The Security Industry Association (SIA) named Charles McGilvary Johnson as co-chair of SIA StartUps in Security, a community and accelerator program for security innovators. This dynamic initiative, guided by SIA’s executive advisory board, is designed to identify, support and partner with innovative startups, scale-ups and industry leaders shaping the future of security technology.

Charles M. Johnson is founder and CEO of NGA Security Advisors and a seasoned professional with 30 years of experience in the electronic security industry. As a physical security specialist, he has a strong successful track record in developing, nurturing and managing relationships with architects, consultants, attorneys and especially end-user clients. Johnson is experienced in security technology, including physical access control, video surveillance, artificial intelligence, biometrics, Internet of Things, license plate recognition, parking and vehicle gate entrance, interior entrance and exterior barrier protection. He is an active member of SIA, ASIS International, the International Association of Professional Security Consultants and US|CPTED. During his extensive career, Johnson has worked on projects involving clients from corporate/Fortune 500, higher education, K–12, health care, critical infrastructure, multifamily, transportation, gaming and casinos, entertainment venues and federal, state and local government and municipalities, including law enforcement and public safety.

Johnson has been a highly active member of the SIA StartUps in Security community from its inception, previously chairing the community’s research committee, where he led efforts to launch the Investor Series, a program that interviews investors and showcases their insights into startups. He has been a part of the SIA StartUps in Security Strategy Review initiative a ISC East, a program that allows technology startup companies to get honest, private direct feedback on their early business strategy.

“I am very humbled and honored by the opportunity to expand my involvement and work with SIA, my co-chair Lee Odess and the rest of our community to provide the resources and support needed by this very important segment of our industry. I am very passionate about the StartUps in Security community and what we have been able to accomplish in the last 12 months,” Johnson said. “The focus SIA has shown through the Women in Security Forum, Veterans in Security, RISE and now StartUps in Security communities is a testament to the exceptional leadership within SIA. As a small business owner myself, I am very familiar with the unique challenges, obstacles and daily grind required to keep the ball moving forward. I am hopeful that our industry will continue to see the value in these startup organizations because in my opinion the most substantive work being done from technology, problem-solving and ideas are coming from these companies.”

StartUps in Security is designed for companies classified as startups or scale-ups that are seeking to propel their growth and establish industry relationships. Eligible startups include companies in their early operational stages and focused on product/service development, innovation-oriented businesses introducing novel solutions, organizations targeting large or emerging markets with significant growth potential, companies that typically rely on external funding for growth and businesses managing significant market and financial uncertainties. The community’s activities and accomplishments include hosting SIA Startups Experience events at ISC West and East, launching the StartUps in Security Mastermind peer-to-peer mentoring community and hosting Investor Series interviews with leading capital firms and individual investors.

“SIA is proud to welcome Charles M. Johnson as the new co-chair of the StartUps in Security community,” said Don Erickson, CEO, SIA. “Charles has wide-ranging expertise across both the practical and technical aspects of the security industry, and as a startup founder himself, he has a unique understanding of the experiences startups of all types are going through. His knowledge will be immensely beneficial to this community as he partners with co-chair Lee Odess to build on its success going forward. We thank outgoing co-chair Robert Lydic for his leadership in this community and look forward to collaborating with Charles to facilitate connections among security’s innovators who are looking to change the status quo and the industry.”