Ken Wheatley

Ken Wheatley was born in Brooklyn, New York and raised during the turbulent and transformative 1960s and early ’70s.

The son of Jamaican immigrants, he grew up in a household shaped by discipline, resilience, and a strong work ethic. His family heritage reflects a multicultural background rooted in Jamaican, Chinese, and Scottish ancestry, a blend that contributed to his early understanding of identity and belonging in a complex urban environment.

Wheatley credits his upbringing in Brooklyn with shaping his values of perseverance, responsibility, and service. He often cites two guiding principles that have informed his life: the Outward Bound motto, “To Serve, To Strive, and Not to Yield,” and Ralph Waldo Emerson’s reflection that success is measured by improving the lives of others.

His career spans military service, federal law enforcement, and global corporate leadership. Wheatley is the Founder and Principal Advisor of Royal Security Group, LLC, where he provides expert witness services in premises liability and negligent security cases for both plaintiff and defense counsel nationwide.

Earlier in his career, he served as a non-commissioned officer in the US Air Force during the Vietnam War era, followed by service as a Special Agent with the FBI. He later spent more than two decades with Sony Electronics in global operations, ultimately rising to Senior Vice President and Chief Security Officer.

Beyond his professional work, Wheatley has maintained a strong commitment to service. He served as Interim CEO of the Challenged Athletes Foundation and has held leadership and advisory roles with organizations including the GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer, the California Comprehensive Cancer Control Program, the American Red Cross, and Boys & Girls Clubs of America. He has also deployed with Team Rubicon on disaster response missions supporting communities impacted by hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires in the United States and the Bahamas.

In his local community, Wheatley has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and the Buncombe County Democratic Party.

He majored in English and minored in Business at Florida International University and earned an MA from Webster University, where he graduated summa cum laude. He has also completed executive education programs at Harvard Kennedy School, Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, and the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business.

Now residing in Buncombe County, Wheatley brings the perspective of a Brooklyn-born son of Jamaican immigrants, a security and risk management professional, and a lifelong advocate for service and civic engagement.