Built by Veterans. Designed for the Field.
Eagle Shield Academy was founded by a Marine Corps combat veteran and career law enforcement officer who saw firsthand what real security training should look like.
2011
Founded
12,000+
Guards Certified
47
States Recognized
98%
Employer Satisfaction
Our Story
Erik B. Sanchez
Eagle Shield Academy is owned and operated by Erik Sanchez, Managing Member of Eagle Shield Security, LLC. Erik is a U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran with two deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
After the Marine Corps, Erik spent his career in law enforcement — serving as Chief of Police for the Department of Public Safety at Sul Ross State University. That experience on the front lines of both military service and law enforcement is the foundation every Eagle Shield course is built on.
Eagle Shield Academy is a Texas DPS-certified training school (course designation ACP-101). Every course we offer is built around one question: what does a guard actually need to know to protect people and go home safe? That question drives our curriculum, our instructors, and our standards.
Raise the Standard. Protect the Public.
"To equip every security professional with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to protect lives — through rigorous, real-world training that meets the demands of today's security environment."
Our Founder
Ralph Sanchez
Founder, Instructor & Supervisor
Ralph Sanchez founded Eagle Shield Security, LLC in 1995 and remains an instructor and supervisor at Eagle Shield Academy.
Ralph has spent his working life in first response. He served as a firefighter, worked as an EMT with an ambulance service, and spent years in law enforcement — three careers that all come down to the same thing: showing up when something has gone wrong and knowing what to do next. When he looked at the private security industry in the mid-nineties, he saw an industry with real potential and real room for people who took it seriously. So he built Eagle Shield.
Anyone who has worked with Ralph will tell you he's a driven man. He doesn't stop until the job is done and done to his standard, and that expectation has shaped the company from the beginning.
Over the years Ralph has taught nearly every course the Academy offers. These days he supervises and steps in wherever he's needed — and depending on the day, that could be any subject on the schedule. Students remember him for it. Whatever the class and whatever the situation, Ralph brings a toughness that comes from thirty years of doing the work, paired with a kindness and a humanity that come through in how he treats every person who walks into his classroom.
Ralph teaches alongside his son, Erik Sanchez, the company's owner and Lead Instructor.
Core Values
What We Stand For
Integrity First
We hold ourselves and our graduates to the highest ethical standards. A credential from Eagle Shield means something because we don't cut corners.
Real-World Readiness
Every module is built around scenarios guards actually face. No filler, no fluff — just the skills that matter when it counts.
Inclusive Excellence
Great security professionals come from every background. We build programs that are accessible, rigorous, and designed for everyone to succeed.
Continuous Learning
The threat landscape evolves. Our curriculum evolves with it. We update our courses regularly and require instructors to stay current in the field.
Accountability
We stand behind every graduate. If a student doesn't pass, we work with them until they do — because their success is our reputation.
Community Partnership
We partner with law enforcement, emergency services, and local employers to ensure our graduates are ready to serve the communities they protect.
Ready to Get Certified?
Browse our certification programs and take the first step toward a career you can be proud of.