Michael Aspland has 36 years of public service that includes a background in criminal justice, homeland security, and public service. He was the first member of the IHS team, bringing together a group of professionals from the public and private sectors to set the Institute on a path to improving critical infrastructure protection for Texas. The journey to the Lone Star State began in 2014 when he retired from law enforcement after 26 years of service in California and started a second career in academics at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Cal. He taught civilian and military partners how to map out and disrupt the networks of illicit organizations. During this time, he founded Set Free Monterey Bay , a restoration home for women escaping sex trafficking. In October 2021, Michael arrived in Texas to launch IHS!