John Donlon, former Chief Officer in policing within the UK and National Coordinator Protect & Prepare has been appointed Chairman of the International Association of Critical Infrastructure Protection Professionals (IACIPP). An association open to critical infrastructure operators and government agencies, including site managers, security officers, government agency officials and policy makers. The purpose is to share ideas, information, experiences, technology and best practise.
Previous role and responsibilities
John Donlon joined the police service in 1976 where he served in a wide variety of roles including Assistant Chief Constable for Thames Valley Police Service. In July 2005, as Chief Officer, he was appointed National Coordinator Protect & Prepare working with the Association of Chief Police Officers of England, Wales and Northern Ireland
He provided the strategic policing lead for all policing activity relating to the Protect and Prepare strands of the UK Counter Terrorism Strategy - CONTEST. It Included Special Branch Intelligence and Protective Security at UK Ports and Borders, Transport Security Aviation & Maritime, Protection of Critical National Infrastructure, Protection of Crowded Places, Preparedness for a terrorist attack including Lead on Mass Casualty & Marauding Firearms Attacks and also National Training and Exercising.
He was also Protect and Prepare Counter Terrorism lead for 2012 London Olympic Games
Since leaving the Police Service 2010 he launched Donlon Management & Security Services Ltd which provides policing and security professionalism, advice and training on behalf of a range of public sector and private organisations and Governments across Europe, Middle East and Africa.
John is the immediate past President (and currently the strategic advisor) to the European Association of Airport and Seaport Police (which includes the European Rail Network), an organisation that promotes co-operation between international partners, delivers exchange opportunities and has an advisory role to European and International policy makers. He is also a Board member of the International Association, the Interport Police.
Background
John holds a Master of Arts degree in Organisational Management from Manchester University; a Diploma in Applied Criminology and Police Management from Cambridge University; he is a Fellow of the Security Institute; a Graduate of the FBI International Counter Terrorism Leadership Programme and a Graduate of the UK Police National Strategic Command Course.
In 2010 he was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal for distinguished service and the 9/11 International Police Medal, in 2012, for Services to Counter Terrorism.
Communications Director Tony Kingham said: John brings a huge amount of international expertise and experience to the role and will provide the leadership and the strategic vision that will enable the IACIPP to grow and fulfil its goal of bringing Critical Infrastructure Protection Professionals together to share knowledge and experience to make the society a safer place.
As part of his duties John will Chair the 3rd the Critical Infrastructure Protection & Resilience Europe (CIPRE) conference in The Hague in March and Critical Infrastructure Protection & Resilience Asia (CIPRA) in Bangkok in June 2016.
He will also present awards to the winners of the first annual IACIPP Technology Awards, which will be presented also be presented in The Hague.