With an extensive career as a police officer, Secret Service agent, Senior Director of Security for the NBA, and security advisor, G. Michael Verden understands how to apply security best practices to your unique setting to safeguard people, property, and assets. Mike’s project management experience includes leading engagements across all industries and he can benchmark your operations against peer organizations and apply best practice based protective disciplines to enhance your security posture.
Mike employs methodologies learned in a 21-year career as an agent for the United States Secret Service protecting the President, First Lady, and other heads of state and large-scale events such as the Olympics and the Super Bowl to identify vulnerabilities and implement proper risk management techniques to offer the appropriate level of protection—without adversely affecting your culture.
Throughout his career, Mike has gained unique perspectives on how to work with law enforcement, first responders, and private sector partners to evaluate physical, technical, procedural, and personnel security and conduct needs assessments to determine what you’re doing well and where you’re exposed to risk—resulting in a best-in-class security program.
As a Senior Vice President/Managing Director and the first employee hired by Hillard Heintze, Mike directed the Strategic Security Services for the firm by providing strategic thought leadership, trusted counsel, and end-to-end services to public and private corporations as well as government agencies and major public service organizations.
In his capacity as Senior Director of Security for the NBA, Mike managed and coordinated global security, as well as designed and implemented site security measures, emergency evacuation programs, and contingency procedures. He was responsible for monitoring all NBA criminal investigations and security-related incidents throughout the league. He also implemented and supervised security for the NBA All-Star Game, NBA Finals, and the FIBA World Championships.
Mike was a Special Agent with the United States Secret Service for 21 years and finished his career as the Assistant Special Agent in Charge for the Dignitary Protective Division at USSS Headquarters in Washington, D.C. This assignment allowed him to be an event coordinator for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City and a security adviser to the 2003 and 2004 Super Bowls. Other assignments in Washington, D.C. were to the Presidential Protective Division responsible for protecting the President and First Lady and the Counter Assault Team. His major event experience provides an institutional knowledge in securing and protecting facilities and people on a large scale. Additionally, he assisted with creating security plans for major events such as the Super Bowl, Kentucky Derby, Indianapolis 500, Breeders’ Cup, and the Women’s Soccer World Cup.
Mike is a member of the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Security Council, American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS), Association of Former Agents of the United States Secret Service (AFAUSSS), Illinois Security Professionals Association (ISPA), International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC), and International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety (IAHSS).
Mike was born in Tipperary, Ireland, grew up in Chicago, and graduated from Western Illinois University with a degree in Law Enforcement Administration and Indiana State University with an M.S. in Criminology. He began his professional career with the Skokie, Illinois Police Department and then became a Secret Service agent in the Chicago Field Office.
