David E. Firester, Ph.D.

David Firester, Ph.D., is the founder and CEO of TRAC Intelligence (Threat, Reporting, and Analysis Consultants), LLC.

A combat veteran, with a rich background in public policy, security, counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, and law enforcement. His work has appeared on The Daily Wire, Investigative Project on Terrorism, Lima Charlie News, Jerusalem Post, Times of Israel, The Association for the Study of the Middle East and Africa (ASMEA), and Front Page Magazine.

Contact

845-239-1595

Academic Interests

International Relations, Political Science, Cartography, Intelligence Analysis, Military Sciences, Public Policy, Foreign Policy, Law Enforcement.

Positions

Adjunct Professor, Political Science, Hunter College
Graduate Teaching Fellow, Political Science, Queens College
Adjunct Instructor, Political Science, John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Graduate Teaching Fellow, Political Science, Baruch College

Publications

Evolutions in Suicide Bombing: Exploring the Relationship between the Tactic and Its Application by Non-State Armed Groups Across Various Conflict Zones Over Time

The Biden Administration Exclusively Punishes Jews; An Explanation featured on Medium

FIRESTER: CAIR’s Fight To Undermine U.S. Border Security Continues, featured on the Daily Wire

Invisible Martyrs: Inside the Secret World of Female Islamic Radicals, book review on ASMEA website.


Singapore Summit leaves North Korea cyber threat off the table,” co-authored and featured on Lima Charlie News.


The Trump Doctrine: Flexible Engagement under Unbalanced Multipolarity,” featured on Lima Charlie News.


Might Imperial Overstretch be the Fate of Iran? Incipient Unrest and its Implications” featured on Lima Charlie News.


What’s the significance of Trump’s Jerusalem Embassy Order? Not much, unless you make it so” featured on Lima Charlie News.


A Global Look at Vehicular Terror Attacks” featured on Lima Charlie News.


U.S. pledges $60 million to support Africa ‘G5 Sahel’ counterterrorism efforts” featured on Lima Charlie News.


Reconsidering our Iranian Nuclear Policy in Light of a Changing Threat Landscape” featured on Lima Charlie News.


From Las Vegas Shooting Emerges Everyday Heroes, ‘Combat Veterans” featured on Lima Charlie News


Reflecting on the Personal Consequences of Combat” featured on Lima Charlie News


China’s Surprise Attack Preparations: Defensive Posturing or Strategic Signaling?” featured on Lima Charlie News


The Islamic State Attacks the Islamic Republic of Iran” featured on proprietary Security Forum webpage


David Firester’s Book Review of Lieutenant General (ret.) Michael T. Flynn’s Book, The Field of Fight: How We Can Win the Global War Against Radical Islam and Its Allies

Reflecting on the Wisdom of an Intelligence Professional, by Way of a Book Review

What Does the Global Terrorism Database Reveal about ‘Jewish Terrorism?’ A Micro-Level Assessment of the 2015 Data

Syrian Penetration of the Southern European Front: Observations and Implications

Failure to adapt; Intelligence Failure and Military Failure as Functions of Strategic Failure?

Cited Here:SPLC-Touted Terrorism Study Casts a Wide Net to Downplay Islamic Extremism

Military Service

U.S. Army Intelligence Analyst/Imagery Analyst        Ft. Dix, NJ                                2003-2010

·       Authoring strategic intelligence products for DIA, CENTCOM, EUCOM (classified TS/SCI)

·       Possess a background in counter-terrorism analysis, understanding national level imagery product standards, national systems, NTM derived from airbreathing/non-airbreathing platforms.

·       Proficient with MS Operating Systems, MS Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook), NES, ArcGIS, Remote View, Falcon View functional (and offshoot versions), MAAS, SmartTrack, IEC Functional; FMV, SAR, panchromatic and spectral data exploitation, Intelink, SIPRNet, etc.

U.S. Army Air Sensor Operator/Intelligence Analyst  COB Speicher, Tikrit, Iraq              2006-2007

·       Operating: MX-15D FMV Camera, PeARL Camera, Multiple AN PRC-117 communications, ARC-231 (as well as other radios and associated COMSEC devices), various proprietary and OTS cartographical software.  The following operations were conducted for a multitude of Coalition Special Operations and Conventional supported units:

·       HVI/HVT retrieval/destruction ISO CJSOTF units

·       Cordon-and-Search support via over-watch

·       Primary target selection, designation and BDA performed ISO Counter-IED missions

·       Supporting RCTs for convoys along MSRs and ASRs

·       Confirming/Denying suspected IED-associated activities and personnel

·       Guiding both ground and air assets in area denial and interdiction operations

·       Relaying communications between ground and air assets

·       Target Handover with fixed-wing manned and unmanned assets, as well as rotary-wing assets; cleared to instruct and perform   

·       Designating for remote Hellfire engagement; cleared to instruct and perform

·       Writing the manual for operations, while actively training newly arriving personnel during flight

·       Flight Instructor, Standardization Instructor, performing, training and evaluating others to perform Reconnaissance, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition in a kinetic, war-time milieu at both the tactical and operational levels (further details may be revealed upon personal interview)

Law Enforcement

Police Officer                                     Town of Chester, NY                                             2008-2010

·       Patrol

·       Crime Scene Investigator

·       Field Training Officer

·       Evidence Technician

Deputy Sheriff                                    Goshen, Orange County, NY                                 2004-2008 

·       Patrol 

·       Crisis Negotiator

·       Field Intelligence Officer

·       Numerous certifications:  e.g. Narcotics Identification, Radiation Detection, Responding to Terrorist Bombings, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement, weapons, Incident Command System, etc.

Civilian intelligence & policy analysis experience

Intelligence and Threat Analyst      TRAC Intelligence, LLC                                                  2015

·       Founded a private consulting firm, which serves the private sector by tailoring intelligence products to suit their business needs with regard to global threat analysis. 

o   Client Base: Corporate Travel, Corporate Security and Operations

o   Service Orientation: Threat Stream Analysis, Threat Mitigation Plans, Situational Awareness Updates, Policy Review (Initial and Overhaul), and In-House Intelligence Team Augmentation

Intelligence Analyst                          NJ State Police                                                                 2015

·       Collected, analyzed raw intelligence and authored and disseminated finished intelligence products on a variety of topics for the Threat Analysis Unit at the NJ ROIC, including but not limited to:

o   International and domestic threats to the public, police, and critical infrastructure

o   Wrote and reviewed Daily Threat Overview, Ad Hoc Reports, and Event-Specific reports

o   Worked alongside federal, state and local entities in an Information Sharing Environment (ISE)

o   Participated in joint command/interagency meetings as well as daily crime and threat briefings

Policy Analyst                                    NJ State Police                                                                 2015

·       Revised and re-wrote Privacy/Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Policy (and an Executive Summary) for the Command Staff

·       Revised and provided key insights and editorial commentary on security and intelligence policies

TRAC Feed

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Education

Ph.D., 2023 from The City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate Center.