Management

STS Management has diverse professional backgrounds and extensive experience managing large-scale projects involving major organizations. Their responsibilities include planning, control, sales, marketing, construction, and property management. These individuals hold numerous professional licenses, degrees, designations and awards, extensive military and/or law enforcement experience, and provide complimentary skills that significantly enhance the well integrated management structure of STS. Some of these qualifications include: Naval Special Warfare SEAL and Combatant Craft Crewmen, Naval Expeditionary Warfare Specialist, Marine Corps Scout Snipers and Machinegun Team Leaders, Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachments, law enforcement special operations officers, and other professional high value protective security detail operators.

At STS, exceptional personnel are the basis of our success in delivering effective training programs and security services. Our staff is handpicked from an intense vetting process that reviews their abilities, character, integrity, experience, expertise, and credibility. They are skilled, demonstrate superior judgment, and are subject matter experts in their areas of operation.

STS has enjoyed sustained growth since Special Tactical Services, LLC was founded in 2000. Like most successful businesses, managing growth is intrinsic to our company culture.

Dale McClellan, President and Chief Executive Officer, STS

Mr. McClellan, a combat veteran graduated from Basic Underwater Demolition SEAL Training in 1991 and while serving at SEAL Team Eight he was deployed to various locations around the globe including Mogadishu, Somalia in 1993. Trained as a Machine Gunner, Point Man, Sniper and Scout Sniper Instructor, and was directly responsible for the management of an entire SEAL Team weapons and demolition department coordinating the global movement of hazardous materials and millions of dollars of weapons systems and related equipment in support of military operations. He finished his military career as an Assault Cell Instructor training SEAL Team members for combat operations.

He was appointed by former Governor of Virginia, James S. Gilmore, III to the Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Advisory Council.

The Machine Gun Division of STS was created by Mr. McClellan and has been instrumental in providing the United States Navy services in the development and delivery of modern programs for crew-served weapons. These programs have been conducted for the US Navy Embarked Security Teams and the Navy High Value Asset Escorts Units under military contract.

After 9/11 and the subsequent operational and training events that followed, Mr. McClellan then conducting several security assessments and by request of the Navy developed the now patented STS design for up-armored security shield emplacements for entry control points and shipboard machine gun emplacements, replacing dated equipment across the globe.

Mr. McClellan has over 10 years of successfully operating the management and growth of Special Tactical Services, LLC and its affiliates collectively ‘STS’. As the President and Chief Executive Officer of STS, he is directly responsible for the management, future growth and oversight of all logistical and administrative activities of the company.

Andrea Jentzen, CFO, STS

Has over 15 years of business and financial experience. She has worked for manufacturing, service and distribution businesses and is an experienced executive skilled in finance, strategy, operations and sales & marketing.

Ms. Jentzen’s focus understands a business’ needs, designing short and long term solutions to meet an organization’s objectives and devising implementation plans to ensure success.

Ms. Jentzen has led a $40 million packaging business and understands the necessity of strategic planning and devising a business and financial plan that support the objectives of the organization. She is accomplished in managing business turnarounds and understanding the financial levers necessary to make a business successful and generate cash.

Ms. Jentzen has experience as the CFO of a large services organization where she was responsible for providing sound financial management and strategic direction. Managing time and productivity is just as critical for the health of a service business as a manufacturing operation.

Additionally, Ms Jentzen managed operations for a major distribution business in the Midwest. With her experience in customer service, purchasing, operations and pricing, she knows the discipline needed to make money when the margin is small and pennies count.

Andrea received her MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her BA from Vanderbilt University.

Mark Pierson, Vice President, STS

Has an extensive, 20 year background in systems maintenance, manufacturing and weapons technologies research and development that spans multiple disciplines and industries. Mark is prior service Army (Mechanized Infantry), possesses a FAA Airframe and Powerplant License and is a certified HAZMAT Technician and Structural Firefighter.

His early career began as an Aviation Safety Inspector for DynAir Technical Services (DynCorp). He then went to work for the Engineering Research and Development Group of Garrett AiResearch (now Honeywell Engines), as a test technician and later a Production Engineer.

After Honeywell, Mark became the Manager for Engineering Test and Product Development for the M2 Corporation, where he managed live fire testing, mechanical instrumentation and dynamic data acquisition for various electro-optical systems manufacturers such as BAE Systems, Hughes Electronics, Texas Instruments, Litton EOS, and Raytheon Systems. For the past 12 years, Mark has been conducting live fire testing on electro-optical systems (IR and I2) going as far back as TWS Omni and the beginning of Land Warrior. He also managed the Phase-I ballistics research and metrics for the U.S Army/ARDEC 40mm Grenade improvement program, under subcontract to the Primex Corporation.

Mark went on to Bigelow Aerospace, as the Manager for Spacecraft Assembly, Test and Integration. Primarily responsible for the development and testing of ballistic protection systems to defend spacecraft against hypervelocity impacts, as well as the integration of mechanical and electronic subsystems for spacecraft command and control.

Throughout his years in the ordnance and aerospace sectors, Mark maintained a close working relationship with STS and served as a technical consultant and subject matter expert for weapons technologies since 2001. The dynamic scope and growth of STS operations has brought Mark on-board full time, where his extensive background in systems manufacturing, testing and technologies is utilized to sustain our leading edge in weapons expertise and testing.

Bill Witherspoon, Vice President, STS

Gunnery Sergeant William Hamilton Witherspoon, USMC/Ret enlisted on 22 December 1985 and attended recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina in June 1986. Upon graduating from basic training as the Platoon Honor Graduate at Parris Island, PFC Witherspoon was meritoriously promoted to Lance Corporal. After completing training at The School of Infantry at Camp Geiger, he was assigned to 2nd Battalion 4th Marine Division aboard Camp Lejuene Marine Corps Base, North Carolina. He served in Fox Company as an infantry rifleman and fire team leader. In 1988 he was promoted to Corporal. After numerous field training operations and overseas deployments, in 1989 Corporal Witherspoon was ordered to The Basic School on Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. He served as a squad leader in the Enlisted Instructor Company.

In 1990, Corporal Witherspoon was selected from amongst his peers to be the only enlisted instructor to join the Officer’s Instructional Group of The Basic School, serving in a Captain’s billet. Corporal Witherspoon was assigned to the machine guns section of the Officer’s Instructional Group. When not instructing one of five machine gun classes, he was in the field teaching Small Unit Infantry Tactics. After demonstrating extraordinary leadership and instructional abilities, Corporal Witherspoon was meritoriously promoted to Sergeant in 1991.

On February 16, 2002, Staff Sergeant Witherspoon returned to Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. He was assigned to Weapons Training Battalion, Marksmanship Program Management Section, where he served as one of the single points of contact on all Marksmanship matters for the United States Marine Corps and made significant contributions training Marines heading to Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Military Personal Security Detachments. On November 1, 2002, Staff Sergeant Witherspoon was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant.

While serving as the Staff Non-Commissioned Officer in charge, GySgt Witherspoon took part in the rewriting of the Marine Corps Marksmanship Order, by providing technical and tactical expertise during the development phases of all the current course of fire for the Marine Corps. GySgt Witherspoon personally compiled marksmanship briefings for field grade officers as needed. He served as the subject matter expert for all Marksmanship issues with outside agencies seeking advice from the United States Marine Corps. GySgt Witherspoon retired from the Marine Corps on April 1, 2006.

Donna Torchio, Director of Security, STS

Has an extensive background in Maritime Security and Anti-piracy Training. Ms. Torchio retired from a 22 year career in the United States Navy as a Senior Chief Master-at-Arms, responsible for the coordination and movement of personnel, arms and equipment throughout out Europe, Africa, the Pacific, South America and the Middle East.

Upon retirement she went to work for the federal government with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Security Training Assessment and Assistance Team Atlantic (STAATLANT) providing port vulnerability assessments, threat assessments, and target analysis of both military and commercial major waterways ports throughout the world. In this capacity Ms. Torchio both attended and provided numerous briefings for the US Department of State, US Transportation Command (TRANSCOM), Maritime Administration (MARAD), the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI), Military Sealift Command (MSC), United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organization (UKMTO), the Maritime Liaison Office (MARLO) and the Maritime Security Centre (Horn of Africa) (MSC-HOA).

Ms. Torchio was the STAATLANT Program Manager for Port Vulnerability Assessments as well as for the development of Anti-piracy curriculum for Merchant Mariners. She assisted in the development of Best Management Practices (BMP) to assist commercial vessels in global anti-piracy efforts which have been adopted as the industry standard. Ms. Torchio provided both the United States Commercial Shipping Industry as well as EU Shipping as to awareness training for Merchant Mariners regarding the worldwide piracy and terrorist threats and best practices to mitigate threats both at sea and in foreign ports.

Ms. Torchio brings her experience, contacts expertise and leadership to manage STS Security Operations and the Maritime Security Operations for commercial vessels. Her depth of knowledge, connection to both the Maritime Sealift Command and commercial shipping are invaluable in directing STS Maritime Security in becoming the industry leader for maritime security.

Roy Hannigan, Program Manager, STS

Has 33 years of military/ law enforcement and security service related experience and is currently assigned as the Program Manager for Maritime Security Operations at STS Security, LLC. In this role he is responsible for the day to day operations and management of the program to include scheduling, team deployments, training, recruiting, budget, and client support as required.

Prior to employment with STS, Mr. Hannigan was employed with SAIC and served as the Program Manager for US Army Europe (USAREUR), Office of Provost Marshall (OPM), Security Equipment Working Group (SEWG), responsible for operational assistance, expertise, and continuity to the USAREUR staff on Antiterrorism/Force Protection (AT/FP) issues theater wide. Additionally, Mr. Hannigan served on rotational assignments deploying to Iraq as part of the Special Operations Division of SAIC, providing fixed site security and Protective Security Detail (PSD) client support for a major Department of Defense contract.

He was on assignment for 5 years with the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for SAIC and Applied Marine Technology, Inc. (AMTI), where he provided subject matter expertise (SME) of critical infrastructure protection support to the DHS. Efforts included the direct involvement in a wide range of critical infrastructure protection initiatives and programs around the nation. As the lead Assault Planner assigned to the DHS Nuclear Comprehensive Review (CR) program, he was directly involved in the vulnerability/risk assessments and security enhancements for the protection of our nation’s commercial nuclear power plants.

Mr. Hannigan is a retired United States Marine Corps Infantry Officer who has held numerous leadership positions across the operational spectrum to include platoon, company and battalion commands during his 20 years of service. Upon his retirement from the United States Marine Corps, he became a sworn Virginia Beach Police Officer working as a Patrol Officer, Precinct Detective, Police Academy Instructor and full-time SWAT team member. He has been involved with the training of Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, US military personnel, and foreign nationals in threat identification, counter surveillance, Close Quarters Battle (CQB) and firearms instruction.

Mr. Hannigan possesses a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from Rowan University and is a graduate of the US Marine Corps Command and Staff College and Amphibious Warfare School.

Other STS Officers

In addition, other officers within STS have diverse professional backgrounds and extensive experience managing large-scale projects involving major organizations. Their responsibilities include planning, control, sales, marketing, construction, and property management. These individuals hold numerous professional licenses, degrees, designations and awards and provide complimentary skills that significantly enhance the well integrated management structure of STS.

STS has enjoyed sustained growth since Special Tactical Services, LLC was founded in 2000. Like most successful businesses, managing growth is intrinsic to our company culture.