|
|
|
About Us
Mr. John A. Sylvester, Homeland Security Director
Overview
Mr. John A. Sylvester recently retired from
the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) after over 21 1/2 years of
dedicated service. As an FBI Agent, he created the first Anti-Terrorism Team
in San Diego, a multi-jurisdictional, multi-disciplinary response team
capable of responding not only to terrorist incidents, but other natural and
man-made occurrences, as part of an “all incident” response capability. He
worked closely with the California Office of Emergency Services (OES) at the
State and County levels, and was a founding member of the State of
California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) State Standing
Committee on Terrorism (SSCOT). His new company, Executive Response
Solutions, was created to provide security consulting, incident response
training, and special event operations planning to local, county, state, and
federal governments, military commands, First Responders, corporate
entities, and civic groups. Mr. Sylvester incorporates into his training,
exercises, and operational response capabilities, knowledge and experience
of the Standardized Emergency Management System-Incident Command System
(SEMS-ICS), mutual aid concepts and operations between agencies, military
commands, and governments, and the National Response Plan-National Incident
Management System (NRP-NIMS).
Project
Specific Experience
[Special Agent, WMD / Counter
Terrorism Operations, Federal Bureau of Investigation – San Diego Division]:
In March 1993, Agent Sylvester was transferred to the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI) San Diego (SD) Division. As Supervisor of Counter
Terrorism (CT) Squad 15, he was responsible for twelve FBI Special Agents
and three Intelligence Analysts. The squad was also responsible for CT
Investigations and Operations, Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)
Investigations and Operations, the FBI Explosive Ordnance Disposal
(EOD/Bomb) Program, the FBI Hazardous Materials Response Team Program, and
Special Events Operations. Agent Sylvester was called upon to provide
security and CT briefings and training to private industry, law enforcement,
first responder agencies, and U.S. Military Commands. As squad supervisor,
Agent Sylvester supervised SD Division Joint Terrorism Task Force Operations
comprised of twenty-five representatives from law enforcement and first
responders in the SD Operational Area to include law, fire, HAZMAT, EOD,
EMS, hospital, and military personnel. He maintained regular liaison with
all Local, County, State, and Federal law enforcement and responder agencies
involved in CT Investigations in the SD area. As the SD Operational Area
Anti-Terrorism Team Leader and WMD Tactical Operations Coordinator, Agent
Sylvester was responsible for deployment and coordination of the SD Division
Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Weapon Threat Response Plan. He was the
Team Leader of the FBI WMD HAZMAT Response Team (HMRT) and also of one of
the FBI Evidence Response Teams (ERT). Agent Sylvester has extensive
Special Events experience, and was directly involved and responsible for the
FBI’s CT, WMD, Security, and Operational planning for the Republican
National Convention in August 1996, Superbowl XXXII in January 1998, the
BIO-2001 Convention in June 2001, Superbowl XXXVII in January 2003, and with
all Special Events in the SD Operational Area which included such annual
events as the USMC MCAS – Miramar Air Show, the Holiday Bowl, and the San
Diego/MCRD Rock and Roll Marathon.
[Supervisory Special Agent, Counter
Terrorism/Counter Intelligence Operations, Federal Bureau of Investigation –
Washington, DC]: In February 1990, Supervisory Special Agent Sylvester
was assigned to FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. and was responsible for
the supervision of International Counter Terrorism and Foreign Counter
Intelligence Operations. He supervised and coordinated many complex
investigations involving national and international law enforcement and
intelligence agencies.
[Special Agent, Counter Intelligence
Operations, Federal Bureau of Investigation – New York Division]: In
April 1986, Agent Sylvester was assigned to the New York Division. He was
involved in Foreign Counter Intelligence Investigations of Soviet-KGB
espionage matters, technology transfer cases, and liaison between the FBI
New York Division and other U.S. Government agencies. In support of the New
York Division Security program, Agent Sylvester presented Counter
Intelligence briefings to defense contractors and other private
corporations. As a member of the FBI Executive Protection Detail, he was
responsible for security during visits of the FBI Director, U.S. Attorney
General, and other dignitaries to the New York area, including the
Reagan/Gorbachev Summit in 1988.
[Special Agent, Reactive Squad, Federal
Bureau of Investigation -- Seattle Division]: In July 1983, Agent
Sylvester received his commission as a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau
of Investigation. His first assignment was to the Seattle Division. He
worked Criminal Investigations including bank robbery, extortion,
kidnapping, armored car robbery, and personal property crimes. Agent
Sylvester also served on a Task Force investigating Domestic Terrorism in
the United States.
[Other Employment Experience]:
Prior to joining the FBI, from January 1982 to July 1983, Mr. Sylvester was
employed by General Dynamics Corporation-Pomona Division as an International
Corporate Contracts Administrator responsible for international, commercial,
and government contracts involving Strategic Weapons Systems and Programs,
export licenses, and Project Exodus. From October 1979
to
January 1982,
Mr. Sylvester was employed by Pascoe Steel
Corporation, Pomona, California, and involved in the administration of steel
building contracts, development of sales and pricing structures, and a
speaker at national corporate orientation seminars. From July 1976 to
September 1979, Mr. Sylvester was employed by Iodent Chemical Company, City
of Industry, California, in warehouse management responsible for scheduling,
management, and distribution of finished manufactured products and stock and
inventory control.
Professional
Societies/Affiliates
Federal Bureau of Investigation Agents
Association (FBIAA)
National Eagle Scout Association (NESA)
San Diego Bomb Technicians and Investigators
San Diego County-Wide Fire/Arson
Investigators
San Diego Hotel Security Directors
Association (SD-HSDA)
San Diego Chamber of Commerce Homeland
Security Partnership Committee
International Association of Bomb Technicians
and Investigators (IABTI)
American Society for Amusement Park Security
and Safety (ASAPSS)
Operational Teams Member
State of California Governor’s Office of
Emergency Services (OES)
State Standing Committee on Terrorism (SSCOT)
San Diego County Unified Disaster Council
(UDC)
San Diego County Health Advisory Council on
Bio-Terrorism (HACOT)
Balboa Park Safety and Security Task Force
California Tribal Nations – Emergency
Management Council – Southern District
SDSU/UCSD Regional Homeland Security Network
San Diego Operational Area Planning Committee
for Terrorism Grants
Metropolitan Medical Strike Team (MMST)
San Diego Terrorism Working Group (TWG)
USCG Port Maritime Security Committee
San Diego Threat Assessment Group (TAG) Team
Awards
Mr. Sylvester has received numerous Incentive
Awards and Letters of Commendation for case investigations and operations,
including Exceptional Performance Awards for Operations, and Principal
Relief Supervisor Awards for 1996 through 2001. In May 1996, with other
Counter Terrorism Squad members, he received the National Intelligence
Meritorious Unit Citation as a Counter Terrorism Team. He has received
Letters of Commendation and Incentive Awards for Investigations and Special
Events operations including the BIO-2001 Convention, Superbowls XXXII and
XXXVII, and a San Diego County Proclamation. Letters of Commendation have
been received from Private Industry, Professional Societies, and Military
Commands. Copies of Awards and Letters will be provided.
Specialized Training
Mr. Sylvester has attended and completed
training briefings, classes, conferences and exercises in the areas of
Command/Control, the Standardized Emergency Management System-Incident
Command System (SEMS-ICS), Crisis Management, Nuclear, Biological, and
Chemical Weapons Systems, and Emergency Response Operations. Courses were
presented by the FBI, Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Energy
(DOE), Military Commands, local First Responders, and private contractors.
He has written, conducted, and participated in all types of Table Top (TTX),
Command Post (CPX), and Field Training Exercises (FTX) for First Responders
and Government officials at all levels, the Military, and for private
industry and tourism destinations. A list of Specific Training and Dates
will be provided.
As a result of attendance at these training
courses and actual operational experience, Mr. Sylvester has provided
training in these operational techniques and protocols to Local, County,
State, and Federal First Responders, Military Commands, Private Industry,
Professional Societies, and Community Groups.
Security Clearances
TS (Top Secret), TK (Talent Keyhole), SI
(Sensitive Information), G (Gamma), Q (Nuclear Weapons-DOE), and HCS-P
(Human Intelligence-HUMINT)
|
|
Non-Profit 501.3c Federal Tax ID # 26-0603203 5205 Kearny Villa Way, Suite 105
San Diego, CA 92123, USA
|
Home
Land Security