Inspiring Conversations with Jeff Corbin of Corbin Protective Group

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeff Corbin.

Hi Jeff, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps with a Marine Security detachment guarding top secret cryptography sites and nuclear weapons storage facilities and as an Infantry NCO, I began my career in law enforcement as a police officer with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department in 1992. I worked as a patrol officer and field training officer in some of the most violent areas of the city that were plagued with extremely high crime rates. Apparently, my supervisors were pleased with my work product as I was hand selected to work on a combined LVMPD/FBI Violent Criminal Offender task force where we investigated and apprehended some of the most hardened criminals in Las Vegas. Later, I was assigned to Narcotics and worked in an undercover capacity. Working on the task force as well as Narcotics I participated in serving hundreds of high-risk search warrants that required extensive training in regard to planning, briefings, execution, breaching, entry, room clearing, and debriefings.

In 1993 I returned home to Southern California and was hired on by the Ventura Police Department. While with VPD I worked patrol, in Traffic as a motor officer, and as a supervisor in patrol, Traffic, and Communications. In addition, I was the department’s Terrorism Liaison Officer in the Los Angeles regional area. I achieved an Advanced POST Certificate and received the department’s highest award for valor.

I retired in December 2013. During the course of my 22-year law enforcement career, I attained over 2000 hours of specialized training (in addition to my police academy training) in a variety of law enforcement skills including but not limited to various weapons qualifications, tactical deployment of those weapons, weaponless defense tactics, restraint/control techniques, dignitary protection, active shooter response, downed subject rescue, undercover operations, surveillance skills, crisis intervention techniques, and (just as important…if not more so than some of the others) verbal de-escalation & effective communication skills. I also was certified as a law enforcement instructor and instructed a variety of law enforcement classes. Also during my career, I participated in providing security for Vice President Dan Quayle’s visit to Las Vegas, numerous athletic, entertainment, TV & feature film productions, as well as Hollywood celebrities & Academy Awards parties. In addition, I have a degree in Criminal Justice, trained in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and enjoy weight training.

In 2020 my wife Celeste, who is a 21-year retired Deputy Sheriff (I met her when she was assigned to the Gang Unit…don’t underestimate her!), and I relocated to the greater Nashville area. Quickly falling in love with our new home, we have worked hard to assimilate and become rooted in and contributing members of our community. Having worked in both Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area I immediately recognized the need for executive personal protection in the Nashville market in regard to recording artists, celebrities, VIPs, high-wealth individuals, social activists, and others who either reside or frequent the Nashville area. There has always been a need for the personal security of these individuals but especially more so today with the recent social trends, scrutiny of law enforcement practices, law enforcement staffing shortages, and a reduction in criminal prosecutions. This has only emboldened some to act out in ways towards others, often violently, without fear of consequences or repercussions. Sadly, we see videos of this behavior every day. We felt that we had so much to offer in regard to protecting others that we should put our skills to good use and invest it in our community. Considering all of this, Celeste and I decided to take our 43 years of experience and training and start Corbin Protective Group LLC. I handle the field operations side of the business while Celeste works as the office manager.

The state of Tennessee requires the successful completion of a 16-hour course to be licensed and work in an “armed security” capacity. There are other companies in the Nashville area that provide executive protection services; some of their personnel have military experience, some have law enforcement experience, some have both and some have neither, but none consists entirely of former law enforcement officers. CPG is very different from all of the others and takes civilian executive personal protection to the next level. I’ve been very selective in assembling a team of Protection Agents where ALL of them have either completed a successful career or are still working as law enforcement officers. ALL have worked in a tactical assignment at one point in their careers; SWAT, Narcotics, Gang Unit, violent criminal apprehension teams, etc. All CPG agents have not only received the most extensive training available in law enforcement but have put it into practice and practical applications for years. One of our agents instructs at a renowned law enforcement training group that has been in existence for over 40 years, teaching seminars across the country while another is a firearms instructor at a world-renowned firearms training academy in Arizona. ALL of our agents are authorized to carry concealed firearms in all 50 states, With our competitors it’s a crap shoot as to who may be assigned and responsible for your protection whereas with CPG you are guaranteed to have a personal “law enforcement officer’ assigned to you to ensure your safety…not with 16 hours of training and little to no experience but with thousands of hours of training and experience. When it comes to personal protection, opting for the most qualified and skilled group just seems like a no-brainer to me.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I wouldn’t consider anything thus far to be difficult. Challenging… or better yet, “a learning process”? Yes, but not difficult. Never having been a business owner before there is a lot of “building it while I fly it” in regards to administrative logistics that need to be done; obtaining an LLC, licensing, insurance, payroll, etc. It’s stuff that you are aware of needing to be done and then finding the resources to get it accomplished. The challenge is just more so knowing where to obtain it. Celeste and I are pretty organized so establishing a checklist, working down it, and moving forward is pretty much how we operate in many aspects of our lives.

The biggest surprise to me was obtaining insurance. It wasn’t as simple as walking into a State Farm office and obtaining an auto policy! In the realm of armed security, there was quite a bit of document submission to underwriting; resume, training records, client & employee contracts, and much more.

We just started this in recent months so the most challenging aspect of this is getting started in regards to establishing clients. I think that others that have been established here for several years have an advantage in regard to contacts and whatnot. However, with that said, once we start to snowball and word of mouth spreads there isn’t a doubt in my mind that what we offer and bring to the table will rise above other groups. Nashville Voyage magazine is also going to be a huge asset in getting our name and who we are out there and for that I’m thankful.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Corbin Protective Group LLC?
As I described earlier, Corbin Protective Group LLC consists exclusively of retired and current law enforcement officers who provide armed physical security for recording artists, celebrities, VIPs, high-wealth individuals, social activists, and other influential people that are in need of protection. In addition, we are available to provide security for high-level business meetings where there may exist a propensity for volatility, private residence, private events such as weddings and parties, high-value asset/product escort, and more.

As law enforcement officers, all of our agents have thousands of hours of extensive training directly related to the protection of persons and property. It’s what we have done and specialized in for an entire career. Other companies may be owned by former military, heavy in the employment of military veterans, and tout that fact. Firstly, as a former Infantry Marine, I’d like to thank all of them for their service to our country! Many of our agents are military veterans as well. There are many skills and traits learned in the military that are beneficial to success in providing personal protection. However, the military is trained for operating in a combat zone…not a civil society. Rules of engagement, tactics, laws, and whatnot that are applicable in a combat zone are vastly different than those in a civil society. Having done both I can attest to this. With CPG’s law enforcement experience, we are very well versed in communication skills and obtaining verbal compliance from uncooperative individuals. It’s these skills that significantly reduce the potential for civil and/or criminal liability to our clients.

Who else deserves credit for your story?
We are a new business that has been live for only a month. My faith is important to me and the centerpiece of my life. God has blessed me with so much. He has given me the talents, skills, and physical abilities to run with this and in doing so I hope to be a positive influence on my employees and clients through the course of serving them in a protective capacity.

My wife, Celeste has always encouraged and supported me in my endeavors and I am blessed to have her. I spoke about skill sets learned in the military that does serve as an asset to success, the Marine Corps definitely instilled a “no give up, failure is not an option” mindset in not only this venture but in many other aspects of my life. There definitely were many dicey situations on the streets during my career as a police officer where you had no choice but to “win” which carries over to my outlook on things today. I also don’t want to forget Jamie McBride, Los Angeles Police Protective League and owner of Watermark Security Group who gave me a lot of insight in regards to getting this off the ground and being successful.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.corbinprotectivegroup.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cpgnashville/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089780224525&mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CPGNashville