Mr. Cole developed his knowledge of EOD during his 25-year career in the U.S. Navy, beginning in 1987.
NICEVILLE, FL, July 11, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Shawn J. Cole has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Having served in the U.S. Navy for 25 years, Mr. Cole has built up a distinguished career as a trainer and instructor with a focus on explosive ordnance disposal (EOD). He currently holds the position of subject matter expert for Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) in the U.S. State Department's Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement for the Worldwide Weapons Destruction Support Services (WWDSS), Iraq Task Order. Previously, he helped establish an EOD School in Ukraine on behalf of the U.S. State Department. He was the senior instructional designer, developing comprehensive EOD training that follows the International Mine Action Standards. Before that, he was the task order leader of the WWDSS Iraq for Tetra Tech. As the task order's overall leader, Mr. Cole established clearance priorities by working with the United Nations and the Iraq Directorate of Mine Action as well as establishing priorities and processes in the search and clearance of Explosive Hazards in areas recently liberated from ISIS control. By providing the correct mix of human and operational resources to remove IEDs and other explosive hazards, Mr. Cole achieved the overall strategic goal of returning Iraq's Internally Displaced People (IDPs) to their homes and businesses. He also collaborated with leadership across the U.S. military, the United Nations Mine Action Service, the Geneva International Center for Humanitarian Demining, the Iraq Government, the press, and multiple represented governments.
Before these positions, Mr. Cole assisted Janus Global as a senior instructional designer and program manager, developing training for the United Nations Peacekeepers in Africa. He created a unified, comprehensive curriculum for the French, English, and American militaries to teach the entire continent. There are eight courses to teach Conventional Munitions Destruction and Improvised Explosive Device Disposal technicians and a Train the Trainer Course. Previous to this, he was the task order leader for the U.S. Department of State Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement, where he managed over 500 personnel and subcontractors as they conducted operations to remove IEDs and unexploded ordnance. He also oversaw unexploded ordnance removal as a diver and supervisor with USA Environmental, working out of Culebra, Puerto Rico, removing ordnance from as far back as the World War II era. Mr. Cole spent several years providing expert analysis to the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Office of Anti-Terrorism Assistance. This role saw him working in many nations worldwide, including Afghanistan, India, the Philippines, Kenya, and Mali. Before that, he worked as a senior triage technician with A-T Solutions, analyzing IED data and delivering technology briefings to foreign dignitaries and military leadership.
Mr. Cole developed his knowledge of EOD during his 25-year career in the U.S. Navy, beginning in 1987. Through this lengthy tenure, he worked his way up to various roles, including readiness and training officer, material officer, EOD liaison officer at the Joint IED Defeat Organization, EOD department head for advanced IED disposal, and the division officer of nuclear ordnance division at Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal. Across his Navy career, Mr. Cole led dozens of instructors. He helped teach thousands of U.S. military, various federal agencies, and international allied nations how to safely carry out some of the military's most dangerous operations. Mr. Cole's greatest achievement was spending two years in Iraq, working with international EOD technicians to remove IEDs and other explosive hazards placed in cities throughout Iraq to ensure the safe return of Iraqi civilians to their homes and businesses.
Alongside his commendable military service, Mr. Cole has continued to seek further education. In 2012, he earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration and human resources management and services from Columbia Southern University. Mr. Cole has also directly contributed to the education of others via numerous presentations, curriculum design, and publications such as an article in The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction. He co-authored "Ultimate EOD Electronics Reference Guide" in 2022, providing a valuable source of knowledge for bomb technicians and other professionals working in EOD.
Mr. Cole owes his success to an unending passion for the work he does. He maintains a long-standing membership in the International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators, further ensuring that he always remains up-to-date on the latest information in his field. Mr. Cole's achievements have been honored with a number of military commendations, including a Bronze Star, a Joint Service Commendation Medal, a Navy Commendation Medal, a Navy Achievement Medal, and a Ribbon for Deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Outside of his career in EOD, Mr. Cole enjoys reading and exercising and has found fulfillment in supporting the Special Olympics. Though he expects to become less active in the future, he has no immediate plans to retire and wants to continue putting his expertise to use in order to help people. It is this unrelenting drive to aid others that has made Mr. Cole such an exceptional trainer and leader in a field that demands calm under pressure—an attitude that he has embodied throughout his professional life.
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