Andy Lawton

I founded Lawton Risk Advisory LLC to bring three decades of state and federal law enforcement, executive leadership, and international diplomatic experience directly to UHNW individuals, family offices, and executives — built on a simple premise: "A practitioner. Not a consultant."

Core practice areas:

• Crisis response planning and protocols, protective intelligence, and security program design for principals and family offices

• Fractional and interim CSO engagements for organizations that need C-suite security judgment without a full-time department

• Advisory and board-level support drawing on decades of operational command inside DEA's highest levels of global risk oversight, including redesign of the agency's global inspection framework and command of its fifth-largest domestic division

LRA's approach is grounded in direct operational experience rather than theoretical frameworks — the same discipline applied to protecting federal operations across 69 countries, now applied to protecting individuals, families, and organizations who need it most.

I provided strategic direction, investigative leadership, regulatory oversight, and organizational management in the DEA’s fifth-largest domestic division, covering Michigan, Ohio, and northern Kentucky, with global implications. I led and coordinated domestic and northern border enforcement initiatives in partnership with state, local, federal, and Canadian authorities.

ORGANIZATIONAL RESTRUCTURING & RIGHT-SIZING
• Redesigned operations to enhance investigative capacity, align with national priorities, and improve effectiveness in dismantling transnational criminal networks.
• Led regional office staffing restructuring, resulting in the strategic right-sizing of multiple regional offices, which produced cost savings and addressed staffing needs.
• Coordinated three major multi-million-dollar facilities projects, including relocating a district office, expanding and remodeling a second, and completing a multi-year division office remodel, ensuring enhanced and modernized capabilities for employees and operations.

GLOBAL SECURITY & INVESTIGATIONS
• Approved threat assessments and managed high-stakes investigations across the region.
• Protected people, facilities, infrastructure, and operations by implementing and enforcing best practices in corporate security.
• Enhanced coordination between US and foreign law enforcement agencies, boosting intelligence-sharing and response times.

LEADERSHIP & CONSULTING
• Advised US Attorneys and foreign government officials on risk management, security, and investigative strategies.
• Represented the DEA and the US government in numerous regional enforcement initiatives and was recognized as a leader in investigative strategies.
• Managed the complexities of cross-border enforcement while building strong teams and overseeing large-scale budgets.
• Promoted a culture of integrity, accountability, and collaboration.

In this strategic role, I had the privilege of reshaping investigative strategies to address some of the most complex and critical challenges facing our communities. As a senior leader for this 200-person multi-state division, I focused on aligning our efforts with broader enterprise goals while enhancing security, reducing risk, and directing investigations to ultimately dismantle criminal networks worldwide.

Key areas of impact:
• Elevated our investigative approach to zero in on the most sophisticated, high-impact cases—drug trafficking, money laundering, violent crimes, and pharmaceutical diversion—with measurable improvements in performance and outcomes.
• Integrated the latest technologies and analytical tools to strengthen our fight against criminal organizations.
• Built an agile, high-performing team through strategic hiring, leadership development, and training initiatives.
• Cultivated alliances with law enforcement (federal, state, and local) as well as community groups, businesses, and schools.
• Served as a reliable voice to the media and public, fostering transparency and trust.

In this role and all other positions, my work thrives at the intersection of innovation, leadership, and collaboration—turning challenges into opportunities and creating strategies that deliver lasting results.

Stepped into this core leadership position to mitigate risk and drive compliance on a global scale for this 10,000-employee agency with operations in 69 countries. I took the lead in designing programs and overseeing teams to conduct workplace audits and inspections of all fiscal, administrative, and enforcement operations. We assessed critical incidents, high-profile investigations, and the work of elite, vetted investigative units around the world.

Directed a team of about 60 employees, including senior inspectors, special agent inspectors, diversion investigators, intelligence analysts, chemists, financial auditors, and contractors.

A few touchpoints:
• Led audits that uncovered issues involving security, fraud, and noncompliance—and protected the organization from legal, financial, and reputational risk.
• Guided and reviewed inspections of 60+ undercover banking and money laundering investigations approved by the US Attorney General, as well as audits of 30+ Congressionally authorized Sensitive Investigative Units (SIUs) operating in 30 countries.
• Expanded the use of automation (developed in the previous role), further increasing efficiency and productivity.

This role was about more than just risk assessment and compliance—it was about protecting the integrity of an enterprise and creating a culture of accountability.

I led an exceptional team in conducting audits and inspections of 11 foreign and 23 domestic divisions—these efforts were vital in improving compliance and minimizing risk for the enterprise. At the same time, I spearheaded projects that modernized and optimized operations, improving processes and leveraging technology for better oversight and efficiency.

Notable contributions:
• Orchestrated inspections and audits across 34 domestic and international sites, covering critical programs like wire-interception and SIU operations.
• Proposed and designed a comprehensive automation and digitization strategy that changed the game for the global Office of Inspections—saving $500K and over 10K work hours each year.
• Launched an interactive dashboard (together with the Chief Data Officer, Chief Information Officer, and technology teams) to support management decisions with real-time insights and information.

As a trusted leader and team member in the Office of Inspections, I drove tangible changes by blending analytical problem-solving with a forward-looking approach. I also had the opportunity to identify and rectify important compliance issues for the worldwide organization.

I turned this standalone resident office into a highly focused organization with a clear vision in mind: to address the rapid increase in fentanyl overdose deaths and violent crime in the city of Trenton, NJ. I faced this challenge head-on by assessing needs and opportunities, creating a strategy, and rallying teams (and outside stakeholders) to work together to drive change.

After assembling a team and securing the buy-in of law enforcement executives, I engaged the Trenton Police Department senior command staff, establishing an alliance that yielded measurable results at a pivotal time.

Some outcomes from this role:
• Brought together a team of 40+ skilled agents, analysts, and officers—including a High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) task force and Tactical Diversion Squad (TDS)—that delivered record-breaking outcomes in investigations and enforcement.
• Established partnerships with federal, state, and local law enforcement and restored relationships when needed.
• Enhanced operational security by designing a robust Continuity of Operations Plan, ensuring readiness for unexpected situations.

This work was all about impact—devising a bold strategy, empowering people, building connections, protecting communities, and addressing complex challenges with urgency and precision.

As the second-ranking DEA official in the Southern Cone, I had the unique opportunity to lead complex air, land, and maritime investigations while serving as an accredited US diplomat in Lima, Peru. I took the lead in improving operations and strengthening partnerships with local and international agencies, steering investigations and improving both enforcement and investigative capabilities along the Peruvian coastline and Ecuadorian border.

I was headquartered at the US Embassy in Peru but worked extensively in the field, where I communicated entirely in Spanish.

Milestones include:
• Spearheaded the restructuring and expansion of Peru's 120-member Sensitive Investigative Unit (SIU) program. Secured massive financial savings and captured extraordinary efficiencies while opening a new base inside a privately owned port, establishing regional offices in emergency zones (nearly eradicating attrition), overhauling the approach to travel and housing, etc.
• Led and mentored four elite Sensitive Investigative Units (SIUs) consisting of Peruvian National Police.
• Earned the highest honor bestowed to a civilian diplomat—awarded by the Director General of the Peruvian National Police for exceptional contributions to the safety and security of Peru.

This standout position was influential for the DEA and local community. Together with my colleagues and teams—and in cooperation with international stakeholders, I inspired and managed change, improved investigations (and investigative outcomes), and fostered trust between nations.

During my tenure as a Foreign Advisor in the Southern Cone, I established, trained, and led two elite units of Peruvian National Police Investigators. These teams worked seamlessly with DEA agents on criminal investigations, quickly achieving notable milestones like the largest seizure in Peru’s history.

In addition to building operational capabilities, I developed partnerships across the Americas and Europe, representing the DEA at global conferences and deepening connections with government and law enforcement agencies worldwide.

This role was rooted in collaboration, communication, and driving solutions on an international scale.

Supervised and contributed to hundreds of investigations into drug trafficking, money laundering, and other crimes.