RAPID DEFENSE INSTITUTE

Chip Steppe

Senior Tactical Security Consultant

Alexander Smith

Senior Research Consultant

Mission-driven Intelligence Analyst with 15 years of experience and expertise in conducting all-source, tactical intelligence analysis, and research to directly support operations and training. Smith’s work history includes DOD, NSA, and DEA where he gained advanced skills to identify, assess, interpret and report potential threats.

Smith has the ability to work collaboratively with inter-agency Department of Defense and Department of Justice personnel, as well as State and Local level law enforcement – namely in high-pressure situations and under tight deadlines. He also holds several skills related to real-time events, national military strategy, law enforcement crisis situations, and current trends and analytics in terms of their impact, which have been developed over years of experience from across a table to the high-level auditoriums.

Keith Thrower

VP of Training

Lieutenant Keith Thrower has served in state law enforcement for over 21 years and has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from The Citadel. Keith has focused his diverse career on high-level law enforcement, security, and training. He began his career providing security and protection for the State House and Governor’s Mansion.

Keith currently serves in Tactical Operations Division of the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) where he supervises the Tracking/K-9 teams and is a qualified expert witness in federal and state court in K-9 tracking. Other positions held to include SWAT, K-9 handler, Narcotics, Fugitive Team/Field Intelligence Agent, and WMD Team as a HAZMAT Tech.

With over 17 years on the SLED SWAT team, Keith has held leadership positions such as Operations Lieutenant, Entry Team Leader, and Entry Team member. He provides leadership in dealing with high-stress critical situations by planning, organizing, and execution of operations. Keith has trained agencies in the state and around the country in the latest tactics and methods for handling of critical/violent SWAT type incidents.

Keith is married and has four children.

Ron Grosse

Senior Corporate Investigator

Ron Grosse is a graduate of the University of Maryland. After serving seven years in the United States Army, Ron was appointed as a Special Agent with the FBI. Prior to his retirement in 2018, Ron spent more than 28 years, investigating a wide range of federal violations, concentrating on fraud and corruption matters.

Ron, a Certified Fraud Examiner-Retired, understands the dynamics and limitations facing the corporate sector and is ready to utilize his nearly three decades of investigative experience to protect the business sector against financial losses.

In 2018, in recognition of his dedicated service to the state, Gov. Henry McMaster presented Ron with the Order of the Palmetto, the state’s highest civilian honor.

Andy Bowden

President of Cyber Security

Andy Bowden has extensive experience in business management and IT infrastructure. He led a highspeed cyber security program at a Fortune 500, critical infrastructure company for over a decade and a half. During his time as the Director of IT, he established a nationally recognized 24x7 cyber security operations center, led a cross-functional team to develop standards for operational technology (OT), developed a robust monitoring program for OT and IT assets, built an incident response program that frequently drilled with some of the best cyber teams in the country, and established a robust compliance program.

He has also managed manufacturing companies in the past, which gives him a keen appreciation for the importance of productivity while embracing numerous cyber objectives needed to maintain infrastructure integrity and forward progress.

Mr. Bowden enjoys aviation in his spare time and has been married for 33 years and has two children.

Van Safriet

President of Aviation

Van Safriet is a retired South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) agent and pilot. During his 27 1/2 years of employment at South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Van held positions of Special Agent in the Department of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs as well as Special Agent/Pilot in the Aviation Section.

Van holds FAA licensures in the areas of Airline Transport Pilot, Certified Flight Instructor-Rotorcraft, Certified Flight Instructor Instrument-Rotorcraft, Airframe and Power plant Mechanic, and Inspection Authorization.

He is currently employed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a pilot for the Wildlife Services Section. Van has logged more than 5,000 hours in multiple airplanes and helicopters.

Van Safriet was born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and Sociology from Clemson University. He also holds a Master of Criminal Justice from the University of South Carolina.

Van is married to his wife of 20 years and has two sons. He currently resides in Columbia, South Carolina.

D. Britt Dove

President of Digital Forensics

D. Britt Dove currently works as a digital and mobile device forensic examiner. Britt has been qualified as an expert witness in digital and mobile device forensics in state court.

He has performed digital and mobile device forensic examinations for more than 11 years and has received over 200 hours of training related to digital forensics, mobile devices, incident response and network forensics from various training organizations. Britt has a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of South Carolina and holds certificates with Cellebrite as a Cellebrite Certified Operator and Cellebrite Certified Physical Analyst. In addition, he has 15 years’ experience as a criminal investigator with both municipal and state law enforcement agencies.

Britt served as an adjunct instructor at ITT Technical Institute from 2011-2013, where he taught computer forensics and general criminal justice. He serves as a training officer for new employees in the field of digital forensics and continues to participate in state and national taskforces.

Colin Duncan

Executive VP of Sales

Colin Duncan currently works as a Discovery Collections Specialist for an AMLaw 70 law firm in Columbia, SC. His duties involve hands-on data collections from mobile devices and computers to remote acquisitions of Fortune 50 companies’ servers and SharePoint repositories.

Colin has nearly seven years’ experience in the field of digital forensics, including hundreds of mobile device acquisitions and like experience retrieving data from Windows and MacOS computers, in addition to several Cloud-based sites. He has also been qualified as an expert witness in digital and mobile device forensics in state court.

Colin has a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism from the University of South Carolina and holds certificates with Cellebrite as a Cellebrite Certified Operator and Cellebrite Certified Physical Analyst. He also holds his MCFE Certification from Magnet Forensics – the long-standing industry leader in computer forensics, analysis, and reporting.

Before leaving for the private sector, Colin served for six years as a Special Agent on the Executive Protection Detail for the Office of the Governor. Because of his distinguished service, he was awarded the Order of the Palmetto by Governor Nikki R. Haley before her departure to lead the U.S. Mission to United Nations as its Ambassador.

Colin is married to his wife of 15 years and has three daughters. He currently resides in Columbia, South Carolina.

Victor L. Owen

President of Physical Security

Victor L. Owen is a security specialist with 38 years of experience with the United States Air Force, South Carolina Air National Guard, Department of Defense (DoD) and several civilian companies.

Victor has managed physical, information, personnel, industrial and computer security for classified and unclassified operations to include logistical and financial management for numerous security programs to include Special Access Program Facilities (SAPF), Sensitive Compartmental Information Facilities (SCIF) and Research and Test Development.

He has also provided construction oversight, management and leadership of security operations for numerous secured facilities for DoD, to include temporary facilities in deployed locations worldwide. Victor managed/led physical security operations for the Security Forces as the Area Supervisor and Flight Sergeant for weapons storage areas, alert aircraft parking areas and Air Force bases worldwide.

Victor has an Applied Science degree in Criminal Justice. Victor has completed certification courses for Director National Intelligence (DNI) for Intelligence Community Directives ICD 705 Physical Security, ICD 704 Personnel Security, Special Security Officer, and Government Special Access Program Security Officer. Victor is a qualified security professional and holds professional certifications from Defense Security Service for Security Fundamentals Professional, Security Asset Protection Professional, Physical Security Professional and Security Specialist. Victor is also certified in Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection and Risk management for DoD. Victor is an experienced Operational Security (OPSEC) Program Manager and Foreign Disclosure Officer.

Victor and his wife, Cynthia, have been married for 39 years. They have two children and three grandchildren. He and his wife enjoy traveling and are water enthusiasts and frequently find time to go cruising, kayaking, parasailing and are both certified dive masters. They also enjoy relaxing at the beach, watching the waves, the sun set/or the moon rise.

C.H. Oliver

President of Countermeasures

C.H. Oliver retired from the FBI in December 2015 after 28 years’ experience, 27 as a Technically Trained Special Agent. Serving in the Columbia, SC Division for 20 years, he supported all fields of investigations with a broad range of technical investigations, including covert installations and Technical Surveillance Counter Measures. He attended the Interagency Training Center in 2006, receiving his certification as a TSCM investigator. He has traveled throughout the world supporting the FBI TSCM mission.

In 2008, C.H. transferred to the Tactical Operations Section of the FBI at Quantico, VA. He spent 2 years in the Electronic Assess Unit, and 5 years in the Reconnaissance Unit. There he was responsible for conducting covert search warrants, leading teams throughout the United States in high profile investigations.
Since retirement from the FBI, C.H. has worked as a subcontractor to train other government agencies in covert entries, as well as performing TSCM to private and government entities.

Patrick Walsh

President

Mr. Patrick Walsh is owner and operator of Rapid Defense Institute. Walsh has spent two decades protecting the American public from both foreign and domestic threats encompassing criminal and national security matters. His work history and job duties cover all spectrums of state and federal Law Enforcement, Military deployments and the United States Intelligence Community.

Mr. Walsh has chaired and led numerous specialized teams across the globe involving highly impactful situations regarding intelligence operations, military tactics and Law Enforcement critical command posts. He has been an Agent with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and held numerous Intelligence positions across the United States Intelligence Community namely with the DOD and NSA. He is a certified computer forensic examiner, pilot and public speaker. He also holds dozens of certifications across all Rapid Defense Institute disciplines, to include interviewing and interrogation, intelligence operations, critical incident response and Cyber Ethical Hacker.

Mr. Walsh is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of South Carolina, and his reputation and work ethic have allowed him to climb the chain of command in nearly every position he has attained. Mr. Walsh believes in service before self and avows that “anything is achievable with great leadership and the power of a formidable team.”

Patrick is married to his wife of 13 years and has one daughter. He currently resides in Columbia, South Carolina.

Chad Todd

Co-CEO

Living Legend

Jennifer Amsden

President of Intelligence Operations

As an Intelligence Program Coordinator and Senior Intelligence professional, Jennifer manages and leads a team of intelligence and criminal analysts who support law enforcement and intelligence operations throughout the country. Working as both a tactical and strategic analyst for nearly a decade, she developed more than 150 threat assessments for special events, dignitaries, and incidents with regional or national impact, and provided investigative assistance to Federal, State and local agencies on thousands of cases.

Jennifer is currently a member of the Analyst Council, a nationally recognized board of analysts representing the hundreds of state and local analysts working cohesively across the country. She is also a member of various committees that strive to educate and train analysts at all levels, and share information seamlessly from agency to agency, state to state.

Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Jennifer attended Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.

Roger Stanton

President of Insider Threat

Mr. Roger Stanton is a retired law enforcement executive with 30 years of government experience, including 10 years of senior FBI leadership. Mr. Stanton brings with him a successful record of criminal and national security investigations from his field office operational and HQ experience where he led all aspects of those investigations with emphasis on criminal enterprises, fraud detection, ethics and misconduct violations, crime prevention, and cyber security operations.

Mr. Stanton is skilled in identifying threats and escalating as appropriate, incorporating full fraud cycle of protection, investigation, and prevention, highlighting improvement opportunities, crafting long-term strategy, and executing tactics based on data analysis, observed trends, available resources, and corporate priorities.

Prior to his retirement in December 2018, Mr. Stanton served as the first Assistant Director for the FBI’s Insider Threat Office where he developed and led the FBI’s efforts to mitigate threats posed to the FBI and Nation’s security by insiders.

Mr. Stanton was sworn into the FBI in 1995, and served his initial assignment in the Columbia, South Carolina Field Office where he investigated violent crime, Organized Crime/Drug Enforcement Task Force, and counter-terrorism matters. Following the 9/11 attacks, Mr. Stanton established the first South Carolina Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), where he served as coordinator and later supervisor, leading all JTTF investigations in South Carolina.

Mr. Stanton has served in various field office leadership positions to include Special Agent in Charge of the Birmingham, Alabama field office from 2015 to 2017, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Office for Cyber and Criminal investigations from 2010 to 1012, Field Supervisor of the SC JTTF from 2004 to 2008, and Cyber program in South Carolina from 2009 to 2010.

HQ assignments include Chief of the FBI’s Counter IED Section within the FBI’s Critical Incident Response Group from 2012 to 2014 where he led the execution of the US’s domestic response to rendering safe a weapon of mass destruction. He also served as the DOJ senior executive responsible for implementing the Nation’s Counter IED Strategy. Mr. Stanton also served as an Assistant Inspector/Team Leader where he was responsible for the review of FBI headquarters program management and field office operations. In addition to those assignments, he served as the On-Scene Commander of FBI special event security support to the Sochi Winter Olympic Games in February 2014.

During the course of his career, Mr. Stanton participated in several high-profile investigations, including the 9/11 attacks and the 1998 American Embassy Bombing in Nairobi, Kenya.
Mr. Stanton is a graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy and served in the United States Navy as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer from 1987 to 1995.

Ralph Collum

Senior Cyber Security Engineer & Licensed Penetration Tester

Ralph Collum has over 14 years of experience as a security professional. He holds many industry certifications in the field of cybersecurity. Mr. Collum specializes in Information Security Training and Consulting with a focus on information assurance and infrastructure management.

He is passionate about securing companies by educating them on the methods used by attackers, identifying vulnerabilities, and mitigating issues through appropriate levels of awareness and security. He has created custom training solutions for companies in the fields of network management, end-user security, penetration testing, incident response, and digital forensics.

Mr. Collum holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of South Carolina and has been a speaker at major security conferences like B-Sides and Hacker Halted. He has authored content for EC-Council and their Ethical Hacking program and is the current president of the local Midlands Chapter for (ISC)2 and OWASP Columbia.

Certifications
CISSP
Certified Ethical Hacker
Certified Hacking Forensics Investigator
Certified Security Analyst
Certified Network Defender
CompTIA Security+
CompTIA CySA+
CompTIA Pentest+
CompTIA CASP+
CCNA: CyberOps
Linux Professional Institute LPIC-1