At first glance, it may look like your executive protection is in place. There’s a driver. A familiar face at the event. Someone to manage movement when schedules get tight. But is it really a program – or just a presence?

This is the question we ask organizations every week. Because in our experience, protection that “looks fine” on paper can fall apart when tested in the real world. What’s often missing is structure: strategy, accountability, operational discipline, and a clear understanding of risk. Without those, what you have isn’t protection – it’s improvisation.

So what separates a well-structured executive protection (EP) program from a loosely coordinated effort? Here’s what we look for.

Know the Risks Before You Protect Against Them

Effective EP starts with risk clarity. Not in general terms, but specific to the individual: their role, visibility, recent threats, family considerations, travel patterns, and exposure due to corporate events or litigation.

Too many organizations build protection around assumptions – or worse, visibility – instead of verified threats. A strong program begins with a formal threat and risk assessment, and that assessment should guide everything else: staffing, posture, logistics, and budget.

One Program, Multiple Environments

Real protection doesn’t stop at the office entrance. It spans every space the executive operates in – home, work, travel, events, even digital platforms.

One of the most common gaps we encounter is inconsistency across domains. A company may invest heavily in office security while overlooking residential risks, or fail to vet travel itineraries where exposure is actually highest. If your protective posture doesn’t follow the executive, it doesn’t protect them.

Planning Is Non-Negotiable

Advance work is what distinguishes a professional EP operation from a reactive one. For every movement – whether it’s a high-profile event or a routine commute – there should be a plan. Routes need to be tested. Site access points need to be understood. Contingency protocols must be in place.

Many organizations have capable personnel, but no procedural discipline. That’s when important details get missed – and that’s when problems become dangerous.

Skill Is Not the Same as Experience

Having someone “with a background in law enforcement” is not the same as having a trained executive protection professional. EP requires a specific skill set: threat recognition, principal movement, emergency medical response, communication under pressure, and above all, discretion.

Programs that succeed over time invest in people – not just hiring, but training, scenario testing, and cross-domain coordination. Credentials may open the door, but ongoing development keeps teams ready.

Governance Is the Backbone of a Real Program

Who owns executive protection in your organization? If the answer includes HR, legal, and the principal’s executive assistant – with no clearly designated lead – you likely don’t have a program. You have a patchwork.

A well-functioning EP program has defined leadership, clear reporting lines, standard operating procedures, and a seat at the table during high-level planning. Protection needs to be integrated, not assigned.

A Final Thought: Presence Without Structure Is a Liability

Effective executive protection isn’t reactive, ad hoc, or symbolic. It’s built on structure and designed to prevent the unexpected from becoming the unmanageable.

At R.L. Oatman & Associates, we help organizations move from exposure to readiness. Whether you’re designing a new program or strengthening what’s already in place, we can guide the process – based on real-world experience, trusted frameworks, and a deep understanding of high-risk environments.