Key Personnel Profiles
We are very proud of our management team and associate consultants, all members of which are subject matter experts in their fields of specialization.
Management Team
JULIO "TASCO" GOMEZ - Owner & CEO
Tasco’s forte is recovering kidnap victims and resolving extortions. To date, he has successfully negotiated seventy-six kidnapping cases and appeared before the crisis-management teams of numerous multinational corporations. A 19-year Navy SEAL, He rose from seaman recruit to Executive Officer of Seal Team 5, based in Coronado, California. Tasco participated in numerous combat missions while on active duty in El Salvador, Panama and most recently as a US contractor in Iraq. He has acquired extensive experience in training Foreign Special Forces in maritime operations, assault tactics, including facility penetration, and the full gamut of countermeasures, including protective driving. As an active duty SEAL, Tasco’s operational experience included membership of seven SEAL Platoons during his career in Naval Special Warfare, commanding three of the seven. Tasco also serves as a contractor with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) conducting "terrorist perspective" based assessments of America's most vulnerable Seaports, Chemical Plants and Nuclear Power Plants. In 2008, Tasco oversaw several large DCMA managed contracts in support of Multi-National Force-Iraq efforts in Baghdad, Iraq. A holder of the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for Heroism and a graduate of Southern Illinois University, he speaks native Spanish and is conversant in Portuguese.
LARRY SIMMONS - President
He served 27 years in the US Navy SEAL, rising from enlisted commando in Vietnam to commanding officer of SEAL Team 5 based in Coronado Beach, California. He retired in 1993 with the rank of Commander. Following his retirement, he has developed protection programs for executives in high-risk venues, audited corporate security sites, developed a combat simulation model for the US Army and trained Saudi Arabian naval units in special warfare techniques. A Spanish speaker, Simmons has a BA from Ohio State University and two MS degrees. He has written two published action novels.
JOHN JENCO - Director, Operations
John has successfully completed assignments in over 30 countries on four continents, and is widely recognized for his broad expertise that includes more than 35 years of experience in planning, performing, managing, and documenting operations in hazardous environments. With an extensive background in underwater operations that includes commercial deep-sea diving, manned submersibles, and remotely-operated vehicles, for the past 20 years he has focused on performing contract technical research, new technology development, business intelligence operations, and personnel training, primarily associated with the world commercial nuclear power industry. Mr. Jenco’s specialties are intelligence collection and analysis, security, operations planning & logistics, complex problem analysis and resolution, and process improvement. In these capacities, he is regularly engaged by multi-national corporations, US Fortune 500 companies, and large private institutions to address issues of significant or industry-level concern. He is accustomed to working with personnel at all levels, from field technical staff, to senior executives, government officials, and military officers. Mr. Jenco maintains an extensive global network of contacts in government, industry, academia, and the military, including the security and special operations communities.
DURWIN “ROO” DENGERUD - Director, Asia
Roo served thirty-nine years in US Special Operations, as well as private protective security services. He performed as Detail Leader on many confidential VIP protection projects internationally. Roo was an original operative member of the Delta Force where he served fourteen years. He trained US and foreign law enforcement officials in executive protection procedures, anti-terrorism measures and SWAT tactics. Roo has trained with the US Secret Service; Presidential Protection Division and the U.S. Department of State; Dignitary Protection Division on Ambassador level motorcade operations and executive protection. Roo has worked in high threat areas overseas on numerous combat operations, US Ambassador and Military Generals physical security details and conducted security training and protection operations for presidential, as well as for numerous celebrity and corporate VIP entities. Roo developed counterterrorism procedures, evasive driving and ramming courses and protective security operational procedures presently used by US Special Operations units, Law Enforcement Elements, corporate and civilian entities worldwide. For the past fourteen years Roo has lived in the Philippines conducting air, land and sea security consulting and advisory programs for multiple Philippine Government Agencies.
JOSE A. TREVINO - Director, Latin America
He has extensive experience working security-related cases worldwide. A 22-year Navy SEAL, he rose from seaman recruit to Command Master Chief Petty Officer (E-9), the highest level of enlisted service. Trevino participated in numerous combat missions in El Salvador and Panama, spending the majority of his time in Latin America training and advising military and police forces. He also headed various high-profile protection details in high-risk countries, and is a native Spanish speaker.
Principal Associates - Security Operations
WILLIAM REED
William C. Reed is a former U. S. Navy Captain with more than 40 years dedicated and distinguished military service. He is a former Navy SEAL and combat veteran who is well-versed in security operations from both the offensive and defensive perspectives, and has specialized experience in development and execution of complex strategic projects. He has served at the highest levels of command and staff in both Navy and Joint assignments and possesses the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities to manage large complex contracts. Reed is a superior leader and adroit manager of people, programs and processes. He has BS from San Diego State University and Masters degree from Naval War College in Strategic Studies and National Security.
VICTOR "VIC" HYDER
Commander Hyder is a career Navy SEAL officer with operational and management experience around the world in all environments. He has led teams from size 4 to 400 conducting special operations worldwide in direct combat, peace-time training, and politically sensitive settings. Vic was raised in central Oregon and a graduate of Annapolis, he holds a master’s degree in Military Arts and Science from the U.S. military’s premier college for strategic thinking and campaign planning, the School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He is also a graduate of the Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia. His career highlights include leading a 30-man joint special operations element in South America’s Tri-Border Area; coordination of combat operations for a 350-man Task Force in Iraq; close-in personal security for the interim Iraqi President in Baghdad; leader of a clandestine team in Bosnia hunting persons indicted for war crimes; leader of the 1st DoD team to Port au Prince in response to Haiti’s January 2010 earthquake that killed nearly 300,000 and displaced over 1.5M; and during various contingencies, the senior SOF rep to U.S. Ambassadors overseas, most recently – Brazil, Paraguay, Jamaica and Haiti. Vic's military decorations include the Silver Star (Afghanistan), Bronze Star (Iraq), Defense Meritorious Service Medal (Haiti), as well as other unit and service awards. He is 15 years married, he and his wife have two sons.
KENT “KROKUS” KROEKER
Krokus possess expansive experience in a broad range of business, academic, military, aviation, off-road racing and expedition mountaineering. He is a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130 Pilot/Aircraft Commander with over 2000 hours flying time. Krokus is a combat veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, and has conducted military, aviation, security operations and training throughout North America, Europe, Middle East, Gulf States (UAE), Southwest Asia
(Iraq and Kuwait), Central Asia (Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan), Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Rim. He is a leader of mountaineering expeditions throughout North America, Nepal and Peru. Krokus is also an experienced off road driver and racer; motorcycles and four wheeled vehicles. He speaks fluent English and French and is a graduate of University of Southern California, as well as The Sorbonne, France.
DAN GREISEN
Dan Greisen has served his country as a U. S. Army Chief Warrant Officer. A retired State of Oklahoma Senior Narcotics Agent and SWAT Team member, he has extensive time on-target with thermal imagery and high stress direct action. Dan provides expertise and certified ratings as a Master Diver, RYA Commercial Ocean Yachtmaster 200 gt, and PSD "Little Bird" helicopter pilot in Iraq. He has thirty years experience in providing supervision, leadership, and hands-on operations in high threat environments. Greisen has received formal training from the U. S. Army, Department of Justice/Drug Enforcement Administration, U. S. Navy, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
ANDREE BOKER
Böker has expansive experience working security-related cases worldwide. A former member of the elite German Naval Special Warfare Unit "Kampfschwimmerkompanie", "Kampfschwimmereinsatzzug". As a German S.E.A.L Commando, from (1994 - 2002) Böker trained in Static and Freefall parachute courses, Underwater demolition course, Master underwater demolition course, Ship protection course, German Ranger course part 1 and 2, Ship boarding course and advanced Medical courses among others. Boker has worked in Kosovo, Bosnia, USA, Denmark, Italy, France, Netherlands, Norway, Afghanistan, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. He also headed various high-profile protection details in high-risk countries, and is a native German speaker.
THOMAS MATOZEL
A 15-year Naval Special Warfare veteran. He has served in a wide variety of Special Operations environments with specialized skills in Counter-Terrorist Operations, Urban Operations, Submarine Operations and Combat-Swimmer Operations. Since retiring from the Navy, Matozel has provided personal executive protection in Bosnia-Herzegovina (B&H), authored and implemented equipment recovery operations in B&H and provided detailed guidance in counter-narcotic operations for the U.S. Coast Guard, Customs, and Naval Forces. He has also provided U.S. Law Enforcement agencies with self-propagating training methodologies and techniques while working with a leading research and development company. For the last two years, Matozel has been working as a contracted Terrorist Operations Analyst for the USCG performing port vulnerability assessments.
HENRY MCDONNELL
A 25-year Naval Special Warfare veteran. He rose from seaman recruit to the rank of Master Chief (E-9). A combat veteran who served in a Tier One unit. McDonnell is a Graduate of the Arizona Law Enforcement Academy and volunteers as a Special Deputy on the Okaloosa Sheriff's SWAT team. He is apt at leading and managing people in the most rigorous environments. A licensed captain of vessels to 100 gross tons. McDonnell is an expert at Executive Protection, Hostage Rescue, Counter-terrorism and is a fluent Spanish speaker.
GEORGE DEW
George Dew served six years as a Navy SEAL and five years in the Central Intelligence Agency's Clandestine Services as a case officer. He served over 10 years in Kidnap & Ransom, traveling as a consultant for The Ackerman Group. He also owns an information technology company that specializes in computer networking systems, software development, and information technology security audits and investigations. He has an MBA from Georgetown University, and a BA in Biochemistry from the University of Colorado, Boulder. He is fluent in Spanish, French, and is conversant in Cantonese and Mandarin.
ROBERT KENNEDY
Kennedy served as a Navy SEAL for 14 years, culminating his military career as a member of a Tier One unit under the command of Richard Marcinko at SEAL Team Six, the US Navy's Counter Terrorist Unit. Most recently, he has been working in Iraq as a Security Advisor providing close protection and quick reaction services, as well as training Iraqi Military Forces, Coalition Forces and US Army Corps of Engineers in support of Iraq's reconstruction efforts. Kennedy is an expert at Counter-terrorism, Close Protection Services and Hostage Rescue and Recovery operations.
GIDEON GOODBLATT
He successfully completed a wide range of assignments during six years in the US Navy SEALs, among them the training of Malaysian and Singaporean counterparts. Goodblatt holds a B.A. in American history from the University of California, Berkeley. He speaks fluent Spanish.
MICHAEL SOPPELSA
He is a highly experienced executive protection specialist. Educated in Switzerland and as a foreign exchange student in Venezuela, Michael Soppelsa went on to serve in the French Foreign Legion, 2REP and in the Swiss Special Forces. For the last 16 years he has been providing executive protection around the globe for high profile clients from the entertainment and corporate world. He was a member of President Aristide’s protection detail upon his return to Haiti, on Ambassador Bremer’s detail in Iraq as a contractor for Blackwater and he served as special advisor to President Karzai’s Afghan Secret Service detail in Afghanistan. Soppelsa has repeatedly attended training courses at the Executive Protection institute, H&K’s International Training Division, Gunsite, BSR, Tony Scotty as well as DOD and DOS. He holds a Pilot License with Instrument and Seaplane ratings as well as a Helicopter Pilot Rating; he writes and speaks English, German, French and Spanish.
KEN SANTOS
Ken acts as TridentCMG’s Local Representative for the Philippine Island region. In this capacity, he provides corporate integration with Philippine senior executives, military officers, and government officials for policy reviews, political quagmire issues, indigenous logistical platform sourcing, VIP and environmental security operations, and cultural dispute matters for the Director TridentCMG Asia. Ken also handles the in-country contracting agency responsible for vetting local hire contractors and overseas foreign workers, as well as sourcing, logistics, and other special operations support equipment. He is experienced at all levels of VIP and physical security management processes and operations; field security survey and assessment, and close-in security details for executive protection.
Ken works with the Philippine Naval Doctrine Office (NDO) and is part of the Scenario Based Strategic Planning Core Group and Doctrine Development Team. He is a Fellow at the Philippine Center for International, Security and Strategic Studies (CISSS), and has been a delegate in various international assemblies covering subjects such as the South China Sea security posture and other Regional security matters directly affecting the Asia-Pacific region.
Ken holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA), Ateneo Graduate School for Business, and has completed a Masters in National Security Administration (MNSA) at the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP). He is currently working on his Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Criminology. He is a commissioned Lt Colonel with the Philippine Marines Ready Reserve Force. He is skilled in unarmed close quarter combat, winning gold medals in Tae Kwon Do competitions in both India and the Philippines. Ken is fluent in English and speaks Tagalog.
Principal Associates - Air Operations
PAUL "DORF" OLIN
Paul “Dorf” Olin served his country for more than twenty years as a Naval Aviator. His aviation experience includes two instructor tours at the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN), over 3300 hours in fighter aircraft (FA-18 Hornet, FA-18 Super Hornet, F-16 Fighting Falcon), and over 100 combat missions. Some of his tours of duty included Commanding Officer of TOPGUN; Director of Airwing/JTAC Training at the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center (NSAWC); Operational Command of an FA-18 squadron; and a staff member at the Supreme Allied Command Transformation in support of Iraqi training. He is a subject matter expert in 1v1 air combat, multi-plane combat, and air-to-ground employment. Paul earned a BS from the US Naval Academy and his Executive MBA from the Naval Postgraduate School. He speaks native English and is conversant in Spanish.
HAL "BULL" SCHMITT
Bull served his country for over fourteen years as a Naval Aviator and FA-18 Hornet and Super Hornet pilot. As a combat veteran and two-time TOPGUN Instructor, Bull is the recognized expert in advanced air-to-air (AA) combat and all facets of Strike Fighter employment and training. As TOPGUN's missile and AA employment expert, Bull created all current Navy and Marine Corps AA tactics. Described by many as "the world's best instructor," Bull trained over 200 TOPGUN students in 1v1 air combat, multi-plane combat, and air-to ground employment. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, he speaks conversational French and Russian.
SCOTT “SPECIAL” EDWARDS
An F/A-18 Hornet, F-5 Tiger, and King Air Pilot, Edwards served as a U.S. Marine Fighter Pilot for twelve years. He completed four overseas deployments, to include combat action as a Forward Air Controller with the Marine Infantry in Iraq. Edwards is a Mission Commander, and instructed in the disciplines of Aerial Combat, Ground Attack, and Low Altitude Tactics. He is an experienced Multi National Armed Forces Trainer and Instructor. Edwards presently serves in the Naval Reserves as an Adversary Pilot and has been working on the Multi-National Pilot Training Syllabus for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. He is a holder of the Air Medal and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for combat actions while in Iraq. Scott is a graduate from Purdue University.
SCOTT “DB” CHIASSON
Scott M. Chiasson is a native of New Orleans and a highly decorated aviation combat veteran who deployed to Bosnia and Kosovo between 1999 and 2001. LTC Chiasson also served with the 3 Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division in Afghanistan and the 3rd Infantry Division in Kuwait and Iraq. Scott commanded the 5th Aviation Battalion on Fort Polk, LA. LTC Chiasson’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Combat Action Badge, and the Global War on Terrorism Medal. He is a Senior Army Aviator and Parachutist. Aircraft ratings include: UH-1, OH-58, AH-64A, AH-64D, UH-60L, UH-72. Scott is a married father of three, a graduate of Southeastern Louisiana University at Hammond, Louisiana and holds a masters degree from Cameron University’s Business Administration Program at Lawton, Oklahoma.
Principal Associates - Intelligence, Investigations & Specialty Expertise
MANUEL "CUKY" APONTE-DAVILA (Investigations)
Manuel (Cuky) Aponte's forte is corporate investigations, polygraphs, hostage negotiations and resolving extortions. A 22-year veteran of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and an expert witness in criminal and civil investigations. Former Legal Attache in the U.S. Embassy - Bogota and Special Agent in Charge of the FBI contingent numbering 112 personnel. Responsible for all extraterritorial Investigations in the countries of Colombia and Ecuador. He is a qualified Polygraph Examiner and Bomb / Hazardous Device Technician with extensive experience as an instructor of FBI personnel, as well as local and foreign police. Cuky holds a Juris Doctor and MA in Criminal Justice from the Interamerican University in Saturce, Puerto Rico and a BBA in Mayor Management from the University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras. He speaks native Spanish and is conversant in Portuguese.
ARMIN CATE (Homeland Security SME)
Armin is a veteran Homeland Security operator, trainer and manager with 33-years’ experience in air, maritime and land border security operations. As a US Customs/ICE Special Agent, Coast Guard Commander and 101st Airborne Division Recon Sgt., Armin’s specialties include internal conspiracy investigations, risk management analysis, crisis management, covert, undercover, counter-terrorism, anti-piracy operations, as well as human intelligence source development, and field interrogations. He is a Subject Matter Expert on all aspects of security operations for airports, seaports and land borders. While serving as Chief of Intelligence for Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Miami, he developed Operation “On Guard” resulting in detection and apprehension of a suspected terrorist, Sayed Malike, at the Port of Miami in March 2003. Armin has vast experience conducting domestic and international seaport, airport and critical infrastructure security assessments and investigations. He is an expert in Executive Protection and has participated in Presidential Protection details and led post-hurricane disaster recovery operations. Armin has also designed and facilitated “All Threats/All Hazards” training for military and police throughout the Caribbean and South America. And as also flown a myriad of counter-drug, counter-guerrilla air surveillance missions in Central and South America.
STEPHEN PEREZ (Urban Surveillance)
Stephen Perez's forte is urban surveillance. He has 30 years of experience in the field, conducting civil, criminal, domestic as well as insurance related surveillance. Perez is also a fifteen year veteran of Law Enforcement, with five of the years assigned to a marine patrol unit responsible for Miami-Dade's Inter-Coastal waterways. He attended three Law Enforcement Academies in addition to Miami-Dade, Broward Community College and the University of Miami. Perez is an expert at surveillance/monitoring human behavior.
GREG MIDDLETON (Intelligence, Hydrogeology)
Mr. Middleton served his country as a U. S. Navy SEAL for over twenty years, rising from the enlisted ranks to his final rank of Lieutenant Commander at retirement. A collection specialist brought in by the Intelligence community to provide an operator’s viewpoint to intelligence collection and analysis, Mr. Middleton’s final assignment was as an instructor at the Fleet Intelligence Training Center – Pacific (FITCPAC). Focusing on resource analysis and exploitation, Mr. Middleton leveraged upon his civilian employment experience in its application to terrain and target analysis. A State of California Registered Geologist and Certified Hydrogeologist, Mr. Middleton has provided supervision in numerous large-scale groundwater investigations. Mr. Middleton has served as Project Manager and Senior Hydrogeologist for both national and international consulting firms. Earlier in his career, he was employed by the Mojave Water Agency as Principle Hydrogeologist, Senior Hydrogeologist by Wayne Perry, Incorporated, and as Senior Hydrogeologist for the United Water Conservation District. Mr. Middleton holds an undergraduate degree in Geology from California State University – Bakersfield and a Masters Degree in Environmental Studies from California State University – Fullerton.
ELISHA "ROCKMAN" MORGAN (Gemology, Precious Metals)
Elisha served 12 years as a Navy SEAL with expansive experience in Asia and Central America. Rockman is an expert in the field of Gemology and is a Senior Member of the Accredited Gemologists Association of America as well as a former governing board member of this select group. He has extensive experience in both the gemological and executive protection communities, with operations experience in Afghanistan, Africa, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Venezuela, Pakistan, Ukraine, France and Switzerland. Elisha has 23 years experience in the aforementioned arena and maintains indigenous connections in these countries that can be of great assistance on gem and mineral projects. A graduate of the foremost school of gemology in the world, Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in Santa Monica, California, he is fluent in Spanish and conversant in French.
DIEGO PEREZ (Martial Arts)
Diego is a Black Belt 8th degree in Tae Kwon Do. In addition to Tae Kwon Do, Diego also excels in many other martial arts including, Filipino (knife and stick fighting and disarming), Hapkido (one on one submission), Jujitsu (ground fighting), Mix Martial Arts, Full Contact Fighting, self-defense, Krav Maga (Israeli Army self-defense), and self-protection tactics.
Mr. Perez is also an undefeated Caribbean Full Contact champion and at this time he is a National Martial Arts Instructor/Consultant. Furthermore, Diego has served as a bodyguard for many private clients like Jorge Mas Canosa, Manny Diaz, as well as Special Security for VIP guests at the Miami Latin Grammys. Mr. Perez is currently married to Mary Beth Klock-Perez and is a proud father of three children Richard, Karen and Diego Jr.
JOSIELYN D. ORDONIO
Ordonio has expansive experience in the field of administration; she recently served as Office Manager for a prime contractor in Iraq. She was responsible for all administrative and human resource management issues supporting all Central and Southern [Iraq] region operations, including personnel badging, SPOT reporting and deployment, arming authority, and visas. She was responsible for the preparation and transmittal of all project and personnel reporting to KO/COR, and planned, developed, or recommended Admin and HR policies and procedures to senior management. Ordonio has successfully performed a number of roles, such as HR Manager, Project Manager, and Administration Manager, at various corporations in both Iraq and Qatar. Ordonio possesses excellent written and verbal communications skills, as well as comprehensive software and computing skills with all general business applications. Extensive experience in the preparation of all manner of routine business documentation, reports, presentations, and communications. She has a B.S., Social Work, University of Negros Occidental Recoletos, Bacolod City, the Philippines. She is fluent in Tagalo and English.
PERCIVAL V. PARUNGAO
Parungao is a Human Resources specialist, he recently served as HR Manager for a large security contractor in Iraq, where he was overall responsible for all HR functions, to include employee relations, benefits, and compensation, as well as formulation, administration and implementation of HR policies. He is an expert in the preparation and maintenance of SPOT and Arming Authority documentation. Oversight, coordination, and management of all employment related records information, including personnel files and records administration. Parungao also served as Logistics and Administrative Coordinator for other security contractors in Iraq and was responsible for all administrative functions, including tracking and processing all travel, badging, visas, and other personnel information. His experience also includes responsibility for operation of 100% error-free inventory and control of warehousing parts, researching and building parts catalogs, and document-to-storage processing at Camp Anaconda, Iraq. Parungao was also an Administrative Assistant to Manila (Philippines) Civil Service Commission, responsible for operation of the Agenda Generation and Tracking System (database), drafting of official communications, preparation of meeting transcripts, and maintenance and updating of the official Commission Resolutions database. He holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of the East, Manila, the Philippines, with extended instruction in Computer Programming from the Systems Technology Institute, Manila, the Philippines. He is fluent in Tagalo and English.
RENATO D. INESORIA JR.
Inesoria is an experienced Logistics Manager, recently serving at National Physical Distribution Services, PepsiCola Products Philippines, Inc. (PCPPI). He was responsible for sourcing, developing, instituting, evaluating, and monitoring all best practices across the industry in the areas of Physical Distribution, Warehousing and 3rd Party Operations Systems and Procedures in all PCPPI plants, conducting standardization studies and projects for continuous process improvement activities, and initiating training program and skill development opportunities for PCPPI management and staff. He also served as Finance Manager at a PCPPI bottling plant, where he was responsible for implementing and monitoring all financial processes and controls, quality assurance and asset security, and efficiency and proper operation of all Information Technology (hardware and software) systems supporting business critical financial data. Inesoria’s experience also includes that of a Corporate Auditor for Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines (CCBP), performing financial and operations reviews, and improving the records monitoring and control system to ensure accuracy and safety of company information and assets. He holds a B.S. in Accounting from the University of San Agustin, the Philippines, where is graduated Cum Laude. He is fluent in Tagalo and English.