Protecting People, Powering Progress: Jacobs' Global Security in Action

We spoke with Alan Stenson to learn how Jacobs is navigating geopolitical shifts, environmental challenges and global megatrends while ensuring secure, resilient operations worldwide.

Can you tell us about your role leading security and resilience at Jacobs?

As Senior Director for Global Security and Resilience (GS&R), I lead a team responsible for delivering a holistic enterprise security program that enables our business. From strategic risk analysis to security operations and business resilience, we ensure we meet our objectives to secure, protect and inform our company and employees—so we can deliver for our clients.

What are you currently working on, and how does it support Jacobs’ growth strategy?

We're simplifying and automating our governance and programs. A big focus is refining our Business Management System (BMS)—which houses our company policies and procedures—for easier access and alignment with business strategy. We're also using technology and data analytics to improve decision-making. Being informed is critical to preparation and achieving positive outcomes, no matter the disruption.

From a security and resilience standpoint, what are the biggest challenges we face today?

Business disruption is always a focus. In a fast-changing world, we must understand what could impact our people and operations. With so much information—and misinformation—we invest time in gathering, analyzing and sharing relevant risks and providing solutions to support both stability and adaptability.

Can you share a recent example of a challenge your team successfully managed?

Beyond our work during the COVID-19 disruption, recent geopolitical conflicts have put GS&R at the forefront. We've supported multiple evacuations in high-risk areas and adapted operations to keep teams safe. These efforts protected our people—and in some cases, their dependents—while maintaining business continuity.

How do you balance security with operational efficiency?

We take a pragmatic, risk-based and intelligence-driven approach. We prioritize based on urgency and potential impact, balancing business growth with protection. Our agile, globally positioned team can quickly adapt to evolving needs. We also leverage internal and external resources to expand our capabilities, both proactively and reactively.

What technologies or tools are essential to your work?

Go Smart is a key tool that helps employees plan safe travel and obtain approvals on one platform. We also leverage our partnerships, such as with International SOS, using their applications and services to help us provide global support. Knowing where employees are and their travel plans allow us to identify risks, offer guidance and, when needed, arrange extractions from high-threat environments.

What are your top priorities for the next year?

In line with our company strategy, we’re focused on simplifying processes to give employees a seamless support experience. We’re also improving data collection and analysis to support growth, protect operations and pursue new opportunities. Increasing automation and better connecting our planning, permissions and response systems will also be a priority.

How do you collaborate across the enterprise to enhance resilience?

GS&R connects across the business—from providing geopolitical intelligence to leaders, to supporting legal and human resources on investigations, to working with Real Estate on office security. We also support sales teams exploring new markets. Our resilience program includes emergency response teams at the local, regional and global levels, all led by our corporate crisis team and executive leadership.

What role do employees play in security and resilience?

Just like safety, security is everyone’s responsibility. It’s in everyday actions—locking doors, protecting personal and company data, reporting concerns. We ask all employees to help safeguard themselves, their colleagues and our intellectual property, and to build security into their routines and work.

What might surprise people about you?

I previously served in the British Army's Royal Military Police as a close protection officer—essentially a bodyguard. I protected senior officials, members of the British government and the Royal Family, often in global hotspots. I was present during major moments, including the first U.S. presidential visit to Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland peace talks.

What do you enjoy outside of work?

I teach cadets desert survival and military skills—shelter building, navigation and even creating water from air. I use my experience to help kids build resilience, confidence and decision-making skills they can use in everyday life.

What advice would you give young professionals interested in this field?

Be curious. Ask questions and take action. Our work requires evaluating situations and planning the best approach. You need to be a communicator, listener, collaborator and decision-maker. The most successful people I know consistently anticipate and deliver—often before they're asked.

What do you enjoy most about working at Jacobs?

The opportunity to make a positive difference every day. Whether for our employees, clients or communities, our international reach means we have real impact. That’s what makes this work meaningful.