Bruce Gourlie Hired as Regional Security Advisor for Central North Carolina

Secure Community Network Announces Hiring of Bruce Gourlie as Regional Security Advisor for Central North Carolina

The Secure Community Network (SCN), the official safety and security organization for the Jewish community in North America, today announced the appointment of Bruce Gourlie as the Regional Security Advisor for Central North Carolina. In this role, Gourlie will serve as the primary security liaison for the Greensboro Jewish Federation, Jewish for Good/Jewish Federation of Durham-Chapel Hill, the Jewish Federation of Greater Raleigh, and The Winston-Salem United Jewish Appeal.

Gourlie will oversee the safety and security of approximately 36,500 Jewish residents and 36 distinct organizations and facilities in the region. His responsibilities include administering community security programs for the local federations, providing consultations, conducting building and organizational assessments, leading training and drills, mitigating threats to Jewish organizations, and coordinating responses to critical incidents at synagogues, schools, daycare centers, camps, assisted living facilities, and other Jewish institutions in Greensboro, Raleigh, Durham, and Winston-Salem.

“We are fortunate to have Bruce Gourlie join SCN as the Regional Security Advisor for Central North Carolina. With over two decades of service with the FBI, Bruce brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our efforts in protecting the Jewish communities in this region. His leadership will be instrumental in strengthening the safety, security, and resilience of the Jewish organizations in the area,” said SCN National Director and CEO Michael Masters.

During his 21-year career at the FBI, Gourlie held several distinguished roles, including Assistant Special Agent in Charge in the New York Field Office, overseeing human intelligence efforts in criminal investigations, counterterrorism, and counterintelligence. He also led the Policy and Strategy Unit in the National Security Branch at FBI Headquarters. After retiring from the bureau, he served as the security director for a large healthcare facility.

“I am thrilled to join SCN to support the security and resilience of the Jewish communities in Central North Carolina,” said Bruce Gourlie, SCN’s Regional Security Advisor for Central North Carolina. “Together with our community partners, we will continue to build strong relationships with local law enforcement while expanding and reinforcing the safety protocols and preparedness needed to protect and grow the vibrant Jewish life in these communities.”

Gourlie holds a bachelor’s degree in international studies from Norwich University and a certificate in strategic intelligence from the National Intelligence University.

“The safety and security of our Jewish community is a central priority of the Greensboro Jewish Federation. That is why we are excited to welcome Bruce Gourlie to our team as our first Regional Security Advisor for Central North Carolina. We’re looking forward to working collaboratively with our partners in the Greensboro area and throughout the region to make our community safer and stronger,” said Glenda Bernhardt, CEO of the Greensboro Jewish Federation.

“Our federation is excited for Bruce Gourlie to become our Regional Security Advisor. Bruce will bring great value to all Jewish organizations throughout Greater Raleigh and the NC Triad. This partnership could not come at a better time as the Jewish community faces many new threats, and we are eager to welcome Bruce, his expertise, and a greater SCN presence to the community,” said Phil Brodsky, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Raleigh.

“There is nothing more important than ensuring the well-being of our community, and The Winston-Salem United Jewish Appeal is excited to be a part of this effort in central North Carolina to make our communities safer and more secure,” said Andy Schneider, President of The Winston-Salem United Jewish Appeal.

“Safety and security of our local Jewish community is of the utmost importance to Jewish for Good. We are grateful to be adding this important resource to our community and working in partnership with SCN and other North Carolina Jewish communities to make this possible,” said Jill Madsen, CEO of Jewish for Good. 

This hiring was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Federation, local donors, community partners, and national donors, with professional support from SCN. Major funding for this initiative comes from both SCN and The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) through the joint $130 million LiveSecure Campaign—the largest philanthropic effort ever undertaken to establish a comprehensive, standards-based collective security framework for Jewish communities across North America.

“In our journey to ensure that every Jewish community has a strong security initiative necessary for flourishing Jewish life, we're thrilled to see that Central North Carolina is taking steps to grow their security program. I look forward to working with the community to raise the necessary matching funds as it continues on its journey to secure the Jewish community,” said Jewish Federations of North America Chair Julie Platt.

The Greensboro Jewish Federation, Jewish for Good/Jewish Federation of Durham-Chapel Hill, the Jewish Federation of Greater Raleigh, and The Winston-Salem United Jewish Appeal are part of a growing network of Jewish federations and communities that have partnered with SCN to launch or build upon existing community-wide security programs designed around an “all threats, all hazards” approach to preparedness, safety, security, and resiliency. Each program is connected to SCN’s national operations, providing direct access to SCN’s National Jewish Security Operations Command Center and Duty Desk, as well as best-practice security resources and support related to policies, procedures, physical security, facility assessments, training, and incident response.

About Secure Community Network
The Secure Community Network (SCN), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is the official safety and security organization of the Jewish community in North America. Founded in 2004 under the auspices of The Jewish Federations of North America and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, SCN serves as the central organization dedicated exclusively to the safety and security of the American Jewish community, working across 146 federations, 50 partner organizations, over 300 independent communities, and other partners in the public, private, nonprofit, and academic sectors. SCN is dedicated to ensuring that Jewish organizations, communities, life, and culture can not only exist safely and securely, but flourish.

Learn more at https://www.securecommunitynetwork.org/.