Thomas J. Dorsch

(847) 359-7742

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Iraq Resident Program Manager January, 2010 – July, 2011

U.S. Department of State, Office of Antiterrorism Assistance

Served as the Iraq Program Manager based out of Amman, Jordan. Responsible for the direct, on the ground management and oversight of this critical program focusing on the preparation of vetted Iraqi policemen to protect U.S. personnel posted in Iraq. This operational position includes regular missions to Iraq providing support and management of background investigations, VIP protection training, Iraqi camp management and provision of material support for this high level U.S. State Department program.

Iraq Program Manager

U.S. Department of State, Office of Antiterrorism Assistance November, 2008 – January,2010

Responsible for the budget planning, training oversight, and overall management of the critical U.S. State Department policy initiative to support the government of Iraq through material grants and training of Iraqi law enforcement personnel. This position entailed multiple oversight missions to Iraq, training management of U.S. instructors, and high level State Department budgetary meetings involving over $13million of program funds.

Presidential Security Advisor March, 2007- June, 2008

U.S. Department of State, Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program

Liberia, West Africa

Selected as one of five U.S. security professionals to advise the protection detail of Liberian President, EllenJohnson Sirleaf. The primary focus of this critical stability program, personally sanctioned by the U.S. Secretary of State, entailed the monumental human resource mission involving the reconstruction of the Liberian Special Security Service leadership and personnel ranks. Duties include:

  • Consultation of the Service Director and senior detail leaders on operational planning and execution
  • Development of written policies and authorship of 150-page standard operating procedures manual in accordance with Liberian law and customs
  • Daily human resource management, investigations, and problem-solving consultation
  • Evaluation of administrative and operational procedures
  • Implementation of training seminars regarding all facets of VIP protection operations
  • Participate in high level meetings with President Sirleaf, the U.S. Ambassador, and senior United Nations officials discussing the needs and future status of the Special Security Service

Program Director February, 2003 – June, 2005

Presidential Security Program - U.S. Embassy Bogota, Colombia

As the sole U.S. Advisor to President Alvaro Uribe’s security detail, created, developed and directed high profile security program including the management of an advisor staff of four highly-trained U.S. security professionals. Duties included the following:

  • Management of U.S. advisor operations in pursuit of successful protective missions and evaluations
  • Maintained direct liaison with government of Colombia Senior Leaders such as President Alvaro Uribe, Vice President Santos, Defense Minister Jorge Uribe and the Mayor of Bogota, Luis Garzon
  • Maintained liaison with U.S. Officials as Ambassadors Ann Patterson and William Wood, Assistant Secretary of Diplomatic Security, FrancisTaylor, and Assistant Secretary of Counter-Terrorism, Coffer Black
  • Responsible for providing strategic and tactical security advisory services while accompanying the Presidential Protection Detail during security operations. Served as only U.S. Advisor on protective missions with President Uribe traveling into guerrilla-occupied territory throughout Colombia
  • Evaluated and provided consultation on human resource requirements, identified equipment needs of Presidential Protection Detail and coordinated distribution of armored vehicles, weaponry, and special communication systems
  • Provided ongoing advanced VIP protection training to Protection Agents of all senior leadership protection details

VIP Protection Course Director July, 2001- February, 2003

Anti -Terrorism Assistance Program, Albuquerque, NM

Responsible for the creation, organization, and development of premier VIP protection course for the U.S. State Department, Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program. Recipients of this specialized training consisted of senior officers, protection agents and military/police officers from friendly-nation presidentialsecurity details worldwide. Other duties included:

  • Human resource management of expert instructional team comprised of ten former special agents of the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service and the U.S. Secret Service
  • Developed high level of training standards, through example, by serving as instructor for various classes and practical exercises
  • Coordinated and supervised classroom and field exercises to ensure that foreign students received maximum benefit of instructor experience
  • Maintained liaison with ATA Director and high level U.S. anti-terrorism officials to ensure all training goals were successfully achieved

Director / OwnerApril, 1990 – July, 2001

Pathfinder Unlimited

* Provided wilderness education seminars to over one thousand students

* Led numerous wilderness expeditions in the Arizona Desert, Rocky Mountains, and North Woods

* Created and organized “The Pathfinder Challenge” adventure race

U.S VIP Protection Advisor, MVM InternationalFebruary, 1996 – September, 1997

Presidential Protection Detail, Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Provided protection and advisory services for the President of Haiti, Rene Preval. Duties included:

  • U.S. Advisor in charge of training for Haitian Presidential Protection Detail
  • Established training regimen for Haitian Counter-Assault Team
  • Served as VIP Protection Advisor directly involved in Haitian Secret Service protection operations
  • Conducted background and personnel investigations within the Presidential Security Detail

Special AgentMarch, 1986 – April, 1990

United States Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service

Primary responsibilities included the protection of the U.S. Secretary of State, U.S. Ambassadors in high-threat environments and foreign dignitaries visiting the United States. Additional duties included criminal investigations involving passport/visa fraud cases and Top Secret background investigations.

  • Assigned as Assistant Regional Security Officer in Baghdad, Iraq. Organized and trained Iraqi guard forces to provide perimeter protection for the U.S. Embassy and residences of U.S. Personnel. Instructed Iraqi Personnel in patrolling, attack recognition, communications, and first-aid and bomb threat procedures. Developed planning for the evacuation of U.S. personnel during the height of the Iraq/Iraq war while Baghdad was under daily attack from Iranian SCUD missiles. Supervised Protection Detail of the U.S. Ambassador.
  • Assigned as Agent-in-Charge of protection detail for U.S. Ambassador to Beirut, Lebanon, John Kelly. Responsible for training and management of a sixty-five member Lebanese protection force. Developed tactical training program. Organized and executed recovery operations in Hezbollah-held West Beirut and retrieved over one million dollars in weaponry and ordnance. Successfully defended the Ambassador and his motorcade while under armed attack. Managed and supervised ongoing security operations in the midst of Lebanese civil war.
  • Assigned as Agent-in-Charge of protection detail for U.S. Ambassador to Panama, Dean Hinton. Responsible for training and management of a forty-member Panamanian protection force in the aftermath of Operation “Just Cause.” Coordinated numerous joint protection operations with U.S. Military forces and the U.S. Secret Service.

Security Manager / Training CoordinatorJuly, 1985 – March, 1986

SSI International, Khartoum, Sudan

Responsibilities included the recruitment, training, and human resource management of an eight hundred-member Sudanese guard force that served as protection for U.S. personnel living in Khartoum. Provided daily intelligence reports and worked closely with U.S. Embassy Regional Security Officer while coordinating security for U.S. residences. Additional duties included VIP protection for U.S. oil company executives surveying oil-drilling operations in the war-torn Southern Sudan.

Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps September, 1976 – August, 1984

As a Marine reservist, was assigned to combat intelligence unit. Duties included photo interpretation, threat assessment, and instruction of Foreign Area Studies to officers and enlisted men.

As an active duty Infantryman, conducted and supervised jungle reconnaissance and security patrols as Squad Leader, Subic Bay, Philippines during “New People’s Army” insurgency.

EDUCATION

Eastern Illinois UniversitySeptember, 1984 – May, 1985

Earned credits toward an M.A. in International Relations.

Northern Illinois UniversitySeptember, 1979 – May, 1983

Obtained a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations

SPECIAL TRAINING AND SKILLS

  • Current Top Secret Security Clearance through the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service (granted 2010)
  • Federal Firearms Instructor, U.S. Department of State
  • U.S.Department of Energy Instructor Development Course
  • Firearms Instructor, U.S. Department of Energy
  • Wilderness EMT, Pitkin, Colorado
  • Certified Hunting Guide, Noxon, Montana
  • Counter-Terrorist Driving Instructor through the Tony Scotti School
  • Foreign Languages: Spanish
  • Published Author