Meet SSA’s Advisory Board — a diverse group of experts guiding strategy, innovation, and accountability in security consulting.
SSA believes no single perspective is enough to build real-world security. That’s why we created the SSA Advisory Board — a collective of industry disruptors, innovators, and seasoned experts who bring fresh thinking, accountability, and cross-discipline experience to our work.
This board ensures SSA stays grounded, challenges assumptions, and pushes for better answers to the toughest safety questions.
He known by all as “CJ”, retired from the Phoenix Police Department in December of 2024, after spending 27 years as a Sworn LE Detective. He is now taking his expansive and diverse skill set, based formatively in
Intelligence, Terrorism, Threat Assessment and Threat Mitigation into the private sector as a consultant, contractor and
public speaker.
Bill Schultz is a USAF veteran and CSO of Integrated Security Consultants and Integrated Guarding.com. He works with security end users and security guard firms deploy “blended guarding”—the integrated use of trained security officers, manned and unmanned drones, along with ground robotics, AI surveillance, and protective intelligence. A longtime
sales-enablement leader.
Robert Birdsall, MS, CPP, is a seasoned security consultant and former law enforcement commander with over 30 years of experience across the U.S. and internationally. His career spans anti-terrorism training, intelligence operations, event security, and advisory roles for Fortune 500 companies. As an adjunct professor and former police captain.
In a world where threats are evolving as quickly as the technology around us, Vikas Sharma stands as a formidable force in both physical and digital security. As the CEO and founder of Elite Defenders Innovations LLC and Imperium Protection Group, Vikas brings a wealth of experience and innovation to the field of protective services, setting new standards by utilizing the latest technology for protecting their clients.
Evan Levitt is the Founder of EPCEO1 LLC, a Las Vegas–based advisory firm helping nonprofits, community organizations, and houses of worship strengthen their leadership systems, safety frameworks, and crisis readiness. A longtime security professional and former first responder, Evan has built his career around one central mission — prevention through preparation.
Dara Gibson, CEO of a cybersecurity firm, is a nationally recognized leader with nearly a decade of experience advancing cyber readiness, insurance acquisition, and enterprise risk programs. As InfraGard Arizona President and WiCyS Arizona founder, she drives resilience, insurability, and partnerships that protect organizations, critical infrastructure, and shareholder value.
David Ellis, founder of GEMSEC Consulting LLC, is a seasoned physical security professional with more than 15 years of experience in event safety, crisis management, and risk mitigation. He has led security operations for professional sports, large-scale events, and corporate organizations, with expertise spanning vulnerability assessments, training programs, and law enforcement liaison.
Rick Shaw founded Awareity and founded First Preventers, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Rick is leading the way as a Pre-Incident Prevention Specialist, author of The First Preventers Playbook, Pre-Incident Prevention Coach to leaders of communities and organizations. Rick also led the creation of the first real and proven solution for “forever information problems” that have repeatedly occurred for 25+ years and in thousands of failed preventions.
Scot Walker is the Principal and Co-founder of an Arizona-based Investigations and Consulting Firm. He is a seasoned Security Consultant and Investigations Leader with more than two decades of experience across federal law enforcement, military service, and corporate security. He has served as a Special Agent, Task Force Officer, and corporate investigator, leading complex investigative and protective operations in both government and private-sector environments.
Together, the Advisory Board represents decades of hands-on experience across:
✅ Law enforcement & investigations
✅ Corporate security & compliance
✅ Behavioral psychology & threat management
✅ Faith-based safety & nonprofit risk
✅ Emergency response & resilience planning
Note: Some Advisory Board members offer their own services independently. SSA’s role is to bring the collective wisdom of this team into every consulting engagement.
