John Hunt

John is a 27-year veteran of the New Jersey State Police where he achieved the rank of Major. John was the Homeland Security – Special Operations Section Commanding Officer. John also served as the Deputy Director of the New Jersey Officer of Emergency Management. John recently served as the Corporate Director of Security and Emergency Management for the AtlantiCare Health System.

John has national and international experience as a keynote speaker including presentations at the Weapons of Mass Destruction Exercise in Israel, the Global Terrorism symposium in Belgium and multiple presentations in Washington regarding terrorism and active shooter. He is called upon frequently to assist with preparing, preventing, training and exercising in Homeland Security solutions. For the past 15 years, John has been providing presentations associated with hospital, school and church security including a focus on how best to prepare for and counter an active shooter event.

John was trained in Crisis Intervention while serving in the New Jersey State Police directly after 9/11. John utilized his Crisis Intervention expertise many times during his service with the NJ State Police in addressing critical events. John achieved additional education through the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF). John has accomplished certification in ICISF Assisting Individuals in Crisis and Group Crisis Intervention. John continued his ICISF training achieving ICISF Instructor accreditation. John also studied the impact of canines with crisis interventions. Realizing the benefits of resilience and healing through connecting with canines, John focused his canine training with the Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD). He achieved the ATD Therapy certification and then focused his training on Canine Crisis Response. John worked directly with Crisis Response Canines (CRC) to achieve CRC certification. John then attended an extensive canine training course where he and his canines achieved ‘Working Service Dog’ certification. John’s canine’s area of specialty is working with those impacted by crisis events.

John is Co-Founder and COO for Crisis Response Canines. He has 3 Rottweilers all of which are ATD, CRC and Law Enforcement Defense Systems, Working Service Dog certified. John has been directly involved training canines in obedience for over 30 years. John achieved certification as a canine instructor for Law Enforcement Defensive Systems. John and his oldest Rottweiler Gunther have achieved a number of national awards for their volunteer work across the country. John and Gunther have responded to several significant events to include: Pulse Nightclub (Orlando, Fla), Route 91 Festival (Las Vegas, NV), First Baptist Church (Sutherland Springs, TX), Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School (Parkland, FL), Tree of Life Synagogue (Pittsburgh, PA)and Champlain Towers (Surfside, Fla). John is also a member of MERCURY Critical Incident Response Team. This organization is dedicated to providing critical incident stress management to those serving in law enforcement, fire, EMS and dispatch.

John frequently interacts with military organizations to include Wounded Warriors, T.A.P.S. and numerous visits to veteran’s establishments. A father of 4, John’s daughter is a retired US Navy Lieutenant, and his oldest son is a Captain in the U.S.M.C.