BARRY SYKES: Barry Sykes is the Founder and Director of Operations of Sykes Group LLC. This company was established to teach, train and market various products & services to the Law Enforcement, Private Security & Military Communities.

Mr. Sykes has 16 years experience with the NYS Department of Correctional Services as well as 13 years as a C.E.R.T. member. Mr. Sykes also has 15 years experience as a contactor for the United States Marshals Service and various Private Investigations & Protective Services firms.

In the Law Enforcement and Private sectors, Mr. Sykes has demonstrated his ability as an Instructor providing services in/to: Executive /Dignitary Protection Services, Tactical Firearms, Bail Enforcement, NYS Municipal Police General Topic & Chemical Agent instruction, FBI Chemical Agent, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center Multi-Weapon Firearm, N.T.O.A. Less Lethal, NRA Police Firearm & Precision Rifle, ASP & Monadnock Expandable Baton, Homeland Security Critical Response to Mass Casualty, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center Precision Marksman/Observer, Phoenix & Associate Sniper/Observer, Federal Bureau of Investigation Crisis Negotiation, NYS Fire Marshal.

CLYDE BANKS/Contractor: An 18 year veteran of Jersey City-NJ ESU, and the Tactical Team for the Jersey City elite NARCO UNIT. He is also a former US Army Ranger.

SERGIO AQUINO/Contractor: Mr. Sergio Aquino is the Lead Defensive Tactics and Security Instructor for Sykes Group LLC.  Mr. Aquino retired in 2005 from the New York City Department of Correction as a CO/First Responder. In his tenure with this agency, Mr. Aquino assisted with quelling several disturbances and escape attempts. These actions earned him two Medals of Meritorious duty as well as various other awards and citations. 

In addition, during this time, Mr. Aquino was employed with various protective service companies to provide training to new recruits and operate in a protective service role for celebrities. He was also assigned to protective service details as a contactor for the U.S. State Department; he was tasked with protecting such notable figures as Mr. Nelson Mandela (upon his first visit to the United States after being released from South African prison) as well as the Prime Minster of Senegals family.

Mr. Aquino has earned his certification as an Instructor for the following: New York State Commission of Correction General Police Topics and Crowd management, NRA Police Firearm, A&R Security Executive/Dignitary Protection, ASP & Monadnock Expandable Baton, Weapon Retention, Edge Weapons Defense System and Unarmed Defense Tactics.

SAID ABDUL- RAHIM/Contractor: 24 year veteran of NYS Dept. of Correction and a former member of the Correction Emergency Response Team for 20 years. An instructor in the following: general police topics, firearms, hostage rescue, C.E.R.T., amphibious tactics, counter terrorist tactics, executive protection, high risk transport, leadership & motivation. Mr. Abdul –Rahim is a U.S. marine - Vietnam veteran (force recon).

DR. ALI RAHMAN/Contractor: Master Instructor – former NYC Dept .of Correction Warden; he holds a doctorate in  police administration & law, he has taught at NYC Dept .of Correction Academy, numerous colleges & universities such as John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Nassau Community college, NYC police dept.,  & numerous federal government agencies.

LUIS A. SANCHEZ/Contractor: U.S. Army(Ret.) During his 26 years of service, Mr. Sanchez served under many commands in Administration, Logistics, Training, Operations, Plans and Combat Readiness Deployment. He served as part of the Search and rescue teams during 911 World Trade Center Disaster which lead to his deployment during Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2003 thru 2004 as a Combat Infantry Platoon Sergeant. He was awarded both the Global War on Terrorism Service and Expeditionary Medals and is qualified Expert with the M16 rifle, 9mm Pistol and the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (S.A.W). He was then tasked to train soldiers with their assigned weapons and later assigned to Train, Validate and deploy soldiers into combat.

Mr. Sanchez has earned his Certifications in Executive / Dignitary Protection and Building Entry Room Clearing and  is currently assigned as the Executive Protection Confidential Aide to the New York State Commissioner of Insurance.

ALVIN THOMAS/Contractor: 10 years with NYS DOC, currently serving as a Deputy Fire/Safety Officer, Trained in Suicide Prevention, Basic & Advanced Crowd Control. He is HRT, Tech Med & homeland Security Certified. Officer Thomas has also received training in Basic and Advanced Executive Protection & has worked with a private security firm for 13 years with 5 years in Executive/VIP Protection. He also has a background in computer technology and information retrieval.

LEOPOLD ALTMAN/Contractor: has over 19 years of military, security & specialized law enforcement experience. He is an alumnus of and a past contributor to the Calibre Press - Street Survival Seminars. Additionally he has attended numerous courses, conferences, seminars and workshops on law enforcement and security related topics such as defensive tactics, bombs and explosives, terrorism, executive/VIP protection & tactical operations. He is certified as an instructor in firearms, handcuffing (path), pepper spray (ocat), the Metal - Tech 1400 metal detector, compliance & control holds, Monadnock expandable baton, spontaneous weapons defense and the Community Anti-terrorism (CATeyes) program. He is a DHS/FEMA Authorized WMD Standardized Awareness Trainer and is a member of ICTOA, IACSP, IALEFI, NRA, NPDF, LEAA & a charter member of the International Law Enforcement Educators & Trainers Association(ILEETA).

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