A Framework for Third-Generation Executive Protection & Risk Mitigation Programs
Developed specifically for corporate EP programs primarily based in highly-industrialized/developed nations, the PROTECT model reflects challenges and routines of 21st-century business leaders, which range across national boundaries, low and high-risk environments, and rapidly varying circumstances in the span of a few hours or days. The model can be effectively applied and adapted to dignitary and government protective details, celebrity or high net-worth personal protection, and other specialized protective operations.
PROTECT is an acronym for the key factors to be considered in conducting executive risk mitigation and protective operations, which ultimately contribute to the protection specialist’s situational awareness and act as a decision-support tool. The PROTECT ‘long form’ is typically applied to baseline and routine operations design and management, while the short form can be used for rapid travel & events planning.
Principal (or Protectee)
Risks
Opportunities
Threats
Environment
Context (or Circumstances)
Technology
Most modern Executive Protection programs are based on protective principles and protocols developed by the US Secret Service and other government organizations with presidential and dignitary security missions (i.e. US Diplomatic Security Service.) These programs are largely focused on deterring targeted attacks against the protectee, and reducing the impact of such attacks, accidents or emergencies, such as Motor Vehicle Accidents (MVA), medical emergencies, and other incidents. Also, traditional EP programs are referred to a ‘risk-based’, as they rely on risk analyses and threat assessments to determine the required level of protection for a given protectee, and ‘protocol-driven’, in that operators will apply varying degrees and combinations of established protocols ranging from protective details formations, vehicles convoys, ballistic armoring levels, etc..
The PROTECT model, as a 3rd-generation EP standard of practice, distinguishes itself from the traditional approach described above in the following way:
- Challenges the assumption that the (violent) attack-prevention mission and focus of 2nd-generation EP programs is either relevant or successful, specifically as it applies to typical C-level executives of Fortune 500 corporations and global brands.
- Redefines the core objectives of corporate EP programs and operations, articulating (wherever possible) such objectives as outcomes, (outcome-driven) rather than focusing on specific protocols or procedures.
- Shifts the rationale of protective measures or solutions from the risk analysis to a richer and more dynamic circumstance-based (adaptive) decision support system where the traditional risk analysis is just one of several key factors.
