TACOMA, WA, June 17, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Jacob W. Petersen, MS, has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Mr. Petersen currently serves as the vice president of Veterans Vanguard Security, a rapidly expanding security company in Olympia, Washington, which he helped launch in early 2026. In this capacity, he is responsible for overseeing daily operations, as well as organizational strategy, operational alignment with business objectives, future forecasting and business development. His leadership extends to managing human resources, finance, safety and security operations, technology maintenance and high-level resource management. Under Mr. Petersen's guidance, the company has grown to 30 employees and is on track to achieve gross profits exceeding $1 million within its first year, a remarkable milestone for a startup.

In addition to managing Veterans Vanguard Security, Mr. Petersen has been affiliated with Cascade Christian Schools in Puyallup, Washington, a Christ-centered school for primary and secondary education. Hired in 2022 as the director of safety and security, he has been instrumental in developing protocols and systems to ensure safe learning environments. Additionally, in 2024, Mr. Petersen also became the school's chief operating officer, managing one of the largest private school districts in the U.S. In this position, Mr. Petersen oversees district-wide operations and strategic initiatives that support educational excellence and student safety.

Mr. Petersen's commitment to public safety is further demonstrated through his roles with the City of Puyallup. Since 2023, he has served as a course instructor and volunteer with local emergency response teams through the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), where he educates community members on disaster preparedness and response.

Before his current roles, Mr. Petersen was an administrator at Close Quarters Defense from 2016 to 2018, where he managed executive protection training programs alongside former Navy SEALs and international military professionals. He also founded The ALPHA Program in 2014, focusing on youth development through leadership training and athletic mentorship until 2020.

Between 2014 and 2016, Mr. Petersen achieved a lifelong dream as a professional baseball player with the Los Angeles Angels organization. As a Division I athlete and All-American, he played two seasons before an injury ended his career, but not before competing alongside elite athletes from around the world and performing before crowds of thousands of fans.

Mr. Petersen's military service in the U.S. Army from 2018 to 2022 included serving as a soldier before completing Officer Candidate School in Ft. Benning, GA, and commissioning as a second lieutenant; advancing to platoon leader in 2019 and later executive officer between 2021 and 2022. His military tenure was marked by leadership roles that honed his ability to guide teams under pressure while reinforcing his commitment to service.

A graduate of California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks in 2014, Mr. Petersen obtained a Bachelor of Arts in psychology after completing coursework in clinical, counseling and applied psychology at California State University, Northridge. He further completed the U.S. Army Military Police Officer Leadership Course focusing on military and strategic leadership in 2019 during his military tenure, and is an alumnus of The United States Army Officer Candidate School. Additionally, Mr. Petersen's academic journey included graduate studies at King's College London from 2023 to 2025, culminating in a Master of Science from the Institute of Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience in 2025. His master's thesis explored innovative approaches to neurological rehabilitation using machine learning, brain imaging, and transcription factors to promote neurogenesis after stroke or traumatic brain injury, with the ultimate goal of shifting CNS treatment from rehabilitation-focused approaches toward genuine cellular regeneration.

Active with King's College London Alumni since 2025, Mr. Petersen also maintains affiliation with the Washington State School Safety Organization since 2023 and has been a district facilitator for Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) since 2023. His civic engagement extends to his position on the executive board of directors for the Plus One Foundation since 2023, where he is also recognized as a published author on neurological rehabilitation. The foundation supports individuals who have suffered neurological disorders or injuries by providing monetary assistance and physical therapy resources. Mr. Petersen also volunteers locally with emergency response teams, mentors youth through church leadership, instructs disaster preparedness courses, and has participated in international mission work, including efforts in Iraq and Iran by distributing Bibles via digital media.

Throughout his career, Mr. Petersen has been recognized for both athletic and professional achievements. He was inducted into the California Lutheran Athlete Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2023 and was recognized as a two-time First Team All-American college baseball player. Additional honors included Athlete of the Year and Senior Athlete of the Year awards at California Lutheran University, as well as All West Region and All Conference distinctions. Mr. Petersen's military accolades include the U.S. Army Achievement Medal, the U.S. Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and a Physical Fitness Award.

Looking ahead, Mr. Petersen intends to pursue a doctorate in organizational leadership, psychology, or neuroscience — fields that reflect his academic foundation and his lifelong commitment to understanding people and building stronger institutions. He remains deeply invested in expanding Veterans Vanguard Security from a regional presence into a statewide and eventually nationwide resource serving veterans and the faith-based communities that have shaped his values. Across both his security work and academic pursuits, Mr. Petersen carries a particular commitment to the vulnerable — ensuring that those most at risk have access to protection they can trust, and that science and health research gives voice and care to those too often overlooked. At the heart of it all is a simple conviction: that the places where people gather to learn, worship, and serve deserve to be safe, and that true leadership is measured by faithful service to those who need it most.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. The suite of Marquis® publications, including Who's Who in America® and Who's Who in the World®, remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the globe. Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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