Certification Profile: Justin Jackson, MPA, CPP, PSP

For nearly 14 years, law enforcement was more than just a career for Justin Jackson, MPA (Master of Public Administration), CPP, PSP—it was an identity. Eight of those years were spent with the Atlanta Police Department, moving through patrol, tactical operations, and the Major Crimes division. Then came 2020, a year that didn’t just test institutions, but individuals. The civil unrest, political volatility, and emotional gravity of the year pushed Jackson to consider opportunities outside of policing where he could still make a meaningful impact.

Jackson transitioned into the education sector as a security manager at the end of 2020, leading comprehensive security assessments and strengthening emergency response coordination across K-12 environments. He continued serving the Atlanta Police Department in a reserve law enforcement capacity with local jurisdictions in his community, which helped him stay connected to the work as life began to pull him in new directions. Jackson officially retired from law enforcement in 2025. While the badge changed, the mission—a desire to protect, to serve, and to make an impact—did not.

Shortly after his transition from the Atlanta Police Department, Jackson noticed that while his police background equipped him with security acumen, those skills needed translation to be fully effective in the civilian security sector. He joined ASIS in 2021 and pursued his Physical Security Professional (PSP) certification shortly after. The PSP was the translation, an assurance that the knowledge, skills, and approach aligned with the standards of the broader security profession.

“It was about reading from the same sheet of music as everyone else in physical security,” he says.

While pursuing his PSP, Jackson attended his first Global Security Exchange (GSX) conference, an experience he’s especially excited to see return to his home city of Atlanta in September 2026. At GSX, he was introduced to the Law Enforcement Liaison Community. Finding and stepping into that community felt like finding a bridge between the two worlds.

When the opportunity arose in 2023 to chair the community’s steering committee, Jackson stepped into the role with a simple but ambitious commitment: make the community more representative, more global, and more reflective of the profession it served. As chair, Jackson focused on building membership across continents, elevating diverse leadership, and ensuring the community wasn’t just a network but a platform.

“ASIS provides you with a platform. What you choose to build on it is entirely up to you,” he says.

Leading the Law Enforcement Liaison Community also opened a new dimension of leadership for Jackson. “As chair, I’ve had the chance to lead in a different sandbox, outside the structure of my day job,” he says. “It’s allowed me to flex a different leadership muscle, work alongside some of the best in the industry, and invest in something bigger than my own career.”

What has meant the most, he says, is watching the community find its own momentum. Members across the globe are sustaining the work, finding their voices, and stepping into new projects with confidence. “When people believe in what you're building together, it validates the vision in a way nothing else can,” he adds.

ASIS provides you with a platform. What you choose to build on it is entirely up to you.

Shortly after stepping into his role as chair, Jackson also stepped into a new role at Visa’s Atlanta office. He credits his PSP certification with getting his foot in the door.

“The PSP legitimized me as a security professional in the eyes of people who didn't know me yet. It got me in the room. What I did once I got there was on me,” he says.

At Visa’s Atlanta office, Jackson built the physical security program from the ground up, including the infrastructure, the protocols, and the culture around it. He continues to lead security operations and strategic planning across Visa’s North American portfolio, supporting World Sponsorships and corporate events, including this year’s FIFA World Cup.

Earlier this year, Jackson earned his Certified Protection Professional (CPP) certification. "The CPP was about making official what I was already doing at Visa. Sometimes you need the letters behind your name to legitimize the work you're already carrying,” he says.

Reflecting on his ASIS membership, Jackson notes that beyond certifications, the volunteer leadership and the network have been the return on investment he didn’t anticipate. “You can’t put a number on what it means to have people across the industry who know your work and can vouch for it,” he says. “ASIS made that possible.”

“While my roles and environments have changed, the mission hasn’t,” Jackson concludes. “Everyone deserves to go home safe, whether I’m carrying a badge or not.”

Lexi Tiffany is a communications manager at ASIS International. She holds a master’s degree in strategic and organizational communication from USC's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.