K-12 Security Subject Matter Expert and Consultant

Specialties & Experience of this Expert Witness

Additional Information

Professional Qualifications -K–12 school security and safety systems -Active threat and hostile event preparedness -Security risk assessment and mitigation -Civilian and law‑enforcement response coordination -School emergency planning, policy, and procedures -Duty of care, foreseeability, and reasonableness of preventive measures -Standards‑based practices for age‑appropriate and accessible safety planning Professional Qualifications -Principal Consultant for K–12 Education, COSECURE, a division of Cozen O’Connor, providing school security consulting services across North America and Europe. -Selected in 2024 to provide subject matter expertise to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (DHS CISA) School Safety Task Force -Recognized by the Ohio Department of Homeland Security and the Ohio Attorney General’s Office as a subject matter expert in active threat response. -Board Certified Physical Security Professional (PSP) through ASIS International -27 years of sworn law‑enforcement service with the Kent State University Police Department as a Lieutenant. Ran special event security for the university. -U.S. Marine Corps veteran (1985-1991) Honorable Discharge -Former holder of a U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secret‑level security clearance -International School Security Co-Chair for the ASIS International School Security community -Bachelor's Degree in Telecommunication, Kent State University Standards, Guidelines, and Methodological Framework -NFPA 3000- Standard for an Active Shooter/Hostile Event Response -The International School Safety Standard (ISSS), developed under ASIS International and approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) -Enterprise Security Risk Management (ESRM) principles -Accepted physical security risk assessment methodologies -Evidence‑based research on civilian and institutional responses to violence -Professional standards and best practices endorsed by organizations such as ASIS International and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Development of National and International violence-prevention, response, and recovery standards -One of approximately 50 nationally selected experts appointed to the NFPA 3000 Cross‑Functional Emergency Preparedness and Response (ACT‑AAA) Committee. (ANSI approved) -Holds the designation of NFPA “Special Expert”. Serves on two subcommittees within NFPA 3000 (School Security and Recovery) -One of approximately 40 international school security experts selected to develop the International School Safety Standard (ISSS) for ASIS International (ANSI‑approved) -One of approximately 200 international security experts selected to develop the International Workplace Violence and Active Assailant Prevention, Intervention, and Response Standard for ASIS International (ANSI-approved) Empirical Research and Publication His work has been published in peer-reviewed journals and publications, including: -The Journal of School Violence -Police1 -Campus Safety Magazine -Security Management -Security Magazine -Best’s Review Applied Experience and Operational Data Conducted or supervised more than 300 formal security risk assessments involving -K–12 school districts -Colleges and universities -Health Care Facilities Participated in, evaluated, or delivered more than 1,000 active threat trainings, drills, and exercises Served as one of the original eight law-enforcement officers appointed by the Ohio Attorney General to develop and instruct the Single Officer Response to Active Threats (SORAT) course Developed operational guidance addressing inter‑agency coordination and prevention of Blue‑on‑Blue incidents during active threat response Consulting and Expert Analysis - Adequacy of security policies and procedures - Threat assessment and violence prevention - Emergency preparedness and response planning - Security staffing and training - Institutional duty of care and reasonable prevention measures