Kicking off the first installment of our new series, Matthew Porcelli, CPP speaks with Abraham Desantiago from the ASIS International – Venezuela Chapter.

What are the most pressing security challenges you are facing in your region?

Citizen security is a major concern for people in Latin America and the Caribbean, with the region having the highest levels of criminal violence in the world. This is evidenced by the high and rising rate of homicides, as well as the legacy of armed conflicts and the proliferation of firearms.

Additionally, juvenile gangs and international drug production and trade have contributed to the phenomenon of narco-violence in countries such as Colombia and Mexico. This is indicative of the inability of the governments in the region to protect the fundamental right of the people to life. The magnitude of this problem is clear and should be addressed with urgency.

Another challenge is that security technology continues to evolve rapidly within the security environment and LATAM security professionals must strive to stay ahead of the curve. With an abundance of security technology resources available from numerous manufacturers to improve existing physical protection systems (PPS) and upgrade security functions, the task of identifying and selecting the right resource can be tough.

Therefore, it is imperative that security professionals ensure they keep up-to-date with the latest security technology and its applications. Regularly keeping abreast of the security technology landscape, be it through attending relevant trade shows and conferences, reading industry publications or researching companies and products, is a sure way to ensure Managers, Coordinators and Chief Security Officers are making the best decisions for their organizations.

In addition, knowing and understanding the latest trends and developments in the security technology sector will ensure that professionals are making informed decisions and taking the necessary steps to make their PPS as secure as possible. With a range of options available, being aware of the advantages and disadvantages of each resource is essential in order to make the right selection.

In a nutshell… governments have to improve security plans for the people and we need to stay updated about the security technology resources available. 

Can you describe your journey in the world of security?

Back in 2003, at the age of 19, I joined the Venezuelan Army in an environment where work was hard to come by. Little did I know, I was starting my professional security career. I served in the Venezuelan Army for two years, leaving as a Corporal First in 2005. In 2008, I joined law enforcement as a Police Officer. During this time, I worked for the Policia de Baruta and learned to combat criminal activity on a daily basis. I gained a deep understanding of the legal system, as well as the importance of being ever alert and vigilant. 

My time in law enforcement and the military shaped my career in other ways as well; I learned the importance of teamwork and loyalty, how to stay calm under pressure and keep good judgement as well as how to take command of a difficult situation. I also developed strong communication skills, which are essential in the security sector. 

For the past eight years, I have used my experience from the army and law enforcement to further my professional career in the security sector. I’m proud to say that I have had the opportunity to be part of a number of successful security projects. From 2013 to 2015 I worked in the corporate security environment as Controller of the Security Operations Center for a healthcare company in Caracas, Venezuela.

I have to say that gaining experience in the military and law enforcement helped me to cope with these new challenges. I learned to manage CCTV systems, access control systems, carry out shift reports as well as incident reports, supervise and control evacuation drills, etc. Currently, I am a Central Alarm Monitor Supervisor that works for a Diplomatic Mission (Embassy) in Caracas, Venezuela since November 2015.

Thankfully, today we have Enterprise Security Risk Management (ESRM) that helps to figure out and improve our daily work routine. As a Young Professional (now referred to as NextGEN) Community member who is always looking for way to support others (and my own) career aspirations, I always go to ASIS International to get guidelines, news, educational resources and webinars to be updated in my security environment.

Tell us about your journey within ASIS and how it has helped you in your career?

Since January 2019, I have served as a volunteer leader for the ASIS International Venezuela Chapter Board as the Young Professional Liaison. Currently, I play the role of Vice Chairman. I was eager to learn and develop my career through the educational resources and guidelines provided by ASIS International. I attended several in-person meetings throughout 2019 to learn more about the mission and core values of ASIS International and I even started to hear about the highly regarded Protection of Assets (POA) materials developed by ASIS and volunteer members.

Unfortunately, in March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic began to spread but I was determined to continue to make progress in my career. I realized that I could not stay idle and had to find a way to continue to advance my career. I decided to focus my energy and attention on ASIS International and with the help and support of the Chapter Chair, Jorge Barrios, we launched www.asisvenezuela.com.

We also upgraded the social media networks with daily posts with information and news regarding trends, insights from global ASIS members, etc. I understand, like other security professionals do, the importance of staying informed and up-to-date with the latest developments in the security industry. I am proud to be a part of the ASIS International Venezuela chapter and to have contributed to its growth and success. The experience has been invaluable for my career and I look forward to continuing my journey with ASIS.

I decided to also give my support to the Young Professionals Community, so I sent an email to Erwin Van de Weerd and showed my interest to work for the Community. Currently I play the role of the Global Outreach Subcommittee (GOSC) Chairman. There, I met Mclean Essiene, who was the GOSC Chairman back then. He invited me to join the Human Threat Management Community as the Community Engagement Committee Chair, where today I play the role of Vice Chairman.

In summary, I was working for my local chapter (Venezuela) as YP Liaison and for two communities in ASIS CONNECTS while COVID-19 was raging across the globe. I’m aware that other security professionals were leveraging the crisis we were all in to get certifications or pass certificate courses and as a result I was taking full advantage of the education from ASIS and will get an opportunity this year to work on getting my Certified Protection Professional (CPP) certification from ASIS thanks to Daniel Jimenez CPP, PSP and Julian Puentes CPP, PSP via their support and mentoring through their academy Organizacion GDC.

Last year, I won the YP GSX Scholarship and also as ASIS Venezuela Chapter Communications Chair I received the Excellence Award representing my local chapter board, peers and friends in Atlanta at Global Security Exchange (GSX) and I shared this honor with Letitia Emeana (UK), Simon Rueger (Switzerland), Humberto Santibañez (on behalf of Lima, Peru chapter).

I have to say that moment was one of my most memorable in my career. Furthermore, I supported the 2022 GSX Proposal for Presentation Review Committee and lastly, during 2022, I was featured in several presentations as ASIS CONNECTS Ambassador. I talked to ASIS members via Zoom app in New Zealand, Trinidad & Tobago, Idaho, San Francisco Bay Area, Pittsburgh, Cancun, Lima, Panama, Colombia about the benefits that ASIS CONNECTS provides. There is no doubt that ASIS International helped me become the security professional I am today.

You can connect with Matthew on LinkedIn here.