TEAM
Robert R. Birdsall, MS, CPP
Independent Security Consultant
Security Consultant | Former Law Enforcement Commander | Adjunct Professor
Global Security Leadership • Crisis Management • Investigations
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, Robert brings both operational expertise and academic insight, helping organizations strengthen resilience, manage risk, and prepare for emerging threats.
Robert R. Birdsall, MS, CPP, is a highly accomplished security professional and former law enforcement leader with more than three decades of experience in security consulting, investigations, training, and crisis management. His expertise bridges public safety, corporate security, and international advisory roles, with a proven record of leadership in both government and private sectors.
Robert’s career began with 25 years of service in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, where he rose through the ranks to serve as Unit Commander, Investigator, and Division Sergeant. His assignments included intelligence, anti-terrorism task forces, organized crime, vice, and high-profile special investigations. He provided leadership during critical events such as the L.A. civil unrest, the O.J. Simpson criminal trial, the Olympics, and other major operations. He also trained over 500 department personnel in workplace violence prevention and threat assessment.
Following his tenure in Los Angeles, Robert served as Captain and Division Commander for the Apache Junction Police Department, overseeing a $7 million budget and leading 80 sworn and civilian personnel. His leadership in support services, personnel investigations, and community policing earned him recognition for improving morale and operational effectiveness.
Internationally, Robert has worked as a Senior Police Advisor to the Republic of Iraq, conducting audits of the Department of Corrections and Ministry of Interior, and helping develop operational continuity programs. He has also conducted port security assessments for Algeria under the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) code and led disaster-based national exercises for critical infrastructure resilience.
Robert has extensive experience as an Emergency Management and Security Consultant, providing executive protection, incident command, vulnerability assessments, and training in CARVER threat assessment tools. He has partnered with IT and cybersecurity firms, blending physical and cyber risk solutions, and has advised start-ups in less-lethal technologies and internet security innovation.
As an educator, Robert served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Phoenix, teaching security management and justice courses, mentoring students, and helping develop curriculum at both undergraduate and graduate levels. His academic achievements include a Master’s in Administration of Justice and Security Management (3.97 GPA) from the University of Phoenix and a B.A. in Criminal Justice from California State University, Fullerton.
Robert is a Board-Certified Protection Professional (CPP), a Certified Background Investigator, and a former licensed private investigator. His training leadership has taken him across the globe through the U.S. State Department’s Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program, where he taught mid- and senior-level law enforcement officials in the Middle East, North Africa, Central America, India, and Asia.
Today, Robert continues to provide consulting and advisory services, drawing from his deep experience to help organizations enhance resilience, improve investigations, and mitigate complex risks.