Site Supervisor at Wackenhut
Former Army NCO excels as a site security supervisor with Wackenhut Corporation.
by Warren Duffie
At first glance, Joe McGrath’s military and civilian careers seem completely different. After all, the 28-year Army veteran served as a public affairs noncommissioned officer – providing information to reporters, organizing press conferences, and leading media tours.
Today, McGrath is a captain/site supervisor for The Wackenhut Corporation, in charge of security for an oceanfront condominium complex in Hollywood, Fla. This is no ordinary residential community. It’s a luxurious, ultra-exclusive development consisting of two 18-floor towers with a total of 210 apartments.
Used to Dealing with VIPs
“When I was in the Army, I dealt with a lot of top brass, generals and such, as well as civilian media,” says McGrath, 59. “Nowadays, my interactions are with some very high-profile people – lawyers, executives, doctors, celebrities, and professional athletes. So the customer service skills I learned – as well as the ability to work with civilians – comes into play every day.”
The retired master sergeant arrives at work daily at 7 a.m. and first reviews incident and hourly reports from the previous night. He then takes this information and compiles his own supervisor’s summary, which he e-mails to Wackenhut’s corporate headquarters in nearby Palm Beach Gardens. McGrath spends the rest of his day escorting visitors throughout the complex, meeting with property managers, and attending to any security concerns.
“We have a good operation here,” he says. “I supervise seven officers. We monitor the entry of all visitors and have 32 cameras throughout the development, as well as 24-hour security, including one officer who patrols the grounds on foot and one guarding the gatehouse.”
‘Most Admired Company’
Based in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., The Wackenhut Corporation boasts 38,000 employees, and is a leading provider of security services to major corporations, government agencies, and numerous industrial and commercial customers. These services include uniformed security officers, investigations, background checks, hotline programs, emergency protection, and security audits and assessments.
Named by Fortune Magazine as one of “America’s Most Admired Companies,” Wackenhut is proud of its commitment to military veterans. In addition, the company’s Custom Protection Officers Division (of which McGrath is a part) is specifically tailored for veterans, requiring prior military service as a qualifier for employment. Members of this elite squad are assigned to government buildings, courthouses, banks, prisoner transport, gated residential communities, and K-9 squads. Some desired skills include military police, special operations, and combat arms experience.
According to Bill Schira, Wackenhut’s Fort Lauderdale area manager, veterans such as McGrath possess the desire, discipline, and leadership to excel at the company.
“Joe’s military background and leadership experience is extremely valuable to Wackenhut because of his ability to manage and train his subordinates in the performance of their duties and responsibilities.” Schira says. “Joe also maintains a day-to-day liaison with our clients in the community – making sure the needs and expectations of our clients are consistently met by him and his staff.”
Following in Dad’s Footsteps
McGrath never thought he would embark on a security career. In fact, when he first joined the Air Force in 1969 (within a couple of years, he switched his enlistment to the Army for “greater promotion opportunities”), he wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father – a World War II veteran who spent a year as a German prisoner of war and earned the Purple Heart.
McGrath, a Bayville, N.J. native, spent his 28 years in the Army at the New Jersey Military Academy, serving temporary duty in spots such as Arkansas, Washington, and Japan. He left the military in 1999 for personal reasons. Since he had earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, both in administrative science, he decided to pursue a career teaching high school students.
McGrath moved to Florida to find a teaching job. During his search, while skimming the classified ads, he saw an ad calling for Wackenhut security guards. He had heard of the company through friends and colleagues who worked for it, and thought it might offer an interesting career. Within a month, he was wearing a uniform once again.
It’s been a great switch,” McGrath says. “I started out as a regular officer and within a year was promoted to supervisor. So the potential for advancement is there. Also, the benefits are great – 401(k), medical and dental insurance, and paid vacation.”
“However, I did have to take a pay cut at first,” he continues. “That’s something you might have to face when you leave the military – at least for a little while. But the opportunities for advancement and career development make it worth it.”
McGrath’s Advice:
Get an education. “Take advantage of your G.I. Bill benefits. Today, a high school diploma isn’t anything. You need at least a bachelor’s degree.”
Know your location. “Thoroughly evaluate where you want to live. Make sure it’s safe and family oriented.”
Be patient. “It takes time to move, to find a job, to advance. Make sure you start early, that way your transition is not as stressful.”