American Defense Services About Us


American Defense Services, Inc.
About Us

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Our leadership team has a unique blend of public and private sector, and military experience that equips them to work in a variety of organizational and industrial settings.  We have real-world experience devising practical solutions to operational, administrative, and security problems.  Our focus is on providing the highest level of protection for the least amount of dollars.  

Our People          Our Capabilities       PowerPoint Slide Presentation

Click on our officers' names for a brief summary of their credentials and experience.  All have held secret and top secret security clearances during their military service.

Ralph L. Peterson -- President        Kenneth Lanzalaco -- Chief Executive officer         John W. Vincent II -- VP

 Jonathan D. Dupont -- Manager Business Development     

 Joseph A. (Joe) Rainwater -- Test Engineer      Joe D. Hill -- International Marketing Manager    James A. McCurry -- Government Liasion

Ralph Peterson Ralph L. Peterson, Sr. -- President

Ralph Peterson has been actively engaged in the risk management industry since 1976.   He began his career as a corporate finance officer responsible for the insurance program for a multi-million dollar wholesale distribution with 350 retail stores.  Then, he spent 20 years as an insurance broker selling and servicing insurance accounts for local agencies and ultimately establishing and operating his own insurance agency for 15 of those years.  Since 1992, he has been actively engaged as a risk management and insurance consultant specializing in Louisiana’s public sector.   His responsibilities have included developing risk management programs, safety and loss control programs, performing risk management audits, developing insurance specifications for construction contracts and developing insurance programs for public entities.  Mr. Peterson was instrumental is saving one public entity client in excess of $8,000,000 in premiums over a 9-year period.

Mr. Peterson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the University of New Orleans.  His professional designations include the Associate in Risk Management (ARM) and the Associate in Loss Control Management (ALCM).  He is currently enrolled in the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) program and has completed over 50% of the degree requirements.  Ralph is also currently enrolled in the Associate in Risk Management for Public Entities certification program and anticipates completion that program in 2006.  He is also certified by the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies as a Security Officer: Port, Company & Ship. He also completed the Ship Security Assessor and Planner Course presented by Phoenix Consulting Group, Inc. Ralph is a retired US Army reserve officer and a former Special Forces intelligence and security officer.  Email: rpeterson@fivestardefense.com   504-813-9449

Ken LanzalacoKenneth (Ken) Lanzalaco -- Chief Executive Officer

Ken Lanzalaco has over forty years experience in planning and implementing security and facilities protection and providing training to security and anti-terrorist personnel.  He is a retired US Army Special Forces officer who worked his way up through the enlisted ranks.  While in the military, he helped plan and implement combat and anti-terrorist operations worldwide.  Mr. Lanzalaco's expertise in security and asset protection includes work for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (Boeing Petroleum Services, Inc.), Sandia National Laboratories (Applied Methods, Inc.), nuclear material security and anti-terrorist consulting for the Department of Energy (Westinghouse Savannah River Co. and Protection Technology Idaho, Inc.).

Mr. Lanzalaco holds a Bachelors degree in Industrial Technology and Education from Tarleton State University (Texas A&M) and postgraduate business and communications courses from New Mexico Highlands University and the University of New Mexico.  In 2004, Ken completed the American Defense Services Security Officer Course: Port, Company & Ship, in compliance with the International Ship and Port Security Code.  In 2005, he completed the Threat and Risk Assessment Course and Enhanced Threat and Risk Assessment Course presented by the National Emergency Response & Rescue Center in cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security. Email: klanzalaco@fivestardefense.com   409-932-8066

Jack VincentJohn W. (Jack) Vincent II, M.Ed. -- Vice President, Secretary Treasurer

Jack Vincent has over thirty-five years experience in various administrative and managerial positions in private industry, and has provided organizational consulting services to public and private entities for over ten years. In his last position with a Fortune 500 company, he was manager of safety and skills training, during which the operations groups saw marked improvements in safety and productivity.  His consulting work has included economic development assessments, strategic planning, human resource development, leadership training, and safety management.

Mr. Vincent holds a Bachelors degree in Government from Southeastern Louisiana University, a Masters degree in Education (Curriculum and Instruction -- Adult Learning and Development) from the University of New Orleans, and has completed all work toward a Ph.D. at the University of New Orleans with the exception of his dissertation.   He has authored several articles for national publications dealing with employee performance management and safety and routinely presents leadership training to community volunteer groups.  Mr. Vincent is a graduate of the US Army Special Forces Advanced Enlisted Course.  While serving with the military, he received urban anti-sniper, riot control, and crowd control training.  In 2003, he completed the International Registry of Shipping -- ISPS Company Security Officer and Ship Security Officer Auditor Course and the Ship Security Assessor and Planner Course presented by Phoenix Consulting Group, Inc. In 2004, he completed the American Defense Services Security Officer Course: Port, Company & Ship in compliance with the International Ship and Port Security Code.  In 2005, Mr. Vincent completed the Threat and Risk Assessment and WMD Threat and Risk Assessment (Local Jurisdiction) courses presented by the National Emergency Response & Rescue Center in cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security.   Email: jvincent@fivestardefense.com -- 504-885-2004

Donald G. Lane-- Vice President Operations and R&DDonald G. Lane

Mr. Lane comes to ADS, Inc. from federal government service, having served as a Special Agent/Criminal Investigator for both the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. After being graduated from the University of New Orleans with a BA, Mr. Lane taught high school English. Within five years, Mr. Lane accepted a Special Agent Commission from the U.S. Secret Service. During his federal career he served in both the New Orleans Field Office and the Washington, DC Field Office. In addition to criminal investigation, intelligence collection and presidential protection, Mr. Lane also conducted computer forensic evidence recovery. Subsequent to the formation of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Mr. Lane served in various capacities, most recently managing the Coast Guard Investigative Service Gulf Region.

As Special Agent-in-Charge, he supervised the operations and administration of nine offices scattered throughout seventeen states. Mr. Lane is a member of various executive law enforcement manager organizations and committees. In addition, Mr. Lane has received many accolades for his work in New York City in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. He is also the recipient of the Director's Award, for his leadership and dedication in the aftermath of Hurricane's Katrina and Rita. Mr. Lane resides in New Orleans with his wife and two children. Email: dlane@fivestardefense.com -- 504-885-5928

Jonathan D. Dupont -- Manager Business Development

Jonathan Dupont joined ADS in 2007 as an Administrative Assistant. He was promoted to Manager Business Development in 2008 and is responsible for marketing activities and business ally development.

Prior to joining ADS, he supported over 90 A-Pro home inspection franchises throughout the U.S. Mr. Dupont created a system for A-Pro that allowed franchisees to communicate with each other so that they could provide better service to their customers and add new customers, thereby, increasing the franchisees’ bottom lines. He also managed, ordered, and stocked all supplies for the A-Pro’s training facility. Before working for A-Pro, Mr. Dupont was the Sales Manager for Clean Rite Technologies, Inc. (CRT), where he and his sales team won the top sales award for two consecutive years. He was given all CRT house accounts, and doubled their sales in his first year of managing them.  Mr. Dupont holds a bachelors degree in Advanced Biblical Theology from International Bible College in San Antonio, Texas, where he graduated as Valedictorian. Mr. Dupont is a commissioned minister for the Great Commission Fellowship. He conducts children’s church and youth ministries at his local church. Since starting work with ADS, he has completed a school security assessment training program and a GSA SDVOB Conference, “Doing Business With the GSA”.   Email: jdupont@fivestardefense.com -- 504-837-4109

Joseph A. (Joe) Rainwater-- Test Engineer

Joe Rainwater joined ADS in 2008 and is currently assigned to the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oakridge, TN where he holds a “Q” clearance.

Mr. Rainwater has a widely accumulative background in engineering with experience in production, manufacturing, product/project management and laboratory and operational testing. This experience has been garnered in the automotive, marine and aerospace environments. He has been actively involved in the testing of security equipment, technologies and processes for the Department of Energy (DOE), the Department of Defense (DOD), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). He is responsible for the development of technological solutions for security issues and for test program management.
 

Mr. Rainwater is a US Air Force veteran. He holds an Associate of Science from the Community College of the Air Force in Automotive Technology and a Bachelors of Science in Agricultural Engineering (Power and Machinery) from the University of Idaho. He is or has been certified by the Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), National Association of Emergency Vehicle Technicians (NAEVT) and the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA).

  Email: jrainwater@fivestardefense.com -- 504-837-4109

Joe D. (JD) Hill -- International Marketing Manager

JD Hill enlisted in the US Naval Reserve while a senior in high school, completing 34 years service with the rank of Captain (O-6). He is a veteran of Vietnam and Operation Desert Storm, and currently serves as an Ombudsman, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, office of the US Assistant Secretary of Defense.

While working in private industry, Joe managed independent sales offices, sales and office personnel. His primary focus was with customers in aerospace, automotive, marine and manufacturing facilities. He worked primarily with purchasing and engineering staffs to design and manufacture "aircraft quality," close-tolerance products. His customers included: Boeing, Northrop-Grumman, General Motors, Chrysler, Nissan, Mercruiser, Aeroquip, Borg-Warner, Douglas & Lomason, ITT Higbie-Blaylock, Kelsey-Hayes, Rockwell and many others. He served as EDM electrode "Gate-keeper" for the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, and traveled nationally and internationally lecturing on the selection and design of electrode materials used in the Electrical Discharge Machining process. Joe was published and quoted in manufacturing specialty magazines on numerous occasions. III.   In ten years of working with the EDM industry, Joe managed company salesmen and independent contractors/representatives, trained new and current personnel in sales and products, called on customers to close business, and located new business.

Captain Hill graduated from Southern Methodist University with a BBA degree in Business. He attended SMU on an athletic scholarship.  In 2004, Joe completed the American Defense Services Security Officer Course: Port, Company & Ship in compliance with the International Ship and Port Security Code.   E-mail: jdhill@fivestardefense.com 337-479-2677

 

Col. James A. McCurry -- Government Liaison

Col. McCurry is a retired Project Engineer and Project Manager with specialized experience in all aspects of engineering design, management, procurement, inspection, expediting, field engineering and construction operations for domestic and foreign projects in the agricultural, chemical, paper, petroleum and refinery industries. He has also worked for contract engineering firms on the NASA Saturn Project and the Strategic Petroleum Reserve projects. Mr. McCurry majored in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh and attended Louisiana State University for post graduate Business studies.

Jim served in the U. S. Army, Army National Guard and Army Reserve, rising from Private to Staff Sergeant before attending Officer Candidate School and then serving in numerous command and staff positions in the Infantry, Special Forces and Corps of Engineers.  Before his retirement as a Colonel, McCurry also served as a School Commandant, Deputy Director, Center of Public Works, Corps of Engineers in Washington DC and Special Projects Officer for the Army Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management at the Pentagon.  He is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (1975). His military schooling also includes Honor Graduate - Infantry Officers Advanced Course, JFKSWC Special Forces Officers Course, Military Police SEADOC Course (Civil Disturbance Management), USAF Air Ground Operations School, Engineer Officers Advance Course, U.S. Army Logistical Management Course, National Security Course, National Defense University, Adjutant General Officer Advanced Course and the U.S. Army Transportation Corps - Marine Terminal Officer Advance Course.

Jim completed the Ship Security Assessor and Planner Course, Nov. 19, 2003, C-TPAT Port/Terminal Security, Dec. 29, 2003, C-TPAT Supply Chain Security Awareness, Dec. 29, 2003, C-TPAT Terrorism Awareness, Dec. 29, 2003.
E-mail: jmccurry@fivestardefense.com 225-266-2589

 

PO Box 6378
Metairie, LA 70009-6378
Fax/Phone -- 504-885-5928
info@fivestardefense.com

Copyright © 2003 American Defense Services, Inc.