Stepping Into Enterprise Security: How Public Safety Professionals Can Stand Out and Land Their First Role

"Many security leaders get their start in the public safety sphere. Just as often, they cite their experience in law enforcement, military or elsewhere as the foundation that led to their success in the industry. While this has been - and continues to be - a reliable path for many, the current job landscape is presenting new, unique challenges for those looking to shift from public safety to enterprise security."

"Having started his career in the United States Coast Guard, Rodrigues also worked for U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Diplomatic Security. In 2016, he shifted to the private sector, holding security leadership roles at organizations including Boeing, Pratt & Whitney, and Excelerate Energy, and currently serves as Senior Director of Global Risk and Resilience at ŌURA, the wearable health technology"

"After speaking with Rodrigues about these challenges, I decided to reach out to two additional professionals who have successfully switched from public safety to enterprise security to discuss their career path and lessons learned. Edward Levy, Director of Critical Infrastructure at NOBLE-KD Analytical, spent 21 years as an active-duty U.S. Army Military Police Officer before taking his first private sector role, and Patrick McCormack, Director of Security at Saint Joseph's Medical Center/St. Vincent's Hospital Westchester Division, had a 30-year career as a law enforcement officer."

Many security leaders begin their careers in public safety, law enforcement, or the military. Recent changes across the federal workforce, including downsizing and restructuring, have driven more professionals to seek opportunities in the private sector. Public-safety backgrounds remain a common path into enterprise security, yet the current job landscape creates new challenges for those transitioning. Jeremy Rodrigues moved from the U.S. Coast Guard and federal agencies to private-sector security roles, now serving at ŌURA. Edward Levy and Patrick McCormack moved from long military and law enforcement careers into private-sector security roles and cited adapting to new organizational cultures as a key challenge.

Read at Securitymagazine