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Demystifying executive protection agents
by Andrew Podolak

Andrew Podolak

If you happen to go online and look up “executive protection” or “bodyguard” you will find a variety of advertisements from professional bodyguards to ninja warriors, or so they say. What characteristics do you look for in a protection agent and how do you assess his abilities?

First of all, the days of the stereotypical bodyguard are over. That is the large in stature, oft times slow to think, muscle- bound thug that physically removes whatever he perceives to be a problem. You can immediately eliminate advertisements with men in ninja suits or SWAT outfits brandishing MP-5s or AK-47s. These folks have obviously missed the point of executive protection, which is to cover and evacuate your client to a safer environment.

Today’s executive protection agent must be a model of sophistication and diplomacy. The agent must fit in with the executive and his staff in appearance and conduct, as well as intelligently communicate at a professional level. People skills are one of the most vital qualities of a first-class protection agent. Many times during a detail, an agent has to convince a hotel concierge or a nightclub/restaurant manager to help him secure preferential treatment for his clients. Many former police and federal agents have difficulty with this once they no longer have a badge and the weight of a law enforcement agency for back up.

It is essential to note that those who employ off-duty police officers simply because they can carry a weapon may not be looking at the entire picture. The training a police officer receives is a good starting point for becoming an executive protection agent, but advanced training and experience is necessary to function properly in this profession. Also, in many jurisdictions, off-duty police officers are duty bound to respond to a crime being committed in their presence. This could mean that the client would be left unprotected while the off-duty officer addresses a criminal act that has been committed. Physical conditioning is also very important because of the demanding schedules and long hours that are customary on protective details

Proactivity is what separates today’s protection agent from the reactivity of the bodyguard. Don’t misunderstand what I am saying. The ability to react is still extremely valuable, but the reality of today’s security is to remove or mitigate threats before they have a chance to manifest. This brings us to the importance of advance work and the emphasis that an agent or security company should place on a protective detail.

The single most important function that can be performed by a protection agent or team is meticulous advance work. This is what sets the U.S. Secret Service apart from the rest of the security world. Protection agents in the private sector should mimic this methodology because advance work, when properly conducted, will eliminate 90 percent of the problems before the client ever arrives on the scene.

By now you are probably thinking, “Where do I find security people like this?” There are many out there who profess to be trained executive protection agents because they have served in the military or in law enforcement and were called upon to provide or assist in a protection capacity. In reality, if all you needed was an untrained person with the ability or knowledge to carry a firearm, a security officer would suffice. If those with military or law enforcement experience expand on what they have learned by aligning themselves with a company or school that specializes in executive protection, then they might have a chance to be successful in the business.

Your best bet is to find a reputable company that specializes in executive protection. Although, few truly qualify. Question them on the training they provide to their agents, ask for resumes of the instructors, as well as the agents that will participate on that detail. Ultimately, the client, your boss, will hold you responsible for the success or failure of the protection effort. Anyone who has had to provide protection for an executive knows how difficult it is to convince him to accept security and have his life infringed upon. After laboring to gain the trust of your executive, you may find that an incompetent or non-discreet protection team might embarrass or infuriate the client, and in doing so, make your job that much more difficult, if you still have a job.

Andrew Podolak is vice president of executive protection and security for Global Options. He can be reached by e-mail at apodolak@globaloptions.com.