Seasoned Executive to Lead and Expand Specialized Division Across California
Squad Security, A Protos Company, proudly welcomes John Valdez as its new Regional Vice President of Operations. As a dynamic leader with 25 years of experience in Fortune 500 companies and high-growth ventures, Valdez will spearhead Protos’ Specialized Division in California, driving innovation, operational excellence and strategic expansion. John will also oversee Off Duty Officers owning the West Coast region, reporting directly to Jeff Salvetti, Protos Specialized Services Divisional Vice President.
“John Valdez is a well-respected powerhouse in the security industry,” said Anthony Varchetto, Protos Specialized Services Divisional President. “His depth of experience, relentless drive and visionary leadership will be transformative for our division. We are confident that under his guidance, we will set new standards in security operations and client experience.”
Valdez’s impressive career spans both corporate and entrepreneurial leadership. He has served on multiple executive boards, including as Chairman of the Board at SIMGAD Solar. His professional journey began at Enterprise Holdings, where he spent 19 years, rising to the rank of Executive Officer – a testament to his leadership, strategic mindset and ability to scale operations effectively.
His 12+ years in the security sector have been marked by high-impact roles, starting in 2012 at Allied Universal as Vice President of the Southwest Region. He went on to hold key leadership positions such as Chief Development Officer at Elite Interactive and CEO of JEV Security Consultants. A respected authority in threat assessment and active shooter response, Valdez is a sought-after speaker at major security conferences and industry forums.
A California native, Valdez was raised in Barstow’s historic Tortilla Flats neighborhood. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Cal State San Bernardino and is currently pursuing an MBA in Business Management at Purdue University. A devoted family man, Valdez has been married to his high school sweetheart, Toni, for 31 years and is the proud father of two daughters, Isabelle and Eliana.
With his proven track record and unwavering commitment to excellence, Valdez is set to propel Squad Security into an era of unprecedented growth and industry leadership.
About Protos Security
Protos promises a modern security experience that never settles and dynamically adapts when, where and how it’s needed. By vetting, training and orchestrating thousands of local owner/operator security vendors, plus the largest off-duty law enforcement network, Protos delivers scalable protection in any situation. Our proprietary platform puts improved staffing, vetting, training, visibility, accountability and flexibility at your fingertips, including custom reporting and actual-time billing. From the C-team to the field team, our organization is committed to hassle-free and always-accountable customer experience across all four of our security service lines: guarding, off-duty, specialized and remote. For more information on Protos, please visit www.protossecurity.com.
