Monica Duperon Rodriguez

Monica Duperon Rodriguez is a security leader with a career spanning more than three decades in law enforcement, private investigations, corporate security, and executive protection. Rodriguez began her professional journey in law enforcement, serving with the Clearwater Police Department and the Pasco Sheriff's Department. Her assignments included work on the Human Trafficking Task Force, Gang Task Force, DEA Task Force, and roles as a SWAT hostage negotiator and undercover narcotics detective. She also served as a field training officer and as a defensive tactics and driving instructor, establishing a foundation for her transition into executive protection.

Rodriguez’s first executive protection assignment involved a book tour across Africa, Canada, Mexico, and multiple U.S. states, introducing her to complex, high-pressure environments. Throughout her executive protection career, she has provided protective services to ultra-high-net-worth families in the United States, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Saudi Arabia, and has conducted security operations in the U.S., Mexico, South America, Europe, and 25 African countries. Her work includes assignments with organizations such as Koch Industries, National Geographic, LinkedIn, and Nutanix. Notably, Rodriguez protected National Geographic film crews in El Salvador and Mexico during the production of documentaries on sensitive subjects, requiring both tactical expertise and interpersonal skills. She later served as senior manager of executive protection and global event security at LinkedIn, where she was recognized for her work in building proactive, sustainable executive protection programs.

Rodriguez is an advocate for diversity and inclusion in the security industry, breaking barriers as a Latina and a woman in traditionally male-dominated fields. She is a member of the ASIS Executive Protection Steering Committee and conducts training seminars for women in protection worldwide. Rodriguez hosts a weekly show on Women in Protection, moderates discussions on firearms and combatives, and has published in The Circuit Magazine, the journal of the North American and British Bodyguard Association. Her expertise is reflected in her books, including "Vast Potential: A Bodyguard's Journey to Empowerment," "The Glow Within: Embrace Your True Power," and the bilingual coloring book "Fairy Affirmations," as well as her contribution to the anthology "Extraordinary Latinas Vol. IV."

In addition to her security work, Rodriguez is a keynote speaker addressing topics such as empowering women in protection, positive self-talk, and intentional goal achievement. She hosts the motivational podcast "Positive Self Talk With Monica" on Spotify and has appeared on industry podcasts including the "Protective Future Podcast." Fully bilingual in English and Spanish, with intermediate proficiency in French and Italian, Rodriguez brings a global perspective shaped by field experience on five continents and a commitment to mentoring future security professionals.