The Sonoran Desert Security User Group (SDSUG) Safety and Incident Response (S&I) function provides the qualified governance stewards responsible for applying SDSUG’s standards consistently and maintaining a safe, professional environment.
Sonoran Desert Security User Group (SDSUG) Safety and Incident Response (S&I) Purpose and Mandate
SDSUG Safety and Incident Response (S&I) is a governance‑level function responsible for maintaining a safe, predictable environment. It is a volunteer role; however, it requires additional due diligence, including training, judgment, and authority. Officers attend events as normal participants and activate only when needed.
S&I Responsibilities
Safety and Incident Response is handled by Safety and Protective Operations Officers (SPOO). They are responsible for assessing and responding to disruptive or unsafe behavior. Responsibilities include:
- Adhere to and uphold the SDSUG Code of Conduct, Membership Guidelines, and Stewardship Standards
- Assessing situations that may impact safety or order.
- Coordinating with venue staff when needed.
- Documenting incidents for continuity and accountability.
- Engaging law enforcement when required by circumstances.
- Ensuring the safety of attendees and volunteers.
- Maintaining calm, clarity, and professionalism during incidents.
- Taking appropriate action to protect the environment.
The Safety and Incident Response team supports the community by maintaining readiness while allowing events to remain casual and social.
For SDSUG’s formal rules, enforcement authority, and incident‑response standards, see the Code of Conduct page.
SPOO Qualifications
Safety and Protective Operations Officers must have the competence and experience to act responsibly in high‑pressure situations. Qualifications include:
- Ability to remain calm and clear‑headed during conflict.
- Experience in structured environments such as emergency response, military service, security roles, or similar fields.
- Familiarity with de‑escalation principles.
- Good judgment and emotional regulation.
- Physical and situational awareness appropriate to the venue.
- Understanding of legal boundaries and reporting requirements.
SPOO Verification
Because SPO Officers hold authority that affects safety, verification is mandatory. Verification includes:
- Confirmation of identity.
- Confirmation of relevant training or experience.
- Review of conduct history within SDSUG.
- Review of any concerns related to stability, judgment, or reliability.
Verification ensures that only qualified individuals hold this responsibility.
What SDSUG Safety and Protective Operations Officers (SPO) Are
Safety and Protective Operations Officers (SPO) are appointed members of SDSUG’s governance structure who support the community by applying standards consistently, maintaining a safe and professional environment, and ensuring that concerns are handled with discretion and neutrality. This page introduces the individuals who serve in this stewardship capacity.
The SPOO Unit is a trained, verified, and appointed governance function responsible for maintaining SDSUG’s safety posture and applying standards consistently.
Safety and Protective Operations Lead (SPOL)
Responsible for coordinating SDSUG’s safety posture and protective operations during special events. Serves as the primary liaison to speaker security teams, venue security, and external protective units. Activates operational leadership only when required, ensuring unified communication, incident coordination, and protective decision‑making. Functions within SDSUG’s flat, verification‑based structure and remains a normal community participant unless break‑glass conditions occur.
The SPOL holds Safety and Protective Operations Officer responsibilities. They are a trusted, verified member of SDSUG’s break‑glass safety team. Supports safety posture, incident response, and protective operations during events if activated. Attends events as a normal participant and steps into operational roles only when needed. Works alongside the Lead to maintain situational awareness, assist with protective coordination, and uphold SDSUG’s safety and incident response standards.
Safety and Protective Operations Officer (SPOO)
Trusted, verified member of SDSUG’s break‑glass safety team. Supports safety posture, incident response, and protective operations during events if activated. Attends events as a normal participant and steps into operational roles only when needed. Works alongside the Lead to maintain situational awareness, assist with protective coordination, and uphold SDSUG’s safety and incident response standards.
SDSUG Safety and Protective Operations Officer (SPOO) Team
Brad Battaglia
Safety and Protective Operations Lead (SPOL)
(2026 – Present)
Brad Battaglia is the appointed Safety and Protective Operations Lead (SPOL) for SDSUG, a Security and Intelligence Officer with more than 20 years of operational experience across military, law enforcement, and high‑threat private‑sector environments. His career spans elite sniper leadership in the U.S. Army, SWAT operations, law enforcement, and protective security assignments in conflict zones. He holds a B.A. in Intelligence Studies with a concentration in Counterterrorism, grounding his tactical background in formal intelligence methodology and strategic threat analysis.
Operational Trajectory
Brad began his career as an Airborne Infantry Machine Gunner Sergeant, leading teams in high‑intensity combat environments and coordinating missions. His responsibilities included intelligence gathering, target acquisition, and risk assessment under conditions requiring precision, discipline, and rapid decision‑making.
High‑Threat and Executive Protection Experience
Following his military service, Brad transitioned into military contracting.
Brad’s private‑sector security experience includes serving as a Shift Lead for Triple Canopy’s Worldwide Protective Services (WPS) program in Baghdad, where he oversaw protective operations in high‑threat environments and coordinated tactical teams under international protective‑security standards.
After his time as a military contractor, Brad moved into law enforcement, serving as a Flagstaff Police Officer, SWAT Officer, and SWAT Sniper. In these roles, he executed tactical interventions, hostage‑rescue operations, and advanced marksmanship assignments, contributing to high‑risk operations requiring calm under pressure and exacting technical skill.
He later served as a Deputy Sheriff in Navajo County, where he became a Field Training Officer and General Instructor. In this capacity, he mentored new deputies and delivered instruction on Arizona law, defensive tactics, and firearms proficiency, reinforcing departmental standards and operational readiness.
He currently serves as the Director of Executive Protection and Field Operations for Blackline Security Operations. In this role, he leads global protective programs, secure logistics, crisis‑management initiatives, and law‑enforcement liaison efforts, maintaining a zero‑incident record across high‑accountability assignments.
Instruction, Training, and Public Safety
Across civilian and law‑enforcement sectors, Brad is a certified Firearms Instructor (NRA, USCCA, Arizona POST, Arizona CCW) with extensive experience developing and delivering training curricula ranging from foundational safety to advanced defensive applications. His instructional work emphasizes precision, responsibility, and situational awareness.
He also served Maricopa County as a Security Specialist, implementing security protocols, conducting risk assessments, and coordinating with law enforcement and emergency services to support county‑wide safety operations.
Certifications and Recognition
Brad’s credentials include FEMA ICS coursework, EMT Specialist certification, Field Training Officer certification, WPS Certification, and multiple firearms‑instructor credentials. He is a recipient of the Flagstaff Police Department Lifesaving Award for actions demonstrating exceptional judgment and composure under pressure. He is also a member of Infragard.
Professional Identity
Across all roles, Brad is known for precision, discipline, and a calm operational presence. His career reflects a consistent ability to safeguard personnel and assets in dynamic, high‑risk environments while integrating tactical expertise with strategic security planning.
Lukas Janczewski
Safety and Protective Operations Officer (SPOO)
(2026 – Present)
Lukas Janczewski is an appointed Safety and Protective Operations Officer (SPOO) for SDSUG, bringing more than 30 years of global experience in executive protection, threat mitigation, investigations, and high‑accountability security operations. His career spans local, national, and international environments, including dignitary protection, corporate risk management, disaster response, and complex logistical coordination for senior leaders and multinational organizations.
Operational Experience
He has held specialist and leadership roles across government, corporate, and private sectors, including service with Maricopa County, TMRCG, GSIS Group, Thomas Pride International, MPS Security and Protection, and Pinkerton Corporate Risk Management. His work has included executive protection for senior executives and diplomatic figures, workplace violence prevention, armed security operations, robbery suppression, corporate investigations, and the development and oversight of high‑stakes security programs, including active‑shooter preparedness for a major multinational corporation.
International Service
Before relocating to the United States, he served in Sweden and internationally across a range of structured, high‑demand environments, including armed services, police work, international maritime security, aviation security profiling for TWA, and specialized assignments with Boström RSAT. His early career also included leadership roles in martial arts instruction and private business operations, reflecting a long‑standing commitment to discipline, training, and community engagement.
Credentials and Training
He holds extensive certifications and credentials, including Global Entry (U.S. Department of Homeland Security), Chemical‑Terrorism Vulnerability Information (DHS), Private Investigator and Armed Security Guard credentials (Arizona DPS), Basic Life Support (AHA), Stop the Bleed (ACS), and multiple advanced security and executive protection qualifications from European and U.S. institutions. His training includes FEMA emergency response coursework, Human Terrain Mapping and Behavior Pattern Recognition, and specialized dignitary protection programs. Lukas has been a member of Infraguard since 2016.
SDSUG Role
He is recognized for exceptional judgment, calm decision‑making, and the ability to maintain clarity and professionalism in dynamic or high‑pressure situations. Within SDSUG, he serves in a governance‑aligned stewardship capacity, supporting community safety, applying standards consistently, and ensuring that incidents are handled with neutrality, discretion, and professionalism.
Anthony Kinsey
Safety and Protective Operations Officer (SPOO)
(2026 – Present)
Anthony Kinsey is an appointed Safety and Protective Operations Officer (SPOO) for SDSUG, a retired police officer with more than a decade of service in Arizona law enforcement. He brings a steady, disciplined, and community‑centered approach to safety operations. His career spans patrol, investigations, firearms instruction, armed security, and operational support roles across both public and private sectors.
Law Enforcement and Investigations
Anthony served nearly eleven years with the Arizona State University Police Department, working as both a patrol officer and detective. His responsibilities included responding to calls for service, conducting criminal investigations, gathering evidence, preparing legal documentation, and providing courtroom testimony. His work required strong judgment, discretion, and the ability to maintain calm, clear decision‑making in dynamic environments.
Firearms Instruction and Range Operations
Following his law enforcement career, Anthony became a firearms instructor at Scottsdale Gun Club, where his background and passion for teaching allowed him to teach both new and experienced shooters in pistol, rifle, and shotgun fundamentals. He developed and delivered training in advanced marksmanship, room clearing/CQB, home‑defense protocols, situational awareness, and decisional “shoot/don’t shoot” scenarios. He also served in range safety officer roles and supported sales and customer operations, demonstrating strong communication skills and a commitment to safe, responsible firearms handling. He holds NRA Pistol Instructor and USCCA Instructor certifications.
Before joining SDSUG, Anthony served as a Training Sergeant within Maricopa County’s security division, where he spent a year and a half supporting protective operations for the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, including plain clothes offsite operations. He developed and revised operational policy, updating emergency and standard operating procedures (EOP/SOP), and supporting the professional development of security personnel. His work included curriculum refinement, procedural alignment, and ensuring that county security operations met contemporary safety and compliance standards.
Security Operations and Protective Roles
Anthony later transitioned into armed security and operational support, serving as a Security Officer for Maricopa County. His work included executive protection, employee training, and safeguarding county facilities. He also supported Arizona operations administratively, managing fleet logistics, coordinating repairs, overseeing quartermaster systems, and assisting with DPS licensing processes for armed guard applicants.
Technical and Analytical Experience
Before returning to security work, Anthony spent more than two years as a data annotator supporting AI‑driven camera systems. His responsibilities included data collection, labeling, and secure handling of sensitive information — experience that gives him a unique bridge between physical security and emerging technology environments.
Education and Training
Anthony completed the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training (AZPOST) academy in 2006. He holds academic credentials from Estrella Mountain Community College and Glendale Community College, with studies in general education, physical fitness, and emergency medical technology.
SDSUG Role
As a Security and Protective Operations Officer, Anthony brings a calm, grounded presence and a strong instinct for safety, discretion, and community protection. His background in law enforcement, firearms instruction, and operational support — combined with his steady temperament and teachability — makes him a trusted member of SDSUG’s first‑generation safety team.
Governance Disclaimer
SPO Officers are governance personnel, not security officers. Their role is to uphold standards, maintain community safety, and ensure consistent application of SDSUG’s Code of Conduct and Membership Guidelines. They do not perform investigative, tactical, or enforcement functions.
Neutrality and Safety Statement
SPO Officers serve in a neutral, governance capacity. Their visibility supports community trust, while their responsibilities remain strictly within SDSUG’s governance framework.
For the historical context and stewardship principles that inform SDSUG’s governance model, see the Our Founder page.
For details on SDSUG’s technical infrastructure and site development, visit the Web Developer page.
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Last updated: March 2026