Jason currently serves as CEO/President of K-9SI where he oversees multiple private and government K-9 contracts as a consultant both domestically and internationally. Currently, Jason provides subject matter expert consultation to K-9 procurement, operational, and training contracts for the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Air Force, and the Department of Homeland Security, to include the explosive detection passenger screening program and the cargo screening program, with a total value of over 20 million dollars in government contracts.
Prior to leading K-9SI full-time, Jason was a Field Canine Coordinator for the National Explosives Detection Canine Team Program (NEDCTP) with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). There he provided program oversight and subject matter expertise to law enforcement canine teams and federal canine teams. He provided leadership, technical advice, guidance and direction to ensure the overall effectiveness and utilization of explosive detection K-9 teams throughout the United States for TSA. He ensured that national program policy standards and guidelines were communicated in a clear and effective manner to a variety of internal and external stakeholders, while also ensuring adherence to such measures. He served as a K-9 liaison to civilian and law enforcement officials at the federal, state and local government levels.
Jason also served as a Canine Trainer and Course Developer for Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). He planned, developed and was the Lead Instructor for Explosive Detection Courses to a variety of domestic and International Federal Agents, law enforcement and U.S. Military. He trained, instructed and certified students in multiple federal agencies such as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA), Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency (DHS/FEMA) and many other state and local departments working specifically in explosives detection.
He led courses for the Department of Defense (DOD) Military Working Dog (MWD) program in Yuma, AZ, providing Home-Made Explosives training to over 1,000 MWD’s prior to their deployment to high-threat areas such as Iraq and Afghanistan. This includes the Specialized Search Dog Program (SSD), Improvised Explosive Detection Dog Program (IDD), Tactical Explosive Detection Dog Program (TEDD), as well as the Advanced K-9 Handler Course. He was also involved in developing and instructing the agency’s first off leash detection program, SEEK (Search Enhanced Evidence K-9), and the agency’s first SRT (Special Response Team) dual-purpose patrol/explosives detection canine. He instructed explosive detection canine courses for the U.S. Department of State’s Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program, which served over 21 international countries.
Jason was the 2011 recipient of the Johnny A. Masengale Memorial Award, which is given out nationally to those who made outstanding contributions in the explosives field.
Prior to working for the ATF, Jason served as an Explosive Detection K-9 Handler, Trainer, Kennel Master and Protective Security Specialist for the U.S. Department of State in support of the Worldwide Personal Protection Services contract (WPPS) with U.S. Diplomatic Security throughout Iraq and Afghanistan. He was assigned as one of the primary explosive detection handlers to the U.S. Ambassador and the Regional Security Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, and was the lead K-9 handler used in the 2009 Afghanistan Presidential Elections. He was the lead K-9 handler used in the 2008 Iraqi elections for South – Central Iraq providing explosive detection sweeps for the U.S. Department of State, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the U.S. Department of Defense along with various other governmental agencies and programs.
Jason also served as a Police Officer for the City of Yakima, WA, and the City of Puyallup, WA. During that time, he specialized as a K-9 Handler and K-9 Trainer with the Washington State Police Canine Association (WSPCA). His additional duties included being a member of the SWAT Team, a Defensive Tactics Instructor, a Field Training Officer and the Officer in Charge of the Honor Guard.
Jason honorably served in the United States Army as a Military Police Officer, where he received numerous awards and recognition throughout his assignments for his service. Jason holds a Master of Science and a Bachelor of Science from Bellevue University in Security Management. He has served as an adjunct professor at Henley-Putnam University, teaching a Master’s program in Advanced Executive Protection.
He is an accomplished author and has contributed K-9 related chapters for two separate University textbooks, used for teaching at the Master’s level in Strategic Security. He has been published in K-9 Cop Magazine and Police K-9 Magazine with featured articles in K-9 training and deployment.
