SMI’s Luke Bencie Featured Among Security and Intelligence Experts for Winning the New Cold War Book

SMI’s Managing Director, Luke Bencie, was one of the nation’s leading experts in national security, military intelligence and global politics who was asked two straightforward questions: Is the United States in a New Cold War? If so, what must be done to prevail? In the new book, Imagine: Winning the New Cold War, Bencie and the other authors provide answers which are impressive, compelling and surprisingly diverse in thinking.  Each writer has contributed at least one unique take on the problem posed to him or her. Not that anyone doubts America is under threat from our four principal adversaries: China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. No disagreement about that. Rather, the diversity lies in the recommended approaches to victory. 

SMI Hosts CARVER Course Following Hurricane Milton

SMI recently completed its final CARVER Target Analysis and Vulnerability Assessment Training Course of 2024.  Held at the University of South Florida’s St. Petersburg campus, the class was comprised of students from Bezos Academy, Ohio Department of Homeland Security, as well as private sector consultants.  Because of the recent damage inflicted upon Florida – particularly St. Pete - a week earlier from Hurricane Milton, it was a smaller than usual class.  However, for those who did attend, it was a challenging and productive three days of security assessments and strategic decision making.  Congratulations to all those who earned their Certified CARVER Assessment Professional (CCAP) designation. 

SMI Nominated for Security Consultancy of the Year

SMI is proud to announce that for the third time in 14 years, we have been nominated as Security Consultancy of the Year by the Security and Fire Excellence Awards in London.  SMI Managing Partner, Sarah Bencie, had this to say about the prestigious consideration, “This nomination reflects our outstanding SMI associates.  Without them and their daily contributions, there is no award… in fact, without them there is no SMI either.” 

SMI Speaks About Strategy at OSAC Middle East Conference

SMI Managing Director, Luke Bencie, spoke about security strategy at the US Department of State’s Overseas Security Advisory Conference (OSAC) at the Hilton Dead Sea Resort in Jordan.  The conference brought together delegates from 21 countries throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. 

Luke Bencie Interviewed on “Beyond the Blog” Podcast

SMI Managing Director, Luke Bencie, was interviewed by host Kiarra Louis on the “Beyond the Blog” podcast.  As the keynote speaker for the October 15, 2024, Patterson Foundation Dinner, which hosts the Suncoast Connect Technology Symposium, Luke will be discussing The CARVER Mindset: How to Think Like a Spy.  The mission of the Patterson Foundation is to strengthen the efforts of people, organizations, and communities by focusing on issues that address common aspirations, foster wide participation, and encourage learning and sharing.  On the podcast, Luke explained how he has personally seen the importance of spreading access to technology on the continent of Africa, among other places, and why it can become a geopolitical advantage.    

SMI Managing Partner, Sarah Bencie, Interviews “The Godfather of CARVER” in Vegas

This past week, SMI Managing Partner, Sarah Bencie sat down with co-creator of the CIA’s CARVER Target Analysis and Vulnerability Assessment Methodology, Leo Labaj, in Las Vegas to discuss the origins of this time-tested security tool.

SMI Managing Director, Luke Bencie, Moderates Security Panel in KSA

SMI Managing Director, Luke Bencie recently moderated a panel discussion in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for The Security Middle East Conference entitled “Preparing Security Professionals for Major Events and Increased Tourism in Saudi Arabia.”

SMI Trains Multiple Agencies in Vancouver in Preparation for FIFA World Cup

The SMI training team recently returned from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada where they trained four different law enforcement/transportation agencies in the CARVER Target Analysis and Vulnerability Assessment Methodology.  As CARVER was used to assess previous World Cup events, the Canadian government recognized its value for the next FIFA tournament.

SMI Attends USF Ribbon Cutting

SMI Managing Partner, Sarah Bencie, and SMI Managing Director, Luke Bencie, recently attended the ribbon cutting of the new dorms located on the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus.  This will allow students from those dorms to work close to the SMI offices located at the USF Research Annex.

SMI’s Sarah Bencie Shoots Video to Promote the USF STC

SMI’s Managing Partner, Sarah Bencie, recently sat down to shoot a new corporate video to promote the University of South Florida’s Security Training Collaborative (STC).  The STC is a public/private partnership between USF and SMI – envisioned by Ms. Bencie – to provide students with a “Washington DC experience.” 

USF military veterans using security course to make Sarasota-Manatee campus safer

U.S. Army veteran Jordan Bentivenga and fellow veteran Adam Carlson are leveraging their CARVER security course training to enhance safety at the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus. They conduct thorough assessments of campus buildings for potential vulnerabilities using the CARVER+ app, generating detailed reports to help ensure a secure environment for students and staff.

Luke Bencie Interviewed by Chuck Brooks in DC

SMI Managing Director, Luke Bencie, was interviewed by Cybersecurity Thought Leader, Chuck Brooks, in Washington DC this past week for the Sling TV streaming show Intelligence Matters.  The topic of the program was “ransomware” and explored an organization’s responsibility to pay or not pay the perpetrators when attacked.

Luke Bencie Speaks At New College Of Florida

SMI Managing Director, Luke Bencie, spoke to law enforcement officers from New College of Florida, as well as from the Sarasota-Bradenton Airport Police Department, about Cognizant Security Strategy.  The lecture was part of an officer training series looking at new ways to improve intelligence gathering and strategic planning. 

SMI Recognized at Congressional Event for Veterans

SMI Managing Partner, Sarah Bencie, and SMI Managing Director, Luke Bencie, were proud to be associated with Congressman Greg Steube’s initiative to provide 250 military veterans with training on information security governance, risk and compliance, and cybersecurity.  The program is offered through the University of South Florida’s Office of Corporate Training and Professional Education. 

SMI Partners with Arcuri Group in Tampa

SMI has partnered with Arcuri Group, LLC, the leader in Situational Awareness Specialist (SAS) training.  During the upcoming July CARVER training on the campus of the University of South Florida, Arcuri Group will be offering SAS certification to coincide with SMI’s CARVER Target Analysis and Vulnerability Assessment Training course.  This offers security professionals with a unique opportunity to get dual certified in Tampa this summer.

Luke Bencie delivers Cognizant Security Strategy Workshop in Riyadh

SMI Managing Director, Luke Bencie, delivered a 90-minute workshop for security professionals at the Security Middle East Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on May 14^th entitled “Cognizant Security Strategy for Vision 2030: A Comprehensive Workshop to Determine Strategic Direction.”  The event was co-sponsored by the University of South Florida’s Security Training Collaborative and meant to provide a strategic security blueprint for Saudi Arabia’s emerging tourism industry. 

SMI Team Supports Bob Delany Event

SMI Junior Associates assisted in supporting former “Mob-busting” undercover New Jersey State Trooper turned NBA referee, Bob Delaney,  host a documentary screening of “Bob Delaney: Hiding in Plain Sight”.  Bob is now a leading national and international authority in Post-Traumatic Stress, resilience training, and trauma awareness. Together with Colonel Amanda Robbins, Command Psychologist at USSOCOM, Bob discussed his real-life experiences with Post-Traumatic Stress.

Luke Bencie Interviewed on Corporate Espionage for Skytop TV

Luke Bencie had the opportunity to sit down with former CIA officer, Andrew Bustamante, as well as Martin Barye-Garcia (security director for Owens Corning) about espionage threats – particularly “sexpionage” threats – to international business travelers.  The interview was held in Skytop’s New York City studios on Madison Avenue on May 3^rd, 2024.