John Lehman - Operations
John Lehman entered the security industry in 1985 in Austin, Texas from the failing construction industry. John brought with him an acute understanding of architectural and mechanical knowledge which propelled him up through the ranks of security companies and private corporations in nine states and 22 cities. John’s ability to dissect buildings and properly deploy and manage the security staff to meet the needs of the client gained him recognition as an authority in Highrise facility security.
In 1987, John moved to Phoenix, Arizona where he worked and trained for twelve weeks to provide security for Pope John Paul II. John returned to Texas and later accepted a position as the Director of Security Operations Worldwide for a Pennsylvania based International Electronics Company where he routinely handled issues with OSHA, EPA, and corporate insurance regulations.
John moved to Florida in May, 1990 to provide security for the Universal Studios Grand Opening. John provided venue, armed escort, and celebrity protection for some of the industry’s most recognized icons.
John returned to Texas in July of 1990 supervising security for a chemical plant and a large exclusive gated community of Houston’s elite. The community was considered by President George Bush for his residence at the end of his presidency. John eventually supervised security for a 46 story highrise, a 70 story highrise, and was second in charge of the world Famous 3 million square foot Galleria.
John was transferred to New Orleans, Louisiana in 1994 and promoted to Security Director for Canal Place Shopping Mall and Statewide Branch Manager.
John left the security industry while living in New Orleans, Louisiana but stayed connected as an on call consultant while working as a prototype construction technician with a marine construction company developing and building secret and top secret boats for the U.S. Navy Special Warfare Center. He maintained a secret clearance during the construction and testing of over fifty special watercraft.
John re-entered the security industry after 9/11 on advice and invitation from friends and associates and became active with the American Society for Industrial Security, eventually holding the position as legislative Chairman and assisted in hosting the 2003 national seminar and exhibits for 18,000 attendees in New Orleans.
With his love of the water, ships, boats and the security industry, John found the perfect job providing shipboard security on the Mississippi river as part of the U.S. Coast Guard Security Mandate under the newly formed Department of Homeland Security. John became an authority on maritime security operations and is personally responsible for training over 100 special security boarding agents. John was hired as a consultant to form a new marine security company to include training the two owner partners and operations manager. The company is operating successfully to date.
John moved with his wife and children to Allen, Texas in December 2004 and continued in the security industry. In August 2005, John was asked by his former employer to recruit a team of security specialists to assist with the unusual security needs in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.
John trained over 30 Marine boarding agents for work in the city and took two trainees aboard a ship prior to hurricane Rita and was stranded aboard the ship in the Mississippi river for 9 days. During the ordeal John, along with the two trainees slept in two hour shifts to insure that the 28 Turkish crewmembers remained aboard ship. Due to the weather and other ongoing rescue operations, the Coast Guard could not assist, and replacements were not available. After Rita had re-flooded the city, John supervised available manpower in armed escorts of insurance personnel and worked off duty, volunteering to patrol areas of the city during darkness with members of the 82nd Airborne, the New York State police and other police agencies as an armed guide.
John returned to Texas in January 2006 and has remained active with operations in New Orleans and in Allen with Security Solutions Inc. and Dakota Risk Group, Inc. as a Private Investigator and Business and Project Development Coordinator.
John is registered with the state of Louisiana as a Commissioned(armed) security Officer and in Texas as a Private Investigator, Commissioned Security Officer, Personal Protection Officer, and Qualifying Manager.
Other awards, certificates and qualifications:
Executive Protection and Security Specialist
Texas Level 1,2,3,4 Certification
Louisiana Recertification Commissioned Security
Texas Level 3 Certification weapons training
First Aid and CPR
Louisiana Security Commission
Transcaer Emergency Response (railroad)
First Aid and CPR
Advanced First Aid and CPR
Louisiana Child Passenger Restraint Training Program
Citizens Police Academy St. Bernard Parish, LA
Lockout/Tagout Control of Hazardous Energy
Forklift operator Certification
Advanced Rifle Marksmanship (Tactical Police)
Fire and Life Safety Certification (Highrise)
Louisiana State Police Fingerprint Techniques
Louisiana Board of Security Examiners Orientation
Houston Community College Assertive Training
Highrise Fire Evacuation Training Instructor
Security Supervision and Management
Security Patrol Techniques Instructor
Security Finance and Budget
Emergency Elevator Operations
Joint Professional Development Training
Member American Society of Safety Engineers
Member American Society for Industrial Security
New York Licensed Private Investigator
Arizona Private Security Officer Training
Arizona Commissioned Security Officer training
Executive Protection Training
Advanced Tactical Driving
Tactical Rope Operations
Tactical Air Deployment Team Operations
Tactical Rife Team Operations
Highrise Fire Evacuation Training
Life Flight Helicopter Operations Orientation
Architectural Design Drafting
Licensed Electrician
