Meet the Team
The AEC Protection Team
The skills base for delivering our services are founded on more than 90 years of Police Service in the United Kingdom, 35 years of experience in Military Operations and over 60 years of extensive Private Security Knowledge.
We have all worked at the highest levels, protecting persons in HM Government & the Royal Household as well as overseeing large scale Domestic and International Events.
Aidan Cooper
Managing Director | Head of Training | SIA Close Protection
Aidan is still serving in the British Armed Forces (Reserve) as a Royal Military Police Officer, a role he has undertaken for over 14 years. He has been part of multiple deployments to the operational theatre of Afghanistan as a subject matter expert in General Policing, Detention, Forensics, Biometrics & Operational Support Training & Mentoring to Foreign Military, Police & Government Units. He has also spent time on various attachments and overseas operations with the prestigious Royal Military Police Close Protection Unit.
Aidan combined his wealth of knowledge in both the U.K. Private Security Industry and the British Armed Forces, and in 2014 he set up AEC Protection; a well-established, professional, events & executive security company operating across the South of England. Aidan has extensive and diverse experience in private security operations, from providing protection for some of the most luxurious jewellery boutiques in central London to operating security within the largest licensed nightclub in the U.K.
Aidan has provided close protection to international cricket teams, overseen security deployments to national stadiums, managed security for large scale events and country shows, as well as highly secure remote projects.
Aidan is a qualified Trainer, Assessor & IQA for the delivery of SIA Security & First Aid Training, and he also holds membership as a Member of The Association of British Investigators. He is also qualified as a General-Purpose Security Dog Handler. Aidan is a well experienced, recognised and respected security expert within the industry.
Gary Cooper
Lead Security Consultant | Drugs & Explosives Detection Dog Handler | SIA Door Supervisor
Gary is a former Senior Police Officer with a history of achievement and distinguished service over the last 30 years of policing in both London and Hampshire. He is regarded as an expert within the Counter Terrorist Security Co-ordination of Event Management, having national and international experience.
Gary has developed a broad operational portfolio with extensive experience as a Public Order Commander, Tactical Advisor and Police Tactical Firearms Commander. He has a wide range of experience in managing major event operations, large music festivals such as the Isle of Wight Festival and Bestival, extensive football operations at Southampton F.C.’s St. Mary’s Stadium, and various protest marches throughout the country, including Party-Political Conferences
He has in-depth operational experience in major incidents and has undertaken training in risk assessments and crowd dynamics. Gary is also a qualified Level 3 Drugs Detection Dog Handler and Level 4 Explosives Detection Dog Handler
Gary is currently working as our Lead Security Consultant and has represented at strategic level at many high-profile events over the last few years. He also assists in reviewing the security arrangements at other major events throughout the U.K. Gary also advises in the planning and overseeing of security arrangements for International Cricket Teams travelling to Bangladesh, India and New Zealand as well as those teams visiting the UK.
Tony Tremlin
Training & Development Manager | Executive Security Chauffeur | SIA Close Protection
Tony joined our team in 2021 drawing on his experience from 12 years Exemplary Service with Ministry of Defence and Home Office Police Forces, specialising in roles such as Counter-Terrorism Specialist Firearms, Marine Support Unit & Area Pursuit/Advanced Driving.
Tony has since been working in the Private Security Industry for 6 years and has developed his skills as an Executive Security Chauffeur, Close Protection Operative and Security Operations Manager for a variety of Ultra High Net Worth (UHNW) clients.
Tony also manages the AEC Protection Training Team, facilitating delivery of Security Officer, Door Supervisor and Close Protection Courses for licence-linked qualifications, through our team of experience trainers.
Tony is also our Lead on Medical Training & Assessing with AEC Protection Training.
George Heffer
Operations Manager | Lead IQA | SIA Door Supervisor
George joined the AEC Team in late 2021 after gaining his Level 2 Award in Door Supervision.
As a keen and invested individual, George undertook a full and extensive season of events with us operationally at AEC, before beings scouted for a full-time office role in September 2022 as Projects & Planning Officer.
In 2023, George was subsequently promoted into the role of Operations Manager. He now strategically oversees the Operations Department, planning and supporting Tasks, Deployments and Projects for AEC Protection.
George has also completed his Level 4 Award in Internal Quality Assurance, with which he supports the ongoing training efforts of AEC, leading on matters of Accreditation, Approval and Compliance.
Jordan Gascoigne
Training Support Officer | Security & Medical Trainer | SIA Door Supervisor
Jordan joined the team in 2022, participating in various events and operational deployments with AEC.
In November 2022, Jordan was promoted into the role of Training Support Officer, where he now assists the efforts of AEC Protection Training.
Having completed his Level 3 Award in Education & Training, and Level 3 Award for Deliverers of Physical Intervention & Conflict Management, Jordan is qualified to deliver Security Officer, Door Supervisor & CCTV Training Courses.
Jordan is also a highly-capable First Aid trainer, drawing on his extensive experience gained through his years of Front-Line service with the Ambulance Service as a First Responder.
Gary Clark
Training & Development Officer | Security Trainer | SIA Door Supervisor
With over 15 years’ experience in the Private Security Industry, from roles in Retail Loss Prevention and Mobile Response, to Crown Courts and Door Supervision, Gary brings a wealth of practical knowledge into the classroom – allowing learners to gain an accurate and thorough understanding of the industry they are looking to join. Gary can provide anecdotes and scenarios from his years working ‘on the doors’, bringing training PowerPoints to life, and allowing his students to apply their new knowledge to scenarios.
As a competent CCTV Operator, Gary extends AEC’s vast skillset even further, giving us the ability to remotely monitor and manage incidents effectively, whilst strategically planning a proportionate response, maintaining the wider operational coverage, and supporting the success of your event.
In November 2021, Gary gained his Level 3 Award in Education & Training, and has moved from strength-to-strength in the training world ever since. Delivering vocational training across several Awarding Organisations to Emergency First Aiders, Security Officers, Door Supervisors & CCTV Operators, Gary draws on his wealth of experience to support the development of learners and internal staff alike.
Andrew Sullivan
Operations & Logistics Officer | SIA Door Supervisor
Chloe Seabright
Business Administration Apprentice
Graham ‘Bo’ Derrick
Security Trainer | SIA Close Protection
After serving for over 6 years in the Royal Air Force, Bo joined Hampshire Constabulary in 1997, where he worked on Emergency Response for 22 years, responding to high profile and high threat incidents including burglary, violent crime and public order.
In 2004, Bo transferred over to Tactical Firearms and spent a decade with the team. During his 5 years as a Specialist Firearms Officer, he provided support for planned firearms operations on a 24-hour call-out basis, receiving training in various role-specific tactics, including the use of distraction devices in hostage rescue situations, Counter-Terrorism operations, high-threat warrant executions, armed foot and vehicle surveillance, VIP and Venue Protection for Heads of State and Royalty.
Moving across to the Armed Response Unit in 2009, Bo was an experienced Operational Firearms Commander, holding responsibility for the training, dynamic risk assessments, briefing, coordination, control and debriefing of a critical specialist team of Police Officers. The team provided rapid 24-hour response to spontaneous emergency incidents involving firearms and other lethal weapons.
During a career break in 2012, Bo performed armed anti-piracy security off the coast of East Africa as a Team Leader, training local indigenous military in weapons tactics & First Aid.
Returning to the Police from his career break in 2016, he went on to join the Major Crime Unit based out of Southampton until retiring from the Force in 2019.
Bo has deployed in a Close Protection role operationally all over the UK and Europe, protecting Corporation CEOs and executives, rock bands, celebrities and Members of Parliament.
He is now a security trainer for Door Supervisor and Close Protection Courses, delivering SIA licence-linked qualifications for AEC Protection Training
Helen Wheeler
First Aid Trainer | SIA Door Supervisor
Helen served as a Police Officer with Hampshire Constabulary for 24 years, and throughout this time was involved with many things outside of normal policing. This included Search and Rescue (Missing Persons & Counter-Terrorism), Disaster Victim Identification and delivering training to Police in CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear), working alongside SO15 Metropolitan Police Counter-Terrorism Command.
Helen now delivers First Aid courses with AEC Protection, drawing on experience from her current role as a Health Care Assistant in a hospice.
She is also one of the many SIA Licence holders who perform security roles at the Ageas Bowl, including Team Leader of the PMOA team for International Cricket Fixtures, and many other events throughout our operational calendar. This is supported by Helen’s experience working with the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for the Women’s Cricket World Cup in 2017.
Tom Warren
Security Trainer | Lead Control & Restraint Instructor | SIA Close Protection
