NLECTC Rocky Mountain Staff

Troy D. Krenning, J.D., Center Director
E-mail: Troy.Krenning@nlectc-rm.org

Troy Krenning, J.D. is the Director for the NLECTC-Rocky Mountain. He has over twenty years experience in Law Enforcement as a former police officer, detective and police chief. As Director, Troy oversees the staff, programs and operations of the NLECTC for the ten state Rocky Mountain region.

Prior to his appointment as director, he was an attorney in private practice in Fort Collins, Colorado. Troy previously was associated with NLECTC-Rocky Mountain as the Law Enforcement Program Manager, and prior to that held an appointment with the United States Department of Justice (COPS) in Washington, D.C.

Troy maintains his license to practice law in Colorado, the United States District Court and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. In addition to a Juris Doctor degree, Troy holds an A.A. degree in criminal justice, and a B.S. degree in business administration.

Mandy Jones, Assistant to the Director
E-mail: Mandy.Jones@nlectc-rm.org

Mandy Jones is the Administrative Assistant to the Director and assists in the overall office management of the Center. Ms. Jones manages the student interns, oversees the day to day operations of the front office and assists staff in coordinating meetings and events. Prior to joining the Center, Ms. Jones worked with Director Krenning as a para-legal in a private law practice assisting in the resolution of a number of complex legal cases.

Steve Allison, Assistant Director
E-mail: Steve.Allison@nlectc-rm.org

Steve Allison is an Assistant Director for NLECTC-Rocky Mountain, responsible for management and oversight of Law Enforcement portfolio programs.

Prior to joining NLECTC-Rocky Mountain, Steve spent 32 years with the Denver Police Department (DPD) reaching the rank of Division Chief of Technology and Support Services. His last five years with DPD he held the position of Director of the DPD Crime Laboratory Bureau.

A graduate of Metropolitan State College, Steve earned an M.P.A. at Colorado University.

Steve is a graduate of the 172nd session of the FBI National Academy and is a current member, and past president, of the FBINAA Rocky Mountain Chapter. He also sits on the Board of Directors for several non-profit organizations.

Gene Atherton, Institutions Program Manager
E-mail: gatherton@wildblue.net

Gene Atherton is the Institutions Program Manager for the NLECTC-Rocky Mountain. Gene is currently President of Correctional Consulting Services Group. He previously served 27 years for the Colorado Department of Corrections rising from an entry level position as a correctional officer to Director of Prisons for the Western Region of the state.

For the last 15 years, he has served as a technical assistance consultant and trainer for the National Institute of Corrections on a variety of topics, including the management of high risk offenders, as a consultant on conditions of confinement, security auditing, and use of force. He has served as a co-author of numerous Corrections publications. He has provided evidence in Federal Court as an expert witness on a variety of correctional issues, including conditions of confinement, use of force, unlawful discrimination, and management of high risk offenders.

Gene has a B.A. degree in Social Science/Industrial and Labor Relations from Michigan State University. He currently serves as a member of the Committee on standards for Adult Correctional Institutions for the American Correctional Association.

Dr. Phillip Danielson, Science Advisor
E-mail: Phil.Danielson@nlectc-rm.org

Dr. Phillip Danielson is the Science Advisor for NLECTC-Rocky Mountain. He is responsible for providing scientific evaluations of issues related to the biological and chemical sciences. Together with the officials from a variety of Law Enforcement agencies, prosecutors and state crime laboratories, he has developed training programs for Law Enforcement professionals on the collection and use of DNA evidence in criminal investigations. He has also developed informational seminars for first responders on the real and perceived threats associated with potential acts of chemical and biological terrorism.

In addition to his affiliation with NLECTC-Rocky Mountain, Dr. Danielson has been a professor at the University of Denver for the past 10 years. Prior to taking up his current faculty position, he received research training at the University of Tokyo's Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, the University of Colorado at Boulder's Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology.

A graduate of the University of Denver, Dr. Danielson holds a doctoral degree in biology with an emphasis in Molecular Genetics. Dr. Danielson has worked in collaboration with forensic scientists from the Denver Police Department Crime Laboratory Bureau. His work has been featured in both academic and professional journals and magazines including the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the Scientist magazine, USA Today and Law Enforcement Technology magazine.

George Drake, Community Corrections Program Manager
E-mail: gbdrake@comcast.net

George Drake is the Community Corrections Program Manager for NLECTC-Rocky Mountain. Prior to his current role, he was employed by the New Mexico Corrections Department's Probation and Parole Division. After 25 years of service, he retired as the Division's Deputy Director.

A graduate of Oral Roberts University, George holds a B.A. degree in Psychology. He also holds M.B.A. from New Mexico Highlands University. George is an active member of NIJ's Community Corrections Technical Working Group and also serves on the advisory council of the Office of Law Enforcement Technology Commercialization (OLETC).

George's writings have been published in Corrections Today and in IEEE's Spectrum Journal.

Jennifer Dunne, Public Information Manager
E-mail: Jennifer.Dunne@nlectc-rm.org

Jennifer Dunne is the Public Information Manager for NLECTC-Rocky Mountain. Jennifer is responsible for the public relations, communications and outreach efforts - as well as meeting/conference planning.

She has a B.A. in Technical Journalism with a concentration in Public Relations and an M.S. in Communication Management from Colorado State University (CSU). Jennifer has more than 12 years of experience in all aspects of public relations, communications, marketing and event planning for the non-profit, government and retail sectors.

Grace Fisgus, Administrative Assistant
E-mail: Grace.Fisgus@nlectc-rm.org

Grace Fisgus is the Administrative Assistant for NLECTC-Rocky Mountain, working with the NBSCAB team and performing general office duties.

Prior to joining NLECTC-Rocky Mountain, Grace spent 10 years with Vistar Corp. in their marketing department as administrative assistant and assistant graphic designer. Prior to that, she worked with an advertising agency for five years.

She attended the University of Denver, and has taken graphics courses at Arapahoe Community College.

Grace is Secretary of the Staff Advisory Council at the University of Denver and is the editor of the membership directory and newsletter of a collectibles hobby organization.

Sue Kaessner, Corrections Program Coordinator
E-mail: Sue.Kaessner@nlectc-rm.org

Sue Kaessner is the Corrections Program Coordinator for NLECTC-Rocky Mountain and responsible for all administrative aspects of both Community and Institutional Corrections. Those duties include coordinating meetings, assisting contract employees, and planning and coordinating classes for Corrections agencies.

Sue has been with the University of Denver for almost 20 years. Her previous positions were with the Alumni Office, Conference Meetings and Events and Special Programs.

Sue received her B.A. from the University of Denver, with a major in Communications, minor in Women's Studies.

Jared Keller, Program Manager
E-mail: Jared.Keller@nlectc-rm.org

Jared Keller serves as a Program Manager for NLECTC-Rocky Mountain, and is responsible for the Center's Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) activities. In this capacity, he coordinates the National Institute of Justice's Personal Protective Equipment Technical Working Group, and helps to identify new developments in PPE technology that may be of benefit to Law Enforcement personnel, as well as other first responders.

Prior to joining the PPE Program, Jared worked as a Program Research Analyst, and as a Program Manager/Instructor within NLECTC-Rocky Mountain's Crime Mapping and Analysis Program.

Jared is finishing an M.S. degree in Strategic Intelligence (focusing on Northeast Asian Security Studies, and on Counterterrorism) from American Military University, and also holds a B.A. from the University of Denver.

Jared is a member of numerous homeland security and intelligence-related organizations.

Donald New, Senior Program Manager
E-mail: Don.New@nlectc-rm.org

Don New is a Senior Program Manager for the NLECTC-Rocky Mountain. Currently, Don's work involves explosives research, demonstrations and testing.

Don holds an M.A. degree in Analytical/Atmospheric Chemistry from the University of Denver and has training and certificates in explosive handler safety, 40 Hour Hazardous Waste Site and Emergency Response training and confined space training. He currently holds a Research and Development Explosives Permit for the State of Colorado and a State of Colorado Commercial Drivers License class A.

Don also has active DOD-DSS SECRET clearance.

Joe Russo, Assistant Director
E-mail: Joe.Russo@nlectc-rm.org

Joe Russo is an Assistant Director for the NLECTC-Rocky Mountain. Prior to joining the Center, he was employed by the City of New York for 11 years with the Department of Probation and the Department of Corrections.

A graduate of Marist College, Joe holds a B.S. degree in Criminal Justice. Joe also holds an M.A. degree in Criminal Justice from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Joe is active in a number of committees and working groups and currently serves as chair of the American Probation and Parole Association's Technology Committee, and on the Editorial Committee for the Journal of Offender Monitoring. Joe has had several articles on technology issues published in professional journals such as Corrections Today, Perspectives and the Journal of Offender Monitoring.

Jim Tanner, Staff Scientist
E-mail: jim@kbsolutions.com

Dr. Jim Tanner provides support to the NLECTC-Rocky Mountain in the area of Community Corrections. Dr. Tanner has 35 years of experience in applied community corrections. He has served on the faculty at two universities, was a Supervising Probation Officer, Executive Director of halfway houses, Director of Boulder County (CO) Community Corrections Division, Vice President of Correctional Management Incorporated, and President of KB Solutions, Incorporated.

His applied experience includes operating secure detention facilities, halfway houses for juveniles and adults, day reporting Centers probation/parole services and intensive treatment programs. He earned his Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Illinois with specialties in Cognitive Social Psychology, Sociology of Law, and Evaluation Research. Dr. Tanner has served as the principal investigator in 34 major applied research projects and numerous applied studies. His results have been presented as academic papers at the national conferences of such organizations as the American Criminological Society, the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, and the Evaluation Research Society.