After 15 years as the Director of Security for Florida Tech, Kevin Graham is retiring at the beginning of March.
Graham said his reason for retiring is because he thinks it is time for “new blood.”
“If you want to grow, it’s time to have someone else come in with new ideas, new experiences, to make sure that it continues to make this a safer university,” Graham said.
Graham said when he first got hired at Florida Tech, security had antiquated equipment and non-trained officers.
He said that he takes pride in how far the security staff has come since he took over.
“The officers do a tremendous job,” Graham said. “Everybody knows security, we’re involved in most things that happen here now. The security officers have been accepted as professionals.”
Florida Tech’s Dean of Students, Rodney Bowers, said he has worked with security regularly since he began working at Florida Tech in 1990.
“[Graham is] a great person, very passionate, concerned about the students, concerned about the safety of the campus and a very good person to work with,” Bowers said.
Bowers said when someone has reached that milestone in their life when it is time to retire, it is “well deserved.”
“I’m very proud of him,” Bowers said. “I’m proud of what he has done and what he’s accomplished.”
Florida Tech Alumnus and current Clemente Center employee, Thomas Rochester, said he’s noticed that security has become more personable and friendly since he started at Florida Tech in 2010.
Rochester interacts and works with security regularly as a Clemente Center employee.
“The officers are all laid back in demeanor while still maintaining professionalism when a situation arises,” Rochester said. Rochester also called Graham “one of the funniest guys on campus.”
“He is dry witted and prefers cracking a few jokes to ease the tension that comes from his imposing demeanor,” Rochester said.
Graham also attributes a lot of security’s improvements around campus to the beginning of carrying firearms on campus.
“Since the day we were armed, the issues we’ve had with people have diminished greatly,” Graham said.
In order to carry firearms on campus, Florida Tech’s security needed to become both D and G certified, according to Graham.
D certification is working as a security employee unarmed and G is certification to be armed as a security member.
After 43 years of being in law enforcement, Graham said his next venture is “to be determined.”
He did say that he is open to suggestions and has been teaching part-time for 30 years now.
“Being here at the university is a big responsibility,” Graham said. “I am truly proud to say I worked at Florida Tech.”