Dr. Donette Gordon has worked in law enforcement for 25 years, retiring as the Bureau of Land Management Chief of Security and Intelligence in Washington D.C. She was responsible for the oversight of the Emergency Management and Continuity of Operations Office and coordinated equipment distribution and personnel reassignment for natural disasters such as Hurricanes Rita and Wilma. Additionally, she was agency representative for the implementation of Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 in computer network security as well as physical security. Prior to being assigned to Washington D.C., she was the Special Agent-in-Charge for the BLM Nevada State Office for approximately ten years.

Dr. Gordon has a doctoral degree in counseling and educational psychology and a master's degree in secondary education from the University of Nevada, Reno, a Graduate Certificate from George Mason University in Advanced Conflict Resolution and Analysis and a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Weber State University. She has taught numerous undergraduate and graduate courses in Criminal Investigation, Terrorism and Emergency Management at the University of Nevada, Reno, Westwood College and Everglades University.