Independent Security Advisors LLC

10/12/2026

Executive Protection Standards: What Makes a Standard Credible?
Executive Protection Professional Standards: From Paper to Proof — Part 1 of 6
By Matthew C. Parker
Independent Security Advisors (ISA) | EPTraining.us

Independent Security Advisors has been working on measurable executive protection training standards since 2011, a few years before today's ASIS, BEPP, and ANSI debate. Matthew Parker continues the argument that professional standards must be measurable, testable, and relevant to the people who actually perform protective operations.

Abstract
The publication of new executive protection standards by ASIS International and the Board of Executive Protection Professionals (BEPP) has raised important questions about professional requirements, industry recognition, and the benefits these documents may provide.

#

Executive Protection Standards: What Makes a Standard Credible? Executive Protection Professional Standards: From Paper to Proof — Part 1 of 6 By Matthew

10/12/2026

From Paper to Proof: An Open Letter on Executive Protection Standards
Executive Protection Standards: A Six-Part Examination of Professional Standards, Training, Competence and Certification
By Matthew C. Parker
Independent Security Advisors (ISA) | EPTraining.us
Introduction
Executive protection now has two prominent professional standards. ASIS International published its Executive Protection Standard in 2025, and the Board of Executive Protection Professionals (BEPP) introduced ANSI/BEPP EPS-2026, approved as an American National Standard in 2026.

Both represent efforts to establish professional requirements for executive protection. Both require serious examination.

The question is no longer simply whether executive protection in the private sector needs professional standards. We have them. The question is whether those standards establish practical, measurable requirements that improve protective operations and professional competence.

https://www.eptraining.us/from-paper-to-proof-an-open-letter-on-executive-protection-standards/blog/

10/10/2026

Putin's Bodyguards: Secret Hand Signals and the Theater of Protection
What 2019 Viral Videos Really Tell Us About the Russian Presidential Protective Detail
By Matthew C. Parker
Independent Security Advisors (ISA) | EPTraining.us

October 9, 2026
Executive Protection: Myth, and Demonstrated Competence

Abstract
Recent social-media posts and videos have generated considerable attention around Vladimir Putin's protective detail, with commentators interpreting ordinary movements as secret commands and praising Russian bodyguards for their supposed extraordinary coordination and professionalism.

One widely circulated video dates to July 2019, and its alleged secret hand signal was already the subject of internet memes, jokes and commentary that same month. My experience with Russian protective personnel left me with a considerably different impression of their professionalism.

#

Putin's Bodyguards: Secret Hand Signals and the Theater of Protection Putin's Bodyguards: What Viral Videos Really Tell Us About the Russian Presidential Prot

10/07/2026

https://www.eptraining.us/online-executive-protection-training/blog/

Before You Spend Thousands on Online Executive Protection Training

What Prospective Students Should Know Before Paying for an Online-Only EP Course
By Matthew C. Parker
Independent Security Advisors / EPTraining.us

Abstract
Online education has a legitimate place in executive-protection training. Students can learn terminology, planning methods, threat concepts, legal issues, protective responsibilities, case studies, and the purpose behind many protective procedures without sitting in a traditional classroom.

The limitation begins when a course moves from teaching what an executive-protection agent should know to claiming that the student has been trained to perform a physical or operational skill.

Before spending several thousand dollars on executive-protection training, prospective students should understand the difference.

Before You Spend Thousands on Online Executive Protection Training Online Executive Protection Training What Prospective Students Should Know Before Paying fo

10/07/2026

https://www.eptraining.us/bo-french-and-the-call-to-execute-political-opponents/blog/

The Call to Execute Political Opponents…Again
Defending Democracy Initiative | Independent Security Advisors LLC | EPTraining.us

By Matthew C. Parker | CEO and Director of Training, Independent Security Advisors LLC

October 2, 2026

Abstract
We recently wrote about a social media account in New Hampshire openly supporting the assassination of elected Democrats. Now we have reporting from Texas about Bo French, a Republican nominee for statewide office, repeatedly calling for public executions of political opponents and government officials.

The circumstances are different. The concern is familiar. Americans are being told that the people on the other side of a political argument deserve to die. We need to pay attention to who is saying it, what they are asking for, and how the people around them respond.

10/07/2026

https://www.eptraining.us/political-violence-and-selective-humanity/blog/

Selective Humanity in American Politics: How We Learned to Ignore Tragedy.

Paul Pelosi, Charlie Kirk, and Selective Humanity in American Politics
By Matthew C. Parker
Independent Security Advisors / EPTraining.us
Defending Democracy Initiative

Abstract
When Paul Pelosi was nearly beaten to death with a hammer, there were some Republicans and conservative voices who responded with jokes, sexual rumors, and conspiracy theories. When Charlie Kirk was assassinated, some people on the political left responded with cruel comments, celebrations, and arguments over why Americans should not mourn him.

09/28/2026

One Day Later: What UVU’s Independent Review Adds to the Charlie Kirk Case Study
Charlie Kirk UVU review
Matthew Parker’s September 24 Executive-Protection Analysis Compared with Utah Valley University’s September 25 Independent Review
Operational Complacency, Normalized Dependency, or Failure of Initiative.
By Matthew C. Parker
CEO & Director of Training, Independent Security Advisors LLC
EPTraining.us | Defending Democracy Initiative


Article Excerpt
One day after Matthew Parker published his executive-protection case study examining what changed when Charlie Kirk arrived at Utah Valley University from his previous visits to other campuses, UVU released its independent external review. Here we compare the two records and examine what the university’s findings add to questions about planning, coordination, elevated threats, host-agency support, and the responsibility to verify that protective measures are actually in place.

One Day Later: What UVU’s Independent Review Adds to the Charlie Kirk Case Study Charlie Kirk UVU review Matthew Parker’s September 24 Executive-Protectio

09/28/2026

ISA INTEL BLOG
When Incivility Becomes a Call to Kill: The New Hampshire Assassination Posts
Category: Defending Democracy / Public-Official Security / Political Violence
Date Posted: September 27, 2026
By Matthew C. Parker | CEO & Director of Training, Independent Security Advisors LLC | EPTraining.us | Defending Democracy Initiative

Abstract
There is a difference between angry political speech and publicly calling for people to be killed.

Americans criticize politicians every day. They protest, argue, insult elected officials, attack their policies, and vote them out of office. That is politics. What happened in New Hampshire went well beyond that.

On September 22, 2026, the account used by the organization formerly recognized as the Libertarian Party of New Hampshire posted that it supported the assassination of essentially every elected Democrat in the state. Another post encouraged violence against Democrats.

ISA INTEL BLOG political violence When Incivility Becomes a Call to Kill: The New Hampshire Assassination Posts Category: Defending Democracy / Public-Offici

09/25/2026

What Changed at Utah Valley?
Charlie Kirk Utah Valley security
Charlie Kirk’s Protection Failures; Utah Valley Exposed.
By Matthew C. Parker | CEO & Director of Training, Independent Security Advisors LLC | EPTraining.us | Defending Democracy Initiative

Posted: Sept 24th, 2026


From the author:
Minutes after the fatal bullet was fired, the assassination of Charlie Kirk was already being debated, analyzed, and had touched more than a few nerves. Some in the industry immediately jumped to the defence of the protective detail, while others shared their "expert" opinions on how and why it happened. Well, if we are being honest, we knew the how and why before he was officially announced dead. This was not a complex attack, and it was during a live broadcast.

What really bothered me was the "they shoulda" and I woulda" crowd who dazzled us with their in-depth analysis. Bulletproof glass, check. Drones, check. Counter-sniper, SMH, check. But nobody thought to ask why?
#

What Changed at Utah Valley? Charlie Kirk Utah Valley security Charlie Kirk’s Protection Failures; Utah Valley Exposed. By Matthew C. Parker | CEO & Di

09/25/2026

ISA Intel Briefing
Fact Checking Political Information
Fact Checking: Why Voters Today Have to Verify What They Read
By Matthew C. Parker | CEO & Director of Training, Independent Security Advisors LLC | EPTraining.us | Defending Democracy Initiative

Date Posted: September 24, 2026


Abstract
This briefing accompanies AI and Deepfakes: How Fake Videos, Voices, and Photos Can Fool Voters. That article looks at how artificial intelligence can create convincing fake media. This one deals with the next question: how can an ordinary voter, journalist, investigator, or protective intelligence professional check what they are seeing?

Social media has given us more information than at any other time in history, but more information does not automatically mean better information. A photograph can be real and carry a false caption. A ten-second video can leave out what happened immediately before or after it.
#

ISA Intel Briefing Fact Checking Political Information Fact Checking: Why Voters Today Have to Verify What They Read By Matthew C. Parker | CEO & Directo