Samantha Santiago served 13 years with the CIA, where she supported counterterrorism missions targeting the most significant threats to U.S. national security. She produced foreign intelligence threat assessments to protect U.S. government personnel and facilities worldwide.
She is now a Hall Donovan partner.
What Is Samantha Santiago’s Background?
At the CIA, Samantha received multiple Exceptional Performance Awards and was part of a team recognized with a National Intelligence Meritorious Unit award. She is certified by the CIA in Targeting (Investigations) and Intelligence Analysis and has worked across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
What Does She Bring to Hall Donovan?
Since leaving the Agency, Samantha founded Premier Pathfinders LLC, a private intelligence and corporate due diligence firm based in Austin, Texas. Her work includes:
- Background and reputation assessments on senior executives and acquisition targets for private equity and corporate clients
- Complex criminal and civil litigation support, partnering with legal teams on matters involving homicide, human trafficking, fraud, and other serious offenses
- Licensed Private Investigator in the State of Texas
Samantha serves on the boards of the Texas Association of Licensed Investigators and the International Intelligence Network. She also serves on the Ethics Committee for the National Council of Investigations and Security Services.
Why This Matters
There are people who study threats.
And there are people who’ve spent careers operating against them.
Hall Donovan works with the latter.
People and organizations invest billions in security and risk management. Yet the most devastating breaches, strategic failures, and competitive losses trace back to human decisions — not technical vulnerabilities.
Hall Donovan sits at the intersection of technology, business, and intelligence.
Key Takeaways
- Samantha Santiago joins Hall Donovan as a partner, bringing 13 years of CIA counterterrorism and intelligence analysis experience
- Multiple Exceptional Performance Awards and a National Intelligence Meritorious Unit recognition, with operations spanning Asia, Europe, and the Middle East
- Deep expertise in private intelligence and due diligence — conducting executive background assessments for private equity and corporate clients
- Hall Donovan continues building a team of senior practitioners who’ve operated at the highest levels of U.S. intelligence and national security