Rogue Warrior: Capt. Richard "Dirty...

Rogue Warrior: Capt. Richard "Dirty Dicky" Marcinko

Richard Marcinko, a.k.a., "Dirty Dicky", or the "Rogue Warrior" was born on 21November 1940 in Lansford, Pennsylvania. He is most probably the United States' most accomplished special operations expert. Marcinko's 30+ years of experience in intelligence, diplomacy, counter-terrorism as well as Special Operations (SpecOps) has earned him a place in the history of such things akin to that of "Wild Bill" Donovan, founder of the OSS which later became the CIA. Over his 30+ year naval career, Richard Marcinko worked his way from enlisted man to the rank of Captain. Capt. Marcinko has a BA in International Relations from the U.S. Navy Postgraduate School in Monterrey, California, and a MA in Political Science from Auburn University.

Military Service
After enlisting in the US Navy, Marcinko spent his early years in the Underwater Demolition Teams (UDTs). Marcinko worked his way up to the rank of captain during two tours in Vietnam serving as a Navy SEAL. He served as a Naval Attache to Cambodia also. He was the 1st Commanding Officer & founder of 2 of the US military's premier counter-terrorist units: SEAL Team SIX & Red Cell. SEAL Team SIX engaged in highly classified missions all over the world. While serving 2 tours in Vietnam, Marcinko won a Silver Star, 4 bronze stars with combat "V", 2 Navy Commendation Medals, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star. Marcinko's SEAL platoon became such a successful enemy-killing force, that the Viet Cong posted a reward of 50,000 piasters for his death. As the Commanding Officer (CO) of Red Cell, Marcinko was directed to use his team to test the Navy's anti-terrorist capabilities. His Team was able to infiltrate seemingly impenetrable, highly secured bases, nuclear submarines, ships and other purported "secure areas", including the U.S. Presidential plane Air Force One. He was so successful that he earned the ire of petty US Military Flag-Rank officers. His country paid him back by arresting him, incarcerating him in Federal prison & then finally when they needed him seeking his servcies again. The petty, egotistical & political natures of men who had never been in combat were the source of his problems. he followed orders, refused to divulge information deemed to be classified at a level higher than his interrogators & the legal dogs who prosecuted him & was thus sentenced to Fedral prison. Like most Nam vets, Marcinko had a reason to be angry but his personal code of ethics, patriotism & committment to his oath as a naval officer would not allow him to break under the spurious pressures applied to him.

Best Selling Author
His SEAL Team experiences can be perised in his autobiography, Rogue Warrior and the subsequent Rogue Warrior fiction series, co-written with John Weisman. These books were published by Simon and Schuster. "Dirty Dicky" Marcinko's books all made the New York Times Best Seller list. Marcinko has also authored 2 non-fiction works about business strategy as well as the principles of leadership. "Leadership Secrets of the Rogue Warrior" was a New York Times business best-seller for 4 months was 2nd in the series, "The Rogue Warrior's Strategy for Success." His books elaborate upon his battle-tested principles of success. In addition, Marcinko's biggest success continues to be his best selling books. Dick's autobiography, Rogue Warrior, swept the nation in 1992. Marcinko has a number of best-selling fiction books, including Red Cell, Green Team, Task Force Blue & the others.

Motivational Speaker
Marcinko, a partner in a private security consulting firm, who copncult for such notable corporate entities as Detroit Metropolitan Airport, the White House Fellows & the U.S. Army War College. Richard Marcinko is a renowned motivational & team-building speaker who numbers among his clients; General Motors, AT&T, Domino's Pizza, Motorola, BellSouth and more than a few other Fortune-500 companies. His company provides quarterly SWAT & counter-terrorism training for federal agencies & law enforcement personnel nationwide. In conjunction with Eastern Michigan University, Marcinko presents graduate-level seminars & training sessions on terrorism, counter-terrosism, security & the adaptation of modern technology to such activities & problems. Marcinko often appears on radio & TV shows where he provides expertise on matters of foreign policy, SpecOps, terrorism & counter-terrorism. Marcinko is part of a politically conservative talk radio show called America on Watch as well.

For more information about this fascinating man among men, visit his official Web site: http://www.dickmarcinko.com.

© Donald R. Houston, PhD, 2006