Johnnie B. Woods

My background includes extensive and broad experience in Law Enforcement, Supervision and Management, Security, Executive Protection, and Training and Development. I have comprehensive security expertise, knowledge and specialized training which can serve the diverse needs of various corporate entities and individuals. My knowledge and skills include: developing training systems, security consulting, security operations, asset protection, compliance review and audits, personnel training, and certification. I am one of a select group of Southern California security experts that is qualified and authorized to teach, develop and certify trainers. 

I am the owner and director of Woods Security Training, a security training and consulting company which focuses on training security officers and the public in safety and personal protection.  As a personal protection specialist and have trained over one hundred private security officers as protection specialists.  I am also one of a handful of security trainers to have developed and offer tailored and specialized training and protection for the senior population.   

The Woods Security Training facility is certified by the State of California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services for firearms and other security related training.  The company handles a wide spectrum of assignments that vary from certifying new NRA firearm ranges to conducting security assessments and audits on behalf of high-profile California coastal communities (e.g., Rancho Santa Fe). 

Previously, in my 30 years in Law Enforcement and Supervision I served with the Indio Police Department, the Riverside County Coroner’s Office, and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.   During my law enforcement career I trained law enforcement officers and participated in specialized security operations for the protection of high-ranking elected government officials visiting the Coachella Valley. I was directly involved in the development of the Larson Justice Center security system and training of its personnel. I was selected to receive extensive training in executive protection, police baton, defensive tactics, and firearms instruction through the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Secret Service, and am certified by the FBI as a Defensive Tactics instructor. 

Additionally, I served as Vice President and Director of Training for the Coachella Valley Security Academy where I developed a security guard training program for the Academy. I trained the teaching staff and conducted classroom instructions as well.

My formal education includes an Associate’s degree from College of The Desert in Police Science and a Bachelor’s degree from Pepperdine University in Public Administration.  I hold a lifetime college level teaching credential from the California Department of Education and have taught law enforcement defensive tactics subjects for many years. 

Additional Certifications:

• United States Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) Certified Counselor who teaches and certifies USCCA trainers. The USCCA provides its membership with education, training and self-defense liability insurance and offers membership in-person classroom-style courses, range training, and in-depth online training that has been carefully developed by self-defense industry experts.
• Certified as an instructor in martial arts by The American Federation of Independent Shotokan Karate Associations.  
• Certified NRA Firearms Instructor.
• Certified with Bureau of Security and Investigative Services as a firearms, baton and chemical agent instructor. 
• Access Licensing including Secure Airport access, Private Pilot’s license, Real Estate license.

Career Highlights:

• Assembled a team of investigators in a corporate, multi-year project making numerous presentations to several Federal Agencies where the group became documented Federal Subject Matter Experts.



• Selected by several Sovereign Nations as well as the Palm Springs Aerial Tram to provide training to their security personnel.

• Developed and implemented plans and security operations for discreet corporate events and individuals.

• Achieved the level of fifth degree black belt under the direction and training of Master Hidetaka Nishiyama, Hardy Sumner, George Takahashi, Fumio Dimura, Ray Dalkey and master Kim.  Trained over a thousand martial art students, many who attained their black levels. In the Japanese martial arts disciplines this level requires many years of training and is considered a master level in the martial arts.

• Trained over fifty thousand security officers who have been licensed by the State of California. Many of these went on to attain their firearms permits and impact weapons permit. 

• Served as a tactical member of the Indio Police Departments SWAT Team. 

• Military veteran – serving a tour of duty in South Korea.

• Directed and assembled groups of taskforce specialists for special assignments relative to executive protection. 

• Founding director of LEAPS Law Enforcement and Private Security of Riverside County and sat on the board for a number of years with high ranking staff from the FBI, Riverside County Sheriff Office, local Chiefs of Police and Sovereign Nations. 

• Currently contracted with numerous clients ranging from business entities, law firms, insurance companies to individuals to provide a range of services from risk assessment, training, compliance review and crisis/threat management.