Sam Brinkley
Vice President
Homeland & International Security Services Office
Wackenhut Services, Inc.
Mr. Brinkley has wide ranging background in security and training. He is a retired Marine infantry officer who commanded at the platoon through battalion levels. Additionally, his experience includes wide-ranging staff and training assignments. Between 1991-1995, Mr. Brinkley served as a Security Specialist/Special Project Officer for the Assistant Administrator for Civil Aviation Security, Federal Aviation Administration; his duties included support to the agency's Federal Air Marshal Program and supporting R & D programs. After a brief time on the staff, Science Committee, House of Representatives in 1995, he joined Wackenhut Services, Incorporated (WSI), as the Special Response Team (SRT) Commander, Savannah River Site, Department of Energy (DOE); also, he has served as Chairman, SRT Quality Panel, for DOE's Office of Safeguards and Security (OSS). During his tenure with DOE, Mr. Brinkley led OSS's pilot programs for the development of standardized target folders, pursuit and recapture operations, and chemical-biological weapons protection measures. In 1998, he was promoted to Vice President, Wackenhut Services, Incorporated.
Mr. Brinkley joined the Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism (S/CT), Department of State, in August 1999 as the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Policy Advisor. He focused on the CT policies and engagements necessary to strengthen the international will to respond to a WMD terrorist incident. After the designation of the Homeland Security Council on October 8, 2001, Mr. Brinkley added the identification of the international implications of a domestic WMD terrorist incident to his portfolio. As part of those duties, Mr. Brinkley planned, participated in, and conducted numerous policy development meetings, exercises, and tabletop seminars with senior level U.S. and international leaders; additionally, he was an active planner and participant in the nation's two TOP OFFICIALS (TOPOFF 1 & 2) exercises. Between March 2003 and February 2004, he was a member of the professional staff, Aviation and Transportation Security Team and Border Security Team, National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (9-11 Commission). Mr. Brinkley is recognized for his domestic and international expertise in CT/WMD training and exercises. He provides corporate operational oversight for WSI's support to the Department of Homeland Security; the NASA sites of Johnson Space Center, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (both fire and security), and Dryden Flight Research Center; Ames Research Center; and corporate International Programs including the WSI Iraq Fire Service which has grown from an initial force of 250 to over 600.
He is a graduate of the U.S. Army Airborne, Ranger, Jumpmaster, and Advanced Infantry Officer Courses. Also, he is a graduate of the College of Naval Command and Staff, Naval War College. His personal awards include the Bronze Star, Combat Action Ribbon, and Vietnam Service Medal. In 1979, he was selected as the first recipient of the Leftwich Trophy for Outstanding Leadership for the U.S. Marine Corps.
Mr. Brinkley is certified in Homeland Security, CHS III by the American College of Forensic Examiners International. He is a member of the Executive Council for Homeland Security, National Defense Industrial Association; and Military Liaison Council, American Society of Industrial Security.
Mr. Brinkley is a graduate from Valdese High School, Valdese, NC; the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; and he has Masters degrees in Personnel Management, Troy State University; and National Security and Strategic Studies, Naval War College.
