Joseph Hendry Jr., PSP®, CLEE
Principal Consultant
Hendry is recognized as an expert in civilian and law enforcement responses to active threats, designated by the Ohio Department of Homeland Security and the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. He served six years in the U.S. Marine Corps and spent 27 years with the Kent State Police Department. As a Best Recommended Expert Service Provider in Risk Assessment, Expert Witness, and Safety Analysis for the insurance industry, he holds a bachelor's degree in Telecommunications and is Board Certified as a Physical Security Professional by ASIS International. Currently, he serves as the Education Co-Chair for the International School Safety and Security Community.
Hendry previously held a Secret Level Security Clearance with the Department of Homeland Security, having accurately predicted an attack on an elementary school five months before the Sandy Hook tragedy. He has conducted and supervised over 250 risk assessments across schools, universities, businesses, healthcare facilities, and houses of worship.
As one of the original eight law enforcement officers appointed by the Ohio Attorney General, he played a key role in developing and training the Single Officer Response to Active Threats (SORAT) course. He also created instructional materials on safely coordinating responses to prevent Blue on Blue incidents.
Hendry is one of just 58 experts selected by NFPA 3000 for the Cross Functional Emergency Preparedness and Response (ACT-AAA) Committee, tasked with establishing national standards for civilian and law enforcement responses to Active Shooter/Hostile Events. He holds the classification of Special Expert from NFPA and is among 50 international specialists working on the International School Safety Standard under ASIS International.
As a co-author of the first empirical, evidence-based study on civilian responses to active shooters, Hendry has contributed to numerous publications, including Police1, Campus Safety Magazine, The Journal of School Violence, Best’s Review, Security Magazine, and Security Management.
He has been interviewed by NPR, Time Magazine, Campus Safety Magazine, Security Management and others as an expert in school security and safety, recovery from critical events, and law enforcement response to active threats and terrorist attacks.