SunHawk Expert Spotlight – Martin E. Hellmer

We’re excited to announce that Martin E. Hellmer, CPA, has joined the SunHawk Consulting team! Martin is a Managing Director and Cybersecurity Practice Leader with extensive investigative and leadership experience.

Martin spent 23 years leading complex investigations of criminal and national security offenses for the FBI. As a Special Agent in Phoenix, he investigated healthcare fraud, crypto scams, money laundering, Ponzi schemes, and other white-collar crimes. He formed and then led the FBI’s Arizona Cyber Crime Task Force, responsible for the prevention, detection, and investigation of computer attacks from domestic and foreign threats. In 2018, he was appointed by Governor Doug Ducey to serve as the federal government’s representative to the Arizona Cybersecurity Team. Martin worked closely with the United States Attorney’s Office and the Arizona Attorney General’s Office for the successful prosecution of dozens of cases.

Martin also worked extensively with domestic and international law enforcement and intelligence agencies on various matters, including terrorism, espionage, fugitives, and financial crimes. He served as the FBI’s Assistant Legal Attache in Romania, leading investigations of foreign corruption, including violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, throughout Eastern Europe. He also served as a Supervisory Special Agent in the Counterterrorism Division at FBI Headquarters, where he oversaw the disruption of a domestic attack plot by Al-Qa’ida, and the arrest and conviction of multiple terrorists. He was awarded the FBI Director’s Award for Outstanding Counterterrorism Investigation.

Martin entered the FBI in 2002 and finished first in his class at the FBI Academy. His first assignment was in Washington, DC, where he investigated extraterritorial terrorism in the Middle East, including bombings, assassinations, and kidnappings. Martin was a team leader of the FBI’s SWAT team in D.C., serving as an operator and sniper.

Recognized as a strong community liaison and a proven leader of multi-agency law enforcement task forces and teams, Martin has wide-ranging experience in public speaking, serving as an “on-the-record” spokesperson, and providing testimony during trial and pre-trial hearings and before grand juries. He has also sworn out numerous affidavits for criminal arrest and search warrants, and for wiretaps under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

Prior to joining the FBI, Martin worked as a CPA for a Big 5 accounting firm, and he continues to maintain his CPA license. He is an expert in accounting and financial reporting for complex transactions in numerous industries, for both public and private companies.

Martin lives in Scottsdale with his wife and three children.