About Conan Higgins

A career spanning special operations, global business, and international law.

Smiling man with a beard in suit.

The Short Version

Conan J. Higgins, Esq., KM, Ph.D., is an international business attorney, crisis leadership consultant, and Amazon #1 bestselling author who has spent his career operating at the intersection of law, leadership, and high-stakes decision-making.

He serves as president and general counsel of TSI Legal Enterprises, PC, and holds general counsel roles for multiple organizations in the defense, technology, and security sectors. His consulting practice focuses on helping executives and organizations navigate crises, build cultural intelligence, and lead effectively when the plan falls apart.

The Full Story

Conan's path to the boardroom took a different route than most.

He began his career as a Joint Terminal Attack Controller in the U.S. Air Force—a Special Operations TACP responsible for coordinating air support in combat environments where precision and composure weren't optional. The lessons learned under fire would shape everything that followed.

After his active duty military service, Conan joined the Washington State Patrol, and remained in the Air National Guard for another 14 years, He spent years making split-second decisions with lives in the balance, honing an instinct for leadership under pressure that no classroom could teach.

After leaving the Patrol, Conan became an undercover detective with the City of Lakewood (WA) Police Dept. and worked his way up to SWAT Entry Team Leader.

From the Field to the Global Stage

Where Experience Meets Counsel

Guiding Philosophy

Leadership isn't about having all the answers. It's about making sound decisions with incomplete information, under pressure, when everyone is looking to you for direction.

The frameworks Conan teaches—DETECT, RAPID, and the Constrained Cooperation Model—weren't developed in a lab. They were forged in the field, refined through failure, and proven in environments where getting it wrong meant more than a bad quarterly report.

Whether advising on a multi-million-dollar defense contract or coaching an executive through an organizational crisis, Conan brings the same approach: clarity over complexity, action over analysis paralysis, and a relentless focus on what actually works.

Credentials

Education

  • Ph.D., International Law & Treaty Law
  • LL.M., International Business Law
  • J.D.

Military & Law Enforcement

Author

Published Works

Graduation caps thrown in the air.

The Maverick's Blueprint: Crisis Leadership for an Unstable World

Amazon #1 Bestseller

A field guide for leaders who operate where plans fall apart, cultures clash, and the stakes couldn't be higher. Drawing on decades of real-world experience, Conan delivers practical frameworks—DETECT, RAPID, and more—for navigating chaos with clarity.

Consult With Conan

Leverage the experience of a military-trained leadership partner who will remain competent in crisis and help maintain your business' efficiency.