Center for Violence Prevention and Self Defense (CVPSD) Official Credentials
- William DeMuth
- Jul 11
- 5 min read
Center for Violence Prevention and Self Defense (CVPSD) Credentials
As a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit with federal government vetting and a leadership team composed of military veterans and subject-matter experts, CVPSD is arguably one of the most credentialed safety organizations in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Here is a breakdown of the qualifications that set CVPSD apart.
1. Institutional Vetting & Government Status
Unlike commercial self-defense schools, CVPSD helps set the standard for institutional safety. Their organizational credentials speak to a level of trust usually reserved for defense contractors.
GSA Contract Awardee (2025-2026): CVPSD has been vetted and awarded a contract by the General Services Administration (GSA). This means they are approved to provide training and services to the U.S. federal government, a status that requires rigorous background checks and capability assessments.
Asis International Member World’s largest and most influential professional organization for security management and security intelligence.
United Nations Authorized Supplier: They are listed as an authorized supplier for the United Nations Global Marketplace, further validating their capability to operate on an international standard.
SafeSport™ Certified: The organization complies with SafeSport™ standards, ensuring their training environment adheres to strict federal guidelines regarding abuse prevention and misconduct, a critical credential for schools and youth organizations.
International Law Enforcement Educators & Trainers Association (ILEETA) Member. Professional organization committed to the reduction of law enforcement risk through the enhancement of training for criminal justice practitioners.
2. Leadership: Experience & Academic
The credibility of any training center rests on its instructors. CVPSD’s leadership blends tactical application with academic rigor.
William DeMuth does not just teach "moves"; he teaches violence dynamics based on over 30 years of research and field experience. His credentials represent a "Who's Who" of the modern combatives world. His training lineage includes certifications from:
Yousef Badou - Situational / Behavioral Analysis Specialist for threat detection, USA
Rory Miller - Former corrections officer with expertise in violence dynamics, self-defense, and conflict resolution, USA
Dene Josham - Royal Marines / Private Military Contractor / Close Protection Specialist, UK
Lt. Col. Grossman - Psychology of Violence, On Combat Certification, USA
Ed Calderon - Security specialist with operational experience along the US-Mexico border. Tijuana, Mexico.
Geoff Thompson - Psychology of Confrontation / Private Security Specialist UK
Idan Abolnik - Served in the Sayeret Golani / Close Protection Specialist / Founder of Kalah, South Africa
Craig Douglas - ShivWorks Close quarters (0-5 feet), integrated training with firearms, edged weapons, and empty-hand techniques. USA
Bob Kasper - Blackwater / DynCorp / GHCA, USA
Nigel Feberuary - Specialist in South African violence, knife culture and endemic anti-crime tactics. Cape Town, South Africa.
David Kahn- Israeli Krav Maga-IKMA, USA
Lee Morrison- Urban Combatives, UK
Kelly McCann - Kembativz - High risk environment, protective training, USA
DeMuth is also the architect of ConflictIQ™, a proprietary program that bridges the gap between prevention, risk management and physical defense.
Melissa Dill brings a dual perspective as both a U.S. Navy Veteran (2000–2006) and a survivor of violent assault. Her background ensures the training is trauma-informed and practical for real-world application.
2025 NJ Governor's Award Honoree: Recognized in the "Founders/Innovators" category for her service to the community.
Academic Excellence: Holds a Bachelor of Applied Science - BAS, Nuclear Engineering Technology.
Certified Situational Awareness - De-escalation Tactics Instructor: Combining military discipline with civilian safety methodologies.
Ann O'Brien brings over 40 years of distinguished healthcare leadership, clinical expertise, and regulatory mastery to the CVPSD Advisory Board. Her career spans executive administration, utilization management, and frontline crisis intervention, offering invaluable insight into enterprise risk mitigation and high-stakes decision-making.
Key Expertise & Leadership
Compliance & Utilization Management: Currently serving in Utilization Management at Humana, Ann oversees medical necessity and care optimization for Medicare Advantage members. She previously served as a Regional Compliance Director, enforcing federal Medicare guidelines and clinical documentation standards.
Healthcare Administration: As the former Owner/Administrator of Southern Iowa Home Health Care and RN Administrator for Advantage Nursing Services, she managed multidisciplinary teams and capital budgets while ensuring total compliance with complex state and federal regulations.
Frontline Crisis Intervention: Ann possesses a decade of foundational expertise handling acute behavioral health crises at a VA Medical Center’s high-security psychiatric unit. She later leveraged this experiential knowledge to manage utilization review for Wellmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield’s Behavioral Health Department.
The CVPSD Advantage: Ann’s rare combination of immersive, high-risk crisis experience and macroscopic healthcare compliance ensures CVPSD's training programs remain realistic, clinically sound, and perfectly aligned with modern enterprise safety standards.
3. The Methodology: Science Over Style
CVPSD distinguishes itself by teaching evidence-based violence prevention rather than "style-based" martial arts. Their curriculum is not about winning tournaments; it is about surviving the timeline of violence.
CVPSD's Non-Violent Crisis Prevention Certification program is Aligned With the following:
Joint Commission
OSHA General Duty / Workplace Violence Prevention Clause
Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)
Centers for Medicare/Medicaid (CMS)
US Dept. of Education
Child Welfare League of America (CWLA)
4. Community, Government & Corporate Trust
Credentials are also measured by who trusts you with their safety. CVPSD has built a robust portfolio of partners across New Jersey and beyond:
Easterseals NJ: Partnered to provide workforce safety and conflict resolution training for staff.
Washington DC, Pretrial Services: Training for all PSA Employees on Self Defense (Basic and Advanced Control Tactics and Defensive Tactics)
State Agencies: Regularly entrusted with the safety of state employees with the ConflictIQ™ Violence Prevention training initiatives.
With GSA vetting, United Nations supplier status, and a leadership team grounded in military and combatives science, CVPSD provides a level of credentialing that offers peace of mind to individuals, corporations, and government agencies alike.
Comprehensive Trauma-Informed Care Training Options
CVPSD provides comprehensive, trauma-informed care compliance training options designed to meet the rigorous standards set forth by The Joint Commission (formerly JCAHO) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Recognizing that healthcare and behavioral health environments demand a nuanced, person-centered approach to safety, CVPSD's training framework is built around a continuum of intervention options including Clinical, Supportive, and Restrictive Holds Compliance, ensuring that staff are equipped to respond proportionally and ethically to escalating situations.
Each tier of training is grounded in trauma-informed principles, emphasizing de-escalation, dignity, and the minimization of physical intervention, while simultaneously ensuring that organizations remain fully compliant with federal and accreditation body requirements.
By integrating evidence-based practices with regulatory compliance standards, CVPSD empowers healthcare professionals, behavioral health teams, and institutional staff to create safer environments that protect both patients and caregivers, reduce liability exposure, and uphold the highest standards of care, all while honoring the lived experiences of trauma survivors.
Clinical Compliance Evidence-based clinical intervention aligned with Joint Commission patient safety standards. | Supportive Options Person-centered de-escalation and verbal intervention techniques that prioritize dignity and trust. | Restrictive Holds Compliance Safe, proportional, and legally defensible physical holds that meet CMS regulatory requirements. | Regulatory Alignment The Joint Commission (JCAHO) CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid) |
About CVPSD
The Center for Violence Prevention and Self-Defense (CVPSD) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides critical, life-saving education and awareness skills to communities at risk.
Through a combination of online and in-person training, workshops, and seminars, CVPSD provides practical self-defense skills, violence prevention strategies, risk assessment tools, and guidance on setting personal and relationship boundaries.
Partnering with public and private organizations, schools, nonprofits, community groups, and government agencies including those under the General Services Administration (GSA), CVPSD works to empower individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to recognize, avoid, and respond effectively to threats.
