Don L. Rondeau, President & CEO and Member, Board of Directors
Don L. Rondeau is President & CEO of Total Security Services International (TSSI, Inc.). He is credited with taking TSSI, a once small but well-respected consulting company, to a multi-million dollar international operation. Under Mr. Rondeau’s direction, TSSI secured its first federal contract as a prime contractor. Prior to taking charge over TSSI, Mr. Rondeau had already established himself as a homeland security professional with a broad range of distinguished positions, appointments, and awards. He is the author of Red Teaming: The Don L. Rondeau Method, a non-fiction book that chronicles his development of an anti-terrorism exercise methodology designed to identify potential terrorist tactics and targets. Mr. Rondeau has served as an executive consultant and service provider to the Department of Homeland Security and Transportation Security Administration where he lends his expertise to secure the transportation infrastructure for our Nation.
Mr. Rondeau began his career by serving in the United States Coast Guard. From there, Mr. Rondeau found his way into various executive asset protection roles, most prominently serving as Directors of Asset Protection for two Fortune 500 companies for nearly a decade. During this time, Rondeau successfully ran the investigations and oversaw the prosecution of hundreds of offenders involving cases of embezzlement, robbery, fraud, and other financial crimes and schemes. Here, Rondeau honed his ability to organically conduct full-scale investigations that culminated into successful resolution and prosecution, all while responsible for keeping the company operating at its maximum efficiency and effectiveness – a unique, multi-disciplined role. Mr. Rondeau understands how to effectively conduct security operations and protect profitability.
Using his asset protection background, Mr. Rondeau launched his own company, Rondeau & Smith, Inc., a due diligence corporation. Rondeau led the company’s stock offering. He navigated the complexities associated with taking a company "public” via an accredited investor stock offering. While running the company, Mr. Rondeau served as a contract investigator for the U.S. Department of the Interior, Forestry Division and also teamed with several Middle Eastern security groups for special security projects. Later, Mr. Rondeau served as the Chief of Security/Director of Client Services for the Embassies of the State of Kuwait and Qatar. In this capacity, Rondeau directed the physical, event and travel security for the embassies and their residences in coordination with local law enforcement and in compliance with U.S. Department of State Regulations. The staff he directed included a contingent of highly skilled, armed special police officers who operated in the complex and politically sensitive embassy environment. Business luminaries such as former Washington Redskin, Superbowl Champion Rick "Doc" Walker and renowned economist, Jeff Thredgold, served in leadership positions in support of Mr. Rondeau.
Afterward, Mr. Rondeau accepted the position of Director of Claims & Security for the American Trucking Associations’ Safety and Loss Prevention Management Council, a national transportation support association where he was charged with representing the security interest of the trucking industry. Mr. Rondeau was called upon to speak at various functions around the nation discussing issues related to homeland security and trucking. Various media outlets, state governments, law enforcement departments, and private companies sought his guidance and expertise in evaluating programs and legislation related to trucking security. Rondeau often cites his time spent supporting member organizations and directing a council comprised of our nation’s best and brightest trucking company executives as a highlight of his career. Mr. Rondeau has also served as the National Chief Security Advisor for the September 11th memorial The Heart of America Quilt Project. It was from that participation that Mr. Rondeau received The President's Volunteer Service Award administered on behalf of The White House by the Points of Light Foundation (Award 2985).
Mr. Rondeau is often referred to as one of our nation’s most credible conduits between the public and private sectors. Companies trust him with critical information. Federal, state, and local agencies trust him and rely on his knowledge of for-profit business. Mr. Rondeau has served as a much needed portal to bring together the public and private sectors on homeland security matters. As such, he was appointed to a new role as the Director of Information-Intelligence Sharing for a national anti-terrorism program. In this capacity, he was charged with running a 24/7 command center staffed with program analysts where he was able to identify many persons of interest to anti-terrorist authorities. During his time overseeing this very important program aimed at identifying and analyzing potential terrorist threats, he received honors and mentions for his work serving and protecting the Nation. Then Secretary of DHS, Tom Ridge, cited Mr. Rondeau’s "commitment to protecting America” and stated that Rondeau played a "critical role in mitigating and preventing terrorist attacks by enhancing coordination between the public and private sector”. Further, the
International Association of Counter-terrorism for Security Professionals named Mr. Rondeau the 2004-2005 Homeland Security Executive of the Year for his efforts in integrating the business acumen of the private sector with the defense and security expertise of the public sector. Mr. Rondeau has proven himself to be an information-sharing pioneer for both the public and private sectors. Then Under Secretary of Infrastructure Protection, Robert Stephan stated in a letter that Rondeau "Provided tremendous leadership during his tenure as Director of the TSA directed ISAC”. Mr. Rondeau is credited with identifying multiple persons and situations deemed a concern to the safety and security of the United States.
Now, as a business developer, Rondeau has set his mark. His 10 plus year business development record of securing new business for his company every 2 ½ months speaks clearly to his understanding of business. His forte is protecting and securing assets while protecting the profitability of the business community. This unique, multi-disciplined approach has helped to forge his excellent relationship, and reputation, with DHS, TSA, other agencies, and the private sector alike. During a recent taping for a cable network, former TSA Deputy Director, Stephen McHale declares, "Don Rondeau is very credible to critical infrastructure owners and operators"; former Director of FEMA, Joe Allbaugh, calls Rondeau, quite simply, "a Doer"; noted businessman and former NFL champion, Rick "Doc" Walker asserts, "Don spoke to the need to protect us from terrorists many years before the terrorist attacks of September 11th. Years before there was ever a Department of Homeland Security, Don spoke of that need."
Mr. Rondeau has hosted of a series of monthly HLS video briefs entitled "The Rondeau Report" and is a frequent anti-terrorism, transportation security guest and speaker on national network news (CNN, FOX, and HSTV Channel). In fact, Mr. Rondeau is a featured monthly guest on XM 1717 satellite radio and also a frequent guest on The Homeland Security Television Channel.
Mr. Rondeau holds certificates, diplomas and has completed courses in business, counter-terrorism, anti-terrorism, numerous emergency management disciplines, paralegal studies and legal investigations from such esteemed venues as Tulane Freeman School of Business, Harvard Medical School CE, Harvard School of Public Health CE, The National Preparedness Institute at St. Petersburg College, the USDA Graduate School, Georgetown University, FEMA Emergency Management Institute, and the FBI Citizens Academy (redacted).
Mr. Rondeau is the transportation security advisor and board member for the International Association of Counterterrorism for Security Professionals (IACSP),
a former board member and division Executive Director for the Counterterrorism & Security Education & Research Foundation (CTSERF), a former senior security advisor for the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), board members for TSSI, Inc., Homeland Security Television Channel, and the Counterterrorism Security Research & Education Foundation, former board members for the American College of Certified Fraud Examiners International and the United States Association of Private Investigators, and members of the Harvard Medical School CE, Harvard School of Public Health CE Postgraduate Association and the FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association. Mr. Rondeau is very proud of the fact that he has had the opportunity to serve his nation by directing programs and concepts that he helped create. Rondeau states, "The times in which we live require incredible flexibility. One must possess an entrepreneurial spirit to really provide agencies with the type of support they require to better protect us all. I take great pride in being an honorable deal maker."
Jeff Beatty, Special Advisor to Mr. Rondeau, states that, "Mr. Rondeau’s ability to generate business is uncanny. I have personally watched Mr. Rondeau take a company he purchased for one dollar and turn it into a multi-million dollar corporation in less than a year. Since taking the leadership of TSSI, he has us on pace to eclipse even that".
Mr. Rondeau reiterates, "I do not consider myself an expert…I employ experts. I am an entrepreneur…I am a problem solver. I lead a dynamic company that is uniquely suited for the challenges we face as a nation."
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