Heads Firm’s Practice in Homeland Security Preparedness, Defense, Government Relations and Public Affairs
Lieutenant General H Steven Blum (US Army, Ret.), one of the world’s leading experts on Homeland Security, has joined Sitrick Brincko Group as Managing Director and Group Practice Leader.
Sitrick Brincko, a management consulting firm specializing in strategic, crisis and corporate communications and corporate advisory and turnaround work, is a unit of Resources Connection, Inc. (Nasdaq: RECN). Sitrick Brincko is the parent company of Sitrick And Company and Brincko Associates.
General Blum, who retired on June 1, 2010, after a 41-year career in the United States Army and National Guard, will lead the firm’s crisis practice in the areas of Homeland Security issues advising clients in preparing for and dealing with natural and man-made disasters. He will also lead the firm’s practice areas in Defense, Government Relations and Public Affairs.
As Deputy Commander, United States Northern Command and before that Chief of the National Guard Bureau, General Blum was one of the highest ranked military officers in the United States dealing with Homeland Security issues for the United States, Mexico and Canada. He also oversaw the mobilization of the National Guard for such domestic emergencies as 9-11, National Special Security Events, Hurricane Katrina, the California wildfires, as well as the two-year deployment of the National Guard to provide military support to the US Border Patrol along our nation’s southwest border. As Commanding General for Multinational Division (North) Stabilization Force 10, Operation Joint Forge, Bosnia Herzegovina, he commanded a multi-national joint force, consisting of US soldiers from Active, National Guard and Reserve forces from over 23 states and armed forces contributed from nine different countries. The force successfully maintained a safe and secure environment in this war torn region in the complex and uncertain post 9-11 environment.
“Our firm is known for dealing with all kinds of crises, from plant explosions to toxic waste issues, from oil spills to product recalls, from patent litigation to criminal investigations, from financial restructurings and turnarounds to bankruptcies,” said Michael Sitrick, Chairman and CEO of Sitrick Brincko. “General Blum brings a critical new element of what we can offer our clients.
“Over the past decade, he has managed the aftermath of nearly every kind of major crisis imaginable from terrorist attacks to natural disasters – for cities, states and an entire region of the world. His experience and expertise will be invaluable to helping clients prepare for a whole variety of events, including these and other worst case scenarios. We are very excited about the value he will bring to our clients and are extremely flattered that he chose to join our firm,” he said.
General Blum added, “The results that Mike Sitrick and John Brincko have achieved for their clients have demonstrated time and again that they are one of the best, if not the best strategic consulting firm in the nation – especially for high stakes situations When Mike and John came to me with this opportunity, we all immediately saw the fit. I have spent my life protecting and serving. I am pleased to be able to make this same contribution going forward through Sitrick Brincko and Resources Connection.”
During his career, General Blum commanded at every level, including a Special Forces Operational Detachment-A, a Light Infantry Battalion, an Infantry Brigade, a Division Support Command, and twice as the Commanding General of the 29th Infantry Division (Light).
In his years of service, General Blum received more than two dozen major awards and decorations, including being twice awarded the Department of Defense Distinguished Service medal, the Army Distinguished Service medal, two awards of the Defense Superior Service Medal and three awards of the Legion of Merit.
About Sitrick Brincko Group
Sitrick Brincko Group is the parent company of Sitrick And Company, Inc. (www.sitrick.com), one of the nation’s leading strategic communications firms and Brincko Associates, Inc. (www.brincko.com), a widely respected corporate advisory and restructuring firm. Sitrick And Company, with headquarters in Los Angeles and offices in New York, San Francisco, Baltimore and Miami, specializes in corporate, financial, transactional and crisis communications. It was founded in 1989. Headquartered in Southern California, Brincko Associates is an international management consulting firm established in 1979. Sitrick And Company and Brincko Associates merged in November 2009 and were immediately acquired by and became an operating subsidiary of Resources Connection, Inc. (Nasdaq: RECN).