My name is Jake Petersen, and I founded the Heartland School Security Association to help protect children and staff in our schools. I have served in military and national security positions for over a decade, holding security and leadership positions at the Pentagon, U.S. Strategic Command, U.S. Space Command, and the White House Communications Agency. My career has been dedicated to safeguarding people, facilities, and operations in some of the most complex national security environments. Today, I continue that work as the Security Operations Manager for a U.S. research and development center supporting critical technology.

When recent school shootings in Minneapolis, Utah, and Denver shook the nation, I knew I had to act. With my background, the only meaningful step I felt I could take was to bring proven security practices to schools in my own community. That is why I launched the Heartland School Security Association.

This effort is about more than locks, cameras, or guards. Physical security is one layer, but day-to-day operational practices often make the biggest difference. My assessments focus on hardening how schools operate: how visitors are managed, how emergencies are communicated, how staff control access to students, and how schools prepare to respond specifically to violent threats. By strengthening both physical protections and operational security, schools become more resilient and better positioned to prevent and survive an attack.

I have already started conducting security assessments at local schools. Each report identifies vulnerabilities, outlines practical and cost-effective recommendations, and provides resources to administrators. These are provided at no cost, and any communication or advertisement about the work is done only with the school’s approval.

Your support will allow this work to continue and expand across Nebraska and Iowa. Every contribution helps schools gain access to security assessments, resources, and training that directly enhance the safety of students and staff.