From protective intelligence to threat assessment: Strategies critical to preventing targeted violence and the active shooter

Author's Biography

Matthew Doherty is SVP in Hillard Heintze’s Federal Practice, with over 24 years’ experience leading law enforcement and intelligence programmes and investigations in the prevention of violence by developing and enhancing methodologies with national security priorities. He is widely recognised as among the most experienced senior experts in assessing an individual’s potential for danger and preventing targeted violence against national leaders, national critical infrastructure, major events and corporate workplaces. As a thought leader in targeted violence, workplace violence prevention and active shooter planning, he leads Hillard Heintze’s Security Risk Management, delivering the full spectrum of the firm’s investigations, security risk management and law enforcement advisory services to clients in the Washington, DC area. He oversees large-scale, private sector security engagements. Earlier in his career, he served as the Special Agent in Charge of the US Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center. In this capacity, he managed training on threat assessment and targeted violence prevention for federal, state and local law enforcement personnel. He created the first information-sharing database (TAVISS) for the prevention of violence against protected officials. He is an advisor to the Department of Homeland Security, Science and Technology Directorate and the DHS Operating Elements in addressing important homeland security issues. He also serves on the US Marshal Service Judicial Threats Center for preventing violence against judges. He is a law enforcement advisor and trustee award winner with DHS’s Homeland Security Studies and Analysis Institute. He is Senior Fellow at the George Washington University Center for Cyber & Homeland Security.