CertiPath Welcomes Eleven New USMS Contract Hires
In June 2025, CertiPath hired 11 additional professionals to support the USMS contract. Please join us in welcoming the following people to CertiPath:
Mike Baldinelli is a Regional Field Engineer on the USMS team. He previously served as a Regional Program Manager on the team, a role he held with another contracting company. He has a background in federal law enforcement, physical security, and critical infrastructure protection. His professional experience includes roles in the private technology sector, the Department of Energy’s Nuclear Weapons Development Programs, and the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Protective Service. Mike is a combat veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps.
Mike holds a bachelor’s degree in security management with a focus on government security from American Military University. He lives in Brentwood, CA, with his wife, their daughter, and two chocolate Labradors. In his free time, Mike enjoys hunting, camping, 4x4ing, and spending time in nature.
Larry Benton joins the USMS team as a Regional Field Engineer. He is returning to support the USMS mission, having previously served as a Physical Security Specialist for USMS from 2022 to 2024 as a federal employee. Larry has a background in physical and technical security, project management, and federal operations.
His professional experience includes roles in commercial construction management, government contracting, and security integration. Earlier in his career, Larry served in the U.S. Navy Seabees and retired as a Chief Construction Electrician after 21 years of global engineering and security operations. Larry lives in Niceville, FL. In his spare time, he enjoys working on his 1973 Corvette, tackling home renovation projects, traveling, and spending time with his family.
Jeffrey Blackburn is a Regional Field Engineer on the USMS team. He previously served as a Regional Program Manager on the team, a role he held with another contracting company. Jeff has a background in physical security; access control; security management, infrastructure, and operations; security system design; risk assessment; and incident management.
His professional experience includes security-focused positions with another government contracting company, the Omaha Public Power District, and the Omaha Metropolitan Utilities District. Earlier in his career, Jeff held positions with the Mills County Sheriff's Office and the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy. He attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and lives in Omaha, NE.
Jeffrey Bowman is a CAD Professional on the USMS team. He previously served as a CAD Specialist on the team, a role he held with another contracting company. He has experience in architecture, computer-aided design and drafting, project management, and facilities information management.
Previous engagements and project sites include the Pentagon Renovation Program, the Washington Navy Yard, Fort George G. Meade, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Southwest Complex near Capitol Hill. Earlier in his career, Jeff worked for various architectural and engineering firms in Virginia. He attended the School of Architecture and Urban Design at the University of Kentucky. Jeff lives near Bedford, VA, with his wife, their four children, and their cats, guinea pigs, and ferrets. In his free time, he likes to read, hike in the woods, and play and watch basketball.
James Brussow is a Regional Field Engineer on the USMS team. He previously served as a Regional Program Manager on the team, a role he held with another contracting company. He has a background in the security and loss prevention industries and has spent the last 3 years designing and managing electronic security system projects. Previous roles include positions with another government contracting company, FedEx, several companies in the entertainment industry, and Brinker International.
James holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Indiana University. He lives in Indianapolis, IN, with his wife and their two dogs: an Australian Cattle Dog and a Miniature Dachshund.
Nicholas DeNubila is a SharePoint Developer on the USMS team. He previously served as a Power Apps Developer and SharePoint Administrator on the team, roles he held with another contracting company. Nick has a background in data analytics, data modeling, programming, application development, knowledge management, project management, change management, quality assurance, and training content development. His professional experience includes a DoD engagement and roles in the research, marketing, and banking industries.
Nick holds a master's degree in business analytics and an MBA from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a bachelor's degree in classics from Roger Williams University. He is a philosophy and science enthusiast who enjoys hiking and reading. Nick lives in Worcester, MA, with his dog and his cat.
Ryan Higgins is a Regional Field Engineer on the USMS team. He previously served as a Regional Program Manager on the team, a role he held with another contracting company. His background includes program management, project management, and sales and business development in electronic physical security supporting clients in the government, state, non-profit, and commercial sectors. He has represented several large security manufacturers, including Dormakaba, Motorola, Cannon, Bosch, and Silent Witness.
Ryan holds an associate's degree from William Paterson University. He lives in Vernon, NJ, with his wife and their German Shepherd. Ryan volunteers as the head basketball coach for the New Jersey Police Athletic League youth travel program.
Robert Hooker is a CAD Professional on the USMS team. He previously served in a similar position on the team, a role he held with another contracting company. He has a background in electrical and mechanical engineering, configuration management, access control, security and PACS design, and document control. His professional experience includes work in the defense industry and a 25-year tenure with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, where he wrote drafting and document control standards and produced CAD designs of the entire transit, communications, and access control systems.
Bob holds a bachelor's degree in computer science from Strayer University and an associate's degree in mechanical engineering from Hocking College. He lives in Front Royal, VA, where he volunteers as a maintenance worker at St. Lukes Community Center. In his free time, Bob also transports dogs for Mid-Atlantic Springer Spaniel Rescue, where he met his two Springer Spaniels, plays and teaches guitar, and enjoys reading.
Tony McDonald is a Regional Field Engineer on the USMS team. He previously served as a Regional Program Manager on the team, a role he held with another contracting company. He has a background in project management and has managed cable and fiber infrastructure, AV installation, and security projects.
Tony's work experience includes security-focused positions with a commercial construction company, data centers, Amazon fulfillment centers, corporate offices, banks, and high-security Boeing facilities. He served as a Navy Fleet Marine Force Corpsman attached to various units in the Marine Corps and deployed multiple times. Tony holds an associate’s degree in science from Clark College and attended the University of Phoenix. He lives in Kingston, WA, with his fiancée, their three dogs, and their four cats. In his free time, he enjoys working as a team lead for a non-profit charity that supports injured veterans, working out, and training for his next Spartan Trifecta, ultramarathon, or triathlon. Tony hopes to complete an Ironman someday.
Emmett Rooney is a Regional Field Engineer on the USMS team. He previously served as a Regional Program Manager on the team, a role he held with another contracting company. He has a background in business development, sales, and delivering security and integration projects across the federal and commercial sectors.
His professional experience includes roles with security equipment manufacturers, digital security companies, and a property management firm. Emmett holds an associate’s degree in law enforcement from Kalamazoo Valley College and lives in Raleigh, NC.
Zachary Stok is a Regional Field Engineer on the USMS team. He previously served as a Physical Security Specialist on the team, a role he held as a federal employee. His background includes physical security and safety planning; PACS and security system design, installation, and integration; project management; programming; knowledge of OSHA standards; systems and data management; crisis intervention; and customer service management.
In addition to his work in the public sector, Zach’s professional experience includes positions with consulting and integration firms and a commercial renovation company. He attended Coral Springs Fire Academy and Broward College and lives in Brooklyn, NY.