Mark Zirtzlaff
Founder & Executive Director of Strategist Safety Initiatives, MZ Security Consulting
Certified School Safety Professional | NFPA 3000(PS) | CRASE Instructor | Physical Security Expert | Retired U.S. Navy Senior Chief | Trauma-Informed Safety Strategist | Author

Mark Zirtzlaff is an emerging voice in trauma-informed school safety and strategic threat mitigation, known for his hands-on expertise and mission-driven approach. As Founder and Executive Director of Strategic Safety Initiatives of MZ Security Consulting, he brings over 30 years of experience—including 27 years in the U.S. Navy and service with the Department of Homeland Security—to the urgent work of protecting students, staff, and campuses with customized safety solutions.

His expertise spans threat prevention, secure campus design, behavioral awareness, and emergency response coordination. He has conducted numerous school safety assessments, evaluating access control, visibility, lockdown readiness, and de-escalation protocols. His approach is vendor-neutral, cost-conscious, and deeply collaborative—designed to build trust across every layer of a school community.

​

Mark is a Certified School Safety Professional and the architect of H.E.L.P.™—a trauma-informed safety protocol explicitly designed for pre-K through 8th-grade students. H.E.L.P.™ (Hide, Evacuate, Listen, Protect Yourself) equips children with age-appropriate strategies that reduce fear and build confidence in moments of crisis. He is also the creator of the H.E.L.P. for Kids™ workbook series, a scaffolded set of age-appropriate resources that teach children how to recognize unsafe situations, trust their instincts, and respond with clarity. Educators and counselors use these workbooks to reinforce emotional safety, peer support, and real-world decision-making.

In addition to his consulting work, Mark is the author of Protecting the Next Generation: A Veteran’s Guide to School Safety, a practical resource that translates trauma-informed theory into actionable strategies for educators, administrators, and safety professionals. His writing blends military leadership, school-based experience, and child-centered design to help schools respond with confidence and compassion.

Mark's  mission is personal—shaped by his daughter, Kylie, and supported by his wife’s quiet strength—and his vision is clear: safer, more compassionate schools where every child feels protected, supported, and valued.