Professional Background
CMDR Tyron J. Cunningham served as a Supervisory Criminal Investigator — Deputy U.S. Marshal
from 1991 through his retirement. During his career he served in the Districts of Alaska,
Wyoming, and the Western District of Missouri, where he developed and led tactical tracking
units, provided national tracker certification and re-certification, and served as an expert
in tracking forensics, crime scene specialty, and hoplology analysis.
He is the founder of the International Society of Professional Trackers (ISPT), serving as
Tracking Historian for the ISPT Archives and Library of Tracking Research, and staff writer
for Track & Sign magazine's "Founder's Track Trap" series. He established the worldwide
organization of trackers and organized the first international symposium.
Since 1988, he has operated the Lost Trail Ranch & Institute — Scout Tracking, Survival,
and Defense School, providing man and animal tracking services for federal, state, and local
government, as well as conducting research in the areas of footfall trace and impression
evidence, and urban, wilderness, and animal crime scene management.
Military Service
CMDR Cunningham served on active duty (1984–1988) as an Infantryman, Team Leader, Squad Leader,
and Sniper with Alpha Co., 1/325th Inf., 82nd Airborne Division (Ft. Bragg); Alpha Co., 1/61st Inf.,
5th Infantry Division (Ft. Polk); and Charlie Co., 1/17th Inf., 6th Infantry Division (Ft. Richardson).
He later served in the Alaska Army National Guard (1988–1997) as Team Sergeant, Senior Scout,
Sniper, and Tracker with Det 2, LRSD, 207th, specializing in reconnaissance and surveillance,
target interdiction, airborne operations, and arctic operations.
In the Wyoming Army National Guard, he served as Assistant Operations Sergeant with the 4th ID (ROC)
in Casper (2005–2006), and as Range Control Specialist at TSC, Camp Guernsey (2003–2005),
where he trained units in small arms employment and man-tracking.
Military Education
- Light Leaders Course, Ft. Richardson, AK (1989)
- BNCOC NCO Academy, Ft. Richardson, AK (1987)
- PLDC NCO Academy, Ft. Polk, LA (1986)
Academic Education
B.A. in Social and Criminal Justice, Ashford University (2009). Alpha Sigma Lambda inducted
member — National Honors Society for Academic Excellence, 3.84 GPA. Capstone Project:
"The Essential Uses of Forensic Tracking in Police Investigations."
Law Enforcement Assignments
- U.S. Marshals, Kansas City, MO (2008–Present) — Supervisory Criminal Investigator. Supervisor of district operations. National tracker certification and re-certification. Hoplology analysis: self-defense and tracking forensic/crime scene specialty, and expert testimony/consultation.
- U.S. Marshals, Kansas City, MO (2007–2008) — Criminal Investigator. Protective operations of U.S. Supreme Court Justices, U.S. District Court Judges, and other national and foreign dignitaries. Court operations.
- U.S. Marshals, Cheyenne, WY (2002–2007) — Supervisory Criminal Investigator & Chief of Scouts. Developed and led the Wyoming U.S. Marshals Mounted Tracking Unit (MTU). Supervised and taught tactical firearms employment and applications for MTU. Supervisor of the Wyoming Fugitive Task Force. Supervisor of the Operational Mission (Court, Warrants, Threat) of the District of Wyoming. Supervisor of district protective operations.
- U.S. Marshals, Anchorage, AK (1991–2002) — Criminal Investigator. Developed and led the Alaska U.S. Marshals Tactical Tracking Unit (TTU). Protective operations of U.S. Supreme Court Justices, U.S. District Court Judges, and other national and foreign dignitaries. Court operations and fugitive warrant investigations. Team operator on the Anchorage Regional FBI SWAT Team.
