Bernie Kerik is a former law enforcement officer and public official who served as the 40th Police Commissioner of New York City. Born on September 4, 1955, in Newark, New Jersey, Kerik grew up in a working-class family and dropped out of high school at the age of 16.

In 1974, Kerik joined the United States Army and served as a military police officer for three years. After his military service, he worked as a security guard and eventually joined the New York City Police Department (NYPD) in 1986.

During his time with the NYPD, Kerik worked in several units, including the narcotics division and the detective bureau. In 2000, he was appointed as the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Correction, where he implemented several reforms to improve the safety and security of inmates and correctional officers.

In 2001, following the terrorist attacks on September 11th, Kerik was appointed by Mayor Rudy Giuliani as the Police Commissioner of New York City. He played a critical role in the city's response to the attacks and was widely praised for his leadership during the crisis.

After leaving public service, Kerik worked as a security consultant and founded a private investigation firm

Episode 40: UK Space Command: Lessons Learned