Rick DeChant Joins AYC Advisory Board

AYC Security is pleased to announced that Mr. Rick DeChant has joined the AYC Security advisory board.

Mr. DeChant brings to AYC Security over 44 years of experience in crisis management, public affairs, military affairs, government affairs, and strategic planning.

Rick served with the Department of Homeland Security as its Assistant Federal Security Director for TSA Operations in Northeast Ohio. During his tenure with the TSA he was awarded both the Department Homeland Security Heroism Award and The Cleveland Police Department 2006 Citizen Heroism Award for helping to subdue an armed gunman at Cleveland Hopkins Airport who had shot and wounded a Cleveland Police officer.

He is retired Commander with 21 years of service in the Coast Guard Reserve, including combat tours in the Middle East for Gulf War I, in Haiti in 1994, and again when he served in Iraq and Kuwait for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003/2004. In recognition of his military service, his work in homeland security, and his efforts in veteran education issues, Rick was inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame on November 9, 2017, and was awarded The America Nationalities Movement Freedom Award in 2019.

For twelve years Rick served as the Executive Director of the Tri-C Veterans Initiative where he provided overall leadership, direction, and coordination for all Veterans Services initiatives within Cuyahoga Community College. Under his direction the Veterans Initiative generated $25 million in GI Bill and other military tuition revenue for the College.

Rick holds a BA in Communications from John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio. He and his wife of 44 years, Sharon, reside in Fairview Park, Ohio and are the parents of two grown children.

Professional associations and awards include:

• Department of Homeland Security - Secretary’s Award for Heroism (airport police officer shooting incident);

• Cleveland Police Department Citizens Award for Heroism (airport police officer shooting incident);

• Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal (Iraqi Freedom service)

• Coast Guard Commendation Medal (4)

• Coast Guard Achievement Medal (4)

• Coast Guard Commandant’s Letter of Commendation (3)

• Department of Transportation 9-11 Medal (reported the day of the attacks)

• US Global War on Terrorism Medal (Operation Noble Eagle)

• International Global War on Terrorism Medal (Operation Iraqi Freedom)

• National Defense Medal (2)

• Liberation of Kuwait Medal

• Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Operation Uphold Democracy - Haiti)

• Humanitarian Service Medal

• Presidential Citation Medal (USCG Hurricane Katrina Operations)

• Coast Guard Special Operations Ribbon (Exxon Valdez spill)

• USCG Reserve Officer of the Year/Great Lakes Region (1995)

• Board Member – The Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame

• Board Member – The Cleveland Police Foundation

• Advisory Board Member – Greater Cleveland Fisher House

• Board Member - NEOVETS

• Board Member – Louis Stokes VAMC Education & Research Foundation

• Past Co-Chair - Ohio Department of Higher Education/Military Implementation Team

• Voting Rights Institute of Ohio – Veterans Advisory Committee

• Past President, Board of Directors – USO of Northern Ohio

• Life Member, Veterans of Foreign Wars (Post 9693);

• Life Member Reserve Officers Association;

• Life Member, Coast Guard Combat Veterans Association;

• Member, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America;

• Member United States Navy League;

• The Press Club of Cleveland;

• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society – Northern Ohio Chapter (1998 – 2001)

• Ohio PTA (awarded honorary life membership in 1997) Awards/Military Decorations:

• Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame – 2017 inductee

• American Nationalities Movement – Freedom Award 2019

• Coast Guard Alex Haley Award Recipient - 1990 (outstanding service in USCG Public Affairs)