Mary Gates Wins Inaugural Outstanding Female Security Professional Award and Advances to Global OSPAs
DALLAS, TX – October 09, 2026 — Mary Gates, founder and CEO of GMR Security Consulting Group, is the inaugural recipient of the Outstanding Female Security Professional award at the 2026 U.S. Outstanding Security Performance Awards (OSPAs). Winners were announced Sept. 13 at a ceremony at GSX 2026 in Atlanta, marking the program’s 12th year.
The U.S. OSPAs recognize achievement across the security industry, with this year’s honorees selected by a panel of 22 judges nominated by industry organizations and special interest groups. As a category winner, Gates advances to the 2026 Global OSPAs, set to take place virtually in January 2027.
“Being named the first-ever Outstanding Female Security Professional is deeply meaningful after 40 years in this industry,” said Gates. “I’m proud to see women’s leadership in security recognized in this way, and I hope this award reflects the growing influence women will continue to have in shaping the industry’s future. I’m honored to represent GMR Security at the Global OSPAs.”
Gates built the foundation of her career over 24 years at JPMorgan Chase & Co., where she led investigations, oversaw physical security nationwide and developed security training and compliance programs for the firm. In 2019, she founded GMR Security Consulting Group to offer organizations something she felt was missing from the industry: independent, strategy-first security guidance with no product agenda.
Gates holds the Certified Financial Services Security Professional (CFSSP) and Certified Homeland Protection Associate (CHPA-III) designations. She speaks internationally on crisis preparedness, active shooter response and financial security innovation, and serves as an Advisory Member of the ASIS Banking and Financial Services Council. She is also a 2025 Security Innovator Award recipient and a Lifetime Achievement honoree from Consulting Magazine’s 2025 Women Leaders in Consulting Awards.
If you are interested in speaking with Mary to learn more about this achievement and her vision for the industry, please contact Sarah Wicks at sarah.wicks@hck2.com.
About GMR Security Consulting Group
GMR Security Consulting Group is a WBENC-certified, woman-owned firm based in Heath, Texas, providing independent, strategy-driven security consulting to organizations across industries. Founded in 2019 as GMR 410, LLC, the firm has grown into a trusted partner for enterprise risk management, physical security, compliance, executive protection, executive recruiting, and security technology design and integration.
Built on a foundation of integrity, excellence, and faith-based values, GMR Security helps clients make smarter, more confident security decisions—free from product bias or vendor influence. With decades of hands-on experience in corporate security, law enforcement, and executive protection, GMR Security’s team delivers practical, client-first strategies that strengthen resilience and protect what matters most: people, property, and peace of mind. For more information, visit GMRSecurity.com
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