Vitale Lafaele served in the NZ Army for seven years and the police for 30. He led successful tactical squads in some of the most significant events in New Zealand's history.

When he left school, he applied to join the NZ Army Special Air Service (SAS) in the first intake open to civilians. Vitale came to New Zealand as a child with his family from Samoa. They lived through hardship in Auckland's Grey Lynn in the 1970s, during the dawn-raids. When he was appointed to the role of area commander Counties Manukau South he was the first Samoan to gain the command of an area in New Zealand.

Vitale is also the only Polynesian to command the Armed Offenders Squad, Special Tactics Group Anti-Terrorist Squad and Dignitary VIP Protection Squad. He is a keynote speaker and accredited business mentor with the Auckland Chamber of Commerce.