Changes in the security scene, technological advancements, and rising demand for protection services have all contributed to rapid development in the executive protection market during the past 50 years in the United States.

In the 1970s, the main goal of the executive protection sector was to keep politicians, celebrities, and business leaders safe. The industry was mainly unregulated, there were not many formal training programs or standards, and it relied on a small group of specialist agents who had experience in the military or police enforcement.

Larger companies emerged and professional training programs and industry standards were established in the 1980s and 1990s, marking the beginning of the industry's professionalization. The rise of the industry was also aided by technological developments including the creation of monitoring systems, electronic communication tools, and armored vehicles, which allowed agents to offer more sophisticated and efficient protection services.

With the rise of international travel and trade, as well as the growing fear of terrorism, the business saw new opportunities and problems in the 2000s. The industry responded by broadening its focus to encompass risk management, threat assessment, and crisis response as well as by creating new technologies and methods to deal with increasing dangers.

New innovations, shifting client preferences, and the aftermath of the SARS and COVID-19 pandemics have all played a role in the industry's rapid development in recent years. New technologies like drones and AI have been welcomed by the industry in an effort to improve its capabilities, and the sector's attention has widened to encompass cybersecurity, data privacy, and other developing threats.

A global, professionalized sector with a wide range of services and capacities has emerged from the limited, specialized field of executive protection in America. In order to ensure the safety and security of people and organizations in a constantly changing world, it is anticipated that the sector will continue to develop in response to fresh threats and difficulties.

Michael Julian is a second-generation security professional and private investigator with almost four decades of experience, beginning his career working for his father's company, founded in 1967. Michael is the current C.E.O. of National Business Investigations, Inc., and its security division, M.P.S. Security & Protection. 

Michael is also the Creator of the A.L.I.V.E. Active Shooter Survival Training Program and Author of 10 Minutes to Live: Surviving an Active Shooter Using A.L.I.V.E. He can be reached at MJulian@Security-MPS.com.

About the Author

Michael D. Julian is President of MPS Security & Protection and a 30-plus-year veteran of the security and investigations industry. He served as President of the California Association of Licensed Investigators (CALI) from 2005 to 2015 and has led executive protection, residential security, and corporate investigations engagements for Fortune 500 principals, high-net-worth families, and public figures across the United States. Connect with Michael on LinkedIn.