OUR NATIONAL MOBILE TRAINING TEAM
At KDI our diverse team is what sets us apart from other training providers. In addition, all instructors are currently operational in their area of instruction. This allows us to bring you the most current information from an international perspective.
TRAINING COURSES
This year has proven to be a landmark year for our training programs at KDI, specifically our Executive Protection courses. We now have active training programs in South Carolina, Texas and Arizona.
What makes our basic Executive Protection program so unique is that our students receive 80-hours of 100% scenario based immersion training over a period of seven days. This makes for some long hours, but a very fulfilling educational experience. Upon the successful completion of this course, each student is able to bring this knowledge back to their respective departments and serve on a protection detail.
Joe brings a unique perspective to the KDI team. Joe is recently retired from the FBI where he spent more than 20 years investigating complex international counterterrorism matters. Joe played a central role in the re-engineering of the FBI’s post-9/11 operations by founding and stewarding the Counterterrorism Division Fly Team, the High-Value Detainee Interrogation Group, the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell, and building advanced strategic components to the FBI’s HUMINT operations. Prior to the FBI, Joe enjoyed a long career in the US Army Special Forces, serving on operational detachments on active duty as well as the reserves for approximately 18 years with numerous overseas deployments. Joe holds a degree in accounting from Appalachian State University with continued studies focusing on Arabic at the Defense Language Institute, Middlebury College Intensive Language Program and the University of Jordan in Amman. Joe also had a business career as an auditor and management consultant for two of the top professional service firms in the country. Joe brings his extensive experience to his students, creating instruction on topics concerning human performance under stress, advanced team concepts, radicalization, major case management, interviewing skills, building professional relationships as well as ethical and effective use of force models.
AJ joined Team KDI in 2017 where he has advanced to Commander of KDI Protective Services to the rank of Major. He is also Executive Assistant to the Office of the CEO. This agency is a licensed, state-wide, private sector response unit providing specialized support services to security teams and other organizations in need of elite protective services, operations, and training. At KDI, AJ is also a Defensive Tactics Instructor. And he is the lead Close Protection Specialist at Evangel Fellowship Church in Greensboro, NC that has over 3,000 members.
AJ has an extensive training background in martial arts and a passion for performance shooting. He has received hundreds of hours of training from world class instructors in the industry ranging from tactical/life protection to competition.
AJ also has a commendable career in personal strength training and conditioning. He began in this field as a college graduate in 1996 and has owned and operated his own personal training business in Greensboro, NC since 2002. He works with a vast range of clientele including sports-specific athletes, law-enforcement officers, military personnel, and civilians.
He began developing a passion for personal life protection in 2009 pursuing many opportunities for skill development and precision training. Since this time, he has been the recipient of several awards for distinction in this field. These include: Distinguished Graduate of Front Sight Firearms Training Institute, Best Student Award in KDI’s International Executive Protection Course, Third-degree black belt in Isshin-Ryu Karate, Certified Iron Palm Practitioner, Student of Balintawak / Emperor’s Long Fist Kung-Fu / Five Family Fist Kung-Fu / Tai chi.
Jonathan Wallace II is the president of Native Executive Security, an Indiana USA based executive protection firm with ongoing domestic and global operations. He has worked for over 18 years in the international protective arena and has garnered many contacts and associates in multiple professional spheres. Jonathan graduated first in his class at the esteemed Executive Security International, holds a fixed wing and rotorcraft pilot’s license, several qualifications in firearms, security driving and defensive tactics instruction along with tactical medical and team tactics management. He is the US representative for the International bodyguard and security services Association and the Director of Executive Protection Training for KDI (SC), and Lead Instructor for Watchmen Security Group (IN). Over and above being the owner of a successful security company and training academy, Jonathan is also a loving husband and father of four beautiful children.
Les Skelton is a retired Detective from Phoenix, Arizona who continues to serve the community as a Reserve State Trooper assigned to the Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center. He is also the Director of Team Security for the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League where he’s been a member of 4 championship teams.
During his career he worked in both the Patrol Division and the Criminal Investigations Division where he was assigned to the State Gang Task Force. While assigned to the State Gang Task Force he had the opportunity to work with ATF, DEA, HSI, and the FBI on various task forces targeting violent street and prison gang members using various investigative techniques to include Title III applications.
In addition to being a regular instructor at the police academy, Detective Skelton has developed and instructed on various topics such as: Under Cover Operations, Surveillance Techniques, U/C Identity Concealment, Outlaw Motorcycle Gang’s (OMG’S) and Expert Witness Testimony.
Detective Skelton has been recognized as an expert witness in Arizona, California and Nevada on various gangs and continues to assist law enforcement with historical information for ongoing investigations. He also served as the President for the Arizona Motorcycle Network (AMEN) and was a board member for the Tri-State Motorcycle Network (AZ-CA-NV).
Throughout the course of his career, Les has received multiple awards, including letters of recognition, Directors Unit Citation, commendations and officer of the year.
Through KDI, Detective Skelton is available for large or small conferences, motivational speaking, course development and sports related law enforcement presentations for team/athlete environment.
Bob Bonasia is a retired member of the United States Secret Service with over 20 years’ experience. His assignments during his time served included Presidential, Vice Presidential and Foreign Dignitary protection details. Bob was routinely selected as team leader or assistant team leader on in town and out of town assignments. Before his tenure with the Secret Service, Bob was a member of the New York City Police Department Emergency Service Unit (EMS) for approximately 6 years. After retiring from the Secret Service, Bob was employed by an Israeli security company, GS-3, for approximately 1 year as an instructor in anti-terrorist tactics and self-defense for flight attendants of a major airline. Bob was a private investigator in the state of North Carolina for 6 years specializing in executive and private protection as well as investigations, interview techniques and surveillance. In addition, Bob has been in charge of the security and safety needs of a Jewish religious facility in Greensboro, NC for the past 17 years. In April 2015, Bob became a member of the KDI team as Director of Protective Operations.
Rich Boehning received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 1987 and a Master of Forensic Science Degree from National University in 1999.
Rich served as a Regular Army officer in the Military Police Corps from 1987 to 1999 and retired as a Colonel from the Army Reserve in 2017 as Provost Marshal for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. His previous assignment's include: Platoon Leader, 2d Military Police Company, 2d Infantry Division; Company Commander, 194th Military Police Company and Provost Marshal Operations Officer, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault); War Plans Officer, Army Crisis Action Team, Pentagon; and Provost Marshal, 412th Theater Engineer Command. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Combined Arms & Services Staff Officer School, Military Police Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Military Police Special Reaction Team (SRT) School, Anti-Terrorism Evasive Driving School, Combating Terrorism Course, Physical Security School, Airborne School, Air Assault School and Ranger School. His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Assault Badge, Parachutist Badge and Ranger Tab.
In 1999, Rich entered federal service as an ATF Special Agent in Houston, Texas. He is a graduate of the Criminal Investigators Course and the ATF National Academy. He is also a graduate of Advanced Agent Training, Firearms Trafficking and the ATF Instructors Course. Throughout his career, SA Boehning investigated a myriad of arson, explosives, gang, FFL thefts, home invasion, narcotics and homicide cases.
From 2009-2015, Rich initiated an OCDETF case targeting the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (ABT), a notorious white supremacist gang. Rich led a statewide multi-agency task force consisting of 80 law enforcement and intelligence officers from Federal, State and local agencies. The purpose of the ABT Task Force was to investigate ABT-related crimes, and prosecute ABT gang members in a unified effort, irrespective of judicial districts. As a result, Rich was the senior case agent for 17 federal indictments charging 73 ABT leaders/members with firearms, narcotics and/or racketeering offenses – including six (6) homicides and eight (8) arsons. These cases were prosecuted in all four (4) judicial districts of Texas and Oklahoma, resulting in 73 federal convictions for a 100% conviction rate, with 47 defendants receiving sentences of 10 years or more.
From 2016-2022, Rich initiated an OCDETF case targeting the Aryan Circle, another violent and brutal white supremacist gang. Rich led a national multi-agency task force consisting of 100 law enforcement and intelligence officers from federal, state and local agencies. The purpose of the Aryan Circle Task Force was to investigate Aryan Circle related crimes wherever they occur. The investigation spanned 10 states, encompassing homicides, kidnappings, arsons, firearms and narcotics offenses. The task force convicted 42 Aryan Circle members/associate throughout the country with racketeering prosecutions spread across six (6) separate states and eight (8) federal judicial districts.
Throughout his career, Rich served on numerous protection details to include the President of Iran, Deputy Prime Minister for the United Kingdom, and the Foreign Minister for Turkey.
Because of his expert knowledge of RICO/VICAR statutes, leadership of complex investigations, and ability to organize & build large OCDETF Task Forces, Rich presented at the 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2022 and 2023 National Gang Conferences in five (5) states. Further, he was awarded Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo “First Responder of the Year” Award, ATF Citizens Academy “Special Agent of the Year” Award, Houston 100-Club "Officer of The Year" Award, numerous U.S. Attorney’s Office Awards, the national Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA) “Investigative Excellence” and “Group Achievement” Awards, the ATF Distinguished Service Medal, and the U.S. Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service.