About
David Lashley
Speaker. Judicial security expert. Combatives instructor. Author. And for more than 25 years, the calm presence in rooms most people hope they never have to be in.
David Lashley has an extensive background in security and law enforcement. Over more than two decades he has served as a Director of Security, Common Pleas Court Bailiff, and Court Officer, alongside providing private security services for entertainment venues and businesses. The courtroom is where his understanding of danger was forged: not in theory, but in the daily reality of defendants, victims, and high emotion with no scripts.
Underneath the badge sits a lifelong martial artist: more than 35 years in combatives, and today the head instructor at Lashley Self-Defense Tactics. His teaching philosophy is simple: awareness first, avoidance second, and decisive physical response as the last resort you've actually trained for.
David is a member of the Global Society of Homeland & National Security Professionals, the Fraternal Order of Police, and the Ohio Bailiff and Court Officer Association, and is AVERT-trained for active violence emergency response. He is the author of Eyes Wide Open and a frequent guest on podcasts and radio shows covering personal protection, de-escalation, and readiness.
The Record
- 35+ years
- Martial arts and combatives: training, competing, and teaching.
- 25+ years
- Inside the court system: Director of Security, Common Pleas Court Bailiff, Court Officer.
- Head Instructor
- Lashley Self-Defense Tactics: practical self-defense for real people.
- Author
- Eyes Wide Open, a field guide to situational awareness and self-defense.
Affiliations
- Global Society of Homeland & National Security Professionals
- Fraternal Order of Police (FOP)
- Ohio Bailiff and Court Officer Association
- AVERT: Active Violence Emergency Response Training