Mr. Armstrong currently serves as the Lead Instructor for Firearms Intelligence and Investigations for 5 Stones intelligence.
Mr. Armstrong began his law enforcement career in 1986 as a Special Agent with the U.S. Customs Service in Marathon, Florida where he conducted narcotics investigations and operated a high-speed narcotics interceptor vessel. Mr. Armstrong joined ATF in 1987 as a Special Agent and was assigned to Fort Lauderdale, Florida Field Office where he investigated firearms trafficking, armed violent crime and criminal organizations, arson and bombings. Mr. Armstrong also served as the ATF Violent Crimes and Firearms Trafficking Programs Manager and Branch Chief in Washington, DC for 3 years. Mr. Armstrong served as the Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) of ATF’s Boston Field Division from 2013 to 2015 where he managed 12 criminal enforcement groups comprised of more than 100 Special Agents and Task Force Officers who enforced Federal law related to firearms, explosives, and arson throughout the New England Region. Mr. Armstrong was a member of ATFs Special Agent Supervisory Staff overseeing his agencies role in the initial response and subsequent investigation of the Boston Marathon Bombings in 2013.
Mr. Armstrong’s additional experience includes serving as a member of ATF’s Miami Special Response Tactical Team; the Assistant Team Leader of the Louisville Special Response Tactical Team; Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge in Louisville, Kentucky; Boston, Massachusetts; Miami, Florida; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and the US Virgin Islands; and an instructor at the ATF Special Response Team training facility at Fort McClellan, Alabama, the ATF National Academy at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia, the International Law Enforcement Academy in Budapest, Hungary, the ATF Firearms Trafficking Course and Complex Investigations Course, and the Maine Criminal Justice Academy. Mr. Armstrong helped pioneer ATF’s efforts to combat Internet based illegal firearms trafficking and Mr. Armstrong’s past investigations resulted in U.S. Supreme Court case law (U.S. v. Smith, 957 F.2d 835 1992, aff’d 508 US 1993) which was covered on Dateline NBC episodes. Mr. Armstrong is a recognized Subject Matter Expert (SME) and distinguished author regarding weapons and explosives. He produced a number of ATF’s National policies as well as the ATF publication entitled “Guide to Investigating Illegal Firearms Trafficking” with editions in 1998 and 2009.
In recognition of accomplishment throughout his career, Mr. Armstrong was the recipient of 18 Sustained Superior Performance Awards, 9 Special Act Awards, the 2008 ATF Supervisor of the Year Award, the Secretary of Treasury’s Certificate Award from Treasury Secretary Rubin in 1997; a Vice Presidential National Performance Review “Hammer” Award presented by Vice President Gore in 1997; and a runner-up finalist in the Harvard University/Ford Foundation – Innovations in American Government Award presented by David Gergen in 1997. In 2016 Mr. Armstrong was inducted into the Westfield State University Criminal Justice Alumni Hall of Fame.
Mr. Armstrong served on a number of committees to include the Federal Executive Association of Southern Maine where he served as President during 2012 and 2013, the Maine Project Safe Neighborhoods Executive Committee, the Maine Chiefs of Police Association, the Palm Beach County Florida Criminal Justice Commission, the Palm Beach County Chiefs of Police Association, the Palm Beach County Law Enforcement Planning Council, the Palm Beach County Weed and Seed Executive Committee, and the Palm Beach County Pandemic Flu Planning Committee.
Mr. Armstrong earned a bachelor’s degree from Westfield State College in 1985 and is a Certified Protection Professional (CPP) through the American Society of Industrial Security (ASIS) as well as a certified Federal instructor. In 2018 Mr. Armstrong published a textbook entitled FIREARMS TRAFFICKING – A Guide for Criminal Investigators that is currently available through lulu.com, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Books-A-Million and this text is currently in use by several colleges for courses on firearms trafficking and armed crime investigation. Mr. Armstrong also currently serves as an Adjunct Faculty Member at the Southern Maine Community College where he teaches courses on intelligence analysis and security management. Mr. Armstrong is an extraordinary talented leader who delivers exceptional service solutions to 5 Stones’ Clients.