There for Our Veterans - Paul Burbridge

Paul Burbridge, Vice President, Operations | Florida Region

U.S. Army

Following in the footsteps of his dad, who served in the Army as a paratrooper in the Korean War, along with a deep sense of patriotism and a desire to prove himself, Paul Burbridge joined the U.S. Army as a young man in 1983. 

Over the next 15 years, he served as an Airborne Ranger at several locations in the United States and overseas, where he was recognized for his leadership abilities as Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) of the Year for the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, later as NCO of the Year for the 24th Infantry Division and Distinguished Honor Graduate of the NCO Academy. Paul also served in combat during Operation Desert Storm, the First Gulf War.

Shortly after leaving the Army as a Sergeant First Class in 1997, he joined the Wackenhut Corp. as a Custom Protection Officer (CPO). Over the next 25 years, Paul put his military leadership skills to use as he climbed the career ladder in various roles.  At the Wackenhut Corp., which was acquired by G4S, his roles included human resources and training to Operations Manager, Regional Director of Operations and Shared Services. Then in 2021 with the Allied Universal® acquisition of G4S, Paul moved into his current role as Vice President of Operations for Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

Paul says he found his niche in the security industry when he made his transition from the military to the civilian workplace. “I really didn’t like the civilian workplace until I entered the security field,” Paul said. “That changed because the industry has lots of men and women who are fellow veterans and it’s very mission-focused.”

He credits the “can do” attitude instilled in him by his Army experience as a major influence on his career success and tells fellow veterans interested in a career at Allied Universal® that career advancement opportunities are plentiful. 

“We are the best place to work, but you have to make your own luck,” he said. “Don’t be afraid to dig in, work hard, learn and you will be successful.”