Michael Sheehan – Executive Director
Michael A. Sheehan is the President of Lexington Security Group, an international security consultancy. He has had a distinguished and uniquely varied career in public service for over thirty years, and is best known for his work in counterterrorism, peacekeeping, and law enforcement operations. Sheehan was the Deputy Commissioner of Counterterrorism at NYPD from 2003 to 2006, where he helped build one of the most highly regarded counterterrorism programs in the world. Prior to this, he was the Assistant Secretary General in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations at the UN (2001 to 2003) and Ambassador at Large for Counterterrorism for the US Department of State (1998 to 2000). Sheehan served at the White House under three National Security Advisors and two Presidents. He is a retired LTC of the US Army Special Forces and was awarded a Combat Infantry Badge among other decorations for his service in the Army. Sheehan holds a B.S. from the United States Military Academy at West Point and an MA from the Georgetown University School of Service. He is a counterterrorism analyst for NBC news and author of the recently published Crush the Cell (Crown, 2008).
Vincent Viola – President and Board Member
Mr. Viola is the former Chairman of the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) and is one of the nation’s foremost leaders in electronic trading. He is currently the Chairman and CEO of Virtu Financial, an electronic trading firm. Mr. Viola started his career in the financial services industry on the floor of the New York Mercantile Exchange and rose to be Vice Chairman (1993-1996) and Chairman (2001-2004). Mr. Viola has launched a number of successful businesses during his career, including several electronic trading firms in the US and Europe and a regional banking group in Texas with over twenty branches. Mr. Viola graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1977. He later graduated from the U.S. Army Airborne, Infantry and Ranger Schools and served in the 101st Airborne Division. In 1983, he graduated from the New York Law School. Shortly after September 11, 2001, Viola was instrumental in founding the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point, now in its sixth year of operation.
Daniel Dolgin - Associate Director
Daniel Dolgin is currently the Associate Director of the Madison Policy Forum and a Senior Associate at Lexington Security Group, an international consultancy. Prior to his current positions, Dolgin served in the Directorate of Strategic Operaional Planning at the National Counterterrorism Center and as Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff for the Director of National Intelligence. He has also held several research positions with the NYPD Counterterrorism Bureau and Council on Foreign Relations. Dolgin recieved his MA from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and his BA from NYU.
Neil Korf – Associate
Neil Korf is a research assistant for Michael A. Sheehan at the Lexington Security Group. He holds a BA from Drew University in History, with a focus on counterterrorism.