EP Wired partnered with leading experts from the industry to help you make the right choices for your executive protection career.
In the first few days of March 2024, the world looked on at the Ambani pre-wedding celebrations that drew thousands of some of the most famous and influential guests from around the world. But what are the security implications for a major event of that size and what goes into planning and ensuring the safety […]
A complex and prevalent challenge exists surrounding middle managers’ reluctance to address the destructive impact of unethical practices organized by senior or C-suite officers within organizations. In a detailed examination of the multifaceted reasons behind their hesitancy, the potential consequences of challenging decisions made by top executives, and the effect on vendor and supplier selection, […]
Here is some guidance to help you determine the authenticity of a kidnapper’s call and respond appropriately to a virtual kidnapping scam. “If you want to see your Clare again, don’t hang up,” says the voice on the other end of the call. You can hear a female voice screaming for help in the background. […]
It’s essential to recognize that not every confrontation begins with immediate physical force; many start with verbal interactions that can gradually escalate to physical touch or contact. Bearing this in mind, it’s essential to integrate a system of verbal engagement into your self-defense strategy. Interactions among individuals usually commence within what is known as a […]
DISCLAIMER: This article provides a general overview of protective operations advance principles in the completion of a Major Site Advance (Major Event). It was written as a companion piece for another article on Protest Activity and mitigation. There is currently no training company or service provider that can effectively supply you with all the information […]
Why is maintaining a positive perspective beneficial and essential for achieving success? The answer lies in the interconnectivity of perception, emotion, action, and results. Changing my perspective is an incredibly potent tool that I incorporate into my daily routine. Over the years, I have diligently practiced this technique, and it has evolved into a mental […]
Delving into the basics of utilizing handheld weapons, be they blunt or edged, is not just a necessity but a path to empowerment. Understanding the core principles that make one proficient with any type of handheld weapon, regardless of its nature, is key. Whether it’s an item you’ve intentionally brought to a situation or something […]
The Art of Discreet Marketing in Executive Protection: Balancing Visibility and Confidentiality In the world of executive protection, discreet marketing can often seem like walking a tightrope. On one hand, showcasing your brand’s expertise and success stories is crucial for growth and credibility. On the other hand, the very nature of our work demands confidentiality […]
The Importance of Identifying Motor Skills in the Selection Process of Executive Protection Specialists Summary The selection process for future Executive Protection Specialists must allow identifying, particularly, the gross and fine motor skills, which will determine the best development and achievement of competencies that they must possess about the highest risk of their training and […]
The safety, well-being, and reputation of the principal are the primary concerns of any good Executive Protection Program. Filled with routine, our days revolve around the principal’s schedule, from early wake-ups to meticulous planning and execution. Generally, working in North America as an EP agent is a low-threat environment, and often our days go exactly […]
An American tourist has died in the crossfire in an apparent drug deal gone wrong at a popular Mexican beach resort in Tulum. The incident, which took place on February 9th, saw the death of an American tourist, as well as an alleged drug dealer. Prosecutors in the case have said that the American, Honarbaksh, […]
The current landscape of critical infrastructure organizations is undergoing a paradigm shift, characterized by dynamic workforce structures that include remote, hybrid, and diverse work settings, alongside generational transformations. However, this shift presents a formidable challenge—the persistent and escalating threat of insider threats and attacks. Reports estimating the cost per insider threat incident at over $15 […]
Understanding health issues and how they could affect a person’s safety is just as important in Executive Protection as evaluating external dangers. In addition to external threats, a thorough threat & health risk assessment should include the inherent weaknesses brought about by a person’s health and medical background. Controlling these health-related hazards is essential to […]
Executive Protection in the 21st Century: A New Vision by Ivan Ivanovich, an executive protection specialist, is still making waves in the industry. More than six months after its release, the (guide)book on executive protection is still being talked about and commended for its approach to the industry. For his book, Executive Protection in the […]
Language is a multifaceted element intricately woven into the tapestry of human behavior, serving as a pivotal medium for comprehending and deterring crime. Within this realm, forensic linguists and expert interrogators emerge as distinct yet interconnected professions, playing vital roles in unraveling the complexities of language to ensure public safety and national security. This article […]
For decades, executive protection training has revolved around the use of firearms and hand-to-hand combat techniques. Course advertisements often feature practitioners firing various weapons and practicing martial arts disciplines like Krav Maga or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. These foundational trainings are mandatory for all trained protectors, spanning from security personnel in small companies to members of renowned […]
In the last 14 months alone, 12 protectees and 28 of their protectors were killed in Mexico. This makes executive protection one of the deadliest professions for both those who practice it and those who hire it. Faced with this situation, those in charge have mistakenly tried to increase the number and firepower of bodyguards, […]
In the high-stakes arena of political campaign security, few individuals have amassed the level of experience and expertise that Chuck Tobin has. With a distinguished career as the Director of Security and Senior Consultant to three Prime Ministers and Presidential Candidates, Chuck Tobin’s insights into the unique challenges of political security are invaluable. In this […]
Executive Protection in the 21st Century: A New Vision has achieved an extraordinary feat by securing the coveted #1 position in its category on Amazon Mexico upon its initial release. This accomplishment underscores the book’s exceptional value and impact in the realm of executive protection. We are pleased to announce that Executive Protection in the […]
Resilience is an essential quality for a mentally and physically healthy individual and it plays a crucial role in the field of Executive Protection. In fact, I would go so far as to say that if an EP Agent does not possess a solid level of resilience, they may survive but will not thrive in […]
As a practioner and instructor of close protection, I focus more and more of my time and attention on the two things most important in the close protection field: Time and Distance. My good friend Jeff Marquart, a fine Protector in his own right, told me once: “It all comes down to miles and minutes.” […]
In January 2023, we – the Board of Executive Protection Professionals, gathered to discuss the feasibility of putting on a major conference within a 6-month window. At first glance, it seems simple: you need a venue, speakers, sponsors, and attendees. But it’s so much more complicated than that. This article outlines some of the biggest […]
When preparing for an international business trip, executives rarely think about the possibility of ending up in hospital. Nonetheless, for the thousands of Americans that find themselves far from home and in need of medical care as result of a car accident, or serious medical event such as a heart attack or stroke, a routine […]
A security professional can be compared to a professional athlete in that they must have the appropriate skills to consistently and safely perform their duties and, most importantly, to perform better than the opponent – except in security, lives are at stake. The difference is that training takes 80% of an athlete’s time and competition […]
We had the pleasure of speaking with Michael Julian, a highly experienced executive protection and security professional. With a career spanning over three decades, Michael has worked in various capacities in the industry and has been recognized for his expertise and contributions to the field. He is the CEO of MPS Security & Protection and […]
I’d like to start this article by saying this isn’t intended to disparage anyone in this industry, and it’s my opinion. Everyone has an opinion and mine is no more important than anyone else’s. Recently, I made an error in judgement trying to help someone in the EP industry that was promoting incorrect tactics online […]
With an inspiring career spanning 30 years, Dr. Mary Beth Wilkas Janke is one of a few women to join the ranks of the US Secret Service, as well as the only female agent to officially protect a foreign president abroad. Psychologist, author, forensic and security consultant, as Dr. Wilkas Janke says herself, she knows […]
Enterprise Security Risk Management (or ESRM) is a security program approach that helps raise the profile of security. To put it simply, it occurs by linking security activities to an enterprise’s mission and business goals. This occurs through various risk management methods designed to gather informational data. Ultimately, both the organization and its leaders will […]
With the rising number of deaths from opioids, there is an urgent need to expand the use of Narcan. It has become a vital tool in fighting an epidemic of opioid addiction. In addition, increasing access to this antidote allows bystanders to help with a fatal overdose and save lives. The CDC reports that more […]
As 2022 comes to an end, I’ve made it a habit to reflect on the events of the past year that affect or may alter my professional career. As a physician working in the emergency room and a medical director in the executive protection industry, I look back at some of the trials and tribulations […]
This is the second article in a two-part series on close protection skills I’m writing for EP Wired. Justice Stoic justice or treatment of others and yourself just means how we treat others despite their words or actions. So, as EP agents striving to keep our cool and patience and provide customer service, we must […]
I spend a lot of time traveling, specifically overseas. Transitioning from a large government agency that provided and managed everything I needed during protective travel to a public sector position was eye-opening when I no longer had those resources. Thus, here we will discuss travel safety! Fortunately, I still had a vast network that had […]
For our latest edition of real-life scenarios, we invited GDBA’s Senior Vice President, James Hamilton. He was so kind to share two interesting stories with the EP Wired community. They relate to physical positioning and what it means to be near the principal in the most critical and — most mundane — moments. Without further […]
If you’re in this industry, your site advance game should be strong. Proper application of the advance model identifies you as a professional. Thus, knowledge of how to conduct an advance is often one of the top questions managers ask when considering you for employment. Of course, you can be a high-speed, low-drag teched-out operating […]
When it comes to hiring executive protection or security professionals, employers have much to consider today than in years past. To start, they need to ensure a candidate has the proper qualifications and skills to fill the open position. One way is to conduct personality assessments. On that note, it is similarly crucial that applicants […]
Some essential skill sets in the protective operations world do not get as much attention as others. To be effective in protective operations, protection personnel must be students of situational awareness, systematically observing and assessing their environment. The ability to use observation skills to proactively examine the environment and spot potential threats in time to […]
Both seasoned and new practitioners would agree that we need more actual stories from the EP industry. Real-life scenarios in EP can inspire us as well as teach us. For the next step in our EP Essentials series we invite a number of industry experts to share their stories and discuss challenging situations they faced […]
EP Wired sits down with Ivan Ivanovich, Vice President and Partner at WSO – Worldwide Security Options. Ivan is the author of the Amazon bestseller — Protección Ejecutiva en el Siglo XXI, la Nueva Doctrina — which will be available in English soon. But before that, he joins us for a one-of-a-kind interview on everyday […]
It is common knowledge that the principal is most vulnerable in and around the vehicle. There, they are exposed to direct attacks by crowds and malicious actors. Hence, making a good choice regarding executive protection vehicles and trained security drivers seems invaluable. For a brand new piece in our latest EP series, we talk to industry experts about choosing […]
In past editions of exclusive EP Wired interviews, we mainly discussed hard security-related skills. However, for this one, we talk to Michael Guirguis, MD, a consultant for corporate security and executive protection teams. We discuss Michael’s experience as an emergency medical director and how he sees medical oversight in our industry. EP Wired: Before we […]
For a new exclusive interview, EP Wired sits down with William Presson, Senior Manager of Global Protective Services at Oracle. Our interviewee has been active in the corporate EP sector for the past six years – after devoting over 30 years to the United States Marshals Service. He now enjoys discussing how we need more […]
The thousands of people who are regionally dedicated to protecting others face a daily dire dilemma between their original security role and the administrative role that de facto is required of them. This article digs deep into competencies for executive protection in Latin America. A large number of the “protectees,” “principals,” or “VIPs” (the protected […]
In an insightful – and daring – conversation with Michael Henderson, head of several flourishing companies, we cover career transitioning and what it takes to be an elite EPA and a successful entrepreneur ― at the same time. As a matter of fact, we also explored if entrepreneurship and executive protection can be soul mates. […]
What is close protection security? How do I start doing close protection, and how do I even know that it’s right for me? What responsibilities do close protection officers have? If you’re new to the industry or thinking about joining, you probably have a ton of questions that sound something like the ones above. We’re […]
Careers in executive protection are as diverse as the protective details, which take place globally. These are frightening times, and people want to feel safe. Just because a protectee (i.e., the principal) is mobile does not mean that aggressors will not find a way to stay a step ahead of their protection counterparts. Contract and […]
Three tips to ensure you have the right fit for your organization This brief article is based on my own recent observations and may seem rudimentary to even the newest HR scout or budding security candidate. However, they merit reinforcement in that the same issues continue to get in the way of effective progress in […]
I have written blogs on EP training in the past and why they are critical to program success. Career development, retainment, and quality control are all its building blocks. Here I wanted to take a different approach and highlight the benefits EP/RST training programs can provide. What you can get out of them and what […]
In any service industry, a provider is only as good as the product they deliver. In the Personal Protection business, the product you deliver is a blend of company service methods and the Operator’s performance on the ground. Note: I use the term Personal Protection to encompass Executive Protection, Celebrity Protection, Witness Protection, High-Net Wealth […]
In an interview with EP Wired, executive protection architect and entrepreneur, Christian West shares his experience and insights honed over more than two decades in the industry. Find out what the future holds for the EP industry and for anyone looking to have a successful career in this business. How much has the executive protection […]
It’s no secret that there are fewer women in executive protection than men. Women aren’t often advised to take up security roles, which is why there’s such a huge gap. But with the demand for female EP agents being higher than ever, how is the industry changing? Today, we’re going to talk about all the […]
Do you want to know how to get into executive protection, and make it in the industry? Well, that’s going to depend on who you ask. Some people put a big emphasis on education and training, while others believe that it’s all about who you know. Today, we’re going to dispel some of the biggest […]
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