Bland Cologne has over thirty-seven (37) years of experience in law enforcement, intelligence and corporate security. He began his career as a police officer with the City of Falls Church, Virginia Police Department, and continued as a Staff Instructor with the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Academy. Later, he became a Special Agent with the United States Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) where he served multiple deployments both overseas and aboard Navy ships. Bland left NCIS to become Director of Corporate Security & Safety for American Express Travel in Florida. In 1992, he started Brandon & Associates, a Jacksonville Private Investigative firm which became First Coast Security Services in 1999. Since that time, FCS has experienced tremendous growth under Bland’s leadership by focusing on its core values of service to the customer and concern for its employees.

Chris Austin brings over 32 years of leadership experience in the security industry. He began his career in 1994 with Brinks Armored Car and advanced rapidly through key management roles. In 1996, he was appointed Branch Manager for the Jacksonville district, followed by City Manager in Orlando in 1997. By 2000, Chris achieved the role of District Manager for the Southeastern United States, becoming the youngest individual to hold that position.

In 2007, Chris joined First Coast Security as Business Development Manager and was promoted to Vice President in 2008. Since then, he has served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Administrative Officer, where he has consistently driven operational excellence, strategic growth, and long-term value creation. Today, as Chief Executive Officer, Chris continues to lead with a focus on innovation, performance, and industry leadership.

AJ Romano is a dynamic executive with over 20 years of experience in the security industry, having served in nearly every level of management. As Executive Vice President at First Coast Security (FCS), AJ oversees the implementation and management of large client accounts, ensuring operational excellence and strategic alignment.

He brings a proven ability to develop tactical and strategic business plans, optimize operational expenses, and enhance organizational success. AJ is highly skilled in creating performance metrics for both the company and its clients to measure value and efficiency. His expertise spans project management, budgeting and forecasting, human resources leadership, negotiation, presentation, production and operations management, and leading large teams across multi-site, multi-state environments.

Prior to joining FCS in 2010, AJ spent a decade with Brinks Armored Car in various leadership roles, culminating in his appointment as District Manager for Central Florida and Louisiana and later as Regional Vice President for the Southeast.

Darrin Finley brings over 30 years of executive leadership across business administration, operations, IT, HR and financial management. After a decade away, Darrin rejoined First Coast Security in 2025, building on his previous tenure as Director of Administrative Services, where he oversaw key corporate functions including Human Resources, Accounting, Information Technology, Risk Management and administrative support.

Prior to his return, Darrin worked as a leadership consultant, guiding individuals and organizations in enhancing performance through strategic leadership development, organizational design and process optimization. His career spans both private and publicly traded companies, with senior roles in industries ranging from banking and financial services to hospitality.

Darrin holds a Bachelor of Science in Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology and an MBA from Jacksonville University. He also completed executive training through Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. Originally from Birmingham and raised in Atlanta, Darrin now resides in Jacksonville, Florida. He is an active community leader, having served on the boards of Learn to Read, The Jacksonville Public Library Foundation, We Care Jacksonville, and Level the Playing Field Leadership Academy. He’s also contributed as a youth soccer coach with the Jacksonville First Coast Soccer Association.

Jonathan started with FCS in Sept 2021 as an Account Manager after relocating to Ashburn, VA from Atlanta, GA. Two years later in 2023, Jonathan was promoted to Regional Director. His favorite aspect of the job is getting to work with so many different people from all over the world since the Greater DC area is a melting pot.

Larry joined First Coast Security in 2024 following his distinguished service as a Director at the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO), where he managed critical agency operations including finance, budgeting, personnel, and professional standards.

With nearly three decades of law enforcement service coupled with extensive accounting expertise, Larry brings a rare and powerful blend of leadership acumen and financial stewardship to his role. He applies his experience and strong ethical foundation to reinforce First Coast Security’s unwavering dedication to its core values—excellence, professionalism, courage, and integrity—and its mission to deliver world-class security solutions through highly trained professionals.

Larry’s strategic financial leadership not only supports FCS’s mission to provide tailored, high-quality services to residential, commercial, data center, and government clients, but also bolsters the company’s commitment to building long-term, trusted partnerships.

Joe has over than 25 years of experience in the security industry. He spent over 20 years as an expert polygraph examiner and investigative consultant servicing many fortune 100 companies, law enforcement and governmental agencies. An expert in interview and investigative techniques, he also served as an expert witness and guest instructor for law enforcement agencies and academies. Joe also provided employment screening solutions to most of the largest Armored car logistic organizations in the country as well as retail, warehouse and restaurant entities on a national level.

Joe joined FCS in 2015 as VP of Strategic Implementation with the primary role of contract transition and expansion of FCS partners throughout the country. Joes team has transitioned or started over 80,000 hours per week of security coverage primarily in data centers, critical infrastructure and Federal protection. His expertise in security and personnel evaluation has been instrumental in the core values and mission statement of FCS as we continue to grow and expand throughout the U.S.

Earle has over forty (40) years of experience in contract security, beginning his security career in 1977 with Enforcement Security Corporation. In 1995, Earle advanced to the position of General Manager for Wells Fargo Guard Services in Gainesville, Florida. He was promoted in 1998 to District Manager for Burns International, and then served as Area Operations Manager for the Southeast Business Unit for Securitas USA.

Earle joined First Coast Security in 2003 and has provided executive leadership in a variety of operational and business development roles since that time. He current serves as Director of Quality Assurance, ensuing that our teams are consistently meeting our standards and expectations, and providing valuable coaching, guidance and mentorship to our operational management teams.

Christine brings a unique blend of experience and expertise to her role as the Director of Human Resources. Since joining our company in 2015, she has been an instrumental force in fostering a thriving workplace culture. With over two decades of dedicated service in the field of HR, her knowledge and insights have contributed to the success and growth of our organization. Christine’s journey encompasses a background in security operations within our company which enriches her approach to human resources. As the Director of HR, Christine’s responsibilities extend across a spectrum of functions. She skillfully manages a team of HR generalists, benefit coordinators, and compliance experts, ensuring the seamless execution of these crucial functions.

Janelle is a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) with over a decade of progressive experience in human resources and organizational development. Janelle is a seasoned HR leader that has championed workplace engagement and led transformative HR initiatives across the organization to foster culture, build strong teams, streamline processes and partner with senior leadership to align business goals. Currently serving as HR Director, she drives the company’s human capital strategy, overseeing all facets of HR—from compliance and benefits to performance management and employee development.

Janelle is a Michigan native and escaped to Florida after graduating from Western Michigan University. She currently holds a seat on the Mandarin High School Advisory Committee for their Business & Technology Academy.

Chris is a seasoned and dedicated security and law enforcement professional with over 28 years of leadership experience in public safety, private sector security operations, and employee wellness programs. His career spans operational, investigative, and executive roles, with a proven record in crisis management and in creating initiatives that improve the lives of employees and the communities they serve. As Area Security Manager for Amazon Web Services (AWS), he oversaw multi-site security operations and applied his in-depth understanding of AWS culture and standards to deliver effective, tailored solutions—experience that now strengthens FCS by enabling him to anticipate challenges and implement strategies that enhance efficiency. Before AWS, Chris spent 25 years in law enforcement, holding a wide range of assignments and earning numerous accomplishments before retiring from the Fairfax County Police Department in November 2022.

Looking ahead, he is committed to making those who supported his candidacy proud of his contributions to FCS, leveraging his AWS experience to anticipate client needs, deliver innovative solutions, and maintain a competitive edge, while deepening his expertise, mentoring colleagues, and driving the company’s continued growth and success.

Tamim Sherzai joined FCS in June 2017. Over the past 8 years, he has built deep expertise in scheduling systems, workflow management, and strategic operations across fast-paced and high-growth industries. Currently serving as Director of Scheduling and Strategy, he leads the integration of planning tools, forecasting models, and cross-departmental initiatives to enhance performance and support sustainable growth.

Based in Virginia, he is driven by a core belief that great strategy starts with great people. His story is one of transformation what began as an entry-level role has become a lifelong mission. His time at FCS has not only changed his career but his life as a whole. With deep purpose, he is committed to making a lasting impact on others. Through his leadership and dedication, he continues to shape a more empowered, efficient, and people-focused workplace helping others rise just as he did.

Conni Hull studied Criminal Justice at Western Oregon University and in 2015 entered into the professional private security industry. Conni has been a Security Operations Manager with FCS for 6 years and her most current role is as our Regional Security Director in our Pacific Northwest market.

Robert Morison joined FCS in April 2020 and currently manages the client portfolio for the State of Florida. Rob’s focus since he joined FCS has been on providing high quality service to our Florida clients. He has twenty-five (25) years of operational and leadership experience in the security industry and has held multiple management positions, including, Regional Vice President in the Northeast and in Florida, Assistant Director of Retail Services, Director of National Services with a focus on high-end retail clients, and national account executive focusing on domestic growth.

Tom’s professional background in security and law enforcement spans over 37 years. Tom worked in Hotel Security Management, locally in Jacksonville, and left that to serve the community by joining the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) in Jacksonville, Florida in 1991. In his 29 plus year career with JSO, he worked in various distinct parts (Investigations and Homeland Security, Patrol, and Personnel and Professional Standards) of the agency beginning with his tenure in the Homicide Unit and then eventually promoting to and retiring as the Director of Personnel and Professional Standards. In 2020 after his retirement from law enforcement, he has worked as the Crime and Safety Analyst as an on-television expert about crime and safety issues, and he recently joined the FCS team and is the Regional Director of Operations for the State of Florida.

Kenny Neltner joined FCS in April of 2022 and currently manages the client portfolio for the State of Tennessee while also serving clients in other states. Kenny’s focus since joining the team has been embracing culture and implementing it into our officers, supervisors, and overhead staff to provide the best possible quality and value for our clients with continual focus on operational excellence and year over year growth. Kenny has been in security for roughly seven years providing operational leadership and satisfaction to clients within his region. Kenny enjoys working in operations because no two days in a row are ever the same and there are always new challenges to accept and goals to achieve.

With two decades of dedicated service to FCS, Michelle stands as a pillar of expertise and reliability. As the Finance Manager, she oversees the invoicing department and payables with an unwavering commitment to precision and efficiency. Additionally, she processes all government contracts and manages our sales tax obligations, demonstrating her comprehensive understanding of regulatory framework for federal, state and local tax jurisdictions. With an extensive background in our organization, she provides valuable insight and knowledge within the contract security industry.