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About the Speaker

In August 2023, Joseph R. Bonavolonta joined Sentinel as Managing Partner. Sentinel, a global risk and intelligence advisory firm, is focused on solving complex security problems on behalf of multinational corporations, critical institutions, and high-profile clients. Sentinel is led by former senior executives from private industry and premiere law enforcement and intelligence agencies in the world, who have protected some of the most high-profile people, corporations, and institutions and overseen complex investigative and intelligence operations on a global scale. Sentinel offers its clients tailored, actionable, and discreet support and guidance to better navigate today鈥檚 risk environment, anticipate and mitigate emerging threats, and identify potential market challenges.

Mr. Bonavolonta served more than 27 years with the FBI where he held a variety of leadership, operational, program management, and investigative positions. He retired from the FBI in June 2023 where he served for more than four years as the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division, one of the largest FBI field offices in the country with a workforce of more than 800 employees across Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.

Prior to that assignment, Mr. Bonavolonta held several senior leadership positions across priority threat programs, to include Deputy Assistant Director for the FBI鈥檚 Counterintelligence Division where he was responsible for the management and oversight of counterintelligence operations and investigations on both domestic and international fronts, Section Chief for the FBI鈥檚 Employee Development and Selection Program where he managed the national oversight responsibilities for the supervisor development, transfer, senior leader selection, and senior executive service programs, and Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Office where he oversaw the cyber and counterintelligence programs throughout the New England region.

Prior to joining the Senior Executive Service ranks, Mr. Bonavolonta served as a supervisory special agent of the complex economic crimes program with the Newark Field Office where he directed the investigations into corporate/securities fraud, intellectual property rights, internet fraud, wire and mail fraud, and money laundering. Under his supervision, Mr. Bonavolonta鈥檚 team generated some of the most significant economic crime investigations in New Jersey.

In the beginning of his career, Mr. Bonavolonta spent several years in the New York Field Office investigating the Bonanno La Cosa Nostra (LCN) Family within the office鈥檚 organized crime branch. His work led to the convictions of dozens of high-ranking members and associates of the Bonanno LCN Family. For his contributions to these investigations, he received the Attorney General鈥檚 Director鈥檚 Award for Superior Performance of a Litigative Team.

Mr. Bonavolonta was subsequently promoted and served as the program manager in the Organized Crime Section at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C., where he was responsible for the coordination of organized crime cases throughout the country. He also directed an international organized crime initiative in coordination with the Italian National Police aimed at combating joint criminal operations between the American-based LCN Families and the Sicilian Mafia.听听