For more than a decade, Global Awareness Professionals, LLC (GAP) has delivered practical, experience-driven safety and security training shaped by real-world operational environments. After focusing mainly on security and leadership training for event venues, the company’s scope expanded to other large public assembly venues such as schools, churches, hospitals and large corporate headquarters.

Global Awareness Professionals Extensive Experience

GAP was built on professional experience, not theory. I developed its programs through years of service as a Department of Homeland Security–contracted instructor delivering counterterrorism and crisis response training through Watch House International, and as a retired SWAT Tactical Sergeant. Those experiences—recognized through awards for valor and life-saving actions—shaped a simple belief that remains central to GAP today: preparedness saves lives when it is practical, credible, and delivered by those who have lived it.

In addition to this work, my experience includes serving as an instructor for the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy, delivering training in report writing, ethics and surviving hostile encounters, as well as advanced training received through the Federal Bureau of Investigation. These experiences further shaped GAP’s emphasis on professionalism, ethical decision-making, and performance under stress in high-risk environments.

While GAP reflects my experience, it is not built on one voice alone. Our strength lies in the collective expertise of the top subject-matter experts who work closely with GAP—leaders drawn from law enforcement, aviation, emergency management, intelligence, venue operations and crisis leadership. Together, we deliver training grounded in real-world application, ensuring organizations receive instruction informed by experience, not material simply taken from others. GAP also works closely with Gate 15 to support organizations with risk-mitigation resources and intelligence-informed insights that enhance preparedness across diverse environments.

Hundreds of venues are GAP trained and safe

Facilities and venues across the country have shared that GAP training has directly prepared their teams to identify and prevent potential crowd-related risks, strengthen active shooter preparedness, and respond decisively before incidents escalate. That impact extends beyond venues.

Through GAP, more than 7,000 Dallas Independent School District students were trained at the American Airlines Center to recognize concerning behaviors and mitigate the growing threat of active shooter violence—empowering young people to become proactive guardians of their own environments. Shortly thereafter, a potential active shooter situation at DeSoto High School was prevented when students who had attended the training recognized warning signs and acted. This is proof that meaningful training saves lives.

Our work is further informed by active engagement at the national level. I previously served as Chair of the Department of Homeland Security’s Public Assembly Facilities Sub-Sector Council (PAFSC) and continue to serve as a council member today. The Sub-Sector Council brings together public and private partners responsible for protecting stadiums, arenas, convention centers, houses of worship, schools, entertainment venues and other public-assembly environments—spaces where people gather and where preparedness is essential to public safety and national resilience.

Global Awareness Professionals Mission

Through GAP, our mission is to close the gap between risk and readiness. We do this through in-depth security training, leadership development, emergency planning, risk assessments and red-team exercises grounded in real-world operational realities. This work is informed by more than 500 live trainings delivered nationwide, ongoing collaboration with industry partners and national crisis-response experience.

I am deeply grateful for the organizations, leaders, and professionals who continue to place their trust in GAP. Their confidence reinforces the importance of experienced leadership, practical solutions, and training that respects both operational realities and budget constraints.

At Global Awareness Professionals, we are committed to preparing people, strengthening teams and protecting communities—because when organizations are prepared, lives are protected.

Mark A. Herrera
President & Chief Security Strategist
Global Awareness Professionals