Supporting Mental Health in a Time Where Corporate Security Teams Need it Most
There are times in my career when there are simply no words and silence is the best option. The never-ending chaos of terrorism certainly affected me, particularly when I was a young special agent. When I close my eyes, I can still see the devastation from many crime scenes, such as hijackings and plane crashes.…
Read MoreBehind the Scenes of the JonBenét Ramsey Investigation
The feeling of knowing you are being observed from afar by someone with ill intentions is unequivocally a worst-case scenario. Whether the pre-operational surveillance takes place over days, weeks or months, there are few things that can stand in the way of a true psychopath — such as the unidentified individual who murdered JonBenét Ramsey…
Read MoreProtective Intelligence Lessons From the U.S. Capitol Riot For Companies
This article was originally featured in Security Magazine. After a lifetime in the protection business, the one constant in Washington that I’ve learned is that it takes tragedy to force change. The January 6 Capitol riot is not an enigma. This was a clear protective intelligence failure. The key finding of Retired Army LTG. Russel…
Read MoreThe Unmatched Value of Crisis and Contingency Planning for Situations You Least Expect
If you’re in trouble, even in the most intricate of situations, there’s a high likelihood that Frederic (Fred) Piry can think of a way out. With a background working in Mobile Security Deployments (MSD) — the 911 for diplomatic security — Fred has quite literally moved mountains to get protectees out of unimaginable situations. In…
Read MoreAs Athletes Play, Bad Actors Can Prey: Why Protective Intelligence is Needed in Sports
This article was originally published in Athletic Business. Last year, Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana was at home with his family when he discovered an intruder trying to kidnap his granddaughter from her playpen. Fortunately, Montana and his wife were able to wrestle the 9-month old out of the woman’s arms before any serious…
Read MoreScott Stewart’s Lasting Impact on Protective Intelligence
The following is a personal message from the Executive Director, Fred Burton, regarding Scott Stewart’s nomination as a Pioneer in the Protective Intelligence Honors Program: One cold and rainy Thanksgiving Day many years ago in Washington, D.C., our command center notified us about a domestic threat from a person of interest against the Secretary of…
Read MoreJack Carr’s Path from Former Navy SEAL to New York Times Bestselling Author
If you’re a protection officer, chances are you’ve read a Jack Carr novel (or six) while in a down room or taking a break in a follow car. Whether you’re in the field of protection, a retired officer, or want to escape into an adrenaline-filled place of being a Navy SEAL sniper, pick up one…
Read MoreA Tribute to Clint Hill, Protective Intelligence Honors Pioneer
The following is a personal message from the Executive Director, Fred Burton, regarding Clint Hill’s nomination as a Pioneer in the Protective Intelligence Honors Program: When we first started thinking about the Protective Intelligence Honors program, Clint Hill was the first person that came to mind. Some may not recognize the name, but anybody who…
Read MoreThe Case Files: Nasim Najafi Aghdam
In this blog series, we explore historical events to teach us what pre-incident indicators were present to reduce the chance of bad things happening in the future. History tells us that there is no detail too small, as even the slightest move off-center can set off an unfortunate domino effect. This Case File shares a…
Read MoreTaking Back Control of Online Reputation and Privacy
Time and time again, the attack cycle begins with pre-operational surveillance — oftentimes involving some degree of digital stalking. How can we proactively minimize risk for our executives? In this episode, Fred Burton and Rich Matta, CEO of ReputationDefender, discuss the critical role that online reputation and privacy plays in protecting executives. Given the recent…
Read MorePhysical Threats Are Rising: Key Compliance, Legal Issues for GCs
This article was originally featured on Bloomberg Law. It is co-authored by Fred Burton, Executive Director of the Ontic Center for Protective Intelligence, and Scott Shepherd, Chief Legal Counsel. General counsel and chief legal officers are multidimensional leaders who touch every part of an organization, guardians guiding legal and regulatory matters for the business, navigating…
Read MoreWho’s Watching? The Role of Technical Surveillance Counter Measures in Corporate Security
The last time you checked into a hotel room you may not have thought to check the clock radio, outlets and lamps for bugs, or recording devices used for eavesdropping. This effort is commonly referred to as technical surveillance counter measures (TSCM), and Rob Kimmons has made a career off of this practice, performing 75-100…
Read MoreGetting Proactive with Protective Intelligence
This article was originally featured on ASIS International. The deadly riots at the U.S. Capitol on 6 January 2021 reinforced the concept that chief security officers’ modern day physical security programs must prioritize protective intelligence to proactively identify, assess, and mitigate harmful threats. As the FBI and law enforcement officials comb through hundreds of thousands…
Read MoreAsk Me Anything with Fred Burton & General James “Spider” Marks
In this Ask Me Anything on-demand webinar, watch as long-time security professionals answer your questions and share:
Read MoreInvestigative Journalist Spotlights Failure in Supply Chain Security
When patients seek medical care, they trust that any recommended prescriptions will help them cure or prevent an illness. However, time and time again, the distribution system for compounded drugs leaves room for error — with drugs being made too fast, without having to be tracked and counted, and lacking FDA approval. This absence of…
Read MoreThe Case Files: Robert Gregory Bowers
In this blog series, we explore historical events to teach us what pre-incident indicators were present to reduce the chance of bad things happening in the future. History tells us that there is no detail too small, as even the slightest move off-center can set off an unfortunate domino effect. In this Case File, we…
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