Staff Bios

---

Bart Butler is the Founder and CEO of Security Training Academy of Tennessee, also known as S.T.A.T. He is an approved CPR/BLS instructor with the American Heart Association, as well as many other certifications.

Bart holds a long list of event security credentials and accomplishments including 35 years in entertainment security and crowd management, and 22 years as a Venue Security Director for hundreds of artists and venues, nationwide.

Due to his extensive entertainment experience, Bart is highly regarded as a respected authority in the field of event security. Throughout his tenure in security guard services, Bart has acquired national prominence with courts across the United States as an expert witness in in the field of crowd management and event security litigation. In numerous cases concerning moshing incidents, crowd crush occurrences and security company liability cases, Bart has often been asked to testify.

A graduate of the Academy for Venue Safety and Security (AVSS) and active member of International Association of Assembly Managers (IAAM), Bart is a highly sought after national security consultant and speaker called on to address topics such as festival site safety and design, venue set up and protection, crowd management, and entertainment security staffing. In addition to carrying an Armed Security License for the State of Tennessee, Bart also holds several security designations including that of Certified Unarmed Security Instructor and Certified National Rifle Association (NRA) Instructor.

Bart holds Instructor certifications in the Handgun Safety Program, AMerican Heart Association BLS, Heartsaver and First Aid, Active Shooter, Weapons of Mass Destruction approved by DHS, Prevention & Response to Suicide Bomber Incident approved by DHS, Armed/Unarmed Security Guard course, as well as many others. 

As the president of the Mathew W. Butler Foundation – an organization that helps disabled individuals live a better life with their own independence – Bart truly believes in supporting his hometown of Nashville and is convinced that “the best investment one can make in the future is by giving back to their community.” Bart lives out that commitment by coaching middle and high school rugby teams and supporting many local charities and causes.

Bart attended Middle Tennessee State University where he studied Recording Industry Management and Psychology. His most prized possessions are his wife, Debbie, an Assistant District Attorney in Nashville, and his son. They make their home in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Scott Pollard is the President of Security Training Academy of Tennessee also known as S.T.A.T.  He is an approved CPR/BLS instruction for the American Heart Association, as well as many other certifications.

As a life-long resident of Tennessee, Scott has served in both the Military and Law Enforcement for nearly 40 years. He entered the US Army after graduating High School in 1985, serving for 5 years as a Military Policeman and Drug Suppression Team Sergeant. After completing his enlistment, he returned to Tennessee to pursue his civilian Law Enforcement career, while continuing to serve in the Army National Guard for another 8 years, during which he was deployed to Kuwait for Operation Desert Storm. After changing to the Army Reserves in 1999, Scott served as a Military Police Instructor, during which time he was deployed to train 2500 Soldiers to become Military Police. After 10 years as an instructor and achieving the rank of Chief Instructor, he was promoted to Battalion Command Sergeant Major of a Reserve unit stationed at Ft. Campbell, Ky where he served until his retirement in 2013. 

During his Guard and Reserve service, Scott also began his civilian Law Enforcement career as a Deputy/K-9 Handler for the Henderson County, Tn Sheriff’s Department, rising to the rank of Captain before leaving to start his career with the Tennessee Department of Safety in 1994, as a Capitol Police Officer. After attending the Trooper academy in 1997, he served in a variety of positions to include Crash Reconstructionist, DUI Instructor, Explosives K-9 Handler, Field Training Officer, Strike Team Grenadier, Hostage/Crisis Negotiator, SWAT Team member, Bomb Technician, and Strike Team Commander, in which his team would be called upon to respond to natural disasters, civil unrest, missing or wanted individuals throughout the State. He retired in 2024 as a Lieutenant stationed in the Nashville District, overseeing the largest Troop in the State. 

Scott holds Instructor certifications in the State Handgun Permit Carrying course, Active Shooter Train-the-Trainer course, Civilian Active Shooter Response Train-the-Trainer course, Armed/Unarmed Security Guard course, American Heart Association CPR/BLS course, De-escalation and Safe Restraint Tactics course and Response to Homemade Devices and Terrorist Bombings course. Scott has also attended numerous classes taught by the ATF, FBI, Center for Domestic Preparedness, ALERRT, New Mexico Tech and Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, as well as many others. He has been involved in the planning and execution of several high-visibility operations such as Presidential debates and visits, Governor Inaugurations, foreign dignitary security, NASCAR races, NFL games, college bowl games, Country Music Festivals and many other large events.

In his off time, Scott enjoys hunting, camping, watching sports and spending time with his family, especially his new granddaughter. 

Matthew, a lifelong resident of Rutherford County, Tennessee, graduated from Eagleville High School in 2016. After graduation, he attended Welding School at the Tennessee College of Applied Technology and pursued that ambition, working as a traveling welder for 5 years. Growing up in a family surrounded by Military, Law Enforcement and Firefighters, Matthew’s desire to serve his community and help others persisted, so he returned home where he obtained his Armed Security Guard license and American Heart Association CPR/BLS Instructor certifications. Matthew enjoys training all walks of life in lifesaving skills, while also serving as a Role Player and Evaluator for the Active Killer training course. Matthew also provides logistical and technical support to the team by developing and building training tools. He is an avid hunter and outdoorsman, loves spending time with his family and riding horses. 

Mary is in an administrative position here at S.TA.T., she is also on the list of approved BLS/Heartsaver CPR AED, First Aid classes with the American Heart Assocation.  Mary's fulltime job is working in the security field as a manager learning the ins and outs of all types of security.  Prior to joining us, Mary worked several years as an executive assistant in office management, HR and staffing for the State of Tennessee.

Mary oversees all paperwork associated with classes being offered, compliance of record keeping, and many more office related duties.

Mary loves to spend time with her family when she if off, she enjoys camping, reading, and spoiling all her grandbabies.