John Lyons joined The Security Company (International) Limited in January 2005 to help with the strategic development of the company as it expands to meet the needs of major blue-chip clients whose aim is to roll-out information security awareness programmes and campaigns.
His previous appointment with the UK’s National Crime Squad as the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit’s Crime Reduction Coordinator required him to lead the Unit’s interaction with the UK’s major blue-chip companies. At the NHTCU he was responsible for writing and implementing the Unit’s Crime Reduction Strategy and for leading their Industry Outreach Programme. In April 2004, he initiated Project Endurance (a national public/private sector information security awareness campaign for Internet users). He subsequently chaired the Project Endurance Steering Group (comprising senior representatives from the Cabinet Office, Home Office, DTI, the National Infrastructure Security Co-ordination Centre (NISCC), Microsoft, eBay, LloydsTSB, Secure Trading, Dell, MessageLabs and HSBC.) The campaign is due to launch to the public in 2005.
John began his security career when he served with the Royal Air Force for 20 years. During his career in the RAF Security (Provost) Branch he was engaged in operational and investigative roles involving crime, counter intelligence and counter terrorist activities. His operational tours included service in Cyprus, Germany, Northern Ireland and in most NATO countries. He qualified on the Senior Detective Training Course at the Metropolitan Police Hendon Training College and subsequently led a large number of joint investigations with police and military agencies throughout Europe. John retired from the RAF in 1992 in the rank of Squadron Leader.
Before returning to the public sector to join the National Crime Squad, John held a number of senior programme management and sales and marketing roles in the technology sector, where he worked on mostly foreign-based assignments. Some of his most rewarding projects involved responsibility for multi-million pound engagements with Accenture, Johnson & Johnson, Unilever and a number of foreign government police and security agencies.