Richard Marcinko

Richard Marcinko as seen in the dust jacket photo for Rogue Warrior

Richard Marcinko (Born: November 21 1940) in Lansford, Pennsylvania lives in the Alexandria, Virginia area and is one of the nation's most accomplished and recognized special operations experts, with over 30 years of experience in a variety of specialties including counter-terrorism, intelligence and special operations. He has a B.A. in International Relations from the Navy Post Graduate School in Monterey, California, and a M.A. in Political Science from Auburn University.

After enlisting in the US Navy, Marcinko spent his early years in the Underwater Demolition Teams. Marcinko worked his way up to the rank of captain during two tours in Vietnam serving as a Navy SEAL. He also served as a Naval Attache to Cambodia. He was the first commanding officer and founder of two of the military's premier counter-terrorist units: SEAL Team SIX and Red Cell. The legendary SEAL Team SIX engaged in highly classified missions from Central America to the Middle East, the North Sea to Africa and beyond.

Commanding Red Cell, Marcinko was directed to use his team to test the Navy's anti-terrorist capabilities. The result: he was able to infiltrate seemingly impenetrable, highly secured bases, nuclear submarines, ships and other purported "secure areas", including the US Presidential plane Air Force One. In doing so he embarrased several superior officers, whom he accuses for his conviction of misappropriation of funds and resources under his command. His experiences led to the New York Times-best-selling autobiography Rogue Warrior, and subsequent sequels, co-written with John Weisman.

He now is CEO and runs a security consulting firm in Washington, DC – SOS Temps, Inc. – a private security consulting firm whose clients have included the Detroit Metropolitan Airport, the White House Fellows and the U.S. Army War College. His motivational and team-building company – Richard Marcinko, Inc. – counts among its clients General Motors, AT&T, Dominos Pizza, Motorola, Benfield-Blanche Insurance, Zachry Construction and BellSouth. Through Eastern Michigan University Marcinko provides graduate level presentation on topics such as terrorism, security and the adaptation of Modern Technology. He also has a talk radio show America on Watch with Dick Marcinko.