CEO and Founder
Major (Retired) Dirk Barnes MBA pjsc EM

Major Dirk Barnes, founder of Air Support Tactical Security Ltd (ASTSL), combines over 20 years of distinguished military service with entrepreneurial expertise and academic excellence. A graduate of the prestigious Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (UK), Major Barnes is a former Commanding Officer in the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF). He joined the TTDF in 1993 and, by the age of 34, achieved the rank of Battalion Commanding Officer of the Engineer Battalion.

 

Major Barnes is also the holder of a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from Anglia Ruskin University, further strengthening his strategic and leadership capabilities in the business world.

 

From 2010 to 2011, Major Barnes was seconded to the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM), where he served as Operations Coordinator, overseeing regional disaster response. He also held the position of Director of the National Emergency Operations Centre, cementing his leadership in crisis and disaster management.

 

A highly trained specialist, Major Barnes holds certifications as a:

• Technical Surveillance Countermeasure Specialist

• Voice Stress Analysis Technician

• Improvised Explosive Search Team Specialist

• Counterterrorism Operations Planner

• Incident Command System Practitioner and Instructor

 

In 2011, Major Barnes founded the Trinidad and Tobago Air Support Company (TTASC), which provided aviation law enforcement support to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service. While the project was successful, it was discontinued due to funding challenges, prompting Major Barnes to pivot TTASC to serve private-sector clients.

 

In 2016, Major Barnes launched Air Support Tactical Security Ltd (ASTSL), securing Ministry of National Security approval to operate as a Protective Service Agency. This marked the consolidation of TTASC’s assets under ASTSL, laying the foundation for a new era of innovation in security solutions.

 

In addition to ASTSL, Major Barnes has founded several complementary businesses, including:

• 868 Tactical Firearms and Accessories Ltd

• 868 Tactical Firearms Training Academy

• XANEV Technologies Ltd

 

These companies are now managed under the umbrella of XELD Holding Ltd, ensuring strategic alignment and continued growth across all ventures.

 

With a career rooted in discipline, innovation, and leadership, Major Dirk Barnes has established a legacy of excellence in security, technology, and tactical operations, making ASTSL a leader in the industry.