Author Brad Thor

Brad Thor is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Foreign Agent, Code of Conduct, Act of War, Hidden Order, Black List, Full Black (one of Suspense Magazine’s best political thrillers of 2011), The Athena Project, Foreign Influence (one of Suspense Magazine’s best political thrillers of 2010), The Apostle, The Last Patriot (nominated best thriller of the year by the International Thriller Writers Association), The First Commandment, Takedown, Blowback (recognized as one of the “Top 100 Killer Thrillers of All Time” by NPR), State of the Union, Path of the Assassin, and The Lions of Lucerne. Thor’s seventeenth novel Use of Force is set to be published by Atria Books this coming June.

Brad has been called “the master of thrillers,” “as current as tomorrow’s headlines,”  “quite possibly the next coming of Robert Ludlum,” and “America’s favorite author.” His internationally bestselling novels have been published in Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam.

In 2008, Brad shadowed a Black Ops team in Afghanistan to research his thriller, The Apostle, trademarking his “faction” style which blends impeccable research and high-speed, action-packed plots.  A hallmark of a Thor thriller is the framing of “the next big thing” in the public discourse and his extensive world travels lend authenticity and detail to his novels.

Brad has hosted the Glenn Beck TV and radio programs, and has appeared on FOX News Channel, CNN, CNN Headline News, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, NBC, and PBS programs to discuss terrorism, as well as how closely his novels of international intrigue parallel the real threats facing the world today. In 2010, Brad was featured by the Speed Channel in the “Executive Protection” episode of their “Dangerous Drives” series.

Brad has served as a member of the Department of Homeland Security’s Analytic Red Cell Unit, and is a fellow of the Alexandrian Defense Group. He has lectured to law enforcement organizations on over-the-horizon/future threats and has been a keynote speaker for the National Tactical Officers Association annual conference, the Young America’s Foundation, and the Ronald Reagan 100 celebration. A supporter of The Heritage Foundation, Brad has spoken at their national headquarters on the need for robust missile defense. He also sits on The International Free Press Society’s Board of Advisors, and has served as a judge for the Sam Adams Alliance Annual Awards.

Brad graduated cum laude from the University of Southern California where he studied creative writing, film, and television production. Prior to becoming a novelist, Brad was the award-winning creator, producer, writer and host of the award winning and critically acclaimed national public television series, Traveling Lite. 
Brad is an active supporter of the USO, Disabled American Veterans, the Wounded Warrior Project, the Yellow Ribbon Fund, and the Salvation Army.

"Bernie & Sid"

Bernard J. McGuirk is the executive producer of the Imus in the Morning radio program. He was born and raised in the South Bronx, New York, where he worked in his younger years as a taxi driver.

Sid Rosenberg is a radio personality and the former morning host of WMEN-640 AM.  Rosenberg is known for his controversial and sarcastic humor as a host on many radio stations including, WAXY "790 The Ticket" in Miami, where he hosted his own morning show.  He originally was paired with O.J. McDuffie, formerly a wide receiver with the Miami Dolphins; McDuffie resigned his position with the station in the summer of 2006.

Rosenberg's self-given jokingly middle name "Arthur" is a reference to former baseball player Dave Kingman. When Hall of Fame sportscaster Bob Murphy gave the lineups for the New York Mets, he would always give Kingman's name as "David Arthur Kingman"; Rosenberg continues this running gag on the Sports Guys by using Arthur as everybody's middle name.

His radio career started in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he hosted the syndicated sports radio program The Drive on Sports Fan Radio Network in the late 1990s, after starting as an Internet broadcast. In 2000, he moved to New York City to co-host WNEW-FM's turbulent morning show, the Sports Guys. A year later, he joined the Imus in the Morning program. He shared the sports broadcasting duties with Warner Wolf before becoming the full-time sports reporter. He engaged in heated half-mock, half-serious disputes with the other members of the Imus cast, leading for example to an actual boxing bout with producer Bernard McGuirk.  Several months after joining the Imus show, he became the co-host of the midday show on Imus' flagship station, WFAN. Here, his strong knowledge of sports and distinctive, high-pitched Brooklyn accent served him well. He would hold both broadcasting positions until 2005. For several years, he also hosted the radio pre-game shows for New York Giants home games.

"iPhone"

Imus broadcast his first program from New York City back in 1971. His life journey has by some accounts been arduous, by other accounts a freak parade, and by still others as a matter for a RICO investigation. It began out in the great American West, California and Arizona, and eventually would make its way on across the country to Ohio and New York.

Imus was born in Riverside, California. Ranching was the family business and he was actually raised on a big cattle spread called the Willows near Kingman, Arizona. Don recalls that period of his childhood fondly and his familiar cowboy persona is completely legitimate. His irascibility appears to be equally legitimate, influenced by more than a few hard knocks along the way. If he revels in the agony of others, as he jokes, it may just be because he’s had a little of that himself. His parents divorced when Don was fifteen, he changed schools frequently, got arrested after a school yard fight, won election in secondary school as class president and was impeached, and, at seventeen, was pushed by his mother to join the marine corps as the best strategy to keep him out of jail. While it all added up to what Imus himself has described as a fairly horrible adolescence, it also disproves a theory that he actually had no parents and instead spawned spontaneously in dust clots behind the Laundromat dryers where one day he would seek shelter. When did all of these events unfold? It doesn’t really matter. And why annoy Don by asking?

Despite the occasional rough patch, Imus did spend a full twelve years in public school and emerged with no formal education…a product of automatic social promotion not even casually tied to merit. He graduated with no honors and no skills, a rare stroke of luck because a broadcasting career required neither. Difficulty continued to dog Imus after his school days: his undistinguished, infraction blotched stretch in the marines, onerous labor in a Superior, Arizona copper mine and a Grand Canyon uranium mine where an accident left him with both legs broken. There was work as a freight brakeman on the Southern Pacific railroad and a back injury suffered in an engine derailment and at one point the indignities of homelessness, hitching, being flat broke. Better, and worse days were to come. This quintessential American and often challenging personal passage materially defined Imus, instilling him with humility, a deep respect for our country and its workers, and a disturbing need to get even. He emerged from the experience with attributes that contributed enormously to the broadcasting distinction he would realize: an intrinsic, conspicuous authenticity, and a unique ability to connect with real people who work hard, serve their country, and care passionately about what really matters in the world.

Once Imus began broadcasting, fame and acclaim came quickly. He was showered with the laurels of radio celebrity including inductions into both the National Association of Broadcasters and radio halls of fame. He was the recipient of four Marconi awards, broadcasting’s equivalent of Hollywood’s Oscars. It got to the point that he would throw this or that slab of walnut with crystal crap glued to it against the wall of his office as a convenient means of intimidating horrified underlings. He was featured on television programs from NBC’s “Today” show to CBS’ “60 Minutes.” He was a guest of Charlie Rose, David Letterman, and of special note, Larry King, in shameless, mutual ass-kissing marathons that challenged the audience's gag reflex.

Don and wife Deirdre will continue to run the Imus ranch for kids with cancer, raise more millions for the Tomorrows Children Fund, the CJ Foundation for SIDS, America’s veterans and their care, autism studies, environmental concerns, and all the countless other things Don does, most with notice neither assigned nor sought.

"The Gunz Show"

Mike “Gunz” Gunzelman is one of the hottest up and coming media personalities in the nation. Not even 30 years old, “Gunz” is a featured part of the crew on the hit morning show “Imus in the Morning.” Imus personally tapped Gunz for his ability to present real news in a way that appeals to a younger audience. Gunz has covered the New York Yankees for WFUV in New York and pops up on ESPN New York for regular appearances.  He has also appeared on Fox Business Channel and “The Sean Hannity Show” on Fox News Channel, as well as MTV and FUSE Television.

Gunz has now taken his unique charm and energy and brought it to WABC as the 77WABC Sports & Entertainment reporter – covering all local sport teams, award shows and happenings.  If it matters – Gunz will be there.  And if you don’t think it does, Gunz will show you why it does.

Gunz graduated from Fordham University with a degree in Broadcast Journalism and Political Science.

"Bo-Monday"

Richard “Bo” Dietl was a New York City Police Officer and Detective from June 1969 until he retired in 1985. Bo was one of the most highly decorated detectives in the history of the police department, with several thousand arrests to his credit. There were two particular cases that represent his career highlights. The first was what former New York City Mayor Edward I. Koch labeled “…the most vicious crime in New York City history” (1981) which involved a nun who was raped and tortured in an East Harlem convent as 27 crosses were carved into her by two men, who later confessed and were convicted. The second was the Palm Sunday Massacre in 1984, which was one of New York City’s most bloody mass slayings, of ten people. Bo was instrumental in the arrest and conviction of the suspects in both cases.

In 1986, Bo was nominated for the U.S. Congress by the Republican and Conservative parties of New York State for the 6th Congressional District (to fill the seat of the late Joseph Addabbo). In a 7-1 Democratic District, the Rev. Floyd Flake edged out Bo by a mere 2,500 votes – one of the closest races in New York history.

In 1989 President George Bush appointed Bo as Co-Chairman of the National Crime Commission. In 1994, Governor George E. Pataki appointed Bo Chairman of the New York State Security Guard Advisory Council. He served as Security Consultant to the National Republican Convention and as Director of Security for the New York State Republican Convention.

Richard “Bo” Dietl is the Founder & Chairman of Beau Dietl & Associates. Founded in 1985, Beau Dietl & Associates has grown to become one of the premier investigative and security firms in the nation and is a full service organization providing a wide variety of investigative and security services to corporate and individual clients worldwide. In 2010, Bo formed Beau Dietl Consulting Services (BDCS), his company recruits temporary and permanent placements in the IT, Finance, and Business verticals for global leaders and Fortune 500 companies with clients such as JP Morgan Chase, Citibank and Ernst & Young to name a few.

Bo has been a Fox News and Business contributor for the past 10 years, his commentary is called upon countless times for his expertise on current events happening nationwide. For the past 30 years he has been a weekly guest on Imus in the Morning, and appears on several other Fox shows on a regular basis.