An experienced crisis manager, he served for six years with the U.S. State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service and was awarded a Meritorious Honor Medal for his leadership in evacuating the U.S. embassy in Nicaragua when it was under siege during the civil war. He also received seven commendation awards from the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (F.B.I.) during a 20-year career as an F.B.I Special Agent investigating drug trafficking, Russian organized crime, espionage and terrorism, and for service during emergencies as an F.B.I. crisis manager and hostage negotiator. In 1998 the U.S. Attorney, Southern District of Florida, named him “Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.” Before his civilian career he served six years as a U.S. Air Force intelligence officer, first as an enlisted airman and as a commissioned officer during his final years.

Mr. Island served as a Regional Security Officer with the State Department and was responsible for the safety and security of personnel assigned to U.S. embassies, missions and consulates in Latin America. That included the preparation of complex vulnerability, risk and threat assessments, and managing the security of countless high-profile diplomatic special events in the U.S. and abroad. Ambassadors and consular officers also called on him frequently to deal with host country law enforcement on behalf of U.S. tourists and ex-patriots.

As an F.B.I.-certified police instructor he taught crisis management and hostage negotiations to military and law enforcement, and crime intelligence and crime scene processing to prosecutors, crime investigators, and others in Latin America and Africa, as well as to new agent trainees and police managers at the F.B.I. Academy. Now, as a consultant, he provides threat/crisis management solutions to small- and medium-size businesses, and provides business continuity planning and solutions, including vendor management.

Mr. Island left federal service in 2002 to apply his knowledge and skills to the private sector helping client corporations and governments to manage destabilizing or disastrous events; and prevent and mitigate losses of personnel, funds, infrastructures or information by natural disasters, accidents, violence or terrorism. He manages private investigations of fraud, cybercrimes, identity theft, and foreign corrupt practices, and oversees Inquesta’s divisions that provide background screening and drug testing.

He graduated in 1974 from Florida State University (B.A. International Affairs) and earned a Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) degree from Florida International University in 1998.

Writing is one of his passions. He authored the book Your Plan Is Your Parachute: A Simplified Guide to Business Continuity and Crisis Management; and co-authored Sports Team Travel Security, produced under grant from ASIS Foundation (CRISP Report), and Geomagnetic Storms: The Natural Threat to Our Energy Infrastructure, produced for a major, six-month, state-wide emergency management training contract with the State of Florida Division of Emergency Management.

EDUCATION

MILITARY SERVICE

MAJOR AWARDS

Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, presented in August 1998 by the U. S. Attorney, Southern
District of Florida, for the leadership and success of a South Florida health care task force
(multiple arrests and millions of dollars recovered).

Meritorious Honor Service, presented in March 1980 by the U. S. Secretary of State, for leading
a security team into Nicaragua in June 1979 for the emergency extraction of the U.S.
ambassador and embassy personnel from “ground zero” during the height of the civil war.

INTEREST

Flying (commercial/instrument pilot); ocean sailing; mountain bicycling; creative writing.