Colin Daugherty, '01
Since he graduated in 2001, Colin Daugherty has spent much of his time being invisible.
His corporate and military security work in Europe, the Middle East and Africa placed him in the shadowy, behind-the-scenes world of providing protection for influential world figures.
Daugherty, 42, is still working in corporate security, but has lately shifted to a less obscure lifestyle by taking a job in Denver for VF Corporation, a global sustainable lifestyle company. Daugherty is the corporate partner directing security operations, in many realms at the company, including research, policy procedures, personnel issues and crisis response.
"I basically do everything security related," said Daugherty.
When Daugherty graduated with a major in criminology and a minor in psychology, he said he had no idea where life would take him. He had joined the Army Reserves while he was in college and went into active duty after graduation.
He served in Iraq, which then led him to a job with a military defense contractor in the Middle East. Daugherty's job was protecting dignitaries and "high net worth individuals."
He also served a stint with the Grand Junction Police Department before making a leap into the Colorado cannabis industry. He was tasked with providing security for a high-level cannabis executive. He won't say who – just like he isn't able to give details about most of his work.
“I have to speak in a lot of vagueness,” Daugherty said about his job history.
His experience in the burgeoning cannabis industry convinced him that he needed to further his education if he wanted to be even more valuable in the security world.
He earned a Master of Business Administration at the University of Denver. That led to his current position with VF Corporation.
It also led to a more relaxed lifestyle. Daugherty now lives in Denver rather than constantly zipping around the world – a big plus for his 9-year-old daughter. He is also involved in philanthropy – mentoring other veterans, and serving on the board of Wings for Hope for Pancreatic Cancer Research.
"I bring a level of real-world experience to these endeavors," he said. "I have the ability to bring a radically different perspective."