Zachary R. Pugh
Founder, President & Emergency Preparedness Consultant
Zachary R. Pugh is the Founder and President of Pugh Self-Protection & Combatives, creator of the Preparedness720™ Framework, and an Emergency Preparedness Consultant dedicated to helping organizations build safer, more resilient environments. His work extends far beyond traditional safety training by combining consulting, planning, education, emergency exercises, and continuous improvement into one comprehensive preparedness strategy.
The Preparedness720™ Framework was developed around a simple philosophy: prevention is the best outcome, but training is the most important preparation. By helping organizations assess vulnerabilities, strengthen emergency plans, improve physical security, develop staff capabilities, and continually refine their preparedness efforts, Zachary assists clients in becoming better prepared before an emergency ever occurs.
Zachary's journey into personal protection began in 2002 at Brooks Karate School in West Winfield, New York, where he earned his 1st Degree Black Belt in American Goju Karate. As his interests shifted from traditional martial arts toward practical self-protection, he pursued advanced training under Tony Torres in the Functional Edge System while also studying Blauer Tactical Systems, Defense Lab, the Keysi Fighting Method, and Jiu-Jitsu. Drawing from each discipline, he developed a practical, evidence-based approach centered on human performance under stress rather than sport or competition.
Complementing his defensive tactics background, Zachary earned numerous Instructor Certifications through the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), including General Topics, Firearms, Patrol Rifle, Conducted Energy Device (TASER), and Aerosol Restraint. He also served 15 years in law enforcement, gaining firsthand experience responding to critical incidents, violent encounters, emergency management challenges, and community safety concerns. Those experiences continue to shape his practical approach to preparedness and response.
Today, Zachary works with schools, colleges and universities, healthcare organizations, businesses, government agencies, and houses of worship throughout the United States. His consulting services include comprehensive safety and security assessments, Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) reviews and development, tabletop exercises, emergency drills, after-action reviews, policy development, reunification planning, and implementation of the ELS911 Emergency Labeling System to improve emergency response and first responder coordination.
As an instructor, Zachary has trained thousands of educators, healthcare professionals, law enforcement officers, corporate employees, security personnel, and community members using realistic, interactive, hands-on training designed to improve confidence, decision-making, and survivability during high-stress events.
He is also the creator of the Ch.A.D.™ (Charge & Attack while Distracting) and S.O.S.™ (Seek Safe Area, Out-of-Sight, Strategically Attack) response protocols, which form the foundation of his Active Shooter ResponseAbility™ Training. Developed through years of research, field observations, and practical experience, these proprietary concepts emphasize building physical response skills and adaptive decision-making rather than relying solely on theoretical response models.
Whether consulting with executive leadership, evaluating organizational preparedness, or delivering engaging, hands-on training, Zachary's mission is unwavering: to help people and organizations become prepared from every angle before a crisis occurs—because preparedness doesn't begin when the emergency starts; it begins long before it ever happens.
