Professional Experience
Michael has over 32 years of law enforcement experience. Michael ascended the ranks of the Chicago Police Department (CPD), retiring as a Commander and Executive Officer with responsibility for management and supervision of the eight patrol districts that cover over one third of the City of Chicago including the central business district, the lakefront, and all major entertainment venues except Wrigley Field.
During his tenure as Commander of Intelligence, Michael held an FBI issued Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) clearance. His accomplishments include: planning and managing law enforcement operations for major city events such as Lollapalooza, the Air and Water Show, the Independence Day lakefront fireworks display, and holiday and ethnic parades and celebration; reorganizing the functions, structure, and operations of the Evidence & Recovered Property Section of the CPD to improve efficiencies and promote accountability; leading intelligence planning, operations, and interagency coordination for the May 2012 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit held in Chicago; and designing, implementing and delivering training. Michael’s experience also includes developing strategies, operational plans, policies, and procedures.
Michael has practiced law, taught college classes in criminal justice, wrote the Chicago Public School Safe School Plan, and served on an interagency curriculum review team for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Center for Domestic Preparedness.
Education and Training
Michael earned a Juris Doctor Degree from the Loyola University of Chicago School of Law and a Master of Arts in Security Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School. His master’s thesis, Internet Radicalization: Actual Threat or Phantom Menace, has been cited by several academics. Michael also attended the FBI National Academy in 2006 and concentrated his master’s level studies there on leadership and counterterrorism.
Committees and Professional Organizations
Michael is active in several professional organizations and a national board member for the Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers, USA. Michael’s interests include counterterrorism and homeland security with a concentration on radicalization issues.