With MILITARY PRECISION

By Erin Paviour-Smith

by Theo Thomas & FLR Enterprises

With a wealth of knowledge and experience, flanked with passion and an innate ability to protect, Leon impresses upon anyone he meets a sense that he can be entrusted to take the necessary actions to preserve one’s life and safety. We learn that the trajectory of Leon’s career in security began during his formative years growing up in the Virgin Islands.

The early years

As a native of St. Croix, US Virgin Islands but with deep ties in the BVI, Leon developed a keen interest in security, law enforcement and the paramilitary growing up.

Leon’s Mum, Linda is originally from Anegada and his Dad, the late Leon A. George, originally from North Sound, Virgin Gorda. His paternal Grandfather, the late Leo George was the first security director of Rosewood Little Dix Bay and founder of Virgin Gorda Security.

A dedication to service was solidified when Leon began attending business, community and entrepreneurial meetings with his Dad. The guidance and discipline received at home served as a foundation in preparing Leon for a range of public service appointments.

While attending high school, he became an active member of the Explorer Program with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. After completing school, he relocated to the US where he obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Engineering and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where he served as a Non-Commissioned Officer and Crew Chief for the 4th Amphibious Assault Battalion.

Leon received orders to deploy on two separate occasions to southwest Asia where he participated in combat/ contingency operations in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He is a decorated Marine who was awarded the Combat Action Ribbon, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

Back on US soil, Leon was honourably discharged from the Marine Corps and he gravitated to what was second nature and became an officer with the Department of Homeland Security. As he transitioned from one organisation to another, his love for country and commitment to protecting the public saw him continuing to serve in the defense of the United States.

His employment with the US Government helped him to hone his security skills, which include law enforcement (LEO training), investigations, protection and qualified K9 instructor. Leon continued to diversify his career, working within several different federal agencies both in the US and Europe. He became a certified law enforcement instructor and certified security specialist, all while furthering his education in security and strategic management.

“We work closely with both the private and public sectors, including owners and managers of residential properties, (including estates and private islands), commercial properties, financial institutions and Government agencies to provide bespoke security solutions that are created for each individual requirement”. Leon explains.

Identifying a need back home

While living in the US, Leon occasionally travelled home to the BVI, initially offering basic security consulting services. Eventually he made the decision to relocate permanently due to a general lack of subject-matter experts in the field of full-service private security in the Territory.

“At the time there wasn’t much in terms of private security beyond watch-man type services” said Leon. “I could see that the community didn’t understand what was needed and possible in terms of private security in the BVI. There was more of a ‘reactive’ than ‘proactive’ approach”… ……“Prevention is always better than a cure!” he continues.

This rings true with the nature of our little part of paradise with its laid-back, village ‘we leave our front doors unlocked’ attitude. “Our community has a need for many types of detailed security services and FLR Enterprises has the unique experience and expertise to serve each one at a high level.”

“We work closely with both the private and public sectors, including owners and managers of residential properties, (including estates and private islands), commercial properties, financial institutions and Government agencies to provide bespoke security solutions that are created for each individual requirement”. Leon explains. There are also the disaster management and emergency response services that FLR provides. In the wake of the 2017 hurricanes, FLR was the only local private security company operating in multiple jurisdictions in a cross-section of industries such as telecommunications, retail, hardware, motor vehicle dealerships, healthcare, government facilities and private estates.

Niche approach to security

Each client is unique and the FLR team tailors its solutions based on a detailed evaluation of the situation, property (assets), individuals and risks involved. Whether the need is at an electronic level, physical security patrolling, special events, executive protection, hard (armoured) vehicles, FLR’s detailed knowledge about the vast aspects of security using a ‘Holistic Security’ approach are second to none. This is a consultative process that Leon takes great pride in, with a view to long-lasting relationships that help clients understand the evolving security landscape and the need to keep up-to-date with fluid incident management and continuity planning.

“Realising that security problems often manifest with little advance warning, we are prepared to handle serious situations whenever and wherever they arise” Leon adds.

Training & Development

FLR is the only certified company in the BVI that can provide law enforcement training and certifications to both the private and public sectors. The team at FLR adheres to best practices in quality training support and goes beyond just offering training modules and compliance through evaluations.

“With the sophisticated threats that are out there today it is not just smart, but best practice to train employees on safety and security measures that they can institute into their daily routines, that will positively impact your workforce and business” says Leon.

The Company maintains relationships with law enforcement and Government agencies as well as other security providers.

The FLR team

All FLR employees undergo thorough screening and investigation, which includes a criminal background check, drug screening, validation of personal data, credit history review and reference checks.

Leon’s team consist of prior active duty, retired law enforcement, fulltime and part-time employees. FLR has access to a wide breadth of highly experienced resources which are not just fit for purpose but have worked on both sides of the security industry. •

... the water experts