Millbern, Ryan

Ryan Millbern has instructed law enforcement, military, contractors & private security K9 teams worldwide, bringing over 18 years of expertise in K9 management, training & handling. His diverse background includes law enforcement, high-threat overseas security contracting & security operations within the hospitality, gaming & tourism industries. Throughout his career, Ryan has held key positions such as K9 Handler, K9 Trainer, Police K9 Instructor, Director of Working Dog Operations & Senior Program Manager of K9 Operations. His extensive experience includes establishing new K9 programs, implementing assessment & improvement protocols for existing teams, developing K9-specific corporate & law enforcement policies/SOPs, designing operational deployment strategies & creating rigorous testing & selection standards for both K9s & handlers.

Currently serving as the President of the International Casino & Resort Working Dog Association, Ryan is also the Executive Director of Gaming Security & K9 Operations for Pinnacle Protection Group in Las Vegas. He has trained numerous police, contract & security working dogs & handlers across multiple disciplines, including explosives, narcotics, wildlife conservation, human remains, bed bug detection disciplines as well as scent-discriminate trailing, patrol apprehension & personal protection. Ryan has earned certifications as an instructor, trainer & handler from organizations including ATF, DEA, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of State, Colorado Police Canine Association, North American Police Work Dog Association, United States Police Canine Association, Southern Coast K9, Silver State K9, Ford K9 Training & Hill Country Dog Center.

Ryan has overseen armed, unarmed, full-time, part-time & on-call multi-discipline K9 operations at more than 25 casinos & resorts across Nevada, including the largest Forbes 5-Star resort in the world. A retired police officer, he is also a North Carolina Board of Community Colleges-approved Police K9 Master Trainer School Instructor & a Nevada PILB Certified Firearms Instructor. Additionally, he serves as a human-borne explosives decoy supporting TSA’s National Explosives Detection Canine Training Program (NEDCTP) at airports nationwide & holds an active federal security clearance.

Ryan is dedicated to advancing K9 operations within the gaming & hospitality industries & remains committed to the highest standards of training, security & professionalism in the working dog community.

ICRWDA is the world’s leading hospitality & resort security-focused K9 association. Our mission is to support Casino, Resort & Private Security K9 handlers with cost-free professional training & to provide K9 Subject Matter Experts to any entity in the hospitality, resort & tourism industries looking to create new K9 programs or enhance existing K9 assets. ICRWDA also offers scholarship opportunities for Security & Law Enforcement K9 teams to attend K9 training conferences worldwide.”

ICRWDA is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. For more information, visit us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, or at www.ICRWDA.org

 

Class: Reality Based K-9 Training and US Based Operations for LE/Commercial Explosives Detection Teams

The demand for competent explosives detection teams in the United States is growing exponentially, yet the bulk of EDD teams across the nation remain undertrained, underfunded and underutilized. Are you and your dog truly ready to face today’s explosive threat environment? Do your training techniques reflect what you actually face? Join ICRWDA President and Wynn Resorts K9 Program Manager, Ryan Millbern, as he covers RBT protocols that are specific to modern explosives detection K-9 teams including planning, documentation, safety protocols, K-9 vs Handler learning objectives, Single Purpose vs Dual Purpose K-9s and cost-effective, real-world training scenarios designed to increase capabilities and confidence. Ryan will also be discussing best practice operational techniques for US based LE and commercial explosive detection teams to maximize capabilities with limited EDD resources to better address current explosive threats to the US homeland. Topics will include proactive vs reactive sweeps in commercial environments, area prioritization, post-blast search protocols and communications with venue management, LE and Bomb Squad personnel.

Class: Hotel & Casino Security K9 Operations 101 – Enhancing Guest Safety, the Guest Experience, and Your Brand with K9 Assets

This essential course presents industry best practices for existing hospitality-based K9 programs and offers valuable insights for Law Enforcement & Private Security K9 Handlers interested in providing third-party detection services to casinos, hotels, and large convention centers.

Participants will explore the unique advantages K9 assets bring to hospitality and entertainment environments, with a focus on improving guest safety, enriching the guest experience, and enhancing brand reputation.

Key learning outcomes include:

  • Actionable guidance on transforming a K9 program into a revenue-generating asset, reducing insurance costs and strengthening brand value.
  • Unique considerations of deploying explosives, firearms, narcotics, and bed bug detection dogs and/or patrol dogs within hospitality settings.
  • Understanding operational requirements, costs, and success strategies to address security threats unique to casinos and hotels.

This session is ideal for those looking to expand existing hospitality K9 program capabilities or wishing to enter the hospitality detection market.