMSgt Henry

Seth Krummrich

Vice President, Client Risk Management

Seth Krummrich

Vice President, Client Risk Management

  • 28 year US Army Veteran, Colonel (Retired)
  • Extensive Intelligence, Counter-Terrorism and Special Operations experience
  • Commanded 5 organizations including a Reconnaissance platoon, Special Forces Team, Regional Survey Team, Special Forces Battalion, and the Fort Irwin CA Garrison
  • Numerous Combat and classified deployments to include Iraq, Afghanistan, and over 18 Horn of Africa, Middle East, and Central Asian countries
  • Extensive experience in program management and government contracting
  • BA, Tulane University; MS, Naval Post Graduate School; Senior Fellow, Stanford University (Freeman Spogli Institute-FSI)
Anna Winningham

Vice President, Business Operations

Anna Winningham

Vice President, Business Operations

  • 31 years of crisis management experience
  • 18 years as senior executive of a boutique risk advisory firm with corporate, municipal, and private clients
  • 13 years with Federal Bureau of Investigation, promoted to Supervisory Special Agent, Crisis Response Squad
  • Expertise in cyber and physical security, workplace violence avoidance and response
  • Veteran, US Army, 82nd Airborne Division
  • BA, Political Science – Soviet and East European Politics, University of Texas – El Paso
David Ickes

Vice President, Global Risk Management

David Ickes

Vice President, Global Risk Management

  • 18 years as a U.S. Military Intelligence specialist and detachment Officer in Charge.
  • Prior U.S. Navy diplomat who worked in numerous U.S. Embassy’s throughout Europe.
  • Operated in over 40 countries and traveled to 60+.
  • Global leader in corporate security enterprise management with special focus on travel, event, transportation and security assurance
  • Prior Director of Security Operations managing a 24/7 intelligence team and client risk management operations throughout western hemisphere
  • Lean Six Sigma Greenbelt who managed over two dozen projects focused on operational excellence and value business solutions.
Robert Jenkins

Senior Vice President, Global Business Development

Robert Jenkins

Senior Vice President, Global Business Development

  • Over two decades of security industry experience
  • Extensive experience with high net worth individuals, companies, law enforcement and federal government agencies
  • Has lived and worked around the world, gaining international experience in security and protection
  • Held various senior positions in Fortune 500 companies overseeing investigations, surveillance operations, risk management, threat assessments, and physical and personal security across large and complex geographic areas
  • BA in Public Administration with a focus on Criminal Justice
Erick Turasz

Vice President, Strategic Partnerships

Erick Turasz

Vice President, Strategic Partnerships

  • 20 year Air Force, Colonel (Retired)
  • Decorated Special Operations Officer and Pilot
  • Led Operations for the Second Busiest Airport in the USAF
  • Expert in program management and government resourcing
  • Executive at the Largest Seaplane Airline in the Southeastern U.S.
  • BS, University of Florida; MA, American Military University; MA, Air Command and Staff College; MA, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies; MA, US Army War College
Kelsey Evans

Senior Communications Director

Kelsey Evans

Senior Communications Director

  • Responsible for communications and creative development at Global Guardian
  • Former Vice President of Marketing at The Bay Club Company
  • 10+ years in marketing with emphasis on communication and content creation; 10+ years in customer service within the hospitality industry
  • BS, University of California, Los Angeles; MA, University of San Francisco

 

Corey Johnson

Senior Director of Security Operations

Corey Johnson

Senior Director of Security Operations

  • 5-year US Marine Corps Veteran
  • Previous experience working as Special Deputy US Marshal for the World Bank
  • Previous experience working as United Nations Senior Security Officer serving on the Emergency Response and Canine Teams
  • Holds instructor certifications in a variety of security disciplines
Kenneth Damstrom

Advisory Board Member

Kenneth Damstrom

Advisory Board Member

  • Managing Director, Chief Security Officer (CSO) Goldman Sachs
  • Managing Director, Chief Security Officer (CSO) Lehman Brothers
  • Vice President, Security, Fidelity Investments
  • Vice President, Security, New York Stock Exchange
  • Special Agent, United States Secret Service
  • B.S. St Johns University

Jimmy Hester

Vice President, Client Relations

Jimmy Hester

Vice President, Client Relations

  • Currently serves as Global Guardian Vice President of Client Relations
  • Decorated Combat-Commander with multiple combat tours and classified operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Colombia, and Africa
  • Served in the United States Army Infantry and as a Special Forces Green Beret for 19 years.
  • Commanded 5 organizations including an Infantry Scout Platoon, Long Range Surveillance Detachment, Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha Team, Special Force Counter-Terrorism Company, and a Special Forces Counter-Terrorism Task Force.
  • Led growth efforts of Basin Power Solutions, a subsidiary of Basin Holdings from 2019-2021
  • Served as Vice President of International Operations at Global Guardian from 2013-2019
  • Holds a Bachelor of Science from Texas A&M University
Paul Grant

Vice President, Europe & Middle East Operations

Paul Grant

Vice President, Europe & Middle East Operations

  • Two decades of operational experience developing risk and crisis management solutions for corporations on six continents and high net worth individuals
  • Former Head of Counter Terrorist Training and Development of the United Kingdom’s counter-terrorist response capabilities
  • 24 years of operational service within the British military
  • 14 years with Tier 1 United Kingdom Special Forces (UKSF) as a senior commander. Responsibilities included strategic intelligence, covert operations, counter-terrorism, and VIP close protection units
  • Experience in aiding corporations, heads of states and senior diplomats, international aid organizations and global media groups
Holly Chirko

Marketing Director

Holly Chirko

Marketing Director

  • Currently serves as Marketing Director at Global Guardian, responsible for Marketing Operations
  • 10+ Years of Marketing and Communication Experience in multiple industries with emphasis on Marketing Operations and Project Management 
  • BA in Communications with Minor in Business, University of Arizona; MA in Communication Studies, San Francisco State University

 

Shannon Reilly

Account Manager

Shannon Reilly

Account Manager

  • Supports Global Guardian’s current client base and manages the onboarding experience for new family clients
  • Former Global Guardian Account Management Intern
  • BAIS National Security & Foreign Affairs, Double minor in Arabic and Middle East Studies, Virginia Tech

 

Spencer Tadken

Vice President, Operations

Spencer Tadken

Vice President, Operations

  • Responsible for the oversight of Global Guardian's international and domestic operations, the special operations division and the training and assessment branch
  • Spent numerous years in the United States Army and in the Central Intelligence Agency
  • Graduated from the University of Maryland with a Criminal Justice and Criminology Degree
Johnny Storms

President, Asset Security

Johnny Storms

President, Asset Security

  • 20 years’ experience in Electronic Security, including Vice President Operations, Vice President Strategic Accounts and Projects, Director of Field Operations North America, Program Manager National Accounts Healthcare, Regional Process Leader, Regional Compliance Manager, Operations Manager, Install Manager, Service Manager
  • Vertical and Industry project experience in Remote Guarding, Multifamily construction, Property Management/Real Estate, Healthcare, Retail, Commercial, Residential, Automotive, Government, Education, Utilities, Manufacturing and Logistics, Transportation, National Accounts
  • Security Systems News 40 under 40 class of 2022
  • Associate of Arts Business Administration and Management
Ariel Kern

Vice President, International Affairs

Ariel Kern

Vice President, International Affairs

  • Responsible for identifying, selecting, vetting, and testing Global Guardian international teams 
  • Contracts, trains, hosts, and manages over 130 countries globally
  • Retired from the German Army as a Captain, and volunteered in the Israeli IDF
  • Previously held various International Army Exchange and Liaison Postings, including USAJFKSWCS 
  • Numerous deployments including Military CPO, NATO commando schools, US Police SWAT
  • BA in Modern Languages from Cologne University, Germany
  • Advanced Certificate in Terrorism Studies from the University of St. Andrews, UK

 


 

Julio Figueroa

24/7 Operations Center Director

Julio Figueroa

24/7 Operations Center Director

  • Director of Global Guardian 24/7/365 Operations Center
  • Member of Global Guardian’s Rapid Deployment & Disaster Zone Relief Team
  • CBRN Marine Veteran
  • Completed flight school at Palm Beach State College and Lynn University; holds a helicopter commercial pilot license and commercial drone license
Grant Brown

Account Director

Grant Brown

Account Director

  • Manages Global Guardian’s current client base and leads the onboarding experience for new clients
  • 6+ years of Account Management experience
  • BA International Business and Marketing, George Washington University
  • Former Division-1 Baseball Player at GWU

Matt Birk

Director of Domestic Operations

Matt Birk

Director of Domestic Operations

  • Responsible for the oversight of Global Guardian’s domestic operations
  • 8 year US Army Veteran and UH-60 Black Hawk pilot
  • BS, University of North Dakota; MS, Purdue University

Mike Ballard

Director of Intelligence

Mike Ballard

Director of Intelligence

  • Former lead intelligence analyst for North America region at UnitedHealth Group
  • Manages Global Guardian’s intelligence network with international partners
  • Operations, crisis management, and cyber analysis expertise
  • MA International Affairs, University of Kentucky
  • BA History, University of Mary Washington
Tyler Verdeyen

Vice President, Specialty Risk and Response

Tyler Verdeyen

Vice President, Specialty Risk and Response

  • Manages Global Guardian’s Specialty Risk & Response Division
  • Experience in operations, crisis management, sales, and product management
  • Former Operations Analyst and Director of Air Ambulance at Global Guardian
  • BS, James Madison University

 

Christopher N. White, M.D., M.S.

Assistant Medical Director

Christopher N. White, M.D., M.S.

Assistant Medical Director

  • ABEM Board Certification in Emergency Medicine
  • Medical Degree from Mercer University School of Medicine
  • Master’s of Science in Biology from University of West Georgia
  • Chief Resident - Emergency Medicine Residency 
  • Eglin Air Force Base - 96th MDG/SGOE/Emergency Medical Services

Our Values

ComprehensiveHyper-ResponsiveAccountable

How We Operate