CONSULTANT BIOGRAPHIES

Our Consultants are not theorists; they are professional, hands-on subject matter experts with over 150 years of combined experience. You'll receive an objective yet personal perspective. We provide...Factual Training for the Real World.

Kurt D. Jackson
Managing Consultant/Field Operations Manager

Kurt Jackson is a retired Police Sergeant with 21 years experience in southern California. Jackson has expertise in Gangs-Cults and Deviant Groups and Child Abuse he was also a Training Officer, Range Master, S.W.A.T. team member, Intelligence and Detective Supervisor. In addition, he was a founding member of the Riverside County allied agencies' Anti-Gang Task Force (CRUSH), also worked with inter-agency drug / gang units throughout southern California. In January 1987, Kurt Jackson & Associates formed, contracting for executive, VIP and foreign dignitary protection details, counter terrorism, workplace violence intervention & prevention services and threat / vulnerability assessments. Following 9-11-01, Jackson joined the US Department of Homeland Security (Transportation Security Administration) and traveled nationwide training new airport security personnel in post 9/11 Federal Security Standards and Procedures performing counter terrorism and threat assessment training.

He has given public service presentations on the topics of Child Abuse and Sexual Exploitation, Gang-Cults and Deviant Groups, for the FBI, the California Governor's Conference, and nationally for Law Enforcement Agencies, Juvenile Facilities, Military and Social Service Agencies. Jackson, nationally recognized as an expert in child abuse and deviant groups, has been a guest speaker for numerous radio and television programs on the subject of cults, child abuse and sexual exploitation. He is an active volunteer with civic organizations and law enforcement to improve the community .

Idan (Lee) Ben-Bohrer
London, England UK
International Security Consultant

Idan Ben-Bohrer served for 20 years in the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) retiring in 1988 as a Major. He has served as a government protective agent, an on board flight security agent and an investigator dealing with fatalities during training accidents. Ben-Bohrer was also the commander of a tactical unit, an instructor and a team leader in an anti-terrorist tactical unit, the commander of a weapons and sniper-training base, and as deputy commander of a tactical unit, weapons and sniper training base.

After finishing his military service, Ben-Bohrer has worked in the field of protective services for corporate clients, and as an instructor training executive protective teams, government and law enforcement agencies in tactical and weapons training, aviation and aircraft security.

Steven D. Thomas, FCPP, FCP
Security Consultant

Steve Thomas started his law enforcement career in Southern California in 1976. He has worked in both municipal and county law enforcement arenas and subsequently held a variety of positions including Detective, Patrol Sergeant, Watch Commander, and Commander of the Special Enforcement Team. Steve currently works in Central Florida for a large sheriff's office where he has been assigned to Homeland Security and Critical Incident Management. His duties included Critical Infrastructure Protection, Vulnerability Assessments, and Continuity of Operations Planning and Development. Thomas is currently a patrol supervisor working in the International Tourist Corridor. Steve helped develop and was a lead instructor for his agencies Command School which brings together law enforcement, fire department personnel, and school administrators for hands on training in management of the ...first critical hour... of any significant incident or event.

Steve has instructed across the country for a variety of criminal justice agencies on such topics as Crime Prevention, Terrorism, Vulnerability Assessments, the Incident Command System and Homeland Security. Steve is recognized by the State of Florida as a Crime Prevention Practitioner and as a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Practitioner.

Gabriel Kovnator
Security Consultant

Gabriel Kovnator was born in Haifa, Israel in 1951. He was inducted into the Israeli Army in 1969 where he served as a demolition expert. Soon after, he was promoted to the post of Sergeant, which he held while serving his country during the Yom Kippur War of 1973. After the war, he chose to come to the USA, where he completed his education at California State University, Los Angeles. In 1981, Kovnator was hired by the State of California, Youth Authority. He began his career there as a Group Supervisor and was soon promoted to Youth Counselor. In 1989, Kovnator advanced to a Parole Agent I, Gang Coordinator, where he became a subject matter expert for the department. In 2003, Kovnator is selected to be part of a new project establishing a unit that deals with juveniles who are being tried as adults for serious criminal cases in adult courts. From 1997 to the present, Kovnator has also been an Instructor at Los Angeles Mission College. The classes he has taught include; Understanding Street and Prison Gangs; Understanding Terrorism; and Introduction to Criminal Justice. During his career, he has served on many committees and given presentations to various organizations.

The City of Norwalk and the Norwalk Public Safety Agency honored Mr. Gabriel Kovnator. Mr. Kovnator was honored for being a founding member of the Norwalk Multi-Agency Focus Team, and for his dedication to redirecting youth's adverse behavior to ensure their long-term success. He was recognized for his exemplary service, distinguished leadership, and positive contribution to the community. In addition, the California State Senate and the California Legislative Assembly honored Mr. Kovnator for his dedicated service and outstanding commitment to the community through his efforts in support of the State of California's Department of the Youth Authority Gang Services Project Parole Unit.

Richard Valdemar
Security Consultant

Richard Valdemar retired from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department in 2004. For most of his 33 years with the LASD, he was involved in combating L.A. Gangs. For the last 20 years, he was assigned to the Detective Division, Major Crimes Bureau. In 1977-78, he was assigned to the DEA and later to the U.S. Marshals, in a federal drug conspiracy case. For more than 10 years, he was part of the Federal Metropolitan Gang Task Force, cross designated as an FBI agent. Since 1985, he was a member of the California (Prison) Gang Task Force. He was the gang expert in the RICO prosecution of the Mexican Mafia in 1995 and the RICO of 1999 as well.

Before joining the LASD in 1970, he served as a Military Policeman with tours in Vietnam and Arizona. Prior to completing the LASD Academy, he was assigned to Intelligence and worked undercover infiltrating the Brown Berets and the Revolutionary Communist Party. His experience also includes patrol and gang suppression assignments in East Los Angeles. Richard's prior experience includes being one of the original twelve founding Deputies to form the Sheriff's Department's Operation Safe Streets anti-gang unit and was the Detective Division's Terrorist Liaison Officer when he retired.

Richard is an internationally known expert in both traditional and non-traditional gangs. He has been a regular law enforcement trainer and instructor for the LASD Advanced Officers Gang School, California Gang Investigator's Association, California District Attorney's Association, California Narcotics Officers Association, the California Peace Officer's Standards and Training organization (POST), the Los Angeles Municipal, and Superior Court Judges Associations, and numerous other agencies, colleges, and civic organizations throughout this country and in Canada. He has also been an instructor for the National Correctional Institute, and the National District Attorney's Association. Richard has given expert testimony before the California Senate Hearing Committee, the County and the Federal Grand Jury, and in numerous Federal, Superior and Municipal Court proceedings.

Richard was also featured on Fox News Channel national broadcast 'American Gangs: Ties To Terror?' ...with Newt Gingrich, and segments for MSNBC Scarborugh Country and Fox News Hannity & Colmes on the subjects of 'Gangs in the Military' and 'Gangs and Illegal Immigration', National Geographic as well as the Technical Advisor for The History Channel's Gangland Series. Richard is currently working on books and articles about the early days of the OSS gang unit, Terrorism and Police Gang Training. He is an active volunteer in several civic and police organizations and continues to pursue activities to benefit Law Enforcement and the American people.