I'm Dexter—but my friends call me Dex.

For more than 30 years, I worked in the world of national security, counterterrorism, and intelligence. My career took me from the U.S. Navy to the State Department, INTERPOL, the FBI, and DHS, where I helped counter terrorist networks, advised governments, and worked alongside international partners to address some of the world's most complex security challenges.

But my life never fit neatly into one box.

One day I might be briefing senior officials on ISIS or coordinating international counterterrorism operations. The next I'd be serving as PTO president, coaching youth sports, organizing community events, or cleaning up a local river. To me, those weren't separate lives—they were both about protecting and strengthening communities.

That perspective shapes everything I do today.

I believe intelligence isn't just about classified information. It's about understanding people, recognizing patterns, asking better questions, and seeing what's happening beneath the surface. Those are skills that matter whether you're a parent navigating the digital world, a professional making difficult decisions, or someone who simply wants to understand the forces shaping today's headlines.

Today, I write, speak, teach, and advise on national security, counterterrorism, online extremism, intelligence tradecraft, and the future of digital threats. Through my writing, public speaking, and consulting, I help make complex security issues understandable—and practical—for broader audiences.

I'm also the founder of IN Network, a nonprofit dedicated to mentoring and preparing the next generation of national security professionals. I serve on the International Spy Museum Advisory Board, the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism's Gaming & Youth Working Group, and as an NCITE Research-to-Practice Fellow.

I'm the author of two books exploring espionage, intelligence, and careers in national security.

Whether you're here because you're fascinated by espionage, concerned about online threats, considering a career in intelligence, or simply curious about how the world really works, I hope you'll find something here that informs, challenges, and surprises you.

Because the real stories are almost always more interesting than the ones you see in the movies.