Using social media, OSINT and cell phone apps in investigations
How investigators find, preserve and use open-source and social media evidence, from first lead to case file. Presented to ASIS Chicago in May 2018.
Dr. Neal McLoughlin
Law enforcement administrator, security director and educator. Keynote speaker and consultant on investigations, OSINT, AI and police leadership.
Dr. McLoughlin served as the Chicago Police Department's 11th District Watch Commander and as commanding officer of its first OSINT and social media exploitation (SOMEX) unit. A former Federal Task Force Officer, he coordinated operations for the 2012 NATO Summit in Chicago, and holds a Doctor of Education in Leadership from Concordia University Chicago.
At a glance
- Doctor of Education in LeadershipConcordia University Chicago, 2026; published dissertation on leadership and officer stress
- 11th District Watch CommanderWatch Operations Lieutenant, Chicago Police Department
- SOMEX Commanding OfficerBuilt CPD's first OSINT and social media exploitation unit, with embedded FBI agents
- Federal Task Force OfficerFBI task force
- Regional Counterdrug Training AcademyFaculty, OSINT
- Founder, NobleNerds.orgPublic-private partnership providing technical assistance and training to public safety and federal agencies
- 2012 NATO Summit, ChicagoOperations Coordinator
- Certified Cyber InvestigatorFBI First Responder Course; Cyber Investigator Certificate Program, Carnegie Mellon SEI
Why organizations bring him in
Dr. McLoughlin has spent more than two decades where policing, technology and public policy meet. He has commanded officers on the street, built an intelligence unit from nothing, and taught investigators across the United States.
He brings that command experience to the stage and the boardroom: plain answers, real cases and practical steps an audience can use the next day.
Signature talks
Each talk can run as a keynote, a breakout session or a half-day training, in person or virtual.
Dark net markets, cryptocurrency and online investigations
How illicit online markets and cryptocurrency work, and how investigators follow the trail. He teaches this as a core course at the Regional Counterdrug Training Academy.
Shadow AI and responsible AI adoption in law enforcement
Why staff are already using AI without policy, the risks that creates, and how agencies and security teams can adopt it responsibly.
Mobile advertiser IDs: what the smartphone in every pocket reveals
What mobile advertiser IDs (MAIDs) are, how commercial location data is generated, and what it means for investigations, privacy and policy.
Who he works with
- Conference organizers
- Keynotes and breakouts on OSINT, AI, major events and police leadership.
- Police and public safety agencies
- Command-level training, OSINT unit design, major event planning and officer resilience.
- Universities and hospitals
- Clery Act compliance, Campus Security Authority training and security consulting.
- Corporate security and fraud teams
- Open-source investigations, social media evidence and fraud examination.
- Boards and hiring committees
- Executive leadership, advisory and interim roles in public safety and security.
Credentials
Education, command and certification, in plain terms.
- Doctor of Education in Leadership (Ed.D.), Concordia University Chicago, 2026
- Master's degree in Financial Forensics and Fraud Investigation, Saint Xavier University
- Cyber Investigator Certificate Program (CICP), Carnegie Mellon University Software Engineering Institute
- Certified Cyber Investigator, FBI First Responder Course (2021)
- Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) designation, ACFE, 2005 to 2015
- Certified Law Enforcement Trainer, Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board
- DHS Certified Instructor, Incident Response to Terrorist Bombings (2010)
- NIMS, CERT and ICS, including ICS-300 and ICS-400
- Illinois Security Contractor License
- Bachelor of Science with Honors
“AI is not a choice, it is our new environment. Your value is not in having the answers but in having the creativity and judgement to know the questions to ask.”
Bring Dr. McLoughlin to your stage or your leadership team
Keynotes, training, consulting and executive roles. Email to check availability.