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A career in law enforcement can be gratifying — but it’s not always an easy path. And to take the experience of years in leadership roles and turn it into a successful foray into private security is an even tougher journey. But that’s precisely what Jack K. Byrd III has done.
Jack Byrd’s roots run deep in Tennessee, where he was born and raised. After graduating from Wilson Central High School, he pursued higher education at Trevecca Nazarene University, earning his bachelor's in public policy. He then completed his master's in public service management at Cumberland University.
But he started pursuing his goals long before he earned his degrees. At just 19 years old, Byrd began what would become a distinguished career in law enforcement as a paid intern at the Davidson County Sheriff's Office. Upon turning 21, the DCSO sent him to its training academy, where his leadership potential quickly became evident. Within his first year, Byrd earned a promotion to corporal and was assigned to the armed services division, where he managed inmate transportation.
"He knows the industry. He still does,” says Taylor Pepper, Director of Communications for Solaren Risk Management, where Bryd presides as CEO. “He's definitely a professional when it comes to security. He knows the ins and outs of the law and the regulations and who to talk to about what, and that's definitely helped the company grow super fast."
Solaren Risk Management’s explosive growth stems directly from Jack Byrd's expertise and connections. "The inception of Solaren was super quick, and so we went from that small team and a small office in a mall to
the office that we're in now, with around 300-plus contractors that work for us throughout just Nashville, and that happened within the span of maybe two or three years," Pepper notes.
This rapid expansion wasn't just about numbers. As Pepper observes, "Jack’s an entrepreneur at heart." This entrepreneurial spirit, combined with deep industry knowledge, helped shape Solaren's approach to security services.
Under Byrd's leadership, Solaren has embraced technological advancement while maintaining the human element of security services. "We partner with a company called LiveView Technologies," Pepper explains. "They create these mobile surveillance trailers that you can deploy quickly ... a lot of our clients have loved having that option."
However, Jack Byrd's approach to technology remains balanced. As Pepper points out, "A lot of people think that it takes away from the physical security aspect, but it really doesn't. If anything, it supplements it. The human eye is going to recognize things and be able to process things better than AI ever will."
One of Jack Byrd's core philosophies centers on continuous professional development. Pepper emphasizes, "We hold in-person courses, regularly. Anytime we hire a bunch of people for unarmed, for example, we invite them all to come out to a class."
The company's training program is particularly robust: "We have our training coordinator, Darrell Webb, he's phenomenal. He's active law enforcement and he knows his stuff for sure. He does a lot of the training through the law enforcement agency, the department that he works in."
Byrd has instituted a comprehensive system for recognizing and rewarding excellence. "At the end of the year, we have a Christmas party, a company Christmas party that we do," Pepper shares. "If somebody based on those
performance evaluations throughout the year has just done an exceptional job, they'll get an award, which usually correlates with some kind of pay boost."
Solaren Risk Management’s ability to respond to crises was well demonstrated during Hurricane Milton in October 2024. "We ended up taking a command center down there and we had multiple vehicles so we could patrol the properties. We had to gather as many people as we could to go down there," Pepper recounts. The operation proved successful: "The deployment was actually pretty smooth, and the client was very happy with our services down there."
Looking ahead, Byrd and Solaren face industrywide challenges, particularly in staffing. As Pepper observes, "A lot of people are just, it's not the most appealing industry anymore. It's hard to find people who genuinely are passionate about this kind of work."
The company maintains strong relationships with local law enforcement. "We work directly with Metro Nashville in a lot of capacities," Pepper explains. "We've built a really good rapport with them because it is supposed to be a very ... collaborative [relationship] in a lot of ways.” Today, Solaren stands as a testament to Jack Byrd's vision of combining traditional security expertise with modern solutions. As Pepper summarizes, "The company kind of skyrocketed as soon as it started. Jack has a lot of connections. He knows a lot of people, which is really invaluable when you're starting a business."
The company's growth from a two-person operation to a major security provider in the Southeast reflects not just Byrd's business acumen, but his commitment to professional excellence and community service. His journey from a sheriff's deputy to CEO demonstrates how law enforcement experience, entrepreneurial spirit, and innovative thinking can transform the private security industry.
