Aaron LaFortune, MPA

Experience

• 

  U.S. Department of State

  Jul 2002 - Jan 2024

  Provided strategic direction and program management for the criminal investigative and security operations for offices across 7 states. Developed and led the Miami Field Office's regional response to combat transnational crime and organizations that attempt to illicitly use and exploit U.S. travel documents- passports and visas, as well as protecting vulnerable populations from exploitation and victimization. Formulated the strategic security direction for seven regional offices comprised of diverse and inclusive teams of investigators, analysts and support personnel. Cultivated collaborative partnerships with internal and external stakeholders at all levels of government and law enforcement that effectively supported the deployment of resources to drive criminal investigations, executive protection operations and provide physical security assessments and risk mitigation to safeguarded over 65 foreign diplomatic missions across 7 states.Spearhead the Department of State and the Bureau of Diplomatic Security's recruitment program across the southeast United States and the Caribbean. Partnered with educational institutions and universities in the furtherance of the Department’s strategic goal of developing a more diverse workforce to promote and direct U.S. global diplomacy. Show less Chief security officer, accountable for the development and oversight of security operations, security infrastructure, policy development, security construction projects, and physical and personnel security of over 400 personnel throughout Argentina. Led the effort to advance enterprise-wide Emergency Response, Crisis Management and Business Continuity programs for embassy operations; implemented a new enterprise wide BCP plan and mass notification system; managed multiple business continuity events; updated enterprise Pandemic Preparedness Plan; facilitate semi-annual Emergency Response Team exercises; partnered with a cross functional BCP council. I also implemented an enterprise wide Enhanced 911 communication standard for employee safety.Senior law enforcement official with regional responsibility for the safety and security of official Americans and facilities in Argentina. Developed and implemented security programs safeguarding 30+ U.S. government agencies, 600+ employees/dependents, and oversaw a $5 million annual budget, continually examining existing programs to constantly improve the overall effectiveness of security operations. Built effective partnerships with internal and external stakeholders and served as the principal security advisor to the Embassy C-suite leadership team. Led the Buenos Aires Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) focusing on regional threats facing U.S. businesses in Argentina. Liaised with Argentine police, corporate security managers and security personnel from other diplomatic missions to identify risks and develop effective enterprise risk management. Managed U.S. Embassy Buenos Aires’ emergency preparedness/resiliency, personnel background investigations, security force contracts, counterintelligence, training, and employee security/safety briefing programs. Show less Served as the U.S. embassy’s chief security officer and spearheaded its Emergency Action Committee in collaboration with governmental C-Suite equivalents in Facilities, Cyber/IT, and HR to safeguard over 35 government facilities, 100 employees, and a manage a budget of $5M. Senior law enforcement official with regional responsibility for safety and security of official Americans and facilities in Lesotho and ensured the efficacy of emergency plans, crisis management, and business continuity operations. Modernized legacy technical security and emergency preparedness practices in a critical crime environment. Designed and administered physical security upgrades at the Embassy, a new Peace Corps headquarters, and an international school. Managed all physical security, fire protection and risk management programs across all properties by leveraging best practices and revamping outdated policies. Led the solicitation, evaluation process and selection for a $5M contract of 200 personnel for a 5 year security contract. Developed and executed the embassy's evacuation and crisis response to a coup d’état. Facilitated cross bureau/ inter-agency coordination to safely evacuate over 360 US government employees in less than 24 hours. Authored improved security policies that upgraded physical security systems and access control procedures by the integration of innovative technical security systems to over 75 USG facilities. Counseled private organizations to improve security posture and retrograde personnel facing increased threat from the regional terrorist organizations.Directed extensive malfeasance investigations to eliminate historical internal corruption, and managed daily security operations for 3 security construction projects valued at $2M. Delivered crisis risk management and threat mitigation through data-based intelligence focused programs to provide operational resiliency for staff and US corporations in a rapidly evolving geo-political environment. Show less Managed and mentored a ten-member team with a global responsibility to investigate transnational crimes and administrative allegations committed by or against U.S. government personnel. Collaboratively worked with prosecutors, victim advocacy groups, partner agencies, and non-governmental organizations to combat identity theft and document fraud- raising the overall effectiveness of the tri-state investigative program and garnered regional recognition from the NH US Attorney's Office.Expanded regional office recruitment efforts across 4 New England states, engaging with collegiate and private sector partners as a representative of the U.S Department of State and Diplomatic Security. Show less Initiated the development of the emergency preparedness and physical security policies for all US government installations in Peru, valued at over $5M. Coordinated with inter-agency partners to ensure counter intelligence programs, executive protective operations, and the technical security programs mitigated threats/ risks in an evolving operating critical crime environment. Implemented physical security standards for all US Government facilities and residences to mitigate criminal and terrorist threats to USG personnel. Mitigated daily threats across multiple facilities and provided risk mitigation strategies on geopolitical threats. Show less

  • Assistant Special Agent in Charge

    Jul 2021 - Jan 2024

  • Acting Special Agent in Charge

    May 2022 - Mar 2023

  • Regional Security Officer

    Jun 2017 - Jun 2021

  • Regional Security Officer

    Aug 2014 - Jul 2017

  • Agent in Charge

    Jul 2011 - Jul 2014

  • Assistant Regional Security Officer

    Jul 2008 - Jul 2011

  • Assistant Regional Security Officer

    Jun 2006 - Jul 2008

  • Assistant Shift Leader

    Jul 2004 - Jul 2006

  • Special Agent

    Jul 2002 - Jul 2004
• 

  First Brands Group, LLC

  Feb 2024 - Apr 2024

  Regional Security Director for North America

  Regional Security Director for North America, formulated the strategic direction for all facets of operational security integration and execution across 70+ sites across the United States and Canada. Partnered with stakeholders across the organization to enhance business operations by identifying and mitigating security risks. Led and developed North American security operations and partnered with the broader global security team to develop departmental plans to drive the execution of programs related to short, mid, and long-term goals for Global Security Operations. The plans supported a robust physical security model that safeguarded FBG assets and included programs related to Transportation Security, Site Security Audits, Investigations, Site Security Officer Training, Contract Security Services, and duty of care, travel policy creation.Developed the global travel safety and security policy aligned with ISO 31030 principles, safeguarding C-Suite executives and over 12,000 employees traveling worldwide. Improved existing contingency plans to counter supply chain disruptions, targeting a projected profit increase of over 25% through innovative partnership strategies. Established physical security measures ensuring CTPAT compliance across 3 sites and identified vulnerabilities in existing communication dynamic that previously resulted in organizational losses. Collaborate with inter-agency partners to draft a crisis management plan based on the ISO 22361 framework that improved facility preparedness and clarified roles for better enterprise risk management. Collaborated with external stakeholders and third-party vendors to establish an incident response framework, promptly addressing security incidents, and maintaining business continuity. Instituted physical security upgrades across 60+ manufacturing sites, reducing supply chain disruptions and time theft by while enhancing access control measures through improved technology and identified system upgrades. Show less

• 

  US Department of State- Diplomatic Security

  Jun 2024 - Oct 2024

  Security Specialist
• 

  Electronic Arts (EA)

  Oct 2024 - now

  Director, Global Protective Services