Biography of Author Dan Misiaszek

Author Daniel Misiaszek has 30 years of public safety training and experience, beginning with his roots as a paramedic firefighter in New York, his military service in the US Army airborne infantry, his distinguished career with the San Marcos, Texas PD, and his overseas work in high threat protection as a contractor with Blackwater providing personal protection services.

Daniel Misiaszek started his career as a paramedic in upstate New York. Misiaszek worked for four years in the field including the trauma unit of the Faxton-St. Luke Hospital, Utica. When he left the trauma unit, Misiaszek joined the United States Army and served as an orthopedic technician at the Darnel Army Community Hospital. Misiaszek next attended the Officer Candidate helicopter flight school. In 1987 Misiaszek was injured in a parachuting accident, received a medical discharge and joined the San Marcos Police Department.

Misiaszek progressed rapidly, achieving the rank of police corporal in just three years. Misiaszek's talent and ability gained him recognition. In 1995 Misiaszek was selected to serve in the department's criminal investigation division and supervised the collision investigation team for ten years. This team of ten police officers was skilled at and responsible for the reconstruction of major accidents involving serious bodily injury or death. By October 1999 Misiaszek had become a police sergeant and worked as a shift supervisor, firearms instructor and range master until his retirement in 2006.

Misiaszek has always had a love of scuba diving so it was not a far stretch for him to create the San Marcos Area Recovery Team (SMART) diver program. Misiaszek commanded the SMART for 16 years while performing dive recovery operations throughout the state of Texas. SMART performed underwater searches and located evidence to help law enforcement agencies in accidents, missing persons and crimes involving underwater investigations. Misiaszek once stayed underwater for more than 60 hours as part of a fundraising event for SMART. This underwater accomplishment was a new world record for the longest open water scuba.

During his distinguished police career (1987 to 2006), Misiaszek served as a field training officer, hostage negotiator, detective, shift supervisor, criminal intelligence officer, firearms and tactics instructor, range master, and fatality collision investigator.

Upon his retirement from law enforcement as a sergeant in 2006, Daniel Misiaszek deployed overseas as a Blackwater contractor to provide high-threat protection and diplomatic security. In addition, Misiaszek served as the Blackwater range master and Blackwater firearms instructor supporting high-threat protection missions in Baghdad, Iraq. Misiaszek currently serves as a certified firearms instructor and range master. Misiaszek supervises the day-to-day, live-fire qualification and training courses for the high-threat protection personnel overseas. Misiaszek is responsible for the logistical services for the firing range which host multiple military and contracted units, as well as the many multinational embassies and coalition partners. Misiaszek works closely with logistical personnel to keep the range operations supplied, maintained, and operating safely 365 days a year. Misiaszek is a highly trained personal protection contractor and served on several security teams in Baghdad prior to his appointment as range master in April 2008.

Author Dan Misiaszek lives with his wife Kathy on a small ranch in central Texas. Kathy Misiaszek is a 15-year veteran police officer, currently a detective in CID working crimes against children. The Misiaszeks have raised four children.

Misiaszek has several awards, certifications and training to his credit:

National & International Awards:

• 2003 World Record Holder, Longest SCUBA Dive (Guinness Book of World Records)
• National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Foundation, Washington DC, Officer of the Month, April 2004
• Law Enforcement Awards: Police Medal of Honor, Police Commendation Medal, Life Saving Medal, 3 Distinguished Service awards, Distinguished Career Service

Law Enforcement Certifications, Licenses, Training:

• BFFOC-Basic Field Firearms Officer Course (Firearms Instructor) 2006
• WPPS- Worldwide Personal Protection Specialist, High Threat 2006
• Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Team (ALERRT)
• Graduate - National Intelligence Academy, Coral Springs, FL
• Master Peace Officer 2003
• Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor Proficiency 1999
• Advanced Collision Investigator & Reconstruction 1996
• Police Instructor Proficiency 1995
• Advanced Peace Officer 1994
• Intermediate Peace Officer 1994
• Hostage Negotiator 1994
• Field Training Officer 1990
• Basic Peace Officer 1988
• Peace Officer License 1988
• NY State EMT/Paramedic 1982
• Associates Degree - Photography/Journalism 1981
• Firefighter certification NY State 1980

Military Duty Stations: HHC 1st Army Infantry Training Brigade, Martin Hospital, Ft. Benning, GA, 2/41 Mech Infantry, Ft. Hood TX, MEDDAC Darnel Army Community Hospital, Ft. Hood, TX

MILITARY AWARDS: Army Achievement Medal, Expert Rifle/Grenade, Army Drill Team Recognition, Highest Academics-MCT & EOCT, Airborne Wings, 175 score FAST testing. Honorable discharge.