International Business Committee Meeting 9/26/19

Join us as we host Chris DeGuelle: 
Director, Louisiana Business Emergency Operations Center
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Chris DeGuelle is responsible for guiding the operations of the Louisiana Business Emergency Operations Center (LABEOC.org), a cooperative agreement between the Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, Louisiana Economic Development, and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette to improve the ability of businesses and non-profits to prepare for, respond to, and recovery from disaster. He also serves on the Public Sector and Economic Development Committee of the Louisiana Cybersecurity Commission, the Louisiana Transportation Supply Chain Committee, and the Editorial Review Board of the FBI National Academy magazine.
Prior to joining the University, Chris served 24 years in the United States Air Force, retiring in the grade of Colonel with assignments in Europe, Asia, and throughout the United States.  He deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, Africa, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, and Qatar. In 2013, he led a multi-national Joint Task Force conducting counter-terror operations, Afghan Army and Police training, and economic development missions in Parwan Province. The actions of the Task Force were highlighted by National Geographic Channel.  Throughout his career Chris led numerous high-risk, no-fail counter-terror operations, high profile investigations to include suicide bombings and senior leader misconduct, and led the Air Force’s premier Airborne/Air Assault capable contingency response force. In his final assignment, he oversaw six diverse divisions managing training, a global security operations center, risk management assessment teams, UAS research and development, and major weapons acquisition and fielding programs.  He retired in September 2018 to move to Louisiana so his daughter could focus on her gymnastics career training under 2012 US Olympian Savannah Vinsant.
Chris is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy, the FBI Executive Development Seminar, the Air War College, and the United Kingdom Defence College of Intelligence Counter-Sabotage Surveyor course.