The founding partners of Secure Waters have over 30 years of combined Coast Guard and Federal Law Enforcement experience. This experience provides them with the ability to thoroughly understand the needs and requirements of each client. They also understand the unique challenges of providing maritime security, landside security, and specialized maritime consulting to protect personnel and assets around the world. The Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partners spend countless hours working with each client to help them improve their overall maritime security.

Corey D. Ranslem
Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Ranslem has been involved with Secure Waters in various roles since the company was founded. As the Chief Executive Officer, he is responsible for the overall strategic direction and vision of Secure Waters. He works with the other partners to develop policies, procedures, and tactics for the execution of the strategy and vision. He has over 12 years of experience in federal law enforcement and the private security industry. He spent 8 years in the United States Coast Guard, working various counter-narcotic and SWAT related missions in South Florida, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. Mr. Ranslem worked for Smiths Detection for four years in roles as manager, project manager, and regional manager of Federal Government Operations. He’s spent hundreds of hours working worldwide on security related projects. Mr. Ranslem has received numerous awards, citations, and commendations from the U.S. Coast Guard. He’s received hundreds of hours of training in law enforcement and security related topics. He holds an MBA in International Business from Georgetown University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Political Science from the University of Northern Iowa.

Sean C. Lea
Managing Partner

Sean C. Lea is one of the founding partners of Secure Waters. Mr. Lea has over 16 years of Federal Law enforcement and security experience. Mr. Lea manages the day to day field operations of Secure Waters Maritime, Land, and Special Operations security division.. Mr. Lea organizes all shift commanders, and supervisors providing a daily security execution strategy. He also coordinates the maintenance and training activities with Mr. Graddon. Mr. Lea spent eight and a half years in the Coast Guard. As a vital part of the group Miami law enforcement team, Mr. Lea performed a myriad of duties including that of senior K-9 officer, senior boarding officer, inter-agency liaison, narcotics control officer and training officer. Mr. Lea also was the group intelligence petty officer coordinating and leading over 1,000 law enforcement boardings resulting in the seizure of over 30,000 lbs of illegal narcotics. Mr. Lea was also assigned to a unit as the lead rescue and law enforcement boat coxswain (boat driver). During this time he conducted numerous high seas operations in the U.S. and abroad to counter illegal drug and migrant trafficking. These operations required exceptional boat handling skills due to inclement weather, darkness, and long pursuits of suspects. Mr. Lea was awarded the Special Operations service ribbon for his participation in these operations. After completing his time with the U.S Coast Guard Mr. Lea worked as a Police Officer with The Department of Veterans Affairs for two years. Mr. Lea spent 4 years with the Federal Air Marshals Service; holding a top secret security clearance, and graduating top in his academy class. He spent time in various field operational positions including assistant team leader. As a Federal Air Marshal Mr. Lea was trained to detect, deter, and defeat any hostile or terrorist acts targeting air carriers, air ports, passengers and crews. He was deployed on aircraft throughout the U.S and foreign countries that were politically and economically unstable to effectively execute his duties. Mr. Lea was extensively trained in tactics, hand to hand combat, and firearms proficiency. Mr. Lea maintained a consistent firearms qualification of Expert Marksman.

Captain Christopher J. Graddon
Managing Partner

Captain Graddon is one of the founding partners of Secure Waters. Captain Graddon has over 14 years of Federal law enforcement and maritime security experience. Captain Graddon manages the three operational divisions of Secure Waters with Mr. Lea. He coordinates the operational supervisors and vessel operators for the execution of an overall safe operation. He also coordinates all training and maintenance activities with Mr. Lea. Captain Graddon spent 12 years in the Coast Guard and continues to manage an extensive relationship network with multiple federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Assigned to numerous small boat stations and counter-narcotic enforcement units, he has been extensively trained in high speed boat interdiction operations. Six years of his career was working at Station Miami Beach, in law enforcement, port, and rescue operations as senior boat coxswain and law enforcement training officer. Later as the senior law enforcement officer and lead Group Miami (SECTOR Miami) K-9 handler, Captain Graddon managed an elite land based enforcement team conducting counter narcotic and surveillance operations in areas prone to narcotic trafficking. His last year and a half of his USCG career was working as the U.S. Coast Guard liaison to the Bureau of Immigration & Customs Enforcement / Blue Lightening Operations Center. As a member of the Blue Lightning Strike Force command staff, he managed maritime operations developed to address intelligence, interdiction, and homeland security threats. He planned and led multi-agency law enforcement and port security related operations in the Port of Miami, Port Everglades, and the Port of Palm Beach.

Marie L. Montinat
Business Development Manager

Ms. Montinat joined the Secure Waters team in 2007 as the Business Development Manager. Ms. Montinat spent 18 years in the military police section of the U.S. Army and is still an active member of the Reserves. Six of her 18 years in the military were spent in various port security related missions. She has deployed to numerous locations around the United States, with two tours at Camp Bucca, Iraq. Ms. Monitnat has over 7 years of professional experience in the security industry, where she worked as business development manager, operations manager, and field supervisor for a large security firm based in New York and Florida. Ms. Montinat has received hundreds of hours of training in military, law enforcement, and security related operations. She’s received numerous awards and commendations from the Army. She is currently a member of BOMA (Building Owners Managers Association) and ASIS (American Society of Industrial Security).