“EVERYONE IS A FIRST RESPONDER” | MOORPARK’S COVERED 6 PROVIDES TACTICAL TRAINING FOR PUBLIC SAFETY

AWARENESS TOWARD SELF-RELIANCE

“We’re at the highest point we’ve ever been in awareness toward self-reliance for public safety, which includes civilians,” Dunn said. “Everyone’s a citizen, everyone’s affected by the things that are happening — the volatility, the uncertainty. Our programs are important because civilians are part of the effort to be a first responder.”

Covered 6 is military vernacular that essentially means, “your back is covered,” said Dunn. The company is made up of a group of highly trained professionals with backgrounds in law enforcement, military and corporate security who have gained experience in austere environments, real-life combat scenarios and major crisis management, both stateside and abroad.

Through what Dunn calls a “holistic approach,” Covered 6 “balances courtesy and compliance” with specialists that provide a sophisticated, innovative and collaborative solution for clients seeking protection across the board. These solutions are provided through physical and cyber security, protecting communities and providing executive protection for high-net-worth individuals, including those who are targets of sophisticated attacks.

Courses at Covered 6 that are open to the public include Tactical Emergency Casualty Care, in which lessons learned from military personnel are applied to the civilian world of tactical medicine. Skills taught in this class include hemorrhage control, care for pediatric patients, and techniques for dragging and carrying victims to safety.

Janice Parvin, the mayor of Moorpark, said “it’s good to have this type of training available, especially during the times we’re living in.”

DEFEND, GUARD, PROTECT

Aug. 24 was officially designated as Covered 6 Day in Moorpark by Parvin during the grand opening of the Covered 6 Patriot Center, a 20,000-square-foot state-of-the-art training facility located on Patriot Drive. More than 500 people, including veterans and their families, attended the open house, where the Moorpark Mayor praised Covered 6 for specializing in security training, cyber training and executive protection. These and other skills are taught through Academy Courses at Covered 6.

During the open house, Mayor Parvin gave special recognition to Dunn “for finding jobs for our veterans.”

“Chris is an Army veteran and former police detective in Los Angeles,” she said. “He employs veterans and has helped other companies hire veterans — about 700 so far.”

Defend, guard, protect is the motto of Covered 6, Dunn said during the open house.

“The philanthropic vision of what we do with veterans has now become one of our primary missions,” Dunn noted. “We’ve been engaged in the longest war in U.S. history; we have people that have come out . . . and trying to get a job is extremely difficult because those skills don’t necessarily apply. Veterans are one of our single greatest resources we have.”

To that end, the C6 Foundation, a nonprofit organization, gives veterans “compacted support” by providing vocational certifications and, ultimately, job placements.

“The C6 Foundation directly supports the veterans and their families who have run out of benefits, fall on hard times or need assistance to get back on track — while maintaining their dignity,” said Dan Arnold, president of the C6 Foundation.

Many military veterans face challenges when they transition back to civilian life, he noted. Some who go to college obtain a general degree and debt. Others don’t know how to apply their skills from the military.

Those eligible to receive help from the C6 Foundation include any first responders or veterans, as well as civilians who demonstrate a desire to make their lives better through defending, guarding and protecting others. “Many describe this desire as a calling, or a way of life,” Arnold said. “We are dedicated to helping in these ways because we feel this is the most effective way to get someone back in the right mindset for success.”

CIVILIANS IN A THREAT-SCAPE WORLD

As a civilian living in a threat-scape world, Julie Bellinder has “chosen to be a survivor at all cost.”

In 2010, she was a victim of domestic violence, in which “the verbal and physical abuse occurred several times and yet I felt somehow I deserved it,” recalled Bellinder, 41, of Ventura.

“I lived in fear for years after the ordeal . . . constantly looking over my shoulder, becoming a prisoner in my own home,” she said. “My self-esteem and confidence to face the world and unknowns was lost. When someone labels you as a victim, it makes you feel weak and defenseless.”

She had a paradigm shift when she enrolled in the Physical Security Specialist Program though Covered 6 last year, with the intent of pursuing a career within the private sector as well as surveillance. The modules covered during this five-week academy included arresting techniques, surveillance, active shooter situations, tactical emergency casualty care, de-escalation techniques, situational awareness and firearms training.

“I remember the first day . . . all of the students sitting in a classroom, complete strangers. I was nervous and excited all at once, not knowing what to expect,” Bellinder remembered. Over the course of five weeks, “we trained hard together, learned a lot of important information pertaining to the private security sector, and forged friendships along the way. There was a sense of camaraderie between all of us.”

Bellinder also took the Carrying Concealed Weapon training course. “The instructors spent a fair amount of time in a classroom setting reviewing gun laws and firearm safety. After the class room instruction, we went up to the range to qualify,” she said. “The instructors that teach the course are extremely knowledgeable and spend time with the students ensuring that everyone understands the fundamentals of operating a firearm in a safe and effective manner.”

SKILL SETS FOR LIFE

Looking back, Bellinger believes she is not the same woman she was before she trained at Covered 6.

“I had gained more than just knowledge. I had changed. No longer did I look over my shoulder; no longer did I feel weak or defenseless. I walked with purpose and had a confidence about me that no one person will ever take away.”

Today, “I can go out into the world with eyes wide open, being situationally aware of my surroundings and having the knowledge on how to defend myself, guard against threats and protect my family and friends.”

As a civilian, “the training I learned through Covered 6 are skill sets I implement into my life on a daily basis, not only on a professional level, but on a personal one as well. I encourage everyone to seek out formal training of this caliber and learn how to protect yourself and loved ones living in today’s society.” 

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COVERED 6 SECURITY ACADEMY HERE: https://c6securityacademy.com

COVERED 6: LENDING A HAND TO OUR VETERANS

By Alicia Doyle

An Army Reservist for 14 years, Margurie Evans discovered Covered 6 while working at the post office and looking to utilize her specialized skill set she learned in the military.

“A lot of veterans come out of the service with no idea of what they’re going to do,” says Evans, 34, who found Covered 6 in Moorpark while doing an online search.

“It felt like the right move,” says Evans, who took physical security and executive protection courses at Covered 6, which provides vocational certifications—and ultimately, job placement.

“Jumping into the security field is… easier than anything else that is offered, because most of the jobs that are offered to veterans coming out of service are usually law enforcement-oriented,” she says. “This gives those veterans the ability to not have to jump into a job that’s chosen for them, but a job that they can choose.”

Many veterans have difficulties transitioning back to civilian life—some attend college, obtain a general degree and acquire debt, while others don’t know how to apply their military skills.

Covered 6 is military vernacular derived from service members telling each other that they are safe—in other words, “your back is covered,” explains Chris Dunn, CEO and founder of Covered 6.

With active shootings and domestic terror attacks in today’s times, the need for a national private security standard is greater than ever before, says Dunn. Covered 6 meets this need through protective services across the globe, tactical and vocational training programs, and patented product innovations for first responders.

When incidents occur, “those of us who are trained already are usually the first ones to step up and take action and help,” Evans says.

“You hear about a veteran helping a person during a mass conflict, or a person when there is a random shooter—usually it’s a veteran that’s the first one to step up,” Evans emphasizes. “With the specialized training that Covered 6 offers, it only makes us more prepared for those who are looking to have protection for themselves and their neighbors.”

Some veterans fall on hard times because their benefits run out and they find themselves disillusioned and homeless, says Dan Arnold, president of the C6 Foundation, a nonprofit involved with Covered 6.

The C6 Foundation directly supports veterans and their families who have run out of benefits, fall on hard times or need assistance to get back on track—while maintaining their dignity, says Arnold, noting that the foundation helps provide essentials like housing, meals, clothing and tuition support.

Those eligible to receive help include any first responder or veteran, as well as civilians who demonstrate a desire to make their lives better through defending, guarding and protecting others. “Many describe this desire as a calling or a way of life,” Arnold says.

“We are dedicated to helping in these ways because we feel this is the most effective way to get someone back in the right mindset for success,” Arnold says, adding that Ronald Reagan said it best: “If you want to cure PTSD, give a veteran a job.”

“Employment sourcing is an essential part of the program,” says Arnold, noting that 85% of recipients are placed after attending the programs. “Things like self-respect, service, passion and dignity cannot be restored by temporary gratification and handouts. People need a sense of purpose to do what they are drawn to—which is protect and serve.”

KTLA 5: ‘Covered 6’ Training Academy

Christina Pascucci from KTLA 5 news in Los Angeles came out to the Covered 6 Patriot Center to learn more about the Covered 6 Security Academy and its mission. We train and employ Veterans who are transitioning out of the military and into civilian employment.

 To learn more about the C6 Security Academy visit, https://c6securityacademy.com.

While California Fires Rage, the Rich Hire Private Firefighters

A small but growing number of wealthy people are hiring their own teams.

Contracted vs. In-House Guarding: No Universal Right Answer Your security officers: should you in-house or outsource?

Covered 6 Has Training Covered

As a veteran of law enforcement, the military and private guarding, Chris Dunn came to believe that security officer training had a very low barrier to entry. Given the increased emphasis on security in K-12 schools and other environments, as well as the inconsistency of states honoring one another’s standards, Dunn saw the need to develop national standards.

So he met with the U.S. Department of Labor, which was looking to expand apprenticeship opportunities in general, and he created a five-week training course based on a newly minted National Program Standard for security training. Dunn’s enterprise Covered 6 provides this training mostly to military veterans who can be funded through the GI Bill, although about 20 percent are non-military whose enterprises pay their tuition. He says that only Arizona and Nevada have approved the training, but he’s hopeful more states will follow suit. 

Covered 6 just began a new program in cybersecurity, Dunn says. “We all know the [training] deficit in that area of the security world,” he says. “Developing talent in any industry, especially security, has now crossed over, holistically. We need CSOs who understand both physical and cyber. The physical guys need to know, you’ve got to protect the server.”

The Covered 6 concept could be helpful to small and midsized security enterprises, says Keith Oringer, Founder and President of Security ProAdvisors, who notes major guarding enterprises already have their own training academies. “Global corporations like Securitas, Allied Universal, G4S, GardaWorld and Prosegur – let’s say Sony was their customer, and they wanted active shooter [training] – they would do it right at the site,” he says. “It might be beneficial to some of the smaller enterprises that don’t have those resources.”

“There is never a cookie-cutter answer,” he says. “Every enterprise and government organization is unique and needs to carefully weigh the pros and cons of in-house versus outsourcing all elements of their security operations. Often, the right solution involves a mixed approach.”

Cybersecurity presents a new set of questions in terms of what to outsource vs. keep in house, Oringer says. “The convergence of physical and cybersecurity threats – for example, an employee carrying intellectual property on a laptop to an annual meeting – presents new opportunities and challenges for CSOs and their IT counterparts in terms of monitoring, protection and control technologies and resources, as well as outsourcing decisions,” he says.

Chris Dunn, CEO of Covered 6, which provides an intensive five-week training program for security officers (see sidebar), says most entities he works with that have included Space X, Virgin Orbit and Pepperdine University, end up with a hybrid guarding model. “They need a better-trained person,” he says. “They’re dealing with active shooter, technology integration and other complex issues.”

Outsourcing means less liability and greater flexibility, Dunn says, but clients of his often prefer to have more control over training. In-house guarding units bring quality control and a greater ability to build teams and invest in enterprise culture, he says. But outsourcing provides backup for events and unforeseen circumstances. “The hybrid model is definitely better,” Dunn says.

Threats and Solutions for 2020

Enterprises face an ever-shifting array of threats and solutions in both the physical and cybersecurity realms. Oringer sees cybersecurity’s impact on physical security, the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI), the growth of the cannabis industry and outsourcing of security among municipalities to bolster their police forces as among the “megatrends.”

“Twenty years ago, nearly everyone worked under the same roof. Now, you have workers all over the place, connecting to your system. There’s more exposure,” he says. “Cloud computing and the Internet of Things has had a profound impact on the day-to-day operations of business and government, and presents interesting new security challenges to client organizations.”

AI has been important in taking a proactive approach to security, instead of observe and report, enterprises can collect, analyze and take action based on data, Oringer says. “We’re predicting when things could happen and potentially prevent things from happening,” he says, adding that’s an area where contracted enterprises can help. “Some in-house security operations might not have the resources to spend big time on AI.”

Collaboration between physical and cybersecurity has resulted partly due to adversaries’ growing ability to remotely threaten and attack anytime and anywhere, Oringer says, adding that active shooter and workplace violence remain significant physical threats. He sees an opportunity for guarding enterprises to strengthen their roles as trusted advisers by offering a mix of security consulting, innovative software and system integration capabilities.

“Smart CSOs need to work hard to implement an enterprise-wide security culture; often this starts with a C-suite and board of directors who understand the threats and risks, not only financially but also to reputation,” he says. “Client enterprises are interested in leveraging training, technology and tools to break down the silos between physical and cybersecurity, which can also be helpful in determining what elements of security should remain in-house, versus outsourced.”

When it comes to protecting information, Boeing has an internal Information Protection Board in place that helps guide the enterprise’s long-term strategy, Komendat says. “We spend a lot of time, energy and investment to stay abreast of the current threat environment and implement the best solutions we can, to deal with adversaries that come after our information,” he says. “There is a constant drumbeat of investment and collaboration.”

Boeing remains well aware that it not only needs to develop new technology but it also needs to protect its proprietary information to maintain a competitive advantage, Komendat says. “The U.S. government does a good job of identifying nation-states that aggressively come after technologies – and Boeing and other enterprises pay close attention to those warnings,” he says. “But you also have to be concerned about those within your network who are authorized to have access, and make sure you’ve got the right tools in place to make sure no one is taking information and using it inappropriately.”

As the second-largest defense contractor in the U.S. and the largest aerospace enterprise in the world, Boeing’s Information Technology & Data Analytics organization and Komendat’s Security and Fire Protection team work together closely safeguarding the company’s information and networks.  “We collaborate very closely,” he says, even though “the organizations are in different, functional verticals. But there’s a common understanding. The things we develop, the technologies we work on, are really differentiators as we go out and compete in the world. Protecting that information is paramount.”

Komendat adds, “Collectively, our job is to support each other and make sure that whether it’s U.S. government information, or Boeing proprietary information, that it’s protected appropriately and at the highest levels. Obviously on both the unclassified and classified networks, the threat environment is dynamic, and our responses need to be [dynamic], as well.”

As an enterprise that has employees across the globe, Boeing faces a variety of physical security challenges, and needs capabilities to not only deter bad actors but also ensure the safety of those working in its facilities, Komendat says.

“Unfortunately, there are many unexpected situations that take place with regularity across the world, and we can’t be naïve and think that similar situations couldn’t impact us,” he says. “We have to be prepared and keep events from impacting our people and assets as much as possible.”

In addition to the traditional security methods, Boeing has been exploring the use of robots, drones, smart camera systems, new badging kiosks and technologies to improve security in the workplace. Komendat says that over the past couple of years, Boeing has found that while camera technology has matured greatly, some of the others are not quite ready for prime time at the scale necessary. “We are exploring some new ideas,” he says. “We need reliable technologies that will improve security in the workplace and be more efficient.”

Drexel University faces a variety of safety concerns associated with its location in an urban environment, Behr says. “We’re always looking to prevent people from going in and stealing unattended property,” she says. “We’re concerned about controlling access to buildings at night, and we’re always concerned about the safety of our students.”

Drexel responds to potential threats by keeping response plans up-to-date, conducting trainings with local law enforcement partners and upgrading equipment and technology, Behr says. As a university, Drexel doesn’t want all buildings locked during the day, so it has a mix of electronic locks, other access controls, cameras and patrols.

“We’ve added cameras, so we now have up to 640-plus inside and outside buildings, but we can’t monitor every camera 24 hours,” she says. “We’ve upgraded cameras over the past year and a half so we can be integrated with our partners in the city of Philadelphia. We are also changing our radio system to be compatible with city police.”

Drexel also cross-trains with city police, FBI and other law enforcement agencies, and hosted a tabletop exercise in May, Behr says. The university does constant public education, necessary in part because one-quarter of the undergraduate student population changes every year.

“We have partnered with our HR department to add public safety information into orientation for all new employees,” she says. “We’re working with the communications office to get information out. And our police department’s community relations team has two officers who constantly engage with student organizations, Greek life and other departments.”

Security firm helps veterans find support, jobs after deployment

NOW OPEN—Chris Dunn is founder and CEO of Covered 6. Behind him is “Patriot Center,” the state-of-the art training facility built by Covered 6 for use in replicating real-life scenarios. Courtesy of Covered 6

As Jonathan Peto was preparing to leave the Marine Corps a little more than a year ago, he felt unsure about the future.

The 23-year-old Woodland Hills resident had spent four years serving his country and wondered how his military skills would fit into a traditional, civilian job. He ended up enrolling at Pasadena Community College, even though he didn’t think classroom life was quite right for him.

His path changed, though, during a seminar at the end of his final tour with the Marines when he met with representatives from Covered 6, a Moorpark-based company that specializes in training people to fill security industry jobs, everything from providing protection for high-profile VIP clients to warding off high-tech cybersecurity threats.

What makes this business unique, though, is it that it primarily employs, trains and finds jobs for military veterans like Peto after they return home from active duty.

Peto was drawn to the physical side of security work as well as the camaraderie at Covered 6.

STRIKE FORCE—Moorpark resident Abby Holland, left, learns from Brendon Roberts, right, where to hit an attacker during the Aug. 24 grand opening of Covered 6, a Moorpark-based tactical training facility for physical and cyber security. Roberts, a Marine Corps veteran, is a 2018 alumni of the facility’s five-week academy. JOSEPH A. GARCIA/Acorn Newspapers

“Getting out of the Marines is pretty difficult, especially when you’ve done a few deployments like I have,” he said. “When I came here it really was a family. Whether you’re prior military or just civilians, we all are very like-minded and have the same mission to protect and serve the public.”

Today, Peto is a security supervisor at Valley Circle Estates in Woodland Hills. The position, he said, is one he wouldn’t have landed without his five weeks of training at Covered 6.

“It’s a stable job, the pay is good and I get to exercise my leadership skills with my team,” he said.

Peto is one of hundreds who have had their lives transformed by the coaching and mentorship they receive at Covered 6, said founder/CEO Chris Dunn.

“Many veterans find camaraderie coming back to structure, having that support group and (being around) people in the same situation,” Dunn said. “It almost provides mental health for them where they can feel like integrating isn’t such a shock.”

Business is good

Covered 6 is expanding with a new state-of-the-art, 20,000-square-foot training center in an industrial building on Patriot Drive. “Patriot Center,” as it’s called, features themed classrooms for specialized training, a fitness center and a simulated city with six facades.

“It’s a really unique space. The simulated city has a classroom, a bar, a nightclub and an apartment so people can train (in different environments),” said Dunn, 51, who spent three years in the Army as a military police investigator and protective services team member for the secretary of defense. “Someone from the SWAT team or a security (detail) can come in here and replicate a de-escalation scenario.”

It was a long road, though, to get Dunn and Covered 6 to where they are today.

Setting a standard

When the decorated veteran left his career with the Los Angeles Police Department to work in security in 2008, he was surprised to see that there were no recognized training standards for those asked to protect homes, businesses and schools.

“I saw the need immediately and I saw that privatization would be the new model,” the Oxnard resident said.

When Dunn founded Covered 6 in 2010, he decided to set his standards high, requiring students to go through extensive training based on his own military, law enforcement, firearms and martial arts experience. He emphasizes de-escalation techniques instead of using of force.

His vision and hard work paid off. In 2018, the U.S. Department of Labor awarded Covered 6 the first National Program Standard for both its physical security and cybersecurity programs.

“I think that’s amazing to be the first to make a national standard,” he said. “What makes me the most proud is the fact that I did this with no help. . . . I didn’t take on any investors. I did it with my credit card.”

Providing jobs

Every six weeks, Covered 6 enrolls about 60 students in its three training programs: physical security, executive protection and cybersecurity. About 80% of the students are veterans who use the GI Bill to pay for their tuition.

“We believe in hands-on training, so our academies are about 50% theoretical in-classroom teaching,” said Omar Herrera, Covered 6’s chief operating officer. “We also do a lot of professional development because a lot of the veterans went in at 17 or 18 and have been with the military for four, six, eight years.”

At the end of the fifth week of training, Covered 6 brings in recruiters from security firms or other companies that are looking for individuals with specialized security training. Most of the students are offered a job on the spot, Dunn said.

Looking ahead

Dunn plans to take Covered 6 national by opening up additional training facilities in such states as Nevada and North Carolina.

“The need is so great nationally and the veteran is a perfect fit because they are coming off the bases in large numbers, they are looking for employment and they gravitate toward defending and guarding,” Dunn said.

Covered 6 Celebrates Their Grand Opening - Welcoming Veterans and the Community

Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce

August 29, 2019

August 24th was officially designated Covered 6 Day in Moorpark by the City Mayor, Janice Parvin, during the grand opening of the Covered 6 Patriot Center, a 20,000-square-foot state-of-the-art training facility located on Patriot Drive.
 
More than 500 people, including Veterans and their families, attended the event, where the Moorpark Mayor praised Covered 6 for specializing in Physical Security training, Cyber training and Executive Protection. She gave special recognition to Chris Dunn, CEO, and Founder of Covered 6, for the training techniques and "for finding jobs for our Veterans."
 
"Chris is an Army veteran and former police detective in Los Angeles," Mayor Parvin told the guests. "He employs Veterans and has helped other companies hire Veterans – about 700 so far." She added that "Chris is an innovator, from his training programs to his tactical products. He has chosen the right town, Moorpark, on the right street, Patriot Drive, to grow his business. We are excited to welcome Chris and Covered 6 into our community."
 
Special guests at the Open House included United States Congressman Julia Brownley, members of the Ventura County Sheriff's Department and L.A. County Sheriff's Department, MMA legend Bas Rutten, and members of the Ventura SWAT team.
 
"Defend, Guard, Protect is the motto of Covered 6," Chris Dunn told the audience.
 
"The world has changed – it's volatile, it's uncertain, it's complex. And the threats have changed, so everyone is involved. Everyone is a First Responder, and everyone can train. The philanthropic vision of what we do with Veterans has now become one of our primary missions. We have been engaged in the longest war in U.S. history; we have people that have come out…and trying to get a job is extremely difficult because those skills don't necessarily apply. Veterans are one of our single greatest resources we have as a corporation."
 
About Covered 6: Covered 6 is a group of highly trained professionals with backgrounds in law enforcement, the military, and corporate security. These professionals have gained their experience in austere environments, real-life combat scenarios, and significant crisis management, both stateside and abroad. Through a holistic approach, Covered 6 balances courtesy and compliance with specialists that supply a sophisticated, innovative, and collaborative solution for clients seeking protection across the board. These solutions are provided through Physical Security and Cyber Security by protecting communities and executive protection for high net worth individuals, including those who are targets of sophisticated attacks.

ABC 7 SALUTES: Moorpark company Covered 6 trains Veterans for jobs in private security

By Josh Haskell

MOORPARK, Calif. (KABC) -- When Hans Hagy of Ventura County left the Marine Corps, he was looking for a career that built on his military training. Hagy enrolled in the company Covered 6's five-week executive protection program.

"The stuff i learned here far surpassed any training i got out of the military. The defensive tactics were on point, they were much better than what I learned in the Marine Corps. I learned a lot more on arrest and control," said Hagy.

Covered 6, which is based in Moorpark, has trained thousands of people for jobs in the private security industry -- 80% of those trained are veterans.

"They understand veterans. That's kind of the biggest thing. You go to some security companies and some places and people just don't understand how veterans operate, how veterans work. Here, everyone's a veteran or first responders. They just get it, they understand your mentality, your mindset, and they nurture that as you go through the program," said Hagy.

The program includes classroom lessons and in-the-field training on everything from cyber security to defensive driving. The skills are taught at the company's 20,000-square-foot facility, which has a simulated city.

Something you won't see a lot of at Covered 6 are guns. Out of the five-week training program, firearm training takes up only two days because their philosophy focuses on de-escalation. Covered 6 was started by veteran Chris Dunn because he says he noticed a gap between law enforcement training and security jobs. His company puts an emphasis on customer service, using words and building relationships instead of combat.

"We've been in the longest war of all time. It's almost perpetuating a decade. You're 30-years-old, you have two kids, you get out of the military with your job skills that don't apply necessary to a corporation and then you go to college and now you're four years behind and you still don't have the same job skills," said Dunn.

To learn more about Covered 6, visit www.covered6.com