Ralph Boelter Named Assistant Director of the Counterterrorism Division

Director Robert S. Mueller, III named Ralph S. Boelter assistant director of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division. Mr. Boelter most recently served as acting assistant director of the Counterterrorism Division.

Mr. Boelter began his career as a special agent with the FBI in July 1991. He first reported to the Boston Division where he investigated white collar crime, violent crime and criminal enterprise matters.

In December 1997, he was promoted and worked in the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. Mr. Boelter oversaw many of the Bureau’s violent crime and fugitive investigations.

He transferred to the Los Angeles Division in March 2000 to supervise the Violent Crime and Criminal Enterprise Branch out of the Long Beach Resident Agency. Mr. Boelter later served as acting assistant special agent in charge of the branch in November 2001, and was officially named to the position in January 2003.

Mr. Boelter was assigned as a detail in April 2005 for the investigation involving the unauthorized disclosure of CIA Agent Valerie Plame Wilson’s covert identity.

He returned to FBI Headquarters in September 2005 when he was promoted to the position of inspector. In this position, he led inspection teams in comprehensive assessments of FBI offices around the world.

Director Muller appointed Mr. Boelter as special agent in charge of the Minneapolis Division in December 2006. He managed high profile investigations including the Thomas Petters $3.6 billion corporate fraud case and the priority counterterrorism matter involving the recruitment of several Somali-American men in support of the designated terrorist organization, al-Shabaab.

Mr. Boelter received the 2010 Presidential Rank Award for sustained meritorious performance as a senior executive and demonstrating police leadership. In April 2011, Mr. Boelter was appointed as deputy assistant director of the Strategic Operations Branch, Counterterrorism Division, at FBI Headquarters. Mr. Boelter is a native of Wisconsin.

NCIS Hawaii Special Agents, Staff Awarded

From Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Robert Stirrup, Commander, Navy Region Hawaii Public Affairs

May 6, 2010 - PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- Personnel assigned to Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Field Office Hawaii were awarded the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) medal for the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) during an awards ceremony aboard the Battleship Missouri Memorial May 3.

Mark Clookie, director of NCIS, presented the award to 12 special agents and staff.

"We are here to express appreciation to our personnel that have gone in harm's way to protect the freedom of our country," said Clookie. "Today, we pay a special tribute for everything that you all have achieved."

The honorable Edward H. Kubo Jr., circuit court judge of the first circuit (Oahu), served as the guest speaker for the ceremony and thanked the awardees for their service.

"I want to thank each and every one of you for all that you've done for our country, the military and the state of Hawaii," Kubo said. "I am extremely honored to be a part of this great event as we honor our special agents and staff for their service to their country."

Kubo also talked about the significance of NCIS's work throughout the world.

"The NCIS has established itself as an elite organization providing top-notch security, counter-intelligence and counter-terrorism anywhere they are needed," said Kubo

Special Agent (SA) Henry Roney, special agent in charge of NCIS Field Office Hawaii, noted the importance of paying tribute to the agents and staff.

"Our agents sacrifice their time and their family's time, putting themselves through danger to protect our country," said Roney. "It really is an honor to recognize the awardees with the SECDEF GWOT medal and in a well-deserved way."

The awardees included Mr. Wayne Chang; Ms. Elizabeth Faulkner; SA Robert Flannery; SA James Heddlesten; SA Louis Lockhard; SA Tony Richardson; SA Glenn Roessler; SA John Smallman; SA Amanda Smoot Tolentino; SA Peter Tolentino; SA Christopher Leaden; and SA James Nettleton.

The Secretary of Defense medal for the Global War on Terrorism was created to recognize the contributions and accomplishments of the civilian workforce of the Department of Defense in direct support of the nation's armed forces, whose members are engaged in operations to combat terrorism.

Military Authors

Military-Writers.com is a website committed to listing active, former and retired military personnel who have authored books. The website added two former servicemembers who have authored books.

Elmer L. Snow, III is a retired Sergeant from the Prince George’s County Police Department (Maryland). During his career in law enforcement he was a recipient of the Police Officer of the Year Award, Chief’s Award for Valor, Police Officer of the Month Award, and 42 letters of Commendation for Outstanding Performance of Duty. Prior to his law enforcement career, Elmer Snow honorably served in the United States Army from 1961-1964. He was a Military Policeman in the 101st Airborne Division. He achieved the rank of E-4 Specialist.

Following his retirement, Elmer Snow was employed for five years by the DuPont Company in Wilmington, Delaware where he provided personal protection for the Chairman of the Board, the DuPont Board of Directors, and Key Management. During this time he became involved in terrorism, counter terrorism programs, and counter terrorist driving techniques.

In 2003 he was contacted by Halliburton Corporation to provide personal protection services during the reconstruction of Iraq. As a Security Coordinator with KBR, a Halliburton subsidiary, Snow worked in numerous high risk positions throughout Iraq, including Mosul, Baghdad, Tikrit, Balad, and culminating at Camp Anaconda. Upon his return to the United States, Elmer Snow wrote A View from Iraq.

According to the book description, A View from Iraq “is a must read for soldiers who have served, curious citizens, families of those who served or are in Iraq, as well as security practitioners who are constantly searching for tactics that are used by terrorists and insurgents. The book details various individual acts of courage and bravery that were demonstrated by members of our armed forces, methods of identifying problems that occur, and ways of reducing the level of threat to an acceptable level.” Elmer Snow is also the author of two fiction books Overkill- A Detective’s Story and Revenge Served Cold.

Cory B. Harris has over 13 years of military and law enforcement experience. He has served with The United States Air Force, Little Rock Police Department (Arkansas), United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the United States Marshal Service. Cory Harris served in the U.S. Air Force from 1992 to 1996 and was honorably discharged at the rank of E-4. He has training and experience in field training, crime prevention, investigations, operations, apprehension, and protection. He is also a recipient of the Little Rock Police Department’s Medal of Merit.

Cory B. Harris is the author of Zipper Le Series One: Outlook on Leadership And Liability Issues in the Criminal Justice System. According to the book description, Cory B. Harris’ book, “takes you behind the badge to examine tough issues in the criminal justice system. It tackles civil liability, race, and leadership issues to name a few from the outlook of the author. The author gives examples using his own experiences that are simple and easy to understand to give the reader unique insight. The book contains many case studies, and stories that are interesting yet they have a simple meaning. The book explores how different groups of people look at these issues in different ways, as well as how important it is for criminal justice officials to stay mentally fit.”

Military-Writers.com currently lists 25 current or former military members and their 53 books.

Top Military Installations Lauded at Pentagon

By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service

May 4, 2007 – The top installations from each of the military services and the Defense Logistics Agency were lauded today at the Pentagon for their superior mission support. Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England presented the Commander in Chief's Annual Awards for Installation Excellence, highlighting the facilities' superior performance at a time when the nation faces a worldwide strategic threat from terrorism.

"This is an especially critical time for the country, and it is a time like this that requires great leadership," England said at a ceremony honoring the recipients. "It requires great leadership starting with the president of the United States and the secretary of defense and all the great people that we have in the Pentagon, but it takes leadership throughout the organization. It takes leadership at every single level of our organization and every single place in our organization."

This year's awardees were U.S. Army Garrison Japan, at Camp Zama, Japan; Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif.; Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga.; Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho; and Defense Supply Center Columbus, Ohio.

This was the first year that the four military installations received the award. The Defense Supply Center Columbus, however, has received the honor five times over the years. Each installation was chosen for its exemplary support of Defense Department missions and for providing excellent working, housing and recreational conditions.

England emphasized that the award is not just recognizing the leadership, but also the people who make the installations function every day. "Any time you have an opportunity to say thanks to people for a job that's extraordinarily well done, it's an opportunity you never pass up, because at the end of the day, that's what this organization's all about," he said. "It's about joint civilian-military teams; it's that teamwork behind the lines that allows our people to do their jobs at the front lines."
President Ronald Reagan created the Commander in Chief's Annual Award for Installation Excellence in 1985. The Defense Logistics Agency was added to the competition in 1988. Recipient installations receive a trophy, an "Installation Excellence" flag, and a letter signed by President Bush.

Article sponsored by Criminal Justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.

A Marine and A Sailor

Military-Writers.com is a website dedicated to listing all former United States military personnel who have written books. The website added a sailor, Shane Moore, and a Marine, Robert Taubert.

Shane Moore is a detective with the Gillespie Police Department (Illinois). His debut novel is A Prisoner's Welcome. Shane Moore describes his work as a fantasy similar to Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter, but with much heavier writing and themes which are best suited for the adult reader.

One reader/reviewer of Shane Moore’s novel said, “A Prisoner's Welcome is a rare fantasy that lacks the troupes of almost every fantasy novel out there. It starts out with young Lancalion searching for a person to read some parchments that are supposed to detail the murder of his parents-an orphan with power trying to discover the one responsible for his parents murder-SAME OLD troupe! That is where it all changes. Moore takes us on a whirlwind ride with politics, deceit, trickery, and backstabbing on a grand scale.” Shane Moore served in the United States Navy.

Robert "Bob" Taubert is thought of by FBI veterans as the finest firearms and tactics instructor to serve in the FBI. He has a Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Physical Education and served 12 years as a reconnaissance infantry Marine pulling two combat tours in Vietnam, rising to the rank of Major and serving as company commander.

Robert Taubert joined the FBI serving his country as a Special Agent for over twenty-four years. While in the FBI he was heavily involved in Special Operations and was one of the founders and trainers of the FBI’s Elite Hostage Rescue Team (HRT. Bob served as the FBI SOG liaison for the USMC and US Navy special operations entities. Bob is responsible for the birth of the widely known SEAL Team 6 and assisted what was to become today’s US Navy's Development Group, in gaining official recognition as a national counter terrorism asset by the military.

Serving as the senior instructor at the FBI Academy in the FBI’s SOARS, the elite Special Operations units Robert Taubert was chosen by the DEA to train and equip DEA agents in Close Quarters Battle, SWAT tactics and combat survival skills. These agents went on to participate in some of the most highly secretive joint agency covert operations that the US has ever run. During his tours of duty with the Bureau and DEA he attended every major firearms school in the world and qualified as a Master or Expert in long and short firearms.

Following the FBI he was a staff instructor at the Smith & Wesson Academy; he is a subject matter expert in SWAT, Anti-Terrorism, Hostage Rescue and Police Survival issues; he is a Staff Instructor for the US Department of State's Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program and is also an adjunct Instructor at Alan Brosnan's Tactical Explosive Entry School and Kelly McCain’s Crucible Training Center. He is an accomplished author and is a staff writer for many law enforcement magazines, publications, and journals. Robert Taubert is the co-author of Soldiering on: The Stories of Two Former Kiwi SAS Men in Their Continuing World-Wide Careers of Adventure.

In addition to hosting current, former and retired military personnel who have written books, Military-Writers.com is building and extensive web-based directory of military personnel who own businesses.