Gavin de Becker and Associates

Gavin de Becker and Associates was founded in 1978 by Gavin de Becker.{{cite web|last1=Scalet|first1=Sarah|title=Interview with Gavin de Becker|url=http://www.csoonline.com/article/2117323/infosec-staffing/interview-with-gavin-de-becker.html|website=CSO|date=July 2004|publisher=CXO Media, Inc.|access-date=June 22, 2015}} In 2013, GDBA took on TPG Growth as a minority investor.{{cite web|title=Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Hamed Meshki - Partner|url=http://www.kirkland.com/sitecontent.cfm?contentID=220&itemid=8639|website=Kirkland & Ellis LLP|publisher=Kirkland & Ellis LLP|access-date=June 22, 2015}}{{cite news|title=Mike Davis Appointed CEO of Rhapsody/Napster Parent Company|url=http://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/mike-davis-appointed-ceo-of-rhapsodynapster-parent-company|access-date=May 13, 2016|publisher=Music Business Worldwide|date=May 13, 2016}} In 2019, Gavin de Becker bought back 100% of the company.{{cite news|title=20200023: Gavin de Becker; TPG Growth II DE AIV II, L.P.|url=https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/premerger-notification-program/early-termination-notices/20200023|access-date=September 6, 2021|website=Federal Trade Commission|publisher=FTC.gov|date=October 16, 2019}}

Gavin de Becker and Associates is a "threat assessment and security firm"{{cite web|last1=Salladay|first1=Robert|title=Spending May Prove Costly to Governor|url=http://www.caclean.org/problem/latimes_2006-03-21.php|website=California Clean Money Campaign|access-date=June 22, 2015}} that provides private security{{cite news|last1=Bice|first1=Daniel|title=Chris Abele hires pricey security guards, upgrades to full-size SUV|url=http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/noquarter/chris-abele-hires-pricey-security-guards-upgrades-to-full-size-suv-b99523181z1-308902891.html|access-date=June 22, 2015|work=Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel|issue=June 22, 2015|publisher=Scripps Media|date=June 22, 2015}} and also offers protection training courses.{{cite web|last1=Putnam|first1=Lindsay|title=Everything you need to know about J.Law's sexy dog sherpa|url=https://nypost.com/2015/06/16/j-law-has-a-bodyguard-and-hes-almost-as-hot-as-she-is|website=New York Post|publisher=NYP Holdings Inc|access-date=June 22, 2015|date=June 16, 2015}}

They have provided services to corporations, government agencies, and schools. Clients reportedly include the Central Intelligence Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and "the 90 most prominent families in the world".{{cite news|title=How to Experience Westfield Century City Like a VIP|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/private-suite-century-city-how-experience-westfield-century-city-like-a-vip-1061004|last=Schmidt|first=Ingrid|access-date=December 5, 2017|publisher=The Hollywood Reporter|date=November 22, 2017}} Over the years, public client references have included Theresa Saldana, Madonna, Cher, Michelle Pfeiffer, Michael J. Fox, Barbra Streisand, Jeff Bezos, John Travolta and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.{{Cite tweet |author=Robert F. Kennedy Jr. |author-link=Robert F. Kennedy Jr. |user=RobertKennedyJr |number=1812938681352626348 |title=Thank you to President Biden for granting me Secret Service protection. And I am so grateful to Gavin deBecker [sic] & Associates for keeping me safe for the last 15 months of my Presidential campaign.}}{{cite news|title=Right to Privacy|access-date=June 23, 2015|issue=March 11, 2002|work=Lakeland Ledger|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=20020311&id=uvEvAAAAIBAJ&pg=2456,166947&hl=en}}{{Cite news|date=May 5, 2021|title=The Untold Story of How Jeff Bezos Beat the Tabloids|language=en|publisher=Bloomberg News|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-05-05/how-jeff-bezos-beat-the-tabloids-the-untold-story-of-money-sex-and-power|last=Stone|first=Brad|access-date=May 6, 2021}}

In September 2023, protectors from de Becker’s firm surrounded and detained a man who demanded to see presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whom the firm reportedly protects. The man displayed fake United States Marshals identification and was found to be carrying two loaded handguns.{{Cite news |last=Kerr |first=Nicholas |date=September 19, 2023 |title=Armed man arrested at RFK Jr. campaign event in Los Angeles charged with misdemeanors:LAPD |publisher=ABC News |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/08/02/what-trumps-latest-indictment-means/ |access-date=November 11, 2024}} Kennedy posted on X: “I’m very grateful that alert and fast-acting protectors from Gavin de Becker and Associates (GDBA) spotted and detained an armed man who attempted to approach me at my Hispanic Heritage speech at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles tonight.”{{Cite news |last=Alexis |first=Jones |date=September 16, 2023 |title=Armed Man Impersonating U.S. Marshal Arrested at Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Presidential Campaign Event |publisher=People |url=https://people.com/armed-man-impersonating-us-marshal-arrested-robert-f-kennedy-jr-presidential-campaign-event-7970837 |access-date=November 11, 2024}}

The following month, protectors from de Becker’s firm arrested an intruder at Kennedy’s Los Angeles home. After being released by police, the same intruder entered the property again and was again arrested by de Becker’s employee. The two incidents made national news and led to calls for presidential candidate Kennedy to be granted United States Secret Service protection.{{Cite news |last=Bond |first=Paul |date=March 6, 2024 |title=RFK Jr.'s Latest Secret Service Request Cites Specific Assassination Threat |publisher=Newsweek |url=https://www.newsweek.com/rfk-jrs-latest-secret-service-request-cites-specific-assassination-threat-1875836 |access-date=November 11, 2024}}{{Cite news |last=Cadelago |first=Christopher |date=October 26, 2023 |title=Intruder arrested twice in same day outside Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s California home|publisher=Politico |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/10/26/intruder-arrested-twice-in-same-day-outside-robert-f-kennedy-jr-s-california-home-00123879 |access-date=November 11, 2024}}

Gavin de Becker and Associates opened the Private Suite at the Los Angeles International Airport on May 15, 2017, which is described by The Wall Street Journal as "a remote terminal for VIPs, celebrities, CEOs", and anyone willing to pay for privacy.{{cite news|title=The Paparazzi-Proof Airline Terminal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-paparazzi-proof-airline-terminal-1493219340|website=The Wall Street Journal|date=26 April 2017|access-date=April 26, 2017|last1=McCartney|first1=Scott}} de Becker reported the Private Suite will soon open at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

In November 2017, it was reported that GDBA opened a version of the Private Suite at the Westfield Century City shopping center, which provides VIP shoppers the opportunity of a private shopping experience.

• Bill McGlashan, founder and managing partner of TPG Growth
• XOJET

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• {{Official website|https://gdba.com}}

Category:Security companies of the United States

Category:Security consulting firms

Category:Consulting firms established in 1978