I N S T R U C T O R ‘ S
B I O G R A P H I E S
(Instructors may be change without notice)
Mr. Joseph Couch Jr.
Instructor, Public Safety and Security
Texas Engineering Extension Service
Mr. Couch is an instructor for the Public Safety and Security (PS&S) Division for the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), a part of the Texas A&M University System. He specializes in Enhance Threat and Risk Assessments regarding WMD and Security Systems Design.
Mr. Couch served in the United States Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID) from 1967-1991. During this time, he served in selected assignments in Europe, Middle East, Far East, Central and South America and the U.S. He served as the Special Agent in Charge for Southern Germany, Central and South America. He was assigned as the Operations officer for CID operations for the Eastern U.S., and South East Asia. His responsibilities were the oversight of criminal investigations, physical security inspections, VIP Security for high ranking government officials and visiting dignitaries, as well as overseeing the conduct of security audit support for defense installations worldwide. He was later assigned as an Inspectors General (IG) for the US Army Criminal Investigation Command.
During the period 1991 - 2005, Mr. Couch served in the private sector as Director of Corporate Security and Investigations for several major corporations throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
Mr. Couch joined TEEX in April 2004 as an instructor with the Weapons of Mass Destruction Program specializing in development, scheduling and delivery of the Office for Domestic Preparedness Enhanced Threat and Risk Assessment course. In addition, he provides training of security related courses to support private sector terrorism prevention and mitigation.
Mr. Couch is a graduate of Los Angeles City College with a degree in Police Administration and an International Graduate of the Metropolitan Police Academy (Scotland Yard) in London England.
Steven C. Volk
Adjunct Instructor, Public Safety & Security
SKILLS SUMMARY
Mr. Steven C. Volk is an adjunct instructor for the Enhanced Threat and Risk Assessment (ETRA) course. The course is offered by the Public Safety and Security (PS&S) Division, part of the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), which is part of the Texas A&M University System.
Mr. Volk served as a special agent for the United States Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) from 1969 - 1998. He supervised and performed criminal investigations and security operations in the United States, the US Army European Theater of Operations, which included central European countries, the Middle East and parts of Africa and also in the former Republic of South Vietnam.
Mr. Volk's experience in criminal investigations ranged in scope from larceny, illegal drug sale to robberies, rapes, terrorism and murder. Collected and evaluated evidence, interviewed witnesses, victims and suspects, prepared reports of investigation and testified in criminal proceedings. Also abroad, Mr. Volk conducted and directed sensitive undercover operations and managed major crime task force investigations. He progressed in rank and position from apprentice special agent, to investigative team leader, to agent-in-charge of a CID office to a regional level staff officer charged with supervising CID's European investigative operations. Traveled and worked extensively abroad and within the United States.
Mr. Volk's first exposure to civil disobedience and terrorism was early in his career in the late 1960s prior to becoming a special agent of the CID, when he was assigned to the Intelligence Section of the Office of the Provost Marshal, US Army, Berlin, Germany. This section was formed when elements of he radical left engaged in attacking US service members or civilians working for the US Government during violent anti Vietnam demonstrations. This was also the breeding ground of what would later become known as the Baader-Meinhof-Gang, then renamed as Germany's infamous Red Army Faction when core members of the RAF first exploded bombs killing US soldiers in Heidelberg and Frankfurt in 1972, and then launched a murder spree of German politicians and business leaders.
RELEVANT PROJECT EXPERIENCE
Anti / Countering Terrorism. Organized and managed the counter terrorism program for CID's European operations then encompassing the activities of then 53 CID offices. Assisted in the design of the CID's Personal Security Vulnerability Assessment (PSVA) program, implemented to assess the vulnerability of senior leadership in the General Officer level and their families to terrorist attacks. Was the principal conduit for CID to German federal and state police agencies in the conduct of major task force investigations of terrorist activities directed against the interests of the U.S. Army .
Countering Terrorism Instructor. Was a key instructor at the U.S. Army Military Police School, Security Operations Division, and Terrorism Counteraction Branch. Provided worldwide training to US Forces in all aspects of anti and terrorism counteraction initiatives. This included lectures on historical and current trends of international terrorism; causes and effect of terrorism on the US Government; self protection measures for VIPs and their families; hostage negotiation; protective measures for VIPs living or traveling in high risk areas; emergency operations and management of crisis situations. Provided hands-on training to senior officers and their family members in evasive and offensive driving techniques.
Protective Services Operations. As a CID region staff officer, managed the European CID executive protection program for the US Secretary of Defense and other dignitaries of the US Government traveling in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Major Procurement Fraud and Special Investigations. Culminated the career with working as senior investigator and operations officer of the Special Investigation Branch, CID Germany. As such conducted and supervised critical task force investigations to expose procurement fraud. Conducted high-level and command interest special investigations.
Specialized Training:
Basic and advanced criminal investigation courses.
- Criminal Investigation Course (U.S. Army)
- Drug Enforcement Officers (DEA) Academy
- Drug Identification Course
- Hostage Negotiation and Applied Criminal Psychology
- Protective Services Operations
- Productive Interrogation
- Computer Crimes
Terrorism related training.
- Anti Terrorism Driving Techniques
- Dynamics of International Terrorism
- Terrorism Counteraction on US Installations and Bases
- Legal Aspects of Terrorism
- Police Instructor Training Course
- Physical Security / Asset Protection
- Threat & Risk Assessment
- Enhanced Threat & Risk Assessment
Foreign Language: Fluent in German.
Security Clearance: TOP SECRET
