Deanna “Dede” Wallace serves as Victim Assistance Specialist for Homeland Security Investigations Washington D.C., which oversees offices across Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. In this role, Dede bridges the gap between law enforcement needs and victim services. She ensures that law enforcement uses a victim-centered approach when conducting investigations, meaning that the rescue and stabilization of the victim is just as important as the prosecution of the criminal. She works with federal agents, local and state law enforcement officers, and nonprofit organizations across two states and the District of Columbia on cases involving human trafficking, child exploitation and financial crimes.

Dede has more than 15 years’ experience in the field. She has received significant training on how to interact with victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and child exploitation, and is often consulted as a subject matter expert on victim issues. She uses her vast knowledge to train colleagues in the industry both domestically and abroad on victim issues and trauma-informed interviewing practices.

GUEST — Michael Lamonea currently serves as a Senior Liaison (GS-15) to the Department of Homeland Security’s Joint Task Force East in Portsmouth, VA. In this capacity since October 2019, Mr. Lamonea oversees the intelligence program; managing multi-agency DHS personnel to synchronize intelligence, operations, and investigations with domestic and foreign partners across land, air, and sea domains. Prior to this assignment, Mr. Lamonea served for over 10 years as the Assistant Special Agent in Charge responsible for all investigative disciplines and administrative functions in the Norfolk and Richmond, Virginia field offices. In this role, Mr. Lamonea more than doubled investigative productivity, oversaw numerous high-profile investigations receiving national recognition, and established several prominent task forces in the region for which he led executive committees; including the Southeastern Virginia Border Enforcement Security Task Force, Hampton Roads Human Trafficking Task Force, Port of Norfolk/Newport News Trade Enforcement Coordination Center, and Peninsula-based High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.  Mr. Lamonea is also a past president of the Great Bridge Rotary Club.