Lt Col François Villard

Lt Col François Villard served as former Division Head of the Cat 9 Airport Safety and Security of an International Airport. This position entailed the handling of all security aspects including access control, security patrols with weaponed personnel and X-ray operators. Additionally, considering the aspect of human factors, he developed training programs for security officers in accordance with the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC).

He works with the ICAO Technical Cooperation Bureau and has carried out security missions (metal detection, Xray machines, perimeter surveillance, video surveillance) in Syria Lebanon and several african countries. He is a member of the National Fire Protection Association’s Aviation Technical Committee since 2000.

He was a member of the Geneva government’s bomb squad, and among others has worn the heavy suit for defusing improvised explosive devices. As head of Air Safety Security Services, he trains bomb disposal teams and advises airports on setting up security screening points for passengers, hold baggage, cargo and catering. With his company, he runs quality control tests and exercises.

He is a former battalion commander of an armored unit in Switzerland. He has two children and lives in Geneva.

LtCol Villard is a graduate (Master) of La Sorbonne (Paris) with a degree in sciences.