Doug W.

Featured Speaker at the 7th and 8th Proud Police Wife Conference. Featured Speaker: Project Lifesaver International. Featured Speaker: The Wounded Blue National Law Enforcement Survival Summit. Keynote Speaker for the Southeastern Field Training Officer Association Annual Conference.

International Impact Book Awards Winner - Memoirs: Personal Growth and Self-Discovery through Adversity. Amazon Best Selling in Three Categories. Hiding in Plain Sight. The Truth about Trauma, Service, and the Way Forward. Authored the foreword to Street Tales Volume 1 by Tyler Martin. Contributing author to Stigma by Nick O'Kelly.

Why We Exist Tell This Story, LLC. exists to empower veterans, first responders, and their families by redefining their narratives beyond service. We believe that resilience is not just about overcoming struggle—it’s about embracing strength, courage, and the power of personal stories to inspire growth, purpose, and transformation. Our mission is to remind those who have served that they are more than their past; they are leaders, builders, and change-makers capable of thriving in every aspect of life. How We Make an Impact Through storytelling, connection, and advocacy, Tell This Story, LLC. is creating a movement where veterans, first responders, and their families can find their voice and reclaim their power. We facilitate authentic conversations that celebrate growth, resilience, and the pursuit of new missions in life. Whether through the Tell This Story podcast, my book Hiding in Plain Sight: The Truth About Trauma, Service, and the Way Forward, or public speaking engagements, we provide the tools and inspiration for individuals to break free from limiting identities, find purpose, and thrive for themselves, their families, and their communities.

Mid-Level Executive: Lieutenant and Platoon Commander Provided daily mentorship and leadership to a team of 2 managers, 2 supervisors, and 24 employees, fostering their development and aligning efforts with strategic objectives. Oversaw operations spanning a 100-square-mile area, serving approximately 240,000 residents, ensuring seamless service delivery and customer satisfaction. Maintained organizational compliance through rigorous training and operational standards, ensuring excellence and regulatory adherence. Mid-Level Management/Project Manager: Sergeant-Homeland Security Division Led strategic oversight of personnel and assets across 6 cross-functional units, showcasing adept resource management. Conducted detailed budget forecasting for 2- and 5-year cycles, ensuring financial viability and accountability. Facilitated collaboration among cross-functional teams for large-scale events and disaster management initiatives. Implemented all-hazards planning approaches for risk mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery, ensuring business continuity. Streamlined COOP and conducted annual readiness exercises, applying recognized command and management principles. Played a pivotal role in coordinating the organization's response to critical events, demonstrating strong crisis management skills. Acted as liaison to manage special assignments and foster effective communication across the organization. First Line Supervisor: Corporal Demonstrated adept decision-making while overseeing up to 28 personnel, ensuring operational advancement. Proficiently resolved cascading events, exhibiting sound judgment in high-pressure situations. Played a key role in a focus group tasked with optimizing service by redrafting geographic boundaries. Successfully reduced man-hour disparity between business units, enhancing efficiency and morale.

Operations: Deputy Sheriff and Field Training Officer Applied effective decision-making techniques in managing various duties, including proactive response and operational activities. Exhibited strong problem-solving skills as a district-level investigator, addressing safety and security concerns with precision and efficiency. Facilitated mentorship and guidance as a Field Training Officer, fostering the professional development of junior staff and promoting a culture of continuous learning. Skillfully coordinated specialized training programs, showcasing organizational agility and adaptability to meet evolving needs. Demonstrated resilience and strategic thinking in managing daily operations of a training academy class, efficiently addressing challenges and ensuring the successful training of recruits. Operations: Bomb Disposal (Hazardous Devices Technician B11-06) October 2005-December 2012 Executed counter-improvised explosive device render safe operations across Region IV of Florida's Regional Domestic Security Task Force, employing non-linear thinking and decisive action in high- pressure environments. Demonstrated exceptional technical proficiency in conducting remote and hand entry procedures under adverse conditions, reflecting agile problem-solving skills and unwavering decisiveness in complex situations.

Led the development and implementation of a 40-hour training program certifying employees as trainers and mentors, delivering 12 sessions from 2009 to September 2016. Achieved a 90% attendance rate from field trainers, totaling 480 instruction hours. Contributed to a collaborative study with industry experts to refine the organization's field training program, resulting in a successful overhaul in 2018 to align with best practices. Served as regional trainer for an 80-hour Instructor Techniques Workshop at Hillsborough Community College from 2015 to 2019. Achieved a 99% pass rate and 98% average test score across five sessions, instructing over 150 participants, totaling 400 instruction hours. Recognized as regional instructor for the Criminal Justice Training and Standards Commission’s field training officer curriculum from 2013 to 2016. Achieved a 100% pass rate and 98% average test score among 120 prospective trainers over six sessions, totaling 240 instruction hours. Conducted 300+ hours of instruction to basic recruit academy classes over six years (2007-2013), integrating the Department of Homeland Security curriculum on Incident Command System (ICS), Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), Hazardous Materials Response (HAZMAT), and Bomb Threat Response. Tailored instruction to diverse student backgrounds and experience levels.

Supported SAIC contracts for DHS’s Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) Training Center, focusing on crisis management related to terrorism, Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Explosives (CBRNE), and Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) events. Instructed diverse audiences on the intricacies of the incident command system, the National Incident Management System, and all-hazards emergency management protocols. Delivered over 500 hours of comprehensive classroom instruction in homeland security and emergency management to a diverse cohort of over 700 first responders and professionals. Reviewed, audited, and enhanced curricula seeking CDP certification and grant funding, including specialized programs such as U.S. Secret Service Person-borne IED, California's Terrorism Liaison Officer, and Tennessee Department of Education Active Threat Response, ensuring alignment with industry standards and best practices.

Contract instructor, supporting L3 DHS contracts, for the CDP Training Center, instructing consequence management of terrorism, CBRNE, and WMD incidents. Provided training and exercise support to America’s first responder community.

Contracted SME and instructor for the Improvised Explosive Devices and Suicide Bomber Course. Delivered the course at the NTPI, St. Petersburg College, and the Presidential Retreat at Camp David.

United States Air Force Reserve Maintained a Top-Secret Security Clearance. Provided supervision of physical security response within the Command and satellite facilities. Served as a Plank Owner and special agent for the Command's Protective Services Detachment. Provided personal security to Commander, USSOCOM, visiting dignitaries, and others as directed by DoD regulations or command guidance. Served as detail member and Mission Agent in Charge, participating in over 30 protective service missions. Conducted site surveys and threat and vulnerability assessments for large venues, facilities within the National Capital Region (NCR), and RON sites. Served as Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) of advanced training. Developed training policy and doctrine for Joint Service Elite Guard Force and Protective Services members.

Assigned to the 919th Special Operations Wing, Duke Field, Florida.

Law Enforcement/Security Response Team Leader and Member (1993-1997) Maintained a Secret clearance under the Personnel Reliability Program for personnel conducting armed security operations near nuclear and other sensitive weapon systems. Maintained security of capital assets and aerospace weapons systems valued over several billion dollars. Conducted full-service law enforcement operations per U.S. Code and the Uniformed Code of Military Justice.