All posts in Speakers

Topic: “Law Enforcement Mental Health Issues”

Description of the topic. Coming Soon.

Experience

Mark DiBona was born and raised in Boston Massachusetts. In 1985, Mark began his Law Enforcement career with the Braintree Police Department and later transferred to the Amtrak Police Department, Boston District.  In 1993, Mark moved to Florida and continued his career with the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, where he where he retired as a Patrol Sergeant, after 33 years of Law Enforcement experience. Mark was also Police Academy Instructor at Seminole State College.  Throughout his Law Enforcement career, Mark has held several positions and assignments, to include Peer Support Unit, Critical Incident Stress Management Team, Public Information Officer and in-service training Instructor.  During his career, Mark developed mental health issues and a suicide attempt. He is very open speaking about these issues and his wellness.  Mark is a Co-founder of Protecting the Guardian, he is a Technical Advisor and Law Enforcement Mental Health Liaison with In the Line of Duty Video’s. Board Member with International Public Safety Association, Member of International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers. He is also an Advisor and Consultant for Here for You Blue.  Mark is an advocate for Law Enforcement Officer and First Responder Mental Health/Suicide Prevention/Wellness and Education. He has been a guest on several news radio, television, podcast, conferences, webinars, books and magazines. He also has appeared in training videos, a music video and is a motivational speaker. In his free time, Mark enjoys spending time with his wife Gailyn of 30 years and their dogs Bella and Romeo. Mark is a huge fan of the Boston Red Sox, playing the guitar and Rock and Roll music.

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Topic: “First Hand Account on 13 Hours in Benghazi”

Description of the topic: Listen to “Tig” describe the events of what happened in Benghazi, from his perspective.  Join him again later that evening as the keynote speaker for our annual military appreciation night

Experience

John “Tig” Tiegen leverages over 13 years of high profile security and force protection expertise within contract and
government agencies along with his military experience as a Marine Sergeant, to bring a powerful, thought-provoking, and engaging presentation of his firsthand account of the Benghazi Attacks to his audiences. As a former Military Sergeant and Infantry Squad Leader, John applied his military training as a Security Protection contractor for Blackwater Security on missions in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq. His work as part of the Central Intelligence Agency’s Global Response Staff would change his life forever. An integral team member, taking part in over 40 overseas deployments providing low profile security in high-threat environments throughout the world, culminated in unexpected recognition on a global scale.

As the most experienced Annex Security Team member for CIA’s GRS, he was an essential part of the rapid response to the terrorist attack on September 11, 2012, when Islamic militants attacked the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, killing four Americans: Ambassador J. Christophe Stevens, Information Officer Sean Smith, and two CIA operatives, Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods, both former Navy Seals.

In motivational, riveting, and inspirational presentations, John shares his intense story relaying his own actions, which directly saved the lives of many of his own team, and the combined heroic efforts of his team in saving over two dozen lives while fighting off terrorists for over 13 hours. John received the Award for Heroism and Valor in recognition of his bravery.

John is co-author of 13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened In Benghazi in collaboration with members of the Annex Security Team and New York Times’ best-selling author, Mitchell Zuckoff. He was instrumental in providing real-life experiences as a consultant on the movie 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi. John also assisted with the movie script and set design.

Having ‘retired’ from contract work, the married father of twins enjoys being at home in Colorado. His hobbies are camping, shooting, visiting with friends and enjoying time with his family. John Tiegen has excelled in every leadership position throughout his professional career. In each of these roles, he has strategically used his experience, skills and knowledge in the areas of foreign culture, weapons, logistics, preparation and execution to guide his team to success,
while maintaining camaraderie with all members. John learned early in life the importance of being a leader and having a strong work ethic. Four years in the United States Marine Corps forged the principled, driven man he is today. John has displayed a superior example of leadership, honor and courage throughout his 13 years of combined military and security service while dedicated to protecting America.

Topic: “The Lululemon Store Murder”

Description of the topic. Coming Soon…

Experience

Marybeth Ayres is the Chief of the Major Crimes Division at the Montgomery County, Maryland State’s Attorney’s Office, where she began working as an Assistant State’s Attorney in 2004.  The Major Crimes Division handles homicides, attempted murders, home invasions, armed robberies and other major crimes cases affecting the community.  Ms. Ayres has tried over twenty murder cases.  Before coming to Montgomery County, she worked in the Homicide Division at the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office, and also worked in the Queens, New York District Attorney’s Office.  She has been a prosecutor since 1998.

Topic: “Aaron Hernandez Murder Investigation”

Description of the topic. Coming Soon…

Experience

Sergeant Jeremiah Donovan has been in law enforcement for 20-years, worked for the Massachusetts State Police for over 15-years and has been assigned to the Bristol County State Police Detective Unit (SPDU) for 11-years. He is currently a supervisor in the homicide and computer crimes units within the SPDU. He was one of the case officers and performed a majority of the technical aspects of the investigation into the murder of Odin Lloyd and the trials of Aaron Hernandez and others.

Topic: “Aaron Hernandez Murder Investigation”

Description of the topic. Coming Soon…

Experience

Detective Lieutenant Michael King worked for the Massachusetts State Police for over 29 years and was assigned to the Bristol County State Police Detective Unit (SPDU) for 23 years. He was the Commander of the unit his retirement in 2019. He was the Officer-In-Charge (OIC) / senior supervisor for Massachusetts State Police Bristol SPDU personnel throughout the investigation into the murder of Odin Lloyd and the trials of Aaron Hernandez and others.

Topic: “Digital Data Hunting in Death Investigations”

Description of the topic. Coming Soon…

Experience

Patrick Eller is the CEO of Metadata Forensics, LLC which is a full service digital forensic company located in Richmond, VA.  He has 20 years of Military law enforcement experience and a master’s degree in digital forensics and cyber investigations. He is a subject matter expert in the field of digital forensics and has run a global digital forensics program for the US Army. He currently teaches digital forensics at the undergraduate and graduate levels for multiple Institutions. He also teaches as part of the Special Victims Capabilities Course Fort Leonard Wood, MO and at the National Forensic Academy located at the University of Tennessee.

Topic: “Who are you?  Identifying Suspects & Victims Alike Using New Forensic Technology”

Description of the topic. Coming Soon…

Experience

Rachel Oefelein is currently the Director of Research and Innovation and a Senior DNA Analyst at DNA Labs International (DLI). Additionally, Rachel is a PhD candidate with Griffith University located in Brisbane, Australia.  She received her MSc in Forensic Science from the University of Strathclyde, and her BS in Criminal Justice, with a Forensic Science Minor, from Loyola University of New Orleans. Rachel worked at the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) for nearly five years and previously interned at the Instytut Ekspertyz Sądowych, the Forensic Laboratory in Krakow, Poland.  Since joining DNA Labs International in 2014, Rachel has testified in ten Florida counties, three states and four countries as an expert witness for both the prosecution and the defense in misdemeanor and felony trials, as well as Williams, Daubert and Arthur hearings.

Topic: “The Mollie Tibbetts Investigation: the 33 day Multi-Agency search for the U of Iowa Student that Gripped the Nation”

Description of the topic. Coming Soon…

Experience

Richard Rahn has been employed within law enforcement for over 32 years. For seven years, he worked for the Burlington Iowa Police Department as a Patrolman and Detective. Aspiring to work high-level felonious crimes, he accepted a position with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, an investigative branch for the Iowa Department of Public Safety. During his twenty five plus years as a Special Agent with the Major Crime Unit, he worked well over 150 death investigations, to include Case Agent of two mass murder investigations, several high profile homicides and countless suspicious death investigations. S.A.C. Rahn has been married for thirty-two years and has two sons.