JAMES FRANCIS McDONNELL III

8891 McNair Drive

Alexandria, VA  22309

(703) 780-2311

 

 

POSITION:     Chairman, Trinity Applied Strategies Corporation 

 

EDUCATION: Master of Arts, Georgetown University

Bachelor of Science, Regents College, University of the State of New York

Program for Senior Executives in National and International Security, Harvard University

 

WORK EXPERIENCE:

 

Chairman

Trinity Applied Strategies Corporation

5/2007-Present

Responsible for corporate oversight, strategic planning and business development for a Homeland and National Security technology firm. Trinity Applied Strategies Corporation is a small business emerging in a high growth sector and is expanding its capabilities in nuclear counterterrorism, Critical Infrastructure Protection, Counter-IED and technology analysis, strategic investment corporate risk mitigation business lines.

 

Vice President and Chief Risk Officer

12/2006-8/2007

Amtrak

Directed corporate-wide risk management activities including Counterterrorism and Police Operations, major procurements, security related capital investments and Critical Infrastructure and passenger protection programs. Negotiated a labor settlement with the Amtrak Police, who had been operating without a contract for over seven years. Directed large budgets, worked closely with DHS, DOT and other agencies as well as state and local Homeland Security officials.

 

President

9/2005-Present

McDonnell Consulting Group, LLC

Provides terrorism related risk management, crisis management, emergency response and infrastructure protection solutions to large firms and government agencies.  Provides strategic business planning assistance to companies in the homeland security sector.  Advises government officials on terrorism prevention, non-proliferation and critical infrastructure protection issues.

 

Vice President, Chief Information and Security Officer

6/2004 – 9/2005

USEC, Inc.

Corporate Officer responsible for the strategic direction and oversight of information technology programs and physical and cyber security operations. Directed two large departments, coordinated operations with state and local officials, managed labor relations with two unions and was responsible for internal controls required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.  Member of the Nuclear Energy Institute Nuclear Security Coordinating Council and the US Chamber of Commerce Homeland Security Policy Task Force.  Directed security and IT operations at the company’s headquarters, Advanced Technology research and development facility in Oak Ridge, TN and at major nuclear facilities in Paducah, Kentucky and Piketon, Ohio.

 

Director, Protective Security Division, Office of Critical Infrastructure Protection

3/2003-5/2004

US Department of Homeland Security

Responsible for oversight, direction and management of all Physical Infrastructure Protection Programs, SCADA System protection programs and initial oversight of Cyber Security Programs (cyber security was moved to the National Cyber Security Division within six months) As part of the Headquarters Executive Team was a key leader in the management of all national responses to threats, incidents and national disasters during this period. Worked directly with Secretary Ridge and other senior leadership to make resource allocation decisions and direct response operations. Briefed Congress on ongoing emergency and threat related operations. Was the DHS operational representative to the Counterterrorism Security Group at the White House. Directed the establishment of the Protective Security Division as part of the original executive leadership team of the Department.  Coordinated and supervised protective measures planning for the federal government and directs field implementation of complex operations. Provided advice and counsel to the Secretary in the areas of counterterrorism and protective security operations. Coordinated with senior officials in all branches and levels of government, and with private industry leaders. Directed large budgets ($300M) and develops long term strategies for implementing measures to prevent terrorism through the reduction of critical infrastructure vulnerabilities. Continued with the same responsibilities described below for the energy sector but now responsible to coordinate and direct protective measures across all infrastructures and soft targets: thousands of potential terrorist targets within the US.

 

Senior Executive, Homeland Security Planning Office

10/2002-2/2003

The White House

Responsible for developing the plans, budgets and policies required to transfer Critical Infrastructure Protection operations from six federal agencies into the Department of Homeland Security. Negotiated budgets with Congress and the Office of Management and Budget, established interagency agreements for support and coordination for the operational activities associated with WMD terrorism and critical infrastructure protection.

 

Director, Office of Energy Assurance

2001-2003

US Department of Energy

DOE representative to the Counterterrorism Security Group at the White House. Directed response and recovery operations for natural disasters, terrorism threats and large industrial accidents. Requested to enter government service to direct the establishment of the Office of Energy Assurance (OEA), created following the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 to work with state and local government and industry to strengthen the security of the United States through the application of science and technology to improve the reliability and security of the national energy infrastructure

.  Directed operations to: Identify potential threats to the national energy infrastructure, including natural disaster, acts of terror, sabotage, industrial accidents, and other large-scale disruptions; Lead and coordinate efforts to expand cooperation on national energy infrastructure issues among the federal government, states and industry; Lead the federal government’s outreach efforts (e.g., with industry ISACs, state government and energy emergency officials, homeland security representatives, industry security personnel, etc.) to create partnerships with states and industry to help ensure a secure and reliable flow of energy to America’s homes, industry, public service facilities, and the transportation system; Provide government and industry leaders with analysis of physical and cyber vulnerabilities of the national infrastructure and develop scientific and technological solutions to correct or minimize system vulnerabilities; Develop contingency plans to minimize risks to the economy and public health and safety through analysis of interdependencies and modeling of the cascading effects of events that affect the energy infrastructure; Provide industry the information necessary to implement security plans that effect or deter terrorist acts through target hardening and implementation of procedures that complicate terrorist’s attack planning; Coordinate national, state and industry response and recovery capabilities to ensure seamless integration of plans and procedures; Identify DOE technologies and capabilities that can protect our nation’s critical energy infrastructures and facilitate their use by the private sector and other federal agencies.

 

Director, National Security Operations

1996-2001

Oak Ridge Associated Universities

Senior manager at the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, United States Department of Energy.  Developed, directed and managed an integrated training and readiness program for national response teams responding to acts of nuclear terrorism. Coordinated with National Security Council officials to develop response plans and participated in Counterterrorism Coordinating Sub-Group meetings at the White House. Directed the execution of the Domestic Preparedness Program under which state and local officials are being assisted in preparing for acts of nuclear terrorism.  Managed personnel, facilities and fiscal resources for a $30M U.S. Government, multi-agency program. Recognized as an expert in government operations related to Weapons of Mass Destruction, Counterterrorism and Counter-proliferation. Guest lecturer at DOD and FBI service academies and educational venues. Participates in strategic planning activities with senior government officials to improve US readiness to deal with acts of terror.

 

Technical Staff Member, DOE Office of Emergency Response.  

1995-1996

Oak Ridge Associated Universities

Prepared plans and policies for the management of the Department of Energy’s Office of Emergency Response and directed response operations worldwide. Served on interagency intelligence and technology working groups.  Acted as liaison to the Defense Nuclear Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict, US Special Operations Command and Components.  Program Manager for classified DOE programs supporting counter terrorism efforts and other emergency response operations.  Technical and operational advisor to the Director, Office of Emergency Response and to the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Military Applications for terrorism programs.

 

Special Mission Unit Officer in Charge

1992-1995

Naval Special Warfare Development Group, Virginia Beach, Virginia. 

The Senior EOD Officer in the US Special Operations Command. Led the development of a national military capability to prevent the use of WMD and terrorist explosive devices.  Developed IED defeat tactics and training programs; supervised development of fielding of detection and disarmament equipment for use against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.  Directed classified special operations; coordinated interagency plans and policy regarding specialized assistance to the FBI, DoS and the National Intelligence Community.  Supervised joint training exercises with all US military services, foreign units and Federal Agencies.  Managed programs and budgets of million dollars; supervised over 500 personnel in all aspects of nuclear, chemical and biological response.  Directed several classified programs and operations.

 

Naval Officer

1975-1992

United States Navy. 

Managed and directed counterterrorism operations, Explosive Ordnance Disposal operations, diving and salvage operations, emergency preparedness and emergency response operations including, nuclear and chemical weapons incidents, aircraft crashes, natural disasters, and hazards materials spills and disposal. Directed planning, resource allocation, evacuation and response operations. Coordinated operations with all levels and branches of US government and numerous foreign governments.  Held numerous special operations positions of increasing responsibility and authority throughout the world, advanced through enlisted ranks to commissioned officer. Extensive oversees activity, numerous campaigns, frequently operated in small and independent units and conducted hazardous operations.

 

PUBLISHED:

 

Local Bomb Squads Bolster Response to Nuclear Terrorism, National Defense Magazine, September 1999

Constitutional Issues in Federal Management of Domestic Terrorism Incidents, iUniverse Publishing, New York, 2004

Corporate Security in the Information Age, Aspatore Books, 2005, Contributing Author

The McGraw Hill Homeland Security Handbook, McGraw Hill, New York, 2005, Contributing Author

Making Critical Technology Decisions, Aspatore Books, 2006, Contributing Author

 

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

 

US Chamber of Commerce Homeland Security Task Force

Nuclear Sector Coordinating Council with US Department of Homeland Security, 2004-2005

Senior Fellow, George Washington University Homeland Security Policy Institute, 2005

Guest Lecturer, George Mason University

Guest Lecturer, Virginia Commonwealth University

American Society of Industrial Security

Disabled American Veterans