Behind the Mission

Richard Stout is the Director of Reform the Bureau (RTB). A retired FBI Special Agent with 22 years of service, Richard specialized in investigations related to public corruption, financial crimes, terrorism, and international drug cartels. He founded the South Florida Public Corruption Task Force and led complex criminal and counterterrorism investigations both domestically and abroad. Richard also directed the FBI’s Technical Surveillance and Countermeasures program in Miami, where he defended FBI operations against technological threats.

During his 22-year career in federal law enforcement, Richard investigated the third-largest Ponzi scheme in U.S. history, supported the investigations following 9/11, and served as an FBI Counterterrorism Representative in Trinidad and Haiti. His exceptional work earned him the FBI Director’s Award for Excellence in Investigation, and his efforts have been featured in major documentaries, podcasts, and TV programs such as Frontline and American Greed.

Currently, Richard is the CEO of Stout Security Consultants, where he leads a company that specializes in physical and information security. He holds a master’s degree in security management and global studies from American Military University and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

While the FBI Agents Association and the Society of Retired FBI Agents have their merits, Richard believes their ability to drive real, transformative change is limited by institutional inertia, traditionalism, and a tendency to maintain close relationships with current FBI leadership.

As a former FBI Special Agent who, along with countless former colleagues, is deeply concerned with the direction the FBI has been taken in recent years, Richard felt compelled to create a public-facing organization to offer solutions to help get the FBI back on track. With that aim in mind, he formed RTB.

Featured Advisors

Joe Garbato

Joe is a recently retired FBI Special Agent who is an experienced senior leader, educator, and strategist, with a demonstrated history of working in law enforcement, the private sector, military, and academia. Specialties include leadership, law enforcement, national security investigations, intelligence collection, SWAT, professional law enforcement education, and professional military education.

Don Albracht

Don dedicated 28 years to the FBI, serving in three field offices and focusing primarily on criminal investigations. While experienced in white-collar crime and intelligence, his expertise centered on violent crime and gang task forces. Beyond investigative work, Don was a SWAT Agent, Firearms Instructor, Tactical Instructor, and a member of the Special Agent Advisory Committee Executive Board during his final three years in the Bureau. Now self-employed, he applies his extensive experience as a private investigator and security consultant.