106 Millennium - A Marquis Who’s Who Magazine GOVERNMENT AND MILITARY BOGDAN J. DZAKOVIC FAA/TSA SECURITY SPECIALIST (RETIRED), 9/11 WHISTLEBLOWER Cincinnati, OH Bogdan J. Dzakovic’s life and career have been marked by resilience, dedication and commitment to public service, sparked in part due to his childhood experience as an orphan. This instilled in him a deep empathy and a drive to protect others, shaping his future career in law enforcement and antiterrorism. In the early 1980s, while a Coast Guard lieutenant, Mr. Dzakovic earned a Special Achievement Award from the Drug Enforcement Administration for “Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Drug Law Enforcement.” In the late 1980s, he transferred to the Security Division of the FAA, with career highlights of serving as an Air Marshal Team Leader in the early 1990s. In the latter half of the 1990s, he served as a Team Leader in the Red Team, which was established as a result of the PanAm103 bombing and whose mission was to determine how effective security was in preventing terrorism and predict the next attack so that effective countermeasures could be instituted. By 1999, Mr. Dzakovic knew the 9/11 attacks were imminent. Working with Steve Elson and Brian Sullivan, they took their concerns through Washington, DC, including through the FAA, DOT, GAO and members of Congress, whose job is to maintain oversight of the executive branch. After 9/11, Mr. Dzakovic filed a whistleblower disclosure against the FAA with the United States Office of Special Counsel (OSC), which reports to the President. The OSC agreed with his allegations, stating that “FAA executed its civil aviation security mission in a manner that was a substantial and specific danger to public safety.” Mr. Dzakovic testified in front of the 9/11 Commission, but none of his evidence is contained within their book. He is listed as a footnote on page 441. Beyond his professional roles, Mr. Dzakovic is an active member of the Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity and other efforts challenging corruption. In 2016, he authored “Fortress of Deceit: The Story of a 9/11 Whistleblower,” which highlights his life in the government. He is featured in the documentary film, “Please Remove Your Shoes.”
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