About Us
Security with a purpose
Originally established in 2014, US Protection Agency, Inc. a family owned small business had the vision to bring a new idea and meaning into the security word. We call it Security With a Purpose or SWAP. SWAP allows for our customers to know that with every site being secured, some of the profit will go to a good cause.
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Gary Bertacchi is also the President and CEO of the Cord Vanderpool Foundation. CVF is focused on giving back to the community and the people who keep us safe. With Projects ranging from helping children with cancer and animals who are abandoned to helping families of fallen Police Officers, and disabled Veterans you can assure the money that goes to CVF through SWAP is going to a good cause.
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We hope through our professional security services and our generous non profit contributions, you will choose USPA as your next security team. It is our goal to try our very best to leave this world a better place than how we found it.
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To learn more about the programs that you can help fund through SWAP, please feel free to click on the WE CARE Logo!
Meet Our Management Team
Gary R. Bertacchi
President & Chief
Gary Bertacchi began his career in banking in 1978 and was President and CEO of two separate trust companies in Illinois for 16 years before joining the Registered Investment Advisory firm of Cooper Linse Hallman Capital Management, Inc. He currently holds the title of President and CEO of Triex Financial Services, Inc., an Illinois Registered Investment Advisory Firm.
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Gary holds a Law Degree from John Marshall Law School, an Accounting Degree from DePaul University, a Series 66 Securities License and is both a Private Detective Licensee and Private Security Licensee.
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Gary is also the President and CEO of the Cord Vanderpool Foundation. A 501(c)(3) dedicated to helping improve lives in the greater Chicagoland area and beyond.
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Gary holds the following:​
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Illinois Security Licensee
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Illinois Private Detective Licensee
Mark Bertacchi has had a long-standing interest in law enforcement, which began in his childhood. Begining in 2007 he dedicated four years volunteering with a local police department, contributing over 4,000 hours of service. During his tenure, he had the unique privilege of forming valuable connections within the law enforcement community, including professionals from the Chicago Police Department, Cook County Sheriff's Office, numerous federal and suburban agencies, and the Illinois State Police.
Following his time with the department, he transitioned into the security industry, where he has accumulated over 15 years of experience. Throughout his career, he has taken on various assignments, ranging from unarmed site security to armed protective details. In his most recent role, Mark has been responsible for managing protection details for several prominent Chicago music venues and serving as US Protection's liaison with federal law enforcement during the 2024 Chicago Democratic National Convention.
A strong proponent of continuous professional development, Mark has completed numerous training courses through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), ensuring his expertise remains current with best practices for responding to mass casualty and active shooter scenarios, as well as keeping up with the federal standard for training.
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Mark's other Affiliations:​
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• Chief Firearm Instructor
• Director of Law Enforcement Support at the Cord Vanderpool Foundation
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Mark's Training Includes:​
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Certified Firearm Instructor
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Introduction to Incident Command System (DHS/FEMA)
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Basic Workplace Security Awareness (DHS/FEMA)
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Active Shooter: What You Can Do (DHS/FEMA)
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Preparing for Mass Casualty Incidents: Guide for Schools, Higher Education, and Houses of Worship (DHS/FEMA)
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Active Shooter Prevention: You Can Make a Difference (DHS/FEMA)
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Active Shooter: What You Can Do (DHS/FEMA)
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Responding to an Active Shooter: You Can Make a Difference (DHS/FEMA)
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Mass Care/Emergency Assistance Overview (DHS/FEMA)
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Introduction to Public - Private Partnerships (DHS/FEMA)
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Fundamentals of Risk Management (DHS/FEMA)
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Blue Campaign First Responder Training (DHS/FEMA)
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Diversity Awareness Course (DHS/FEMA)
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KultureCity - Sensory Inclusive Venue Training
Vice President & Deputy Chief
Mark J. Bertacchi
Director
of Operations
Thomas P. Lavin
Thomas Lavin brings the best of over 25 years of experience in high profile protection to US Protection Agency. As our Director of Operations, he is passionate about creating an intelligence-based organization that breaks the conventional mold of large security
chain corporations.
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In the late 1980’s, while partnering with special purchasing enterprises, he personally managed acquisitions for clients worldwide including members of the Saudi Royal Family. Lavin then gained unique insight into high asset celebrity management and protection during his tenure with International VIP in Beverly Hills, California.
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Since 1997, Lavin has been headquarters in Chicago, Illinois and had managed every aspect of sensitive corporate investigations and protection. He has coordinated security logistics for high profile political details such as Senator Patrick O’Malley’s campaign for Illinois Governor, security services during the NATO protests in 2012 and the 40th annual summit of American Legislative Exchange
Council in 2013.
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He has also managed the protection services for religious and corporate assignments such as the Global CEO Forum, Ann Graham Lotz and the international art exhibit of Japanese Shinnvo-en Buddhidm’s religious artifacts. Additionally, he has directed the secondary protection team for the Secret Service during the visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao during his 2011 trip to Chicago.
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Although the list of Clients he has protected over the years is primarily confidential, Lavin has worked with celebrity clients such as: Alan Jackson, Allen Iverson, Billy Bob Thornton, Brett Michaels, Brian Head Welch, Chef Emeril Lagasse, Gary Sinise, Jay-Z, Jennifer Aniston,
Halle Berry and many more.
Past Clients
