At 28, Michael Camal, Rhode Island ’18, a senior manager at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is often the youngest and least experienced participant in the room when he meets with airline executives and seasoned government officials. While that might feel like flying outside their comfort zone to some, Camal sees his age as the jet fuel to his success.

“As I grew as a leader, I realized being young is actually an advantage,” Camal stated. “The federal government needs new perspectives, ideas and ways of doing things. That’s how agencies grow and missions advance.”

Camal oversees the Blue Lightning Initiative (BLI), a joint DHS and Department of Transportation program aimed at training airline and airport staff to recognize signs of human trafficking. Under his leadership, the initiative expanded from 17 to 150 partners, establishing connections with airports, universities, aviation associations and foreign airlines. His strategy focused on comprehensive training for aviation staff, empowering them to spot and report potential trafficking scenarios. To date, 350,000 aviation professionals have been trained under the BLI.

Camal credits his SigEp brothers and mentors at Rhode Island Beta with encouraging him to take that first leap into working in the federal government. “I built lifelong friendships, developed a network of support, and was motivated by my brothers to secure federal internships and pursue a career in public service. Those internships ultimately led to my role at DHS.”

Camal, who has led the BLI since 2018, speaks candidly about his initial struggles with the program. “It was a big challenge at first. The program was understaffed, coordination was not happening among the agencies and the initiative needed a clear direction,” he said. He was able to turn things around by helping the agencies find common ground and bringing on new partners. His determination to overcome bureaucratic obstacles played a crucial role in expanding the program’s reach.

Camal elaborated on his strategy, emphasizing the significance of real life narratives to build empathy and action. “We leveraged the expertise and voices of survivors of human trafficking who traveled through airports and on airplanes while their trafficking was going on,” he shared. “When aviation executives hear stories of people traveling through their airports and on their planes, the issue becomes real, and it motivates them to take action and get involved.”

We need to be here for the victims every step of the way. That is what motivates me on a daily basis.

Camal’s tenacity in expanding the program was recognized with a nomination in 2023 for the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal, which recognizes the accomplishments of exceptional federal employees.

Testimonials from colleagues and those directly affected by human trafficking paint a complete picture of Camal’s impact. Karinda Washington, executive director for social impact at DHS, stated, “Michael’s hard work and dedication to human trafficking awareness training has contributed to better informed staff, safer airports and greater awareness among the traveling public.”

Karla Solomon is a human trafficking survivor who now serves as director of outreach and training at Mercy Gate Ministries, a faith-based nonprofit that assists survivors of trafficking. She has collaborated with Camal on training programs for airline personnel and lauds him as a “committed advocate.” Solomon added, “He is really mindful of our experiences and the importance of our voice.”

It’s clear that Camal’s dedication is both professional and deeply personal. He reflected, “Once DHS arrests a trafficker, it’s not ‘case closed.’ We need to be here for the victims every step of the way. That is what motivates me on a daily basis.”