Kelly Christenson
Kelly Christenson is the CEO and Founder of OnGuard, a revolutionary security workforce platform dedicated to transforming how security companies hire, vet, and manage their personnel. Based in Carlsbad, California, Kelly combines her extensive experience in business leadership, operations, and system scaling with a passion for innovation, creating solutions that empower both security companies and professionals. Her vision centers on elevating industry standards through technology, transparency, and efficiency, ensuring clients receive reliable, qualified security while providing guards with better opportunities and streamlined onboarding.
Before founding OnGuard, Kelly cultivated a diverse professional and personal background as a former educator, nationally recognized athlete, and a dedicated mother of four. Her experiences in leadership, combined with her faith-driven approach, inform her commitment to building organizational culture from the inside out. She emphasizes servant leadership, humility, and integrity, striving to create workplaces where employees become true brand ambassadors and the mission is internalized at every level.
Under Kelly’s guidance, OnGuard has grown into a platform that bridges the gap between security workforce supply and demand, introducing AI-powered vetting processes and scalable staff fulfillment networks. Passionate about elevating the industry, she leads with innovation, professionalism, and a people-first philosophy, helping businesses thrive while ensuring families, communities, and organizations feel secure.
• University of Southern California- Master's
• Sheperd's Watch an organization dedicated to anti-human trafficking efforts
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to discipline, faith, resilience, and a commitment to serving others.
I’ve learned that success isn’t about talent—it’s about consistency, character, and the willingness to keep showing up when it’s hard. I surround myself with strong mentors, stay grounded in my values, and focus on building people, not just systems. Every breakthrough I’ve had has come from persistence, integrity, and the belief that excellence is a daily choice.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Keep it simple. Stay grounded in who you are. Ignore the noise—focus on the mission.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the security industry:
Don’t feel pressured to mimic anyone else—especially a version of leadership that doesn’t reflect who you are. Your strength, intuition, empathy, attention to detail, and ability to build trust are powerful assets in this field. You don’t need to become “more masculine” to succeed; you need to become more you. Show up with confidence, care deeply about the work you do, and let your unique qualities elevate the standard of what security leadership can look like.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges and opportunities in the security industry are centered around AI integration and staffing.
The field is facing extreme turnover, inconsistent guard quality, and outdated manual workflows—creating a massive need for smarter, faster staffing solutions. At the same time, AI presents a transformational opportunity: automating vetting, verifying credentials in real time, predicting reliability, and matching the right guard to the right post instantly. Companies that successfully merge AI with staffing will redefine the future of security operations.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me—both in my work and my personal life—are integrity, excellence, and service.
I believe in doing what’s right even when it’s not convenient, holding myself and my team to a high standard, and leading with a heart to serve others. I value authenticity, discipline, and purpose-driven work. Whether I’m building a company, raising my family, or leading people, I strive to stay grounded in humility, faith, and the commitment to leave every person, project, and environment better than I found it.
Locations
OnGuard Security Solutions
Carlsbad, CA 92009