Our Team

Sayfe A. Salem

Chief Executive Officer

Sayfe Salem is the founder of Security First. He founded the company shortly after graduating from McGeorge School of Law. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Salem was involved in various businesses. His business and legal knowledge combined with the staff’s security experience has led to the company’s success.

Lance A. Ruiz

Executive Vice President

Lance A. Ruiz is the Executive Vice President of Security First with overall responsibility of the organization, brand management and motivation of personnel. Prior to joining Security First, he worked in various executive leadership roles for companies such as Planned Parenthood, Hard Rock Hotel, and Hilton Hotels. Lance also served as a law enforcement officer in San Diego County. Lance’s greatest strengths are his customer service skills, value driven mindset and his leadership abilities. He thrives on challenges, particularly those that expand the organization’s reach. His mission is to provide upgraded security services to include excellent customer interactions, as well as maintaining a safe environment for our clients.

Lance holds a Bachelor of Science degree with emphasis in criminal justice and business management. He also earned his Masters in organizational leadership from Chapman University. He has received extensive training and earned certificates in executive protection and enjoys sharing that knowledge with others to help them grow in their own roles. Lance has been recognized and earned honors and awards for his leadership abilities both in the community and in the private sector. Lance is a Core Adjunct Professor for National University, instructing courses at the graduate level in organizational leadership. Lance is active in many professional associations. He is an active Board Member with the East County Chamber of Commerce. Lance takes time out to be a coach for his son’s baseball and soccer teams. He lives in the eastern portion of San Diego County. In his free time, Lance enjoys attending car shows with his hot rod, 65 Mustang, riding his newer and older Harley Davidson and giving back to the community through his not-for-profit motorcycle club.

Dave Threet

Director of Business Development

Dave Threet serves as our Business Development Manager. In this role, his main responsibilities include: developing growth strategies and creating partnerships with prospective customers and existing clients. He is directly responsible for increasing the client base and generating new revenue for the company.

Prior to joining Security First, he served as Senior Sales Manager at the Holiday Inn Miramar where he was responsible for providing leadership to the day to day sales operation. Dave brings over a decade of experience working in hospitality industry, blazing the way in sales for companies such as Hyatt, Andaz San Diego and the Porto Vista Hotel. Dave’s greatest strengths are his impeccable customer service skills and the ability to communicate, listen and understand effectively.

Dave holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Penn State University where he learned to enhance his critical thinking and creative skills while becoming versed on how to communicate in different ways with diverse audiences through marketing, advertising, public relations and corporate communications.

Captain Devin Spencer

Operations Division Leader

Lieutenant Devin Spencer joined Security First in February 2012. Lieutenant. Spencer leads and directs his team of security officers at several shopping centers throughout San Diego County. He specializes in crowd management and customer service. He works closely with his clients and is proud to be their Account Manager. He believes that open communication and team building are the pillars to his success.

Prior to joining the Security First team, Lieutenant Spencer was a dedicated and loyal twenty-year Veteran of the United States Navy. He proudly served at his first command onboard the USS Midway which is now a historical museum in downtown San Diego.

Lieutenant James Howard

Account Division Leader

Lieutenant James Howard comes to Security First from a very wide background of both technical application and public safety support. Mr. Howard spent over twelve years providing specialized training, technical support and business analysis to police, fire, EMS and governmental agencies internationally. He worked with a tier one public safety company conducting everything from project initialization, through project completion, and continued support.

Mr. Howard has been with Security First since 2015, acting as a field trainer, recruiter, government contracts project lead and a working “feet on the ground” lieutenant with the goal of making Security First the number one choice in private security services. He has been instrumental during the on boarding of new sites and introducing officers to a higher level of training. He provides officer training in subjects such as: CPR, pepper spray, officer safety, general awareness of the surroundings, and much, much more. He enjoys watching the employees grow in their positions and being a part of their advancement.

In his spare time, he leads classes and events revolving around disaster preparedness using “pre-enactment” themed events all over the greater California wilderness. Preparing others for the worst and having them understand how to survive is his ultimate goal and passion.

Lieutenant Jonathan Snyder

Patrol Lieutenant

Employed with Security First in June 2017. He has a vast background in the field of security. Lt. Jonathan Snyder served in the United States Air Force for four years as a Security Forces personnel and was tasked with guarding the nations ICBMs located in Minot, North Dakota. Lt. Snyder received his AA degree in Criminal Justice from the Community College of the Air Force. Lt. Snyder started as a regular armed officer for a special NASSCO contract and was promoted to Graveyard Sergeant. Lt. Snyder was later promoted to Field Sergeant and was tasked to ensure quality and control of Security First’s policies and procedures with the companies’ officers at standing sites. Lt. Snyder was promoted to Lieutenant as an Account Manager.

Sergeant Jorge Martinez

Site Sergeant

Sgt. Martinez joined Security First as a standing guard with nearly 4 years of prior experience. Sgt. Martinez began his security career at the age of 17 working private events with 4 Diamond Events such as: large festivals around the San Diego area, VIP parties with Hornblower Cruises, college student escorts for SDSU, USD and UCSD, club services, weddings, asset protection etc. He has also worked for high end facilities such as high-rise condominiums housing the San Diego Padres owners, retired firefighters, successful business men, engineers, a recently retired FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit division, amongst other prized personas. He now works under Lieutenant Spencer at various shopping centers striving to uphold only the greatest service quality for our client. This officer’s ability to maintain composure during difficult situations make his crowd/individual control and customer service his greatest strengths. He takes pride in his work and is extremely determined to give his outmost effort to uphold the Security First standards and policies.

Lieutenant George Marland

Field Lieutenant

Sgt. Marland comes to security First with over 20 years in the security field Working from the ground up. Hit experience in the security field diverse. He has worked as a Sergeant in patrol also worked as a K9 sergeant. He has furthermore worked as a sergeant with General Atomics for their predator project and also for their Warrior Project. He was also formerly in charge of Military Housing patrols and has also served as a fleet manager, In his off time he is an avid desert enthusiast and game Hunter.

Sergeant Zack Marland

Patrol Sergeant

Coming Soon!

Sergeant Kevin Stoudemire

Patrol Sergeant

Coming Soon!

Sergeant James Anderson

Site Sergeant

Coming Soon!

Sergeant Shaun Coad

Dispatch Supervisor

Coming Soon!

Aida Selfani

Accounting

Coming Soon!

David Drew

Sales Coordinator

Coming Soon!

Daniel "Dando" Simaan

IT Manager

Coming Soon!

Sergeant Noemi Moreno

Site Sergeant

Coming Soon!