Whit Darnell is a Senior Consultant and principal security risk management advisor for TorchStone Global. Mr. Darnell had a distinguished twenty-five-year career with the FBI where he served in a variety of investigative, executive protection, training and security leadership roles, including Unit Chief of the FBI’s Hostage and Rescue Team.

Through his vast experience as a trainer and lecturer with the FBI, he knows how to develop people and he has continually demonstrated the ability to work under extreme pressure in high-profile and rapidly changing situations at the highest level of professionalism and discretion.

Mr. Darnell has extensive experience in developing comprehensive security programs, risk identification and mitigation and crisis response in both the public and private sector. Examples of his experience include security planning at major speaking events and conferences for VIPs, US Presidential candidates and US Government Senior Cabinet-Level Officials. His expertise also extends to the sporting world, and he has worked closely with the Special Events Division at the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department to safely plan and deliver events such as the NCAA College Football’s Music City Bowl, Tennessee Titans football games and Nashville Predators hockey games.

Since entering the private sector, Mr. Darnell has been Director of Security for a high-net-worth client, managing and sourcing a team of 24 executive protection personnel on a 24/7, 365-day-a-year basis. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing and managing threat identification and mitigation, strategic planning and analysis, incident management and response, training, skill development and served as an external liaison.

Mr. Darnell maintains his HR 218 LEOSA certification, is qualified as a Personal Protection Specialist, Emergency Medical Technician, National Crisis Negotiator and has numerous other certificates representing the highest level of achievement in law enforcement.