Background-Education and Experience: 

Social Scientist (Security Professional – U. S. Army Officer & U.S. Federal Civilian - Retired) During his Security Professional career from 1977 to the present, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Siena College, a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice from the University of Iowa, a Master of Arts in Journalism from the University of South Carolina, and a PhD in Criminology from the International PhD program at the TRANSCRIME Center, University of Trento School of Law/now located at Catholic University of Milan. His military career included assignments in the U.S.A., Korea, and Italy. He served as Military Police (MP) Commissioned Officer in various positions of responsibility including, MP Operations Officer, Company Commander, Criminal Investigations Division Field Office Commander, Commander of a Detention (Correctional) Facility as well as Public Affairs Officer before transitioning to a Military Intelligence Officer in NATO. His subsequent U.S. Federal Civilian service career positions included Political Affairs Advisor to U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Italy, and Director, Operational Assessments U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Africa USN 6th FLEET, which included service at multiple locations throughout Europe and Africa. His research studies include original empirical research in mass communications using Community Attachment Theory, multiple original empirical research studies on public perception of immigrant involvement in crime in Italy, and both quantitative and qualitative research studies on organized crime, human smuggling and trafficking as well as maritime piracy. Currently, he is Director of “Francesco Figliomeni Social Science Research Center,” a non-profit independent social science research activity in southern Italy.