About Spartan Group / Program Directors
Spartan Group's Risk Management and Applied Training & Consulting Divisions are overseen by the Operations Director. This person is responsible for all Senior Level Instructors who are former members of the US Army Special Forces and Special Operations Community. They have proved themselves to be the best trained and most capable leaders in the industry. All Senior Instructors have served extensively in the units responsible for the specific skills they now teach. Each Instructor has extensive operational experience in crafts they teach to the client. Some of the strongest assets of our members are their vast experience, skills, and knowledge as not only instructors but also as course developers.
Spartan Group Program Directors
Director of Operations / Senior Advisor - John Thurston
John is a twenty-three year veteran of the US Army Special Forces and US Army Rangers where he served as both a non-commissioned officer and commissioned officer. He has served on and led Special Forces “A” Detachments operating throughout Europe, Asia and Africa and was responsible for the training and deployment of over 1,000 combat troops. In addition to his extensive experience as an operational team member, John served with the Special Operations Command and Control Detachment for combat operations in Somalia. John was also a key member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff directed (CINCPAC IN EXTREMIS) counter terrorist force operating throughout the Asian Theater of operations and has advised and instructed foreign and domestic national level assets in all facets of counter terrorism, high risk facility security measures, and hostage rescue. John was recruited and selected to lead sensitive project missions throughout Cold War Era Europe and is an expert on HUMINT (Human intelligence collection). John currently serves as the Director of Operations and Senior Advisor and is the absolute expert at full realm security surveys and testing protocols.
President - Director of Applied Training & Consulting - Frank N. Rossi
Frank Rossi has served three combat tours with the US Army Special Forces in Afghanistan. In 2002, Frank was the Senior Advisor to the Afghan Counter Terrorist Pursuit Team (3rd Commando) operating throughout the Helmand and Kandahar provinces. During his tour in 2006, he was a member of the joint USSF/SAS embedded combat advisor team for the United Arab Emirates Special Operations Forces, and most recently in 2009 he served as Senior Advisor to the Afghan Task Force Khowst and the Afghan Tier One Unit (2nd Commando) Kandak operating throughout Southeastern Afghanistan. As a Senior Weapons Specialist assigned to an “A” Detachment he has also operated throughout Central and South America where he trained and advised military and police units in counter narcotics and various special operations parameters. As Committee Chief assigned to the Special Operations Training - Detachment (SOT-D), he has been instrumental in the training of US Special Operations forces in Close Quarters Battle and supporting skills. Frank currently serves as the Commander for the Newark (NJ) Police Special Operations Division / SWAT Element. The unit’s missions include counter terrorism, hostage rescue, and high risk warrant entry. Frank has served on numerous protection details throughout the US and overseas and has trained Dignitary Protection Units in all facets of the protection mission. He holds a Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology from Appalachian State University and has been involved in research pertaining to the unique nutritional and physical requirements of elite special operations forces.
Project Manager Risk Management Division - Daryl Conrad
Daryl Conrad is a combat veteran of the US Army Special Forces having served in Afghanistan in 2003 as a Senior Advisor to the Tier 1 Afghan Counter Terrorist Pursuit Team operating from Kabul. He has also served in the capacity of Senior Weapons Sergeant on an “A” Detachment where he was deployed to South America to advise and train numerous foreign special operations forces. Daryl has been instrumental in the development of the Special Operations Training - Detachment (SOT-D) serving as a Committee Chief and NCOIC where he directly supervised advanced special operations training continuously for over the last ten years. Prior to his selection to Special Forces, Daryl was a member of the United States Marine Corps having served with the 8th Marines during the Lebanon conflict. During his service in the Marine Corps, Daryl was also selected, trained and assigned to a Scout/Sniper Team and later served as a Scout/Sniper Instructor. Daryl has operated in the capacity of Protection Agent for numerous protection details throughout the US and has trained Dignitary Protection Units in Counter Sniper and Surveillance Operations.
Program Director - Tactical Operations - Eric Jude
Eric Jude has had an extensive career operating in various capacities within the US Army Special Forces. As a senior weapons specialist assigned to an Operational Detachment – Alpha (ODA), he trained, assisted and advised numerous foreign military and police units throughout the Middle East and North Africa. In 2002, his team deployed to Kosovo in support of the NATO peacekeeping mission and was assigned to the Polish SOF contingent. During a 2006 tour in Afghanistan, Eric served as a Special Forces Team Sergeant where he directed and supervised the joint USSF/SAS combat embedded advisor team for the United Arab Emirates Special Operations Forces operating in combat support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He also served as a Team Sergeant in 2009 tasked with advising and leading of the Tier 1 Afghan 6th Commando Kandak operating in Wardak and Helmand provinces. Eric has also served as the NCOIC of the Special Operations Training – Detachment (SOT-D) where he directly supervised advanced special operations training and is a graduate of the Special Forces Counter Terrorism Course (SFARTAETC). Prior to his selection to Special Forces, Eric was a member of the 1st/501 Parachute Infantry Regiment in Alaska and has served as a sworn Police Officer for the Memphis Police Department where he was assigned to their full time SWAT element.
Project Manager Applied Training & Consulting - Joseph Hudert
Joe Hudert is a combat veteran of three conflicts to include a combat jump as a member of the 82nd Airborne Division during the invasion of Panama. After serving with the 82nd during Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Joe volunteered for and was selected to the US Army Special Forces with whom he deployed for two additional combat tours in the war in Afghanistan. In Afghanistan, Joe served as Master Breacher and advisor to the Afghan Counter Terrorist Pursuit Team (3rd Commando) conducting numerous combat operations throughout Uruzgan and Helmand provinces. As a Demolitions Expert serving on a Special Forces “A” Detachment he trained and advised foreign units in Central Asia and South America in various military skills to include Demolition and Advanced Military Operations in Urban Terrain. He has served in the capacity of Master Breacher at the Special Operations Training – Detachment (SOT-D) and is an expert on all facets of mechanical and explosive entry measures. Joe is a graduate of the Individual Terrorism Awareness Course (INTAC) and the Special Operations Counter Terrorism Course (SFARTAETC).
Program Director - Tactical Operations - Mark Callahan
Mark Callahan has served extensively in various capacities within the US Army Special Forces. As a senior weapons specialist assigned to an Operational Detachment – Alpha (ODA), he trained, assisted, and advised numerous foreign military and police units throughout Central and South America. Mark has served combat tours in Afghanistan in 2003, 2006, and 2009. In his 2006 deployment, Mark served as a Special Forces Team Sergeant where he directed and supervised various SF combat embedded advisors teams assigned to special operations coalition forces to include elements from France, Poland, Romania, and the United Arab Emirates. During 2009 he again served as a Team Sergeant tasked with the advising and leading of the Tier 1 Afghan (2nd Commando) Kandak operating throughout Southeastern Afghanistan. Mark has been assigned as a Committee Chief for the Special Operations Training - Detachment (SOT-D) where he has been instrumental in the training of US Special Operations forces in Close Quarters Battle and supporting skills. Prior to his selection to Special Forces, Mark served with the 3rd Infantry Division in Germany and is a graduate of the Special Operations Counter Terrorism Course (SFARTAETC).
Director of Risk Management Division - Nicholas G. Breiner
With eighteen years of law enforcement expertise, Nick Breiner currently works as a Patrol Sergeant, Firearms Instructor and Tactical Commander for the Belleville (NJ) Emergency Services Unit, of which he is a founding member. He has also served in the United States Air Force Special Operations Command, Air Combat Command and Air Mobility Command as an Intelligence Analyst and as Officer in Charge of Intelligence where he deployed to Afghanistan (ISAF) and was chopped to the US Army’s 82nd Airborne Corps, Turkey (OIF/OEF) and the Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) in support of Overseas Contingency Operations. Nick is also a military certified Antiterrorism Officer and is trained to perform criticality, vulnerability and threat assessments. As a law enforcement trainer, he has developed and implemented courses of instruction in tactical weapons handling, close quarters combat (CQC) and counterterrorism, and has instituted a county-wide training standard for response to the active shooter. In twelve years with the Spartan Group, Nick has served as a Project Manager, Executive Protection Agent in Charge, Logistics Officer and Adjunct Instructor on numerous domestic and overseas contracts. He has trained elite military and law enforcement personnel in marksmanship, CQC and executive protection and currently serves as the Program Director for the Risk Management Division. Nick holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with highest honors and is currently a Master’s candidate in Political Science and International Studies.
Director of Business Marketing - Vincenzo J. Peluso
Vinnie is currently a supervisor in law enforcement for the Newark, NJ Police Department where he has also served as a Detective. He has a background in Business Finance with a B.S. Degree from Montclair State University. He is a proud veteran of the US Air Force as well as the NJ Air National Guard where he served in Desert Shield / Desert Storm. He specialized in coordinating deployments through the Military Airlift Command (MAC). His expertise includes weight ratios, tie-down and palletization of vehicles and equipment as well as qualified in hazardous material compatibility. He is multi-lingual with dual citizenship (EU-ITALY) and has a broad understanding of diverse cultural relations and international affairs.
