“The war in Ukraine was a wake-up call as to how entire industries can unravel in response to a geopolitical crisis.”
For chief security officers, human resources professionals, and anyone responsible for keeping their workforce safe while overseas, geopolitics matters now more than ever. In an op-ed for Business Travel News, Global Guardian CEO Dale Buckner discusses current threats that corporate leaders should be tracking—including the second and third-order effects—and why it’s critical to ensure the proper contingency and emergency response plans are in place.
"I think even if you could mobilize 300,000 plus people, you're going to utilize them to maintain the terrain that you have out of Crimea and the Donbas and not have them go down the offensive plan again to retake ground you already lost."
Drawing on insight from Global Guardian's on-the-ground teams and his extensive special forces background, CEO Dale Buckner weighs in with how Russia will potentially leverage newly mobilized troops to maintain terrain in Ukraine in a recent Newsweek article.
“What we find is that most firms just go, ‘We have insurance; we’ll figure it out. Don’t worry, we’ll get hold of everybody.’ …There simply must be more rigor, more communication, and more planning.”
In Insurance Business America, Global Guardian CEO Dale Buckner discusses two key issues that must be factored into an organization's natural disaster response plan: physical expansions and remote workers. Leaders need to especially determine how their duty of care policies cover employees involved in a natural disaster event while working remotely.
"Think about that at scale compared to the Ukrainians who are getting literally the best uniforms, boots and equipment in the world shipped to them."
In Newsweek, Global Guardian CEO Dale Buckner discusses the impact of winter weather—once a military strength for Russia—on Russian troops and how Ukrainian forces are postured to have the advantage this season with superior supplies. Dale also weighs in on how Russia will leverage newly mobilized troops to maintain control in Crimea and the Donbas region rather than an offensive strategy.
“As you have more cartel on security forces violence, that can lead to chaotic responses including street blockades, carjacking and burnings. That bears keeping an eye out if (the Mexican government) deploys additional security forces.”
In an article for Border Report, Global Guardian's Director of Intelligence Michael Ballard weighs in on the recent prison outbreak in Juarez, Mexico and potential violence in the aftermath with increased security forces in the region. Ballard also offers advice to Americans traveling or doing business in Mexico.
“We aren’t telling you not to go to these places, but we’re saying you should have a real plan with rigour so you know what to do if you get injured, you get stranded, get kidnapped or you get hacked. That calculus is part of the new world order and what Canadians have to think of when they are travelling abroad.”
In an article in The Globe and Mail, Global Guardian CEO Dale Buckner discusses the evolving travel risk landscape amid geopolitical conflicts, economic instability, and global uncertainty—and advises travelers to ensure they have thorough plans in place should they encounter a crisis or personal emergency.
“We have this idea of armored vehicles, black Suburbans and a whole convoy of vehicles. We recommend a different approach: Keeping as low a profile as possible. You don’t want to draw attention; you don’t want to be flagged by cartel lookouts."
In a recent article for Border Report, Global Guardian's Director of Intelligence Michael Ballard discusses violence in Mexico related to drug cartel activity, conflict hotspots throughout the region—as reported in Global Guardian's 2023 Risk Map—and advice for business and leisure travelers to mitigate their risk.
"It is fairly obvious that without U.S. military aid, the situation on the ground would be radically different."
In an article for Newsweek, Global Guardian Senior Intelligence Analyst Zev Faintuch discusses how military aid from the United States has been instrumental to Ukraine’s success against Russia—and how a lack of support might have altered different phases of the conflict.
As reported by Local 10 News, Global Guardian is proud to support the return of Miami-Dade police officer, Sgt. Jessenia Munoz, after being stranded outside Cusco amid political unrest and protests in Peru. With on-the-ground agents, Global Guardian provided situational updates and intelligence, secure transportation, and around-the-clock security protection right up to Sgt. Munoz’s flight back to the United States, keeping her safe in an ever-evolving situation.
For more information about Global Guardian’s support in Peru, contact our team.
“Only half of corporate leaders said their companies brainstorm or simulate potential safety and security situations at least once annually; such practices are a simple but effective way to reduce vulnerabilities and ensure full-spectrum preparation against threats.”
In an article for SecurityInfoWatch.com, CEO Dale Buckner reviews key findings from Global Guardian’s 2022 Global Safety and Security Study, including the threats that security and HR executives are most concerned about when it comes to the safety of their employees—and the effectiveness of their duty of care programs when it comes to mitigating those threats.
"As Ukrainians return to Kherson, they cannot assume that their homes and businesses have not been tampered with by Russia."
In a recent interview with Yahoo News Australia, CEO Dale Buckner discusses Russia's tactic of leaving explosive devices behind when retreating from Ukrainian cities, drawing on intelligence from Global Guardian's on-the-ground teams and his past military experience in the Middle East.
"So in the meantime, we are likely to see a bolstering of defensive positions in Zaporizhzhia as Russia probably fears that it will be Ukraine's next axis of advance."
In a recent Newsweek article, CEO Dale Buckner discusses the withdrawal of Russian troops from the west bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast—and draws on intelligence from Global Guardian's on-the-ground teams and his extensive military background to share potential scenarios for what might be next for the Russia-Ukraine War.
In a recent Newsweek article, Global Guardian Senior Intelligence Analyst Zev Faintuch opines on the significance of the German Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns (SPAAG) to the Ukrainian war effort.
"But, over the long-term, the widespread abuse, poor training and equipment, and the use of certain soldiers as fodder, will come back to haunt the regime as it did during the Soviet-Afghan War and the subsequent collapse of the USSR."
In a recent Newsweek article, Global Guardian Senior Intelligence Analyst Zev Faintuch weighs in with insight on the ongoing reports of low morale among Russian troops—and the potential short-term and long-term effects on the outcome of the war and beyond.
During ITIC Global 2022 in Athens, Global Guardian CEO Dale Buckner discussed the current risks associated with traveling to Mexico—and encouraged business and leisure travelers to only visit the country if they have effectively answered three questions, including: Where will you go and what will you do if you get injured?
Click below to read a summary of this presentation published in the International Travel and Health Insurance Journal (ITIJ).
"The 'home team' of Ukraine has the tactical advantage as their supply chains are much shorter, with less risk of disruption and logistical support."
In USA Today, CEO Dale Buckner draws on intelligence from Global Guardian’s on-the-ground teams to discuss the advantages—as well as the challenges—the winter season brings to the fighting in Ukraine and why there is little hope for an end to the war in the coming months.
A recent article in Security Magazine highlights some of the key findings from Global Guardian's 2022 Global Safety and Security Study, a survey of 250 security and human resources executives, including their outlook on the current and future threat landscape, the effectiveness of their response plans, and how security budgets are evolving.
To download a copy of the 2022 Global Safety and Security Study, click here.
“Internationally, do you want to deal with typhoons in the Philippines? Do you want to deal with the potential flooding in Thailand? These things now matter with the pace and strength of these disruptions.”
As natural disasters continue to impact business operations in the U.S. and globally, Global Guardian CEO Dale Buckner offered advice to Business Insurance America for corporate leaders to consider in preparing for an emergency and building effective response plans.
“If you don’t issue a company phone that has an encrypted end-to-end VPN on it where everything is encrypted and protected, or you have employees bringing their own device, it’s wide open. These are all ways into your company. You are completely exposed.”
As reported in a recent CoStar article, Global Guardian CEO Dale Buckner discusses the growing threat of data breaches within the hospitality industry and how to best shore up cybersecurity defenses down to the end user during the Hospitality Law Conference in Washington, DC.
A recent article on The Independent features Global Guardian's interactive 2023 Risk Assessment Map, highlighting risk ratings by country and geopolitical risk zones around the world. The article notes the risk ratings for popular holiday destinations—including some of the safest countries to visit—and puts a spotlight on "extreme risk" regions and why they have been given that rating.
“That’s why you’re seeing a lot of violence lately in the Western half of Mexico, because these two cartels are accommodating in this trade, fighting with each other. And then you have factions fighting with each other. Sinaloa has rival factions and they’re (also) fighting with police,” Ballard said.
In this article, Julian Resendiz from the Border Report talks to Global Guardian's Director of Intelligence Michael Ballard about Global Guardian's 2023 Risk Map and the drug war happening in Mexico.
"Risk maps are something COOs and security leaders in Fortune 500 need to look at. It’s not paranoid to say we’re decoupling from China. From Russia. We’re looking at possible geopolitical decoupling. Previously looking at risk was a linear model based on crime, kidnap and ransom, etc."
In this article, Michael Goldstein from Forbes talks to CEO Dale Buckner about Global Guardian's 2023 Risk Map and the new world of global risk for travelers. Dale also discusses Global Guardian's business model —and how the firm supports clients across the world, including evacuating thousands of clients out of Ukraine and supporting on-the-ground emergency response during Hurricane Ian in Florida.
"With simple back of the napkin math, you can determine that Ukraine has more tanks now than it did in early February," Faintuch told Newsweek.
Global Guardian Senior Intelligence Analyst Zev Faintuch discusses the Ukrainian capture of Russian tanks, including how Ukraine’s tank capabilities compare with Russia’s and how this has changed over the course of the war.
"The Russians for all intents and purposes have already lost the war and their best option is to declare 'victory' in these four annexes and request a diplomatic compromise to formally annex the territories listed."
Global Guardian CEO Dale Buckner discusses Russia's next moves in Ukraine and potential outcomes to the war, drawing on insight and intelligence from Global Guardian’s on-the-ground teams in Ukraine and his special forces background.
“When [a storm hits] on the mainland, there are safe zones to pre-posture in. You can get very close with your assets and refuel and house people within a few hours [travel time] of the disaster zone.”
In an Insurance Business America article, CEO Dale Buckner shares how Global Guardian phased its response to Hurricane Ian, first by pre-positioning assets and agents in the area and alerting clients, then by conducting high-water rescue missions. Post-storm, the firm pivoted to supporting clients with damage assessments, onsite security to deter looting, and health and welfare checks.
In the International Travel and Health Insurance Journal’s latest Assistance & Repatriation Edition, CEO Dale Buckner recounts one high-risk extraction involving over 100 employees of a corporate client and their family members from Kyiv weeks after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. While this mission was one of many executed by Global Guardian’s local teams in coordination with its Security Operations Center, the following case study exemplifies the level of detailed risk calculation, on-the-ground intelligence, and coordination needed to provide a real outcome in an uncertain situation.
“It matters what you do, where you are, and how you are postured from a security standpoint.”
In a recently published ITIJ article, Global Guardian SVP of Business Operations and Risk Management and former U.S. Secret Service executive Greg McAleer discusses the reasons why every business is at risk for a cyberattack. With malign actors that can strike anywhere in the world from anywhere in the world, organizations need to minimize risk down to their end user—and most importantly, think like the adversary when shoring up cyber defenses.
CEO Dale Buckner talks to ABC 7News DC about Global Guardian’s efforts in supporting clients impacted by Hurricane Ian: "Desperate people are going to do desperate things and people will take advantage of broken out windows and doors and things being unsecure. It's naturally going to happen. This is a rebuild, not a reconstruction.”
CEO Dale Buckner talks to CNN about Global Guardian’s efforts in supporting clients impacted by Hurricane Ian: “For us, it’s all about speed and response. On Monday we put assets and people in Jacksonville Florida, Miami, Bradenton, Fort Meyers and Naples not knowing where the final storm would hit. Ultimately, once we knew the final path, we adjusted where those assets were. The storm then hit Fort Meyers at about 3:00pm local. By about 7:30pm that evening, we were executing our first high-water emergency response missions to get people out of their homes.”
"Travelers should assume that communication is monitored at all times. Hotel rooms may also be subject to surveillance and can be accessed without the consent of the guest. Electronic devices may be screened by customs officials on arrival and departure."
In a recent Forbes article discussing the risks of travel to the KSA, Global Guardian CEO Dale Buckner weighs in on the issue of cyber security in a country known for its surveillance of telephone and email communications.
“That’s how we’ll transition and phase through, from emergency response to a lot of assessment work, and then we’ll transition to security mode until the power comes back on.”
In a recent interview on Jacksonville’s NPR station, WJCT-FM, CEO Dale Buckner provides insight into the damage and security threats as a result of Hurricane Ian from on the ground in Florida, where Global Guardian has been focused on emergency response and supporting its clients, businesses, and families.
Click below to listen to the show. If interested in skipping ahead, Global Guardian segment begins at 28:39.
“Russia has proven to be a template of what you don’t want to happen.”
In a recent Bloomberg article, Global Guardian CEO Dale Buckner discussed how global financial firms are urgently preparing contingency plans to minimize losses in the event of a conflict between China and Taiwan—and how Global Guardian is assisting clients in this industry to reduce their exposure.
"They're not going to fight for the guy to the right or left. They're not going to have that moral conviction that what they're doing is right and matters."
Drawing on insight and intelligence from Global Guardian’s on-the-ground teams in Ukraine and his special forces background, CEO Dale Buckner sat down with Newsweek to discuss the potential challenges of Russia’s partial mobilization and what it means for Ukraine at this point in the war.
"This is the first real validation of Ukraine’s ability to counterattack—but with limited success. It does change the path of the conflict moving forward. The Russians now have an expanding challenge of defending the terrain they have taken."
Leveraging intelligence and insight from Global Guardian’s on-the-ground response teams, CEO Dale Buckner discusses Ukraine’s recent counteroffensive in the northeastern Kharkiv region and how it impacts the path of the conflict moving forward in a recent Reuters article.
"The definition of success for Ukraine is an end to the war, the redrawing of its borders, and a return to a peace-time economy with the chance of becoming a NATO member in the future.”
In a recent front-page article in USA Today, CEO Dale Buckner discusses current conditions and on-the-ground realities six months into the Russia-Ukraine war, drawing on insight and intelligence from Global Guardian’s local Ukrainian teams responsible for evacuating thousands of people since the start of the invasion.
“In the short term, over the next 12 to 24 months, there is a good calculus for nothing happening. But if you are an investor and only looking at the next 18 to 24 months, you aren’t a good investor.”
In a recent article for Barron’s, CEO Dale Buckner discusses why global companies should be assessing their risk in Taiwan and China with regards to their investments, infrastructure, supply chain, and employees—and how Global Guardian is assisting some of these companies with the development of contingency plans.
“I think if you're a leader, and you're thinking over the horizon—not only in the next 12, 18 months, but the next decade—you have to be thinking about these things. I don't think currently my clients are in panic, but I think they're taking it very, very seriously. And they don't want to replicate what's happened between Russia and Ukraine on a much bigger scale.”
Amid rising tensions between Taiwan and China, CEO Dale Buckner weighs in on how Global Guardian is advising and preparing global businesses with supply chains, assets, and people in the region in a recent Voice of America article.
“…they don't want to happen what just happened in Russia where they lost billions of dollars’ worth of assets, both financial and hard, so they are already looking to disperse people and assets to other countries.”
With a growing number of corporate leaders closely watching Taiwan and analyzing the risk to their operations, CEO Dale Buckner weighs in on how Global Guardian is supporting clients with contingency plan development in the Politico China Watcher.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has global business executives looking more closely at geopolitical hot spots—and the potential war over Taiwan is at the top of the list.
In a Financial Times article, CEO Dale Buckner comments on how Global Guardian is briefing companies on the risks associated with this potential conflict and helping executives prepare their contingency and evacuation plans.
“The real benefit of having a service provider manage duty of care is that we act as the connective tissue between the traveler and their organization. We provide the reach-back capability, real-time direction to the traveler, and accurate information to decision-makers sitting in the head office who can then make decisions that are founded in fact...”
In the latest issue of the National Defense Transportation Association’s Defense Transportation Journal, Global Guardian SVP of Strategic Partnerships Michael Coleman outlines the key components of effective duty of care and how a corporate traveler and their employer both benefit from the support of a vetted provider in the event of an emergency.
Click below to read the article in the Travel Issue, featured on page 10.
"These extreme events that were previously thought to have been things of the past have returned with a vengeance. The clustering of such events speaks to the covariate nature of risk in today’s world. From geopolitics to the digital realm, the COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in an era where bad actors at both the state and substate levels are taking advantage of uncertainty."
In a recent article on SecurityInfoWatch.com, Director of Intelligence Michael Ballard outlines the global threats—geopolitical instability, ransomware and cryptocurrency attacks, 3D-printed arms, and the pandemic-fueled increase in crime—continuing to present security challenges for organizations around the world, as highlighted in Global Guardian's 2022 Worldwide Threat Assessment. Michael also offers suggestions for businesses to minimize the potential impact from these threats and protect their people and operations.
“...Understanding what is the risk of your personnel in Taiwan, what is the risk of your personnel in Hong Kong, and then of course, the obvious high-risk markets—the question is, do they need to be there? Should their family be there? What is your exposure and do you have a real evacuation plan if things go sideways?"
President and CEO Dale Buckner was featured on Bloomberg Balance of Power with David Westin discussing Global Guardian's recently released Worldwide Threat Assessment and the geopolitical and cyber threats that multi-national companies face, including those stemming from the ongoing situation in Ukraine.
Click below to watch the full video. If interested in skipping ahead, Global Guardian segment begins at 34:30.
“We are seeing our Fortune 1000 clients reassess who is key and essential, do they need to be there, should their family be deployed to that country, what do those rotations look like, and what is the risk. All of that calculus is being reevaluated globally for the Fortune 1000 and large European headquarters around the world.”
In a recent interview on Yahoo Finance, CEO Dale Buckner shares information about Global Guardian's recently released 2022 Worldwide Threat Assessment, which highlights the top risks Global Guardian has identified for businesses that operate globally. Dale weighs in on geopolitical issues, including the United State's diminishing global power and influence, the risks of ransomware and cryptocurrency attacks, and the increase in crime across the world—and how these threats impact the security and operations of multinational companies.
If you don’t move quickly, every minute of every day that goes by, exponentially the risk typically goes up until it breaks. It delays and slows our ability to do this safely, securely, and efficiently.”
In a recent article in Security Management Magazine, CEO Dale Buckner discusses how Global Guardian's evacuation and support efforts have evolved almost three months into the war in Ukraine—and shares lessons learned from this crisis so that organizations can better prepare for the next global event.
"No one would look at Paris, France and say, ‘That would be an emergency,’ but sure enough, we had the Paris attacks in 2015 and it was real. No one looks at Turkey and saw a Turkey coup coming. No one sees the next earthquake, the next hurricane, the next tsunami, no one knows what happens tomorrow and no one knows where it’s going to happen."
In a recent interview on the BBC's Business Daily podcast, Global Guardian CEO Dale Buckner shares insight into how the team communicates with and prepares clients for evacuation out of Ukraine—and in other times of crisis—and the continuous growth the firm has seen as corporations look to protect their people and assets amid uncertainty in the world and an evolving threat landscape.
Click below to hear the full podcast. If interested in skipping ahead, Global Guardian segment begins at 11:40.
"What we thought the opportunity in the market was: To be comprehensive, do it all, so it's coordinated; don't deploy expats after the fact because you might not be able to get in—meaning have teams on the ground that speak the language, understand the culture, and can maneuver...and lastly, ensure that we would go into these kinds of crises where everyone else was contractually afraid to do it."
In a recent interview on Fox News Radio's Everyone Talks to Liz Claman, Global Guardian CEO Dale Buckner shares his background, including why he choose a career in the military, and how he leveraged his experience to start Global Guardian—and ultimately fill a void left by traditional insurance models to effectively support businesses across the world and their employees. Fast forward to today, Dale discusses the current situation in Ukraine and Global Guardian's evacuation efforts—including one high-profile evacuation in particular early on—and offers insight into what's coming down the road with regards to this crisis.
"Unlike my competitors in the insurance market, I don't deploy expats, meaning ex-Secret Service, ex-FBI … I don't deploy people like that. Our teams are standing there. I like to think we were there before the war, we'll be there during the war, and we're going to be there after the war."
In a recent interview on Fox Digital, CEO Dale Buckner weighs in on Global Guardian's efforts in Ukraine, helping the employees of clients—including their families and extended families—evacuate the country since even before the Russian invasion. Dale also shares details about the on-the-ground situation from Global Guardian's local agents.
"Clients were now cutting off some Russian employees’ access to their digital data, he added, asking: 'are they sympathetic to the company or sympathetic to Russia?'"
In a recent Financial Times article, CEO Dale Buckner comments on Global Guardian's evacuations efforts of clients with employees in Russia, as well as retrieval missions to extract proprietary assets, servers, and equipment that could fall into the hands of the state.
"Here's the gritty reality. In all of these evacuations, we've typically had two, no more than four days of warning to tell our clients, 'You're leaving. This is the airport. This is your aircraft. Here's your timeline. Here's your destination.'"
In a recent NPR interview, CEO Dale Buckner weighs in on Global Guardian's evacuations efforts of clients and their American, European, and Russian employees in Russia, as well as safeguarding the physical assets and proprietary information left behind.
“This is the wake-up call for multinationals. Just because you have insurance doesn’t mean you’re prepared for crises in a more complicated world.”
In this article, Eric Tegler from Forbes talks to CEO Dale Buckner about Global Guardian's ongoing evacuation efforts of people and physical assets in Ukraine one month into the war and the calculations that go into each mission. Dale also discusses how and why Global Guardian was founded—and how the firm fills the gaps of other duty of care and insurance providers with local teams and assets ready to respond in minutes and hours all around the world.
In a recent interview with Maria Bartiromo on Mornings with Maria on Fox Business, CEO Dale Buckner weighs in on Russia's advancements in Ukraine based on what Global Guardian's on-the-ground teams are experiencing amid evacuation efforts. Dale also shares insight into Russia's military strategy and possible developments in the situation based on his special forces and military experience.
In a recent article in Defense One, Global Guardian President and CEO Dale Buckner discusses how the company is actively supporting its clients in Ukraine and shared the details of the evacuation process, including how the team determines if evacuees can be reached, the logistics around the journey, and what the support looks like when the evacuees reach the border.
In a recent interview filmed at Global Guardian's Charlotte, NC-based 24/7 Security Operations Center for WBTV's Safety First, Asset Security President Andrew Vanderburg discusses how the popular GPS trackers known as Air Tags can be used by malign actors to track your whereabouts and steal from you. Andrew also weighs in with what you should do if you find an unknown device in your belongings and steps to take to protect yourself.
“In the last 12 days, every mission, every evacuation we’ve executed has included children, family members, grandfathers, grandmothers, and relatives."
Dale Buckner joined Yahoo Finance to discuss the latest updates happening on the ground in Ukraine, including how the team is continuing to step in and support clients and civilians, reuniting families and bringing them to safety. During the conversation, Dale also explained the comprehensive Global Guardian model, including how our global emergency response capabilities allow us to support clients in all types of crises. In addition, Dale shared in all crises the team is ultimately looking for a safe zone - focusing on where individuals are located, where is the threat, and where can we move them and bring them to safety.
In a recent article in Financial Times Intelligence, President and CEO Dale Buckner discusses the growing trend of corporate headquarters feeling responsible for their local national employees in foreign markets, and how Global Guardian assists these firms in fulfilling their duty of care obligations, including evacuation assistance out of Ukraine.
“Just burning that adrenaline for so long, at a certain point, you kind of start to get that zombie effect almost,” he said. “We’re picking up people now that start to look like that a little bit. It's scary. It's not good.”"
In an interview with Yahoo News Australia, Global Guardian President and CEO Dale Buckner shares insight on Russia's war on Ukrainians mental health, the key measures being used to keep President Zelensky safe from Russian assassins, and how NATO is working to “find a balance” between maximizing military support for Ukraine without “crossing that line, and then hitting a tripwire, and starting World War III”.
“Anything their employees need, if they’re sick, injured, need medical evacuation, need security, all of those things are in our sphere. When you have events like the Ukraine, Afghanistan, the Turkey Coup, the Paris attacks, that’s when we’re most active in a crisis like this.”
Global Guardian President and CEO Dale Buckner was featured on CNN International's First Move with Julia Chatterley discussing the duty of care corporations have to their employees and employees family, and how Global Guardian is actively evacuating clients in Ukraine. In addition, during the interview, Dale provided an assessment on what he believes to be the most likely course of action when it comes to the potential outcome of the war in Ukraine.
"It's very high risk," said Dale Buckner, CEO of Global Guardian, an international security firm working for a slew of fortune 500 companies to get their personnel out of Ukraine. "It's incredibly violent. We couldn't get into downtown center city Kyiv until two days ago."
Global Guardian President and CEO Dale Buckner was featured on ABC 6News Philadelphia discussing the situation in Ukraine and how the team is actively evacuating clients and families.
"Clients need to prepare for freezing temperatures and to be on their feet for eight to26 hours because the vehicles can get only so close to the border with traffic so backed up. “You’re probably going to get out and walk the last seven miles,” Buckner said."
In a recent article in the Financial Times, President and CEO Dale Buckner discusses the current evacuation efforts happening in Ukraine, including what it takes to coordinate and prepare clients for the journey.
“It's visceral, it's more violent, and things are tightening, and we have to be prepared to move as these Russian forces come in from three different sides."
Global Guardian President and CEO Dale Buckner was featured on Bloomberg Balance of Power discussing the situation on the ground in Ukraine as the Global Guardian team evacuates clients and their families. During this interview with Joe Mathieu, Dale also draws on his military experience to weigh in with strategic insight on Russia's capabilities and potential outcomes for this war.
Click below to watch the full video. If interested in skipping ahead, Global Guardian segment begins at 25:14.
"This is going to tighten and tighten and tighten. Our job is to figure out how to flex as this ebbs and flows and find those pockets where we do have freedom of maneuver as we continue to move through this over the next few months."
In an interview on Fox & Friends on Fox News, Global Guardian President and CEO Dale Buckner discusses evacuation efforts in Ukraine and shares insight into how those efforts have evolved—and will continue to evolve—as the on-the-ground evacuation teams continue to navigate checkpoints, movement of Russian troops, and windows of opportunity to bring clients and their families to safety.
“They're seeing their compatriots being killed, their aircraft being shot out of the sky, their tanks being taken down. They're seeing the nationalism of Ukraine. You can take the morale of a large portion of 120,000 potentially, and you can absolutely put it at the bottom of the ocean and just destroy whatever preconceived notion of Russian nationalism they had. That's why this could be so important.”
In a recent article in CSO Online, President and CEO Dale Buckner weighs in on the purported data leak of the personal information of 120,000 Russian soldiers, how this information could be used by organizations in Ukraine or other countries, and why this alleged leak is significant to the war being waged in Ukraine.
"We're at a point at day seven, going on day eight now, where we had freedom of maneuver a week ago that we simply don't have anymore. This is all about patience....We're not thinking in days and weeks right now, we're thinking in months as this ebbs and flows, and we're going to adjust to the threat and everything that comes with the conflict itself."
In a recent interview on The Claman Report on Fox Business, President and CEO Dale Buckner discusses Global Guardian's evacuation efforts of corporate clients and their families in Ukraine, including how logistics are evolving as conditions on the ground change amid Russia's advancements.
"We have teams in 134 countries. We’re going to execute 125 to 150 missions next month around the world. We are not utilizing one set or one team of security agents from any one part of the world. Yes, we are surging in Ukraine, clearly, but that does not affect the team in Japan, the team in Saudi Arabia, the team in Bogota Columbia, the team in Argentina, so on and so forth. They are uninhibited and have full capacity.”
Global Guardian President and CEO Dale Buckner was featured on Security Fanatics, where he sat down with Nick Esponsia, and discussed how Global Guardian is simultaneously supporting clients in Ukraine and around the world, and how our model of having on-the-ground teams in 134 countries allows us to surge in times of crisis. During the interview, Dale also provided an overview of how the team conducts these intensive evacuations and how they help clients located in Ukraine prepare for the journey. Dale and Nick also discuss the immediate situation and the most likely scenarios of how it could play out in the coming months.
In an interview with Yahoo News Australia, Global Guardian President and CEO Dale Buckner shares insight on the evacuation process in Ukraine—and the similarities between other crises where Global Guardian has conducted emergency evacuation efforts—and discusses how evolving conditions have made evacuation efforts more difficult as the situation on the ground continues to deteriorate.
In the March edition of the International Travel and Health Insurance Journal (ITIJ), Global Guardian President and CEO Dale Buckner discusses why corporate leaders should carefully consider their duty of care obligations to their employees and take steps to address the gaps in policies that were exposed when the pandemic struck almost two years ago. Dale also offers important questions that every organization should address when rethinking their duty of care program.
“The biggest unknown, is where are Russian forces going to physically go and how visceral and violent will the pre-fires be as they come into major cities? That is the number one risk now—and what’s the risk/reward for our clients?”
As the situation in Ukraine continues to escalate, President and CEO Dale Buckner shares insight with Fox News on the risks associated with Global Guardian’s evacuation efforts.
“As we're moving our clients to either Romania or Poland—or at least the Western side of the country—just the traffic alone has become a major issue.”
As Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine, Global Guardian President and CEO Dale Buckner was featured on ABC 7News DC discussing the realities our team is facing when conducting client evacuations from the country.
"Those who remain in Ukraine may soon find themselves cut off from the outside world, [Buckner] believes. 'We should anticipate those lines of communication starting to deteriorate very quickly over the next 24-48 hours.'"
In a recent Security Magazine article, Global Guardian President and CEO Dale Buckner discusses Global Guardian's evacuation efforts amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine and offers recommendations for organizations to consider as the situation and threat level impacting people on the ground continues to evolve.
“The cyber actors are great at their craft and we just have to be better.”
In a recent interview with PAHomepage, Global Guardian SVP of Business Operations and Risk Management Greg McAleer discusses the possibility of cyber attacks stemming from Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the need for organizations—and even the general public—to stay vigilant in their cyber security defenses.
"As Russian tanks rolled in, Global Guardian, a U.S. firm that advises businesses on security risks, used buses to take 200 workers from international financial services, legal and other office-based companies operating in Ukraine to Poland."
In a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, President and CEO Dale Buckner comments on Global Guardian's evacuation efforts in Ukraine, assisting with the movement of foreign nationals prior to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and continuing to actively evacuate clients on the ground.
"We knew we were going to be active. We've been preparing our clients for a little over a month, and once combat operations started, we knew that we would have to ebb and flow and adjust to the circumstances on the ground."
In a recent interview on Mornings with Maria on Fox Business, Global Guardian CEO Dale Buckner weighs in on the developing situation in Ukraine. He also discusses how Global Guardian was prepared to assist clients with evacuation efforts by anticipating the lack of U.S. government support in assisting expats overseas in crisis, similar to that seen during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and the fall of Afghanistan.
"We are advising all our Western clients with expats to take advantage of commercial air and rail travel while those options, albeit limited, are still available and operating."
In a recent article in Business Travel News, Global Guardian CEO Dale Buckner comments on the need for expats to leave Ukraine while commercial air options are still available—and how to prepare key and essential employees on the ground with a swift exit plan, including communication and ground transportation assets.
“In addition to helping clients prepare for evacuation, we are also advising companies that have employees deemed essential in Ukraine and cannot leave to have a communications plan and assets in place, like satellite phones, in the event of a wide scale cyberattack.”
In a recent article in Forbes, Global Guardian CEO Dale Buckner shares how expatriates working in Ukraine have already started leaving the country, or plan to do so soon, and discusses how businesses should prepare their key and essential employees on the ground should the situation with Russia escalate.
“In talking with teams on the ground, the trains have been packed going on two weeks now and the airports are very consistent with commercial [flights] remaining busy and brisk. People are moving, and it has started in a material way.”
In a recent article in SecurityInfoWatch.com, Global Guardian CEO Dale Buckner discusses how the looming crisis in Ukraine is impacting businesses with operations and employees in the country and runs through various evacuation scenarios, encouraging businesses in Ukraine to prepare now.
“The information that we get from those [on-the-ground] teams, beyond just what everyone else sees in open source…that’s really the differential for us, that we get that on-ground sense.”
In a recent episode of Bloomberg’s Balance of Power podcast with David Westin, Global Guardian CEO Dale Buckner shares how our team is advising businesses in Ukraine as tensions continue to rise with Russia—and preparing emergency evacuation plans in the event the situation on the ground escalates.
“A cybersecurity system that fails to account for the human condition will ultimately fail.”
As corporate travel sees a resurgence and many workers continue to work remotely, it’s critical that companies invest the time, effort, and money to address cyber vulnerabilities and defenses right down to the end user no matter where they are in the world. In an op-ed article for Business Travel News What to Watch 2022, Global Guardian CEO Dale Buckner discusses why cybercrime will continue to be a major challenge this year and how organizations should prepare.
“We are going to run air as much as we can, as long as we can with private charter and helos until it’s just not feasible.”
As tensions continue to rise at the Ukraine/Russia border, Global Guardian CEO Dale Buckner was featured last night on ABC 7News DC discussing how our team—including on-the-ground agents—is preparing clients in Ukraine to evacuate with emergency response plans.
“You’ve got to identify where the shortfalls are and plug those holes now because if you don't get ahead of it right now, as we reopen, you're going to be right back in the same failed position that you were back in March when it started.”
In a recent Security Magazine article, Global Guardian President and CEO Dale Buckner discusses why security budgets have the potential to double or triple in 2022 as organizations look to remedy any weakness in strategy exposed by the pandemic—and protect their assets and people against returning pre-pandemic security risks and the growing number of threats today.
Global Guardian President and CEO Dale Buckner is featured in a National Journal article about the rising number of threats politicians and candidates are experiencing in 2021—and the growing demand for security firms to step in and provide effective solutions, from physical protection to home security to online threat monitoring.
Global Guardian CEO Dale Buckner credits in-country partners with the success of Global Guardian’s efforts in India: “An on-the-ground presence is critical to be able to successfully go the last mile when it comes to saving lives and serving clients. If you try to do this from outside the country, you are guaranteed to fail.”
In the October edition of ITIJ's Assistance and Repatriation Review, Global Guardian describes the execution of a 24-hour, seven-stop emergency evacuation of a COVID-19-positive client from India back to the US for treatment, all while navigating an international travel lockdown.
"Ultimately, protecting employees and the business’s interests during these dire situations requires risk professionals to do the work before a crisis happens. 'If you can communicate now, you can organize now,' Buckner said."
In a Risk Management Magazine article, Global Guardian President and CEO Dale Buckner stresses the steps corporations should take to be prepared to protect and evacuate their employees in any crisis, including regular desktop exercises running emergency scenarios, like what unfolded in Afghanistan this year, and reviewing contingency plans, insurance coverage, and vendors.
"A person, whether an HVE or a DVE, who has a grievance, feels disenfranchised, and is looking for something—they can find like-minded individuals on the internet....You can pick and choose from what’s out there to support your particular ideology and yet never have to leave your computer to communicate, plan, and target individuals."
In the Special 9/11 Edition of the IACP Police Chief Magazine, the FBI National Security Branch conducted interviews of FBI leaders, special agents, and other law enforcement partners who played key roles in the evolving counterterrorism mission before, during, and after 9/11, including Global Guardian Vice President of Global Risk Services Mike McGarrity. In this feature, McGarrity—former assistant director of the FBI Counterterrorism Division—discusses the evolution of terrorist threats, in particular how the internet and social media play a role and the challenges they create.
FROM AFGHANISTAN TO LOUISIANA, GLOBAL GUARDIAN GETS CLIENTS OUT OF HARM'S WAY
“Whether responding to the 2015 Paris attacks, the 2016 Turkey coup, the back-to-back hurricanes in the Western Hemisphere in 2017, COVID-19 pandemic border closures of 2020, the collapse of India’s healthcare system in May of 2021 — or the fall of Kabul, Afghanistan, Global Guardian’s ability to move and respond in minutes and hours, delivers positive outcomes and real results to our client base during their greatest time of need,” Buckner said.
Global Guardian was featured in Fairfax County EDA's E-Bird Newsletter with CEO Dale Buckner discussing recent evacuation and emergency response efforts from Afghanistan to Louisiana. Buckner also shares how Global Guardian differs from other providers and why he chose to base the company's headquarters in Fairfax County.
“In this day and age, there is an expectation that your brand, your company, is going to take a vote and a stand on these positions, and now this is going to change how CEOs manage their firms and their brand and the outlook in the market.”
Global Guardian CEO Dale Buckner was featured on Bloomberg Quicktake “Take the Lead” series discussing the societal shift causing corporations and their CEOs to take a stance on political, social, and environmental issues—and the resulting rise in physical and digital threats against today’s business leaders.
Click below to watch the full video. If interested in skipping ahead, Global Guardian segment begins at 27:55.
"In disasters like this, employers have a ‘duty of care’ to their employees, meaning that they should take all steps within reason to promote the health, safety and wellbeing of their employees."
In a recent Forbes article by Edward Segal, Global Guardian CEO Dale Buckner weighs in on the need for businesses to provide emergency response to keep their employees safe after—and even before—a natural disaster, like Hurricane Ida, strikes.
"People are thinking they lost a year of their lives, and in the back of their minds, they're thinking, 'What if this happens again?'"
In a recent Business Insider article, Global Guardian CEO Dale Buckner weighs in on the expected surge of summer travel as countries around the globe reopen, and how Global Guardian is preparing to support family clients with their travel safety and security needs.
LA Times recent article around the Myanmar anti-coup protests highlights how Global Guardian has been supporting clients on-the-ground, and how CEO Dale Buckner has warned clients the crisis won’t resolve itself anytime soon.
The volatile environment in Myanmar is paralyzing basic business operations with the financial system and logistic arteries being backed up or blocked. In the Wall Street Journal's recent article, Global Guardian CEO, Dale Buckner, shares how the team at Global Guardian is supporting corporate clients on the ground during these challenging times with the Wall Street Journal.
The global pandemic will not be the last major disrupting event we face in the travel industry. In a recent Skift article, Global Guardian CEO, Dale Buckner, expands on the definition of duty of care and the challenging “what if” questions organizations have to answer: “Are your existing platforms, between insurance and vendors and providers, enough? Will it respond in a time of crisis or is it just superficial? That acknowledgement is really important at this time.”
While it is too early to know with certainty how and when travel will truly pick back up in 2021, there are two key variables that will play a huge a role –vaccine distribution and confidence of travelers. Global Guardian’s VP of Global of Global Risk Services, Michael McGarrity, weighs in on the discussion in Washington Post's recent article "How will the COVID-19 vaccines affect your travel?"
The list of services the COVID-19 pandemic has forced to change is long with corporate duty of care being one of them. According to the Wall Street Journal “Many employees who are now working from home due to the pandemic don’t have the same protections—such as a badge system or a front-desk security guard—often found in corporate office buildings. If a threat is credible, remote employees and their families could be more vulnerable.”
In TIME magazine's recent article, "The U.S. Capital Looks Like the Anxiety Americans Are Feeling on Election Day", the Global Guardian team was quoted for their predictions in their recent intelligence report.
In this week's NY Times DealBook, they highlighted how corporate America is preparing for a momentous election. Dale Buckner of Global Guardian had a chance to sit down with Lauren Hirsch to talk about companies’ preparations for potential unrest after the vote.
How are organizations pivoting to protect their people and infrastructure in today’s world? Private Security.
Already struggling with an economic crisis brought on by the pandemic, corporations can ill afford more loss. Below, read how businesses are pivoting to fulfill their duty of care obligations in Global Guardian’s CEO, Dale Buckner’s, recently published article in Security Today.
At a time when safety and security are top of mind for travelers, many are researching what the best option is to ensure they are covered should an emergency happen while on the road or abroad.
As lockdown restrictions ease, businesses are slowly starting to return to travel. However, with that comes risks and questions that companies must be prepared to address.
“When greenlighting travel, companies will need to do their homework and assume the potential expense of self-quarantines or rerouted itineraries to get employees home safely. With state and nationwide restrictions changing from week to week, that can add up,” says Mike McGarrity, Vice President for Global Risk Services, in Bloomberg’s recent article “The New Rules of Travel for Road Warriors.”
Planning your “new” summer vacation? “Be brave, but...don't be foolish” says Michael McGarrity, Vice President of Global Risk Services in USA Today’s recent article, "The new reality of vacationing: Don’t be afraid but don’t be overconfident, either."
December 14, 2022 | 11:00 AM (EST)
As corporate leaders work to keep their business operations running smoothly and safely, regional conflicts continue to unfold across the globe, violent crime is at record levels, and natural disasters are more frequent and destructive. This begs the question—what does the current threat landscape mean for you and your business as we head into the new year?
In our final webinar of the year, Global Guardian’s panel of experts:
• Discussed developments of the past year and how they impacted business operations
• Examined potential risks and opportunities in 2023, leveraging key findings from our 2022 Global Safety and Security Study
• Shared tips on how to prepare for the year ahead when it comes to mitigating risk to your business and keeping your employees safe
COO, Global Guardian
Mark Post is the COO of Global Guardian responsible for overseeing all administrative and operational functions of the company. Mark retired from the CIA after 26 years of service in the Directorate of Operations, which included fifteen years overseas. Prior to his retirement, Mark held the Chief of Operations role in the South and Central Asia Mission Center. In addition, throughout his service, he held key leadership assignments including Deputy Division Chief, Africa, Chief of Station, the Balkans, the Caucasus, and Africa, and Deputy Chief of Station, South Asia. Mark holds a BA from Washington State University.
CHERYL STEELEVP of Global Security & Resilience (Chief Security Officer), Starbucks Coffee Company
Cheryl Steele is the vice president of Global Security & Resilience (Chief Security Officer) at Starbucks Coffee Company, a global fortune 150 company operating more than 30,000 retail locations in over 80 markets around the world. In this capacity, Cheryl oversees security operations, including executive protection, physical security infrastructure, occupational health and safety, and supply chain security. Cheryl also leads the company’s crisis management and business continuity practice, leveraging a network of intelligence experts to identify and escalate future risks and frame an enterprise-level perspective.
Based in Seattle, her team includes partners in Hong Kong, London, and Shanghai. Cheryl’s career spans executive and management roles across the private and public sectors. Her background includes leadership of business development for Fleishman Hillard and directing Booz Allen Hamilton’s work at the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and special projects for the U.S. Special Operations community. Cheryl is a former diplomat at the U.S. Department of State.
DALE BUCKNERCEO and President, Global Guardian
Dale Buckner is the CEO of Global Guardian and has been leading Global Guardian since its inception in March 2012. He is a decorated Combat-Commander with multiple combat tours and classified operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Colombia, Haiti and Cuba and executed deployments to Russia, El Salvador, Honduras, Chile, Panama, Kuwait, and Qatar. Dale served in the United States Army Infantry (9 years), Military Intelligence (2 years), and Special Forces Green Berets (13 years). He 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. Dale has Bachelor’s Degrees in Criminal Justice and Business, Master’s Degrees in Public Administration and Business Administration, a Masters Certificate in Strategic Leadership from Cornell and was a Senior Fellow at the Tufts University School of Law and Diplomacy. Dale earned a total of 27 awards and decorations highlighted by his combat Bronze Star Medal and Defense Meritorious Service Medal.
Director of Intelligence, Global Guardian
Michael currently manages Global Guardian's intelligence network with international partners. He is responsible for providing clients with Global Guardian's intelligence report updates and real-time alerts. Prior to joining the Global Guardian team, Michael was the former lead intelligence analyst for the North American region at UnitedHealth group. He holds a Master's Degree in International Affairs from the University of Kentucky, and Bachelor's Degree in History from the University of Mary Washington.
November 2, 2022 | 11:00 AM (EDT)
Protecting your property and assets with a proactive approach is critical—and must go beyond the traditional alarm system. While new advances in AI have improved monitoring, surveillance, and response times, these advances in technology are now being exploited by malign actors. To properly secure businesses and assets, leaders must understand the current security landscape and threats, as well as best practices when it comes to selecting asset security equipment and providers.
In this webinar, Global Guardian’s panel of experts shared their professional experiences, providing expert advice on why a less expensive solution is not always the best solution when it comes to asset security, and how to look for options that go beyond the traditional response.
President, Asset Security, Global Guardian
Andrew Vanderburg is the President of Global Guardian’s Asset Security Division. With 20 years of experience fostering next-level achievements through organizational leadership and technology advancements, Andrew is focused on closing the divide between physical security and electronic security, allowing for effective solutions for his clients. Prior to joining Global Guardian, Andrew served as a Senior Program Manager of National Accounts for Fortune 500 companies with Securitas Technology, where he managed client relations for the five largest clients within the organization. Prior to his role with Securitas, Andrew was the Compliance Manager for the Southeast Region of Stanley Security, where he was responsible for the development of new organizational standards.
Vice President, Director of Corporate Physical Security, Fifth Third Bank
Frank Loveridge serves as the Vice President, Director of Corporate Physical Security at Fifth Third Bank, where he is responsible for developing, implementing, and executing the strategic goals of the Corporate Security Program. In this role, Frank provides strategic leadership and support to all divisions and business lines of the Bancorp and engages with senior and executive management to support resolution of issues identified by corporate security.
Loveridge joined Fifth Third Bancorp in 2018 and is responsible for the physical security of over 1,100 financial centers, 35 high density buildings, and over 20,000 employees. In addition to these responsibilities, Loveridge also provides executive protection to Bancorp senior leadership, is responsible for the operational readiness of the security forces, is an active member of the Threat Assessment Team responsible for threat mitigation to employees and customers, and is the primary liaison with local and federal law enforcement.
Prior to joining Fifth Third Bancorp, Loveridge spent over 22 years in the United States Secret Service before retiring in March 2018, as the Special Agent in Charge (SAIC) of the Forensic Services Division overseeing the Crime Lab, Polygraph Program, Crime Scene Investigations, and forensic support to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. In February 2016, SAIC Loveridge graduated from the Key Executive Leadership Certificate Program, School of Public Affairs, at American University, in Washington DC. In January 2017, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s Qualifications Review Board approved SAIC Loveridge for certification and appointment to the Senior Executive Service. During his tenure, Loveridge supervised the protection of both Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. He served as an instructor at the U.S. Secret Service Academy providing instruction on asset forfeiture, money laundering, financial institution fraud, surveillance operations, and investigative tactics, and supervised numerous high-profile/high-stakes financial crime investigations that resulted in the execution of search warrants and both state and federal arrest warrants.
Prior to his time spent in the Secret Service, Loveridge served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force on faculty at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and as a Missile Launch Officer Commander at the 44th Strategic Missile Wing where he was responsible for the launch operations of 50 Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles at the direction of the President.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Nebraska Omaha, MA in Criminal Justice from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, a Master of Public Administration from Golden Gate University, and is a graduate of the DHS Key Executive Leadership Certificate Program at American University.
President, Robotic Assistance Devices (RAD)
Named to IFSEC's Global influencers list in 2018 and 2019 for Security Thought Leadership, Mark is a Business School Graduate, Certified Protection Professional (CPP), Fellow of The Security Institute (FSyI), industry volunteer, board of advisor member and security industry veteran with a background is in security services, corporate security, consulting, technology and software.
After graduating in Human Resource Management and International Business from Concordia’s John Molson School of Business in Montreal, he progressed to senior roles responsible for various security service business units across Canada. He launched a consulting business focused on physical security for corporate clients, served as Senior Manager, Corporate Security at Canada’s largest telecommunications company responsible for the executive security service group. Mark created and led the industry function for a Montreal-based software company focused on workforce automation for the security services industry. For 11 years he taught in the Security and Police Studies program at University of Montreal.
Mark is currently the President at security industry disruptor Robotic Assistance Devices (RAD), whose focus is to deliver artificial intelligence-based solutions that empower organizations to solve complex security and service challenges while delivering immediate return on investment.
He currently volunteers with ASIS International as Vice Chair of the newly created North American Regional Board of Directors.
DALE BUCKNERCEO and President, Global Guardian
Dale Buckner is the CEO of Global Guardian and has been leading Global Guardian since its inception in March 2012. He is a decorated Combat-Commander with multiple combat tours and classified operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Colombia, Haiti and Cuba and executed deployments to Russia, El Salvador, Honduras, Chile, Panama, Kuwait, and Qatar. Dale served in the United States Army Infantry (9 years), Military Intelligence (2 years), and Special Forces Green Berets (13 years). He 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. Dale has Bachelor’s Degrees in Criminal Justice and Business, Master’s Degrees in Public Administration and Business Administration, a Masters Certificate in Strategic Leadership from Cornell and was a Senior Fellow at the Tufts University School of Law and Diplomacy. Dale earned a total of 27 awards and decorations highlighted by his combat Bronze Star Medal and Defense Meritorious Service Medal.
September 28, 2022 | 11:00 AM (EDT)
An increasingly hostile China is posing a challenge to Western security and business interests. China’s provocative actions and legal assertions in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait have created a heightened sense of anxiety in the region and may portend a future conflict involving the United States. On the ground, the Chinese government’s actions against the minority Uyghur population in Xinjiang province have prompted concerns about a genocide and sourcing products produced by forced labor.
Online, China’s Great Firewall bans a range of platforms developed in the United States and Europe, including Facebook and Twitter, and Chinese hackers routinely steal U.S. intellectual property and sensitive business data. All the while, a heavy veil of censorship prevents those in China from accessing the full picture.
Western businesses, in particular, must carefully navigate this complex landscape. In this webinar, Global Guardian’s speakers:
Note: In the event you cannot attend the live webinar, a recording will be emailed after the webinar is over to those who have registered.
COO, Global Guardian
Mark Post is the COO of Global Guardian responsible for overseeing all administrative and operational functions of the company. Mark retired from the CIA after 26 years of service in the Directorate of Operations, which included fifteen years overseas. Prior to his retirement, Mark held the Chief of Operations role in the South and Central Asia Mission Center. In addition, throughout his service, he held key leadership assignments including Deputy Division Chief, Africa, Chief of Station, the Balkans, the Caucasus, and Africa, and Deputy Chief of Station, South Asia. Mark holds a BA from Washington State University.
Chairman, J.H. Whitney Investment Management, LLC
John O’Connor has served as Chairman of J.H. Whitney Investment Management, LLC since January 2005. From January 2009 through March 2011, he served as CEO of Tactronics Holdings, LLC, a Whitney Capital Partners portfolio holding company that provided tactical integrated electronic systems to U.S. and foreign military customers as well as composite armor solutions for military vehicles through its Armostruxx division.
Previously, John was Chairman of JP Morgan Alternative Asset Management, Inc. and an Executive Partner of JP Morgan Partners. He was also a member of the Risk Management Committee of JP Morgan Chase, which was responsible for policy formulation and oversight of all market and credit risk-taking activities globally. John has extensive experience in transaction leadership, structuring and portfolio management, and is a member of J.H. Whitney’s Investment Committee, contributing significant global renewable and energy investment, regulatory, and operational expertise to the Investment Manager’s team. John earned a B.A. in economics from Tulane University and an M.B.A. from Columbia University Graduate School of Business.
DALE BUCKNERCEO and President, Global Guardian
Dale Buckner is the CEO of Global Guardian and has been leading Global Guardian since its inception in March 2012. He is a decorated Combat-Commander with multiple combat tours and classified operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Colombia, Haiti and Cuba and executed deployments to Russia, El Salvador, Honduras, Chile, Panama, Kuwait, and Qatar. Dale served in the United States Army Infantry (9 years), Military Intelligence (2 years), and Special Forces Green Berets (13 years). He 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. Dale has Bachelor’s Degrees in Criminal Justice and Business, Master’s Degrees in Public Administration and Business Administration, a Masters Certificate in Strategic Leadership from Cornell and was a Senior Fellow at the Tufts University School of Law and Diplomacy. Dale earned a total of 27 awards and decorations highlighted by his combat Bronze Star Medal and Defense Meritorious Service Medal.
June 15, 2022 | 11:00 AM (EDT)
From wildfires to earthquakes and tsunamis to tornadoes and other severe storms, the potential impact a natural disaster has on an organization is dependent on the depth and effectiveness of its emergency plans—for employees still working from home and those halfway around the world.
In our webinar, Global Guardian’s panel of experts:
SVP, Strategic Partnerships, Corporate and Government Services, Global Guardian
As SVP of Strategic Partnerships, Corporate and Government Services, Michael Coleman helps Fortune 500 companies and government and military departments implement a full range of domestic and international duty of care services, emergency and medical response, and custom security solutions. Prior to joining the Global Guardian team, Michael served in the United States Army for 26 years where he gained extensive leadership, special operations, and project management experience as a Colonel and Special Forces Officer.
Most recently, Michael was the Director of Special Operations at the United States Army War College, training and educating the Army’s next generation of senior leaders. Prior to that post, he was the Garrison Commander in Soto Cano, Honduras—and also held key leadership positions overseeing multiple special task forces and recruiting operations. During his time in the Army, Michael conducted special operations deployments throughout Central and South America and the Middle East.
Michael holds two Master’s Degrees, one in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College and one in Business Administration and Management from Webster University. He also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and Corrections from Mansfield University of Pennsylvania.
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JUAN MESTASEmergency Manager and Fire Operations Deputy Chief, City of Miami Beach
Juan Mestas has 44 years of first responder and emergency management experience. He currently serves as Emergency Manager and Fire Operations Chief for the City of Miami Beach, where he oversees crisis planning and management, including the comprehensive preparations for Atlantic hurricane season involving many departments and partners. Juan has planned and executed multiple Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Programs (HSEEP) during his tenure and participated as a team leader/lead planner for multiple state and national training events, including Operation Integration and the National Homeland Security Conference. He is a State of Florida Certified Firefighter, serving since 1978.
Additionally, Juan has been a member of FEMA's Urban Search and Rescue team since its inception in 1991 and has been deployed to over 30 natural or manmade disasters, including the attacks on the Twin Towers in 2001, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Hurricane Maria in 2017, and Hurricane Michael in 2018, and most recently, as Plans Team Manager for the Surfside Florida building collapse in 2021. Juan is a Lead Instructor for FEAM’s US&R Incident Support Team and holds multiple training certificates.
DALE BUCKNERCEO and President, Global Guardian
Dale Buckner is the CEO of Global Guardian and has been leading Global Guardian since its inception in March 2012. He is a decorated Combat-Commander with multiple combat tours and classified operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Colombia, Haiti and Cuba and executed deployments to Russia, El Salvador, Honduras, Chile, Panama, Kuwait, and Qatar. Dale served in the United States Army Infantry (9 years), Military Intelligence (2 years), and Special Forces Green Berets (13 years). He 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. Dale has Bachelor’s Degrees in Criminal Justice and Business, Master’s Degrees in Public Administration and Business Administration, a Masters Certificate in Strategic Leadership from Cornell and was a Senior Fellow at the Tufts University School of Law and Diplomacy. Dale earned a total of 27 awards and decorations highlighted by his combat Bronze Star Medal and Defense Meritorious Service Medal.
Director of Operations, Global Guardian
Jeff Stacy is Director of Operations at Global Guardian. He is responsible for overseeing the 24/7/365 Security Operations Center and personnel, and participating in high-profile executive protection, emergency response, and travel security missions. In addition, he integrates and develops technologies and client Standard Operating Procedures and leads training for our security and medical teams.
Prior to Global Guardian, Jeff served in the United States Army as a Combat Medic with the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team. Jeff’s duties included: Treatment NCO, EMT-B, Combat Casualty Care and Battlefield Triage, and Jump Medic for a Quick Reaction Force. Jeff is certified Level II by American Board for Certification in Homeland Security (ABCHS II) and he is an American Red Cross Certified Instructor for CPR/AED/First Aid.
Jeff holds a bachelor’s degree in Homeland Security from American Military University where he graduated with honors.
May 18, 2022 | 11:00 AM (EDT)
While travel bookings continue to trend upward, not all employees around the globe are back on the road. The “stops and starts” caused by COVID-19 variants, combined with the uncertainty surrounding the war in Ukraine, have travelers weighing the risk of booking now or waiting a little longer. New travel rules and regulations aside, there are evolving security and health risks that your travelers need to be aware of to ensure a safe and successful trip.
In this webinar, Global Guardian’s panel of experts:
COO, Global Guardian
Mark Post is the COO of Global Guardian responsible for overseeing all administrative and operational functions of the company. Mark retired from the CIA after 26 years of service in the Directorate of Operations, which included fifteen years overseas. Prior to his retirement, Mark held the Chief of Operations role in the South and Central Asia Mission Center. In addition, throughout his service, he held key leadership assignments including Deputy Division Chief, Africa, Chief of Station, the Balkans, the Caucasus, and Africa, and Deputy Chief of Station, South Asia. Mark holds a BA from Washington State University.
SASITHORN MOYSenior Vice President and Global Head of Physical Security, Blackstone
Sas Moy is a Senior Vice President and Global Head of Physical Security at Blackstone. She is responsible for leading Blackstone’s physical security program to drive innovation that reduces risk to the firm.
Prior to joining Blackstone in 2022, Ms. Moy worked at Goldman Sachs for 13 years, where she served as Chief of Staff in the Office of Global Security and focused on global operational and technology strategic initiatives. Prior to Goldman Sachs, she served as a Vice President at Lehman Brothers and Barclays Capital, where she oversaw business continuity and partnered with key incident support areas including global security, real estate, facilities and information technology to enhance the firm’s resilience.
Ms. Moy received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Computer Information Systems from Baruch College.
DALE BUCKNERCEO and President, Global Guardian
Dale Buckner is the CEO of Global Guardian and has been leading Global Guardian since its inception in March 2012. He is a decorated Combat-Commander with multiple combat tours and classified operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Colombia, Haiti and Cuba and executed deployments to Russia, El Salvador, Honduras, Chile, Panama, Kuwait, and Qatar. Dale served in the United States Army Infantry (9 years), Military Intelligence (2 years), and Special Forces Green Berets (13 years). He 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. Dale has Bachelor’s Degrees in Criminal Justice and Business, Master’s Degrees in Public Administration and Business Administration, a Masters Certificate in Strategic Leadership from Cornell and was a Senior Fellow at the Tufts University School of Law and Diplomacy. Dale earned a total of 27 awards and decorations highlighted by his combat Bronze Star Medal and Defense Meritorious Service Medal.
Medical Director, Global Guardian
Dr. Weisenfeld received her Master's in Public Health from San Diego State University and her Medical Degree from the University of Alabama School of Medicine. Currently Dr. Weisenfeld holds faculty positions in emergency medicine and serves as the Medical Director for Global Guardian. She brings a wealth of knowledge to her roles, with over 25 years of experience in emergency medicine in both community and academic institutions, as well as extensive experience in travel medicine. Dr. Weisenfeld is also a published author in medical text material. She has completed extensive world travel, spending significant time in five of the seven continents.
MICHAEL BALLARDDirector of Intelligence, Global Guardian
Michael currently manages Global Guardian's intelligence network with international partners. He is responsible for providing clients with Global Guardian's intelligence report updates and real-time alerts. Prior to joining the Global Guardian team, Michael was the former lead intelligence analyst for the North American region at UnitedHealth group. He holds a Master's Degree in International Affairs from the University of Kentucky, and Bachelor's Degree in History from the University of Mary Washington.
April 6, 2022 | 11:00 AM (EDT)
Russia's invasion of Ukraine and its subsequent decoupling from the West emphasize the need for companies to review their duty of care policies and ensure their emergency response plans are both comprehensive and can be enacted in an instant. Drawing on learnings from the current situation in Ukraine, during this webinar, our speakers:
COO, Global Guardian
Mark Post is the COO of Global Guardian responsible for overseeing all administrative and operational functions of the company. Mark retired from the CIA after 26 years of service in the Directorate of Operations, which included fifteen years overseas. Prior to his retirement, Mark held the Chief of Operations role in the South and Central Asia Mission Center. In addition, throughout his service, he held key leadership assignments including Deputy Division Chief, Africa, Chief of Station, the Balkans, the Caucasus, and Africa, and Deputy Chief of Station, South Asia. Mark holds a BA from Washington State University.
ALFRED BERGBAUERHead of Multinational, Captives, Programs & TPA Services, The Hartford
Alfred Bergbauer is the Head of Multinational, Captives, Programs & TPA Services (Middle and Large Commercial) at The Hardford. Prior to this position, Bergbauer served as Head of Multinational Underwriting, overseeing The Hartford's International Choice portfolio of insurance products for U.S. organizations with global operations and risks. Bergbauer joined The Hartford with nearly 30 years of executive, risk management and underwriting experience in international property and casualty insurance in the U.S., Hong Kong, the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China. Prior to joining The Hartford, Bergbauer held multinational and international casualty leadership roles with XL Catlin, Marsh USA, Inc., and ACE USA. Bergbauer holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Marietta College and a Master of Business Administration from Babson College.
DALE BUCKNERCEO and President, Global Guardian
Dale Buckner is the CEO of Global Guardian and has been leading Global Guardian since its inception in March 2012. He is a decorated Combat-Commander with multiple combat tours and classified operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Colombia, Haiti and Cuba and executed deployments to Russia, El Salvador, Honduras, Chile, Panama, Kuwait, and Qatar. Dale served in the United States Army Infantry (9 years), Military Intelligence (2 years), and Special Forces Green Berets (13 years). He 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. Dale has Bachelor’s Degrees in Criminal Justice and Business, Master’s Degrees in Public Administration and Business Administration, a Masters Certificate in Strategic Leadership from Cornell and was a Senior Fellow at the Tufts University School of Law and Diplomacy. Dale earned a total of 27 awards and decorations highlighted by his combat Bronze Star Medal and Defense Meritorious Service Medal.
February 16, 2022 | 11:00 AM (EST)
Businesses are in a challenging position when it comes to operating in the year ahead. Corporate leaders must contend with the ever-changing pandemic along with a new threat landscape ripe with rising crime rates and disruption. If companies are to operate safely and effectively in this constantly evolving environment, they must be prepared, protected, and agile.
In this webinar, experts examined the top five risks to business operations in 2022. These risks range from the potential for regional conflict that has the power to disrupt travel, damage supply chains, and imperil the lives of personnel, to cybercrime that can disrupt a company’s operations and inflict severe financial loss. Our experts also offered suggestions on how to best mitigate the disruptions caused by these risks and what companies can do to better protect themselves and their employees.
COO, Global Guardian
Mark Post is the COO of Global Guardian responsible for overseeing all administrative and operational functions of the company. Mark retired from the CIA after 26 years of service in the Directorate of Operations, which included fifteen years overseas. Prior to his retirement, Mark held the Chief of Operations role in the South and Central Asia Mission Center. In addition, throughout his service, he held key leadership assignments including Deputy Division Chief, Africa, Chief of Station, the Balkans, the Caucasus, and Africa, and Deputy Chief of Station, South Asia. Mark holds a BA from Washington State University.
CHERYL STEELEVP of Global Security & Resilience (Chief Security Officer), Starbucks Coffee Company
Cheryl Steele is the Vice President of Global Security & Resilience (Chief Security Officer) at Starbucks Coffee Company, a global fortune 150 company operating more than 30,000 retail locations in over 80 markets around the world. In this capacity, Cheryl oversees safety and security operations, including executive protection, physical security infrastructure, occupational health and safety and supply chain security. Cheryl also leads the company’s crisis management and business continuity practice, leveraging a network of intelligence experts to identify and escalate future risks and frame an enterprise-level perspective. Based in Seattle, her team includes partners in Hong Kong, London, and Shanghai.
Cheryl’s career spans executive and management roles across the private and public sectors. Her background includes leadership of business development for Fleishman Hillard and directing Booz Allen Hamilton’s work at the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and special projects for the U.S. Special Operations community. At Booz Allen, Cheryl contributed to the establishment of the Secretary of State’s Office of Global Partnership Initiatives and the launch of the Global Counterterrorism Forum. Cheryl is a former diplomat at the U.S. Department of State with domestic and overseas assignments in the Middle East and multiple tours directly supporting the now head of the CIA, William J. Burns. She has resided in both Egypt and Jordan and works to maintain her Arabic language skills.
Steele serves on the Extended Executive Board of the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) and is a member of the International Security Management Association (ISMA). She is a member of the Board of Trustees of the World Affairs Council, Seattle. Cheryl is a native of Massachusetts. She has her BA from Hobart & William Smith Colleges and an MA in Political Science from Columbia University in the City of New York.
DALE BUCKNERCEO and President, Global Guardian
Dale Buckner is the CEO of Global Guardian and has been leading Global Guardian since its inception in March 2012. He is a decorated Combat-Commander with multiple combat tours and classified operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Colombia, Haiti and Cuba and executed deployments to Russia, El Salvador, Honduras, Chile, Panama, Kuwait, and Qatar. Dale served in the United States Army Infantry (9 years), Military Intelligence (2 years), and Special Forces Green Berets (13 years). He 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. Dale has Bachelor’s Degrees in Criminal Justice and Business, Master’s Degrees in Public Administration and Business Administration, a Masters Certificate in Strategic Leadership from Cornell and was a Senior Fellow at the Tufts University School of Law and Diplomacy. Dale earned a total of 27 awards and decorations highlighted by his combat Bronze Star Medal and Defense Meritorious Service Medal.
Director of Intelligence, Global Guardian
Michael currently manages Global Guardian's intelligence network with international partners. He is responsible for providing clients with Global Guardian's intelligence report updates and real-time alerts. Prior to joining the Global Guardian team, Michael was the former lead intelligence analyst for the North American region at UnitedHealth group. He holds a Master's Degree in International Affairs from the University of Kentucky, and Bachelor's Degree in History from the University of Mary Washington.
December 14, 2021 | 11:00 AM (EST)
During the past couple months, we saw a reopening of international borders, easing of lockdowns, rising vaccination rates, and declining infection and death rates from COVID-19, which kicked off a surge in foreign and domestic travel. Now, as companies around the world start to plan for the return of corporate travel—determining the safest way to put employees back on the road again—we are faced with navigating the unknown and complexities of a recently emerged variant of concern, Omicron.
Watch this on-demand webinar where our panel of experts took a close look at the current travel security and safety conditions, the evolution of corporate duty of care during COVID-19, and how to use lessons learned from the past two years to best prepare for the road ahead.
DALE BUCKNERCEO and President, Global Guardian
Dale Buckner is the CEO of Global Guardian and has been leading Global Guardian since its inception in March 2012. He is a decorated Combat-Commander with multiple combat tours and classified operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Colombia, Haiti and Cuba and executed deployments to Russia, El Salvador, Honduras, Chile, Panama, Kuwait, and Qatar. Dale served in the United States Army Infantry (9 years), Military Intelligence (2 years), and Special Forces Green Berets (13 years). He 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. Dale has Bachelor’s Degrees in Criminal Justice and Business, Master’s Degrees in Public Administration and Business Administration, a Masters Certificate in Strategic Leadership from Cornell and was a Senior Fellow at the Tufts University School of Law and Diplomacy. Dale earned a total of 27 awards and decorations highlighted by his combat Bronze Star Medal and Defense Meritorious Service Medal.
KARL HOPKINSPartner and Global Chief Security Officer, Dentons
Karl V. Hopkins is a partner and Dentons' Global Chief Security Officer where he is responsible for managing the security for the world's largest law firm. Karl also chairs the Dentons Intelligence and Strategic Services Group, co-chairs the Global Security Risk Committee, serves on the Global Management Committee, and reports to the Global Board.
Karl counsels the Firm on international strategy, business and political intelligence, and security and threat analysis. In addition, he provides strategic advice to the Firm's clients regarding their global operations, including the performance of due diligence and compliance investigations, physical and cyber security assessments, country and political risk assessments, and threat analyses. This includes providing enterprise risk management and organizational resiliency advice.
Karl also provides clients with strategic and legal advice regarding crisis and incident response. He has managed various types of crises, including physical security breaches and cyber incidents, insider threats and reputational impacts. He also assists clients with the formulation and implementation of communication and crisis management policies and protocols. Karl is also known for his unconventional tabletop exercises, based entirely on real-life events, threat intelligence, and his client’s sectoral weaknesses.
ZANE WILMANSManaging Director, Protexx Risk Management PVT LTD
Zane Wilmans is a well recognized figure in the security industry in India and the Asian sub continent and the Managing Director of Protexx Risk Management. Having been based in Mumbai, India for over a decade, his company has worked on multiple high profile Indian big league sporting seasons and events, including heading the Premier league tennis tournament Security across four continents. During the Mumbai terror attacks on 26/11 he was one of seven South African security specialists that was involved in saving 150 people from the burning wreck of the famous Taj Hotel which was heavily publicized in many media outlets across the world.
Zane continues to lead teams protecting top executives of Fortune 500 companies through to high profile celebrities and sports stars all over the world with a heavy and dominant focus on India with a team of over 120 executive protectors, a training school, and cyber division all based in India. Zane has been featured in Forbes magazine and numerous other high profile publications, including news outlets and best selling books. He is a sought after guest speaker and is often featured on news channels to give unique insights and commentary on unfolding world events, specifically on the Indian Sub continent.
MICHAEL BALLARDDirector of Intelligence, Global Guardian
Michael currently manages Global Guardian's intelligence network with international partners. He is responsible for all COVID-19 intel report updates and has been providing regular reports to clients since the first case was reported. Prior to joining the Global Guardian team, Michael was the former lead intelligence analyst for the North American region at UnitedHealth group. He holds a Master's Degree in International Affairs from the University of Kentucky, and Bachelor's Degree in History from the University of Mary Washington.
December 1, 2021 | 11:00 AM (EST)
Global Guardian CEO Dale Buckner discusses the past 20 months with a focus on the titanic shifts happening in the security, intelligence and medical industries, with special guest Global Guardian Medical Director, Shelly Weisenfeld. During this 45-minute on-demand webinar, Dale shares insight on what has failed and what has changed forever as we look ahead to 2022.
DALE BUCKNERCEO and President, Global Guardian
Dale Buckner is the CEO of Global Guardian and has been leading Global Guardian since its inception in March 2012. He is a decorated Combat-Commander with multiple combat tours and classified operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Colombia, Haiti and Cuba and executed deployments to Russia, El Salvador, Honduras, Chile, Panama, Kuwait, and Qatar. Dale served in the United States Army Infantry (9 years), Military Intelligence (2 years), and Special Forces Green Berets (13 years). He 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.
Dale has Bachelor’s Degrees in Criminal Justice and Business, Master’s Degrees in Public Administration and Business Administration, a Masters Certificate in Strategic Leadership from Cornell and was a Senior Fellow at the Tufts University School of Law and Diplomacy. Dale earned a total of 27 awards and decorations highlighted by his combat Bronze Star Medal and Defense Meritorious Service Medal.
November 9, 2021 | 01:00 PM (EST)
Whether it is an active shooter event or a high-profile terrorist attack, being prepared and knowing how to respond to a large-scale security incident is critical to your organization and employees. Fostering such skills is part of a company’s duty of care.
We invite you to watch our webinar, “Preparing for and Responding to a Mass Casualty Event". During this virtual event, our experts who have diverse security and victim assistance backgrounds from within the FBI and private sector offered training tips and advice for how to respond to mass casualty events, including an overview of what to expect from law enforcement in their crisis response and investigation, how companies should be prepared to offer victim assistance, and how businesses and individuals can better plan and prepare for such incidents. At the end of the webinar, you can expect to:
Mike McGarrity, ModeratorVP of Global Risk Services, Global Guardian
Mike McGarrity is Vice President of Global Risk Services at Global Guardian. In this role, Mike works with Fortune 500 clients and organizations to provide comprehensive tailored security and crisis response solutions. With 28 years of public service, the last 23 years with the FBI, Mike has led teams at all levels to protect the American people. Mike most recently served as the FBI’s Assistant Director of Counterterrorism, with daily oversight of all counterterrorism operations in the FBI’s 56 field offices and almost 80 overseas offices. McGarrity was continuously recognized for his strategic vision and performance and has served in some of the FBI’s most challenging and critical positions, including serving as the squad supervisor of the FBI’s extraterritorial squad, Director of Counterterrorism at the White House National Security Council, first Director of the USG’s Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell, Special Agent in Charge of the Criminal Division of the New York Field Office, and Assistant Director of Counterterrorism, the FBI’s priority mission. Prior to his career with the FBI, Mike was an Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney’s Office. He has received numerous awards from the FBI, DOJ, CIA, and ODNI. Most notably, Mike is the recipient of the Presidential Rank Award – Distinguished where he was recognized for his strategic leadership and sustained efforts disrupting countless threats against America. A New Jersey native, McGarrity graduated from Delbarton School and holds certificates from Harvard and Northwestern. McGarrity obtained his undergraduate and law degree magma cum laude from The Catholic University of America.
Former Assistant Director - FBI Victim Services Division
Kathryn M. Turman served as the Assistant Director over the FBI Victim Services Division (VSD) from 2002 – 2020. Former FBI Director Robert Mueller brought Ms. Turman to the FBI several months after the September 11th attacks with the mission to establish a robust, professional victim services program. Beginning with six employees in 2002, the FBI VSD is now uniquely comprised of more than 300 full time victim specialists, terrorism victim services coordinators, child/adolescent forensic interviewers, child victim services coordinators, an international hostage family engagement team, and operational psychologists. In 2005, Ms. Turman established a terrorism and mass casualty Victim Services Response Team (VSRT) that has responded to more than 30 terrorism and mass violence events across the U.S., from the Virginia Tech shooting to El Paso Walmart shooting.
Prior to joining the FBI, Ms. Turman served in the Department of Justice as Director of the Missing and Exploited Children’s Program, Chief of the Victim Witness Assistance Unit in the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, and Principal Deputy Director and Director of the Office for Victims of Crime. She began her federal service career on Capitol Hill in 1987 as an aide to the late Senator John Heinz.
Ms. Turman served on national task forces and advisory committees including the Federal Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect, the National Commission on the Future of DNA Evidence, the White House Hostage Policy Review, National Forensic Science Commission, the Scientific Working Group on Medical-Legal Death Investigation, and the Federal Interagency Working Group on Pandemic Influenza and At-Risk Individuals. She also served on the board of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children. Ms. Turman received the Edmund J. Randolph Award, the highest honor provided by the Department of Justice, in 2000 for her work with Pan Am 103 families. She is also the recipient of the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service, two National Crime Victim Services Awards, two National Intelligence Meritorious Medals, and Presidential Rank Awards for both Meritorious and Distinguished Service.
Ms. Turman retired from federal service in June 2020. She has worked as a volunteer on victim-related strategy development and training for the Urban Institute, Leadership in Counterterrorism, the European Centre of Expertise for Victims of Terrorism, Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, Toronto and Ontario police services, and New South Wales police service. She serves as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for abused and neglected children and mentors college students seeking careers in victim services.
Michael McPhersonSpecial Agent In Charge, Tampa Field Office, FBI
Michael McPherson is special agent in charge of the FBI’s Tampa Field Office in Florida. Prior to this role, Mr. McPherson was the acting deputy assistant director of the Counterterrorism Division at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Mr. McPherson joined the FBI as a special agent in 1997. He was first assigned to the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force in the New York Field Office, investigating Colombian drug trafficking organizations. In 2004, he was transferred to the San Juan Field Office in Puerto Rico, where he served on the Violent Crimes Task Force. He was a member of the SWAT team in New York and San Juan.
Mr. McPherson was promoted to a supervisory special agent in 2005 and served in the Counterterrorism Division at Headquarters. He became a unit chief and provided oversight of U.S.-based international terrorism investigations for one region of the country. He transferred to the Tampa Field Office in 2008 as the supervisor of the Joint Terrorism Task Force for Domestic Terrorism.
Mr. McPherson was named an assistant special agent in charge at the Washington Field Office in 2015, supervising U.S.-based international terrorism investigations in Washington and Northern Virginia. He was transferred back to Headquarters in 2016 as a section chief in the Counterterrorism Division. He provided support, coordination, and oversight of the FBI’s U.S.-based international terrorism investigations. He also served as the division’s acting deputy assistant director. Prior to joining the FBI, Mr. McPherson served in the U.S. Coast Guard for 10 years. He is a certified intelligence officer and is fluent in Spanish.
CEO and President, Global Guardian
Dale Buckner is the CEO of Global Guardian and has been leading Global Guardian since its inception in March 2012. He is a decorated Combat-Commander with multiple combat tours and classified operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Colombia, Haiti and Cuba and executed deployments to Russia, El Salvador, Honduras, Chile, Panama, Kuwait, and Qatar. Dale served in the United States Army Infantry (9 years), Military Intelligence (2 years), and Special Forces Green Berets (13 years). He 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.
Dale has Bachelor’s Degrees in Criminal Justice and Business, Master’s Degrees in Public Administration and Business Administration, a Masters Certificate in Strategic Leadership from Cornell and was a Senior Fellow at the Tufts University School of Law and Diplomacy. Dale earned a total of 27 awards and decorations highlighted by his combat Bronze Star Medal and Defense Meritorious Service Medal.
September 30, 2021 | 11:00 AM (EDT)
Insurance policy? Check. Covered in a crisis? Not quite so fast. While insurance serves a purpose and mitigates risk financially, oftentimes, standard insurance policies have limitations when responding to an individual or corporate travelers in the event of an emergency—natural or manmade. As the travel world slowly reopens, watch our recent webinar to better understand how individuals and organizations can learn from the past year and a half to ensure their insurance policies support them in an emergency situation. Our panel of experts offer tips on what to look for when reviewing policies, how to know what is covered or not, and how should organizations think about their Duty of Care program to ensure their employees stay safe at home and abroad.
Vice President of Marketing, Global Guardian
Shannon Scully is Vice President of Marketing at Global Guardian. She has over 10 years of marketing experience and has worked in the retail, hospitality, sports, and security industries. Prior to her role at Global Guardian, she was Vice President of Marketing at The Bay Club Company, a hospitality company, and founded Footprint Marketing Consultancy, which specializes in hospitality, wellness, travel, leisure and sports service marketing. In her role at Global Guardian, she leads the marketing strategy for the company, including overseeing the roll-out of products and services, earned media efforts, and new business opportunities. She holds a BA from University of California, Berkeley where she was on the Cal Softball team.
NARA RODRIGUESAVP, Account Executive, Lockton Companies
Nara Rodrigues is an Insurance Consultant with 10 years of experience, holding an MBA, and two insurance designations. Over the course of her career, she has worked in all three main insurance segments: insurance carriers, wholesale brokerage and retail brokerage, and has developed relevant and dependable relationships within the market. Currently, she serves the insurance market as an Assistant Vice-Present and Account Executive at Lockton Companies where she is responsible for creating and implementing a client’s overall risk-transfer strategy and placing comprehensive Property & Casualty solutions for her national and global clients. She has helped her executives navigate through the insurance areas of M&As, IPOs, claims and crisis. Nara’s previous experience with financial insurance lines gives her the ability to approach a client’s insurance program in a holistic manner when drafting or restructuring it with dynamic clients. Currently the majority of Nara’s client portfolio consists of technology clients in the security, IT and education space. Prior to Lockton, Nara worked with a broad range of companies in the technology, healthcare and quasi-governmental industry. She is a registered Professional Liability Underwriter (RPLU) and Associate in Surplus Lines Insurance (ASLI). Nara holds a MBA from George Washington University and a BS from Liberty University.
DALE BUCKNERCEO and President, Global Guardian
Dale Buckner is the CEO of Global Guardian and has been leading Global Guardian since its inception in March 2012. He is a decorated Combat-Commander with multiple combat tours and classified operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Colombia, Haiti and Cuba and executed deployments to Russia, El Salvador, Honduras, Chile, Panama, Kuwait, and Qatar. Dale served in the United States Army Infantry (9 years), Military Intelligence (2 years), and Special Forces Green Berets (13 years). He 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. Dale has Bachelor’s Degrees in Criminal Justice and Business, Master’s Degrees in Public Administration and Business Administration, a Masters Certificate in Strategic Leadership from Cornell and was a Senior Fellow at the Tufts University School of Law and Diplomacy. Dale earned a total of 27 awards and decorations highlighted by his combat Bronze Star Medal and Defense Meritorious Service Medal.
President of Speciality Risk and Response, Global Guardian
Spencer Livingston is President of Specialty Risk and Response Division at Global Guardian. In his role, Spencer oversees complex medical air and ground evacuations, Kidnap and Ransom solutions, and Global Guardian’s Air Ambulance division. Spencer has over 10 years of experience in the corporate and private equity sector and previously held operational and business development roles at Basin Holdings, The Blackstone Group, and Pine Brook Road Partners. Spencer holds a BA from Harvard University.
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August 17, 2021 | 11:00 AM (EDT)
As the Delta variant spreads and COVID-19 lingers, there is an unparalleled degree of risk and complexity to operating across the globe. Amid the pandemic, we are continuing to see a number of social, political, environmental, and economic issues emerge—how do these affairs impact your current and long-term business operations?
View the recording to hear from our panel of experts as they discuss current global affairs, including:
DEVI SRIDHARProfessor of Global Health, University of Edinburgh
Devi Sridhar is a Professor at the University of Edinburgh where she holds a Personal Chair in Global Public Health. She is Founding Director of the Global Health Governance Programme and holds a Wellcome Trust Investigator Award. Recipient of a Rhodes scholarship, Devi holds an MPhil and a DPhil from Oxford University as well as a B.S. from the University of Miami's Honors Medical Program. Prior to her appointment at Edinburgh, she was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at All Souls College, Oxford University and an Associate Professor in Global Health Politics and Fellow at Wolfson College, Oxford University. Devi is the author of two books—"Governing Global Health: Who Runs the World and Why?" (OUP, 2017) and "The Battle against Hunger: Choice, Circumstance and the World Bank" (OUP, 2007)—and has published her work in Nature, Science, the New England Journal of Medicine, the Lancet and the British Medical Journal. Devi is a regular media commentator on global public health issues and serves as a member of the Scottish Government's COVID-19 advisory group. To view Devi’s affiliations, click here.
COO, Global Guardian
Mark Post is the COO of Global Guardian responsible for overseeing all administrative and operational functions of the company. Mark retired from the CIA after 26 years of service in the Directorate of Operations, which included fifteen years overseas. Prior to his retirement, Mark held the Chief of Operations role in the South and Central Asia Mission Center. In addition, throughout his service, he held key leadership assignments including Deputy Division Chief, Africa, Chief of Station, the Balkans, the Caucasus, and Africa, and Deputy Chief of Station, South Asia. Mark holds a BA from Washington State University.
AMANDA GORSKISenior Cybersecurity Analyst
Amanda Gorski is a Veteran of the Marine Corps intelligence community with a unique skill set developed over nearly 20 years of supporting the Department of Defense and Intelligence Agencies. Ms. Gorski has provided expert-level personnel, physical, and cybersecurity guidance to multiple organizations, including Raytheon, General Dynamics, and Agile IT Synergy.
In early 2019, Ms. Gorski founded GSec LLC to aid micro and small businesses in developing their cyber programs and protecting their assets. Amanda and her team apply military-grade experience and knowledge to the needs of non-profit agencies, individuals, business owners, and DoD support contractors. In addition, Amanda is also a Program Manager for a reputable Managed Security Services Provider and a Cybersecurity SME for the USSOCOM Command Surgeon’s Office.
Ms. Gorski graduated Summa Cum Laude from Strayer University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Systems & Cybersecurity Management.
DALE BUCKNERCEO and President, Global Guardian
Dale Buckner is the CEO of Global Guardian and has been leading Global Guardian since its inception in March 2012. He is a decorated Combat-Commander with multiple combat tours and classified operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Colombia, Haiti and Cuba and executed deployments to Russia, El Salvador, Honduras, Chile, Panama, Kuwait, and Qatar. Dale served in the United States Army Infantry (9 years), Military Intelligence (2 years), and Special Forces Green Berets (13 years). He 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. Dale has Bachelor’s Degrees in Criminal Justice and Business, Master’s Degrees in Public Administration and Business Administration, a Masters Certificate in Strategic Leadership from Cornell and was a Senior Fellow at the Tufts University School of Law and Diplomacy. Dale earned a total of 27 awards and decorations highlighted by his combat Bronze Star Medal and Defense Meritorious Service Medal.
Director of Intelligence, Global Guardian
Michael currently manages Global Guardian's intelligence network with international partners. He is responsible for providing clients with Global Guardian's intelligence report updates and real-time alerts. Prior to joining the Global Guardian team, Michael was the former lead intelligence analyst for the North American region at UnitedHealth group. He holds a Master's Degree in International Affairs from the University of Kentucky, and Bachelor's Degree in History from the University of Mary Washington.
June 30, 2021 | 11:00 AM (EDT)
From robust tracking and monitoring software to securing your office with smart cameras, the technology you use to operate your business and home safely is constantly evolving—and with it the need to assess its effectiveness and question its security. How and what technology are you utilizing to help secure your business? Is it effective when something goes wrong?
Watch the recording of our webinar, Emerging Security Trends in 2021, where our experts took a close look at emerging security trends and offered advice on how to get the most out of the technology you use every day.
MIKE MCGARRITYVP of Global Risk Services, Global Guardian
Mike McGarrity is Vice President of Global Risk Services at Global Guardian an international security and crisis response firm. In this role, Mike works with Fortune 500 clients and organizations to provide comprehensive tailored security and crisis response solutions. With 28 years of public service, the last 23 years with the FBI, Mike has led teams at all levels to protect the American people. Mike most recently served as the FBI’s Assistant Director of Counterterrorism, with daily oversight of all counterterrorism operations in the FBI’s 56 field offices and almost 80 overseas offices. McGarrity was continuously recognized for his strategic vision and performance and has served in some of the FBI’s most challenging and critical positions, including serving as the squad supervisor of the FBI’s extraterritorial squad, Director of Counterterrorism at the White House National Security Council, first Director of the USG’s Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell, Special Agent in Charge of the Criminal Division of the New York Field Office, and Assistant Director of Counterterrorism, the FBI’s priority mission. Prior to his career with the FBI, Mike was an Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney’s Office. He has received numerous awards from the FBI, DOJ, CIA, and ODNI. Most notably, Mike is the recipient of the Presidential Rank Award – Distinguished where he was recognized for his strategic leadership and sustained efforts disrupting countless threats against America. A New Jersey native, McGarrity graduated from Delbarton School and holds certificates from Harvard and Northwestern. McGarrity obtained his undergraduate and law degree magma cum laude from The Catholic University of America.
CEO and President, Global Guardian
Dale Buckner is the CEO of Global Guardian and has been leading Global Guardian since its inception in March 2012. He is a decorated Combat-Commander with multiple combat tours and classified operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Colombia, Haiti and Cuba and executed deployments to Russia, El Salvador, Honduras, Chile, Panama, Kuwait, and Qatar. Dale served in the United States Army Infantry (9 years), Military Intelligence (2 years), and Special Forces Green Berets (13 years). He 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. Dale has Bachelor’s Degrees in Criminal Justice and Business, Master’s Degrees in Public Administration and Business Administration, a Masters Certificate in Strategic Leadership from Cornell and was a Senior Fellow at the Tufts University School of Law and Diplomacy. Dale earned a total of 27 awards and decorations highlighted by his combat Bronze Star Medal and Defense Meritorious Service Medal.
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CHIP BUSKERHead of Security, The Hendrick Companies
Chip Busker is the owner of RFB Security Consulting and RFB & Associates Private investigations, currently overseeing security for the Hendrick Companies, including Hendrick Automotive, Motorsports, Aviation and Marine. He is also the Armed Security Officer for Hendrick Aviation. As a consultant, he has worked with numerous companies, including Anheuser Busch, Coca Cola Bottling Consolidated, Snyder’s Lance, and numerous law firms, handling security issues and human resource investigations. Prior to consulting in the security space, Chip spent over 20 years in law enforcement, with 17 of those years in narcotics investigations. He was involved in numerous undercover operations and Federal investigations involving drug trafficking. During that time, Chip was also a certified instructor for the North Carolina Justice Academy, as well as a Spanish translator. He retired from law enforcement in 2007 as a sergeant.
TONY STRICKLANDCSO, CSL
Tony Strickland is Chief Security Officer of CSL Limited, a global biotechnology company with a dynamic portfolio of life-saving medicines, including those that treat hemophilia and immune deficiencies, as well as vaccines to prevent influenza. In this role, Tony has responsibility for protecting the company’s people, intellectual property and supply chain, as well as incident management and investigations. He is responsible for the physical protection of all of CSL’s 300-plus locations in more than 35 countries, including manufacturing sites, laboratories, its growing network of CSL Plasma collection centers, and world headquarters in Melbourne, Australia.
Since joining CSL as its first-ever Chief Security Officer, Tony has been the architect of the company’s protection strategy, related governance frameworks and enterprise security risk-assessment processes. He also has built the organization’s global, enterprise-wide Security team from the ground up to support both of CSL’s operating businesses, which include CSL Behring, one of the world’s largest biotherapeutics companies, and Seqirus, the second-largest influenza vaccine provider in the world and a leader in pandemic preparedness.
Most recently, Tony has played a crucial role in CSL’s response to the COVID-19 global pandemic, leading the company’s Global Crisis Management Team and helping to ensure the continuity of business operations and CSL’s ability to deliver on its promise to patients and improving public health.
Prior to joining CSL, Tony managed global supply chain security at Hasbro. In that role, he was responsible for the management of Hasbro’s Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program. Additionally, he was responsible for a number of related security initiatives and providing direction for global partners, conducting supply chain investigations, and managing security training programs.
Previously, Tony also held various progressively senior roles with Matson Logistics and Wal-Mart, where he had responsibilities for operations management, quality and business development. His diverse experience has given him a strong understanding of business risks and how to align security organizational strategies.
Tony holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Homeland Security from Eastern Kentucky University and various security certifications.
May 26, 2021 | 11:00 AM (EDT)
The rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations and noticeable slowing of infection and death rates raises the inevitable question: Is it safe to travel again? Will a shot in the arm be enough to boost confidence to travel and help the industry get back on its feet again? While leisure travel may soon pick up, there are signs that more profitable business travel may lag. What about the security challenges created by putting health information on “vaccine passports”?
Watch our webinar, “Return to Travel: Security and Safety Tips in the COVID-19 Era,” where our experts discussed the implications of recent developments and offered tips on how to travel safely during a pandemic.
MIKE MCGARRITYVP of Global Risk Services, Global Guardian
Mike McGarrity is Vice President of Global Risk Services at Global Guardian an international security and crisis response firm. In this role, Mike works with Fortune 500 clients and organizations to provide comprehensive tailored security and crisis response solutions. With 28 years of public service, the last 23 years with the FBI, Mike has led teams at all levels to protect the American people. Mike most recently served as the FBI’s Assistant Director of Counterterrorism, with daily oversight of all counterterrorism operations in the FBI’s 56 field offices and almost 80 overseas offices. McGarrity was continuously recognized for his strategic vision and performance and has served in some of the FBI’s most challenging and critical positions, including serving as the squad supervisor of the FBI’s extraterritorial squad, Director of Counterterrorism at the White House National Security Council, first Director of the USG’s Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell, Special Agent in Charge of the Criminal Division of the New York Field Office, and Assistant Director of Counterterrorism, the FBI’s priority mission. Prior to his career with the FBI, Mike was an Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney’s Office. He has received numerous awards from the FBI, DOJ, CIA, and ODNI. Most notably, Mike is the recipient of the Presidential Rank Award – Distinguished where he was recognized for his strategic leadership and sustained efforts disrupting countless threats against America. A New Jersey native, McGarrity graduated from Delbarton School and holds certificates from Harvard and Northwestern. McGarrity obtained his undergraduate and law degree magma cum laude from The Catholic University of America.
Co-President & Owner, Valerie Wilson Travel
Jennifer Wilson-Buttigieg knows that to keep up with the travel industry’s continual change, as well as thrive in it, you must see opportunity everywhere and in everything. As Co-President & Owner at Valerie Wilson Travel, Jennifer’s forward-thinking approach and “challenge the status quo” mindset has helped to cement Valerie Wilson Travel as an industry leader. As the world navigated the COVID-19 pandemic, Jennifer’s hands-on leadership skills and passion helped VWT, its team, clients, and suppliers steer through the crisis with communication, clarity, and community. Jennifer’s commitment to the travel industry is tremendous, remaining actively engaged on top travel brands’ advisory boards, editorial advisory for periodicals, assisting with philanthropic and civic engagements, and is regularly asked to speak at both conferences and to the press as an expert in her field.
DALE BUCKNERCEO and President, Global Guardian
Dale Buckner is the CEO of Global Guardian and has been leading Global Guardian since its inception in March 2012. He is a decorated Combat-Commander with multiple combat tours and classified operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Colombia, Haiti and Cuba and executed deployments to Russia, El Salvador, Honduras, Chile, Panama, Kuwait, and Qatar. Dale served in the United States Army Infantry (9 years), Military Intelligence (2 years), and Special Forces Green Berets (13 years). He 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. Dale has Bachelor’s Degrees in Criminal Justice and Business, Master’s Degrees in Public Administration and Business Administration, a Masters Certificate in Strategic Leadership from Cornell and was a Senior Fellow at the Tufts University School of Law and Diplomacy. Dale earned a total of 27 awards and decorations highlighted by his combat Bronze Star Medal and Defense Meritorious Service Medal.
DR. SHELLY WEISENFELD, M.D., M.P.H.Medical Director, Global Guardian
Dr. Weisenfeld received her Master's in Public Health from San Diego State University and her Medical Degree from the University of Alabama School of Medicine, where she graduated with honors. She has over 24 years of experience and brings a wealth of knowledge to her current roles. Currently Dr. Weisenfeld holds a faculty position in emergency medicine at a major academic facility and serves as the Medical Director for Global Guardian. She has also completed extensive world travel, including travel to Africa, Austria, Caribbean, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Peru, Poland, South America, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
April 21, 2021 | 11:00 AM (EDT)
As a result of the pandemic, we are now spending more time online than ever. But working from home has made us increasingly vulnerable to cyber criminals and online scams. The recent SolarWinds software supply chain hack and Microsoft Server attack that compromised federal agencies and major tech companies shone a spotlight on the role played by rogue states like Russia and China in such cyberattacks.
Watch our webinar, “2021 Cyber Security Trends: How to Protect Yourself and Your Organization,” where industry experts analyzed the cybersecurity trends and offered solutions on how you can protect yourselves and your business.
MIKE MCGARRITYVP of Global Risk Services
Mike McGarrity is Vice President of Global Risk Services at Global Guardian an international security and crisis response firm. In this role, Mike works with Fortune 500 clients and organizations to provide comprehensive tailored security and crisis response solutions. With 28 years of public service, the last 23 years with the FBI, Mike has led teams at all levels to protect the American people. Mike most recently served as the FBI’s Assistant Director of Counterterrorism, with daily oversight of all counterterrorism operations in the FBI’s 56 field offices and almost 80 overseas offices. McGarrity was continuously recognized for his strategic vision and performance and has served in some of the FBI’s most challenging and critical positions, including serving as the squad supervisor of the FBI’s extraterritorial squad, Director of Counterterrorism at the White House National Security Council, first Director of the USG’s Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell, Special Agent in Charge of the Criminal Division of the New York Field Office, and Assistant Director of Counterterrorism, the FBI’s priority mission. Prior to his career with the FBI, Mike was an Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney’s Office. He has received numerous awards from the FBI, DOJ, CIA, and ODNI. Most notably, Mike is the recipient of the Presidential Rank Award – Distinguished where he was recognized for his strategic leadership and sustained efforts disrupting countless threats against America. A New Jersey native, McGarrity graduated from Delbarton School and holds certificates from Harvard and Northwestern. McGarrity obtained his undergraduate and law degree magma cum laude from The Catholic University of America.
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Section Chief of the FBI’s Cyber Engagement and Intelligence Section
David Ring is the Section Chief of the FBI’s Cyber Engagement and Intelligence Section where he leads the FBI Cyber Division’s private sector engagement and cyber-criminal intelligence missions. Mr. Ring joined the FBI as an Intelligence Analyst in 2004, and was assigned to the Counterterrorism Division after completing training at the FBI Academy in Quantico, VA. Prior to joining the Cyber Division, Mr. Ring served in a variety of capacities in support of the Counterterrorism mission, including as an Intelligence Analyst in support of multiple counterterrorism investigations to include the 2010 Times Square attack and the Boston Marathon Bombing. Mr. Ring served as the FBI Counterterrorism Division’s Senior Liaison Officer to the National Counterterrorism Center before being promoted to Assistant Section Chief over the FBI’s Domestic Terrorism and Homegrown Violent Extremist intelligence program in 2018. Mr. Ring holds a Bachelor Degree from Dowling College in New York and a Master of Professional Studies in Homeland Security from Pennsylvania State University.
DALE BUCKNERCEO and President, Global Guardian
Dale Buckner is the CEO of Global Guardian and has been leading Global Guardian since its inception in March 2012. He is a decorated Combat-Commander with multiple combat tours and classified operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Colombia, Haiti and Cuba and executed deployments to Russia, El Salvador, Honduras, Chile, Panama, Kuwait, and Qatar. Dale served in the United States Army Infantry (9 years), Military Intelligence (2 years), and Special Forces Green Berets (13 years). He 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. Dale has Bachelor’s Degrees in Criminal Justice and Business, Master’s Degrees in Public Administration and Business Administration, a Masters Certificate in Strategic Leadership from Cornell and was a Senior Fellow at the Tufts University School of Law and Diplomacy. Dale earned a total of 27 awards and decorations highlighted by his combat Bronze Star Medal and Defense Meritorious Service Medal.
Jeffery StutzmanCISO, Global Guardian
Jeffery is a cyber security expert with over 30 years of experience. He oversees information security operations and Virtual Chief Information Security Officers protecting several high net worth families, and small and medium sized companies. He personally serves as the Virtual Chief Information Security Officer for Global Guardian, a Manhattan based Private Equity firm, a $3.5bn Oil and Gas, and for the US and LATAM risk operations for a 600,000-employee diversified services company. He has ‘boots on the ground’ risk management, cyber investigations and M&A experience in multiple high-risk cyber threat regions including China, Brazil, the Middle East, and South America. He holds a Bachelor's in Science from Excelsior College and MBA from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).
March 16, 2021 | 11:00 AM (EDT)
The rise in crime that has accompanied the global pandemic and economic downturn has meant businesses are increasingly becoming targets for online and physical attacks. What can you do to prepare for such events and how can you minimize loss and damage? Our recent webinar answered these questions (and much more) as well as shared insights on how we protect our clients.
Unit Chief (UC) of the FBI’s Behavioral Threat Assessment Center (BTAC)
John Wyman is the Unit Chief (UC) of the FBI’s Behavioral Threat Assessment Center (BTAC), a national-level, multi-agency, multi-disciplinary Task Force focused on the prevention of terrorism and targeted violence through the application of behaviorally-based operational support, training and research. UC Wyman joined the FBI as a Special Agent in 1998 and he has spent substantially all of his FBI career working on counterterrorism (CT) and targeted violence prevention. During his career, UC Wyman successfully led and managed numerous investigations and operations, resulting in disrupted attacks, mitigated threats, and arrest/conviction. UC Wyman has served as Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) supervisor and the terrorism program coordinator (PCOR) in the FBI's Washington Field Office (WFO) and the FBI's Richmond Division. In addition, UC Wyman has worked as program manager within the FBI's Counterterrorism Division, served in a joint duty capacity at the Guantanamo Detainee Prosecution Task Force (GDPTF), and conducted numerous domestic and overseas deployments in support of FBI CT operations. UC Wyman is a two-time recipient of the prestigious FBI Director’s Award for Outstanding Counterterrorism Investigation and a three-time recipient of the Anti-Defamation League’s “Shield Award.”
CEO and President, Global Guardian
Dale Buckner is the CEO of Global Guardian and has been leading Global Guardian since its inception in March 2012. He is a decorated Combat-Commander with multiple combat tours and classified operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Colombia, Haiti and Cuba and executed deployments to Russia, El Salvador, Honduras, Chile, Panama, Kuwait, and Qatar. Dale served in the United States Army Infantry (9 years), Military Intelligence (2 years), and Special Forces Green Berets (13 years). He 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.
Dale has Bachelor’s Degrees in Criminal Justice and Business, Master’s Degrees in Public Administration and Business Administration, a Masters Certificate in Strategic Leadership from Cornell and was a Senior Fellow at the Tufts University School of Law and Diplomacy. Dale earned a total of 27 awards and decorations highlighted by his combat Bronze Star Medal and Defense Meritorious Service Medal.
Mike McGarrityVP of Global Risk Services, Global Guardian
Mike McGarrity is Vice President of Global Risk Services at Global Guardian an international security and crisis response firm. In this role, Mike works with Fortune 500 clients and organizations to provide comprehensive tailored security and crisis response solutions. With 28 years of public service, the last 23 years with the FBI, Mike has led teams at all levels to protect the American people. Mike most recently served as the FBI’s Assistant Director of Counterterrorism, with daily oversight of all counterterrorism operations in the FBI’s 56 field offices and almost 80 overseas offices. McGarrity was continuously recognized for his strategic vision and performance and has served in some of the FBI’s most challenging and critical positions, including serving as the squad supervisor of the FBI’s extraterritorial squad, Director of Counterterrorism at the White House National Security Council, first Director of the USG’s Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell, Special Agent in Charge of the Criminal Division of the New York Field Office, and Assistant Director of Counterterrorism, the FBI’s priority mission. Prior to his career with the FBI, Mike was an Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney’s Office. He has received numerous awards from the FBI, DOJ, CIA, and ODNI. Most notably, Mike is the recipient of the Presidential Rank Award – Distinguished where he was recognized for his strategic leadership and sustained efforts disrupting countless threats against America. A New Jersey native, McGarrity graduated from Delbarton School and holds certificates from Harvard and Northwestern. McGarrity obtained his undergraduate and law degree magma cum laude from The Catholic University of America.
Director of Intelligence, Global Guardian
Michael currently manages Global Guardian's intelligence network with international partners. He is responsible for providing clients with Global Guardian's intelligence report updates and real-time alerts. Prior to joining the Global Guardian team, Michael was the former lead intelligence analyst for the North American region at UnitedHealth group. He holds a Master's Degree in International Affairs from the University of Kentucky, and Bachelor's Degree in History from the University of Mary Washington.
February 3, 2021 | 11:00 AM (EST)
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mexico’s economy was already struggling and the level of crime—particularly murders, kidnappings for ransom, and extortion—was rising sharply. In our first webinar of 2021, experts came together to examine the prevailing business, security, and public health landscape in Mexico. During the 60-minute discussion, we reviewed the challenges facing international businesses, supply chains, and travelers in the year ahead—and offered tips on how these challenges can be minimized, if not overcome.
CSO, CSL Limited
Tony Strickland is Chief Security Officer of CSL Limited, a global biotechnology company with a dynamic portfolio of life-saving medicines, including those that treat hemophilia and immune deficiencies, as well as vaccines to prevent influenza. In this role, Tony has responsibility for protecting the company’s people, intellectual property and supply chain, as well as incident management and investigations. He is responsible for the physical protection of all of CSL’s 300-plus locations in more than 35 countries, including manufacturing sites, laboratories, its growing network of CSL Plasma collection centers, and world headquarters in Melbourne, Australia.
Since joining CSL as its first-ever Chief Security Officer, Tony has been the architect of the company’s protection strategy, related governance frameworks and enterprise security risk-assessment processes. He also has built the organization’s global, enterprise-wide Security team from the ground up to support both of CSL’s operating businesses, which include CSL Behring, one of the world’s largest biotherapeutics companies, and Seqirus, the second-largest influenza vaccine provider in the world and a leader in pandemic preparedness.
Most recently, Tony has played a crucial role in CSL’s response to the COVID-19 global pandemic, leading the company’s Global Crisis Management Team and helping to ensure the continuity of business operations and CSL’s ability to deliver on its promise to patients and improving public health.
Prior to joining CSL, Tony managed global supply chain security at Hasbro. In that role, he was responsible for the management of Hasbro’s Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program. Additionally, he was responsible for a number of related security initiatives and providing direction for global partners, conducting supply chain investigations, and managing security training programs.
Previously, Tony also held various progressively senior roles with Matson Logistics and Wal-Mart, where he had responsibilities for operations management, quality and business development. His diverse experience has given him a strong understanding of business risks and how to align security organizational strategies.
Tony holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Homeland Security from Eastern Kentucky University and various security certifications.
CEO and President, Global Guardian
Dale Buckner is the CEO of Global Guardian and has been leading Global Guardian since its inception in March 2012. He is a decorated Combat-Commander with multiple combat tours and classified operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Colombia, Haiti and Cuba and executed deployments to Russia, El Salvador, Honduras, Chile, Panama, Kuwait, and Qatar. Dale served in the United States Army Infantry (9 years), Military Intelligence (2 years), and Special Forces Green Berets (13 years). He 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.
Dale has Bachelor’s Degrees in Criminal Justice and Business, Master’s Degrees in Public Administration and Business Administration, a Masters Certificate in Strategic Leadership from Cornell and was a Senior Fellow at the Tufts University School of Law and Diplomacy. Dale earned a total of 27 awards and decorations highlighted by his combat Bronze Star Medal and Defense Meritorious Service Medal.
Director of Intelligence, Global Guardian
Michael currently manages Global Guardian's intelligence network with international partners. He is responsible for all COVID-19 intel report updates and has been providing regular reports to clients since the first case was reported. Prior to joining the Global Guardian team, Michael was the former lead intelligence analyst for the North American region at UnitedHealth group. He holds a Master's Degree in International Affairs from the University of Kentucky, and Bachelor's Degree in History from the University of Mary Washington.
Mike McGarrityVP of Global Risk Services, Global Guardian
Mike McGarrity is Vice President of Global Risk Services at Global Guardian an international security and crisis response firm. In this role, Mike works with Fortune 500 clients and organizations to provide comprehensive tailored security and crisis response solutions. With 28 years of public service, the last 23 years with the FBI, Mike has led teams at all levels to protect the American people. Mike most recently served as the FBI’s Assistant Director of Counterterrorism, with daily oversight of all counterterrorism operations in the FBI’s 56 field offices and almost 80 overseas offices. McGarrity was continuously recognized for his strategic vision and performance and has served in some of the FBI’s most challenging and critical positions, including serving as the squad supervisor of the FBI’s extraterritorial squad, Director of Counterterrorism at the White House National Security Council, first Director of the USG’s Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell, Special Agent in Charge of the Criminal Division of the New York Field Office, and Assistant Director of Counterterrorism, the FBI’s priority mission. Prior to his career with the FBI, Mike was an Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney’s Office. He has received numerous awards from the FBI, DOJ, CIA, and ODNI. Most notably, Mike is the recipient of the Presidential Rank Award – Distinguished where he was recognized for his strategic leadership and sustained efforts disrupting countless threats against America. A New Jersey native, McGarrity graduated from Delbarton School and holds certificates from Harvard and Northwestern. McGarrity obtained his undergraduate and law degree magma cum laude from The Catholic University of America.
