William J. “Will” Plumas, TPWD Ret.

Will began his career with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department on October 1, 1992 as a cadet in the 43rd Game Warden Training Academy in Austin Texas. After completing the academy, he was stationed in the Rio Grande Valley, where he spent the next 26 years. During his tenure stationed in deep South Texas, he was commended by The Texas Rangers for a map book that he had compiled detailing the Rio Grande River which became an integral tool in the early days of the state’s Border Operations.

As a certified Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) Instructor and the Lead Instructor for Boat Operations in Texas, Will has taught many courses across the globe. He currently serves as a National Association of Sate Boating Law Administrator’s (NASBLA) National Program Manager where he oversees two courses nationwide, including the Airboat Operators Course.

With the creation of his agencies full-time Marine Tactical Operation Group (MTOG) in 2012, he was tasked with the important role of contributing in the development of the team and became one of its charter members. Will retired from TPWD in 2018 but continues to instruct boat courses as well as perform his duties here at Thin Green Line, Inc. as its Co-founder and Chief Operations Officer.

Nelson Balido

Nelson drives results in diverse government, politics, private industry, and non-profit arenas. As one of the leading authorities on the U.S. border for trade, travel, energy and security issues, he is the founder of the Border Commerce and Security Council and the Energy Council of the Americas. Before assuming his current role, he was the President of the Border Trade Alliance. He was a presidential pick to lead the private sector division of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and also served on the Homeland Security Advisory Council, where he was awarded the department’s highest civilian award – the Outstanding Public Service Medal.

He has extensive experience in public and private sectors at the local, state and federal levels. For years, Nelson has worked closely with the governments of U.S., Canada, and Mexico at every level by advocating on behalf of policy initiatives designed to improve cross-border affairs, trade and security relations, energy reform and cultural understanding. In 2014, Nelson was re-appointed to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Industry Trade Advisory Council by United States Trade Representative and the Secretary of Commerce.

Major Brad Williams, FWC Ret.

Brad retired in September 2012 from a career as a State Law Enforcement Officer with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). He maintained his sworn police officer status with Florida as an active Reserve Officer with FWC until late 2017. At the time of his retirement, he was assigned as FWC’s Statewide Chief of Special Operations and Mutual Aid. His duties included the training and supervision of FWC’s Special Operations Group. He also oversaw the Disaster Response and RECON program, the Air Deployable Search and Rescue (ADSAR) program, the Maritime Preventative Radiation Nuclear Detection Program, Tactical Aviation Program, Multi-Agency Waterborne Response Teams, Active Shooter training, and policy development.

As state law enforcement officer with the Florida Marine Patrol (FMP) and the Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) for 35 years and was a state law enforcement officer with the State of Mississippi’s Marine Enforcement Division for 3½ years prior to joining the Patrol.

During his career, Brad saw duty as a Patrol Officer, Field Training Officer, Large Offshore Patrol Boat Commander, Field Supervisor, and Field Office Commander. He has been involved in all aspects law enforcement operations including, Search and Rescue, Investigations, Narcotics Interdiction, Undercover Narcotics Operations, Homeland Security/Counter Terrorism Operations, and Emergency Operations Command.

During his duties as Statewide Mutual Aid Operations Chief he worked with Law Enforcement, Urban Search and Rescue, and Aviation specialists to develop Florida’s Air Deployable Search and Rescue (ADSAR) protocols which have been heralded as a national model for air supported disaster response.

He has been a guest instructor at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) in Glenco, Georgia and Artesia, New Mexico, and at the FWC Academy in Quincy, Florida. He is an adjunct instructor at the USAF Special Operations School at Hurlburt Field AFB in Northwest Florida.

Brad is a certified Lead Instructor and the National Tactical Program Manager for the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) Boat Operations and Training (BOAT) program. He is a private consultant and trainer in., an emergency services consulting firm offering law enforcement consulting and training throughout the world.