Chris Budihas
COO & Senior Advisor to the President for Strategy at National Overwatch (NOW)

Each week on “On a Mission” we talk to community leaders who are out to make a positive impact in the area. Today, our host Dr. Wendy Norfleet talks with Chris Budihas from National Overwatch (NOW).

To learn more, check out nationaloverwatch.org.

Short company description:

National Overwatch (NOW) is a purpose-built organization, created from the ground up, with only one goal in mind: to make schools safer. We are not a security company that pivoted away from the commercial sector to focus on schools – schools have been our only focus from day one. We have collected some of the greatest minds in the physical security industry and created a unique, proprietary, cost-effective approach to improving school security.

How do you define success?

Making positive contributions to enable people and organizations to be successful in their mission, vision, and strategic objectives. Using my experiences and education to this greater good for our nation, communities, and mankind. After more than 35-years of military service, I intend to continue to selfless serve to the great good of others through my life-learned lessons. I’ve been blessed and therefore want to give back.

What are your biggest goals in the next 12 Months for your business?

Our biggest goal in the next year is to grow National OverWatch (NOW), as a non-profit company, in both capacity and capabilities. The current goal is to partner with 75+ schools to effectively increase their security posture to protect both students and staff. There is too much waste in money and ineffectiveness of perceived security materials schools are using. Through increased funding from a variety of sources NOW will be able to increase our organizational capacities, and offerings of both services and products to make schools safer. For NOW, we created the organization to appropriately protect schools, while reducing expensive and unneeded or ineffective security hard & software. Currently, NOW provides a comprehensive approach to school security that includes, but not limited, to the following: 1) Security (risk) assessments: NOW provides a FREE self-assessment for schools. Based on its results and the NOW security assessment team, NOW will be able to provide the school feedback on the major findings. Based on that basic self-assessment outputs, NOW may recommend a more thorough physical inspection of the school to provide them a comprehensive evaluation and recommended customized security solution to meet their needs. 2) Training: NOW provides customized training to school staff, which includes teachers, administrators, and security personnel, on how to identify & mitigate potential threats, and if required properly and effectively respond to school shooting incidents. 3) Material and Technology solutions: NOW offer a range of technology solutions, such as surveillance cameras, access control systems, and panic buttons, that can help schools monitor and respond to potential threats. 4) Emergency action/response planning: NOW offers to worth with schools and associated external stakeholders (local health, police, etc.) to develop comprehensive plans to practice and utilize in the event of a violent incident. These plans are pre-developed to implement them under such pressure felt conditions if unfortunately required.

What’s your favorite way to get involved in the community?

Between my role as an active-duty military officer and as a volunteer COO with National Overwatch, when I can find the time, I like to influence our community through dialogue and discussion in both person and via social media.