Dan O'Connor

Dan is an internationally recognized leader in enabling organizations of all types to see and realize new possibilities, manage complex change, and build dynamic capabilities for high performance and resilience.

Dan served 22 years as an active-duty Marine, participating in, supporting, and preparing Americans throughout the United States and globally during various operations. He held many high-profile billets and served as the anti-terrorism officer and emergency manager in Washington, DC, during the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. He has consulted and produced various security and emergency management operations at the 1996 Summer Olympics, 2002 Winter Olympics, 2004 Summer Olympic Games, and 2016 Summer Olympics. He has also been a consultant and key leader facilitator for four of the largest marathons in the United States and a Super Bowl.

He is a graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School, Harvard Kennedy School, Swedish Defense University, National Preparedness Leadership Initiative, FBI National Academy, Federal Executive Institute, and the United States Marine Corps Command and Staff College. He is a recognized national and homeland security authority with extensive experience in national and homeland security, law enforcement, exigent leadership, crisis management, emergency management, continuity of operations, and security/anti-terrorism.

Dan has been pivotal in managing responses to COVID-19, overseeing vaccination distribution and delivery centers, and mitigating the southern border crisis. His contributions extend to Operation Allies Welcome, refugee resettlement efforts, and leading responses to over 1,200 federally declared disasters, showcasing his proficiency in operational excellence and crisis management.

Dan is a consultant, presenter, lecturer, and published authority in strategic problem-solving, asset protection, information security, and leadership development. Recently, he was the only American selected to facilitate a NATO/Eastern European energy and crisis security exercise in Latvia and Lithuania, where his political acumen, vision, conception, and crisis leadership earned special recognition.