Michael Gaynier, Global Research Analyst
Mr. Gaynier joined Hetherington Group in July 2022 as a Global Research Analyst, focusing on the collection and expansion of foreign Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) and investigation resources. With strong research skills, he utilizes a variety of tools to collect, analyze, and process open source data from around the world. Mr. Gaynier’s research and writing expertise contribute to the development of data analysis, reports, charts, presentations, research papers, and risk assessments for Hg’s investigators and analysts.
Prior to joining Hg, Mr. Gaynier served as the Operations Coordinator at the Port of Edmonds and the Voyage Coordinator at Harley Marine Services. In these roles, he acted as a diplomatic liaison between customers and operational crew, honing his problem-solving and interpersonal skills to ensure safe, smooth, and efficient operations.
In 2017, Mr. Gaynier made a career transition to library science, becoming a Library Associate at Sno-Isle Libraries. There, he applied his OSINT skills to navigate public databases and support patrons’ research needs, as well as provided technology assistance by helping patrons with various devices and software.
Mr. Gaynier is among 150 students who completed training at the OSINT Academy, a collaboration between Dakota State University, the National Centers for Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity, and the Hetherington Group. His training covered comparative intelligence, dark web analysis, online information gathering, and intelligence analysis. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies with minors in Spanish and Biblical Studies from Cedarville University in 2010.