Tempest Investigative Agency

Owner Biography

(Daniel Smith)

One of the most defining events in Daniel Smith's life occurred in 1979 - at the age of 17, he took the oath of a military member, and at 18 years old,  he entered the United States Army.  It was in the Army where he learned the value of true teamwork, self-motivation, and initiative.  Mr. Smith was quickly chosen by military leaders for advanced training at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he earned his wings as an Airborne Paratrooper.  He was then assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

During his tour in the Army, he was selected to undertake exclusive training as a Reconnaissance Commando (Recondo).  He parachuted into Panama where he lived and trained in the jungle and was designated a "Jungle Warfare Expert".  He was trained in advanced weaponry, explosives, unconventional warfare, and military tactics by the elite "Green Berets" of the 7th Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg.  World-wide travel followed, to locations such as Egypt, where he trained Egyptian forces.  He earned the privilege of wearing the 82nd Airborne Division's "Distinguished Trooper Award", awarded to only a few exceptional members of the elite "82nd".  His professionalism and devotion to duty also earned Mr. Smith the Army Achievement Medal.  He honorably separated from the U.S. Army in 1982.  All this before the age of 22. 

After the Army, Mr. Smith returned to Arizona and entered the 855th Military Police unit of the Arizona National Guard.  He learned military law enforcement tactics, prisoner detention, and methods of interrogation. His unit was activated by the Arizona Governer to respond to the Morenci Copper Mine Strike in 1983, to secure the largest copper mining operation in North America, by dispursing over 1,000 angry, striking miners. 

In 1984, Mr. Smith moved to California where he entered the U.S. Coast Guard.  He spent two years on a 210-foot Coast Guard cutter stationed off the southern California coast.  As a Coast Guard law enforcement officer, he spent much of his time conducting vessel safety inspections, drug interdictions, and life-saving missions.  He transfered to locations in the northwest (Oregon), where his exemplary professionalism earned Mr. Smith a second military achievement medal, and a Coast Guardsman of the Quarter designation.  He then transfered to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. It was while at the Academy, in the capacity of a personnel manager and instructor, and after being awarded his third military achievement medal, and beginning his educational background in criminal justice, that Mr. Smith was approached, and eventually recruited, into a government investigative and intelligence program. His recruitment took him to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, GA, where he graduated as a Federal Criminal Investigator (Special Agent).

Returning to California, with new credentials as a Federal Agent, Mr. Smith began by conducting over 2000 background investigations for both government and civilian personnel. Each investigation involved many hours of interviews, surveillances, document collection, and reporting.  He holds an advanced certification in background investigations, which is recognized by both the California Department of Justice and the California Department of Education.   

Investigative assistance to local law enforcement agencies was one of the mainstays of Mr. Smith's achievements. As a certified Narcotics Investigator, his assistance to one local police agency resulted in Northern California's largest seizures in history of a Methamphetamine precursor, a cache of illegal weapons, and of course, arrests.  Another resulted in the seizure of over a half-million dollars worth of classified government software, which was scheduled to be shipped overseas.

As a federal law enforcement and intelligence liaison for the San Francisco, CA area, Mr. Smith, coordinated the United States' first incoming shipment of foreign nuclear fuel, which successfully transited safely under the Golden Gate Bridge and through the San Francisco Bay. While as a member of the California Department of Justice's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), as well as the Outlaw Motorcycle Gang Task Force (OMGTF), Mr. Smith conducted operations that were instrumental in reducing the illegal drug trade in our country. Death threats, assaults, rape, homicide, financial fraud, counterfeit currency, stolen property, were all among the types of criminal activities that Mr. Smith successfully investigated. Each time, a criminal was sent to jail.

Mr. Smith, at one time or another, has been assigned to assist most of the "big named" government agencies.  Both his military training and abilities, combined with exceptional analytical conditioning, proved to be an asset that was highly desired.  Being one of the youngest federal agents to be assigned an "independent office", Mr. Smith oversaw a three-state area of jurisdiction.  In this capacity, he trained government police forces in special investigative and surveillance techniques, and he published governmental guidance manuals pertaining to emergency preparedness in the event of biological warfare or natural disaster.

His federal certification as a financial fraud investigator, involved Mr. Smith in high-level organized crime investigations, which led to the arrest and conviction of those who would defraud the government.  Whether working undercover as an employee to install high-tech microwave video camera transmitters, or reviewing income and expense sheets for signs of embezzelment, Mr. Smith handled each task professionally and discretely.  jupiter private investigator

Mr. Smith stated that the pinnacle of his career was when he was personally requested by the U.S. Secret Service to protect a Vice President's wife.  This request was after having already being assigned to protect a U.S. President and his wife, as well as foreign dignitaries while traveling abroad. 

"Being professionally trained to conduct protective services, and then having the trust of the U.S. Secret Service was certainly the pinnacle of my career"

After 21 years with the federal government, over $500,000 worth of training, and with an excess of 46 thousand hours of experience, Daniel Smith retired from the government at the age of 40. jupiter private investigator

Bringing his background into a Florida private investigative agency to serve the residents of Palm Beach County is, as Mr. Smith stated, "...a personal pleasure, I hope I can do some good locally".

Mr. Smith is an avid associate, and maintains interest with, the Center for Study of Intelligence.  He maintains contact with his career associates in the government intelligence and law enforcement fields and continues to be a trusted source of information.

Mr. Smith also holds professional technical licenses with the Federal Communications Commission.  This qualification is frequently used during high-frequency, high-intensity surveillance transmissions operations.  If you find a Jupiter, Palm Beach, or even Florida Private Investigator with this specialty - USE THEM!

Aside from being the owner and manager of Tempest Investigative Agency, Mr. Smith is also the lead private investigator.