About Us

Lindsay LiCausi

Founder and CEO

Lindsay comes from a military family but is the first to serve in law enforcement. She proudly served the Carroll County Sheriff's Office, MD as a Child Abuse/Sex Crimes Detective. Throughout her career, Lindsay LiCausi worked with multiple agencies to include Homeland Security/ICE, FBI, US Marshals, MD State Police, and other local agencies. She was awarded the Project Safe Childhood Award by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland, was nationally recognized by NCMEC, and invited to instruct for Child First.

Anthony LiCausi

Co-Founder & Director of Advertising

Anthony is a native New Yorker who comes from a military family, including his grandfather who proudly served in the Navy during WWII. He has a deep respect and admiration for our nations veterans, law enforcement, and first responders. He is a true patriot and his passion for preserving a nation of law and order has helped fuel the creation of this organization. Anthony is also a 2nd Amendment Advocate and holds an NRA Lifetime membership.

Gadi Adelman

Chairman & Media Relations

Gadi Adelman grew up in Israel. After surviving a terrorist bombing at the age of 14, he started to study terrorism and its origins. He served as a paratrooper in the Israeli Defense Forces in a Special Forces, Anti-Terrorism Unit.
After returning to the US in 1981 and serving in the US Navy, he began to teach and lecture on counter-terrorism. After the '93 WTC bombing, and especially after 9/11 his advice was more sought after. After 45 years of study, he has lectured and taught both local and federal law enforcement as well as the military. Gadi has written hundreds of articles which have been translated into over a dozen languages.
He has hosted 2 radio shows, is a regular guest on many other radio shows, and he is currently the counter-terrorism analyst for i24 News.

Angela Pleasants

Chaplain & Crisis Task Force Director

Chaplain Angela A. Pleasants serves as lead pastor in the South Tryon Community in Charlotte, North Carolina. Chaplain Pleasants is a graduate of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University completing her Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing and graduate of Duke Divinity School with a Master's in divinity. She is receiving her certification as a Spiritual Director. Chaplain Pleasants served various police agencies in Gaston County and currently serves as police chaplain with the Hickory Police Department and Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department. She teaches classes to law enforcement chaplains on the gift of presence and listening, ethics and confidentiality, suicide and law enforcement as well as skill development in chaplaincy. She is also a member of the International Conference of Police Chaplains. 

Melissa DeLong

Charlotte Chapter Co-Chair

Melissa is the daughter of a former paramedic/firefighter and has seen firsthand the struggles that our first responders face on a daily basis and their strength to carry on to make a difference. She also comes from a military family with ties to the Army and Air Force. She strongly believes that those who spend their lives serving others should feel appreciated and has dedicated herself to giving back to them, our heroes

Tammy Richards

Central NC Law Enforcement Liaison

Tammy has spent her 36 year career with the Federal Government working with State and Local law enforcement agencies in an effort to reduce the number of fatalities, injuries and crashes on our roadways. 

She has had several family members who served in law enforcement and volunteers with her hometown police department where she serves as the Ambassador. She also volunteers for a neighboring police department and helps both departments with community outreach events, Citizens Police Academy Classes, and other duties as assigned.

Tammy states, "I expressed interest in volunteering with Back The Blue NC, Inc. without realizing that while we were going through the interview process, that I would be in immediate need of their services, support and love for my own community, family and friends. What are the chances of that, right? We lost one of my hometown’s police officers while he was conducting a traffic stop due to an impaired driver. Back The Blue NC, Inc. was there for us all.

It’s a wonderful organization full of caring people who share my love and respect for the men and women who wear the badge and serve the citizens of our state and communities.

I am so very honored to be a part of it."

(In loving memory of 1355)

Theresa Carver

Public Outreach Director

Theresa is a native New Yorker who comes from a family of law enforcement that includes her father, brother, and nephew. She has also been a public school teacher in North Carolina for over twenty years and recognizes school resource officers as an integral part of our school system. She has been dedicated to growing Back The Blue NC since its founding and is fully prepared to defend our men and women in blue.

Ashleigh Bowers

Treasurer

As the wife of a City of Gastonia Police Officer, a psychiatric nurse practitioner, and a mother, Ashleigh dedicates her time to advocating for Law Enforcement Officers and their spouses, as well as promoting positive mental health within the blue family. Her belief is that the heart that holds the hand of the Officer is just as important as the heart behind the badge.

Frank Mitchell

Coastal Co-chair

Frank Mitchell has 30 years of experience working his way up from part-time telecomunicator to Chief Detective.  He is currently serving the Tyrrell County Sheriff's Office as a Sergeant.

Timothy Fox

Western Co-Chair & Grief Counselor

Tim's son, Logan, a Watauga County K9 Deputy, was tragically killed in the
line of duty on April 28th, 2021. After receiving assistance and support
from Back The Blue NC, Tim joined the organization as a staff member.
With a background in Law Enforcement, Private Security, Public Safety, and EMS, as well as having worked with other volunteer organizations, Tim brings the knowledge and experience needed to be our Western Co-Chair
and Grievance Counselor.

Gary Ushino

Digital Media Producer

Gary was born and raised in San Rafael, California in the San Francisco Bay area. He earned his Associate degree in Communications and Media Studies at College of Marin. Gary then moved to Los Angeles, California to earn his bachelor’s degree in Radio-Television-Film Production at Cal State Northridge Film School. From there Gary went on to become a cameraman in Hollywood for 31 years on over 115 TV shows and movies. He left the film industry in 2019 in favor of the better life in North Carolina after being greatly influenced by his experience filming “Talladega Nights-The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” in the Charlotte and Rockingham areas in 2006. After landing in Wake Forest, NC, in 2019, started a digital media production company called Applebox-Media in 2021. Always a patriot and supporter of law and order, Gary holds a Lifetime NRA membership, and NC Sheriff’s Association honorary membership. With great appreciation and admiration for those in law enforcement, he volunteers his media production services to Back the Blue NC.

Dee Sams

Event Coordinator/Sales

Dee Sams has been with BTBNC since their first event in August of 2020 and comes from a family of heroes. Her father, an Army Sergeant, WWII veteran, purple heart recipient, fought throughout Europe and in the battle of the Bulge.
Her Step-Father, also an Army Sergeant and WWII veteran, was a member of the elite American–Canadian commando unit, the 1st Special Service Force AKA “The Devils Brigade.”
Her love for our Military and first responders has only grown stronger since she first volunteered as a ‘Guardian’ with Honor Flight on several trips to Washington DC.

Ryan DeLong

Event Volunteer/Sales

Ryan is a Charlotte Native. He has always been very active in his church, and his community.  Currently he is employee with the Mecklenburg County Sheriffs Office. Ryan enjoys being apart of Back The Blue NC events.

Chandler Gautier

Director of Security

Chandler comes from Dunn, NC and is a former Sergeant with  the NC Department of Public Safety and also brings 20 years of Private Security experience.