John McDonald has spent a lifetime finding ways to protect others, first as a police officer and most recently as the head of security for the Colorado school district that will forever be known as the home of the Columbine High School shooting. Because of his extraordinary talents, John was recently asked to take on a new role as Chief Operating Officer (COO) for the newly formed National Council of School Safety Leadership.
The Council is a collaboration with the Missouri School Board Association and Safe and Sound Schools, the latter an organization created by parents of children killed at the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre.
(Safe and Sound Schools® helps students learn and get involved in school safety. The program equips students with resources to help them become advocates, leaders, agents of change, and tools to help them navigate and address school. Courtesy of Safe and Sound Schools and YouTube.)
John is recognized internationally as the architect of the post-tragedy security and emergency management planning for JEFFCO, as the district is known.
During his time with JEFFCO Schools, John led the crisis response to several tragedies, including the 2010 Deer Creek Middle School shooting for which he was recognized as the School Safety Director of the Year, and the 2012 kidnapping and murder of 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway while on her way to school.
And the 2014 tragedy when a high school student intentionally set himself on fire in front of more than 200 classmates, and the 2019 20th Columbine memorial event threatened disruption by a 19-year-old woman infatuated with the Columbine killers who traveled from Florida to Colorado prepared to attack.
(Hear directly from John McDonald, who led the safety efforts for Jeffco Public Schools and is recognized nationally for active shooter preparedness and emergency planning. He has managed several school-based crises, including the Columbine High School shooting. Courtesy of FOX31 Denver and YouTube. Posted on May 24, 2022.)
He began his career as a Westminster, Colorado, Police officer in 1990 and left a year later to take on the demands of a private industry job, jobs he surely could not have known were his first forays into a lifetime caring for the vulnerable.
He learned best practices and managed investigations and security programs for a worldwide shipping company that operates in 26 states. Then, mergers and promotions led him to the worldwide packing and shipping company, DHL Express, where he served as a senior manager for United States security and investigations.
Along the way, he served seven years as a communications specialist in the Army National Guard. He also served four years as an adjunct professor of criminal justice studies at Parks College. In that role, also he served as a member of the Parks College Advisory Board, developing curriculum standards.
Ten years after beginning his career in private industry, he returned to his roots, accepting the position as the executive director for the Department of Public Safety at JEFFCO Public Schools.
In his 14 years in that role, he designed the security program for its 204 schools with a full-time team challenged to protect 14,000 employees and 83,000 students not only from future threats but also from “tourists” to the shooting scene.
His department created a 24-hour-a-day campus safety operation and dispatch center, protecting their charges with both armed security and threat management team members in cooperation with local law enforcement.
He led the creation of the Frank DeAngelis Center for Community Safety, a first-of-its-kind, full-scale active shooter training center providing free training to law enforcement, school safety professionals, and educators.
(Jeffco’s elite training facility for first responders was renamed in honor of the man who led the Columbine community through its darkest day. The Frank DeAngelis Center for Community Safety is used for training for mass causality tragedies. Courtesy of CBS Colorado and YouTube. Posted on Aug 26, 2022.)
Over the course of his career, John has conducted hundreds of threat assessments on individuals engaged in proactive and reactive attack behavior. His work has stretched beyond the K-12 Schools to provide support for higher education, faith-based groups, and Fortune 100 companies.
John is a recognized expert and sought-after public speaker sharing what he has learned about school safety preparedness and best practices in response and recovery.
Please join us in Congratulating Mr. John McDonald, as we show our Heartfelt Appreciation for his Dedication to Safeguarding our Nation’s children.
John McDonald Honored in 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program
American Security Today’s Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program, and now in its Seventh Year, continues to recognize industry leaders of Physical and Border Security, Cybersecurity, Emergency Preparedness – Management and Response, Law Enforcement, First Responders, as well as federal, state and municipal government agencies in the acknowledgment of their outstanding efforts to Keep our Nation Secure.
John McDonald
Excellence in Public Safety
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Chief Operating Officer (COO) for the newly formed National Council of School Safety Leadership
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John was Nominated by the former head of the FBI’s Active Shooter Program, Ms. Katherine Schweit.
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The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program highlights the most cutting-edge and forward-thinking security solutions coming onto the market today, to ensure our readers have the information they need to stay ahead of the competition and keep our Nation safe – one facility, street, and city at a time.
AST has officially Announced the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Finalists in our 2022 ‘ASTORS’ FINALISTS EDITION *Fully Interactive* Mobile Magazine Here.
Additionally, the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Government Excellence and Public Safety Award Honorees have also been announced (Click Here), although there are several late-entry nominations still to be announced!
Register for the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Luncheon Today
Homeland Security remains at the forefront of our national conversation as we experience an immigration crisis along our southern border, and crime rates that are dramatically higher than before the Pandemic across the United States.
These challenges have become a national priority with an influx of investments in innovative new technologies and systems.
The pinnacle of the Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program is the Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Ceremony Luncheon Banquet, an exclusive, affordable, gourmet, full-course plated meal event, in the heart of New York City, held at the International Security Conference & Exposition (ISC East) since it’s inception in 2017.
And who better to address the aforementioned challenges, and initiatives to meet today’s threat landscape than Deputy Executive Assistant Commissioner (DEAC) Diane J. Sabatino of the Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the opening keynote speaker at the much-anticipated 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon, on Wednesday, November 16th, 2022.
As the DEAC of the Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Mrs. Sabatino leads over 31,000 employees and oversees an annual operating budget of $6.5 billion.
American Security Today’s Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program, and now in its Seventh Year, continues to recognize industry leaders of Physical and Border Security, Cybersecurity, Emergency Preparedness – Management and Response, Law Enforcement, First Responders, as well as federal, state and municipal government agencies in the acknowledgment of their outstanding efforts to Keep our Nation Secure.
(See highlights from the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Ceremony and Luncheon in NYC. Courtesy of AST and Vimeo.)
The continually evolving ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program will emphasize the trail of Accomplished Women in Leadership in 2022, as well as the Significance and Positive Impact of Advancing Diversity and Inclusion in our Next Generation of Government and Industry Leaders – because #MentorshipMatters.
My mission is to teach people their role in ending gun violence in their community.
You can make a difference. Parents, educators, community leaders, policymakers, and security professionals can all help stop the killing.
It starts with knowledge. You are part of the solution.” (Courtesy of Katherine Schweit)
In addition, the First 100 Registered Attendees to the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Ceremony and Banquet will receive a complimentary autographed copy of ‘STOP THE KILLING: How to End the Mass Shooting Crisis‘ by the former head of the FBI’s active shooter program, Katherine Schweit.
Ms. Schweit offers insight into what we can do to end the active shooter crisis plaguing America.
Within the pages of STOP THE KILLING she provides us with an insider’s look at what we’ve learned and failed to learn, about protecting our businesses, houses of worship, and schools.
So Register Today for the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon on November 16th, 2022, to reserve your copy!
AST Honors Thomas Richardson, FDNY Chief of Department; Dr. Kathleen Kiernan, President of NEC National Security Systems; and Richard Blatus, FDNY Assistant Chief of Operations, at the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Luncheon at ISC East.
The United States forever changed on September 11th, 2001, and we were fortunate to have many of those who responded to those horrific tragedies join us at our 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon.
In the days that followed 9/11, the critical need to protect our country catapulted us into new and innovative ways to secure our homeland – which is how many of the agencies and enterprise organizations that are today ‘ASTORS’ Awards Champions, came into being.
Our 2021 keynote speaker featured a moving and informative address from TSA Administrator and Vice-Admiral of the United States Coast Guard (Ret), David Pekoske; to our attendees who traveled from across the United States and abroad, on the strategic priorities of the 64,000-member TSA workforce in securing the transportation system, enabling safe, and in many cases, contactless travel.
Enter, American Security Today, the #1 publication and media platform in the Government Security and Homeland Security fields with a circulation of over 75,000 readers and many tens of thousands more visiting our AST Website at www.americansecuritytoday.com each month.
The 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program is Proudly Sponsored by New PLATINUM SPONSOR: NEC National Security Systems (NSS),
New Premier Sponsors Rajant Corporation, guardDog AI, plus IPVideo Corporation, and
Returning Premier Sponsors ATI Systems, Automatic Systems, Fortior Solutions, RX Global, and SIMS Software!
In 2021 over 200 distinguished guests representing Federal, State, and Local Governments, and Industry Leading Corporate Firms gathered from across North America, Europe, and the Middle East to be honored among their peers in their respective fields, which included:
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The Transportation Security Administration (TSA); ICE Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI); Customs & Border Protection (CBP); The Federal Protective Service (FPS); Argonne National Laboratory (ANL); DHS Science & Technology (S&T); and the National Center for Disaster Medicine & Public Health (NCDMPH).
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Also recognized, the American Red Cross; the InfraGard National Alliance; the Metropolitan Police (MPD); the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA); the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS); the Federal Air Marshals Service; the San Diego Harbor Police Foundation, and Many More!
Register Today for the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Luncheon
ISC East is the Northeast’s leading security & public safety event, hosted in collaboration with premier sponsor Security Industry Association (SIA) and in partnership with ASIS NYC.
Each year, in order to keep our communities safe and secure, security dealers, installers, integrators, and consultants, along with corporate, government and law enforcement/first responder practitioners, convene in New York City to network, learn and evaluate the latest technologies and solutions from premier exhibiting brands.
This combination of one-on-one conversations with top innovators, high-quality special events, and cutting-edge education and training, makes ISC East the most comprehensive East Coast event to guide the industry in getting back to business.
Taking place November 15-17 at the Javits Center in NYC (SIA Education@ISC: November 15-17 | Exhibit Hall: November 16-17), ISC East will be co-located with the Natural Disaster & Emergency Management Expo (NDEM EXPO), a comprehensive trade event and online resource dedicated to the preparation, response, and recovery of physical and human assets of public and private organizations, and the 33rd ASIS NYC Expo.
Qualified professionals who register for the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Banquet Luncheon, will receive complimentary access to all three events.
Corporate firms, the majority of which return year to year to build upon their Legacy of Wins, include:
Advanced Detection Technologies, AMAROK, ATI Systems, Axis Communications, Automatic Systems, BriefCam, Canon U.S.A., Cellbusters, CornellCookson, CyberArk Fortior Solutions, guardDog.ai, Hanwha Techwin of America, High Rise Escape Systems, IPVideo Corporation, Konica Minolta Business Solutions, NEC National Security Systems, NICE Public Safety, OnSolve, PureTech Systems, Quantum Corporation, Rave Mobile Safety, Regroup Mass Notification, Robotic Assistance Devices, Rajant Corporation, SafeLogic, Select Engineering Services LLC, Singlewire Software, SolarWinds Worldwide, Teledyne FLIR, Valor Systems, and West Virginia American Access Control Systems, just to name a few!
Why American Security Today?
The traditional security marketplace has long been covered by a host of publications putting forward the old-school basics to what is Today – a fast-changing security landscape.
American Security Today is uniquely focused on the broader Homeland Security & Public Safety marketplace with over 75,000 readers at the Federal, State, and local levels of government as well as firms allied to the government.
American Security Today brings forward a fresh compelling look and read with our customized digital publications that hold readers’ eyes throughout the story with cutting-edge editorial that provides solutions to their challenges.
Harness the Power of the Web – with our 100% Mobile Friendly Publications
AST Digital Publications are distributed to over 75,000 qualified government and homeland security professionals, in federal, state, local, and private security sectors.
‘PROTECTING OUR NATION, ONE CITY AT A TIME’
AST Reaches both Private & Public Experts, essential to meeting these new challenges.
Today’s new generation of public safety and security experts need real-time knowledge to deal with domestic and international terrorism, lone wolf attacks, unprecedented urban violence, shifts in society, culture, and media bias – making it increasingly difficult for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Military and Private Security Professionals to implement coordinated security measures to ensure national security and improve public safety.
These experts are from Government at the federal, state, and local levels as well as from private firms allied to the government.
AST provides a full plate of topics in our AST Monthly Magazine Editions, AST Website, and AST Daily News Alerts, covering 23 Vital Sectors such as Access Control, Perimeter Protection, Video Surveillance/Analytics, Airport Security, Border Security, CBRNE Detection, Border Security, Ports, Cybersecurity, Networking Security, Encryption, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Campus Security, Security Services, Corporate Facilities, and Emergency Response among others.
AST has Expanded readership into integral Critical Infrastructure audiences such as Protection of Nuclear Facilities, Water Plants & Dams, Bridges & Tunnels, and other potential targets of terrorism.
Other areas of concern include Transportation Hubs, Public Assemblies, Government Facilities, Sporting & Concert Stadiums, our Nation’s Schools & Universities, and Commercial Business Destinations – all enticing targets due to the large number of persons and resources clustered together.
To learn more about ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Award Winners solutions, please see the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS Edition Fully Interactive Magazine – the Best Products of 2021 ‘A Year in Review’.
The Annual CHAMPIONS edition includes a review of Annual ‘ASTORS’ Award Winning products and programs, highlighting key details on many of the winning firm’s products and services, including video interviews and more.
It serves as your Go-To Source throughout the year for ‘The Best of 2021 Products and Services‘ endorsed by American Security Today, and can satisfy your agency’s and/or organization’s most pressing Homeland Security and Public Safety needs.
From Physical Security (Access Control, Critical Infrastructure, Perimeter Protection, and Video Surveillance Cameras and Video Management Systems), to IT Security (Cybersecurity, Encryption, Data Storage, Anti-Malware, and Networking Security – Just to name a few), the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS EDITION has what you need to Detect, Delay, Respond to, and Mitigate today’s real-time threats in our constantly evolving security landscape.
It also includes featured guest editorial pieces from some of the security industry’s most respected leaders, and recognized firms in the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program.
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For a complete list of 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Award Winners, begin HERE.
For more information on All Things American Security Today, as well as the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program, please contact Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.
AST strives to meet a 3 STAR trustworthiness rating, based on the following criteria:
- Provides named sources
- Reported by more than one notable outlet
- Includes supporting video, direct statements, or photos
Subscribe to the AST Daily News Alert Here.
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Menu Set and VIP Guests Registering for 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Luncheon
