Bob Kierstead is a senior security operations executive with wide-ranging experience in conducting complex transnational investigations, executive protection, and major security event planning. He currently works as the Director Corporate Investigations for a large U.S. financial institution, where he oversees investigations, asset protection, and executive protection. Bob previously served as the Special Agent in Charge (SAIC) of the U.S. Secret Service’s Seattle District, where he was responsible for directing all the agency’s protective and investigative missions in an expansive region encompassing Washington, Oregon, Montana, Alaska, and Idaho. As the Secret Service’s top-ranking official in the district, Bob led a multitude of successful cybercrime investigations, dignitary visits, and protective intelligence (threat) cases. Bob previously served as supervisory special agent on the Presidential Protective Division (PPD) and the Special Operations Division (SOD).
Bob’s transition to the corporate security sector began in 2019, when he developed and implemented an executive protection program for Starbucks’ Chairman Emeritus Howard Schultz during a high-profile public schedule including CNN and Fox News’
Town Hall events. Bob currently works in a variety of corporate security enterprises. He holds master’s degrees from the Naval Postgraduate School (MA-Security Studies) and Johns Hopkins University (MS-Management) and earned his bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University. Bob is also a Certified Protection Professional (CPP).
