During my corporate days and now owning my private company, I’ve had the opportunity to recruit and operate in both of these settings ranging from small boutique details to top-tier corporations. After hundreds of phone conversations and conferences with executive protection professionals, I tend to get a lot of the same questions and statements from guys and gals seeking career advice.

A couple of statements or questions I  hear more and more are...

1. I want to transition to the corporate sector, I’m tired of contracting.
2. I am tired of the corporate world and want to transition contracting.

It always makes me think of the old adage “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence”.   But is it or is it all the same grass?

Most people reach a place in their career where they are interested (or forced into) doing something different, and this is an important topic for those of us in the EP/Close Protection world. So let's break it down a bit and hit the HIGHLIGHTS of c...

When you are talking about visiting Africa, Kenya is most certainly top of mind. While this gorgeous nation makes headlines for both the right and wrong reasons, there's no doubt it is on many people's bucket list to visit. In this Global Ops Podcast, we cover why Kenya is still one of the best and most popular travel locations in Africa.

Kenya travel is not to be taken lightly and requires some planning & homework as it is indeed a hotbed for terrorism and crime. However, Kenya remains one of the main hubs in Africa, & knowing how to navigate it is a must. Listen and learn how high-net worth clients utilize professional services to navigate Kenya safely, by utilizing Nairobi and Mombasa as hubs to the surrounding areas and parks like Maasai Mara Reserve, known for the great wildebeest migrations and the Amboseli National Park. My guest Nick Bay & I talk about how to mitigate risk, & experience all the attractions of Kenya and the surrounding areas of Tanzania and Mt Kilimanjaro. W...

As we close out the final hours of 2018, I thought it'd be fun to end the year featuring a really incredible city, one that inspires celebration and one-of-a kind adventure. In the latest episode of The Global Ops Podcast, we head to the canals and festivals of Venice, Italy. My guest in this episode is not just an expert on secure travel to locations like Venice, but he’s a good friend who’s supported me on trips around the world. Dave Atkinson is an experienced Close Protection contractor whose law enforcement and counter-terrorism background (Special Branch) gives him a unique perspective into the world of protecting high net worth and high-profile individuals and companies. Dave and I have worked together/supporting clients on trips ranging from Wimbledon and numerous Olympics, as well as many film festivals in Venice and Cannes. Lots of stories to tell!

Venice is an amazing city, and in this podcast Dave and I share stories and insights that will help any traveler make their t...

What country has one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the top 2 grandest rivers, dense jungles and a long beautiful coastline to boot? That would be Peru!

With the capital city of Lima and 18 million people, join experienced executive protection operators Ricardo Cruz and host Steve Albritton as they discuss security and traveling to Peru.  This includes their personal stories and security advice for both business and personal travelers.

Executive Protection and security personnel have a unique perspective when supporting clients all over the world.   Their perspective and tactics are not just for the wealthy and high-profile people.  To the contrary, every traveler can utilize this information to ensure a safe and successful trip, no matter who you are.   

This podcast discusses specific information about Peru and the surrounding areas and highlights the main key points when planning a visit. 

We can’t cover all of our support tactics, but we do discuss the important things like...

The time has come! The Global OPS Podcast is now up and running! As close protection and executive protection operators, we as a community travel and navigate the globe on a continual basis. For many of us we’ve hit almost every continent multiple times, while supporting our high-profile, high-net worth or corporate clients. The Global OPS Podcast highlights experienced Protection Operators out there doing the work, where ‘the rubber meets the road’. If you are a new or seasoned operator, or a client wanting a new perspective on a global location that your team is gearing up to visit, then you will want to listen. Weekly guests consist of former government, special operations professionals, and local, in-country close protection operators. Join Steve Albritton and his guests as they discuss security and travel support issues pertaining to different global locations each week. We have a lot of great guests and locations in the queue, and will be releasing more episodes in the months to ...

For many of us in the Corporate world, travel is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. In the security world, particularly in Executive/Close Protection, the ability to safely and smoothly navigate locations both exotic and domestic is a baseline expectation.

However, even the most seasoned world traveler can tell you horror stories of what can and sometimes does go wrong when you are traveling for work or for play. Some of my most valuable lessons in preparation and planning have come to me, not through my security, law enforcement or military training, but rather through the real-world situations I’ve found myself in as I’ve traveled the globe in support of my clients. You can’t replace local knowledge, and you certainly can’t buy experience!

That being said, as I’ve consulted with business looking to expand their footprint into new countries, individuals planning trips either for work-related events, or even for their own families, there remains a veil of secrecy around ‘insider tips and ...

Getting ready to launch the Global Ops Podcast here in just a few weeks! This has been a long-time in the works, and I'm excited to share some really cool content and guests that I think you all will really enjoy.

Whether you travel the world for business, for fun or in support of clients in a protection capacity, this podcast will have something for you! The Global Ops Podcast will feature experts from around the world teaching the rest of us about the ins and outs of traveling in specific locations both far and near.

For those in EP/Close Protection, you know that supporting your clients across the globe requires a ton of planning, logistics and attention to detail. 

Enter the Global Ops Podcast.  Learn what to think about when planning a trip, what to avoid, location and country-specific insights that can make or break a protection detail.

This is going to be fun and informative, and if you have some locations in mind that you'd like to see us feature, please message me! I'm bur...

Join Steve at #GSX18 in Las Vegas, as he presents on Executive Protection Client Support at Professional Sporting events! Wednesday, September 26th.

The world revolves around money. No doubt. It's logical then to assume that managing money is a critical skill. One that can make or break any career.

And yet, basic money management is a glaring gap in the skill-sets of most EP operators and managers. Whether we are talking about the decision-making around daily expenditures, the tracking and reporting of receipts, or the higher level program budgeting, the need for good judgement and practice around money is critical.

For better or worse, it is a basic assumption that an EP operator understands money. When you are hired for a job, you may have an orientation to your company's culture and policies where you'll likely receive a pdf copy of the 10 page expense SOP's that govern the 'do's and don'ts, which you will sign your acknowledgement of and never look at again.  Beyond that (unless you've been blessed w/ a thoughtful manager or leader), you likely won't hear a whole lot of in terms of guidance about your reporting and spending o...