Stillwater52
Richard Podkowski, retired supervisory U.S. Secret Service special agent, has over twenty years of federal law enforcement experience. He provided domestic and international personal protection and coordination of advance security plans for U.S. Presidents, senior government officials, foreign heads of state, and major events. Richard also has extensive experience investigating and suppressing foreign and domestic organized crime, protecting the U.S. financial critical infrastructure, supporting Homeland Security, and other protective intelligence initiatives. A fluent Polish speaker, he traveled extensively in Eastern Europe on both investigative and protective missions.
His transition to the private sector began in security management with the former Philip Morris USA, where Richard’s team was responsible for brand protection, including securing the supply chain. He investigated domestic and international contraband cigarette trafficking and cargo theft, working closely with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
Next, Richard founded Stillwater Consultants, a private investigations and risk management firm. Capitalizing on the expertise he developed with the Secret Service and Philip Morris, he specialized in enterprise risk mitigation assessments for high-net-worth individuals and corporations, including an international liquor brand, global insurer, the public transit system of a major city, and the estate of an international rock star, to name a few. Close protection services were provided to well-known public and private individuals.
In 2023, Richard unveiled his creative talents with the publication of his award-winning debut novel, The Walk-On. He definitely prefers writing fiction over investigative reports. Stillwater52 provides law enforcement SME to writers and the entertainment industry. Whether in the writers room for an episodic or feature film, on set, outlining a story or content editing your draft, Richard can help you ensure an authentic experience for your viewers and readers.
Stillwater52’s strategic partner to guide you in bringing your story to the screen is Bogner Entertainment, production specialists. Eager to help others bring their stories to life, Richard is teeming with ideas based on his unique work experiences including:
- Moscow during the Reagan and Gorbachev summit meetings
- Warsaw and Krakow, during the final days of communism
- Beijing and the Forbidden City, only days before the Tiananmen Square protests
- Cairo on the eve of Operation Desert Storm
- Cartagena for the multi-lateral Columbian Drug Summit
- Dismantling an international organized financial crime group in Chicago.
Areas of Expertise
- Protective intelligence and executive protection, including protection of the President of the United States, senior government officials, major event venues, and support of Homeland Security objectives
- Development and oversight of criminal investigations involving critical financial infrastructure, various financial frauds, counterfeit currency, and multi-agency law enforcement task force operations
- Collaboration and liaison with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies
- Facilities risk and vulnerability assessments, strategic technical and physical security operations planning
- Private sector executive and major event protection, strategic security planning and implementation for high net worth clients and family offices, travel security, protective intelligence and situational awareness coordination
(312) 833-3565
Los Angeles