By Harlan (Hucky) Austin

Hiding behind a shroud of decency, claiming that their intentions are noble, Michael Jackson’s bodyguards are the latest to tell-all on their celebrity principals.  In an interview with Good Morning America three of Michael Jackson’s bodyguards spoke openly about his children, family routines, his parenting, and they even spoke about his sexuality in a veiled attempt to bring honor to the pop star’s tarnished reputation.

Showing little regard for the Jackson family’s reasonable expectation of privacy, these three bodyguards eagerly offered an inside glimpse into the private life of one of the world’s most public figures and the children he trusted them to protect.

The public veneer of any celebrity is an image they struggle to maintain while the camera rolls, but when they step into the closed quarters of their vehicles or their private residences it is, or at least should be, their opportunity to be themselves, whoever that “self” might be.

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By Rick Colliver

When we speak of the “concentric rings” of protection, we are referring to the need to place as many physical and procedural barriers as possible between the Protectee and any potential adversary. In military circles, this concept is known as “defense in depth”.  However, as we all know, there are two critical components to establishing these concentric rings: 1) what does a threat assessment indicate is necessary and 2) what security intervention strategies will the Protectee accept?

This has served as a frustrating plateau for many security managers throughout history, who, exercising due diligence, have reason to believe the executive (or dignitary or celebrity) is at risk , but are unable to persuade said executive to consider security enhancements.  Often, the concept of protection is new to the affected parties and requires patient explanation – as well as introduction in stages or phases.

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The footprint of technology can be seen on every aspect of our lives and upon practically every industry.  Statistics indicate that in 1985 only 31 million homes worldwide had personal computers compared with 1069 million in 2007. 

In 1985 there were only 340 thousand cell phone users in the US, compared with 262 million in 2008.  The fact is that over the past twenty years technology has not only changed the way we live, it has changed the way we think and the way we communicate.  Communication is not only the way we send and receive personal information, it defines the way we examine the world and the way the world examines us.

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By Doug Belton

There are no elaborate schemes or formulas for earning more in executive protection; it really comes down to a single thing.  Never cut your rates.  As simple as this one thing sounds, anyone who has been in business at all will know there always seem to be compelling reasons to cut your rates but when you do so, you create a landslide of obstacles barring access to increased future earnings.

We have all experienced the disappointment of purchasing an item or service at full price only to find the same item from the same provider days later for substantially less money.  When this happens it doesn’t take much to figure out that the seller was offering the item far above market value in the first place. 

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By Doc Rogers

Being a contract executive protection (EP) agent and working for yourself on contracts is tougher than it looks. Most people only see the end product of protective coverage being provided to the principle. They don’t see the hours of advance work, the sometimes stressful situations and the demanding schedules that EP agents go through.

They don’t know about the months of living out of a suitcase, being on the road all the time and eating dull hotel food on a regular basis.

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