The people who comprise Equitas
The strength of Equitas is not the age of the company. It is the operational command experience, professional reputation and trusted international relationships of the individuals who lead it.
Operational security
Eric Barnard
Chief Executive Officer · Risk AdvisorEric is a former federal law enforcement executive and U.S. diplomat with more than 25 years of experience in investigations, intelligence, international operations and risk management. His leadership assignments included DEA Country Attaché in Paraguay, Assistant Country Attaché in Ecuador, and Resident Agent in Charge in the Caribbean.
He has led complex investigations and specialized vetted units targeting transnational organized crime, money laundering, threat finance and narcotics trafficking. He has served in liaison assignments with U.S. intelligence agencies and trained foreign counterparts in tactics, investigations, intelligence, operational planning and risk assessment.
Fluent in Spanish, Eric brings extensive experience working alongside law enforcement, intelligence, military, diplomatic and private-sector partners throughout the United States and Latin America.
- 25+ Years
- DEA Country Attaché · Paraguay
- Assistant Country Attaché · Ecuador
- Resident Agent in Charge · Caribbean
- English · Spanish
Operational security
Mark Budzise
Chief Financial Officer · Business OperationsMark is a seasoned business executive with more than 35 years of experience in business operations, financial management, accounting oversight, organizational leadership and strategic decision-making.
Throughout his career he has managed the financial and operational demands of businesses while leading teams, controlling costs, overseeing budgets and accounts, and supporting long-term growth.
As Chief Financial Officer, Mark provides the financial discipline and operational leadership that underpin sound business practice, effective resource management, accountability and sustainable growth across the organization.
- 35+ Years
- Financial Management
- Accounting Oversight
- Business Operations
- Organizational Leadership
Operational security
Ric M. Bachour
PrincipalRic is a former senior federal law enforcement executive with more than 27 years of law enforcement service and 23 years of military service. His career includes senior DEA leadership, international diplomatic assignments, covert operations, counter-narcoterrorism, money laundering, threat finance and transnational organized crime investigations.
As a DEA Country Attaché, Ric oversaw operations across Europe and West Africa and helped establish the first U.S.–France International Joint Investigative Team targeting Hezbollah’s European money-laundering network. He has led major international investigations and worked extensively throughout Europe, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and the Middle East.
A retired U.S. Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer, Ric is fluent in Arabic and French, with working knowledge of Spanish.
- 27 Years Law Enforcement
- 23 Years Military
- DEA Country Attaché · Europe & West Africa
- USMC Chief Warrant Officer (Ret.)
- Arabic · French · English · Spanish
Operational security
Christine A. Hanley
Principal · Executive Protection SpecialistChristine is a former senior federal law enforcement professional with more than 26 years of experience in executive protection, complex investigations, intelligence, counterterrorism, anti-money laundering and international operations.
Her career includes service with the U.S. Secret Service and DEA, including presidential advance security assignments, the DEA Executive Protection Detail, and diplomatic assignments as Assistant and Acting Country Attaché in Belgium.
She later served in DEA’s Special Operations Division supporting sensitive operations throughout Europe and Africa. Today she specializes in discreet, intelligence-driven executive protection, protective intelligence, threat assessment and risk mitigation for high-profile individuals, corporate leaders and organizations.
- 26+ Years
- U.S. Secret Service · Presidential Advance
- DEA Executive Protection Detail
- Assistant & Acting Country Attaché · Belgium
- DEA Special Operations Division
Operational security
Greg Bryan
Police Advisor · ConsultantGreg is a law enforcement and public safety professional with more than 30 years of combined experience, including 23 years in patrol operations and 8 years in criminal investigations.
His career includes extensive frontline experience responding to critical incidents and investigating robberies, burglaries, aggravated assaults, shootings and other violent crimes. He specializes in violent-crime investigation, offender apprehension, crime-trend analysis, threat identification, Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), security and vulnerability assessments, and emergency-response planning.
Drawing on decades of real-world policing and investigative experience, he advises organizations on practical strategies to reduce criminal opportunity, strengthen security and public safety, protect people and property, and mitigate operational risk and liability.
- 30+ Years Combined
- 23 Years Patrol Operations
- 8 Years Criminal Investigations
- CPTED Practitioner
- Violent Crime · Threat Identification
Operational security
Sal Pietripaoli
Principal · Border & Executive Protection SpecialistSal is a security and protective operations professional with more than 30 years of experience in executive protection, protective intelligence, advanced tactics and high-risk operations. A former U.S. Marine with a background in the scout sniper community, he has directed security for high-profile clients worldwide and coordinated complex operations with U.S. and foreign agencies.
His expertise includes border and operational security, executive protection, threat recognition, mission planning, risk assessment and advanced defensive tactics. Sal has also trained law enforcement elite units and protective professionals, bringing a disciplined, intelligence-driven approach to identifying threats, mitigating risk, and protecting people and operations.
- 30+ Years
- U.S. Marine Corps · Scout Sniper Community
- Border & Operational Security
- Protective Intelligence · Mission Planning
- Elite Unit Instruction
Operational security
Derek Nadalina
Executive Protection SpecialistDerek is a former U.S. special operations professional with more than 20 years of experience in high-risk operations, executive protection and protective intelligence.
His career includes service with the First Ranger Battalion, executive protection assignments supporting senior Joint Special Operations Command leaders, and more than a decade as an operator in a tier-one special unit.
He specializes in executive protection, protective intelligence, threat assessment, mission planning and high-risk operations. Derek also advises organizations and trains executive protection professionals, law enforcement personnel and specialized teams, bringing extensive real-world operational experience to protecting people and managing risk in complex environments.
- 20+ Years
- First Ranger Battalion
- JSOC Leadership Protection
- Tier-One Special Unit Operator
- Protective Intelligence · Mission Planning
Operational security
Joseph A. Cafarelli
International Law Enforcement AdvisorJoseph is a senior law enforcement professional with more than 35 years of policing, tactical operations, leadership and international advisory experience.
A former Chief of Police, SWAT Commander, U.S. Marine and intelligence specialist, Joe has extensive experience developing police operations, training programs, emergency response capabilities and tactical teams.
He has served internationally as a senior law enforcement and patrol police advisor, working directly with foreign police leadership to develop policy, leadership, tactical capabilities and professional standards. Joe has also trained foreign law enforcement personnel in counterterrorism, crisis response, active-shooter response, tactical command and specialized police operations, bringing decades of command and operational experience to strengthening law enforcement capabilities worldwide.
- 35+ Years
- Former Chief of Police
- SWAT Commander
- U.S. Marine · Intelligence Specialist
- International Police Advisor
Operational security
Miguel Angel Godinez Munoz
Violent Crime & Transnational Crime SpecialistMiguel is a senior law enforcement and criminal justice professional with extensive experience combating violent crime, organized crime, money laundering, human trafficking and international fugitives.
As the first Attorney General of the State of Guerrero, Mexico, he led security strategies credited with significant reductions in homicides and kidnappings in Acapulco. Previously, as an INTERPOL International Agent, Miguel coordinated extraditions and operations targeting high-priority fugitives.
He also served as a Federal Organized Crime Prosecutor specializing in money laundering, and has worked internationally with the United Nations and UNODC on transnational organized crime, human trafficking, security policy and anti-impunity initiatives. Miguel holds a Doctorate in Criminal Policy and is the author of El Orgullo de Ser Policía.
- First Attorney General · Guerrero, Mexico
- INTERPOL International Agent
- Federal Organized Crime Prosecutor
- United Nations · UNODC
- Doctorate in Criminal Policy
Discretion is part of the work.
Members of our leadership have conducted covert operations and continue to support protective and sensitive assignments internationally. Publishing photographs would compromise that work and the partners who rely on it.
Full biographies, credentials and professional references — including endorsements from former ministers, senior government officials and commissioners — are available directly to prospective clients where appropriate and authorized.
Speak directly with the principals.
Engagements at Equitas are led by the people described on this page — not delegated after the pitch.