TORCHSTONE GLOBAL - Key Persons
Venture-capitalist Anthony Dick spent twenty-one years at Train, Babcock Advisors, a New York-based investment advisory firm focusing exclusively on individuals and families with $600 million under management. In 1992, Tony was promoted to Portfolio Manager with responsibility for client portfolios and wealth management. In addition to portfolio management and company research responsibilities, Tony served as a member of the Investment Committee. In 1996 he became a partner in the firm and held that position until his resignation in 2008. During his time at Train, Babcock Advisors he managed over 60 family relationships with an approximate total of $175 million in assets.
After leaving Train, Babcock, Mr. Dick worked as a Senior Advisor for Watch Hill Partners LLC, a small New York-based boutique investment bank where he focused on special projects, specifically business development for a long-only equity fund. Tony is a graduate of Brooks School in North Andover, Massachusetts and he received a B.A. in History from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut.
Ben West has 14 years of experience as a global security analyst working to ensure business continuity for major fortune 500 companies in the tech, energy, and retail sectors. Mr. West's prior projects have included advising a major tech company on integrating physical and cyber security responsibilities, monitoring organized criminal threats to energy supply chains in Mexico, and anticipating supply chain disruptions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. He also has expertise in industrial espionage, political unrest, terrorism, and executive travel security. Mr. West holds an M.A. in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.
Charles Roselle is an experienced Law Enforcement and Security Professional with two decades of successful experience in physical security, access control, executive protection, event security, risk analysis, emergency preparedness and vulnerability assessments.
Mr. Roselle served 16 years as a Special Agent with the United States Secret Service (USSS). As a member of the President's Protective Detail (43rd President Bush and 44th President Obama), he developed and led teams that successfully secured both foreign and domestic Presidential sites and functions. As a criminal investigator in the Washington and San Diego Field Offices with the USSS, Mr. Roselle employed successful investigative methods and techniques, including interviews, under-cover operations, surveillance, and social media monitoring to protect the nation's critical infrastructures.
In 2015 Mr. Roselle was recruited to the private sector to build the physical security platform for a global biotech company headquartered in San Diego. In this role as Director of Physical Security, Mr. Roselle completed multiple Vulnerability and Threat Assessments to secure all the company's buildings and partnering entities. Mr. Roselle also developed partnerships with peer corporate security organizations and law enforcement agencies to promote information sharing and to ensure physical security best practices. Mr. Roselle continues to work in the private sector as a TorchStone Senior Consultant, conducting client risk assessments, event security coordination, executive protection, and project management. He is based in our Nashville office.
Christopher Sanchez has 22 years of experience in the fields of national security, crisis management, forensic investigations, advance threat protection, and site vulnerability assessments. He is currently a Vice President with TorchStone Global and assists clients in all industries to include business, financial, legal, regulatory, and reputational risk.
Mr. Sanchez specializes in conducting site security advances and criminal investigations, as well as physical, threat, and vulnerability assessments to include protective intelligence investigations. He also assists clients in achieving their desired level of protection in accordance with the Department of Homeland Security's SAFETY Act. Christopher helps professional sports teams manage threats and increase opportunities to teams, players, ownership organizations, and events by integrating key capabilities to help sports organizations and event venues manage threats to their brand, their teams, and their fans.
Previously, Mr. Sanchez was a Managing Director for the Mintz Group and a Director with PwC in the Global Intelligence Practice where he led PwC's Sports Intelligence team as well as the Enterprise Physical Security practices. Christopher was a Special Agent for the United States Secret Service, where he investigated crimes against the government, acts of terrorism, and spent 5 years on the Presidential Protection Detail. Christopher has conducted multiple security advances for the first family, both domestically and internationally, throughout Europe and the Middle East.
Job Titles:
- Vice President
- Security Practitioner and Advisor
Christopher Keenan is a security practitioner and advisor with 25+ years of worldwide leadership, management, and operational experience. Mr. Keenan is a Vice President at TorchStone Global based in our Los Angeles office, assisting corporate and private clients, primarily with executive protection, event and venue security, threat and vulnerability assessments, risk mitigation, secure travel operations and logistics, and internal audits and investigations.
Job Titles:
- Executive
- Member of the Board
Chuck Vance founded Vance Executive Protection (later Vance International) in the early 1980s with the single objective of offering security services to the private sector that were on par with the standards of the United States Secret Service. A former Secret Service agent himself, Mr. Vance accomplished that goal by implementing the principles and techniques of his former agency and by building a seasoned management team, as well as an elite cadre of security officers. Chuck Vance maintained a senior advisory relationship with Vance International through its original sale in 2003 and its ultimate sale to Garda World Security in 2006.
Throughout his career, both as a Special Agent for the Secret Service for 14 years and his time in the private sector, Mr. Vance has directly protected, or managed the protection of, U.S. Presidents and Vice Presidents, international heads of state, dignitaries, royalty, and prominent individuals. He has appeared on more than 400 national and international news programs, and has been quoted as a security expert in hundreds of print media articles. Mr. Vance has testified as an expert witness on presidential security before the U.S. Senate, has authored multiple articles on security, and co-authored the textbook, "Fighting Back: Winning the War Against Terrorism." He is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley.
David Niccolini co-founded TorchStone in 2010. The company has won numerous awards, including recognition by Inc. and Entrepreneur magazines, and has been featured in Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and CNN. Over the years, David has had the honor of directing security, consulting, and investigative operations across six continents on behalf of multinational corporations, families , non-governmental organizations, and U.S. government clients. David is often invited to speak on the topics of personal and family security by entities serving the high net worth community. He has also spoken at the Global Security Exchange (www.gsx.org), the flagship industry conference of ASIS International. David graduated from Duke University.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Co - Founder
- Executive
Eljay Bowron is a seasoned executive with over thirty years of combined government and private sector experience. Mr. Bowron's distinguished government service includes his appointment and tenure as 18th Director of the United States Secret Service, where he had final determination over the protection of the President of the United States, many other high ranking government officials, and foreign heads of state. After his government career, Mr. Bowron served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Vance International, a prominent global security and consulting firm.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder
- President
- Security Executive
Frank Rodman is a security executive with over twenty-five years of qualitative experience building pragmatic security solutions. He has worked with diplomats, business leaders, and ultra high net worth families to develop sophisticated strategies to avoid risk. Prior to TorchStone, Mr. Rodman served as head of global security and investigations for the family partners of one of the largest private investment firms in the United States. Mr. Rodman was also a senior security consultant for Dell Computer Corporation, where he developed and personally executed protection plans for the company's founder and Chairman.
Prior to joining the private sector, Mr. Rodman served as a Special Agent with the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service, where he led protection teams for U.S. diplomats and visiting dignitaries, and managed security at diplomatic facilities abroad.
Job Titles:
- Director of Program Management & Asia Specialist
Mr. Snyder is a multilingual security and operations professional with over 30 years of experience in Japan and China in high-visibility events, crisis management, government relations, and corporate communications. He is fluent and literate in Japanese and Chinese with a proven ability to lead multi-cultural teams and execute difficult projects on time and within budget.
Mr. Snyder previously served in various roles with the Coca-Cola Company from 2002 to 2017, most recently as Director of Risk Management for China and Korea. In this role, he led proactive and reactive risk management functions, including incident management, crisis communications, corporate reputation, and enterprise risk management. As Coca-Cola's Director of Security and Incident Management at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Mr. Snyder was responsible for security, crisis management, and risk assessment for the company's Olympics activations, including their showcasing center, hospitality programs, and government liaison. As the Project Manager for the 2007 Special Olympics Summer Games, Mr. Snyder was responsible for formulating and implementing Coca-Cola's marketing and hospitality programs, operations, and public relations activities.
As Director of Security and Incident Management at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan, Mr. Snyder was responsible for security and crisis management planning, implementation, and response for Coca-Cola's FIFA World Cup activations. He ensured that all potential risks were effectively managed. Prior to Coca-Cola, Mr. Snyder's experience included roles as Managing Director for Kroll Associates Asia, based in Tokyo; Producer for Nippon Television Network, based in Washington, D.C.; and Senior Manager for Citibank in Tokyo. Mr. Snyder earned his master's degree in International Economics and Japan Studies from The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University and his Bachelor of Arts in East Asian Languages and Cultures from Columbia University.
Job Titles:
- Director of Global Embedded Services
Jess is a seasoned public service and security professional with over 25 years of service in local law enforcement, and on international programs. Jess is currently the Director of Global Embedded Services at TorchStone Global and specializes in building teams dedicated to risk assessments, security operations, workplace incident management, crisis response, mitigation and resiliency as well as business intelligence and environmental health and safety. Jess is also a subject matter expert in training, mentoring, and executive protection.
Jess worked in law enforcement for ten years, focusing on emergency response, special weapons and tactics, training and mentoring. Jess continued to focus on tactical operations, training and mentoring serving as a specialized unit commander for the United Nations, and later supported the Bureau of Diplomatic Security in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also provided sustained support for the Bureau of International Narcotics Law Enforcement, mentoring the Kosovo Police Service transition and professionalize, moving from conflict to peace. Jess is noted for his work in Kosovo; he was commended by both the U.S. and UK Embassies for his role in the 2013 Brussels Agreement that normalized security cooperation between Serbia and Kosovo. This experience shaped his thinking on the power of collaboration with safety and security partners and the holistic benefit of embedded mentors.
Jess has overseen TorchStone Global's largest embedded program since January 2020, providing subject matter expertise and management excellence in our Fortune 50 customer's management team. Under his leadership, the program grew exponentially in that time from four to 47 expert staff members and managers. This growth and service has only been possible because of Jess's customer focus, attitude toward finding and retaining talent, and his dedication to collaboration and understanding of the customer's strategic goals and operational needs. Jess joined the TorchStone Global team as Director this year. He holds an MA in Diplomacy from Norwich University.
Job Titles:
- Vice President
- Vice President and Risk Management Leader
Mr. Gainer is a Vice President and risk management leader for TorchStone, providing expert advice, strategic solutions, and professional training services with an emphasis on security assessments, crisis management planning, critical incident response, and workplace violence reduction.
John is an elite instructor with over 30 years of experience demonstrating thought leadership, directing cross-functional teams, and orchestrating tactical operations. He is committed to building strategic solutions, making the critical difference, delivering on complex security projects, and achieving operational excellence.
John successfully completed 25 years of honorable service as an FBI Special Agent, earning a pinnacle career highlight as an Operator on the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team (HRT). He has confronted the most complex national security threats, engaging in high-risk arrests, deploying on multiple international operations and combat theatre missions.
Joe Funk serves as Senior Vice President and is part of the executive leadership of TorchStone. Mr. Funk had a distinguished career with the U.S. Secret Service for twenty-one years. During his tenure, he was the Assistant Special Agent in charge of the Washington, D.C. field office, served on the protection details of former Presidents George H. Bush and William J. Clinton, and protected numerous foreign heads of state.
After leaving the Secret Service, Mr. Funk served as a Senior Special Agent with the Office of Special Investigations for the Government Accounting Office, conducting investigations for the U.S. Congressional Select Committees on Homeland Security and Intelligence. As the President of U.S. Safety and Security (now merged with TorchStone Global LLC), Mr. Funk built an impressive business with multinational corporate clients, high profile events and individuals, and international professional sports leagues. In addition, U.S. Safety and Security's protective assignments have included U.S. Presidential candidates Senator Barack Obama during his campaign in 2007-2008, Governor Mitt Romney in 2011-2012, and Governor Jeb Bush in 2015-2016.
Kori Sidwell joined TorchStone Global in 2019 as a Protective Intelligence Analyst Intern and now serves as an Intelligence Analyst. Ms. Sidwell helps mitigate physical and reputational risks affecting high-profile individuals and corporations on TorchStone Global's protective intelligence team. Utilizing Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) tools and research strategies, she collects and analyzes raw data to prepare actionable and proactive, protective intelligence reports. Ms. Sidwell earned both her B.A. in Intelligence Studies (Summa Cum Laude) and an M.A. in Criminal Justice Administration from Mercyhurst University. She was also honored with her program's top graduate student award.
Job Titles:
- Latin America Security Advisor
Lance Root has over 25 years of international security and law enforcement experience with strong interpersonal and analytical skills. He has an extensive record of security program design, development, implementation, and oversight. Mr. Root is a pro-active, results-oriented, performance-driven leader, who has successfully led hundreds of personnel, managed multi-million dollar budgets, and implemented integrated security programs spanning government, military, civilian and corporate personnel, facilities, and interests.
As a Supervisory Special Agent in the Diplomatic Security Service of the U.S. Department of State, Mr. Root protected American diplomats and facilities around the world. In his last post with Diplomatic Security, he completed a tour of duty as the senior Regional Security Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Madrid, Spain, where he supervised a staff of 89 special agents, investigators, U.S. Marines, and contract guards. He has previously served at U.S. diplomatic posts in Kabul, Mexico City, Guatemala City, Sarajevo, Tel Aviv, Tunis, and at the US Mission to the United Nations. From 2004 to 2007, Mr. Root served as the Regional Security Officer and Pan American Games Security Coordinator at the American Consulate General in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. With TorchStone, Lance served as the Olympic Games Security Project Manager for Olympic Games Partner Bridgestone Americas in advance of and during the Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Mr. Root is trilingual in English, Portuguese and Spanish. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science & Economics from Pepperdine University, Malibu, California, and holds a Top Secret security clearance with the U.S. Department of State.
Job Titles:
- Major Events Security Coordinator
Lee Fields has more than 34 years of experience in the law enforcement and security arena, having served nearly 32 years with the U.S. Secret Service. During his Secret Service tenure, Mr. Fields led the Jacksonville, FL Field Office and served as Deputy Assistant Director of the Office of Investigations in Washington, D.C. where he was the Senior Executive Service official responsible for all domestic investigative operations, overseeing 41 investigative field offices, 85 resident and domicile offices, and 68 criminal task forces. In this capacity, he managed a workforce of 2,776 employees, which included both special agents and administrative personnel. Mr. Fields conducted and managed criminal investigations, and protective security advances for Secret Service protectees, including presidential and vice-presidential candidates. He also has conducted domestic and international protective intelligence advances and served in supervisory roles for visiting foreign heads of state.
Mr. Fields' investigative experience includes conducting criminal investigations of counterfeit currency, forgery, access device fraud, and mortgage fraud. His headquarters and protective assignments included the Office of Investigations, Office of Administration, Presidential Protective Division (President William Clinton), Counter Assault Team, Intelligence Division, and Forensic Services Division. He also served on several task forces that investigated organized crime.
Mr. Fields holds a Master of Science in Management with an emphasis in Leadership, as part of an Executive Leadership Program at Johns Hopkins University. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from the University of Florida.
As TorchStone's Chief People Officer, Dr. Carr leads the company's people-strategy, focusing on human capital and culture initiatives that support TorchStone's business strategy and growth. As part of this role, Dr. Carr also serves as TorchStone's Corporate Secretary. In her role as SVP, Dr. Carr facilitates corporate trainings and oversees TorchStone's Threat Management Team, which assesses behaviors of concern, including those associated with targeted violence, terrorism, stalking, suicidality, and insider threat.
Dr. Carr formally joined TorchStone as a Protective Intelligence Analyst in 2016. She was promoted to Vice President of Intelligence in 2019 before being appointed to her current role in 2021. Dr. Carr earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Palo Alto University. She maintains licenses in California and Washington (CA PSY25110, WA PY60896476). She obtained her B.A. from Wellesley College with double majors in Psychology and Media Arts & Science with a concentration in Computer Science. Dr. Carr is also a longstanding member of the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals (ATAP).
Cunningham is an Intelligence Analyst for TorchStone, providing expert investigative analysis by employing innovative approaches utilizing Open-source intelligence (OSINT) to produce actionable intelligence and has over 20 years of expertise as an investigative analyst with local and federal law enforcement agencies.
Mare has served as a Tactical Analyst in numerous command posts, often designated as the primary analyst during large-scale events and operations to include Super Bowl LII, NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four and the Minneapolis Civil Unrest in 2020.
In addition to the 2020 FBI Director's Award, Mare has been recognized for her investigative analysis by receiving Excellence in Investigation from the Minneapolis Police Department and the Medal of Excellence from the FBI.
Mare earned a Bachelor of Science in Rhetoric at the University of Minnesota, certification as a Crime and Intelligence Analyst from the University of California, Sacramento and attended the FBI Tactical Specialist Basic Training at the FBI Academy in Quantico.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President
- Security Executive
Mark Lex serves as Senior Vice President and is part of the executive leadership team. Mr. Lex is a performance driven security executive with over 30 years of security industry experience to include 15 years as the senior security executive for three separate Fortune 250 companies that include Abbott, WW Grainger, and Kraft Foods. Mr. Lex served as emeritus faculty and consultant with the Security Executive Council for nearly 10 years. Mr. Lex has a track record of success in steering development and deployment of top-level security programs.
Before joining the corporate ranks, Mr. Lex owned and operated several different investigative agencies and security officer companies in suburban Chicago. Most recently, Mark held a position as Director of Security for PayPal responsible for Governance, Risk, and Administration.
Job Titles:
- Senior Executive Protection Specialist
Patrick Chase has more than 35 years of police and security experience gained during a career leading protective operations for local and state law enforcement agencies. In that capacity, Mr. Chase has provided protection for corporate executives, elected officials, and high-profile individuals and athletes. Before embarking on his private security career protecting individuals and corporations worldwide, Mr. Chase served as a MN State Trooper where he was the Commander of Executive Protection and Director of Security for the Capitol Complex. Mr. Chase also served on the SWAT, narcotics, and detective units as a police officer in both MN and CO. During his law enforcement career, Mr. Chase received more than 100 awards and commendations. Mr. Chase holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and has completed the Police Executive Management Training Course (PERF), Secret Service-hosted Executive Protection Agent and Executive Protection Commanders School, and hundreds of other law enforcement training classes.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Partner at William Blair and Company
Robert Fix is a Partner at William Blair and Company, where he has been with the Private Client Advisors group since 1970 and became Partner in 1977. For over fifty years, Mr. Fix has dedicated his career to William Blair and his clients. To this day, Bob works with some of the original clients he brought to the firm in 1970, a testament to the depth of his investment experience and his commitment to client service. Prior to his tenure at William Blair, Mr. Fix served in the United States Marine Corps and graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.
Robert has provided security services to the U.S. Government, foreign diplomats, Fortune 500 corporations, and high-net-worth individuals in dynamic environments worldwide for over 25 years.
Robert served as an Infantry Sergeant, Combat Medic and Flight Medic in hostile environments and combat zones. Robert provided close protection to the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal Yugoslavia (ICTY) investigations team in Bosnia and supported N.A.T.O. operations in Kosovo. In Iraq, Robert performed high threat protection for the Coalition Provisional Authority, visiting U.S. leadership and congressional delegates.
Robert has performed executive protection for the Saudi Royal Family during extended U.S. and international travel and was the Assistant Detail Leader for the Japanese Consulate General in Seattle, WA. Additionally, Robert performed covert investigation and high value asset recovery for a private investigations company supporting various clients.
Robert performed high threat protection throughout Iraq for the U.S. Marshals Service Special Operation Group and Iraq Ministry of Justice. Robert supported the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers providing close protection, advances and intelligence development in Basra and Al Hillah, Iraq and non-governmental organizations conducting outreach programs to opposition groups in western and northern Iraq. Robert supported the U.S. Department of State across Iraq serving on the Helicopter Inserted Rapid Reaction Team, Emergency Response Team, and Provincial Movement (long-range) unit.
Robert has also served with the Department of Interior Security Response Force, responsible for securing critical infrastructure in the Northwest Region. Since 2017, Robert has provided direction and oversight of security services worldwide for clients with special security needs.
Robert holds a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice with a focus on Homeland Security; an Associate of Arts in Accounting; and he is a graduate of The Steele Foundation Executive Protection course, three Department of State Worldwide Protection Service High Threat Protection vetting courses, Erinys Security Officer Course, Aegis High Threat Protection vetting course and other elite security training.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Intelligence
Scott Stewart is a seasoned protective intelligence practitioner with 35 years of analytical, investigative and security experience. Before joining the executive ranks of TorchStone Global, Mr. Stewart led global analysis of terrorism and security topics at Stratfor from 2004 to 2020. Prior to his time at Stratfor, Mr. Stewart was the protective intelligence coordinator for Dell, and served as a member of Michael Dell's executive protection team.
Mr. Stewart also spent ten years as a special agent with the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), where he was involved in a large number of high-profile terrorism and protective intelligence investigations. He was the lead DSS investigator assigned to the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and the follow-up New York City bomb plot. He also led a team that assisted the Argentine investigation of the 1992 bombing of the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires, among other cases. Mr. Stewart also served as the deputy regional security officer in Guatemala City and was responsible for embassy and diplomatic security at that post as well as in Belize City.
Over the years, Mr. Stewart's analysis has been widely reprinted by other outlets and he has written for the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, Security Management Magazine, and Security Magazine, among others. Stewart is a popular speaker on security topics and is also frequently interviewed by journalists from leading news outlets to include the New York Times, CNN, Fox News, NPR, Reuters, the Associated Press, Time Magazine, and USA Today. Mr. Stewart was one of the DSS Special Agents profiled in the book "Relentless Pursuit: The DSS and the Manhunt for the Al-Qaeda Terrorists" by Samuel M Katz.
Job Titles:
- Corporate Security Consultant
Ms. Kallab is a corporate security consultant for TorchStone based in Nashville, TN. Prior to joining TorchStone, she served as a Regional Security Advisor for the Central Asia, Middle East, and North Africa countries at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington, D.C. Ms. Kallab also worked at WorldAware (formerly iJet), where she managed and developed corporate travel security programs for multinational organizations. Her analysis has been cited in publications including Travel Risk Management newsletter, the Washington Post, and USA Today. She received a B.A. in International Relations and French Literature from Johns Hopkins University in 2008 and an M.A. in International Security from the Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po Paris) in 2010. Ms. Kallab was born in Beirut, Lebanon, and speaks English, French, and Arabic.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Chairman of Page Group Limited
Stuart Page is the Chairman of Page Group Limited. He has over twenty years experience in the commercial investigations and security industry. Mr. Page is an acknowledged expert in complex international fraud and asset tracing investigations. Furthermore, he has managed close protection assignments and full service embassy and delegation security contracts in complex and hostile environments.
Mr. Page commenced his career as a police officer serving with the Metropolitan Police where he was assigned to Scotland Yard's Anti-Terrorist Squad and Special Branch. Later, he was an Army Reservist with the Royal Military Police.
Job Titles:
- Senior Consultant
- Deputy Director of Security for Giuliani Security
Tim Wilson is a decorated veteran of the New York City Police Department, where he achieved the rank of 1st Grade Detective. He served the majority of his police career in the Executive Security Section and Dignitary Protection Unit of the elite Intelligence Division. Mr. Wilson coordinated protective security for Mayor Koch, Mayor Dinkins, and Mayor Giuliani, as well as for numerous visiting dignitaries, politicians, and celebrities.
After his public service, Mr. Wilson was appointed the Deputy Director of Security for Giuliani Security and Safety, where he continued to provide protective security as a team leader and confidential aide to former Mayor Giuliani. He helped coordinate security and logistics for Giuliani's daily schedule and for numerous domestic and international trips, including the Mayor's official trip to the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy as a U. S. Presidential Delegate.
Mr. Wilson went on to form and lead the executive protection team at a privately held financial firm, where he coordinated security operations for one of the wealthiest families in the United States. His knowledge of high-level protective security is unparalleled. As a Senior Consultant at TorchStone Global, Mr. Wilson manages executive protection and counter-surveillance services for some of the most prominent individuals and organizations in the world.
Job Titles:
- Senior Consultant
- Senior Consultant and Principal Security Risk Management Advisor
Whit Darnell is a Senior Consultant and principal security risk management advisor for TorchStone Global. Mr. Darnell had a distinguished twenty-five year career with the FBI where he served in a variety of investigative, executive protection, training, and security leadership roles, including Unit Chief of the FBI's Hostage and Rescue Team.
Mr. Darnell is well known for building and motivating cross-functional, diverse teams that exceed performance expectations. Through his vast experience as a trainer and lecturer with the FBI, he knows how to develop people, and he has continually demonstrated the ability to work under extreme pressure in high profile and rapidly changing situations and operates at the highest level of professionalism and discretion.
Mr. Darnell has extensive experience in developing comprehensive security programs, risk identification and mitigation, and crisis response in both the public and private sector. Examples of his experience include security planning at major speaking events and conferences for VIPs, US Presidential candidates, and US Government Senior Cabinet Level Officials. His expertise also extends to the sporting world, and he has worked closely with the Special Events Division at the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department to safely plan and deliver events such as the NCAA College Football's Music City Bowl, Tennessee Titan's football games and the Nashville Predators hockey games.
Since entering the private sector, Mr. Darnell has been Director of Security for a high-net-worth client, managing and sourcing a team of 24 executive protection personnel on a 24/7, 365 day-a-year basis. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing and managing threat identification and mitigation, strategic planning and analysis, incident management and response, training & skill development and external liaison.
Mr. Darnell maintains his HR 218 LEOSA certification, is qualified as a Personal Protection Specialist, Emergency Medical Technician, National Crisis Negotiator and has numerous other certificates that represent the highest level of achievement in law enforcement.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder
- Director
- Founder of the Pickle Group
William Pickle is the founder of The Pickle Group, LLC, a Washington, D.C. based business development and governmental affairs firm. Prior to this, Mr. Pickle served as the 37th Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate. In this role, Mr. Pickle was the Chief Operating Officer of the Senate, responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Senate as well as for oversight of the U.S. Capitol Police Department. Previous to being nominated and elected to this position by the Senate, Mr. Pickle served as the first Senior Executive Service Security Director of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Prior to the creation of TSA, Mr. Pickle served as the Deputy Inspector General of the Department of Labor.
The bulk of Mr. Pickle's public service was with the United States Secret Service where he rose through the Agent ranks to become Deputy Assistant Director. During this 25 year career, he served in numerous senior positions to include Special Agent in Charge of the Vice Presidential Protective Division during the 2000 Presidential Election, as well as head of the Secret Service Legislative Affairs Office during President Clinton's first Administration. Mr. Pickle is a highly decorated Vietnam Veteran who served as an infantryman and door gunner with the First Cavalry Division in 1968-69.
Today, he serves as Chairman of the Board of Digital Defense Group as well as Director and Senior Advisor for a number of telecommunications and technology corporations to include Hysky Communications, Koolspan Technology, Criterion Systems and Cornerstone Associates. He is a former member of the 2004 Presidential Election Advisory Committee and a current member of the Presidential Medal of Valor Committee. Mr. Pickle continues to hold Top Secret Clearance with the United States Government.
Bill Whiteside has twenty-six years of public and private sector experience in the security industry. He has served with the U.S. Justice and Treasury Departments as both a Deputy U.S. Marshal and as a Special Agent with the U.S. Secret Service. He served in various capacities and specialties to include fugitive apprehension, protection of Federal Judges and U.S. Attorneys, high threat trials, and the Witness Protection Program. He has protected U.S. Presidents, Vice Presidents, the Secretary of the Treasury, and Foreign Heads of State. Mr. Whiteside has a wide-ranging criminal investigative background in financial crimes, bank fraud, telecommunications fraud, asset forfeiture, intelligence gathering, threat assessments, surveillance, and counter-surveillance.
After his government service, Mr. Whiteside managed AT&T's Global Executive Protection program, and then became Director of Global Executive Protection for Citigroup, where he had the responsibility for the safety of their CEOs, Presidents, CFOs, Board of Directors, and other senior executives and their families, both domestically and internationally. Using his expertise in risk assessment, threat administration, and executive protection and advance work, Mr. Whiteside has advised U.S. officials, senior government staff, security teams from foreign governments and private firms, and Chairman and CEO-level executives. He has extensive experience in tactical planning and budgeting for large-scale security assignments and investigations, and has managed additional responsibility for aircraft, ship, ground transportation, residential security, as well as event security.
With a high-level network of domestic and international security and business resources, Mr. Whiteside serves as an advisor to high net worth individuals and families, including industry leaders and celebrities. He manages comprehensive security assessments, due diligence, surveillance, counter-surveillance, investigations, and risk mitigation programs. He designs and coordinates personal and residential protection programs and global travel security for multiple high net worth families.