Director Kent Ferrin has served the Vanguard University Campus Safety Department since 2018. Director Ferrin has made significant improvements to the department since taking the leadership position at Vanguard. Director Ferrin focused heavily on the department’s mission, vision, and values; safety and crime prevention, customer-based services/image, and a strong emergency preparedness and response program. To accomplish ideal results in these areas, Director Ferrin built and enhanced strong partnerships with various other Campus Safety Departments and government agencies across the country, bridging gaps and improving the relationship with the student body, overseeing the development and growth of department personnel, elevating professionalism across the department, and strategically developing processes, systems, resources, and proven methods.
Director Ferrin is a recipient of Vanguard’s 2021 Staff Member of the Year, which was selected by the student Body. Director Ferrin was also selected as a finalist in the 2023 upcoming Campus Safety Director of the Year award for Campus Safety Magazine.
Prior to becoming the Director of Campus Safety at Vanguard University, Kent served as a Lieutenant with the Huntington Beach Police Department. During Kent’s thirty-year career in law enforcement, Kent worked as a police officer, training officer, detective, sergeant, and acting lieutenant in Los Angeles County before lateraling to the Huntington Beach Police Department. Kent has worked, supervised, and managed a variety of specialties during his tenure. Kent has established himself as an expert in several disciplines within law enforcement.
Kent is a graduate of the University of Southern California – Delinquency Control Institute at the School of Policy Planning and Development; P.O.S.T. Supervisory Leadership Institute; P.O.S.T. Management School; and the P.O.S.T. Command College. Kent has a bachelor’s degree in business and a master’s degree in organizational management from Azusa Pacific University.
Kent was an instructor at the Rio Hondo College Police Academy for several years. Kent taught entry level officers at the police academy as well as advanced officer training courses. Kent has developed security plans and threat assessment for many organizations and churches over the years.