"Towards a More Safe and Secure World"
Tampa Bay Program Highlights
May 8-14, 2024
Working in partnership with Chief Anthony Holloway and the St. Petersburg Police Deparment, World Partnerships brought together a unique panoply of global security experts, researchers and practitioners to meet with this distinguished group of 59 IVLP visitors from 49 countries. Three days of professional meetings were complemented by two days of cultural activities, which afforded the visitors an in-depth engagement with Tampa Bay professional resources, community volunteers, and cultural treasures. (Please CLICK HERE for cultural activities.)
May 9
"Multi-Jurisdictional Task Forces & Combatting Global Criminal Networks"
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"Make sure you share your experiences with us. We have a lot to learn from each other..."
A perfect message to open this TMSSW session, delivered by Dr. Tonjua Williams, President of St. Petersburg College, as she welcomed the participants to the SPC Allstate Center campus, a global law enforcement training center. World Partnerships is deeply appreciative of its long-time collaboration with SPC and Dr. Williams. SPPD Chief Anthony Holloway kicked off the interactive symposium with an overview of how and why interagency task forces function, and the value of collaboration and information-sharing to bring down criminal networks. The symposium continued with the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Attorney providing their Federal perspectives on interagency task forces. Mr. Michael Donovan, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent (SSRA) for the FBI Tampa, Pinellas Resident Agent, detailed the FBI role around the world in disrupting and dismantling transnational criminal networks. Mr. James Smith, Supervisory Special Agent – Maritime BEST, Homeland Security Investigations (DHS), explained how his Maritime Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST) shares intelligence and resources with US local and state law enforcement agencies, and his partners in HSI's field offices in 56 countries. Mr. Michael Gordon, Assistant United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida stressed the important task force role of the USAO to ensure investigations can lead to arrests and successful prosecutions. The day finished with a tour of the state-of-the-art headquarters of the St. Petersburg Police Department, led by Ms. Yolanda Fernandez, Division Manager, SPPD Community Awareness Division. |
Dr. Tonjua Williams, President, St. Petersburg College
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May 10 Simultaneous Morning Sessions
"Cybersecurity, Fusion Centers, and the Challenges of Artificial Intelligence"
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The Europe and Near East/North Africa participants engaged in a panel discussion on cybersecurity and cyber threats with officials and faculty at the USF Global and National Security Institute and Cyber Florida. Panelists included: Mr. Jim Cardoso, Senior Director for the Global and National Security Institute; Ms. Kate Whitaker
Associate Director for Outreach, Cyber Florida; Dr. George Burruss, Professor & Associate Chair, USF Department of Criminology and director, CIBR Lab, the Cybercrime Interdisciplinary Behavioral Research Laboratory; Dr. Joan A. Reid, Associate Professor of Criminology and Director of the USF Trafficking in Persons Risk to Resilience Research Lab; and Mr. James Jacobs, Associate Director of Policy and Partnerships, Cyber Florida. |
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Western Hemisphere participants joined Mr. Justin Greenwell, Chief of Forensic Services at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's Tampa Bay Regional Fusion Center, to discuss approaches to cyber forensics, and visited labs connected to Biology, Crime Scene, Digital Evidence, DNA Database, Document Examination, Firearms, Footwear and Tire (Impression Evidence), Friction Ridge, Genetic Genealogy, Seized Drugs, Toxicology, Trace Materials.
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For the African and Indo-Pacific and South & Central Asia particpants, Mr. Al Tompkins, retired senior faculty from the Poynter Institute, conducted an interactive workshop on how AI is going to affect global security and combating transnational criminal organization, from simple deep fakes to complex disinformation campaigns and evolving criminal expertise in AI. Tompkins challenged this group to become experts in AI, adapting investigative techniques, and uncovering disinformation. As one participant noted "Your insights into the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in our field were invaluable, and we are confident that the knowledge we have gained will enable us to make informed decisions and drive innovation..."
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May 10 Afternoon Session
"Public/Private Partnerships in Maritime & Defense Technology"
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"This tech development public/private partnership is just what my region needs. I'll reach out to learn more..."
Ms. Alison Barlow, Executive Director of the St. Petersburg Innovation District, brought the entire delegation together at The Maritime & Defense Technology Hub at St. Pete's Bayboro Harbor for a discussion of the elements of this public/private partnership, and discussions with economic developers and Hub tenants. TMSSW participants engaged in lively Q&A and one-on-one discussions over coffee after the presentations. In addition to Ms. Barlow, discussants included: Mr. Scott Talcott, Economic Development Manager, Advanced Manufacturing, Aviation & Aerospace, Information Technology, and Defense and Homeland Security, Pinellas County Economic Development; Mr. Pat Mack, Founder, President & CEO, PVM (Palantir-based digital solutions); Mr. Chris Stott, Chairman & CEO, Lonestar Data Holdings Inc. (Lunar-based data storage); Mr. Casey Sapp, VP of Strategy & Emerging Technology, VideoRay (underwater, remotely operated vehicle (ROV) technology); and, Mr. Ed Dottery, President/CEO, Alakai Defense (electro-optical standoff threat detection sensors for defense & security applications). |
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May 13
"Security Partnerships, Cybersecurity, Global Criminal Networks"
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Dr. Paige Niehaus, Campus President, Hillsborough Community College Dale Mabry Campus welcomed TMSSW to her campus for this final day-long symposium, and talked about the college's new cybersecurity programs. World Partnerships deeply appreciates this collaboration with HCC and Dr. Niehaus.
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Dr. Paige Niehaus, Hillsborough Community College
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Stewart Tuttle, Senior POLAD, USSOCOM
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Security Partnerships
With special thanks to Ms. Rachel Sunden, USDOS Liaison to the Pentagon for the IVLP, for organizing the morning sessions on "Building Security Partnerships", the session was kicked off by was organized and introduced by Mr. Mr. Stewart Tuttle, Senior POLAD (Foreign Policy Advisor) at United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). He detailed how the Command works with partner countries to strengthen their abilities to solve their own problems, and closed by saying: "The only way to get anything done in this complicated world is to do it together." |
Ms. Rachel Sunden, US Department of State
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The second morning session featured a panel of Federal security officials from United States Central Command (USCENTCOM). After their presentations focused on security partnerships, panelists engaged in a lively Q&A on topics including disrupting global criminal and terrorist networks, counterterrorism, and strategies for partner nation cooperation and de-confliction. Panelists included: Mr. Alejandro “Alex” Briceno, Chief, Interagency Coordination and Targeting Division, US Central Command; Eric A. Larsen, Supervisory Special Agent & FBI Senior Advisor, US CENTCOM; Mr. Louis J. Ryckeley. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Supervisory Special Agent & DEA Liaison Officer to US Central Command.and, Mr. Mike Paquin, Special Agent (SA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) liaison to SOCCENT.
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Cybersecurity Solutions
The first afternoon session featured a presentation by OPSWAT, a Tampa Bay-based leader in critical infrastructure protection trusted by more than 1,000 global organizations to provide comprehensive and scalable cybersecurity solutions to protect against malware and zero-day attacks. OPSWAT stands at the forefront of the move from checkbox compliance to genuine protection, offering a blueprint for cybersecurity that prioritizes resilience and adaptability. OPSWAT’s comprehensive approach recognizes that proper security encompasses not just passing audits with cybersecurity checkboxes but actual security and protection. OPSWAT executives Mr. Stephen Gorham, Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Joe Edwards, VP of Global Solutions Engineering & Customer Success, and Ms. Kat Lewis, VP of Global Marketing & Communications led a panel and discussion on innovative approaches to countering cyberattacks in real time. After the presentation, Mr. Edward demonstrated OPSWAT's capabilities to stop a real-life cyber-attack on critical infrastructure. |
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Combating Global Criminal Networks
"Corruption knows no borders. The work you do in your countries and with your global partners is the most important in the world." To close this 10th Anniversary TMSSW program, World Partnerships was honored to present Mr. Robert Mazur, one of the world’s leading experts on global criminal networks and their financial crimes. The only undercover agent in the world to have infiltrated so deeply into the inner circle of financial crime, his experience is unique, and legendary. There is no one with more first-hand knowledge about how international black money markets launder nearly $2 trillion in criminal proceeds annually. For years, in the eyes of organized crime leaders he was a highly successful mob connected money launderer that helped manage their illicit fortunes. He spent five years as a deep undercover agent for US, UK, French and other government law enforcement, gathering evidence that led to some of the largest money laundering prosecutions in history. Mr. Mazur gave a compelling presentation on combatting government corruption and money laundering, relating his experiences investigating BCCI and its role laundering money for the Medellin Cartel. Mazur's multimedia presentation provided insight into the current techniques of money laundering and financial crime, methods of investigation, and safety and security measures for those who investigate them. |