FOUNDER TO THE PROFILE
Principal and Lead Investigator, Global Intelligence Consultants, Inc
“I attribute my success to the discipline, resilience, and adaptability I developed throughout my career. I spent seven years serving in the U.S. Army, including in Special Operations, followed by 15 years as a Department of State contract covert operative, where I worked in association with various government agencies and entities. These experiences taught me to remain focused under pressure, adapt to complex and challenging environments, and approach every responsibility with professionalism, discretion, and a strong commitment to mission success.”
Dr. Michael Barbieri serves as Principal and Lead Investigator along with his wife Efrat Barbieri at Global Intelligence Consultants, Inc., a firm he founded approximately 30 years ago following a distinguished career in government service. With four decades of experience in private investigations and security consulting, he oversees a team of approximately 20 investigators in St. Louis, and Boca Raton along with a global network of roughly 1,500 private professional contractors. His work encompasses complex national and international investigations, including corporate espionage, international kidnapping and recovery operations, insurance fraud, executive protection, major criminal investigations, murder investigations, and cold cases across more than 20 countries. Before establishing Global Intelligence Consultants, Dr. Barbieri spent seven years as a Special Operator in the U.S. Army and subsequently served for 15 years as a contract covert operative with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security, supporting assignments under the Bush administrations. His extensive training and government experience have included work with federal, state, and international law enforcement and security organizations. He maintains professional affiliations with organizations including ASIS, the International Bodyguard Association, the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC), and the International Protective Security Board. His expertise has also been featured in publications and media outlets, and he has received letters of recognition from Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. Dr. Barbieri earned his undergraduate degree from Saint Louis University and a board-certified Ph.D. in Psychology from Pacific Western University in 1985. Throughout his career, he has emphasized disciplined, evidence-based investigations and the importance of approaching each case without preconceived notions, allowing the evidence to guide conclusions. He attributes his professional success to the discipline, resilience, and experience gained through his military and government service. In both his professional and personal life, he is guided by three core values: God, country, and family, in that order.
IN HIS OWN WORDS
I attribute my success to the discipline, resilience, and adaptability I developed throughout my career. I spent seven years serving in the U.S. Army, including in Special Operations, followed by 15 years as a Department of State contract covert operative, where I worked in association with various government agencies and entities. These experiences taught me to remain focused under pressure, adapt to complex and challenging environments, and approach every responsibility with professionalism, discretion, and a strong commitment to mission success.
The best career advice I have ever received came from my Department of State handler, Special Agent James T. Sanford: never approach an investigation with preconceived notions about what happened. Instead, remain objective, follow the facts, and let the evidence lead you to the source and the truth. That guidance has stayed with me throughout my career and reinforced the importance of patience, critical thinking, and allowing evidence rather than assumptions to shape my conclusions.
My advice to young men entering this industry is to never approach an investigation with preconceived notions about what happened. Keep an open mind, remain objective, and allow the evidence to guide you toward the facts and ultimately the source of what took place. The most important thing is to let the evidence speak for itself rather than allowing assumptions to influence your judgment.
Some of the biggest challenges in our field right now is acquiring some of the best Private Investigator in the World. We try to draw from retired Federal Special Agents from all areas of expertise.
The values that are most important to me in both my work and personal life are God, country, and family, in that order. These principles guide how I conduct myself, the decisions I make, and the way I approach my responsibilities, relationships, and service to others.
PERSPECTIVES
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