January 2017 Chapter Meeting/ Workplace Violence Seminar

BIO

Dr. Sullivan is an Assistant Professor at Eastern Kentucky University in the Homeland Security Program. He obtained his B.S. in Police Administration in 1984, M.S. in Safety Security and Emergency Management with a certificate of focus in Homeland Security in 2007, and his Doctorate (EdD) in Leadership and Policy Studies with a research focus on School Safety and Security from Eastern Kentucky University in 2013.

Dr. Sullivan retired from the Kentucky State Police in 2008 at the rank of Major where he was the executive level director for 8 of the 16 posts covering the state. He served a total of 25 years in Kentucky Law Enforcement and was a highly decorated officer having received the agencies highest award, the Governor’s Medal of Valor, as well as the Meritorious Service with Valor, two Commissioners Commendations, and numerous other recognitions. During his career Dr. Sullivan spent 14 years in the Special Operations, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism fields serving in multiple positions including: tactical team member with the agencies full-time Special Response Team, Special Response Team Leader, Commander of Intelligence and Counter Terrorism, and Commander of the Special Operations Branch. He was one of the primary founders of the Kentucky Fusion Center and was extensively involved with the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security and the state’s various homeland security efforts. He orchestrated the development of a state of art intelligence database available to all Kentucky Law Enforcement and was extensively involved in Emergency Management Planning and Response for the state and was a leader in the states counter terrorism efforts including commanding KSP investigative personnel assigned to all three Kentucky JTTF offices, intelligence analysts, and other intelligence support personnel. Dr. Sullivan’s involvement in homeland security and intelligence activities included the local, state, and federal levels and he served on a host of boards and committees representing his agency, Kentucky law enforcement, the Kentucky Fusion Center, and the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security. Dr. Sullivan’s duties additionally required his frequent involvement in security assessments and audits throughout the state while also performing functions supporting, advising, and training private and governmental sectors in security matters. These experiences provided a direct understanding of the impact that security and emergency response efforts play in protecting our nation’s most vulnerable assets.

Following his retirement Dr. Sullivan instructed classes at the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training (DOCJT) for six years teaching a variety of courses addressing prevention, mitigation and response strategies for active shooter events and other critical incidents. He additionally instructed classes throughout the nation addressing security measures, threat assessments, extremist and terrorist groups and their activities, and other homeland security and law enforcement topics for DOCJT and the Rural Domestic Preparedness Consortium (RDPC).

Although much of Dr. Sullivan’s research focuses on school safety and security his academic interest additionally involves critical infrastructure protection, homeland threats, law enforcement and security training.