Nevada Security Guard Training Academy Instructors

TED FARACE
DIRECTOR

In 1964, Mr. Farace became a member of the New York City Police Department and in 1969 was promoted from Police Officer to Detective 3rd grade. He was assigned to a Detective Squad to conduct investigations, after a few years was promoted to Detective 2nd grade. His last assignment was with the NYPD/FBI Joint Bank Robbery Task Force, retired honorably in August 1987 after 23 years of service.

After his retirement in 1987, he immediately joined the Security Department of the investment bank, JP Morgan. After a number of promotions, he was named in 1989 the Director of Global Corporate Security for the firm and began to develop a global security operation.

In 1992, he was promoted to the position of Managing Director, a senior position at the firm and held that position until retiring in 2001. Mr. Farace was a Board member of the International Banking Security Association (IBSA) and Chair of the Protection Committee of the New York Clearing House. He also sat on the Executive Committee of the NYPD, Association of Private Police Liaison (APPL).

Mr. Farace retired and relocated to Las Vegas in 2001 shortly after, formed an all volunteer group of former law enforcement officers, (Volunteer Homeland Reserve Unit -VHRU) who were living in Las Vegas to assist local police agencies. This not for profit corporation, was disbanded after 15 years back in December 2017.

In 2005, he started Elite Security Specialists, LLC. and most recently in May 2018, founded the first Security Guard Training Academy in the State of Nevada, the "Nevada Security Guard Training Academy".

CHRIS PALMA
ACADEMIC DIRECTOR

In 1988 to 1992, Mr. Palma was a member of the Unites States Air Force assigned to the Security Police as a Security Specialists. Upon leaving the service, he attended college and in 1994 joined the Nevada Department of Public Safety, Highway Patrol Division as a State Trooper. Mr. Palma retired in 2017 honorably after 23 years of police service.

In 2017 Mr. Palma joined the Westgate Corporation as the Security Director for the Westgate Hotel property in Las Vegas. As part of his responsibilities he, managed a large team of security guards and was responsible for the safety of the clients and guests staying at the hotel.

Mr. Palma received his Bachelor of Science, Columbia Southern University in 2002. His major was Business Administration. In 2003 he obtained his Master of Business Administration at Columbia Southern University and in 2016 a Master of Science, majoring in Public Safety/Emergency Management at Capella University.

JACQUELINE M MILLER
INSTRUCTOR

Ms. Miller started her career in law enforcement in 1974 as a Reserve Police Officer for the San Fernando Police Department in California.  In 1984 she moved to Nevada and  became the first Parking Enforcement Officer for the City Of Henderson and held that position until 1987 when she became a full time Police Officer for the City Of Henderson.

Ms. Miller served on the Henderson Police Department as an Officer, Investigator and Sergeant.   She was in charge of the Training Bureau prior to retiring in 2004.  She worked as a Field Training Officer, Field ID Tech, and Investigator in the Detective Bureau for Child Abuse and Neglect.  She was instrumental in helping to implement the first Electronic Report Writing program for the department.   She also wrote the field training manual for newly promoted Sergeants and the report writing manual for the department.  She obtained her Basic, Intermediate, Advanced and Management Certificates from NV POST.

Ms Miller obtained an Associate of Applied Science Criminal Justice from the College of Southern Nevada in 2005, an Associate of General Studies in 2007 and a Bachelor of  Public Administration in Law Enforcement from Nevada State College in 2009.  

WILLIAM TOM WHISENHUNT
INSTRUCTOR

William Tom Whisenhunt, B.S., B.S., Jurist Doctor, has 48 years of broad based law enforcement experience including 20 years with a major law enforcement agency in Southern California, 40 years as an attorney including 20 years as a felony prosecutor, police defense litigation specialist in both State and Federal Court and 8 years as a college professor.

Mr. Whisenhunt taught criminal justice and related subjects at Nevada State College, CSN, Las Vegas, Fullerton College, CA and the LA Police Department Academy as well as the Dallas County Sheriff's Academy in Texas.

JOHN KOHLER
INSTRUCTOR

Patrol officer for Philadelphia Police Department for 10 years.
Security officer and Assistant Shift Manager at Hacienda Hotel and Casino for 2 years.
Security officer, Lead Security Officer, Assistant Shift Supervisor, Security Shift Manager at the Stratosphere Hotel for 8 years.

Adjunct instructor, Full-time instructor in Business Department; Criminal Justice & Paralegal Chairperson, Associate Dean, at Las Vegas College for 6 years. Adjunct instructor, Faculty Coordinator (Academic Dean) at Pima Medical Institute for 12 years.