Working Dog Radio
Episode 161: Filling the Gap with Jason Johnson @ProjectK9Hero
Your Working Dog Radio hosts, Eric @vanessk9 & Ted @ted_summers, sit down with former adjunct professor, former ATF K9 Trainer & Instructor, former DHS Field Canine Coordinator, the CEO of Project K9 Hero, the CEO of Paradigm Defense Concepts, the CEO of K-9 Solutions International, published author, and Johnny A. Masengale Memorial Award recipient; Jason Johnson @projectk9hero
It’s fair to say, Johnson’s resume speaks for itself; as a nationally recognized subject matter expert in scent detection and K9 procurement, the man is a bit of a legend in the Explosives field. (Be sure to check out the projects he’s currently working on at the end of the post!)
Johnson started as a police K9 handler and trainer, a member of SWAT, a Defensive Tactics Instructor, a Field Training Officer and the Officer in Charge of the Honor Guard. Johnson honorably served in the US Army as a Military Police Officer, and served as an Explosive Detection K9 Handler, Trainer, Kennel Master and Protective Security Specialist for the U.S. Department of State in support of the Worldwide Personal Protection Services contract with U.S. Diplomatic Security throughout Iraq and Afghanistan.
Johnson was then a K9 Trainer/Instructor and Course Developer for ATF. He planned, developed and was the Lead Instructor for Explosive Detection Courses to a variety of domestic and International Federal Agents, LE and US Military. He trained, instructed and certified students in multiple federal agencies such as ATF, US Marshals, FBI, CIA, National Geospatial Intelligence, DHS/Federal Emergency Management Agency and many others working specifically in explosives detection. He worked with the MWD program, training over 1,000 MWDs. He was also involved in developing and instructing the agency’s first off leash detection program, SEEK (Search Enhanced Evidence K-9), and the agency’s first SRT dual purpose patrol/explosives detection canine. He instructed explosive detection canine courses for the US Department of State’s Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program.
Johnson then served as a Field Canine Coordinator for DHS, and is actively working with Congress to see that his vision of the K9 Hero Act, HR #5081, gets passed as a law to bring a positive change to the K9 Community for generations to follow.
Be sure to check out his current projects: