Practical and strategic risk mitigation solutions

He is highly effective at building relationships and capable of seamlessly working across the corporate culture to collaborate and design effective and practical risk mitigation strategies.

Mr. Hunter has over 30 plus years of global expertise spanning government and the private sector. He retired from the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) after 27 years to join the private sector. In his last assignment with the U.S. State Department, Mr. Hunter served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Programs in Washington, DC., responsible for oversight of all aspects of U.S. embassy security programs.

In addition, he served as the Assistant Director of Training for all of DSS special agent basic course as well as special agent in-service and special training for special agents and Department of State personnel serving in war zones and high threat locales.

Training included Antiterrorism Assistance (ATA) programs training foreign police services in the latest anti-terrorist tactics and procedures, and DSS Mobile Security Directorate, the Department of State’s world-wide special response emergency team. Mr. Hunter also served as the Chief Security Official at nine U.S. Embassies, including: Kinshasa, Zaire (The Congo); Conakry, Guinea; Jakarta, Indonesia; Bogotá, Colombia; Mexico City, Mexico; and Iraq, where he served three different tours of duty.

established new budget controls and set new tracking systems that controlled $750M in assets, revamped operational departments and boosted operational effectiveness to increase sales by 25% year over year.

Mr. Thomas has shown himself to be unafraid in leading innovative improvements, aggressively rebuilding support functions and pursuing the bottom-line successes critical to our clients.

Wayne earned his Master of Business Administration and a Master of Sciences in International Finance his Bachelor of Science in Business and Human Resources from Southwest University. He has additional training in finance, accounting and government contracting.

In this capacity Mr. Ennis built a management oversight program ensuring standardization, compliance, and strategy prioritization by senior management. As the Special Agent-in-Charge of the Boston Field Office, Mr. Ennis was the senior leader for all Department of State law enforcement related matters throughout the six-state New England Region. Formerly the Chief of Visa Fraud Investigations, Mr. Ennis directed complex international criminal investigations while serving as the principal decision–maker regarding the scope, depth, and direction of all visa fraud investigations conducted by the State Department.

Mr. Ennis is an expert in crisis management planning and training, threat analysis and risk mitigation, and incident response planning. He successfully led the evacuation of U.S. Embassies twice because of civil war without the loss of life, property, or related assets.

Mr. Ennis brings a comprehensive understanding of diverse cultures and associated political considerations to security environments through extensive exposure while on assignments to over seventy-five countries and multi-year postings in Europe, Africa and the Caribbean.

An industry leader Mr. Hunter brings a wealth of experience in developing strategies to assess and mitigate risk, maintain continuity of operations, and safeguard personnel and facilities through innovative security programs.

His global experience includes managing high-profile security programs in war zones (Iraq and Afghanistan) and other high-risk countries in Asia and Africa. An expert in managing state-of-the-art technology solutions and innovative security management Mr. Hunter’s is a proven leader who has developed practical security solutions in the U.S. government and the private sector to mitigate risk and support mission objectives. Throughout his service Mr. Hunter has maintained a vast network of contacts while working with foreign governments, foreign and domestic private sector companies, domestic and international police organizations, and military and intelligence communities.

He has served as the Vice President of Latin American Operations for a multinational security company designing and executing security projects for Fortune 500 companies in eight Latin American countries while overseeing 10,000 security personnel.

He later became the Andean Region General Manager for a global risk consultancy, serving as a trusted advisor to various Fortune 100 companies, handling sensitive security issues including kidnap and extortion cases.

After four years with the risk consultancy, Steve took a position as the Regional Security Director Latin America for one of the world’s leading food producers where he had responsibility for all facets of the security at 19 manufacturing plants, assorted administrative facilities and over 20,000 employees in Latin America. Steve also holds a Ph.D. in Latin American History from Stanford University and has published numerous articles on security issues in Latin America.

Shortly after 9/11, Mary Beth was recruited to be a lead executive protection instructor under the U.S. Department of State’s Antiterrorism Assistance Program (ATA) where she worked around the globe to provide executive protection training and security assessment to foreign governments including those in high-threat countries.

At the request of the U.S. Department of State, she worked for two and a half years as one of three U.S. Security Advisors under the auspices of the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá, Colombia. She was responsible for executive protection assessment, threat analysis, and the provision of intelligence specific to the needs of the President, Vice President, and Minister of Defense of Colombia and the Mayor of Bogotá.

At the request of the Vice President, Mary Beth created an executive protection training academy outside of Bogotá where she also served as an instructor, training members of the security teams of the President, Vice President, Minister of Defense, and Mayor of Bogotá. The academy has been a huge success and is used as a regional training center for several countries in Central and South America.

In the fields of Forensic and Clinical Psychology, Mary Beth has conducted research and published work in the areas of stalking and domestic violence, self-esteem and young women, and stress management. She holds a Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology from Widener University in Philadelphia and a Master’s Degree in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College in New York. She received her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Indiana University in Bloomington along with a minor degree in Spanish Language, following intensive studies at the Universidad de Sevilla.

He served a tour at Underwater Demolition Team 22/SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team Two, two tours at SEAL Team Four, three tours at Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU), and multiple tours in joint Special Operations Commands. He graduated from the Naval Postgraduate School with a Master’s Degree in National Security Affairs/Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict.

RADM Winters has deployed for operations to Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Central and South America numerous times to include most recently 8 tours in Afghanistan and 2.5 years in Iraq. His commands included SEAL Team 4, a classified Joint Task Force in Afghanistan, DEVGRU, the Iraqi National Counterterrorism Force Transition Team, and Naval Special Warfare Command.

His decorations include the Naval Special Warfare and Naval Parachutist breast insignias, two Defense Distinguished Service Medals, Legion of Merit, three Bronze Star medals, five Defense Meritorious Service Medals, the Navy Meritorious Service Medal, and other Navy personal and unit awards, and personal citations.

While serving as a Military Controller, Mr. Weir was deployed to Northern Ireland as part of a Mobile Movement Team (MMT) supporting all British military operations in the region. Following this deployment, he was assigned to a squadron providing out-of-area operational support to a British Commando Brigade, an Airborne Brigade, SAS units and several other specialists units. In this role, Mr. Weir served over ten years as an instructor and team leader for diverse combat operations worldwide.

Andy also held positions at the Joint Service Headquarters, Regional Operational Command Centers, NATO and several British Embassies throughout the globe. He is also the recipient of multiple Operational Service Medals in recognition of the critical support he provided during several Special Forces’ deployments to the Middle East, Africa and Europe.

Following his retirement from military service Mr. Weir worked as a Senior Executive in the private sector, designing and executing practical risk mitigation strategies and conducted training programs for private companies and government agency contracts throughout the Middle East and Africa. Most recently, Andy provided security consulting support the Iraqi Prime Minister’s office responsible for managing operational security and coordination for various Iraqi delegations traveling to various countries in the Middle East and Europe.

With his extensive experience coupled with a vast network of contacts Mr. Weir provides the ideal approach for training development and management along with the operational plans required to satisfy our clients’ unique requirements. Andy is currently based in Scotland.

As HGSS’s representative in India, Mr. Singh has provided security consultancy and managed high-level security programs for a wide range of clients, including the Boeing Company, International SOS and Hill & Asscoiates. that support business objectives and mitigation strategies. His experience and vast knowledge of the region has helped client companies throughout Asia reduce their risk exposure in emerging markets, thereby enabling them to achieve their objectives while protecting their personnel, reputation and assets. Mr. Singh has successfully created and managed Crisis Management and Incident Response teams during several major crises to include the tsunami in Asia, the Nepal earthquake, political unrest in Sri Lanka and the terrorist attacks in Mumbai.

Mr. Singh also possesses a special expertise in Technical Counter Surveillance Measures (TSCM) and Crisis and Emergency Preparedness Planning that has contributed to significant risk mitigation for HGSS clients operating in the region. He can also draw upon a vast network of subject-matter experts, service providers and local government contacts as needed to support client operations.

Mr. Ketchem served as the Counselor for Regional Security at the U.S. Mission in Afghanistan, the Senior Deputy Chief Security Officer at the U.S. Mission in Iraq, the Chief Security Officer at the U.S. Mission in Brazil, the Chief Security Officer at the U.S. Mission in Ecuador, the first Chief Security Officer at the U.S. Mission in Azerbaijan and as a Security Officer at the U.S. Mission in Peru. He also served as the Special Agent in Charge of the Secretary of State, the Deputy Regional Director of Near Eastern Affairs and South-Central Asia and worked in over 100 countries.

After retiring from the U.S. Department of State, Mr. Ketchem was the Senior Manager of Global Operations for one of the largest companies in the world and is currently a Vice President of a private consulting firm. Almost four decades of private and public global security expertise and executive skills, including protective and physical security, criminal and terrorist investigations, threat assessment, and risk experience developed during a wide-ranging international career. Also served honorably in the U.S. Navy.

Kelly earned her BS degree in Accountancy at Thomas More College and a BA degree in Technical Education at Northern Kentucky University. She brings a wealth of experience and knowledge gained while working for a variety of companies including as the Director of Systems Administration for the Cincinnati Reds MLB.

Juan is a fluent Spanish speaker born in Honduras and migrated to the U.S. in 1986; he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1991 and served in Fort Lee, VA, Fort Hood, TX and Landstuhl Germany. In 1998, he earned his officer commission through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of Houston and served as Platoon Leader and Detachment Commander in Sinai, Egypt and Fort Hood, TX. Upon completion of his Fort Hood assignment, he returned to the Sinai and served as a Company Commander. Upon completion of Company Command, Juan served as an Operations Officer in Fort McPherson, GA. During his time in GA he deployed to Kuwait and later to Camp Taji, Iraq. Upon his return from Iraq, Juan attended the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California graduating in June 2010 with a Masters in Business Administration (MBA).

In 2010 he was transferred to Fort Sam Houston, TX to work as a procurement officer. During his time in Fort Sam Houston he deployed to Afghanistan where he served as Chief of the Regional Contracting Office in forward operation base (FOB) Shank. After his deployment to Afghanistan he deployed to Soto Cano Air Base in Honduras as the Chief of the Regional Contracting Office.

Juan Arzu’s military education includes a graduate of the Army’s Transportation Officer’s Basic Course, the Combined Logistics Officer’s Advanced Course, and the US Army Command and General Staff College. He holds a BS in Industrial Technology from the University of Houston and an MBA in Contract and Acquisition Management from the Naval Postgraduate School.

Juan Arzu’s awards and decorations include: the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Combat Action Badge and the Parachutist badge.