EP 047 Thomas Pecora -24 years in the CIA and Every War Zone In Between

The Security Circle

Thomas (Tom) Pecora has more than 30 years in the security profession and is a former CIA Senior Security Officer who retired after 24 years of service working in various security positions as a Multi-Discipline Security Officer in support of Agency operations. He managed large security programs and operations on multiple continents and in multiple war zones. Experienced in protective operations, crisis management, personnel/physical security, and counterterrorism, he served as Chief of Security for the CIA in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq other parts of the Philippines.

He has been intimately involved in leading security teams and larger elements as they provide subject matter expertise in the areas of cybersecurity, physical and technical security, personnel and physical security, as well as workplace violence and active shooter program development and implementation. For 2 years, Tom led a large security staff responsible for securing the NRO’s largest mission ground station, supporting 3,700 people and more than a million square feet of SCIF spaces. As the chair of the Workplace Violence Assessment Team for the NRO site, he was involved in investigating and adjudicating workplace violence issues as well as building appropriate workplace violence policy.

While at the CIA, Tom provided leadership training and mentorship for new CIA support personnel as well as teaching crisis management and specific security skill sets to Agency employees. In the private sector, Tom has conducted security assessments, created workplace violence policy and procedures, conducted active shooter training, as well as providing personal safety training for employees. His real-world experience with crisis management has been put to good use in advising clients on how to prepare for and then address security crisis situations.

During his government career, Tom received the Intelligence Star, the CIA’s second highest honor for valor awarded “for a voluntary act or acts of courage performed under hazardous conditions or conditions of grave personal risk”. He also received the Career Intelligence Medal for exceptional achievements that substantially contributed to the mission of the CIA.

Tom is currently doing consulting work in Asia as well as being the situational awareness curriculum specialist and chief trainer for Arcuri Group LLC (https://arcurigroupllc.us/index.html). He is an Adjunct Professor for Wright State University where he provides Situation Awareness training. Tom is the author of the book, “GUARDIAN – Life in the Crosshairs of the CIA’s War on Terror”- a historical memoir of his career in the CIA.

Linked In
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-pecora-sas-mp-053b503a/
Website https://thomaspecora.wordpress.com/about/
Security Circle ⭕️ is an IFPOD production for IFPO the International Foundation of Protection Officers