Gilbert M. Orrantia

Director, Arizona Department of Homeland Security

Gilbert M. Orrantia was appointed to the position of Director of Homeland Security for the State of Arizona by Governor Janice K. Brewer in May 2009. Before serving in this capacity, Mr. Orrantia served as Director of Atalert Investigations and Consulting, performing major case investigations involving criminal, counterterrorism and homeland security matters.  He is fluent in both English and Spanish and conducted in-depth witness and subject/suspect interviews using both languages. 

Prior to his time with Atalert, Mr. Orrantia spent 27 years with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as a Special Agent and Supervisory Special Agent in Phoenix, New Mexico, Tennessee and Florida.  In these roles, he gained in-depth, hands-on experience conducting and supervising complex investigations involving counterterrorism, drugs and organized crime. As part of his FBI service, Mr. Orrantia served the Navajo Indian Reservation near Gallup, New Mexico for three years investigating violent crimes that occurred on the Reservation. Mr. Orrantia has also served as an FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force Supervisory Special Agent supervising international and domestic terrorism investigations, which included overseeing special events and airport security matters.  He also spent seven years investigating Colombian Drug Trafficking Organizations.  Mr. Orrantia received his Bachelor of Arts from Arizona State University.