G. Michael Verden

Senior Vice President

G. Michael Verden is one of this nation’s leading experts in security planning and operations at our nation’s critical infrastructures, stadiums, convention centers and major entertainment venues.

For more than 22 years, Verden served as a Special Agent in the United States Secret Service. As a senior manager, Verden designed and coordinated seminars for the Major Events Management Training for the Kentucky Derby, Indianapolis 500, the Masters and the Breeders Cup. He also served as security adviser during the 2003 Women’s World Cup Soccer and the 2003 and 2004 Super Bowls. In addition, he supervised security for the USA Olympic Basketball Team during the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

He was assigned to the prestigious Presidential Protective Division from 1987 to 1991 and conducted security advances for President George H. Bush in South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Verden has also served as the event coordinator for the International Monetary Fund Conference, G-8 Summit, United Nations General Assembly, and the 2002 Winter Olympics. He was also the Assistant Agent in Charge for the 2004 Presidential Candidate Operations Section, which coordinated security measures for all presidential candidates.

Early in his career as a member of the U.S. Secret Service, Verden organized and managed the protection of visiting heads of state and governments. He also handled advance security matters for the 1996 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

Upon retiring from the Secret Service, Verden was selected to serve as the Senior Director of Security for the National Basketball Association. Verden managed and coordinated the global security plan for the NBA’s international offices and players, conducting advance security visits in Greece, China, South Africa and Brazil. He was also responsible for monitoring all NBA criminal investigations and security-related incidents throughout the league. He recently designed and implemented the operational security plans for the 2005 NBA All-Star Game in Denver and the 2006 NBA All-Star Game in Houston. Verden was the on-site security supervisor for the NBA and responsible for the coordination of all security measures for these events.

Beginning his career in law enforcement as an officer with the Skokie, Illinois Police Department, Verden received early training in leadership, life-safety and assault training. He earned a Master of Science degree in criminology at Indiana State University and a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice at Western Illinois University.

Verden is a member of the American Society for Industrial Security, the Association of Former Agents of the U.S. Secret Service, the International Association of Professional Security Consultants, and the Overseas Security Advisory Council. Verden is Board Certified in Security Management and has attained the coveted Certified Protection Professional (CPP) Designation as awarded by ASIS International. He has received numerous awards, including the Department of Treasury Award for his contribution to the operational security plan for the XIX Olympic Winter Games (2002) and the U.S. Secret Service award as one of the primary architects designing the National Capital Airspace Security Policy (2002). He holds a Top Secret Security Clearance.