Maria Galmarini, PsyD, ABPP
Maria Galmarini, PsyD, is a Florida-licensed psychologist. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Boston University (2008), her master’s degree in mental health counseling (2010), and her doctorate in psychology from Nova Southeastern University (2015). Dr. Galmarini first gained experience in police psychology in 2013, completing a clinical externship with the Miami-Dade Police Department’s Psychological Services.
Dr. Galmarini joined Law Enforcement Psychological and Counseling Associates, Inc. in 2015. She currently conducts pre-employment psychological screenings, fitness-for-duty evaluations, and critical incident stress debriefings. She also provides individual, couples, and family therapy to law enforcement and civilian personnel through the employee assistance programs of various local public safety agencies. In addition to her work in police and public safety, Dr. Galmarini has extensive experience working with individuals with severe and persistent mental illness and currently serves as a forensic evaluator for the 11th Judicial Circuit of Miami-Dade County.
Q. What motivated you to seek board certification?
A. As a woman who has never been employed in law enforcement or another public safety position, board certification provides agencies with assurance regarding my training, education, experience, and ability to deliver effective services. At this stage in my career, pursuing board certification not only reflects my professional proficiency but also creates opportunities for continued learning, consultation, and collaboration with those who have shaped the field.
Q. What did you learn about yourself and your practice while doing board certification?
A. The board certification process was challenging but extremely rewarding. I realized that I knew much more than I initially believed and gained a deeper appreciation for the importance of my daily work. Although I have always had a proactive learning style—seeking to understand issues and conduct research before asking for help—this process highlighted the value of engaging with others who had completed the process and were willing to offer guidance and encouragement. It also allowed me to consider my work from different perspectives, resulting in a greater understanding of the legal, ethical, and scientific foundations of my practice. This led me to identify areas for improvement, including updating consent forms and ensuring that procedures align with best practices and current trends.
Q. What advice would you give to a candidate for board certification in Police and Public Safety Psychology?
A. Board certification is a personal process. While many people will offer advice, it is important to move at your own pace and develop a plan that works best for you. Life continues, work obligations remain, and unexpected situations arise. Therefore, you should create an approach that allows sufficient time to complete requirements, offers flexibility, and incorporates opportunities for self-care. It is also important to remember that support is available—both formally through the mentoring program and informally through the welcoming members of the specialty.
Q. What have you found most valuable or rewarding about board certification?
A. When I first considered pursuing board certification, I felt intimidated and unsure of my readiness. However, through my work, research, and attendance at conferences, I encountered a supportive and welcoming community of specialists who encouraged my efforts and reminded me that they, too, began as early-career psychologists. The process has increased my confidence in my skills, created opportunities for collaboration, and, I hope, will allow me to give back to others in the future.
Lou Laguna, PhD, ABPP
After 10 years of public service as a sworn police officer, Lou left policing to pursue full-time graduate studies in clinical psychology. He earned his PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in 1997 and completed his internship at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pennsylvania. In 1999, he was hired by Lebanon Valley College, where he served as a full-time member of the psychology department for 19 years. He balanced his academic role with a private practice specializing in police suitability and fitness-for-duty evaluations. In 2019, Lou retired from Lebanon Valley College with the distinction of professor emeritus and now focuses full-time on his private practice in police psychology. He lives with his spouse in central Pennsylvania, and in their free time, they enjoy traveling—often by motorcycle—to visit their children in Colorado and Florida.
Q. What motivated you to seek board certification?
A. Several factors motivated me. I have been a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Police Psychological Services Section, for several years and was familiar with ABPP certification in Police and Public Safety Psychology. Although I had considered pursuing board certification on multiple occasions, concerns about my ability to complete the process given a busy schedule often held me back. As the field continued to expand and become more technical, I found myself spending significant time reviewing research and case law to stay current with best practices in my specialty, particularly pre-employment and fitness-for-duty evaluations (FFDEs). I realized that if I was already investing this effort, I could channel it toward achieving board certification. Additionally, attending an informational session led by former Board President Dr. McCutcheon helped me see that the process was achievable.
Q. What did you learn about yourself and your practice while doing board certification?
A. I learned that I still had much to learn. Although I was confident in my work, the preparation process revealed areas where I could improve. The feedback I received from reviewers was invaluable, prompting me to examine my assessment practices from multiple perspectives and implement meaningful changes that strengthened my work.
Q. What advice would you give to a candidate for board certification in Police and Public Safety Psychology?
A. The examination manual can feel intimidating. When I first reviewed it, I experienced a sense of dread—likely reminiscent of my doctoral dissertation. What worked for me was breaking the material into manageable components and outlining the requirements for each section. From there, I created a realistic schedule and began the work. It is important not to focus solely on the final product but to approach the process as a learning experience with a meaningful reward at the end.
Q. What have you found most valuable or rewarding about board certification?
A. Board certification communicates to my clients that I am recognized by ABPP as a specialist. This recognition helps instill confidence in the value and quality of the services I provide, particularly in fitness-for-duty evaluations (FFDEs), where the stakes are high. It also reflects my commitment to maintaining high standards within the field of police and public safety psychology.
Denese Marshall, PsyD, MSCP, ABPP
Denese Marshall, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and police psychologist practicing in the U.S. Virgin Islands. She has devoted her career to providing psychological services to individuals in law enforcement, protective services, and other high-stress occupations. Dr. Marshall consults with agencies on best practices for promoting health and wellness. She also specializes in forensic evaluations and provides clinical services to children, adolescents, and adults.
Q. What motivated you to seek board certification?
A. I pursued board certification to validate my experience in police and public safety psychology to the agencies I serve and to demonstrate my commitment to the field as a specialist. I was also motivated by the recognition that board certification represents the highest standard in our field and confirms that one possesses the skills, knowledge, education, and experience required for this specialty work.
Q. What did you learn about yourself and your practice while doing board certification?
A. I learned that some aspects of my practice, including forms and documentation, were not fully aligned with police and public safety psychology and required modification. I also gained insight into my strengths and areas for growth within this specialty and developed stronger professional relationships with colleagues for consultation and collaboration. Additionally, the process reinforced that this work is my passion and deepened my commitment to the field.
Q. What advice would you give to a candidate for board certification in Police and Public Safety Psychology?
A. Be prepared to deepen your knowledge of this specialty and to strengthen your competence as a psychologist in this field. This includes becoming more informed about relevant case law and legal considerations that may impact your work. Most importantly, remain persistent when faced with challenges during the certification process. Seek guidance from your mentor and take advantage of seminars and workshops to support your progress. Upon completion, you will appreciate the effort and commitment invested in achieving board certification.
Q. What have you found most valuable or rewarding about board certification?
A. Board certification has given me a strong sense of professional accomplishment. It has validated my experience, education, and skill set in providing police and public safety psychological services to agencies and organizations. It has also increased my confidence when submitting proposals, testifying in court, and providing expert input in legislative settings related to the psychological services I deliver to law enforcement personnel and agencies in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Captain Carrie Kennedy, PhD, ABPP
Carrie Kennedy, PhD, is a Captain in the United States Navy and serves as Division Chief at the Psychological Health Center of Excellence. She previously served as Group Psychologist for the Marine Corps Embassy Security Group and as an Aerospace Neuropsychologist at the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute, in addition to completing overseas tours in Japan and Bahrain and deployments to Cuba and Afghanistan. She earned her PhD from Drexel University and completed a neuropsychology postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Virginia. Dr. Kennedy is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia, a Fellow of both the American Psychological Association (APA) and the National Academy of Neuropsychology, and serves on APA’s Council of Representatives. Her honors include the APA Division 19 Charles S. Gersoni Award, and she is a two-time Navy Psychologist of the Year. She serves on the editorial board of Psychological Services and is board certified in both Clinical Psychology and Police and Public Safety Psychology.
Q. What motivated you to seek board certification?
A. Board certification represents the highest standard in psychology. Given the high-stakes nature of military and law enforcement operations, individuals, agencies, and society require highly qualified psychologists. While becoming board certified in Clinical Psychology strengthened my ability to make sound clinical decisions for service members, clinical work is only one aspect of military psychology. Because there is no specific board certification in military psychology, I explored whether police and public safety psychology might provide an appropriate pathway. I found that board members recognized strong parallels between the fields—including personnel selection, crisis and trauma response, ethics, and fitness-for-duty evaluations—and welcomed military psychologists into the specialty.
Q. What did you learn about yourself and your practice while doing board certification?
A. I realized that many of the approaches I was developing had already been established within police psychology. This insight allowed me to refine my work and avoid unnecessary duplication of effort. Additionally, I built strong connections within the field and developed a network of peers and mentors outside the military, which has enhanced the quality of my work within the Department of Defense.
Q. What advice would you give to a candidate for board certification in Police and Public Safety Psychology?
A. Approach the board certification process as a formative learning opportunity. The knowledge and skills gained while completing the requirements are well worth the time and effort invested in preparing practice samples and studying for the oral examination. Ultimately, the process will make you a more effective psychologist.
Q. What have you found most valuable or rewarding about board certification?
A. Board certification has strengthened both my professional practice and my ability to mentor junior military psychologists. The process encourages broader thinking, provides exposure to exemplary mentorship, and offers valuable perspective on the field.
Lewis Schlosser, PhD, ABPP
Lewis Schlosser, PhD, is the managing partner at the Institute for Forensic Psychology. He is a licensed psychologist in New Jersey and New York and is board certified in both Police and Public Safety Psychology and Counseling Psychology. Dr. Schlosser is a former tenured Associate Professor at Seton Hall University and a former in-house Director of Psychological Services for the New York City Department of Correction. He has conducted more than 7,000 law enforcement recruit and fitness-for-duty evaluations. Dr. Schlosser is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Police Psychological Services Section, and currently serves on its Executive Board as Membership Chair. He is also an affiliate member of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police and the Bergen County Police Chiefs Association.
Q. What motivated you to seek board certification?
A. I pursued board certification to demonstrate my commitment to the field of police and public safety psychology. Earning my ABPP in this specialty communicates to others that I am a competent professional whose work is focused on serving police and public safety agencies. I also view myself as someone who strives for excellence and continually seeks to improve. Pursuing board certification was a personal challenge and an opportunity to join the ranks of the leaders in the field whom I have long admired.
Q. What did you learn about yourself and your practice while doing board certification?
A. The process allowed me to closely examine both what I do in my practice and the rationale behind it. Engaging in self-study reinforced many of my existing approaches while also highlighting areas that required modification. During the oral examination, I received constructive feedback from the committee, which was clearly intended to support my professional growth. In many ways, the experience felt both evaluative and mentoring in nature.
Q. What advice would you give to a candidate for board certification in Police and Public Safety Psychology?
A. The process is time-consuming but highly rewarding. Set clear, specific goals—including realistic timelines—for each stage of the process, and develop a plan that allows you to manage your workload while completing your materials. For example, I reserved one morning each week to work on my application, which helped maintain steady progress. I would also encourage candidates to persevere through the more challenging aspects of the process, as the outcome is well worth the effort. As reflected in the film A League of Their Own, “It’s supposed to be hard. If it wasn’t hard, everyone would do it. The hard…is what makes it great.”
Q. What have you found most valuable or rewarding about board certification?
A. In addition to the sense of pride that comes with earning board certification, I have found it to be highly beneficial to my career. Whether presenting to law enforcement professionals or testifying in legal proceedings, I have greater confidence in my abilities and competence after completing the rigorous certification process.