He has subsequently spent his time in the security industry in leadership roles throughout his career running installation, service, sales and business development programs. Huggins has been with ASSA ABLOY since 2014, where he currently leads the government and national accounts programs. He was instrumental in the establishment of the ASSA ABLOY Veterans Network, which has established veterans groups at the company’s various locations across the country and conducts various “give back” activities in support of its veteran employees and local community veterans groups. Since 2024, Huggins has served as the first-ever chair of SIA’s Veterans in Security community, which focuses on the issues and concerns of veterans and active military members who are in – or are interested in joining – the security industry.

“I would first like to acknowledge all of the hard work that all of the committees throughout SIA do to support the security industry,” said Huggins. “Each are volunteers and have very important roles in their own organizations and our collective mission to keep America safe! I am certainly honored to receive this award but would like to do so on behalf of all of those veterans that this committee has been established to serve. For those currently serving, SIA’s Veterans in Security community wants them to know we recognize how important their mission is, and as they choose to transition to the civilian sector, we want them to know they are a natural fit for our industry and SIA and their member companies welcome them with open arms. The honor, courage, commitment and loyalty traits exhibited by the veterans community is a model for future generations of leaders!”

Under Huggins’ leadership, the Veterans in Security community has held events, including a networking reception featuring insights from James Rodriguez, assistant secretary for veterans’ employment and training service at the U.S. Department of Labor, and a special event in honor of Veterans Day at President Lincoln’s cottage. In December 2024, Huggins was influential in guiding the community’s launch of the SIA Veterans Employment Exchange, which specializes in matching veterans and separating military members with open positions in the security industry. The unique online tool is free to all SIA members and job seekers.

“SIA is pleased to recognize Jeff Huggins for his extraordinary initiative, contributions and leadership on the SIA Veterans in Security Advisory Board and with our industry’s veteran community,” said Scott Dunn, chair of the SIA Board of Directors and senior director of business development at Axis Communications. “It is challenging to start a new initiative, and Jeff didn’t hesitate to take on this challenge. He dedicated valuable time to help recruit and onboard members of the Veterans in Security Advisory Board and played an instrumental in the development and launch of the SIA Veterans Employment Exchange, a key element of SIA’s efforts to strengthen veteran employment outreach. Jeff’s enthusiasm and dedicated leadership drove strong engagement among advisory board and community members that has only grown since the launch of this community, and we look forward to recognizing him at The Advance this year and to continuing to collaborate with him as SIA builds on its programs for veterans and military members.”