March 31, 2020, NAPLES, FL -- International Foundation for Protection Officers (IFPO) Chairman of the Board Larry Fennelly, CPOI, CPO, has announced a strategic partnership between the IFPO and Castle Defense 360 Security.

“We are thrilled to have this truly professional training organization join forces with the IFPO,” Fennelly said. “Both proprietors Tim Easton and Donald Jordan of Castle Defense 360 have extensive leadership and security management through the various facets of their careers.”

For more than 30 years, the IFPO has been the tip of the spear in security and protection officer education, providing certifications for those just entering the industry to supervisors, trainers and managers.

Missouri-based Castle Defense 360 is a certified service disabled veteran-owned small business, known for its courses geared toward both first responders and the general public. It was established to counter the nationwide increase in criminal and terrorist activity.

The strategic partnership is punctuated by the upcoming debut of Castle’s new course, the Certified Security Operations Specialist (CSOS), a classroom, scenario-based 3-day program designed to add to current skill sets as well as offering advanced skill sets in order to efficiently and effectively operate in the new threat environment.

“We have carefully and collectively reviewed the material and feel it is within the standards in which the IFPO requires,” IFPO Executive Director Sandi Davies said.

The CSOS program -- in the process of becoming accredited through American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and approved for the G.I. Bill -- was developed for houses of worship, safety and security teams, guard post security guards, executive protection agents and those wishing to launch their careers in the security industry.

“This first-of-its-kind program is focused on providing an advanced level of training to security staff by offering a unique set of additional skills to add to their value and capabilities,” according to Castle's CSOS brochure. “One of the key goals of this certification program is to officially certify team members nationwide in a variety of security related operations to add legitimacy to their task. We are driven to make this course a new national standard security discipline.”

The program will feature 24 hours of intensive classroom, practical exercise and scenario-based training in the following areas:

  • Personal profiling
  • Active attacker threat response
  • Bomb threat and suspicious package awareness and response
  • Executive protection
  • Checkpoint operations
  • Emergency planning and basic first aid
  • Anti-terrorism
  • End of course exercise and After-Action Review

The CSOS has been Peace Officer Standards and Training approved for 24 Continuing Education Credits. Students who pass a 25-question multiple choice exam with a score of 70 or higher will receive a certificate signifying their passing all eight blocks of instruction and the exam.

Course price is $550 per student. There is a 20% veteran discount and also a 15% IFPO discount. These two discounts cannot be combined.

About the IFPO:

The IFPO was founded by Ron Minion, a former member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and owner of a large Canadian contract business. Minion was steadfast in his belief that protection officers needed to be properly screened, trained and uniformed, and in 1988 he founded IFPO after selling his agency. He served as its Executive Director until 1992, and was succeeded by Sandi Davies, who has held the office ever since.

The International Foundation for Protection Officers is committed to the support and professional development of protection officers and supervisors. Through advocacy, promoting training standards, and providing accessible training, education and certification opportunities, we seek to enhance their professional standing as well as increase and diversify the value of the vital services they provide.

About Castle Defense 360 Security:

Tim Easton is a U.S. Army combat veteran, an anti-terrorism officer, IED & active shooter response instructor security engineer and design, physical security specialist, and a tactical instructor ASIS Physical Security Council - Sub-Committee Education.

Donald Jordan has achieved numerous security industry certifications, including CHPP, CMAS, CPO/I, CHS IV and ATO II.