PWA MISSION STATEMENT
Pacific West Academy’s mission is to educate and graduate tactically proficient Executive Protection Professionals who understand and embrace the social responsibilities required to work in the security field.
We believe that true protection requires a delicate balance of technical mastery, environmental awareness, digital and protective intelligence, and unwavering ethical conduct. Every graduate leaves not as a guard, but as a highly disciplined leader capable of managing complex risk for high-profile clients. Pacific West Academy serves both civilian and military/veteran students pursuing careers in executive protection and private security and is approved for GI Bill® education benefits.
Our standard of instruction goes beyond top bodyguard. Our curriculum is based on the rigorous demands of the modern protective industry.
Our programs provide exhaustive security personnel training that focuses on both hard tactical skills and the “soft skills” of client interaction and conflict de-escalation.
As one of the premier GI Bill® colleges certified institutions for vocational security training, we are dedicated to helping our students achieve a professional standard that commands respect in the private sector.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill
Pacific West Academy established in 2012 with the one basic goal in mind: to teach individuals the essential fundamentals of physical security operations and close protection. Our parent company, Advanced Security Concepts, Inc. (ASC), struggled to find qualified security professionals during their hiring process. Time and again, ASC discovered that most candidates — whether military veterans or civilians — did not have the hands-on skills and specialized knowledge needed to perform effectively as private sector security professionals.
To solve this problem, ASC founded Pacific West Academy (PWA) to deliver the most comprehensive close protection training in Los Angeles for those pursuing elite-level security careers. We built a curriculum that meets the demanding standards of today’s top security firms, ensuring every graduate leaves with both the tactical mindset and real-world operational skills needed to succeed. Our dedication to high-quality, standardized training has made Pacific West Academy a top choice for veterans looking to maximize their career potential after military service — including those using their GI Bill® benefits.
Core Values and Ethics
01
Duty of Care
the safety and well-being of the people we protect and the people we train comes first and always. Every decision, in the classroom and in the field, is made with the protectee’s or the student’s welfare as the paramount consideration.
02
Integrity and Discretion
we hold ourselves to an uncompromising standard of honesty, confidentiality, and ethical judgment in the classroom, in client-facing work, and in every representation we make to students, employers, and regulators.
03
Technical and Tactical Competence
we maintain rigorous, continuously updated proficiency in the physical and operational skills the protective profession demands, so every graduate is genuinely field-ready, not merely certified.
04
Human-Centered Protective and Digital Intelligence
we train students to anticipate risk through both traditional vigilance and responsibly applied digital and protective intelligence, using technology, including AI-informed tools, in service of the person being protected, never losing sight of human judgment and human welfare at the center of the threat picture.
05
Access and Service
we extend high-quality protective training to those who serve and protect others and work deliberately to remove barriers, financial and otherwise, that would keep qualified students out of the profession.
06
Accountability and Continuous Improvement
we regularly and honestly evaluate our programs, our instructors, and our graduates’ outcomes and we act on what that evaluation shows.
VAN NUYS
Pacific West Academy Headquarters
Pacific West Academy provides the training you need to be effective in any position in the security and protection fields.
Pacific West Academy gives you the practical training needed to succeed in any role within the security and protection industry. Located in Van Nuys, California, our programs are built on decades of real-world field experience from our parent company, ASC. We started with a intensive 104-hour course specifically designed to give students the foundational knowledge and certifications needed to launch a successful career as a protection agent.
As our program grew, we realized that good training alone was not enough. We felt a responsibility to help our graduates actually get hired. So we made it our mission not only to train students to the highest standard, but to actively help them land jobs in the security and protection industry. This hands-on approach to career placement is why Pacific West Academy is consistently recognized as one of the best executive protection training providers in California.
In 2016, we began building a more advanced and comprehensive program that earned recognition from the Veterans Administration and received national accreditation from the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET). This expansion was largely driven by the growing number of military veterans looking to transition into security and protection careers. The program not only prepares students for senior roles in security management but also opens doors to higher education in criminal justice.
After months of development, the Certified Executive Security Specialist (CESS) program officially launched in 2017, raising the bar for professional security training while keeping our focus on helping every graduate find meaningful employment. Today, our personal protection training courses are widely regarded as the gold standard for anyone entering the high-end security sector.”
As a veteran-operated facility, Pacific West Academy is uniquely positioned to help former military personnel make a smooth and confident transition into civilian professional life. We understand the shift from the structured world of military service to the broader demands of the civilian workplace, and we have built our programs to bridge that gap effectively.
Upon completing our programs, students leave with strong academic skills, practical security expertise, and the confidence to pursue higher education or step directly into a career as a protection agent.
Our team is made up of veterans from the military, law enforcement, and private security sectors, bringing together decades of combined global experience. This wealth of knowledge is reflected in every course we offer, keeping Pacific West Academy at the forefront of professional security officer training and making us a top choice for veterans building their next career.
ACCEPTED & APPROVED
Pacific West Academy Accreditation
Pacific West Academy, is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education & Training (ACCET). ACCET is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a nationally recognized accrediting agency.
ACCET (Accrediting Council for Continuing Education & Training) school institution code 1562
1722 N St NW
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 955-1113
Approved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE)
Pacific West Academy is a private institution and has approval to operate as an institution by the BPPE in compliance with state standards—school code 25-448535. 2535
Capitol Oaks Drive, Suite 400
Sacramento, CA 95833
(916) 431-6959
Approved by the California State Approving Agency for Veterans Education (CSAAVE)
Pacific West Academy has been approved by CSAAVE—school institution code 25-1902-05.
1227 O Street, Suite 314, Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 503-8317
Approved by the State of California as an Eligible Training Provider (ETPL)
CalJobsState Provider ID: 3129
Bureau of Security & Investigative Services Permits:
Private Patrol Operator – 120492
Private Patrol Operator Branch, San Diego – 6597
Los Angeles, Firearms Training Facility – TFF 1305
Los Angeles, Baton Training Facility, – TFB 1250
San Diego, Firearms Training Facility – TFF 1498
San Diego, Baton Training Facility – TFB 1315
Tennessee Private Protective Services:
Security License # 13628, Tennessee
State Certified Handgun Training School,- Tennessee Department of Safety
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