ESSENTIALS OF PROTECTION
Joseph Kornas
Henley-Putnam University

As a Personal Protection Specialist, I am charged with the responsibility for the Security, Safety, Health, and Well-being of another human being. In keeping with these obligations, I pledge my honor, reputation and, if necessary, my life. These are the words the Personal Protection Specialist lives by. Protection Specialists hold themselves to the highest standards of Honesty, Courtesy, Integrity, and Moral Character in performance of their duties. Popular cultures, most professional corporations, military institutions, governmental agencies and businesses are guided by specific rules enumerated in a formal ethical code of conduct. Included in such codes are ideals and virtues as fairness, courtesy, tolerance, compassion, loyalty, forgiveness, kindliness, integrity, truthfulness, honesty, social responsibility, prudence, justice, temperance, and courage. All are signs of solid character, reputation, and beneficence .They work diligently to stay physically fit and mentally strong to overcome any obstacle they may or may not encounter. A Protection Specialist must be vigilant and aware of his surroundings and prepare for an attack/incident from various sources and locations. Marcus Luttrell a retired Navy Seal put it best when he said " You must keep your head on a swivel", which in simplest of terms means to always watch your surroundings and expect the unexpected. As a Protection Specialist one must conduct himself in a manner to the degree of the expectations of his position of Confidence and Trust. He will exhibit patience, understanding, compassion, loyalty and courage. A Protection Specialist shall always maintain a professional employee/employer relationship between himself and those he is assigned to protect. EP Specialists treat all persons with dignity and respect. He will treat the property of those he protects with care and will hold all personal and professional information confidential and private. They carry themselves in a very professional manner and do not engage in unnecessary conversation, and do not discuss prior assignments, other Protectees/Principles or their business. A Protection Specialist will carry himself in a manner that will gain the respect and good will of my Protectee, his family, Staff, and Acquaintances. Building this rapport will aid the Specialist in conducting his day to day activities as well as a foundation of trust to complete the task(s) at hand. In turn this will help him establish procedures that will only minimally disrupt the Protectee’s lifestyle and personal routine, while maintaining a posture that does not draw attention to the Protection Specialist or the Protectee. A Protection Specialist will also be diligent and dependable, observing truth, accuracy, and discretion while conducting his responsibilities. With that he will not allow personal feelings, prejudices, attitudes, animosities, or friendships to influence his judgment. If one allows their personal feelings to cloud their judgment, procedures safety and security can become lax and place the Protectee and Specialist in unnecessary harm and disgrace. They must remain aware of their personal and professional responsibilities and will this special knowledge, training and skills for the security, safety, health and well-being of those they are charged with protecting. Throughout our lectures and readings a key point is made that a Protection Specialist is sworn to high ethical and moral convictions and will perform his obligations with truthfulness, respect, integrity, and trustworthiness. As a Personal Protection Specialist this is my occupation, profession and my passion. Now that we have an understanding and a basis for the Personal Protection Specialist and his Code of Conduct and Ethics we can visit with "Her Majesty, Mrs. Brown". The film shows the story of a bereaved Queen Victoria and her relationship with a Scottish servant, John Brown, and the subsequent uproar it provoked. Brown had been a trusted servant of Victoria's then deceased and beloved Prince Albert. Queen Victoria's chief servants thought Brown might help to ease an inconsolable Queen since the Prince's death in 1861. In 1863, hoping to subtly coax the Queen toward resuming public life after years of seclusion, Mr. Brown is summoned to court. The plan succeeds a little too well for the servants' liking, especially Victoria's chief secretary Sir Henry Ponsonby and The Prince of Wales as well as other members of the Royal family; the public, press and politicians soon come to resent Brown's perceived influence over the queen. Brown takes considerable liberties with court protocol, especially by addressing Her Majesty as "woman". He also quickly takes control over the Queen's daily activities, further aggravating the tensions between himself and the royal family and servants. This is the first sign we see of the establishment of an early form of protection. Brown takes control of the Queen's activities as a Protection Specialist might today. Although what we see lacking is Brown's professionalism in that he calls the Queen "woman" in ear shot of the staff. As Brown's time at the Queen's retreat progresses we see him speak with the staff with a checklist in hand. As they enter the staff dinner quarters he has them advise him on the security of the residence. They tend to mock him and believe he is overly cautious but still advise him on their findings. Just as a Protection Specialist would do today he develops a relationship with the staff to assist in the protection of the Queen, although its less then favorable. At one point John Brown advises the staff " What happens to John Brown is his business, but the Queen's security will never be compromised". He states this due to an occurrence at the Queen's outing in which three men attempt to spy on the Queen's affairs. Brown being ever vigilant notices the men and engages them to which they leave. Once they return to the residence Brown is infuriated with the staff and advises them all that disloyalty will not be tolerated in regards to that one may have notified the men of the Queen's outing. In this instance we see an example of how Brown is an example of today's Specialist and their code of ethics. In contrast to this code Brown is also loud and boisterous. He is not refined and quiet as a Protection Specialist would be today. He is rough and gruff, but does put the Queen's security and needs first. He does not gain the trust and respect of the staff or the Royal Family. At one point he is standing watch at the Queen's door when her son the Prince of Wales comes to call on her. Brown is disrespectful to the Prince and tells him she is not to be disturbed. Brown while conversing with the Prince, corrects him grammatically and in a fit of rage grabs the Prince and places him against the wall. The staff concocts a plan in an attempt to show Brown in a bad light. While making his rounds and checking on the stables, Brown is assaulted by two paid men and doused in alcohol. Word quickly spreads of Brown being a drunkard and involved in a scuffle. Brown in turn does not want the Queen to know what truly happened and believes he should resign in the best interest of protecting the Queen's reputation. Although he is rough and not as refined by today's Protection standards, he still holds his obligations to protecting the Queen physically and reputational. As time progresses Queen Victoria's virtual recluse, especially at Balmoral Castle in Scotland causes her popularity to begin failing and republican sentiment begins growing. Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli has a weakening hold over the House of Commons and a fear of rising anti-monarchical sentiment in the country. He persuades Brown to use his influence with the Queen to persuade her to return to the performance of her public duties, especially the speech from the throne at the impending opening of Parliament. Brown is reluctant to do so, rightly fearing that Victoria will take this as a personal betrayal which is reminiscent of the Protector/Protectee trust. When Brown urges Victoria to return to London and fulfill her public duties, an argument ensues. Feeling betrayed by Brown, the Queen becomes enraged. When Brown once again refers to her as "woman", she sharply rebukes him. Leaving the room, she turns to Ponsonby and Jenner requesting that they serve her needs, clearly reducing Mr. Brown's contact and influence over her. Their relationship was never to be the same again. Although he is cast aside, Brown continues to serve Queen Victoria until his death in 1883. In his final years, his duties become reduced to head of security. The palace staff has become weary of Brown's dogmatic ways and they mock and rebuke his security efforts as paranoid delusions. The Queen is set to travel to St. Georges to make her public appearance. Brown suggests a covered guarded carriage for her safety to which she declines and states she will travel in an open carriage. Just as a Protection Specialist would do today Brown plans and determines the safest means for a motorcade but is refused by the Protectee. Brown in turn overcomes and adapts and remains ever vigilant and observes the environment during the Queen's arrival. Once at St. Georges Brown remains in the foreground near the Queen observing the crowd. He notices a gun-wielding assassin appear out of the crowd leaping toward the royal family. An ever-vigilant Brown successfully thwarts the assassination attempt. Brown placed himself in harms way to protect the Queen. It was Brown's quick actions and vigilance which stopped the attack. We have read in our text The Art of Executive Protection (Oatman) that sometimes it is better to retreat will the Protectee than engage the threat. However each scenario is different. In this case Brown believed the threat was imminent and the best course of action was to engage and stop the threat. In conclusion, Brown is comparable in some ways to today's Protection Specialist. He put the Queen's needs and protection before his own, but lacked in professionalism and interpersonal skills. Brown can be cast as an early model of a Protection Specialist. He is a basis that one can learn from and improve upon. His techniques and can be improved upon, and his mistakes can be a valuable lesson to learn from.