Hello
Gene Petrino
In today’s workplaces, safety is no longer just a policy—it’s a culture.
Gene Petrino helps organizations move beyond reaction and compliance toward proactive awareness, early intervention, and confident decision-making.
A retired SWAT commander with nearly three decades of experience in high-stakes environments, Gene brings a calm, professional, and highly practical approach to strengthening workplace safety, reducing risk, and equipping employees with the skills to recognize danger before it escalates.
Today, he partners with HR leaders, corporate teams, schools, and nonprofits to build proactive safety cultures grounded in early-warning recognition, confident decision-making, and realistic prevention strategies.
A Career Built on Prevention, Not Fear
Workplace incidents rarely begin as emergencies. They develop through small behavioral or environmental cues that often go unnoticed. Gene’s mission is to help organizations recognize these early indicators, respond appropriately, and reduce risk long before a crisis develops.
His training shifts teams from a reactive mindset to a preventive one, helping organizations:
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Recognize concerning behaviors and pre-incident patterns
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Strengthen situational awareness without creating fear
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Support supervisors in early intervention
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Improve reporting pathways and organizational readiness
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Build a shared, company-wide approach to safety and resilience
Gene’s programs translate real-world experience into clear, actionable frameworks HR teams can implement immediately.
Leadership Experience That Translates to the Workplace
Before founding Survival Response, Gene spent more than 28 years in law enforcement, including service as a SWAT commander responsible for managing critical incidents, training specialized teams, and evaluating high-risk situations.
His leadership experience includes:
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Overseeing major incident response operations
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Teaching threat assessment, behavioral awareness, and decision-making under stress
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Training law enforcement professionals, civilians, educators, hospital staff, and corporate teams
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Developing strategies that prioritize human behavior, early detection, and de-escalation
This background gives Gene uncommon insight into how threats develop, how people behave under pressure, and how organizations can prevent escalation through awareness, communication, and culture.
Trusted by HR and Organizational Leaders
Gene’s work is designed specifically for HR managers, directors, and business leaders seeking practical solutions—not theoretical security models or tactical instruction.
He supports organizations through:
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Workplace violence prevention training
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Situational awareness and behavioral cue workshops
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Threat recognition and early-intervention programs
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Leadership briefings for executives and supervisors
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Risk assessment and environmental awareness evaluations
His approach is professional, relatable, and grounded in real human behavior, making it accessible for both frontline staff and leadership teams.
Professional Credentials
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Retired SWAT Commander with 28+ years of law enforcement experience
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Co-founder, Survival Response LLC
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Master’s Degree in Security Management
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Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology
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Certified Protection Professional (CPP)
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Published in Security Management Magazine; work republished by SHRM
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Instructor in threat recognition, behavioral awareness, decision-making under stress, and workplace safety preparedness
These credentials reflect both operational expertise and the academic grounding HR leaders value when selecting trainers, consultants, and speakers.
A Practical Approach That Empowers People
Gene’s teaching philosophy is simple:
When people understand what to look for, they make better decisions.
His programs emphasize:
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Calm, confident awareness
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Practical, real-world examples
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Easy-to-use behavioral frameworks
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Decision-making strategies employees can apply immediately
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Non-fear-based, professional communication
The result is a workforce that feels capable, supported, and aligned with organizational safety goals.
Let’s Strengthen Your Workplace Safety Culture
Gene works with organizations of all sizes to build safer, more aware, and more resilient teams. Through training, speaking engagements, workshops, and leadership strategy sessions, he brings clarity and competence to one of today’s most critical workplace challenges: staying safe in an unpredictable world.
Education:
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B.A. Communications University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
Assignments:
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S.W.A.T Team Leader
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Street Crimes Unit
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U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force Officer
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Multi Agency Gang Task Force
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Field Force
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Road Patrol
Instructor Qualifications:
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Firearms Instructor
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M4 & MP5 Machine Gun Instructor
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Ballistic Shield Instructor
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Chemical Munitions Instructor
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Impact/Less Lethal Instructor
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Distractive Devices
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Simunition Instructor
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S.W.A.T. School Instructor
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Active Shooter/Killer Instructor