Executive Protection Considerations and Exceptional Challenges

At International SOS, we have always been deeply involved in Executive Protection at one level or another, given our risk management services for all types of organizations and clients.  And with our comprehensive medical capabilities and global footprint, security has always been a large part of EP for us and those we serve. Before my 19 years and counting with International SOS, I spent 21 years with the Diplomatic Security Service, U. S. Department of State, where I was often heavily involved in EP in various functions, including:

•  Regional Security Officer in various locations
• Director, Office of Intelligence and Threat Analysis
• Director, Office of Antiterrorism Assistance
• Assistant Director of Diplomatic Security, International Programs

Those roles gave me a unique perspective into the special considerations and challenges faced in particularly complex or high-threat locations we encounter with EP.  I recently hosted a “Security Quick Chat” webinar, and you can find the recording here. And on May 14, International SOS will host a free webinar, “Executive Travel Risk: Protecting Your Board, Your CEO and Your Message.” You can register here. Some items to consider:

• Local Support: Will you have it, and what will it look like? In countries with advanced police and security services, which may constitute the majority of your protectee’s travel destinations, the key is to establish liaison, let them know you’re there, and identify the contacts to use for routine or emergency situations.  As Agent in Charge of the detail for the U.S. Ambassador to UNOSOM, the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Somalia during the summer of 1993, there was no local government support available, so we relied on Diplomatic Security assets, a U.S. Marine FAST (Fleet Antiterrorism Support Team) company, and Pakistani military support for cross-country moves. Our threat analysis came from U.N. and USG assets.  Of course, this was a very extreme threat situation, and one you might be advised to avoid, if possible, but some of the same considerations still apply at lower, but still elevated, threat levels.
  
  
• Transportation: In countries with advanced transportation capabilities, you’ll still want to use qualified and vetted partners with well-trained personnel.  A major consideration will be your protectee's visibility; in most cases, a low profile is preferred to minimize attention while keeping them safe.  One example - traveling with Secretary of State Warren Christopher to Israel, Gaza, and Syria in 1996 was very high profile and required extensive support from the Israeli and Syrian governments for everything from motorcades to accommodations.  On the other end of the spectrum, travel with a lower-level USG official to Vancouver in 1986 was very low-key, with two of us DS agents and RCMP support.
  
  
• Weapons…or not: In certain countries and on certain missions, like the previously mentioned Canada trip, we were not permitted to carry weapons and were assured by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police that we would not need them, as we were to always be with the officers.  In other situations, we were permitted and expected to be armed, as in Haiti, where we brought President Jean-Bertrand Aristide home from exile in 1994.  We trained his security detail and jointly supervised it with his staff at the Presidential Palace in Port-au-Prince, and we had full authority to carry weapons.  This was often the case in the many countries where we operated.  If you’re a civilian doing EP, the situation will vary. Still, weapons carriage should be discussed with host government authorities in advance, and it may often be prudent to contract with local providers for support to avoid legal issues.
  
  
• Training of personnel: With Diplomatic Security, we were fortunate to train personnel on a fairly large scale to protect our high-level and highly visible protectees: President Aristide in Haiti, President Hamid Karzai in Afghanistan, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in Liberia, to mention a few with which I had personal experience, and we had to train up new EP services due to confidence and capability challenges.  During civilian EP operations, of course, you’ll want to ensure that your people are trained to meet professional standards, and just as importantly, you should thoroughly vet any providers you’ll be working with abroad for capability, legal status, human rights acceptability, and general credentials.  This vetting process should cover any legal authorities needed to conduct EP operations in the relevant country, including weapons carry if applicable, emergency response, and police liaison.
  
  
• Medical Facilities, Response, Support: Last but certainly not least, medical emergencies can and do happen anywhere.  No matter the status of the healthcare system in your area of operations, you must check out local hospitals or clinics and know who to contact in the event of an emergency.  In countries with underdeveloped facilities, plans for medical evacuation, if necessary, should be in place.  During my tenure at International SOS, clients with high-profile C-suite travelers often requested a physician or other medical support for their travelers, especially for larger groups traveling for board meetings and other events.  Planning for medical support covering all eventualities is essential to effective Executive Protection.

Executive Protection requires strong teamwork, with everyone operating on the same page. While this article is certainly not intended to be an all-encompassing guide to EP, I hope it will spark a conversation. Feel free to reach out if you need more information, or if International SOS can help.