As promised, a little bit about myself. My name is Stephen Phillip Monteiro. I am an independent security, law enforcement and intelligence consultant. I recently retired as a Senior Vice President of a government consulting firm and before that spent over 20 years as a Special Agent with the United States Secret Service. I retired in 2005 as the Special Agent in Charge of the Forensic Services Division and then embarked on my second career−providing consultation to the Department of Homeland Security and to the Department of Justice. Before that I was a detective with the City of Concord, NH and before all that a proud member of the United States Navy. I’ve traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and throughout the world, conducting criminal investigations and providing protection to four U.S. Presidents. I have a BS in Public Administration from Franklin Pierce University and an MSc in Management from the Johns Hopkins University.  I married a wonderful woman named Carmela and have two awesome sons, Ryan and Jared. Its been a year of firsts for me. I recently welcomed by first grandchild Evie and have another on the way! I also just finished my first manuscript. A memoir entitled, The Gray Bird of Baghdad.  More about that later….

Welcome to my new blog “Keep your Head on Straight.” Are you tired of all the negative news that consumes us 24/7?  Are you tired of the constant politics? Are you tired of all the divisiveness that seems to define us these days? Are you tired of hearing what’s wrong with America?  I sure am. But alas, have no fear. Through this blog, I want to talk about ways to bring us together and find peace in these trying times. I’d like to think of this blog as a self-improvement forum for your mind. Let’s get rid of the needless stress brought on by what we read about, listen to and watch on a daily basis that is bringing us down and focus on “The Good in America.”  I’m new to blogging so there is a lot to learn but I’m looking forward to an uplifting exchange of ideas and suggestions on how we can deal with all of this turmoil!  Later, I will tell you a little about myself.  Till then…

Be yourself; Everyone else is already taken.

— Oscar Wilde.

This is the first post on my new blog. I’m just getting this new blog going, so stay tuned for more. Subscribe below to get notified when I post new updates.