John Suraj PersadThe author is of East Indian Descent, born in England to Jamaican and Guyanese East Indian immigrant parents. His father served in the RAF during WW2, and his mother trained as a nurse and teacher. John has a diverse background and was educated in th British and American systems. His education includes the Cambridge University Examinations, a Bachelor's degree in Technical Management (BSTM), a Post-Bachelor certification as a Paralegal, a Master's in International Policy and Practice (MIPP) from The George Washington University, Elliott School of International Affairs, and numerous military and civilian courses. His academic tracks heavily concentrate on Transnational Security, Strategic Leadership, Aviation, and International Policy. John is a former Chief Warrant Officer in the United States Army Aviation Corps, a graduate of the US Army Warrant Officer Career College, US Army Aviation Flight Academy, US Army Intelligence School, US Army Combat Readiness Center, and holds Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certifications as a Flight Engineer (FE), Commercial Pilot (CP), and Airline Transport Pilot (ATP). He is dual-rated as an aviator in Helicopters and Airplanes and held career positions as an Aviation Safety Officer, Intelligence FW Pilot, Electronic Warfare Officer, and Flight Operations Officer. John has been deployed for many operations worldwide, and in his last assignment, he served in Europe and Asia, where he changed careers and went to UPS Airlines as a commercial cargo pilot, flying the DC8, B757, and B767-300ER platforms internationally. During his civilian aviation career, John volunteered for training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center to be a Deputized Federal Aviation Law Enforcement Officer assigned under the Department of Homeland Security. John is a disabled American veteran who is extremely thankful and proud of his service to the United States Army and is currently medically retired from United Parcel Service Airlines. He brings to this book the perspective of an immigrant coming to his adopted country, embracing the nation's core values, and being fully engaged. John continues service today as a security and leadership consultant, volunteers as a training advisor to the Boone Police Department in NC, and advises several foreign clients on strategic leadership, corporate security, and risk management. John is a member of the Rotary Club and the Military Officers Association of America, where he and his wife assist veterans in various capacities. John is happily retired with his wife Gerarda (CDR. USPHS. Ret), whom he met during their early Army careers. John often jokes, "The Army gave me a life and issued me a wife." They have two sons and a close nephew in their circle. His oldest son and nephew are former and retired Army, respectively. His oldest son is finishing his MBA studies, and the youngest son has recently graduated from Law School. Together, John and Gerarda have five grandchildren, and when not traveling the world, they hang their hats in North Carolina and Florida. Read More Read Less