Curriculum Vitae
Irada Valiyeva
Close Protection Officer (CPO) | Executive Protection | Diplomatic Security | Security Management | Protective Driving
Download CV (PDF)Profile summary
Highly accomplished Executive Protection and Security Management professional with 20+ years of progressive experience in diplomatic security, executive protection and protective driving, including 17 years at the U.S. Embassy in Baku. Provided armed close protection and armoured transportation for 3 U.S. Ambassadors, senior diplomatic officials and international delegations in line with U.S. Diplomatic Security standards, then led 45 security personnel (40 outsourced security staff and 5 Security Team Leaders) across the Hyatt Regency Baku complex. 1st Dan Karate black belt and former Azerbaijan national team athlete, with 8 professional security and safety courses completed in 2026, including a Firearms course and FREC 3, ready to deliver female close protection for principals, families and VIP delegations across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the GCC, the wider Middle East, Europe and America.
Core qualifications
- Demonstrated ability to protect 3 U.S. Ambassadors, senior diplomats and international delegations across 17 years at the U.S. Embassy in Baku, in line with U.S. Diplomatic Security standards.
- Proficient in armoured vehicle (B6) driving, defensive, offensive and evasive driving, route planning and motorcade support, Smith System certified and recognised with the Bodyguard Team Safe Driving Award (2016).
- Skilled in advance security planning, threat and risk assessment, venue security checks and protective intelligence review for diplomatic movements and residences.
- Demonstrated ability to lead, train and mentor 45 security personnel (40 outsourced security staff and 5 Security Team Leaders) at Hyatt Regency Baku across a seven building hotel complex and VIP protection operations.
- Proficient in firearms and emergency response: qualification every two months in Baku (4 hour training and shooting sessions), OT-801 (USA, 2017), 15 day Close Protection Training Course (2026), Firearms Training and Qualification (2026), FREC 3 (2026) and 80 hour bodyguard and firearms courses (2014).
Work experience
Physical Education Teacher
20 Oct 2025 to Present | Kaspi Cambridge School, Baku
- Deliver 2 to 5 hours of daily physical education to students in grades 0 to 5 within a Cambridge international curriculum.
- Coach 6 grade levels, from grade 0 to grade 5, in fitness, coordination and teamwork through structured sports lessons.
- Maintain a safe, supervised sports environment for young children, drawing on safety awareness built over 20+ years in security.
- Mentor students through sport, using the discipline of a 1st Dan Karate black belt with 3 Republic of Azerbaijan championship titles.
IB MYP and IB PYP Physical Education Teacher
25 May 2024 to 1 Oct 2025 | European Azerbaijan School, Baku
- Taught physical education to IB MYP and IB PYP students for 16 months within an international school curriculum.
- Completed 7 professional development certificates between November 2024 and February 2025, covering IB teaching strategies and international teaching standards.
- Applied inquiry based IB approaches across MYP and PYP and organised sports activities and extracurricular programmes that promoted fitness, discipline, leadership and inclusion.
Security Specialist, CCTV Observer
1 Jul 2023 to 2 Oct 2023 | Carlsberg Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan
- Monitored CCTV systems and access control activity across corporate facilities for 3 months to protect personnel and company assets.
- Implemented corporate security procedures and asset protection controls during a 3 month assignment in line with compliance and confidentiality standards.
- Documented security incidents and escalated concerns promptly, bringing 20 years of security experience to a corporate environment.
- Coordinated with on-site response teams to support incident prevention and rapid escalation.
Assistant Manager Security
10 Mar 2020 to 1 Jun 2023 | Hyatt Regency Baku, Baku
- Managed security operations for the five star Hyatt Regency Baku complex over 3 years, protecting guests, employees, VIP visitors and company assets in line with Hyatt International standards. Complex: two business center buildings, two hotel buildings, eight villas, two apartment buildings and a spa and fitness building.
- Led, trained and mentored 45 security personnel (40 outsourced security staff and 5 Security Team Leaders) across hotel, apartment, villa and VIP protection operations.
- Served as Lost & Found and Loss Prevention specialist, supporting guest property control and prevention of losses across the complex.
- Strengthened emergency preparedness and VIP protection over 3 years through risk assessments, SOP development and emergency response plans.
- Earned selection from 25 applicants, passed 35+ Hyatt training programmes and became a Service Coach, featured in the "Women at Hyatt" publication.
Ambassador's Bodyguard & Ambassador's Bodyguard Driver
27 Jul 2014 to 10 Jan 2020 | U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan, Baku
- Provided armed close protection and armoured transportation for 3 U.S. Ambassadors, the Deputy Chief of Mission and senior diplomats over 5 years.
- Protected 3 U.S. Ambassadors and their families at official events and trips outside the city, in line with U.S. Diplomatic Security standards.
- Operated armoured vehicles and prepared 2 routes, primary and alternate, for motorcade movements in coordination with the Regional Security Office.
- Completed firearms qualification every two months in Baku, in 4 hour sessions of training and varied shooting exercises.
- Won the Bodyguard Team Safe Driving Award in 2016, attended OT-801 Bodyguard Protective Security Operations in Washington in 2017 and obtained 3 written recommendation letters from senior U.S. diplomatic officials.
Security Guard
4 May 2003 to 27 Jul 2014 | U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan, Baku
- Secured the U.S. Embassy compound for 11 years through access control, perimeter security, mobile patrol, video surveillance and patrolling, and emergency response in a high responsibility international environment.
- Mobile patrol, video surveillance and patrolling around the Embassy and its surroundings.
- Verified the residences and vehicles of American Embassy employees.
- Protected and secured the area around the Embassy and the diplomatic consulate.
- Screened vehicles and visitors for explosive devices.
- Prevented surveillance, photography and video recording in the vicinity of the Embassy.
- Selected at age 19, straight after graduating in 2003, on the strength of a national karate and taekwondo competition record; graduated from the Pre-Service Training Program in December 2003 with a programme award.
- Trained in explosive vehicle detection (4 days, January 2006) and emergency medical trauma care (2010).
Education
Bachelor's Degree, Faculty of Martial Arts (Karate), Teacher and Coach, 2003
Azerbaijan State Academy of Physical Education and Sport | Azerbaijan
Karate 1st Dan Black Belt, 2002
World Shotokan Karate-do Federation
Training and certifications
Close Protection and Security: Close Protection Training Course, 15 days, Artan Training Center, Tbilisi, Georgia, IBSSA / ICoCA (10 July 2026); Close Protection Training, Alison (26 June 2026); Close Protection and PSD Training Manager Course, EBSSA Online (13 June 2026); Etiquette for Security Professionals, EBSSA Online (13 June 2026); OT-801 Bodyguard Protective Security Operations, Washington, D.C., USA (13 to 17 November 2017); Bodyguard Initial Training Program, 80 hours (4 to 15 August 2014).
Firearms: Firearms Training and Qualification Shooting: AR-15/M4, AK-47, Glock 17/19, Kysucke Nove Mesto, Slovakia (13 to 14 June 2026); firearms qualification every two months in Baku, 4 hour sessions of training and shooting exercises (2014 to 2020); Initial Firearms Training: Glock 19, Colt SMG, 80 hours (18 to 29 August 2014).
Driving: Smith System Certified; armoured vehicle (B6) operations; expert in defensive, offensive and evasive driving, securing VIPs, and diplomatic and military motorcades; Bodyguard Team Safe Driving Award (2016); Armoured Vehicle Familiarization Training (2015); Advanced Driving and Traffic Safety, Smith System (2014).
Medical and Safety: First Response Emergency Care (FREC 3), Bratislava, Slovakia (9 to 12 June 2026); Basic Fire Fighting, Fire Marshal, ORCA Offshore FZE (12 July 2026); FIA and AAF Official Licence, Fire and Rescue Marshal, Formula 1 (23 September 2026); Fire and Life Safety Training (2018).
Corporate and Teaching: Hyatt security programmes: Security Awareness and Fire Safety, Active Shooter and Armed Terrorist Incidents, Human Trafficking, Cyber Security and Privacy (2020 to 2022); 7 IB and international teaching professional development certificates (2024 to 2025).
Awards and honors
Service Coach Recognition and "Women at Hyatt" Feature (2020 to 2023)
Hyatt Regency Baku | Recognised for employee mentoring, leadership and professional contribution
Bodyguard Team Safe Driving Award (2016)
Recognition for safe protective driving
Three time Azerbaijan Karate National Champion (2001 to 2003)
Champion of Kazakhstan (2002) and two time Baku champion; international medallist in Georgia, Iran, Turkey and Croatia; 2nd place, Arpachay Open Karate Tournament (2024)
References
Written letters of recommendation from 3 senior U.S. diplomatic officials, a certificate of no criminal record and a medical fitness certificate (2025) are available on request.