Project Director

Michael E. Bennett

Lieutenant Commander Michael Bennett is currently Director and Assistant Professor of Strategic Intelligence Studies at the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT where he teaches courses in Strategic Intelligence, National Security Policy, Terrorism, and Analysis.  He enlisted in the Coast Guard in 1991 and received a Direct Commission in 1998.  He is a 1998 graduate of Webster University in St. Louis, MO where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and Environmental Science, and a 2003 graduate of the Joint Military Intelligence College where he was awarded the Master of Science in Strategic Intelligence (MSSI). His previous assignment was at the Maritime Intelligence Fusion Center Pacific (MIFCPAC) in Alameda, CA where he was Senior Intelligence Analyst and Senior Intelligence Watch Officer overseeing the day to day tactical and operational intelligence support to Coast Guard operational commanders, DHS, DOD, and international partners in the Pacific Theatre spanning over seventy-three million square miles. His professional interests are Strategic Intelligence Studies & Theory; Human Intelligence; Signals Intelligence; Covert, Counter-Intelligence and Clandestine Operations; Transnational and Asymmetric threat including the nexus between terrorism, illegal immigration and narco-trafficking; and the evolving role of Homeland Security Intelligece (HSINT).

He is a member of the International Association for Intelligence Education (IAFIE) and the Association for Intelligence Officers (AFIO). 

Disclaimer:  This research does not reflect the opinions of and is not affiliated with the United States Coast Guard or Coast Guard Academy.  All opinions and reserch are those of the project director and author.

Research Team

Britton R. Henderson

Sandra Hasser Bennett

Dr. Gary Donato

Britton R. Henderson:

Chief Warrant Officer Britton Henderson enlisted in the Coast Guard in 1991 and is presently assigned as a Marine Inspector at Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay in Philadelphia, PA. He is a 2004 graduate of the Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Acadey, 2005 graduate of the Command Master Chief Academy, and a 2006 graduate of the Warrant Officer Academy in New London, CT. His previous assignment before accepting his Commission was as Command Chief and Senior Enlisted Advisor for the Coast Guard Atlantic Strike Team (AST). The AST is one of 3 elite Coast Guard teams attached to the National Stike Force (NSF).  As vital component of the National Response System and homeland security mission, the NSF minimizes the adverse impact to the public and environment from oil discharges, hazardous materials releases, and Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) incidents. Chief Warrant Officer Henderson has distinguished himself durring numerous high visibilty responses to include: the Coast Guard's response to Hurricane's Katrina and Isabel in 2005; the Capitol Hill Ricin Incident in 2004; as a member of the planning and ready response team prepositioned for the Democratic and Republican National Convention's in 2004; SUPERBOWL XL; and the 2005 MLB All-Star Game. Britton is widely recognized and called upon for his response expertise and knowledge of WMD/HAZMAT and has served as a NIMS Incident Command System Program Manager and Instructor for the Coast Guard, and all 16 federal agency members of the National Response Team.  His previous tours of duty include Houston, TX; Oklahoma City, OK; Ketchikan, AK; Fort Dix, NJ; and most recently Philadelphia, PA.

Sandra H. Bennett:

Sandra Hasser Bennett was born and raised in St. Louis, MO and received a B. A. in Management from Webster College.  She became interested in historical research and oral history through genealogy, and it has become a life-long interest taking her in many directions. 

Sandra has written book reviews for the International Migration Review, a scholarly journal tracking mass immigrations, past and present.  An article she wrote describing Lebanese/Syrian immigration to the United States and genealogical research in this area was published in “The Genealogical Helper” and on-line at genealogytoday.com.  Some years ago, the Missouri Committee for the Humanities funded her oral history of the Lebanese and Syrians in St. Louis, and also a public event she developed for that community.  The oral history tapes and transcriptions are in repositories at the St. Louis Public Library and the Smithsonian Institution.  She has also taught genealogy in a community school in St. Louis.

Sandra worked in Monsanto Company’s Government Affairs Department, was Administrative Director of the Chemical Council of Missouri, and was Vice President for Operations of the St. Louis Storm.  She has been an active member of many community boards and in the past has been Chairman of the Botanical Garden Subdistrict Commission and Vice Chairman of St. Louis’ Planned Industrial Expansion Authority.  She also served on the St. Louis City/County Board of Freeholders in 1987-88.  Sandra has an extensive history of involvement in the political arena and ran several citywide election campaigns before joining the staff of Congressman Dick Gephardt in 1992.  She retired in 2003.

Sandra currently has several writing projects in the works.  She and her husband Harry have been married forty-five years, and have 3 grown sons and 4 grandchildren.

Dr. Gary Donato:

Dr. Gary Donato earned his PhD in Political Science and Diplomatic History from the University of Connecticut in 2005.  He also has a Master’s degree in Social Science from Syracuse University and a Master’s equivalent in Strategy and Policy from the Naval War College.  He has a Bachelor of Science specializing in Mechanical Engineering from the University of the State of New York and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Florida Southern College.  His professional interests are the presidency, the relationship between the presidency and congress; the nexus of religion and politics; and American diplomatic history, specifically during the Cold War.  Dr. Donato is a retired naval officer who served on submarines from 1972-1994. Dr. Donato is also a graduate of several in-service intelligence programs and served as Intelligence Officer on his last three submarine assignments as well as the Force Strategic Navigator and assistant Intelligence Officer for Submarine Forces Pacific Fleet.  He also serves as the Vice President of the Norwich Historical Development Corporation and is the Oral Historian for the Norwich Historical Society and for the last 15 years has been an adjunct professor of history and government on the faculty list of several colleges in eastern Connecticut, western Rhode Island and south eastern Massachusetts.  He is a firm believer in recording the voices of those who made history, in elevating the standards of excellence in today’s students and in the ideals of mentorship.