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Chris Cowan is recognized internationally for his vast network of private and public partnerships and for his 21 years in corporate security, risk management and crime prevention. Parallel to his time in corporate security, Chris has an expansive knowledge, from 28 years in law enforcement, in special operations, media relations and business and community crime prevention; while also having served as a Chief Financial Officer, Chief Public Information Officer and Commander of Community Policing Units. This experience has provided Chris with a unique perspective on mitigating challenges to corporate and community quality of life issues.
Commissioned a United States Naval Officer and secured his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. He has also earned a Masters Certificate from the Australian Institute of Police Management. Chris is a graduate of the South Carolina Executive Institute, the FBI National Academy, the FBI Command College and the FBI Hazardous Devices School Executive Management Program. He has over 19 years of leadership experience in the fields of administration, crisis management, strategic planning, tactical operations, homeland security and local and state government affairs.
Mr. Cowan has worked internationally with the Iraq Police Service, London Metropolitan Police, the Staffordshire England Police, Queensland Police Service, Australia and Rheinland Polizei, Germany and nationally with the Los Angeles Police Department, New York Police Department and the North Carolina Justice Academy for the purpose of developing programs and initiatives. Currently a Deputy Chief for the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, a 960 person Department in Central South Carolina, he works regularly with FBI National Academy Graduates across the globe in developing law enforcement, leadership and asset protection programs.
He was chosen in July 2011 to be The International Visiting Fellow to Queensland Australia to work with the Queensland Police Service, Queensland Fire Service, Queensland Ambulance Service, Australian Federal Police, Australian Defense Force, Hong Kong, Shanghi China Police Service and Maldives Police Service as an instructor in Leadership Development and Strategic Management. He has also worked with the QPS, in 2013, during the G20 International Leaders Conference.
Chris has held several statewide leadership roles in South Carolina ranging from President of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Association, President of the Blythewood Rotary Club to Chairperson for Crimestoppers of the Midlands spanning 56 law enforcement jurisdictions and charter member of the South Carolina Crimestoppers Council. As a practitioner in public safety, Mr. Cowan has been awarded the South Carolina Attorney General’s Law Enforcement Officer of the year, two times received the Southeastern Crimestoppers Coordinator of the Year award, two time Rotarian of the Year award recipient and The American Lawman Magazine Officer of the Quarter.
Mr. Cowan has worked internationally with the Eastern European FBI National Academy Associates teaching professional and leadership development in Bulgaria in 2019. Chris partnered with 200 Eastern European law enforcement executives from across Europe, United Kingdom, Middle East and Eastern Europe.
He is currently the Jim Hudson Automotive Group Director of Professional Development. The largest, multimillion dollar automotive company, in South Carolina with 750 employees, Chris works directly for the CFO and Marketing Director and is responsible for creating and launching their executive and mid-level management professional development program.
On May 1, 2020 he took command of corporate security for Celeros Flow Technologies; a Charlotte based international power and energy corporation with assets in North America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. His responsibilities encompass travel safety and risk mitigation for 1700 employees and asset protection.
Chief Cowan lives in Blythewood, SC with his wife, 18 year-old son and 23 year-old daughter. He is a member of Blythewood Presbyterian Church, a Master Mason and a member of the Board of Directors for the Austin Wilkes Society, and a Class D licensed soccer coach.
Chris has served as the Director of Communications for South Carolina FC and Coach of Character and Culture for Cardinal Newman High School Athletics.
