Bio
During a career spanning almost two decades as a covert field operations officer for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Mike specialized in counterterrorism, counternarcotics and counterinsurgency operations. He engaged in, organized and supervised operations around the globe, working in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, the former Soviet Union and elsewhere. He was recognized professionally for outstanding performance and for operational achievements in hostile environments.
After leaving government service, Mike co-founded Diligence LLC, a global intelligence, investigations, risk management and security firm that has grown over the past decade into one of the acknowledged industry leaders. As a principal partner he led the company as it expanded around the world, opening offices in London, New York, Washington DC, Moscow, Sao Paulo, Brussels and Geneva. He also established the company’s security operations in Iraq, building a team of over 300 expat and local personnel involved in security and information collection.
The Diligence Advisory Board has included numerous senior leaders from the intelligence world, government and business including Judge William Webster, former Director of both the CIA and Federal Bureau of Investigation, Lord Charles Powell, former National Security Advisor to Margaret Thatcher, Mack McClarty, former Chief of Staff to President Bill Clinton and others who have worked with Mike and the Diligence management team to create business opportunities and assist in the company’s growth strategy. Investors and partners have included Haley Barbour, the former Governor of Mississippi and Ed Mathias, senior partner of The Carlyle Group.
Mike is a regular contributor in the national and international media on intelligence, security, counterterrorist issues, geopolitical affairs and cybersecurity. He appears regularly on CNN and Fox News, as well as other major media outlets.
Represented by AGI Entertainment, Mike has cohosted television series including America Declassified and also World Access on the Travel Channel, and SPY on the UK’s Channel Four. He is currently the host of a new Discovery reality series, Black Files Declassified, currently in production for release in Summer 2020.
He served as consultant and script advisor for the UK's long running scripted spy drama Spooks and recently served as script advisor for the TNT drama Legends. He is a partner in Classified Trash, a television and film production company and is involved in the creation and development of television shows, and serves as a technical consultant and script advisor for feature films and television.
A former resident of New Canaan, Mike, his wife Emily and their three young sons now reside out West in Boise, Idaho.
