LISBON – One week after resigning as Columbiana County Emergency Management Agency director, Luke Newbold has joined the specialized training and security business begun by his brother and fellow U.S. Navy SEAL.

A news release was issued Thursday announcing Newbold has become part of the executive staff at Advance Training Group (ATG) Worldwide founded by his brother, Adam Newbold.

Newbold had been EMA director just shy of three years when he informed county commissioners on Dec. 30 he was resigning effective Jan. 1 to pursue other career opportunities. He remained in the active Navy reserves while director and was deployed multiple times.

“Though I enjoyed and felt privileged working for the county, I’m used to moving faster, unrestricted by bureaucracy,” he said in the news release. “This is what I do. It’s what I’ve done and I do it well.”

Newbold joins ATG, which in 2014 was awarded a contract from the U.S. Department of Defense to provide ongoing specialized security and advanced tactics training to elite military units, law enforcement and other government agencies. The contract could be worth up to $100 million over five years and ATG was recently paid $1.43 million, which represented payment for completion of its first training assignment under the contract.

ATG’s business partner in the venture is Raptor Training Services, and their staffs include former SEALs and other special forces, law enforcement and intelligence professionals.

“The opportunity to continue serving my country at such a high level is exciting. I recognize the exceptional team atmosphere at ATG, something all SEALs are familiar with but something uncommon outside the special warfare community,” Luke Newbold said.

Adam Newbold is glad to have him on board as both a fellow SEAL and as his brother.

“During his career my brother has acquired skills which are not only hard to find throughout the world, but nearly impossible to find locally. I know his capabilities and I know him. We are bringing him onto the ATG staff not just because he is my brother, but because he is the best at what he does. He will be a tremendous asset to us, just as he has always been to our community and nation,” he said.