Paul Cairney

Paul Cairney

Flight (Shift) Leader (2Lt, USAF)

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location of Paul CairneyGreater Colorado Springs Area

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  • Timeline

  • About me

    ★Retired Police Chief★Lt Col, USAF (Ret)★International Security/Law Enforcement Exec★Leadership Author

  • Education

    • US Air Force Academy Preparatory School

      1987 - 1988

      Activities and Societies: Lacrosse; Fellowship of Christian Athletes Enlisted in US Air Force Reserve; studied basic math, English, sciences through advanced courses; played varsity lacrosse; held positions of leadership from flight chief to executive officer. Distinguished Graduate.

    • Air Academy High School

      1983 - 1987

      Activities and Societies: Lacrosse, football, FCA

    • Colorado State University-Global Campus

      2019 - 2021
      Master's degree Criminal Justice/Police Science Distinguished Scholar

      Master of Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement with emphasis in Organizational Leadership and Change Management

    • United States Air Force Academy

      1988 - 1992
      Bachelor of Science (BS) Military History Graduated with Military Distinction

      Activities and Societies: Lacrosse, Fellowship of Christian Athletes Majored in Military History; minored in German.

    • Liberty University

      1995 - 2002
      Master’s Degree Religion/Religious Studies
    • Louisiana Baptist University and Theological Seminary

      2004 - 2007
      Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Leadership 4.0 GPA

      I wrote my dissertation on Biblical leadership in a military environment. I published my dissertation, and while my emphasis is on military leadership the principles I expanded upon are applicable to any area of organizational leadership.

  • Experience

    • 321st Missile Security Squadron

      Jul 1992 - Jun 1994
      Flight (Shift) Leader (2Lt, USAF)

      Police shift commander responsible for 45-member US Air Force police shift. Won “Flight of the Year” for 1992. Responsible for leadership, management, supervision, and training of 45 security specialists. Directed forces to provide security for 50 ICBMs. Managed flight-level resources to include personnel, equipment, vehicles, and weapons. Command and control of forces during actual or simulated hostilities. Conducted preliminary investigations of violations and accidents occurring in the missile complex. Directed and oversaw development of new flight training and evaluation programs. Show less

    • University of North Dakota Lake Region

      Jan 1993 - Jan 1994
      Adjunct Instructor

      Taught US History to enlisted USAF Airmen pursuing their Associates and Bachelors degrees.

    • 39th Security Police Squadron

      Jul 1994 - Jan 1996
      Flight (Shift) Commander (1Lt, USAF)

      Police shift commander responsible for 85-member US Air Force police shift. Senior security police liaison with Turkish security and police forces. Led security for US aircraft temporarily based and flying out of Adana International Airport; liaison with Turkish security lead. Conducted daily exercises of both US and Turkish forces to ensure top performance by shift members.

    • 425th Air Base Squadron

      Jan 1996 - May 1997
      Security Forces Flight Commander/Chief of Police (Capt, USAF)

      Police Chief responsible for 45-member US Air Force police force and 10 Turkish civilians. Directed law enforcement, security, resource protection, and criminal investigations covering 27 leased facilities and a community of 1600 US Forces personnel and dependents in city of 3.5 million people and a high terrorist threat level.

    • 99th Security Support Flight

      May 1997 - Mar 1999
      Operations Officer/S3 (Capt, USAF)

      Operations Officer and second in command for security forces squadrons protecting Nellis Air Force Base and nuclear weapons storage area. Devised and implemented preparations for joint Defense Special Weapons Agency and US Air Force Nuclear Surety Inspections, leading to overall "Excellent" ratings and "Excellent" ratings for routine and advanced readiness, and identified as "Best seen to date." Led day-to-day security and law enforcement services for 64,000-person base populace. Daily operational control of 250+ personnel. Show less

    • 423d Air Base Squadron

      Mar 2000 - Feb 2003
      Security Forces Flight Commander/Chief of Police (Maj, USAF)

      Police chief of a 65-person police force, including US Air Force and MoD civilians. Led law enforcement, security, and antiterrorism/force protection operations for 3 bases geographically separated by over 50 square miles and 4 off-base housing areas. Rated "Excellent" in MAJCOM Unit Compliance Inspection. Maintained superior security in wake of Sept 11, 2001 attacks, with tactical control of 65 armed US Air Force and 30 armed MoD Police.

    • Air Force Space Command

      Mar 2003 - Sept 2004
      Chief, Force Protection Inspection Branch (Maj, USAF)

      Inspector General Branch Chief for nuclear and non-nuclear security and force protection.

    • 21st Security Forces Squadron

      Sept 2004 - May 2006
      Commander/Chief of Police (Maj, USAF)

      Commander and Police Chief for a 230-person police force, including US Air Force military and DoD civilians. Commanded 21st Space Wing's largest military authorization squadron. Led, supervised, and developed plans and policy for law enforcement, security, and antiterrorism/force protection and emergency response operations for US air base;

    • 52d Security Forces Squadron

      Jun 2006 - Jun 2009
      Commander/Chief of Police (Lt Col, USAF)

      Commander and Police Chief of a 335-person police force, including US Air Force military and DoD and German civilians. Rated "Excellent" in MAJCOM Unit Compliance Inspection. Trained and maintained combat-ready forces. Led, supervised, and developed plans and policy for law enforcement, security, and antiterrorism/force protection and emergency response operations for US air base.

    • Joint Area Support Group-Central

      Jan 2008 - Jul 2008
      Chief of Police/Director of Law and Order (Lt Col, USAF)

      Commander and Police Chief of a 45-person police force, including US Air Force police and Iraqi interpreters. Led law enforcement and security operations, antiterrorism/force protection, and criminal investigations for the Baghdad International Zone community comprised of 35,000 Iraqi, multi-national military and civilian personnel.

    • Air Force Global Strike Command

      Sept 2009 - May 2011
      Chief, Security Forces Operations and Training Branch (Lt Col, USAF)

      Action officer and branch chief for Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC), leading teams of officers, senior noncommissioned officers and GS-12/13 civilians. Subject matter expert on Protection Level 1 nuclear weapons security including ICBM, strategic bomber aircraft, and weapons storage areas at six geographically separated bases. Recognized as a superior communicator, both in oral presentations and in written reports and analysis; the "go-to" person for ensuring succinct and clear writing in reports. Show less

    • 48th Security Forces Squadron

      Jun 2011 - Jul 2013
      Commander/Chief of Police (Lt Col, USAF)

      Commander and Police Chief of a 433-person police force, including US Air Force military and Department of Defense (DoD) and United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (MoD) civilians. Led, supervised, and developed plans and policy for law enforcement, security, and antiterrorism/force protection and emergency response operations for US air base. Incident commander for National Incident Management Response situations in coordination with US and British emergency response agencies

    • Sterling Renovations

      May 2014 - Jan 2015
      Senior Project Manager; Estimator

      Project manager for a luxury renovation and design company specializing in high-end residence and business renovations.

    • Argyle ISD Police Department

      Sept 2014 - Mar 2022

      National Association of School Resource Officers "Model Agency Award" winner for 2020! I lead a team of police officers in providing security and law enforcement support to five K-12 campuses in a highly successful school district in North Texas. We have become a model of School-Based Law Enforcement and advise school districts across the nation on law enforcement methods as well as active-shooter prevention and response, to include an armed staff program. Our programs have been featured in the LA Times, Fox Business Network, and MSNBC. Show less

      • Chief of Police/Emergency Response Coordinator

        Apr 2015 - Mar 2022
      • Police Captain

        Sept 2014 - Apr 2015
    • Thor and Athena's Promise Sanctuary

      Jan 2016 - now
      Co-Founder, Treasurer, Director

      TAPS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of neglected and abused horses. We team with organizations to deliver horses from kill pens and transport them to families and organizations who will take care of them and provide a home. We have rehabilitated a number of horses and brought them back from emaciated states to healthy and thriving lives.

    • Douglas County School District

      Apr 2022 - Jun 2023
      Deputy Director of Safety and Security
    • Colorado Charter School Institute

      Jun 2024 - now
      Senior School Safety Specialist

      Security lead for the Colorado Charters Schools Institute which oversees the accreditation and performance of 40+ charter schools throughout the state of Colorado. In this capacity I review school plans and procedures for effectiveness, coordinate security measures with local first responders, and provider recommendations to improve the security of the schools.

  • Licenses & Certifications

    • School Resources Officer

      NASRO
      Aug 2015
    • Peace Officer License

      State of Texas
      Sept 2014
    • Special Response Team

      US Army
      Aug 2007
    • Incident Commander

      US Air Force
      Aug 2006
    • Antiterrorism/Force Protection Level II (Instructor Certified)

      US Air Force
      May 1998
    • Active Attack Integrated Response

      Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT)
      May 2021
    • Police Officer/Law Enforcement Officer/Peace Officer Certification (POST)

      State of Colorado
      Jun 2023
    • School-Based Law Enforcement

      Texas Commission on Law Enforcement
      Jun 2020
    • Basic Peace Officer Certification

      Texas Commission on Law Enforcement
      Jun 2016
    • Certified Taser Trainer

      Axon
      Aug 2022
    • Certified Trainer

      Crisis Prevention Institute
      Mar 2022
    • ALICE Training Institute Certified Instructor

      ALICE Training Institute
      Feb 2020
  • Honors & Awards

    • Awarded to Paul Cairney
      NARSO Model Agency Award National Association of School Resources Officers Jul 2020
    • Awarded to Paul Cairney
      Outstanding Alumnus Louisiana Baptist University Aug 2013
    • Awarded to Paul Cairney
      Lance P Sijan Leadership Award 48th Fighter Wing 2012
    • Awarded to Paul Cairney
      Outstanding Large Security Forces Squadron US Air Force 2012
    • Awarded to Paul Cairney
      Outstanding Large Security Forces Squadron US Air Force 2011
    • Awarded to Paul Cairney
      Bronze Star Medal US Army Jul 2008
    • Awarded to Paul Cairney
      US Army Combat Action Badge Joint Area Support Group-Central Jun 2008
    • Awarded to Paul Cairney
      Outstanding Medium Security Forces Squadron Air Force Space Command 2005
    • Awarded to Paul Cairney
      Company Grade Officer of the Year (GSUs and Wing Staff Agencies) 100th Air Refueling Wing Dec 2001
    • Awarded to Paul Cairney
      Company Grade Officer of the Year 423d Air Base Squadron Dec 2000
    • Awarded to Paul Cairney
      Top Gun US Air Force Security Police Training Dec 1992 Top aggregate score of rifle (M16) and pistol (M9) qualification courses.
    • Awarded to Paul Cairney
      Military Distinction Graduate US Air Force Academy May 1992 Top 10% of graduating class in Military Performance Average
  • Volunteer Experience

    • Member, Service Academy Selection Committee

      Issued by Congressman Doug Lamborn CO-5 on Oct 2022
      Congressman Doug Lamborn CO-5Associated with Paul Cairney
    • Member, Service Academy Selection Committee

      Issued by Congressman Michael C. Burgess TX-26 on Oct 2021
      Congressman Michael C. Burgess TX-26Associated with Paul Cairney