About

I’m a retired U.S. Secret Service (USSS) Senior Executive and I currently practice as a consulting specialist at Powhatan Group. I’m a native to Newark, New Jersey, and my roots run deep; my grandfather, Peter Angelo Cavicchia, settled in Newark after immigrating and was elected as the first Italian-American Congressman in 1931.

I have been lucky to enjoy a long career. After graduating from Upsala College, I served in the Vietnam War for two years, returning to Newark to begin my 30-year career with the USSS in 1970. I served as the Special Agent in Charge (SAIC) of the Newark USSS Field Office from 1986 to 1998, during which time I initiated, managed and steered criminal investigations concerning counterfeiting, financial crimes, computer forensics, and fraud, as well as conducting Protective Intelligence operations to proactively guard against threats. As SAIC, I planned and directed the executive protection of the President, Vice President, and other USSS protectees during their visits to districts in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. I also served as the architect of security for major events, including Pope John Paul II’s 1995 visit to Northern New Jersey.

In addition to my government service, I earned my MA in Education for Supervision and HR Management from Seton Hall University in 1993, and subsequently served as an adjunct professor and a member of the Police Graduate Studies program.

Since retiring from the USSS in 2000, I have maintained a position as president and chairman of Strategic Services International LLC, a security consulting firm focused on executive protection, due diligence, overseas risk analysis, cyber-intrusions and countermeasures. Outside of this role and my position at Powhatan Group, I’ve had the opportunity to volunteer my time to the Veterans History Project, consult as the senior security executive at the 2012 and 2016 Republican National conventions, and serve as a special agent on the Office of Inspector General’s Special Anti-Fraud Task Force of the EPA in 2012. I am a strong supporter of the Vietnam Veterans of America, the Wounded Warrior Project, and the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

I write about security issues at Medium.