NATIONAL SHERIFFS’ ASSOCIATION LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM
Thursday, June 27th, 2024
1:00PM – 3:30PM
Join the NSA for the inaugural Leadership Symposium, a premier event featuring an array of dynamic speakers, including legendary former Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Randy White. Don’t miss the opportunity to network with industry experts and gain insights from leaders across various fields. This event is open to all registered attendees, be there to experience it all!
SYMPOSIUM SPEAKERS
Super Bowl XII Champion and co-MVP, 7x First-team All-Pro, 9x Pro Bowl, NFL 1980s All-Decade Team, NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor, Pro Football Hall of Fame, 1974 Lombardi Award, 1974 Outland Trophy, 2x All-American, 1974 ACC Player of the Year, 1974 UPI Lineman of the Year, ABC Sports All-Time All America Team, College Football Hall of Fame
A Delaware native of a son of a butcher, Randy White turned down the Pittsburgh Pirates to play football at the University of Maryland. At Maryland, White was moved from full back to Defensive End during his Sophomore Season. At Defensive End, White earned numerous accolades including All-America selections in 1973 and 1974 and in 1974 winning the UPI Lineman of the Year, ACC Player of the Year, Outland Trophy and Lombardi Trophy awards.
In the 1975 NFL Draft, the Dallas Cowboys’ selected White with the second overall pick.
White quickly made an impact for the Cowboys earing All Rookie Team Honors in 1975 and became a cornerstone of the Doomsday Defense.
From 1977 to 1985, White made nine consecutive Pro Bowls for efforts which landed him on the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team and the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.
In 1978, White was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Year and was named co-Most Valuable Player in the Cowboys’ 27-10 win over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XII hosted in New Orleans.
White earned the nickname “Manster” for his half-man/half-monster hits on the football field. White only missed only one game during his 14 seasons and played in 209 regular season games, three Super Bowls, and six NFL championship games. He is credited with 1,104 tackles, 701 solo tackles and 111 sacks.
White’s efforts in the football field placed him on both the NFL’s 100 greatest list and ABC sports All-Time College All-America lists. You can find White enshrined in numerous Halls of Fame including the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor, the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame. Randy is also a member of the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame for his efforts in the rodeo ring.
White’s legacy does not stop at football. He is a champion off the field as well. For over 20 years, White has worked with law enforcement through the National Child ID Program and other initiatives recognized as part of the NFL Alumni’s Caring for Kids mission.
After losing his son-in-law to a single fake opioid, White set out to educate others on the dangers of taking strange pills. He devotes his time and influence to promoting Coaches vs Overdoses, a youth opioid and overdose prevention, awareness, education, and drug disposal campaign focused on high school athletes he helped create in 2022.
White and his wife Susan live in Prosper, Texas where he is an honorary Sheriff’s Deputy and full-time Dad to two Grandchildren.
Major General Michael C. Thompson is a retired United States General Officer and Oklahoma Army National Guard member who served as the 21st Adjutant General of Oklahoma from 2017 to 2021. He was a Major General in the United States Army National Guard and was a member of the Oklahoma Governor’s Cabinet. Thompson previously served concurrently as the Oklahoma Secretary of Safety and Security and the Commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety. In his capacity as Public Safety Commissioner, Thompson also was in charge of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. As Safety and Security secretary, he was a member of the Oklahoma Governor’s Cabinet and was responsible for directing all state public safety, law enforcement and corrections agencies.
Major General Ricky G. Adams is a retired United States Army General Officer with service in the Oklahoma Army National Guard and as an American police officer in the State of Oklahoma. Major General (retired) Adams is an Afghan War veteran who retired in 2014 after over 35 years of service in the US Army National Guard. Among his previous executive level military assignments are: Deputy Commanding General National Guard, US Army Training and Doctrine Command, Fort Eustis, Virginia; Assistant Adjutant General – Oklahoma ARNG; Deputy Commanding General – ARNG, Field Artillery Center, Fort Sill; Director-Police Reform Directorate, Kabul, Afghanistan; Deputy Assistant Commandant, United States Army Field Artillery School, Fort Sill; Commander of the 45th Field Artillery Brigade; and Commander of the 1BN 171st FA MLRS – Oklahoma ARNG. Among his highest military awards are the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit-twice, and the Bronze Star Medal. Adams was also inducted into the Oklahoma National Guard’s Officer Candidate School (OCS) Hall of Fame in 2014. Adams holds a Master of Strategic Studies Degree from the US Army War College and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Central Oklahoma. He is a 2001 graduate of the FBI National Academy and a 2016 graduate of the FBI National Executive Institute. He is also a graduate of the CAPSTONE Program at the National Defense University; National Security Management Course at Syracuse University; JTF Commander Course; Harvard University’s Black Sea Security Program and General and Flag Officer Homeland Security Executive Seminar; Joint Flag Officer War Fighter Course, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama; George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, Senior Executive Seminar, Garmisch, Germany.
Paul D. Laney served as Sheriff in Cass County, ND from 2007-2018. He worked for the Fargo Police Department from 1989-2007. He is a Marine Corps veteran. Sheriff Laney is co-owner/CEO of PDL Connect Consulting LLC., He consults for several organizations as well as instructs for the National Staff and Command College and the National Sheriff’s Association.
Sheriff Laney has over 2,000 hours of law enforcement training in his career. Sheriff Laney is a graduate of Class 137 of the School of Police Staff and Command (SPSC) and graduated from the FBI National Academy (FBINA) Class 255 in 2014. He has taught courses for Rasmussen College and the University of Mary.
Sheriff Laney has served on the Board of Directors for the Dakota Territory Sheriff’s Association and has served on the Board of Directors of the North Dakota Sheriff’s and Deputies Association. He also served on the Board of Directors for the North Dakota Association of Counties (NDACo) and the Board of Trustees for the United Way of Cass Clay. Sheriff Laney served on the Board of Directors for the National Sheriff’s Association for 6 years and still serves on three national committees, the Drug Enforcement Committee, the Awards Committee and the Homeland Security Committee for the National Sheriff’s Association. Sheriff Laney hosted a weekly radio show called Law Talk with Sheriff Laney on KFGO Radio from 2010-2012. Sheriff Laney was named the E911 Institutes “Government Leader of the Year” for 2011 and was the National Sheriff’s Association’s 2012 Ferris E. Lucas “National Sheriff of the Year.” On August 13, 2015 during the North Dakota Peace Officers Association Annual Conference, Sheriff Laney was presented the Lone Eagle Award in recognition of his, “Outstanding and Dedicated Law Enforcement in the State of North Dakota.” He was also presented the National Sheriff’s Associations 2017 “President’s Award” for his leadership and service during the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) protests.