OUR PEOPLE

Christopher Keenan is a security practitioner and advisor with 25+ years of worldwide leadership, management, and operational experience. Mr. Keenan is a Vice President at TorchStone Global based in our Los Angeles office, assisting corporate and private clients, primarily with executive protection, event and venue security, threat and vulnerability assessments, risk mitigation, secure travel operations and logistics, and internal audits and investigations.

Prior to joining TorchStone Global, Mr. Keenan protected and advised multiple ultra high net worth clients and their families, leading all aspects of their security, including protective coverage; estate security at multiple residences; ground, air, and maritime travel; screening and vetting of household staff, and corporate, legal, and law enforcement liaison.

Christopher served for 18 years domestically and abroad as a special agent with the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, where he conducted complex criminal, human trafficking, terrorism, counterintelligence, and fraud investigations; protected U.S. and foreign dignitaries, and managed the comprehensive physical, personnel, and classified information security programs at multiple U.S. embassies and consulates. Key assignments included: protective operations for secretaries of state from Colin Powell through Mike Pompeo, including full time assignments with Condoleezza Rice and Hillary Clinton; establishing the State Department’s presence as the first accredited agency liaison officer at EUROPOL in The Hague; service on the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force investigating international and domestic terror threats to the homeland; leading the protective security program as the agent in charge for the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations; supervising the investigative unit at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad; and high threat protective operations in the Middle East, West Africa, and the Palestinian territories.

Mr. Keenan is a graduate of Purdue University where he double majored in Psychology and Sociology. He served in the U.S. Army where he earned both Airborne and Ranger qualifications and served on a light infantry quick reaction force covering Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

Mr. Snyder is a multilingual security and operations professional with over 30 years of experience in Japan and China in high-visibility events, crisis management, government relations, and corporate communications. He is fluent and literate in Japanese and Chinese with a proven ability to lead multi-cultural teams and execute difficult projects on time and within budget.

Mr. Snyder previously served in various roles with the Coca-Cola Company from 2002 to 2017, most recently as Director of Risk Management for China and Korea. In this role, he led proactive and reactive risk management functions, including incident management, crisis communications, corporate reputation, and enterprise risk management. As Coca-Cola’s Director of Security and Incident Management at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Mr. Snyder was responsible for security, crisis management, and risk assessment for the company’s Olympics activations, including their showcasing center, hospitality programs, and government liaison. As the Project Manager for the 2007 Special Olympics Summer Games, Mr. Snyder was responsible for formulating and implementing Coca-Cola’s marketing and hospitality programs, operations, and public relations activities.

As Director of Security and Incident Management at the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan, Mr. Snyder was responsible for security and crisis management planning, implementation, and response for Coca-Cola’s FIFA World Cup activations. He ensured that all potential risks were effectively managed. Prior to Coca-Cola, Mr. Snyder’s experience included roles as Managing Director for Kroll Associates Asia, based in Tokyo; Producer for Nippon Television Network, based in Washington, D.C.; and Senior Manager for Citibank in Tokyo. Mr. Snyder earned his master’s degree in International Economics and Japan Studies from The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University and his Bachelor of Arts in East Asian Languages and Cultures from Columbia University.

Jess is a seasoned public service and security professional with over 25 years of service in local law enforcement, and on international programs. Jess is currently the Director of Global Embedded Services at TorchStone Global and specializes in building teams dedicated to risk assessments, security operations, workplace incident management, crisis response, mitigation and resiliency as well as business intelligence and environmental health and safety. Jess is also a subject matter expert in training, mentoring, and executive protection.

Jess worked in law enforcement for ten years, focusing on emergency response, special weapons and tactics, training and mentoring. Jess continued to focus on tactical operations, training and mentoring serving as a specialized unit commander for the United Nations, and later supported the Bureau of Diplomatic Security in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also provided sustained support for the Bureau of International Narcotics Law Enforcement, mentoring the Kosovo Police Service transition and professionalize, moving from conflict to peace. Jess is noted for his work in Kosovo; he was commended by both the U.S. and UK Embassies for his role in the 2013 Brussels Agreement that normalized security cooperation between Serbia and Kosovo. This experience shaped his thinking on the power of collaboration with safety and security partners and the holistic benefit of embedded mentors.

Jess has overseen TorchStone Global’s largest embedded program since January 2020, providing subject matter expertise and management excellence in our Fortune 50 customer’s management team. Under his leadership, the program grew exponentially in that time from four to 47 expert staff members and managers. This growth and service has only been possible because of Jess’s customer focus, attitude toward finding and retaining talent, and his dedication to collaboration and understanding of the customer’s strategic goals and operational needs. Jess joined the TorchStone Global team as Director this year. He holds an MA in Diplomacy from Norwich University.

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.

Mr. Darnell is well known for building and motivating cross-functional, diverse teams that exceed performance expectations. 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 and operates 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 Titan’s football games and the 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 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 that represent the highest level of achievement in law enforcement.

Bill Whiteside has twenty-six years of public and private sector experience in the security industry. He has served with the U.S. Justice and Treasury Departments as both a Deputy U.S. Marshal and as a Special Agent with the U.S. Secret Service. He served in various capacities and specialties to include fugitive apprehension, protection of Federal Judges and U.S. Attorneys, high threat trials, and the Witness Protection Program. He has protected U.S. Presidents, Vice Presidents, the Secretary of the Treasury, and Foreign Heads of State. Mr. Whiteside has a wide-ranging criminal investigative background in financial crimes, bank fraud, telecommunications fraud, asset forfeiture, intelligence gathering, threat assessments, surveillance, and counter-surveillance.

After his government service, Mr. Whiteside managed AT&T’s Global Executive Protection program, and then became Director of Global Executive Protection for Citigroup, where he had the responsibility for the safety of their CEOs, Presidents, CFOs, Board of Directors, and other senior executives and their families, both domestically and internationally. Using his expertise in risk assessment, threat administration, and executive protection and advance work, Mr. Whiteside has advised U.S. officials, senior government staff, security teams from foreign governments and private firms, and Chairman and CEO-level executives. He has extensive experience in tactical planning and budgeting for large-scale security assignments and investigations, and has managed additional responsibility for aircraft, ship, ground transportation, residential security, as well as event security.

With a high-level network of domestic and international security and business resources, Mr. Whiteside serves as an advisor to high net worth individuals and families, including industry leaders and celebrities. He manages comprehensive security assessments, due diligence, surveillance, counter-surveillance, investigations, and risk mitigation programs. He designs and coordinates personal and residential protection programs and global travel security for multiple high net worth families.

Lance Root has over 25 years of international security and law enforcement experience with strong interpersonal and analytical skills. He has an extensive record of security program design, development, implementation, and oversight. Mr. Root is a pro-active, results-oriented, performance-driven leader, who has successfully led hundreds of personnel, managed multi-million dollar budgets, and implemented integrated security programs spanning government, military, civilian and corporate personnel, facilities, and interests.

As a Supervisory Special Agent in the Diplomatic Security Service of the U.S. Department of State, Mr. Root protected American diplomats and facilities around the world. In his last post with Diplomatic Security, he completed a tour of duty as the senior Regional Security Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Madrid, Spain, where he supervised a staff of 89 special agents, investigators, U.S. Marines, and contract guards. He has previously served at U.S. diplomatic posts in Kabul, Mexico City, Guatemala City, Sarajevo, Tel Aviv, Tunis, and at the US Mission to the United Nations. From 2004 to 2007, Mr. Root served as the Regional Security Officer and Pan American Games Security Coordinator at the American Consulate General in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. With TorchStone, Lance served as the Olympic Games Security Project Manager for Olympic Games Partner Bridgestone Americas in advance of and during the Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Mr. Root is trilingual in English, Portuguese and Spanish. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science & Economics from Pepperdine University, Malibu, California, and holds a Top Secret security clearance with the U.S. Department of State.

Tim Wilson is a decorated veteran of the New York City Police Department, where he achieved the rank of 1st Grade Detective. He served the majority of his police career in the Executive Security Section and Dignitary Protection Unit of the elite Intelligence Division. Mr. Wilson coordinated protective security for Mayor Koch, Mayor Dinkins, and Mayor Giuliani, as well as for numerous visiting dignitaries, politicians, and celebrities.

After his public service, Mr. Wilson was appointed the Deputy Director of Security for Giuliani Security and Safety, where he continued to provide protective security as a team leader and confidential aide to former Mayor Giuliani. He helped coordinate security and logistics for Giuliani’s daily schedule and for numerous domestic and international trips, including the Mayor’s official trip to the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy as a U. S. Presidential Delegate.

Mr. Wilson went on to form and lead the executive protection team at a privately held financial firm, where he coordinated security operations for one of the wealthiest families in the United States. His knowledge of high-level protective security is unparalleled. As a Senior Consultant at TorchStone Global, Mr. Wilson manages executive protection and counter-surveillance services for some of the most prominent individuals and organizations in the world.

Lee Fields has more than 34 years of experience in the law enforcement and security arena, having served nearly 32 years with the U.S. Secret Service. During his Secret Service tenure, Mr. Fields led the Jacksonville, FL Field Office and served as Deputy Assistant Director of the Office of Investigations in Washington, D.C. where he was the Senior Executive Service official responsible for all domestic investigative operations, overseeing 41 investigative field offices, 85 resident and domicile offices, and 68 criminal task forces. In this capacity, he managed a workforce of 2,776 employees, which included both special agents and administrative personnel. Mr. Fields conducted and managed criminal investigations, and protective security advances for Secret Service protectees, including presidential and vice-presidential candidates. He also has conducted domestic and international protective intelligence advances and served in supervisory roles for visiting foreign heads of state.

Mr. Fields’ investigative experience includes conducting criminal investigations of counterfeit currency, forgery, access device fraud, and mortgage fraud. His headquarters and protective assignments included the Office of Investigations, Office of Administration, Presidential Protective Division (President William Clinton), Counter Assault Team, Intelligence Division, and Forensic Services Division. He also served on several task forces that investigated organized crime.

Mr. Fields holds a Master of Science in Management with an emphasis in Leadership, as part of an Executive Leadership Program at Johns Hopkins University. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from the University of Florida.

Patrick Chase has more than 35 years of police and security experience gained during a career leading protective operations for local and state law enforcement agencies. In that capacity, Mr. Chase has provided protection for corporate executives, elected officials, and high-profile individuals and athletes. Before embarking on his private security career protecting individuals and corporations worldwide, Mr. Chase served as a MN State Trooper where he was the Commander of Executive Protection and Director of Security for the Capitol Complex. Mr. Chase also served on the SWAT, narcotics, and detective units as a police officer in both MN and CO. During his law enforcement career, Mr. Chase received more than 100 awards and commendations. Mr. Chase holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and has completed the Police Executive Management Training Course (PERF), Secret Service-hosted Executive Protection Agent and Executive Protection Commanders School, and hundreds of other law enforcement training classes.

Ms. Kallab is a corporate security consultant for TorchStone based in Nashville, TN. Prior to joining TorchStone, she served as a Regional Security Advisor for the Central Asia, Middle East, and North Africa countries at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington, D.C. Ms. Kallab also worked at WorldAware (formerly iJet), where she managed and developed corporate travel security programs for multinational organizations. Her analysis has been cited in publications including Travel Risk Management newsletter, the Washington Post, and USA Today. She received a B.A. in International Relations and French Literature from Johns Hopkins University in 2008 and an M.A. in International Security from the Institut d’Études Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po Paris) in 2010. Ms. Kallab was born in Beirut, Lebanon, and speaks English, French, and Arabic.

Ben West has 14 years of experience as a global security analyst working to ensure business continuity for major fortune 500 companies in the tech, energy, and retail sectors. Mr. West’s prior projects have included advising a major tech company on integrating physical and cyber security responsibilities, monitoring organized criminal threats to energy supply chains in Mexico, and anticipating supply chain disruptions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. He also has expertise in industrial espionage, political unrest, terrorism, and executive travel security. Mr. West holds an M.A. in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.

Kori Sidwell joined TorchStone Global in 2019 as a Protective Intelligence Analyst Intern and now serves as an Intelligence Analyst. Ms. Sidwell helps mitigate physical and reputational risks affecting high-profile individuals and corporations on TorchStone Global’s protective intelligence team. Utilizing Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) tools and research strategies, she collects and analyzes raw data to prepare actionable and proactive, protective intelligence reports. Ms. Sidwell earned both her B.A. in Intelligence Studies (Summa Cum Laude) and an M.A. in Criminal Justice Administration from Mercyhurst University. She was also honored with her program’s top graduate student award.

Mare Cunningham is an Intelligence Analyst for TorchStone, providing expert investigative analysis by employing innovative approaches utilizing Open-source intelligence (OSINT) to produce actionable intelligence and has over 20 years of expertise as an investigative analyst with local and federal law enforcement agencies.

Mare has served as a Tactical Analyst in numerous command posts, often designated as the primary analyst during large-scale events and operations to include Super Bowl LII, NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four and the Minneapolis Civil Unrest in 2020.

In addition to the 2020 FBI Director’s Award, Mare has been recognized for her investigative analysis by receiving Excellence in Investigation from the Minneapolis Police Department and the Medal of Excellence from the FBI.

Mare earned a Bachelor of Science in Rhetoric at the University of Minnesota, certification as a Crime and Intelligence Analyst from the University of California, Sacramento and attended the FBI Tactical Specialist Basic Training at the FBI Academy in Quantico.