OUR FOUNDER & CEO
Karl de la Guerra, a forty-four-year veteran of the protective services industry, is Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Karl de la Guerra, Inc., an international security consulting and protective services training agency based in the Carolinas. Karl also operates KDI Protective Services of South Carolina, a licensed, state-wide private sector response organization providing specialized support services to private and public sector teams in need of high-level protection operations. He also operates KDI Protective Services, LLC of Texas and KDI Protective Services, LLC of Arizona. The focus of KDI is executive protection operations in South Carolina, Texas and Arizona, international protection team management and tactical training.
Karl’s experience is a combination of military law enforcement, civilian law enforcement and international corporate security management. Throughout his career, Karl has maintained an emphasis on executive protection, anti/counter terrorism and tactical training. Beginning his career in the United States Air Force in 1979 as a law enforcement specialist, Karl was selected as a protective services officer providing personal bodyguard services to numerous senior ranking military officials and government dignitaries. This selection was a direct result of his certification in police SWAT and completion of a variety of military tactical operations courses.
Karl is a recognized instructor through the following agencies:
• Texas Commission on Law Enforcement
• United States Air Force
• Air Transportation Association
• U. S. Department of Homeland Security / UNLV
• Monadnock Police Training Council
• Northwestern University Traffic Institute
• International Bodyguard & Security Services Association
• Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training
During the mid 1980’s, Karl was assigned to an active terrorist environment, where he headed a thirteen-member police tactical unit in Southeast Asia for four years. Karl is the recipient of the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Force Achievement Medal and the 6009th Security Police Training Squadron Commandant’s Award. He also graduated with Honors from the Pacific Air Forces NCO Leadership School at Clark Air Base, Republic of the Philippines. Karl is a certified Military Technical Training Instructor.
Following a ten-year enlistment in the military, Karl received an Honorable Discharge and entered into civilian law enforcement, serving the citizens of Maricopa County, Arizona, as a community relations officer, tactical team member and criminal street gang specialist. Karl graduated with Honors from the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Detention Training Academy and is the recipient of numerous letters of commendation from the Sheriff and other senior department executives. He was awarded the Sheriff’s Top Gun Award and Sheriff’s Unit Citation.
Karl then entered into the private sector working in aviation security management at five airports in the United States, to include Sky Harbor, Denver International, Tucson International, Little Rock National and finally Salt Lake City International during the run-up of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. Karl has also served as a U. S. Government security contractor (contract manager) assigned to the U. S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Protective Service in Arizona. Since 2004, Karl has been involved in security operations for the pharmaceutical industry, providing full-service safety and security liaison support for large scale meetings, conferences and conventions on an international level. Possessing a strong background in hospitality security, Karl is a Certified Lodging Security Supervisor (CLSS), a certification he obtained while working under Hilton’s Waldorf Astoria brand and the Starwood brand as a resort security supervisor and resort security director, respectively.
Karl currently instructs police tactical units and holds numerous courses on the topic of Active Shooter. He is a graduate of the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training program and is an instructor for the ALERRT Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) course. Karl is a member of the National Tactical Officers Association. In 2019, Karl enlisted in the South Carolina State Guard and serves as the Command Sergeant Major (E-9) for their Provost Marshal Detachment (MP). Karl is Chairman of the International Bodyguard & Security Services Association (IBSSA) based in Budapest, Hungary. In 2010, during a ceremony at a royal palace outside of Budapest, Karl received an investiture of Knighthood into the Sovereign Order of Cyprus, a rare recognition for an American that Karl was extremely honored to receive.