Mr. Richard Sanoske

Mr. Sanoske is a United States Army veteran with over 20 years of service, fifteen years of which were with the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) and Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC).  Mr. Sanoske served nearly 7 years with the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-D (1st SFOD-D), which was his last unit of assignment.

While with 1st SOD-D, Mr. Sanoske served as the Principal Advisor for Personnel Recovery Operations to the Commander and Operations Officer. Mr. Sanoske was instrumental in the transformation of US DoD policy in regards to Personnel Recovery Operations.  He initiated a complete review of the Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) of Personnel Recovery operations conducted by the USSOCOM and JSOC communities.  His efforts resulted in the complete revision of training programs for the JSOC community and he authored a strategy to solve the capability gaps to the DoD Theater Personnel Recovery Plans. Due to his strong Special Operations and Unconventional Warfare background, Mr. Sanoske is extremely knowledgeable in the classified aspects of Unconventional Recovery and Non-conventional Recovery operations. He managed Global Operations for 1st SFOD-D, including Operational Deployments, Research and Development activities / Initiatives, Exchange Training with Foreign Militaries, and Intelligence Operations in support of National Command Authority Objectives.  Mr. Sanoske conducted Inter-Agency Coordination with the Office of the SECDEF (OSD), Department of State, Central Intelligence Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, US Allies and Coalition Partners.  Mr. Sanoske regularly conducted Briefings to Senior General Officers, Ambassadors, Federal, State and Local Government Officials.

Included in Mr. Sanoske’s Special Operations background, are a total of 9 years of subject matter expertise in Counter-Terrorism (CT), Anti-Terrorism, Hostage Rescue, and Counter-Proliferation operations. Mr. Sanoske began his CT career as an Assaulter and Breacher on Counter-Terrorism and Hostage Rescue teams. He was also assigned to the SOUTHERN COMMAND (SOUTHCOM) Regional Survey team where he advised Ambassadors, Diplomatic Security Officers, and Station Chiefs of US Embassies and Consulates in the SOUTHCOM Theater.  Mr. Sanoske conducted over 10 x security assessments in the SOUTHCOM region and received Letters of Commendation from the Ambassador’s of Honduras, Ecuador, and El Salvador.

Mr. Sanoske has 3 x combat tours to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  On his first tour, Mr. Sanoske’s team assisted in the training and development of a Kurdish CT force; conducted target reconnaissance of the Ansar Al Islam Terrorist Camp in Sargat, Iraq and subsequently led 1000 Peshmerga on Operation Viking Hammer – the largest Special Operations Assault mission since the Vietnam War. As a result of his team’s actions, they earned three Silver Stars and 6 x Bronze Star w/”V” devices.  In the summer of 2003, Mr. Sanoske was selected to personally represent all of Army SOF in a series of individual back briefs on US Army Special Forces Operations in Iraq to the US House and Senate Armed Services Committees; the Deputy Secretary of Defense; the Counter Terrorism Advisor and Director to the National Security Counsel; the Director of Intelligence to the Office of the Secretary of Defense; the Secretary of the Army; the Under Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict, and the ASD SOLIC.  Along with the aforementioned combat tours, Mr. Sanoske deployed on the first combat deployment to Afghanistan in 2001 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom with the 1st SFOD-D and served nine months in support of Desert Shield/Desert Storm in 1990-1991.

Following are some of the awards and badges received by Mr. Sanoske:  Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal; Army Commendation Medal (7 Awards); Joint Service Achievement Medal; Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia); Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait); Southwest Asia Service Medal w/2 bronze stars; Iraq Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Medal; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal;  Afghanistan Campaign Medal; The Presidential Unit Citation; The Joint Meritorious Unit Citation; Combat Infantryman’s Badge; Master Parachutist Badge; Peruvian Jumpmaster wings; Colombian Operator’s Training Course Badge; and Special Forces Tab.

Mr. Sanoske holds an MBA from George Mason University, a Bachelor’s of Science in Security Management and Terrorism Studies and an Associate of Arts in Spanish.

Detailed Resume provided to Clients upon request.