John M. Bertsch is the Executive Director, Global Safety and Security for the IRONMAN® Group.  Director Bertsch leads the planning, preparation, response and recovery from disruptive events which may impact IRONMAN® Groups’ employees or global business operations. In this role, John is tasked with implementing global standards for excellence in event production and safety for over 300 participatory sporting events including Triathlons, Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and Major Marathons safeguarding up to 1 million competing athletes annually.

Director Bertsch is the former Police Commissioner for Hawaii Police Department, a member of the US Department of State Bureau of Diplomatic Security and Overseas Security Advisory Council, Hawaii State Law Enforcement Officials Association, and Federal Law Enforcement Foundation.  Director Bertsch works with INTERPOL’s – Project Stadia on mass participatory safety and the World Economic Forum (Geneva) on Cyber Resilience affecting major sporting events as well as Europol and various US Embassy’s legal attaché for Consular affairs. John is the first professional in participatory sports industry to earn the internationally accredited and recognized Certified Sport Security Professional (CSSP) certification and hold a security clearance with the US Government.

Brian is a Visiting Legal Fellow at The Heritage Foundation in Washington, DC, and also is a senior advisor to the Homeland Security and Defense Business Council.

Brian regularly speaks and writes on security issues, and has written articles for the Wall Street Journal, Politico, The Hill, and other publications.