American Defense Services, Inc.
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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, engineering 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

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. He currently possesses a Transportation Worker Identity Credential (TWIC Card).  Email: rpeterson@fivestardefense.com   504-813-9449

Kenneth (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

Col. Stanley John Whidden, MD, PhD -- Vice President -- Government Liaison (PACTS)

Col. Whidden joined American Defense Services, Inc. (ADS) in 2010 as Government Liaison (PACTS) and Senior Medical Officer for VA Medical Staffing Services, LLC, a joint venture company of which ADS is the managing venturer. He retired from the US Army with a distinguished service record that included numerous awards and decorations and service in Operation Just Cause (Panama), Operation Desert Shield (Saudi Arabia), Operation Provide Hope (Somalia), and other US operations overseas. He is an experienced emergency manager with extensive knowledge in chemical and biological exposures and incidents.

His Homeland Security consulting work includes: developing the health care component for an economic consequences model (ECM) for the DHS S&T, Chemical Infrastructure Risk Assessment (CIRA) for DHS' Chemical Security and Analysis Center (CSAC), providing programmatic and technical support for a multi-jurisdictional interagency all-hazard mitigation planning; preparing the risk assessment and program planning documents for terrorist-related threats to infrastructure, including hazardous material facilities, critical facilities, utilities, and transportation infrastructure; assisted DHS in developing underlying methodologies and models to measure terrorism risks to US public infrastructure sectors from CBRN; and assisted DHS in the development of operation and function of an 11-million dollar DHS program supporting the: Health and Human Services (HHS), VA, DOD, CDC, WHO, USPS, EPA, USGS, DFA, USDA, NOAA and DHS-Science & Technology for the national early detection and characterization of bio-events, situational awareness, information sharing; managed, directed and coordinated all operations and functions of a major multi-billion dollar DHS hospital sector program supporting HHS, FEMA, and DHS for the US national medical network; managed, directed and coordinated all operations and functions relating to a major multi-million dollar US Army Reserve (USAR) component hospital organization and staff of over 1500 employees encompassing six states; supported the DOD Cooperative Threat Reduction Program, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, where he led the technical staff in the providing technical and program management support to the Chemical Weapons & Biological Weapons Elimination Support Program directed toward assistance to the Russian Federation and the 18 former Soviet Union Euro-Asia countries leading to the destruction of Bio-Warfare agents (i.e. smallpox, anthrax, plague etc.) and their 70 production infrastructure facilities employing about 70,000 workers.

Dr. Whidden's recent continuing education through the FEMA Emergency Management Institute includes: IS-100 Emergency Mgmt Awareness, DHS/FEMA Emergency Mgmt, 2007 IS-200 Incident Command System, DHS/FEMA Emergency Mgmt, 2007 IS 300+400 Adv ICS, DHS/FEMA Emergency Mgmt, 2007 IS-120 Exercise Planning, DHS/FEMA Emergency Mgmt, 2007 IS-139 Exercise Planning, DHS/FEMA Emergency Mgmt, 2007 IS-230 Emergency Management Principles, DHS/FEMA Emergency Mgmt, 2007 IS-235 Emergency Management Planning, DHS/FEMA Emergency Mgmt, 2007 IS-292 Disaster Basics, DHS/FEMA Emergency Mgmt, 2007 IS-700 National Integrated Management System (NIMS) , DHS/FEMA Emergency Mgmt, 2007 IS-800a National Response Plan (NRP) , DHS/FEMA Emergency Mgmt, 2007 IS-860 National Infrastructure Preparedness Plan (NIPP) , DHS/FEMA Emergency Mgmt, 2007 Homeland Security Exercise Evaluation Program (HSEEP)/ Train the Trainer Program (TTTP), DHS/FEMA Emergency Mgmt, 2007. Highest level security clearance: Top Secret SBI is active 2007.

Email: sjwhidden@fivestardefense.com   409-932-8066

William H. Hineman, MBA -- Vice President - Special Projects

Bill Hineman has demonstrated outstanding management ability in public safety and emergency preparedness programs, including managing National Biological Weapon of Mass Destruction training program for the Department of Home Land Security program. He has years of technical expertise by helping state and federal health care administration agencies, academic programs, and private physician groups optimize their performance. His past performance includes demonstrated ability to direct health care administration, biomedical research and training, instituting operational best practices and regularly exceeding identified standards and milestones.  Bill is a recognized contributor with knowledge and skill needed to manage and maximize effectiveness of information technology (IT) systems and quality improvement initiatives / programs. An articulate and collaborative communicator and leader, Bill's talents include interfacing effectively with administrators, medical / health professionals, and other stakeholders and building strong, motivated multidimensional teams.

Bill's core competencies include: Public Safety, and Emergency Preparedness, Medical Administrative Services Specialist, Program, Project Management, and Evaluation, IT Systems Curriculum Development, Problem Solving, Multidimensional Team Building, Budgeting and Financial Strategic Planning, Quality Improvement, Stakeholder Relations, Public Safety, and Emergency Preparedness. , In 2003, Bill received his Master of Business Administration in E-commerce and Technology from Columbia Southern University, Orange Beach, Alabama and was previously awarded a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Education with Concentration in Health Administration from Wayland Baptist University, San Antonio, Texas. He is currently enrolled in the Six Sigma Black Belt Program.

Email: whineman@fivestardefense.com   225 571-5605

John 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.   During 2009 and 2010, Mr. Vincent completed Emergency Program Manager: An Introduction to the Position, An Introduction to Hazardous Materials, Radiological Emergency Management, National Incident Management System (NIMS): An Introduction, Introduction to the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP), Introduction to Exercises, and Special Events Contingency Planning for Public Safety Agencies independent study courses offered by the FEMA Emergency Management Institute. He currently holds an active US DOE Q Clearance and a Transportation Worker Identity Credential (TWIC).   Email: jvincent@fivestardefense.com -- 504-885-2004

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 US 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, US Army Logistical Management Course, National Security Course, National Defense University, Adjutant General Officer Advanced Course and the US 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 -- 504-832-0026
info@fivestardefense.com

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