By Bruce Alexander

Officer.com has an article by Steve Denney entitled “One-Handed Shooting; Another critical and neglected skill” with a very valid application to Executive Protection. One of the points Denney makes in his article is that sometimes you have to play the cards you’re dealt and if that means shooting with only one hand, so be it.

There’s plenty of situations in Executive Protection that shooting with one hand is a very real possibility, notably when you are trying to move your principal during an attack. In fact, you are far more likely to have to shoot with one hand in Executive Protection than most other situations.

If you are responsible for providing “body cover,” then instinctively you reach for your principal and start to move, if that’s an option. However, if you are on a small detail where there isn’t the option of leaving your principal to engage the threat, shooting while engaging and moving off the “X” with your principal in tow, might be your only choice. Like Steve Denney says the time to learn to shoot with one hand is not when the shooting starts.

By Bruce Alexander

In a recent Rand study entitled Freedom and Information: Assessing Publicly Available Data Regarding U.S. Transportation Infrastructure Security, Rand researchers examined how publicly available data could be exploited by a terrorists to plan and conduct  terrorist attacks.

Using a “red-team”, the researchers conceptualized a series of notional terrorist attacks using the publicly available information to plan their attacks. The research revealed two major findings. First,red-team members were able to identify
information that, with some exceptions, proved useful for planning terrorist attacks (based on six different notional attack scenarios). Second,  publicly available information which might be useful to a potential terrorist varied
across information categories.

Detailed information about specific security procedures for the targets selected by the red-team was
the most difficult to find whereas general non specific information was readily available.

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By Bruce Alexander

Contributed by Joe Hemmer and Steve Mann of Aviation Facilities Security Group

There’s an old adage that the trouble with traveling is that you have to come home. Not true. The trouble with traveling is luggage; and human luggage is the worst type.

The first thing you have to understand, when escorting a principal, is what your real situation is. Are you making the arrangements? Are you making all of them? Is there an Advance Agent or Administrative Assistant involved? Is corporate handling all of this? Who is taking you to the airport? Is there a luggage service? Who is meeting you and what are the ground transportation arrangements upon arrival?

Traveling is stressful enough but being responsible for you and a protectee is even more frustrating. It’s like flying with the kids … but on steroids. There are many potential pitfalls in air travel and having a protectee along increases the risks exponentially.

This is the first in a two part series dealing with executive protection and air travel. Part one addresses an issue that me and many of my security colleagues have faced concerning commercial air travel.

Do think VIP’s travel commercial? Mid-level politicians and celebrities love commercial travel. It provides both public exposure and a means of denying that they have lost touch with the “common-man.” It also complies with the Unites States Government’s travel requirements and it presents some additional challenges.

Once all the ground transportation, luggage and ticketing is taken care of, there is still the specter of what’s actually going to happen at the airport. This is where a little preparation and a lot of patience pays off and a good trip can make or break you in this profession.

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By Bruce Alexander

There’s a few articles out regarding how the surveillance camera system that is so extensive in the United Kingdom failed to detect the Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (VBIED) in London last week. I think its too soon to tell the what exactly happened that allowed the bad guys to get through the net. The U.K. forces and services are exceptionally professional and there’s no doubt they will get to the bottom of what happened.

The U.K.’s system of using cameras to conduct surveillance of public spaces works for the U.K. The U.K. has a long history of combating terrorism and over the course of time, the U.K. government, and the citizens of the U.K., have accepted  surveillance cameras as part of the price for security.

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By Bruce Alexander

There’s an excellent (by my standards anyway) article on Executive Protection that recently appeared on The Boston Globe’s website that is must read for those in, or aspiring to be in, our profession. The article, written by Billy Baker, is entitled “Standing Guard for Rich and Famous.” It’s a refreshing look at some Executive Protection firms in the Boston area which stress professional standards, image and approach to Executive Protection. These firms eschew the “Hollywood bodyguard” and “rapper posse” in favor of a low profile, conservative demeanor approach to protection. Call me a fool or just plain naive, but maybe, just maybe, someone in Hollywood will read this article and get it.

You can find the article by going to the following link: The Boston Way