This list appeared at executive-protection-news.com, and I thought it might be worthy of further examination. If you are considering this career, ask yourself if you possess these qualities, because you’ll put every one of these into use on the job!!

Top 10 Traits To Succeed As An Executive Protection Specialist:

  1. Integrity

   2. Candor

   3. Confidence

   4. Discretion

   5. Bearing

   6. Attention to Detail

   7. Responsiveness

   8. Flexibility

   9. Patience

  10. Commitment

I hope that when Bruce Alexander (a top-notch pro in this business) posted this on his web site that newcomers took the time to print it out and to study it–because even with all the training in the world, all the skills with weapons, all the passion–if these traits aren’t aspects of your character, you’re going to have a tough time in this business. Your disposition and attitude are equally as important as your job skills.

• 1. INTEGRITY: Stand for something. Don’t compromise on your own personal code of ethics, no matter how tempting it may be financially. No matter how famous or how powerful your employer may be. Stand tall in your core beliefs of right and wrong.

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According to the Associated Press, Javon Walker was beaten and left unconscious on a street in Las Vegas. The Oakland Raiders wide receiver had been partying, and was found a little after 7:00 a.m. He was hospitalized with “significant injuries.” A large amount of cash and some jewelry were taken.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

This goes in the “what was he thinking?” file. Walker is rumored to have dropped $15,000 on the party the evening prior to discovering him unconscious on the street. He has a six-year, $55 million contract with the Raiders, where was his security?

I shudder to think just how bad this whole situation might have turned out. What if he had been permanently injured or crippled by his attackers? His career would be over. The cost to hire a few bodyguards for the night is so minimal for a man with his affluence–it’s laughable. It’s like you or I purchasing a pizza! Given the average cost of a visit to the emergency room, the surgery, medications, and the stay in the hospital, he has far surpassed the cost of hiring personal protection.

Perhaps he felt his size as a ball player would intimidate any would-be attackers, and so he didn’t feel the need for protection? I’ve no idea, I’m speculating. I’m guessing it was a group of men who attacked him, and even the biggest of men can’t thwart an attack by 2, 3 or 4 guys! 

Beyond preventing a physical attack, Walker needs to think about public perception. Having a bodyguard or two on hand would have meant that someone had his back. After a night of heavy partying, his security would have arranged to get him home safely. Being found unconscious on a street after a party paints a very negative picture of the man. Let’s be honest here, we’re all thinking he must have been extremely intoxicated and disoriented, and clearly, he was unprotected.

I hope that other celebrities and sports figures heed this story.

Hello there.  This is Jeff, the mostly silent other half of Bodyguard Careers.  Whereas Hucky serves as our face to the outside world, my role with Bodyguard Careers is mainly behind the scenes.  I am the geek who writes the code that makes this site work.  I am also the one with the sunglasses on in the photo below (from my first and only Executive Protection assignment).

I am writing to you because this past weekend, we decided to roll out a new design for the website.  I’m sure you have already noticed, but I wanted to call your attention to the several new features that we have added to the site, as well as a new three column layout.  We are hoping that this layout makes it easier to find information without scrolling, and it also gives us a lot of open space to add cool new features to the site (like the poll to your right).

A lot has changed since we first launched this site back in 2005, including my ability to quickly implement new features within the WordPress platform (that is the software we use for this blog).  Bodyguard Careers was actually the first blog I ever created with WordPress, and since then I have helped implement WordPress on more than 30 other sites.

In addition to maintaining the blog, we also implemented a fully functional resume tracking and candidate management system behind the scenes to aide in job searches.  Did you know that our bodyguard resume database has 1301 resumes?  There’s a good chance that is the biggest in the industry!  We have also had over 2400 people sign up for our weekly email list.  We are constantly humbled by the quality of the community surrounding our site.  We couldn’t do it without you!

With the new redesign, we have a great opportunity to further improve the community around Bodyguard Careers, and I am seeking your help.  Is there anything that you want to see us add to Bodyguard Careers?  Is there anything that you don’t particularly like about the new design (and don’t say you don’t like the advertisements, because they pay the bills and aren’t going away!)  I am looking for honest feedback on how to improve the site, and I think with your input we can make truly make this site “world class.”

If you have any suggestions, questions, comments, please fill out the new contact form or leave a comment below.  I will do my best to implement your suggestions, as long as they fit into Hucky’s master plan. Afterall, this is his baby!

Stay Safe,

Jeff

Salary Range: 58,206.00 - 90,698.00 USD per year
Open Period: Tuesday, June 17, 2008
to Tuesday, July 01, 2008

As a member of the Secretary’s executive protection team, the selected candidate will support the Department’s goal of keeping the Secretary and his designees safe from the very real threat of harm. This includes overseeing the travel plans of the Secretary and
ensuring proper protection both before, during and after arrival at designated stops, handling security both before and during visits and stops; and ensuring that all laws and policies, including Federal, state, local, and international, are followed. 
The selected candidate will also guide policy and programmatic efforts in the areas of executive protection by advising operating unit heads and other senior-level officials on matters related to security, intelligence, law enforcement and other executive
protection related procedures. 

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In the News

Mark Wahlberg (currently starring in the feature film “The Happening”) has been accused of failing to pay his former bodyguard, Leonard Taylor. Taylor is suing the actor for $20,000 in back pay for four years of work. This is Taylor’s second lawsuit against Wahlberg which has been filed in a Manhattan Civil Court. In 2001 Taylor, who is 6-foot-5 and weighs 300 pounds, claimed Wahlberg assaulted him. Wahlberg eventually paid Taylor $5,000 in a court settlement. A spokesperson for Wahlberg refused to comment.