About George Hood

George Hood was born and raised in Indiana, PA and subsequently graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Government and Public Service. Hood graduated from IUP and was commissioned as a Marine Corps officer and served with the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, CA. Prior to leaving the Marine Corps, Hood graduated from National University in San Diego, CA with a Master of Science degree in Forensic Science.

In 1984, Hood began his federal law enforcement career as a Special Agent with the U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and is a graduate of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, GA where he distinguished himself in physical fitness training and firearms. Hood served with NCIS for nearly 10 years in Honolulu, HI and San Diego, CA Field Office. Hood’s investigative experience in a variety of criminal cases included, but is certainly not limited to, sexual crimes, robberies, assaults, homicides and narcotics. Hood was a certified Firearms Instructor and was also certified in anti-terrorism personal protective measures. Hood is experienced in the conduct of protective service operations and was part of a special team that deployed to Naples, Italy to conduct anti-terrorism security and protective operations on behalf of the U.S. military in 1986. From 1993 to 1994, Hood was assigned independent duty as the Special Agent aboard the USS Kittyhawk (CV-63) where he was the principal law enforcement advisor to the ship’s CO and responsible for all felony law enforcement matters pertaining to the carrier’s Battle Group. Hood conducted threat assessments, port briefs and liaison with foreign counterparts during the ship’s deployment to the Western Pacific.

In 1995, Hood was hired as a Special Agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in San Diego, CA and graduated from the DEA Academy in Quantico, VA where he was recognized for outstanding physical fitness and marksmanship. Hood was the top marksman in his class in all range qualifications. Hood was transferred to Chicago, IL where he remained his entire DEA career. Hood’s career with DEA involved countless domestic and international multi-jurisdictional enforcement operations and investigations. Hood’s use of sophisticated electronic surveillance techniques was key to a joint international investigation between Swiss, German, Mexican and Greek counterparts of an international drug trafficking organization, which ultimately resulted in a Title III wire intercept. Hood was also temporarily assigned to Atlanta, GA for 3 months to conduct security operations at the Olympic Village in conjunction with the 1996 Olympics. Hood was also assigned to the Asset Forfeiture section in Chicago and conducted civil investigations into the identification and seizure of illicit property obtained as a result of drug trafficking.

Hood was then assigned as the Division’s training coordinator, where his state and local and in-service training programs for the 5 state region led the country for nearly 3 years. Hood’s fiscal resourcefulness by building unprecedented strategic alliances with personnel from civic and professional entities resulted in an increase in the number of attendees at state and local training schools. This also had a positive impact on recruitment of personnel to attend DEA training. Hood is a certified instructor and has conducted countless blocks of instruction on a variety of criminal subject matter. Hood is a certified Public Relations Officer (PIO) and frequently used the media to enhance state and local training programs and conferences that he often organized on behalf of the DEA. Hood has also prepared press materials and remarks for DEA Senior management personnel and has experience in conducting press conferences.

Hood was ultimately promoted to a GS-14 and was a DEA Supervisory Special Agent for nearly 5 years. Hood gained task force experience in conducting joint operations and remote site management when he supervised up to 10 agents as part of a Mobile Enforcement Team. Hood’s inspirational leadership resulted in a Title III wire intercept against a Mexican drug trafficking organization, which was unprecedented for an enforcement group of this kind. Hood also supervised a Financial Investigative Group conducting long term money laundering investigations. Hood was also the primary liaison to all financial institutions in Chicago regarding Bank Secrecy Act issues and money laundering. Hood’s last supervisory assignment was DEA’s Transportation Group where Hood supervised a taskforce responsible for all currency and drug interdiction operations at Chicago’s transportation venues. Hood retired from DEA in December, 2007 with nearly 24 years of multi-agency, federal law enforcement investigative experience so he could pursue his own professional growth in the public and private sector.

In September, 2008, Hood accepted a position as a Law Enforcement Professional with MPRI, a division of L-3 Communications. In conjunction with his assignment, George served overseas in Afghanistan and provided direct counterinsurgency investigative support on behalf of deployed U.S. military units and personnel.

George Hood is also an ultra athlete and a three-time Guinness World Record (GWR) holder with a passion for inspiring others to work hard and achieve success. In 1986, Hood had the GWR for the Rope Skipping Marathon, which he did in Honolulu, HI on behalf of the American Heart Association. His unselfish desire to help others manifested itself most recently when he set three Guinness World Records (GWR) on the stationary “spin” bike from 2007 to 2008 on behalf of three non-profit charity organizations. In January, 2007, Hood set an “unofficial” GWR of 91 hours on the stationary “spin” bike and raised over $30K for Illinois Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS). In July 2007, George set an official Guinness World Record of 111 hours on the “spin” bike and raised over $35K for special needs kids of Kiwanis. Each of these events were record fundraisers for both COPS and Kiwanis! In May, 2008, George set a new GWR on the stationary bike at 177 hours and 45 minutes on behalf of the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign and raised over $32,000. Hood’s recent GWR is published in the 2009 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records. Hood is presently training for a 300 hour ride in April, 2010 on behalf of the Fox Valley United Way and their various youth programs and also the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund. Hood’s ability to overcome obstacles, plan, coordinate and lead such fundraising events reflects his unselfish commitment to helping others and inspiring people of all ages to achieve ultimate performance excellence. His leadership and drive continue to inspire people of all ages in academic, corporate and civic environments. Hood’s unique media relations skills and his solid training and instructor credentials have resulted in many other successful training, recruitment and leadership and development programs across the country in both his personal and professional life.

George has also received numerous professional accommodations and awards during his career, which attest to his leadership, professionalism and commitment to excellence. In addition to multiple certifications from GWR, Hood has also received recognition from the U.S. based, World Records Academy, the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Chicago White Sox, a host of non-profit organizations, and countless local, state, federal and international law enforcement agencies. Hood has lectured at a variety of professional and public venues and has provided motivational talks regarding setting goals, documenting performance and ultimately achieving record success, not only as it pertains to his world record feats, but also in corporate America. Hood has made appearances at Cellular Field in Chicago as a result of his inspirational friendship with White Sox relief pitcher, Bobby Jenks and he has made numerous appearances on behalf of Illinois Rotary, Kiwanis, various school districts and chamber of commerce organizations. Hood most recently presented in Toronto, Canada, Nashville, TN and was the keynote speaker at the annual conference of the National Graves Disease Foundation in October, 2007 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Hood also spoke at a management conference hosted by Lennox Incorporated in Marshalltown, Iowa in November, 2007. In conjunction with many of his appearances, his inspirational story is often referenced in local media and has also been recognized in international and domestic television, radio and print media markets, to include National Public Radio, the Associated Press and Guinness World Records, Ltd. He has made television and/or radio appearances in London, Montreal, Toronto and across the Midwest and his feats have been referenced on Saturday Night Live, the Jay Leno show and ESPN. He has been featured in such national publications as Sports Illustrated and recently in Bicycling Magazine in November 2008. Hood’s world record attempts and the stories behind them continue to inspire world wide coverage on many fronts. Hood is also appearing in a local film company documentary regarding world record setting achievements, which is scheduled for a 2009 festival release.

Hood maintains affiliation with several professional organizations, including the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association and the National Graves Disease Foundation. From 2002 through 2006, Hood served on the Executive Board of the National Drug Enforcement Officer’s Association (NDEOA) where he ultimately held the position of 1st Vice President. From 2003 to 2006, Hood was President of the Executive Board for the Georgetown Commons Homeowners Association in Aurora, Illinois. Hood is also a member of the National Exercise and Sports Trainers Association (NESTA).

Hood is a Scout leader with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) in Aurora, Illinois and a BSA Personal Fitness Merit Badge Counselor. Hood twice received BSA Lifeguard, CPR/AED certification and is a NESTA certified personal trainer. Hood is also a certified “spin cycling” instructor through Mad Dog Athletics, Incorporated and has served as an instructor and trainer at numerous health and fitness clubs in the area. George has also collaborated with private industry in the production of a training journal titled, The Mile Book, which encompasses Hood’s training secrets of documenting performance in pursuit of attainable goals, both in the gym and in corporate America. George enjoys canoe trips to the Boundary Waters of Minnesota, camping, reading, running and promoting an active and physical lifestyle especially in young adults. Hood has three sons and resides in Aurora, Illinois. George can be reached via e-mail at trainer4663@yahoo.com or his cell phone at (630) 415-6222. For more information about George’s Guinness World Record training and events, please visit www.RideGeorgeRide.org

“Set Goals, Keep Score, Break Records… anything else is just exercise”—George E. Hood