Robert L. Oatman, CPP

Robert Oatman retired as a Major and Chief of Detectives from Maryland’s Baltimore County Police Department. During his long and varied career, he acquired a broad range of training and experience in crisis management leadership, executive protection and criminal investigation. He developed and commanded the first Hostage Negotiation Team formed in the State of Maryland, successfully concluding over 100 hostage taking incidents. United States Secret Service training provided the foundation of his executive protection skills, which he used to administer protective operations for a variety of local, national and international officials and dignitaries. His command of the Criminal Investigative Division gave Major Oatman the opportunity to utilize the investigative and management skills acquired during a distinguished 20 year career.

Since entering the private sector, Bob Oatman has provided consulting advice, management services, expert protective and investigative support and training to multi-national corporations both in the United States and abroad. Frequently called upon to analyze standing executive protection operations, he has been responsible for restructuring major corporate security programs. He managed executive protection operations for NBC during the Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea in 1988, Barcelona, Spain in 1992, Atlanta, Georgia in 1996 and Sydney, Australia in 2000. 

An expert on protective operations, Mr. Oatman is the author of The Art of Executive Protection (Noble House, 1997), a comprehensive study of executive protection in the private sector and personal safety. He is co-author of You’re the Target, (New World Publishing, 1989), an in-depth look at terrorism and personal security. He was also a contributing author to Volumes I and II of Providing Protective Services, (Winchester Printers, 1991-1994), a compendium of protective skills articles, and has contributed works to a number of industry publications.  

Mr. Oatman holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Baltimore and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the Federal Executive Institute. He is a Certified Protection Professional and long standing member of the American Society for Industrial Security, FBI National Academy Associates, American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers and the Maryland Chief’s of Police Association.