Chief Gene Saunders, Founder/CEO and Chief Director General of Lifesaver International based out of Port St. Lucie, Florida, was recently chosen to receive the title of Top Military and Law Enforcement Hero of the Decade given by the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP).
While inclusion with the International Association of Top Professionals is an honor, only one member in the law enforcement industry is selected for this distinction. Chief Saunders is recognized for having more than four decades of professional experience and is an inspiration to his community. Chief Gene Saunders will receive this recognition while attending IAOTP’s Awards Gala at the magnificent Opryland Hotel in Nashville in December 2024.
Over the past four decades, Chief Gene Saunders has undoubtedly proven himself an expert in the law enforcement industry. As a dynamic, result-driven leader, he has become a household name and a global hero. Chief Saunders launched Project Lifesaver International in 1999 and has overseen its expansion to nearly 1,600 public safety agencies in 50 states, six provinces in Canada, and one agency in Australia.
Project Lifesaver is a 501 (C)(3) non-profit community-based public safety organization that provides a program designed to protect and, when necessary, quickly locate individuals with cognitive disorders who are prone to the life-threatening behavior of wandering. The Project Lifesaver program has given hundreds of families peace of mind, knowing their loved ones are protected and secure if they stray. Over 4,000 lives have been saved as a result of Project Lifesaver.
Chief Saunders’ excellent background includes 33 years of service with the Chesapeake Police Department in Patrol, Vice, Narcotics, Detectives, and Training. He served in each of these units’ line function and command components. Chief Saunders co-founded the Special Weapons and Tactics team in 1974 and served as tactical commander and commander for over 800 missions over the next 23 years. He was also the Chief Investigator on many multi-state, international narcotics. Chief Saunders organized crime conspiracy investigations and served as Shift Commander of the Olympic Security Team, a Soccer venue in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1996. He retired as a Captain in 2001 after serving in the National Guard and State Defense Force in Infantry, Airborne, and Ranger Units in leadership and command capacities.
Chief Saunders also served in the United States Air Force Auxiliary (Civil Air Patrol) as a Senior Squadron (Ranger) commander and for five years as Commandant of the Middle East Region Staff College. He also teaches Pursuit Driving, Firearms, Special Operations, Raid Planning, General Law Enforcement, and Search and Rescue. Chief Saunders has also served as a volunteer Helicopter Flight Officer with the Virginia Beach Police Department and has spent many years skydiving. Search and Rescue, Training, Interrogation, Public Speaking, Firearms, Driving, Special Operations, Investigations, Non-Profits, Crime Prevention, Preparedness, Command, Electronic Search and Rescue, Intelligence, Program Management, Expert Witness, Community Policing, Team Building, Supervisory Skills, First Responder, SWAT, Leadership, Crisis Management, Surveillance, Emergency Services, Private Investigation
Throughout his illustrious career, Chief Saunders has received awards accolades and has been recognized internationally for his expertise. He is widely known as the Father of radio tracking recovery of persons at risk. In 2023, Gene was honored with the prestigious Top Male Visionary of the Year Award by IAOTP. Chief Saunders was selected to be featured in IAOTP’s inaugural edition of the Top 25 Global Impact Leaders Publication, set to be released in the first quarter of 2024. In addition, he had the honor of being featured on the renowned Nasdaq Billboard in Times Square. In 2022, he was named Man of the Year, inducted into IAOTP’s Hall of Fame, and featured on the renowned Planet Hollywood billboard on the iconic Las Vegas strip. In 2021, he was honored to be featured on the front cover of TIP (Top Industry Professionals) Magazine. Chief Saunders was recognized as the Top CEO of the Year at IAOTP’s 2021 Annual Awards Gala. He has been awarded 3 Commendation Medals and the Chief’s Leadership Award by the Chesapeake Police Department. Additionally, he has received 3 Line of Duty Injury Medals and 3 Silver Stars for Valor, each for separate incidents, from the American Police Hall of Fame. In addition, he was honored with a Presidential Commendation for his service in the SWAT team, presented by President Bill Clinton. He also received the “Service Before Self” Citizens Honor Award from the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation and was recognized as the Treasure Coast Non-Profit Leader of the Year for 2019.
Furthermore, he has been honored with numerous esteemed awards in addition to these merits. I have received several notable awards, including the Local Hero Award from the Bank of America, the Person of Distinction title from the Al Cole Radio Show, the Moving America Forward Award from the William Shatner TV Show, and the Hero Award from Pilot International-Virginia District. As Chief Saunders’ career progresses, he actively engages in 11 prestigious organizations.
Additionally, he has been honored with numerous esteemed awards in addition to these merits. These include the Local Hero Award from the Bank of America, the Person of Distinction title from the Al Cole Radio Show, the Moving America Forward Award from the William Shatner TV Show, and the Hero Award from Pilot International-Virginia District. As Chief Saunders’ career continues to advance, he actively participates in 11 different prestigious organizations.
In addition to his successful career, Chief Saunders is highly regarded as a lecturer and has authored numerous essays on wandering for various periodicals. He has appeared on numerous local, national, and international radio and television shows. Some notable examples include CBS’s The Early Show, Extreme Makeover Home Edition, Living the Life, Fox News, The Discovery Channel, CNN News, The Daily Buzz, and William Shatner’s “Moving America Forward.” Chief Saunders has appeared in several TV shows, including The Prosecutors, The FBI Files, The New Detectives, and The Untold Stories of the Navy SEALS. He has played both leading and supporting roles in these shows.
Chief Saunders credits his accomplishment to effort, education, ingenuity, and patience. He likes spending time with his family and traveling when he is not working. Chief Saunders will continue his objective of “Bringing Loved Ones Home” in the future.
For more information on Chief Saunders, please visit: www.projectlifesaver.org
To view his videos, click here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUiu3VJTefQ&t=1s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfGzuEG6UbI&t=2s
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The International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) is an international boutique networking organization that handpicks the world’s finest, most prestigious top professionals from different industries. These top professionals are given an opportunity to collaborate, share their ideas, be keynote speakers and to help influence others in their fields. This organization is not a membership that anyone can join. You have to be asked by the President or be nominated by a distinguished honorary member after a brief interview.
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