Certification Profile: Alvar Daniel Orellana McBride, CPP

For seven years, Alvar Daniel Orellana McBride, CPP, served as commissioned officer in the Chilean Army. After completing his military service, Orellana McBride wanted to find new horizons, so he turned to the security industry. 

Orellana McBride started his private security career as a security chief at a shopping mall. Always looking to learn more about his new industry, Orellana McBride learned about ASIS International through a friend in March 2014. Soon after, he joined the association and his local chapter in Chile. 

“In the early stages, I identified opportunities within the local chapters to serve and worked to lead and coordinate the academic activities,” Orellana McBride says. 

In addition to learning and building connections in the industry, Orellana McBride knew very quickly he wanted to pursue certification. 

“Since I joined ASIS, I understood that a certification was paramount in my career,” Orellana McBride says. 

Orellana McBride decided to pursue the Certified Protection Professional (CPP®) certification. He began studying for and preparing for the test. One of the first things Orellana McBride learned in the process of preparation was the importance of goal setting. He decided to go ahead and schedule his exam to give himself something to work towards—only to realize he had already missed the exam date. No worries, he thought, next year I will make sure to be ready... until he missed it again. 

“And there was me saying every single year that this would be the year for applying to the test, and guess what?” Orellana McBride says, “Another year was missed.” 

Finally, he timed everything correctly, making sure he had the time and energy to complete the test and scheduling the exam date. Except it was 2020, so the COVID-19 pandemic threw his well-laid plans entirely off track for a couple of months, until Orellana McBride was finally able to sit for the exam in October 2020. 

“Being a certified professional opened doors that, otherwise, would be very difficult to open,” Orellana McBride says. “It also confirmed my initial belief: You never stop learning! The certification is helping me to keep pursuing constant evolution and improvement.” 

Being a certified professional opened doors that, otherwise, would be very difficult to open.

In addition to earning his CPP certification, Orellana McBride is an involved ASIS volunteer. He started volunteering with his local chapter before serving as an assistant regional vice president (ARVP) for the ASIS Chile Chapter. As an ARVP, Orellana McBride learned how to support his local chapter and better connect them with regional and global leadership. Eventually, he moved up to serve as regional vice president (RVP) for Region 8C, which includes Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, and Chile. 

In 2024, ASIS International expanded its governance to include a new regional board serving the Latin America Caribbean region. Orellana McBride joined the new board, where he can support both ASIS global governance and the members and chapters in the region. 

In addition to his volunteer role on the Latin America Caribbean board, Orellana McBride also serves as a mentor in the ASIS Security Leaders Mentoring Program. 

“I have met incredible people who are always ready to help and become my mentors,” Orellana McBride says. “That experience taught me and helped me realize that I needed to work as a volunteer leader and help other members in a closer interaction. So, I joined the mentorship program, which is an incredible experience! Not only the mentee but also the mentor has the opportunity to learn.” 

In 2022, Orellana McBride founded Griffin Risk, a consulting and professional services company that specializes in helping organizations to properly identify risks that impact their business continuity. Orellana McBride works as the organization’s chief executive officer, personally specializing in corporate and cyber security and ensuring business continuity. 

Orellana McBride highlights the many resources ASIS membership provides—from standards and guidelines to publications like Security Management to events like GSX and regional conferences. The thing he values most, though, is his fellow members. 

“ASIS helps you to walk alone no more,” Orellana McBride says. “Every security professional can interact with top leaders and source wisdom through the communities in Connects, at GSX, and the events hosted by regions and chapters. But the most valuable part of membership is that your participation counts! You can make a difference, and every member is expected to contribute to professionalizing this organization and the security industry.” 

Emily Callahan is a communications specialist for ASIS International. Connect with her on LinkedIn here.